PAW Patrol Mighty Lookout Tower

Posted on October 25, 2019October 25, 2019 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 October 24, 2019 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 October 24, 2019 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.

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Bring home ‘The Lion King’

Posted on October 22, 2019 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.

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‘Going my Way’ on Blu-ray

Posted on October 20, 2019 by Francine Brokaw

Going My Way is an inspirational film with fun and music and a lot of heart. Now, for its 75^th 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.

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‘Making Montgomery Clift’ shows a family’s love

Posted on October 11, 2019 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.

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

Posted on October 7, 2019 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.

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‘Toy Story 4’ now on Blu-ray

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Francine Brokaw

In Toy Story 3 Andy went away to college and gave his treasured friends to Bonnie, who has an amazing imagination. In subsequent made-for-TV shows, (Toy Story of Terror and Toy Story that Time Forgot) Bonnie’s love and imagination with her toys captured the hearts of viewers.

When Andy had his toys, Woody was his favorite and went with him everywhere. Now in Toy Story 4, Woody is with Bonnie and has been demoted, so to speak. He’s not her favorite but he still feels responsible for her, in the same way he did for Andy. He knows his purpose it to make Bonnie happy. And when she is afraid to go to kindergarten, Woody stows away in her backpack to be there for her if she needs him.

At the kindergarten initiation day Bonnie creates Forky, a spork combined with googly eyes and other items from the trash. She instantly loves this new toy. When they all get back to her room, Woody introduces Forky to the gang. But Forky still thinks he is trash and not a toy. After all, he came from the trash.

Bonnie and her parents take off in an RV for an end-of-summer vacation, along with Buzz, Woody, several of her toys, and her new favorite toy Forky. While Forky still doesn’t understand the importance of being there for his “kid,” the gang instills in him the duty of being a toy. He still wants to escape from the bonds of toydom.

Woody and Forky find themselves in the Second Chance antique store where Woody is reunited with Bo Peep, from the good old days. Bo was Andy’s sisters toy and years earlier was discarded. The bond between Woody and Bo is strong, however Bo has been living as a lost toy and has had a different life than Woody. She has not had a kid for a long time.

In the antique store Woody and Forky encounter a doll that has never had a kid. Gabby Gabby, is a cute doll that came off the assembly line defective. So she has spent her entire life, since the 1950s, without someone to love her. That is all she wants – to be loved by a child.

The escapades with all the toys – including some carnival toys – are fun.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack includes many bonus features that enlighten viewers about creating the characters and the scenes. Many of these bonus features are lessons in animation.

There is a nice little featurette about Buzz and Woody with their human counterparts Tim Allen and Tom Hanks. Spoiler alert: there are times in life when we have to say good-bye. This is the time for these two good friends who have experienced many escapades together over the last couple decades.

Also included are featurettes about some of the new characters including Gabby Gabby, Forky, Ducky and Bunny, and Giggle McDimples. Deleted scenes in storyboard form are also part of the bonus features plus much more.

With all the bonus features, the Blu-ray combo pack of Toy Story 4 is a must-have for fans of the franchise. It’s packed full of fun and features and plenty of characters – old and new. This sentimental story will definitely be a film families will watch over and over.

Toy Story 4 is available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and 4K Ultra Combo Pack. It’s rated G for the whole family.

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‘Princess Emmy’ on DVD

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Francine Brokaw

A long time ago, in the Kingdom of Kandis, Queen Karla saved the lives of countless horses. In return she was given the gift of being able to talk to horses. Queen Karla wrote everything down in a secret book, and as long as the book was not lost, the ability to talk to horses would continue with the royals. Princess Emmy is the current young princess in the kingdom and loves being with her horses. She carefully guards the book. Emmy loves the gift of talking to horses and would do anything to keep it.

When her evil and jealous cousin Gizana comes to stay with her, Emmy faces the ultimate test. She and Gizana are preparing for the Princess Day Ball however Emmy is also given an additional challenge from the book. She must prove herself worthy of the gift. But at the same time she is trying to figure out what the test is to prove her worthiness, Gizana is sabotaging her efforts as well as doing whatever she can to prove Emmy is not worthy of attending the Princess Day Ball.

Poor little Emmy is facing challenges at every turn. Only her best friend David is able to help her. He is the only outsider who is aware of Emmy’s gift. But can the two of them keep Gizana from stealing the book and transferring the gift to herself? Once she discovers there really is a special power associated with the book, she wickedly devises a plan to steal it from Emmy and take the gift for herself.

This is a cute story that shows even enemies, no matter how much they might despise each other, can join forces and become friends. Princess Emmy is a fun little character who enjoys being with her horses and keeping the gift. She learns that there are some things more important than her wonderful gift, however. And that is her ultimate challenge.

Princess Emmy is available on DVD from Shout! Factory Kids beginning October 15, 2019.

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‘Biloxi Blues’ now on Blu-ray

Posted on October 6, 2019 by Francine Brokaw

Neil Simon wrote the play and the screenplay of Biloxi Blues, which is the middle of his semi-autobiographical trilogy. This 1988 comedy is hysterical but also has plenty of drama and thoughtful scenes.

Matthew Broderick stars as Eugene Morris Jerome, a native New Yorker who is about to go going through Army Boot Camp in the south with a bunch of young men from different cultures with different sets of personal references. Jerome is determined to be an author and keeps a detailed diary of his days at boot camp.

The ensemble is wonderful and Neil Simon’s story is filled with many laugh-out-loud moments as well as plenty of insightful and dramatic ones. These men must learn not only how to be soldiers, but also how to survive as a team in this hot, humid, haunting environment that is Biloxi, Mississippi.

The movie was mainly filmed in Fort Smith, Arkansas, a place that leant itself to the environment of the south. Viewers will definitely get a sense of the heat. As Jerome says, “It’s Africa hot.”

The new bonus feature on this Blu-ray is a look back at the film and the characters with Corey Parker who played Epstein with a great determination to capture the character in all his brilliance. Parker was familiar with the play however, as he points out, the movie had a little different take on the story and the ending is different from the play.

Parker goes down the line and discusses each actor’s performance and what he brought to the film. He also talks about Simon as well as director Mike Nichols, and says many of the cast and crew gathered and bonded over a Passover Sedar during the shoot. An interesting fact that he brings out is that Neil Simon was there for the first two weeks then left the production in the hands of the director and actors. Apparently that is how he liked to do things when it came to filming his stories.

Brighton Beach Memoirs, Biloxi Blues, and Broadway Bound make up the “Eugene” trilogy penned by Simon. Many movies have been made about boot camps, but they don’t have the fun and flair of this one by Simon.

Biloxi Blues is rated PG-13.

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