Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Frozen II’ now on 4k

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Frozen II is filled with music, magic, and mystery. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf are living fun and fulfilling lives in the castle. But Elsa is being haunted by a mysterious sound. She follows the sound and accidentally awakens a mysterious enchanted forest that has been locked in a mist for decades. Elsa and Anna heard about this mysterious place from their parents when they were little girls. Now they get the full understanding of what happened in the past and how their parents are entwined with this enchanted forest. Suddenly the fate of Arendelle is precarious and it is up to Elsa and Anna to save their country.

The story introduces many new characters as well as two new animals: a sweet and fun-loving little salamander that steals the hearts of audiences, and the Nokk, a beautiful water spirit iridescent horse that helps Elsa in her quest for the truth. The lost Arendelle guard, led by Mattias, and a whole new culture of people named the Northuldra. They care for the elements of fire, water, air, and earth. But there is one more element and that is what Elsa must discover.

There is also a wind spirit named Gale and a group of Earth giants. And let’s not forget about the herd of reindeer that also inhabit the enchanted forest. Along with the original five, all of these characters join together for a fun-filled journey through an enchanted land.

There is over an hour of bonus features that help viewers understand the background of the story and the making of the film. For instance, there are several deleted scenes and songs. They are in storyboard form however they are definitely worth watching. It would be fun to see them all completely animated. The songs and scenes are entertaining and enjoyable and although they did not make it into the film, they merit viewing.

Another bonus looks at the flubs made by the voice actors while recording their lines and songs. This also would be fun to see animated, but it takes too much time and money to animate these bloopers. Oh well, they are funny and cute.

“Did you know???” is a little featurette that reveals facts about the movie. The enchanted forest was based on the forest from Sleeping Beauty. The filmmakers did extensive research to make the flora in the forest reflective of the actual plants in Norway. There are plenty of Easter Eggs in the film that are examined so when viewers watch the film again, they will be able to spot references to other Disney characters and movies.

The 4K version includes the movie in beautiful ultra HD. If you are 4K compatible, definitely get this set. Along with the wider spectrum of color, it is the best way to watch this exquisitely animated film. Included in the set is a Blu-ray disc as well. There is a “sing-along” version of the movie so all viewers will be able to join Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and the others in their journey. The Digital Code allows for instant online viewing and includes two additional bonus features. The songs always add to these films, and now viewers get to see the songwriting Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopes, the team behind the memorable songs.

Frozen II is rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements. It is available in the 4K set, a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital set, and a single DVD.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Run this Town’ is a gritty political story

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

In this time of political scandals, the one that took Toronto by storm was that of Mayor Ford. The now-disgraced former mayor is not really the main focus of the film Run this Town. Instead it revolves around an aspiring journalist and the Mayor’s aide who are each trying to further their respective careers.

Ben Platt is Bram, a young journalist who is eager to get his big break. He is tasked with writing lists for the newspaper, like the ten best hamburgers in the city, etc. But he is a good writer and knows if given the chance he could be a great journalist.

Mena Massoud is Kamal, the top aid to the mayor. He knows the mess the mayor is getting himself into, yet continues to do his job and even more than that.

When Bram comes across a story involving the flamboyant mayor, he wants to take it further. Is the mayor simply drunk at events or is it something more? Then another aid at City Hall, Ashley (Nina Dobrev), decides to confide in the journalist. Mayor Ford has continually made sexual comments and unwanted advances toward many people, and she feels enough is enough.

So, while Bram is breaking open the story with the assistance of the mayor’s aids, the lives of these young people are altered.

Sex and drugs make for a good story, but when it involves the mayor of a large Canadian city, it is something that has to be told to the public. Unlike the movie All the President’s Men, when Woodward and Bernstein (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) broke the story about Nixon and his cronies, Run this Town is not as entertaining. Instead, it is grittier and darker.

This is a tense political story about young professionals trying to climb the ladder to success while at the same time exposing a terrible scandal causing the downfall of a mayor. 

Director Ricky Tollman said, “I grew up admiring groundbreaking filmmakers at a time when the filmmaking landscape, too, is shifting. There is endless content and it’s all available everywhere we go. I can’t browse through a Blockbuster anymore, though I wish I could. That was exciting. But that experience is over. My brother, on the other hand, dreamed of being a journalist like the ones he had read about. Of course, we overlapped with All the President’s Men — here was a film that had a deep impact on the social conscious about two great journalists.”

Run this Town is rated R for language and sexual references. It opens in theaters March 6, 2020.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home ‘Norm of the North: Family Vacation’ on DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The latest film in the Norm of the North franchise is definitely a family story. Norm of the North: Family Vacation has King Norm in a dither trying to find family time while taking care of his royal duties.

Norm is frustrated. He loves his role as king but he misses spending quality time with his family. And they miss him. The kids resent his role because he doesn’t have time to play with them any more.

While preparing for the winter jubilee in which the king must present his crown to the kingdom, it gets stolen. Who would steal the king’s crown? If word got out it would cause chaos in the kingdom. With some help from his new friend Tiny, a killer whale, Norm learns about an ice ship that was in the vicinity at the time of the theft. So, in true Norm fashion, he prepares to go after the ship, which is heading for China.

A misunderstanding has Norm’s family thinking they are all going on a family vacation, and Norm doesn’t want his kids to be disappointed. So off they go in search of the stolen crown without his family knowing the true reason for the trip.

They discover an amazing city built by an inventive White Tiger who invites the family to be his guest. His twins, Pete and Repete, are in the same boat as Norm’s kids. They don’t get enough time with their father. While the dads commiserate about how difficult it is to be a father, Norm finds his beloved crown.

The theme of this family adventure is finding a balance between job and family. While both of the fathers in the story have important roles, they also have kids that need quality family time. In the end everyone realizes the importance of family and togetherness.

Tiny is a fun character as are all the kids and Norm’s wife is also an entertaining and optimistic character.  This is the fourth film in the franchise.

Norm of the North: Family Vacation is not rated.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Magic Happens’ – Disneyland’s newest daytime parade

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

It has been 10 years since Disneyland produced a new daytime parade. “Magic Happens” is now running daily at the Disneyland Park and is filled with color, music, characters, and amazing floats.

The floats are sure to wow adults and the characters are definitely going to entertain kids. The Disney/Pixar stories represented in the parade are “The Sword in the Stone,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty, “Frozen 2,” “Moana,” “Coco,” “Moana,” and “The Princess and the Frog.” 

Merlin and young Arthur ride upon “The Sword in the Stone” float where the young lad easily removes the famous sword from the stone to the cheers of the crowd. Tiana and Prince Naveen share a dance and a kiss on their beautifully designed “The Princess and the Frog” float. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather appear atop the “Sleeping Beauty” float along with Princess Aurora in her gown with shades of blue and pink.The “Cinderella” float has both Cinderella in her grand pumpkin coach and the Fairy Godmother who is always eager to interact with the guests on the parade route. 

“Moana” is represented with three floats. First comes Moana in her life-size canoe followed by Maui’s float with Pua riding front and center. Then, to the joy of both young and old, a remote controlled HeiHei travels from one side of the street to the other, spinning and entertaining all the guests. The Moana float is a giant leap forward in the world of technology, utilizing a curved LED screen wave with images of the ocean (look closely for some fun Easter Eggs in the ocean scenery), and along the side of this magnificently carved Koa wood float are other LED screens immersing the crowd in underwater life.


The beautiful “Frozen 2” float has Elsa, Anna, and Olaf in the magic forest, while Sven stands on the back, followed closely by Kristoff. There is magic on this float combining the live characters with animated ones. After all, a live snowman and reindeer would be difficult to keep on a float even for the folks at Disney!

The “Coco” float tells the story of the Land of the Living and the Land of the dead. Miguel strums his guitar on the front of the float with Dante jumping from the land of the living to the land of the dead, bringing the story to the land of the dead with Miguel’s family in the afterlife. And for an added treat, the back of the float has 12 Chihuahua skeletons greeting the parade watchers.

There is so much more to this parade than the floats. There are dancers accompanying the floats adding more to the stories they tell. The dancers accompanying the “Moana” float carry Kakamora characters. Let’s face it, the folks at Disney always add just a little extra to everything they do!

“We’ve designed the ‘Magic Happens’ floats to that characters, scenes, and surprises are revealed a little at a time, making each float a journey of discovery,” said David Duffy, creative director for Disney Live Entertainment.” And every time guests see the floats they will discover something new and exciting because there is so much to see in each float.

There are over 90 performers in this grand parade with two new original songs – “Magic Happens” and a Grand Finale song that will leave everyone with a big smile as the parade completes its run through the park. And the brightly colored costumes along with the music are impressive for both young and old.

“Magic Happens” is a fun, new, colorful, whimsical parade that will definitely become a favorite among Disneyland guests. Magic is always happening at Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth, and this new parade adds even more magic.

(Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Onward’ is a fun, silly, and emotional family journey

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Disney/Pixar’s newest animated film Onward takes audiences through a journey filled with fun as well as emotions. This is a fantasy story with magic however at the heart of the film is family love.

Tom Holland voices Ian Lightfoot and Chris Pratt voices his brother Barley, with their mother voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It is definitely Disney/Pixar magic to see the animated brothers because they look just like their human counterparts.

Ian is a squirrelly little guy with no self-confidence. Barley is a go-get-em guy who has no qualms about trying anything. Their father died before Ian was born so Ian has no memory of his dad and sad that he never knew him. Barley is a proficient game player, which comes in handy during their quest.

So, the story revolves not only around the elf brothers (did I forget to mention they are elfs?) but also around magic. Years ago magic was the way of life but as technology advanced and took over all the magic in the land ceased. But it is still there, somewhere.

Upon Ian’s 16th birthday, his mother gives her boys a gift from beyond. Before dying, the father wrote a spell that could conjure him up for one day so he could meet Ian and see how his boys had grown up. But the catch is someone has to have the magic powers – and the magic wizard staff – to complete the spell. While Barley tries, it is Ian who shows he has the magic deep within him. However, while conjuring up his dad, there is a little glitch and only half of the man comes back to life – the bottom half.

The boys embark on a magical journey to get the stone needed to complete the spell and bring back the full body of their father.

This is a sweet and sentimental story underneath the antics of the boys. It is an intriguing thought to be able to spend one day with a loved one who has passed on. Both boys have lists of what they want to do with their dad if he came back for a day. And during their quest to complete the spell, they learn more about each other in the 24 hours than they have in all of Ian’s 16 years.

Onward is a fun, fantasy, family adventure that is filled with delightful family love however it is a little bittersweet at the same time.


And once audiences leave the theater, youngsters will undoubtedly be asking for some Onward merchandise. Disney doesn’t disappoint.  There is a plush Ian, Barley, Blazy (their pet dragon), Wildon Lightfood (the father), unicorn, and Manticore (voiced by Octavia Spencer in the film). There are play sets and clothing and definitely a Wizard Staff, which all kids will want to own so they can practice their own magic. Check out shopDisney.com for these items after watching the movie.

Onward is rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements. It opens in theaters March 6, 2020.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ is an emotional journey of a self-conscious introvert where she has to learn about empathy

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Time does not heal the pain of grief. What does? Austin Winsberg just might have the answer. NBC’s new quirky musical dramedy, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, is based on his painful experience of losing his father to a rare degenerative disease in 2011. At a press conference early January, Winsberg explained the family’s pain and frustration of not being able to communicate with him. “He would show us moments and we felt like his brain was working, but the body was betraying him.” He also revealed that the show “came from wanting to see my dad sing and dance and see my parents dance again.”

After an MRI mishap, Zoey Clarke (Jane Levy) becomes privy to the innermost wants, thoughts, and desires of the people around her through popular songs and big musical numbers. The computer coder sees the world in very binary terms and is uncertain what to do with the newfound power until she starts connecting with people. Could it be a blessing or a curse? And why her? Just like Eli (Eli Stone ABC 2008-09) and Joan (Joan of Arcadia CBS 2003-05) who struggled to figure out what God wanted them to do, Zoey is thrust into an emotional journey where she has to learn about empathy.

I lost my husband twice – once to depression and to divorce. His inward anger turned him into a soulless semblance of the sweet man I married. He was physically there, but emotionally and mentally unreachable no matter how hard I tried. If that wasn’t the most soul-crashing moment of my entire life, I don’t know what is. How I wished my suicidal husband would snap out of his depression, just like Zoey did with her unresponsive father! That beautiful father-daughter scene gets me every time because my pain is honored; it felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket and gently and repeatedly told, “It hurts, I get it.” When you know you are not alone in feeling angry/sad/disappointed/frustrated, you process a loss and heal with every drop of tears you shed. Empathy heals. Empathy neither judges, condemns, nor convinces.

I believe empathy is gained only when you learn radical self-acceptance through great losses – to be more compassionate toward the unforgivable parts of your Self. In this digital and highly divisive off-kilter world, it is inspiring to watch this self-conscious introvert growing into a compassionate leader. In the aftermath of Trumpocalypse, we might as well brush up on human decency gone missing from our society. Why not start with this almost extinct, foreign concept called ‘empathy’?

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist premiered over a month ago, but the encore presentation of the pilot is scheduled on Sunday, February 16, 2020, followed by the second episode at the regularly scheduled time on NBC. You can also check out NBC On Demand or Hulu for the pilot if you can’t wait.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.

‘High Strung Free Dance’ Blu-ray GIVEAWAY

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


High Strung Free Dance tells the story of Zander Raines (Thomas Doherty), a dazzling and tempestuous young choreographer who gives the break of a lifetime to two hopeful artists when he casts a stunning contemporary dancer, Barlow (Juliet Doherty) and innovative pianist, Charlie (Harry Jarvis) in New York’s most-anticipated new Broadway show: Free Dance.  But the move throws off the show’s delicate creative balance when Charlie falls hard for Barlow while Zander embraces her as his muse.

The film brings together groundbreaking original music with an expansive mix of choreography from Emmy award winner Tyce Diorio (So You Think You Can Dance) alongside 80 of the world’s most thrilling and original dancers.

We have some Blu-rays to giveaway.

To be eligible to win a copy of High Strung Free Dance, email us at [email protected] with “Free Dance Giveaway” in the title. Please supply your name, address, phone number and email address (so we can let you know if you are a winner). Note: only USA and Canada entries please.

The deadline for this giveaway is February 14, 2020.

Bring home ‘Playing with Fire’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

John Cena stars in Playing with Fire, a sweet, sentimental, and sensitive story with plenty of hearty laughs for the whole family. Most of the story takes place in a fire station – actually a smoke jumper station – with four tough smoke jumpers. Now add in three precocious children and there are bound to be laugh out loud moments.

Jake Carson (Cena) grew up in a fire station. He is following in the large footsteps of his father. Along with his three fellow jumpers (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo, and Daniel Cudmore), they run a tight ship. They are hard-core professionals. Then one night they rescue three children from a burning cabin in the woods. Brynn (Brianna Hildebrand), Will (Christian Convery), and Zoey (Finley Rose Slater) are brought back to the station until their family can be notified and retrieve them.

While at the station, the three cause plenty of chaos. And they also add plenty of fun and heart to the stoic locale. Zoey delights in playing tea party, Will manages to test every tool in the place, and Brynn tries to figure out what is really underneath the rough exteriors of the men.

As their time at the station runs on, the men begin to soften and they open their hearts to these three children. By the end of the film, all the chaos they caused is forgotten and the entire group becomes a new family. It’s a sweet story with some sadness mixed in. However, the ending will have viewers smiling.

There are plenty of bonus features. Besides deleted scenes, there are some fun bloopers. And a feature looks at how much fun the cast had while filming the movie. There is also a look at what makes a family. Families can be made of the most unlikely people, and in this case the firefighters and the kids make a pretty cool one. Another feature looks at the job of the real smokejumpers. These people parachute into some of the most dangerous places. Their strength and courage is often the difference between life and death.

Playing with Fire is rated PG for rude humor, some suggestive material, and mild peril.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Polka Dot Summit celebrates Minnie Mouse

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Minnie Mouse was celebrated January 25 and 26, 2020 in Burbank, California at the Polka Dot Summit. Create & Cultivate joined with Disney to put on this event to bring women together to feel empowered to live the legacy of Minnie Mouse.

“We are honored to join forces with Disney to launch the first-ever Polka Dot Summit,” said Create & Cultivate CEO and Founder Jaclyn Johnson. “For decades, Minnie has encouraged everyone of all ages to be bold, to be fun, to express themselves through style, and to be classic to the core. Through workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities, our goal is to inspire the next generation of female leaders to do what it takes to make their dreams a reality, just like Minnie.”

With food, drinks, hair and make-up stations, and photo ops with the big cheese (Minnie), women were treated to some pretty fun things to do. Besides this, there were panels and keynote speakers helping guests to understand that they should find their passions and make bold moves to bring their dreams to fruition. Many panel members spoke about how they turned their passions into careers, and how women need to build up each other. This last comment was met by cheers from the audience.

As a female icon, Minnie Mouse is an inspiration and a symbol of strength and influence. She is calm, positive, and stands for grace, charm, style, integrity, intelligence, love, authenticity, happiness, creativity, and a sense of community. She inspires everyone to be true to themselves with her bold personality and love of life. She is always positive and caring.

The summit was also a place where attendees were encouraged to socialize with each other and make new friends.

Disney artist Jeff Shelly made countless sketches of Minnie throughout the days and instructed guests how to draw the famous mouse.

All in all, Minnie Mouse is an inspiration for women around the world, and has been for almost a century. She was created in 1928. Minnie was named one of the top 100 successful and inspirational women by Create & Cultivate, and heads the list in the fashion category. Minnie has big shoes to fill, albeit they are high. Personally I gave up high heels years ago, but this mouse continues to wear them and is a fashion icon as well as a symbol of strength and love. She was wearing her new denim outfit from the clothing brand PAIGE.

The Polka Dot Summit was filed with fun, food, fashion, information, inspiration, and even some goodies for the attendees.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Disneyland Resort

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

2020 is the year of the rodent (rat/mouse). And who better to celebrate this than Mickey and Minnie Mouse? The celebration at Disney California Adventure is a fun, festive and fanciful event for the entire family.

First of all is the food. There are over 30 items this year in the Sip And Savor Pass. Each Sip and Savor Pass ($42) has six tabs to use in exchange for a special food or beverage item at the many kiosks around the park. Savor the Plant-based Orange Tempah that comes with steamed rice and stir-fried veggies, Mange Mousse, Shrimp & Ginger Dumplings, Vegetable Egg roll, Smoked Beef Bulgogi Short Ribs, or a variety of other delicacies. I highly recommend the Vietnamese Cold Brew that is sweetened with coconut cream and coconut milk. Can you say “delicious?” And by all means, try the Purple Yam Macaron. I had 2 they are so scrumptious!

 

Enjoy “Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession” that takes place several times a day. It’s filled with music, dancers, ribbon dancers, and of course Disney characters. Monday through Friday the Melody of China performers bring the music of the Far East to guests in the park.

There is a Lucky Wishing Wall where guests can write wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous and tie them on the wall. There is face painting, and fun arts and crafts with Chinese calligraphy and other fun things for the whole family.

While Mulan is the highlight of the festivities, it is Mickey Mouse (and Minnie) who represent The Year of the Mouse. Chinese clothier Guo Pei was chosen to design new outfits for the rodent couple, and they are definitely beautiful. Make sure you search through the park to check out their new red and gold outfits for the celebration.

The delightful “Hurry Home” light show is a sweet story for the season. It is followed by the World of Color. No one does night shows like the folks at Disney. And of course, they also do a great job of merchandising. There are plenty of beautiful and fun things to purchase to commemorate Lunar New Year 2020.

 

It’s time to head down to Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort for all the festivities of the Lunar New Year. The festival runs through February 9, 2020. Happy New Year!

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.