Swift is a fun family story for all ages. It’s the story of little Manou, a little Swift bird who finds himself all alone however he discovers a seagull family who take him in as their own.

Manou is raised as a seagull however he is inept at doing the innate things seagulls can do. Nevertheless, his mother believes he should be fully accepted by the rest of the gulls while his father thinks he needs to leave the flock.

After a disturbing incident, Manou is sent away from his “family” and the flock. He finds a group of swifts that take him into their flock and help him adjust to life as a swift, and not as a gull.

The gulls and the swifts are not friends. They are all birds, but they do not associate with each other and they do not feel any friendliness towards each other. Manou is the bridge between the two groups. He also manages to help them see how they can work together and all get along.

Little Manou encounters several times when he just doesn’t fit in. He has to find his own place in the world, and he does. He is a smart, loving and courageous bird who will stop at nothing to protect the gulls and the swifts. He is one of a kind. He is a swift, yet he has the gulls in his heart.

Bonus features on the disc include a “making of” where viewers learn how the story came to be. Another bonus is an interview with Willem Dafoe, the voice of Yves, Manou’s gull father. It’s funny when Dafoe is asked when he first learned about birds. He said his first memory of birds is that of the Alfred Hitchcock film The Birds.

Kate Winslet voices Manou’s mother and Josh Keaton is the voice of Manou.  Besides the heartwarming story, there is some great music in the film. Swift is not rated however it is a family-friendly film.

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.

Superdome is a 1978 TV movie with an amazing cast. David Janssen heads up the list of well-known actors of the time, with Donna Mills, Tom Selleck, Van Johnson, Ken Howard, Peter Haskell, Clifton Davis, Edie Adams, Ed Nelson, and Jane Wyatt adding to the impressive cast.

New Orleans is preparing for the Super Bowl. The Cougars is the favored team. While the preparations for the game are underway, mysterious deaths start happening. They are all related to the team.

With a killer on the loose, the team’s manager (Janssen) is trying to figure out what is going on, at the same time he is being wooed by a mysterious woman (Mills). The star quarterback (Selleck) is being courted by an advertising firm trying to get an endorsement. And another player (Howard) is having marital problems while at the same time confronting an early mid-life crisis. So, there is plenty of drama with the players and the management of the team while the big game gets closer and closer and the murders are mounting up.

The movie was filmed on location in New Orleans and at the Superdome itself. Unlike today’s movies where terrorism is at the root of the disasters, this is a movie where simple human greed is at the heart of the murders. A large bet on the outcome of the game is the reason for the murders and the plot against the Cougars.

Being a 1978 film, it is definitely simpler than today’s movies, but it is fun to see the hairstyles and clothing of the day. While Tom Selleck had been acting prior to this film, he was yet to become a household name. It was not until 1980 when he jumped into the Ferrari and took on the role of Thomas Magnum.

The lead actor, Janssen, was already a household name, having starred in the TV series’ Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Fugitive, and Harry O. While women will undoubtedly be attracted to the Selleck character, it is Janssen who is the hunk of the film.

Superdome is not rated however it is not suitable for young kids as it involves murder, drugs, and adult content.

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.

The 1966 film The Oscar was nominated for two Oscars (Best Art Direction and Best Costumes) but came away empty. The film is a gritty look inside the entertainment business.

Stephen Boyd plays Frank Fane, a ruthless street-smart man who claws his way to the top of the acting business. He was “discovered” by accident. When he moves to Hollywood he climbs the ladder however he has a reputation of being a difficult actor. His best friend Hymie (Tony Bennett) enables his actions and is his biggest supporter, even when he knows how despicable Fane is becoming.

Fane is a self-centered, egotistical, ruthless, conniving, greedy, dishonorable man. His wife (Elke Sommer) does not see this side of him. Yet she does take offense to his womanizing all around town.

His agent (Milton Berle) knows how difficult actors can be, but he has his hands full with this one. Fane thinks he can order everyone around and his demands are well over the top.

When he is at the bottom of his game he gets nominated for an Academy Award. This new attention energizes his greed and he will stop at nothing to get the Oscar.

An A-list cast makes this an interesting film. Jill St. John, Eleanor Parker, Joseph Cotton, Edie Adams, Ernest Borgnine, Ed Begley, Broderick Crawford, Walter Brennan, and Peter Lawford join Berle, Sommer, Bennett and Boyd in the muck of Hollywood. Hedda Hopper, Edith Head, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, and Merle Oberon appear as themselves to give the film a realistic tone.

The movie shows the greed and disregard for others by this callous man who steps on everyone on his way to the top. But will he actually make it to the top or will his heartless actions be the end of him?

This is an interesting look at Hollywood but a more entertaining film about the business is “Valley of the Dolls.” The cast in this film, however, is outstanding!

The Oscar is not rated. It is not suitable for kids.

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.