Author: Francine Brokaw

Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Holidays CD GIVEAWAY

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Katherine Dines, a trailblazing and Grammy-nominated independent family music artist, presents a new album of 13 songs and some interesting stories and facts about how people around the world celebrate holidays. Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Holidays is meant for growing families. As Dines says, “Holidays are essential; they bring people together. And as populations increase, families fracture, and people with different beliefs and customs spread further and further apart, holidays, and their joyous celebrations, are needed more than ever.”

Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Holidays/ Katherine Dines

Track list:

  1. Somewhere in the World – 3:23
  2. A Long Time Ago – 2:50
  3. Thanks to the Sun – 2:04
  4. Nian – 3:51
  5. Light Rises Over Darkness – 5:06
  6. Stars – 3:29
  7. Eight Little Candles – 4:52
  8. The Friendly Beasts – 3:38
  9. Forever Evergreen – 4:32
  10. The Sun Will Rise – 2:32
  11. Ramadan – 3:16
  12. Kwanzaa – 4:36
  13. Joy – 2:56

 

We have some copies to giveaway. To be eligible to win a copy of Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Holidays, email us at [email protected] with “HunkTaBunkTa 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).

The deadline for this giveaway is November 15, 2019.

‘Baby Shark’ from ZURU

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Anyone who has a young child knows about Baby Shark. Baby Shark has captured the hearts and ears of kids and families everywhere. ZURU has the entire family of Baby Shark, Mommy Shark, and Daddy Shark for bath time and pool time play. And yes, the song does play while the sharks swim in the water.

This is one fun bath toy that little kids will enjoy. It not only entertains them by swimming around the tub, but the song is one almost every child knows. And parents know this is a song and a character that can put a smile on a kid’s face even when they are grumpy.

The three sharks are sold separately: yellow baby shark, pink mommy shark, and blue daddy shark. The plastic animals are ready to go with their batteries included.

One word of warning for adults… once the shark begins you won’t be able to get that theme song out of your head for days! Nevertheless, the show and Baby Shark have been entertaining kids for several years with the characters and the theme song.

Baby Shark is beloved and now able to share bath time (and swim time in the summer) with young kids. It is recommended for ages 1-6 however I have tested it on a 9 month old who really enjoyed the little fellow. Just be careful when using it around very small kids.

Baby Shark is part of the ROBO ALIVE collection from the company. “ROBO ALIVE is one of our most popular and best-performing properties,” said Renee Lee, Global Marketing Director, ZURU. “The addition of Pinkfong’s Baby Shark provides the perfect on trend item for younger children to engage in the brand. We expect this to be an absolute hit for bath time play and are thrilled with the phenomenal support from all our retail partners.”

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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.

PAW Patrol Mighty Lookout Tower

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

PAW Patrol is an entertaining and popular show for preschoolers on Nick Jr. There are plenty of great products that bring the fun of the PAW Patrol home to your house and provide hours of activities for kids. Imaginations run wild with these products and the latest, the PAW Patrol Mighty Lookout Tower, doesn’t disappoint.

The unit takes a little time and effort to assemble – parents need to do this – but once it is up and the batteries (not included) are inserted, the lights and sounds make it even more exciting for little kids. The PAW Patrol Mighty Lookout Tower comes with one dog (Chase) and one vehicle (Chase’s Police Truck) however there are plenty more to purchase separately and when they are all together, the tower is even more fun to play with and more adventures to create.

There are buttons to push, an elevator, a zip line, lights, music, slides, and so many ways in which to play with this one toy. The fun this unit creates is only limited by imagination. Kids will definitely make up their own scenarios to go along with all the activities in the tower.

With the addition of other pups, vehicles, and even other products like the PAW Patrol Super PAWs Mighty Jet Command Center, playing with the pups is an all day adventure.

The PAW Patrol Mighty Lookout Tower is one of the featured products from Nickelodeon for the 2019 holiday season. It’s the perfect gift for kids who enjoy the hit TV show on Nick Jr.Bring home the Mighty Lookout Tower and let the fun begin!

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. 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.

‘Return to Mt. Kennedy’ is a family affair

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

In 1965 the Canadian government wanted to do something to honor President John Kennedy. They decided to find an unexplored mountain and name it Mt. Kennedy. Then Jim Whittaker, the first American to climb Mt. Everest, led an expedition up Mt. Kennedy in the Canadian Yukon, with Senator Robert Kennedy joining the team. Kennedy had never climbed a mountain and was afraid of heights, but he felt he had to do it as a tribute to his slain brother. When they got near the summit Whittaker stepped aside, letting Robert Kennedy be the first person to stand on the top of that mountain. Fifty years later, Whittaker’s sons Bob, Leif, and RFK’s son Christopher returned to meet the challenge of their fathers. This documentary, Return to Mt. Kennedy, not only follows this latest trek up the mountain, but also gives plenty of background on all of the people involved in the first expedition as well as this follow-up climb.

The film includes never before seen footage of the original climb, with RFK and Whittaker. It also looks at the second generation of climbers, most notably Bob Whittaker who was named after RFK. After the initial climb, the Whittakers and the Kennedys became fast friends and Jim talks about how he stepped in to become one of the many surrogate fathers to the RFK brood of 11 kids.

Chris Kennedy was talked into joining this new trek up the mountain and along the way encountered some pretty rough situations. The three men basically walked in the steps of their fathers fifty years later.

Besides being the first American to climb Mt. Everest, Jim Whittaker, a true outdoorsman, became CEO of REI and both families shared a love of the outdoors and the wilderness. That is what Bob Whittaker has tasked himself with doing these days, although his earlier life was far different, as viewers discover.

Return to Mt. Kennedy is an interesting look at the two generations and the confluence of circumstances that brought them together in spirit fifty years apart. The film is available on digital platforms November 5, 2019.

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.

‘A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish is a modern day Cinderella story with plenty of musical numbers as well as the obligatory evil stepmother and step sisters that are necessary for this timeless tale. This new take on the classic story is for tweens and young teens to enjoy as they watch the tale unfold and the great musical numbers that make this a new way of telling the story.

Laura Marano stars as Kat, a young woman whose father died and left her in the care of her stepmother and her two stepsisters. Needless to say, the stepmother treats Kat as a servant and dotes on her two daughters. But Kat’s outlook on life is positive, even though she gets the brunt of the wrath at home.

Kat works as an elf at Santa Land, a holiday lot owned by local billionaire Terrence Wintergarden, a friend of her father. She meets Nick, the new Santa at Santa Land and they hit it off. Kat has no idea Nick is really Dominic Wintergarden (Gregg Sulkin), Terrence’s son. Money means nothing to her. What she wants more than anything is to have a successful singing career.

Well, you know the story of Cinderella, and this pretty much follows that. The stepmother and stepsisters get their comeuppance and Kat gets what she wants in the end. Along the way watch the fun musical numbers.

Bonus features on the Blu-ray combo pack include a look at the costumes. There is another bonus feature that delves into the staged musical scenes. Marano is a wonderful performer and really embraced this role. And Sulkin admits he looked forward to stretching his talent in these scenes.

With the fairy tale combined with updated music and the magic of Christmas, A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish is a fun holiday film. It is rated PG for rude and suggestive material. It is definitely targeted to tweens and teens.

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 ‘The Lion King’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

This digital version of the classic 1994 animated film is even more endearing than the original. The Lion King is a heartwarming story of life, love, and family as young Simba learns what it truly takes to be king of the Pride Lands.

When his father Mufasa is killed, the little lion cub runs away because he is ashamed because his evil uncle Scar tells him he is responsible for his father’s death. Simba meets Pumbaa and Timon and the three of them become best friends. Then a grown up Simba is reunited with his old friend Nala and their relationship is rekindled. She tells him Scar has ruined the Pride Lands so now it is up to Simba, Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa to take back what was stolen from the animals and return the land to its former glory.

There are plenty of bonus features on the 4K/Blu-ray combo pack that take viewers behind the scenes of the creation of this wonderful film. Everyone knows the great songs that came out of the movie, and they are back in this digital version along with a brand new song, “Never Too Late,” which was written by Elton John and Tim Rice specifically for this movie. Hans Zimmer returned to oversee the music in this new film.

Jon Favreau directed the film, which is more like a live action movie than an animated movie. He discusses the casting of this film. It was a coup to get James Earl Jones to reprise his role as the voice of Mufasa.

There is an interesting bonus looking at the evolution of several scenes from storyboard to animation to the final version. It is amazing to see how far digital animation has come.

And instead of having the actors simply record their lines in a booth, a special stage was created so they could act out their parts while saying their lines. This gave them more authenticity than being in a small room with a microphone.

A final bonus shows how the Disney studio joined with the Lion Recovery Fund to help the protection and preservation of the lion population. Long live these wonderful animals!

The Lion King is filled with pop culture elements that have embedded themselves into our lexicon and our lives. “The circle of life” is a phrase that we hear over and over, and also “Hakuna Matata” is another phrase that has become part of our vocabulary.

First as an animated film then a Broadway play and now a digital movie, The Lion King has touched the hearts of people around the world. This movie is beautifully filmed and adds a new dimension to the story without the animation we are all used to when it comes to viewing Simba. This story comes to the screen in a visually stunning way. And although the original had many comical elements, this newer version is filled with many more laugh-out-loud moments.

The Lion King is available on Blu-ray/DVD and in a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray combo pack. Both come with a digital code.

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.

‘Going my Way’ on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Going My Way is an inspirational film with fun and music and a lot of heart. Now, for its 75th Anniversary the Blu-ray will not only delight fans of the film but will also entertain new viewers that are not familiar with this delightful movie.

Bing Crosby plays Father O’Malley, a young priest assigned to a parish overseen by the gruff Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald) who likes the old ways and balks at anything new. The parish is in financial trouble and O’Malley is determined to get the funds and set everything in the right direction.

O’Malley is a kind, sensitive man and an inspiration to a bunch of young boys. With his take on modern life, he wins over the kids and eventually the crotchety Fitzgibbon. With wonderful songs like “Swinging on a Star,” “Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral,” “The Day After Forever,” and the title song “Going My Way,” this movie will have viewers singing along as well as feeling empathy for the two priests who have different backgrounds but both want the best for the parish.

Fitzgerald is delightful and loveable as Father Fitzgibbon. He has so many cute lines and watching him perform is a treat. And Crosby is magnificent in this role.

The movie is a classic and Crosby took home the Academy Award for Best Actor with Fitzgerald winning Best Supporting Actor. The movie also won several other awards in 1944.

Crosby returned to the screen as Father O’Malley the following year to star in The Bells of St. Mary’s with Ingrid Bergman that again had Crosby up for an Academy Award however he did not win that year.

Going My Way is a great film for the entire family.

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.

‘Making Montgomery Clift’ shows a family’s love

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Making Montgomery Clift is a project of family love from his nephew Robert Clift and Hillary Demmon. In this documentary Clift sets out to show the personal life and conflicts of his famous uncle and the ways in which his family has tried to set the record straight about the Hollywood star.

Montgomery Clift, aka Monty, was born in Nebraska in 1920 when the world was a different place and social convention was much more conservative. In the film Monty’s mother Ethel acknowledges that she knew her young son was gay but his brother Brooks Clift, Robert’s father, explained to her that Monty was bi-sexual because he liked both women and men.

What is interesting about the Hollywood career forged by Monty is that he insisted on bucking the system, literally. He said “no” to the studio system in which actors signed on with specific studios. After signing, the actor was told what film he or she was going to do. Clift wanted complete control of his film choices. For years he turned down role after role, even for some of the most classic films we still enjoy today. He wanted to make his own decisions and he did. He even insisted on having the right to write his dialogue if he so chose.

This was a man who was completely independent. He knew what he wanted to do and was driven to do it. He had his own ideas about what his characters would do and say and that is what he wanted to put on film.

Off screen he was described as tormented because he couldn’t lead the life he wanted to live. His homosexuality was an open secret, but it was still a secret to some degree. His family insists that did not play any part in his personal life and that he was at peace with himself, yet biographers and other press still made him a prisoner of his sexuality.

Another interesting aspect of Monty’s life, and also his brother’s life, is that they recorded conversations. Brooks recorded everything and many tapes are played in this film. And Monty also recorded phone conversations. Listening to personal conversations between mother and son and also brother and brother highlights their relationships. In a sense, this is a window into the real lives of the Clift family.

Jack Larson who played Jimmy Olsen in the TV series Superman, relates an episode he had with Clift and describes his friend. Clift was a fun-loving man who enjoyed jokes and joking around.

This documentary is a portrait of Montgomery Clift done by his nephew who wanted to set the story straight. In this day and age of finding your roots and ancestry sites, families are going deeper and deeper into their histories. And in this case Robert Clift searched and researched about his family and his uncle. And he has the tape recordings to prove it. That in itself is an interesting aspect of this family. But at the heart of the show is the family love that binds them together and that pushes them to keep the legacy of Monty alive and correct the errors that books and interviews have made about one of Hollywood’s notable stars of the golden age.

Making Montgomery Clift is available on Digital and VOD October 15, 2019.

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.

‘Never Again is Now’ is powerful and a must-see film

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

After the holocaust the cry was “Never again!” That was the thought among the people of the world. But times have changed, and changed dramatically. Never Again is Now is a documentary that will not only enlighten viewers but also awaken them to the status of humanity in current times. Evelyn Markus brings an emotional story to light as she reflects on the past and shows how civilization is repeating the horrors again. With this awakening, viewers will be able to join together and stop the atrocities that are sweeping over the planet.

Markus is a Dutch Jew who discusses the plight of Jews during the holocaust and how life after was brighter for Jews. But times have changed and with the rise of Muslim extremists and Alt-Right, the lives of Jewish people around the globe are in danger. Yes, danger.

Markus had to leave her homeland and found comfort in the United States. This is the country that promises freedom of religion. She discusses and shows how Europe is being enveloped by antisemitism and how in many countries the schools are not allowed to even mention the holocaust. Jews are being tormented on the streets and their safety is in jeopardy.

But that is not a trend that is only happening in Europe. On the contrary, the United States is slowly following as antisemitism is beginning to spread its hate in the U.S.

With interviews with devout Muslim physician Qanta Ahmed, who is one Muslim helping to sound the alarm, religious leaders, government leaders, and others, this film demonstrates that people are definitely concerned about the spread of antisemitism and the hatred that is part of life these days, as in the time of Hitler.

It is astonishing to see the harassment and insults Jews encounter just by walking down the streets in Europe. Will that soon be the case in the United States?

Every person in the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, state and local government offices needs to see this film. It is an important and eye-opening lesson for anyone who has not experienced this hatred.

Never Again is Now is a lesson and a wake-up call. It goes right to the heart of humanity. If viewers do not get a twinge in their stomach or a tear in their eye or even a feeling of anger, they do not care about their fellow humans!

Never Again is Now is being released October 23, 2019 on VOD via Amazon US and Amazon UK. This is a powerful and emotional film that should wake up the population and inspire everyone to stop this horrendous situation that is sweeping once again around the world.

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.