Author: Francine Brokaw

‘I Kill Giants’ comes to Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



The 2010 series of Graphic Novels (known to many as comic books) comes to life in the film I Kill Giants starring Madison Wolfe and Zoe Saldana. This is a sensitive and imaginative story of life, hope, and fate.

Barbara (Wolfe) is a teenager living with her older sister and brother. She has some psychological issues, which are only revealed in the end. But throughout the film, Barbara insists she is hunting, trapping, and killing giants, thus saving the town. She is bullied at school for being different, but that doesn’t faze her at all. She is steadfast in her beliefs.

Barbara’s imagination knows no bounds. The photography in the film is amazing and as viewers get caught up in this young girl’s adventures, their emotions can’t help but be touched by her determination to kill all the giants.

As the story unfolds, there are brief clues as to what exactly is going on inside Barbara’s head. And the school psychologist, Mrs. Molle (Saldana), gathers pieces of information about this young girl who is obviously living in a distorted world.

As the two get closer, Barbara slowly rethinks her whole role in life. Isn’t she supposed to be the giant killer and save everyone?

Her one and only friend, Sophia (Sydney Wade) waffles between getting caught up in Barbara’s beliefs and adventures, and wondering what is really going on with her.

This sensitive and touching story is filled with the morose emotions of Barbara, but there is an ending that brings hope to the girl. Life is not an easy journey, for teenagers especially. But Barbara is experiencing an aspect of life that is more difficult than usual. Her giant hunting/killing is the only thing that keeps her focused. And at this time she needs to hold onto something, some sliver of hope.

It all comes together at the end, so there is no way I will spoil it for you.

The bonus feature takes a look at the making of the film and the transformation from graphic novels to the big screen. The movie was filmed in Belgium, but is supposed to be New Jersey.

The story is extremely emotional as viewers take this troubling journey with Barbara. As viewers discover, it’s really a heartfelt story of love.

In 2012, I Kill Giants writer Joe Kelley and artist J.M. Ken Niimura received the International Manga Award, an honor given by the Japanese Foreign Ministry to an outstanding comic book or graphic novel.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 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.

Follow her on Twitter

‘The Crew’ comes to Blu-ray and DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



An incredible cast and a whacky story combine in the 2000 film The Crew. Richard Dreyfuss, Burt Reynolds, Dan Hedaya, and Seymour Cassel play senior citizens who have retired to Miami. But these aren’t your ordinary senior citizens. They are former mobsters.

Bobby Bartellemeo (Dreyfuss), Joey Pistella (Reynolds) Mike ‘The Brick’ Donatelli (Hedaya), and Tony ‘Mouth’ Donato (Cassel) were a big deal in New Jersey, back in the day. But now they are simply old codgers making their way through their golden years with a simple lifestyle and their memories of their past.

When they learn they will not be able to afford the higher rent in their apartment building, they devise a plan to make the residence less than desirable for the other tenants and future tenants. What do retired mobsters do to scare away others? They set up a murder in the lobby. But these guys are not evil. They are really nice and do not want to hurt anyone. All they want to do is to stay in their homes.

So, these good-hearted former gangsters decide to stage a murder by taking a corpse from the morgue and shooting it to make it look like a murder. The thing is, they are so nice now they have a hard time shooting a corpse. But once the deed is done (accidentally), their desired result occurs. They get to stay in their home – with a rent deduction. After all, who would want to live in a place where a gruesome murder happened?

Everything is looking up for this group until they learn the corpse was a former big-time crime boss. Then everything hits the fan. Soon the gang is neck deep in mob retaliation and even deeper in another potential crime.

Then a new hitch comes into their situation. Bobby’s long-lost daughter turns out to be the lead detective on the case. Will this madness never end? The crew keeps getting deeper and deeper into this farcical dramedy.

This is a whacky story of former bad guys going good and who are trying to keep the peace in their town.

Lainie Kazan and Jennifer Tilly co-star along with Carrie-Anne Moss, Jeremy Piven, and Miguel Sandoval.

The Crew is rated PG-13 for sexual content, violence, and language.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 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.

Follow her on Twitter

HALO Products to make life easier

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

HALO has some interesting, easy to use, and quite helpful products. They also make great and thoughtful gifts.

The HALO Bolt AC/DC Portable Charger & Car Jumper is useful for everyone. After all, electricity does go out from time to time. This portable unit can run your 120 Volt devices and your tech products with USB plugs. It also comes with jumper cables to instantly charge your car’s battery without the need for another car. It’s handy and useful. Parents will undoubtedly want one for each of their kids. It is also something that is necessary in each car. Think about being able to recharge your car’s battery without the assistance of another vehicle. It’s safer than waiting on a dark road for another car to come help you jump the batteries or for AAA to arrive. Just hook up the battery to the BOLT and voila. And when the electricity goes out for whatever reason, you can connect a lamp, tablet, or something else and have access to the news, in case the power is out due to weather or an earthquake. The BOLT AC/DC comes in a variety of colors.

The HALO Powerbuds Wireless Earbuds with Built-in Portable Power comes with three sizes of ear tips. It also has Bluetooth and a USB-to-Micro USB cable. The Bluetooth makes this an especially handy unit because you can now take your music with you and not have to be tethered to your device.

HALO makes a Powerhub, which is a portable charging station that can charge up to six USB devices at the same time. At 5” wide and 5” long with a height of just under two inches, it can easily tuck away when not needed, but it is attractive enough to set out on your counter or shelf. They come in several colors.

For portable charging any time any place, the HALO Lipstick Portable Chargers fit the bill for women who don’t want to carry a clunky charger in their purses. These actually do look like lipsticks. When your phone is about to run out of power, simply pull out your lipstick charger with the cable. These sets of two chargers come in three color combinations. Men are can use them, obviously, however they were created for women to slip into their purse or pocket without calling attention to their use.

The HALO Portable Powerpatch is the easy way to power your cell phone. How many times have you had to quit taking photos on a vacation or at a party because your phone was running out of power. And when you see that dreaded “low power” alert but have some calls to make, you don’t have to worry if you have this device. Because it sticks onto a smooth surface, it can stick on your phone so you can hold them together. How handy is that? There are a variety of color options for the powerpatch.

Any and all of these devices are great for kids going off to college. They are useful for the entire family too. HALO has created several useful tools that are necessary in this age of technology when we rely on so many things but most importantly, power. Power is the key today, and HALO has the power you need.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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.

Follow her on Twitter

Disney Furrytale Friends – the latest line of Disney Merchandise

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

They’re here! Disney’s Furrytale Friends have arrived at your local Disney Store and shopDisney.com. With the adorable characters from the Aristocrats and Lady and the Tramp, there are plenty of items to delight toddlers and youngsters.

Let’s start with the plush animals, of course. These fun furry pals are about eight inches high. There’s a sweet Lady, with her big eyes and eyelashes that will enchant everyone in the family. She is adorable with a loveable little half smile and floppy ears. It’s hard not to smile yourself when you look at her little face. And let’s not forget about Tramp. This little fellow sports a cunning grin and has folding ears. Finally, there’s a purrfect little Marie, with her eager and loving feline smile. These plush pals are soft and feel like velvet. They make great sleeping buddies and are definitely going to be coming along in the car with your little tykes. And if you have both Lady and Tramp, well, just expect two more for dinner when you serve spaghetti! ($12.95 each)

Next there is a cute Furrytale Friends Aristocats Family Pack Playset. Included are four felines, each about 2 1/4 inches high. The cats are Toulouse, Duchess, Thomas O’Malley, and Berlioz. Besides these kitties, the set includes two double food bowls. After all, a cat has to eat, right? The cats have hard heads covered in a soft material and soft bodies. They are flocked molded plastic and easy to hold. They have been created to sit on a table or anywhere by themselves. Because of the size of the bowls and the cats, this set is for ages 3+. ($16.95)

Now, of course the cats need a house. There are several houses along with their individual animals. Currently there is a Jock Starter Home, a Marie Starter Home, a Colette Starter Home, a Lady Starter Home, and a Tramp Starter home. Of course, the animals can visit and stay in their friends’ homes, and the homes can attach to make a little neighborhood. Putting them together is like creating a street where they can all play and visit. The homes open up to create play yards for the gang. It’s like having a bunch of dollhouses, only these are for the little animals. The four cats from the Aristocats Family Pack are also welcome in the neighborhood! This is an ingenious idea. Now all the animals can mingle together and kids will be occupied for hours. (I would have loved this when I was a kid!). Because of the pieces, these are for ages 3+. ($12.95) They are about six inches high and each have unique colors and details.

But Disney didn’t stop there. They have a Furrytale Friends Tony’s Restaurant Deluxe Playset. This is where Lady and Tramp can dine out. Or, you can have the entire gang come for dinner. This Playset is adorable and, the fun part is it can join the rest of the neighborhood. As a matter of fact, the houses can stack up to make this a two-story establishment. The neighborhood can expand in a variety of formations, limited only by your child’s imagination. ($24.95)


Besides these great toy items, there is a Furrytale Friends Lady and the Tramp Rolling Luggage, so your child can travel in style, or just go off to grandma’s house for a night. ($44.95) Girls will love carrying the Lady Plush Backpack. The face is the same as the small plush Lady. ($18.95)

Plenty of apparel items with the Furrytale Friends are also available, including a Marie sleep set ($19.95), a Marie dress and leggings set ($24.95), Marie buckle sandals ($19.95), a Lady dress ($29.95), and a Tramp short set for boys ($24.95).

The little neighborhood homes and the restaurant are my picks of the collection. Even if you only get one home or just the restaurant, there is a lot of fun to be had with these items. And, if you have more than one, well, imagine all the fun your kids and these furry friends will have together.

The entire collection is fun, whimsical, and something new for kids this summer. For more information, go to their website.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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.

Follow her on Twitter

‘Straight Talk’ on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



Dolly Parton is adorable in Straight Talk, a 1992 movie that still holds up today. Along with James Woods, Parton endears herself to viewers as she blends her true country charm with her character to create a fun and humorous tale.

Parton is Shirlee, a sweet and honest woman who leaves her small town and takes off for the big – and windy – city of Chicago. There she accidentally meets Jack (Woods) a reporter who thinks she is about to kill herself. But that is the last thing on her mind.

Shirlee takes a job as a receptionist at a local radio station. While wandering around the station, she accidentally goes into the wrong room and is mistaken for a psychologist who is supposed to be the station’s newest talk show host. Innocent and complying with their requests, Shirlee puts on the headphones and begins answering phone calls from callers in the city. She doesn’t hold back. She tells it like it is and soon she is playing along with her boss who has learned her secret but knows she is a gold mine for the station. Shirlee is living the high life in the big city, although deep down she has a little pang of guilt because she is pretending to be a psychologist. But “Dr. Shirlee” is Chicago’s newest celebrity and everyone is enjoying her blunt talk.

Jack decides to dig deep into her history. He knows something is not right. Could this be the same woman he thought was about to jump off a bridge not long ago?

As Jack digs into her history, he and Shirlee become closer and yes, an attraction is there. That doesn’t bode well for a journalist who is hot on a story, but their relationship blooms and as Shirlee becomes more popular – and famous – she and Jack become closer.

Her heart tells her to tell the truth, but she is in too deep. And she feels she is helping people with her blunt comments and down-home reasoning.

Shirlee is now the face of Chicago. How can she get out of this made-up situation? And what will people think of her once they know the truth? But, as they say, the truth will set you free.

Straight Talk is adorable and Parton is fun to watch. It’s now available on Blu-ray. The movie is rated PG for mild language, sex related dialogue, and momentary sensuality.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 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.

Follow her on Twitter

‘The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island’ comes to theaters

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



Gertrude Chandler Warner penned the first book in the series, “The Boxcar Children” in 1924. Since then over 70 million books in the series have been sold. There are 150 books about these four children: Violet (voiced by Talitha Bateman), Jessie (Joey King), Benny (Carter Sand), and Henry (Griffin Gluck). The second book, “Surprise Island” was published in 1949 and is now an animated feature film, with Martin Sheen voicing James Alden, J.K. Simmons voicing Dr. Moore, and Dane DeHaan voicing John Joseph Alden. The first film came out four years ago.

The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island is a fun story of family and adventure. When their grandfather tells them they own a private island and the four children can spend their summer on that island if they want, well, what would you do? Of course these four delightful kids welcome the opportunity to explore and enjoy all the island has to offer. Don’t worry. They are not completely alone on the island. There is the captain of the boat that lives on the island and his new assistant, Joe.

The kids enjoy digging for clams, gathering shells, fishing, and swimming while the summer glides by. They also rely a little on their new friend Joe. But there is something suspicious about Joe. He knows a lot about a lot of things and is eager to help the kids any way he can. Yes, there is a mystery about this young man but the truth isn’t revealed until the end of the summer.

I remember reading these books when I was a little girl and loved them. I know kids today have embraced them as well, and with these animated movies, the fun of the children come to life on the screen. A third film based on the books is in the works.

This is truly a delightful film for kids and adults will enjoy it too. It’s a story of caring and family. The film might also inspire kids to read the books.

The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island opens in theaters May 8, 2018. Enjoy!

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 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.

Follow her on Twitter

‘Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story’ unveils a feminist way ahead of her time

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



Can you name some Old Hollywood Glamour? My picks would be Hedy Lamarr, Ingrid Bergman, Vivien Leigh, and Grace Kelly. I’ve seen Bergman, Leigh, and Kelly in action, but I’ve never seen Lamarr’s works. According to PBS’ American Masters – Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story, Lamarr never had her Casablanca, and surprise, surprise, Leigh was one of Hedy Lamarr wannabes!

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is literally a bombshell of fascinating eye-openers. You’ll be shell shocked at one alluring tidbit after another. Who would have thought? Hedy Lamarr (1914 – 2000) is the Hidden Figure behind secure WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth technologies, yet she never publicly talked about her acute interest in inventing a wide range of things from compressed Coke cube (although she admitted this attempt was ‘one of my boo-boos’) to revolutionary frequency hopping. What makes this documentary so intimate and endearing is that Lamarr herself gets to tell her untold story thanks to journalist Fleming Meeks who kept his phone interview tapes for 25 years.

The show opens with her quote: “Any girl can look glamourous. All she has to do is stand still and look stupid.” Lamarr’s astute observation embodies not only Hollywood but also the universal culture toward women. She desperately wanted to make her mark, but did not get the R-E-S-P-E-C-T she craved as someone who contributed to the wellbeing of humankind. Instead of accepting her secure communications system, the Navy told her to sell kisses for war bonds. MGM Studios used Lamarr as a money-making distraction for the troops. How humiliating and demeaning that must have been! We’ve been there more or less, haven’t we, ladies? But we’re talking about the most recognizable face of her time being ‘handled’ and never seen for who she was.

I don’t think I’m reading too much into her remarks; I certainly detected disappointment and resigned sadness in her voice. The saving grace of this documentary is that Lamarr seemed to have come to grips and made her peace with the grim reality of the patriarchal society. Dim our lights. Dumb ourselves down, way down. We don’t want to be labeled as ‘difficult,’ do we now?

They say “beauty knocks many doors.” Lamarr innocently walked into the first door that opened wide for her, but the Studio System did not appreciate her ‘being herself.’ She had too many faces to fit the traditional Hollywood Glamour mold. So she jiggled many more doors, but unfortunately her stunning beauty held her back in the doorways. Lamarr was a trailblazer for feminism; ingenious inventor and fiercely independent problem solver who refused to be just a pretty face. I wish I could tell her things have changed, but regrettably not much.

PBS’ American Masters – Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story premieres on Friday, May 18, 2018.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of human drama worth watching. She is a member of Television Critics Association as well as Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

The Incredibles for your incredible family

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

If you haven’t heard that there is a sequel to The Incredibles (2004) coming out this summer, you have been living under a rock. The crime-fighting family returns for Incredibles 2, an all new adventure and yes, baby Jack-Jack is front and center. ShopDisney and the Disney Stores have some great products with all the characters and many pieces of clothing to make your entire family an incredible family.

The line of T-shirts is a great way to dress up your entire family – or just one person – even if you don’t have super powers. You can wear the Incredibles Logo or a design for each character. Plus, there are plenty of baby onsies and bodysuits so your own little bundle of joy and turn into an incredibly adorable super baby.


And speaking of super baby, Jack-Jack has been adored by all since he first appeared in the original movie. The small plush is sure to be adored by the kids in your family. He is dressed in his red suit and wears his black mask. The tuft of hair on top of his head is soft and fluffy. I have no doubt this little fellow will be spending a lot of nights under the covers with plenty of little kids this summer. His smile will put a smile on anyone’s face.

And for even more Jack-Jack fun, the Jack-Jack Fightin’ Fun Light-Up Talking Plush will make everyone laugh right along with this little guy. His eyes light up and he laughs and jabbers as he shuffles along. This is really an adorable toy. He is dressed in his red suit, dons his black mask, and wears his raccoon slippers. So darn cute! And that laugh is infectious!


This Halloween – yes it’s a little while away but… – the family can dress as the Incredibles. There are costumes for everyone.

Children might make their beds if they have an Incredibles comforter. This depicts all the characters and comes in Twin size. There are also Incredibles sheets as well. With Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Violet, Dash, and Jack-Jack, nighttime will be an incredible experience. (yes, pun intended) And with pajamas for the entire family, everyone will be able to have an incredibly good night’s sleep.

For the entire selection of Incredibles merchandise, go to the ShopDisney website.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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.

Follow her on Twitter

ShopDisney adds a new element to the Lilo micro play set

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The popular Animators’ Collection from ShopDisney has been around for a little while. They are miniature homes for the characters in the line. So far they have offered a micro play set for Ariel (underwater castle), Tinker Bell (woodland home), Belle (cottage), Snow White (cottage), the Frozen sisters (castle), and now Lilo’s house. Every set includes several characters and accessories that all fit into the portable homes and each set includes a surprise figure.

The new Lilo Surprise Feature Playset has all of these and more. Yes, there is still a surprise item included in the set, along with Lilo, Stitch, Scrump, a wagon, record player, and Lilo’s bed. But wait. There is a new surprise. Stitch activates the front door, which swings open when he sits on a specific location. And when he sits on another location the house lights up. And the third location starts “The Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” song. The batteries are included and when they run down it’s easy to replace them through the little hidden door on the bottom of the house.

Lilo’s house is colorful and portable. When the back is opened, it turns into a little playhouse for the micro dolls. There is a surfboard inside however it’s not moveable. It is attached to the wall.

The only way to activate the music, light, and door is by placing Stitch on the Plumeria flower designs on the floor. Your finger won’t do it, nor will anything else. Stitch is the only one who can activate the special features. What else would you expect from Experiment 626?

Lilo’s playset, along with the others in the line, are great for traveling. They’re compact and every one has a little handle for tiny hands to hold while carrying to the car, a play date, or grandma’s house. The electronic features make this a special set and hopefully there will be more electronic play sets coming down the road. They are just an added element to these already fun sets.

Because the characters and accessories are small, these play sets are for ages 3+.

Those clever folks at ShopDisney have once again outdone themselves with the added elements in this playset.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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.

Follow her on Twitter

‘Les Girls’ on Blu-ray from Warner Archive Collection

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Les Girls is a fun film with plenty of musical numbers and Gene Kelly’s delightful dancing. This 1957 film was the final movie for composer Cole Porter, and it was the final MGM musical for Kelly.

Mitzi Gaynor (Joy), Kay Kendall (Sybil), and Taina Elg (Angele) co-star with Kelly as a musical act in Europe. The film retells their story from the testimonies of Sybil and Angele, while in court years later for a libel suit. The problem is that both women remember their situation completely differently.

With an American woman, a French woman, and an English woman in the act with Barry Nichols (Kelly), he has his hands full. But the three women get along very well. Actually, they got along well when they were an act, however once the act split up, well, let’s just say that they didn’t see eye to eye.

There are musical numbers highlighting each of the cast as the story follows the first year of their new show, and viewers see the different interpretations by the characters as they are told in court years later. So, who is telling the truth and exactly what happened to the act? That is what the final scene is for, not for me to spoil it for you.

The bonus feature is very informative. Elg discusses the casting of the film and making the movie. She also discloses little known secrets and tidbits about the cast, including the fact that at the time of the production Gene Kelly was going through a painful divorce.

Les Girls won an Academy Award for “Best Costume Design” (Orry-Kelly), and was nominated for several other awards and accrued three Golden Globes (Best Motion Picture/Musical or Comedy and Best Actress/Musical or Comedy was a tie with Kendall and Elg).

Les Girls is a fun movie with a delightful cast. The songs, however, are not memorable as in most of the previous Cole Porter films.

Les Girls is part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be purchased at their website or online retailers where DVDs and Blu-rays® are sold.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 20 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.

Follow her on Twitter