Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Knowing’ arrives on 4K

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Nicolas Cage stars in the 2009 film that combines a little bit of Armageddon with a touch of Close Encounters of the Third Kind with a sprinkle of Hitchcock. This 4K resolution of Knowing ratchets up the drama and the CGI for this edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Fifty years earlier a time capsule was buried on the site of a new school. The kids drew their ideas of what life would be like in the future – 2009. But one young girl didn’t draw a picture. Instead, this troubled child wrote an entire page of numbers. When the time capsule is unearthed, every child in the class is given one envelope that had been buried. Young Caleb (Chandler Canterbury) received the envelope with the numbers.

Later that night, Caleb’s M.I.T. scientist father John (Cage), a little drunk and still grieving over the death of his wife, is intrigued by the page of numbers and starts plotting them on a board. What do they mean? Are they just gibberish?

Then John sees a pattern in the page of numbers. They show the dates in which a tragedy occurred and the number of fatalities. How incredible. How could someone 50 years ago have known all of these events were going to occur? Then he notices there are three events that haven’t happened yet.

As the predicted events unfold, John is drawn further and further into the mystery. Now, instead of trying to figure out how the child 50 years earlier predicted everything, he is bent on stopping the upcoming disasters. But he cannot.

The final disaster doesn’t list the number of fatalities. Only the letters EE. What does that mean? John tracks down the daughter (Rose Byrne) of the little girl who wrote the page of numbers and together they try to pick apart everything that has happened.

When they discover an end-of-the-world prediction, emotions take over and they try to find a way out. Alas, John realizes nothing lasts forever, not even our small blue planet.

Bonus features include a “making of” featurette looking at the production and how the scenes were created. Although the story takes place in Boston, the movie was filmed in Australia. There is also an interesting look at things to know about the show. And another featurette looks at creating the apocalypse.

There are a lot of emotions in this film. If you knew your life would end, what would you do with the last days? Who would you want to be with when the end comes? And is there another civilization in another world that could rescue the people of earth? Are we all alone? There has to be more than just what we see.

If you haven’t seen this film, it is well worth watching. It’s intriguing and yes, a little scary at times. But it is a movie you won’t want to stop watching.

Cage delivers another great performance and although it isn’t a new film, it is still relevant and interesting today. Knowing is rated PG-13 for disaster sequences, disturbing images and brief strong 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

‘Puppy Dog Pals’ on DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



From the adorable Disney Junior series Puppy Dog Pals comes a fun DVD filled with plenty of adventure with two of the most cuddly little pug pups: Rolly and Bingo. They live with their owner Bob, an inventor who creates some amazing things for the pups to play with, and their doghouse is more like a doggy playhouse.

These fun-loving pooches also have “big sis” Hissy the cat to keep them company, although she often balks at what they want her to do. And Bob invents ARF, a robotic dog that joins the family. This house is filled with plenty of antics when Bob is away at work.

Bingo and Rolly adore Bob and never want to disappoint him, so when he mentions that he would love to squish his toes in Hawaiian sand, well, the pups decide to go to Hawaii to retrieve some genuine Hawaiian sand for their owner. And yes, they do manage to get to Hawaii, win a surfing contest, and get back home in the same day.

And when Bob is out of the makings for French toast, where do you think the canine siblings decide to go? You guessed it. They travel to Paris to bring back what Bob loves for breakfast.

When ARF is introduced to the household, Bingo and Rolly are excited to know he is there to clean up their messes so when Bob comes home he will have more time to pay with them. Well, what they don’t know is that ARF is not programmed to clean up after himself or Hissy, and guess who makes the most mess? Well, after some good deeds on their part, Bingo and Rolly set things right, until they discover they put too much soap in the washing machine. But that’s all right. Since the mess is theirs, then ARF will clean it up. Everything works our well in the end.

Then there’s the time Rolly and Bingo destroy Bob’s precious childhood stuffed dog so they take him out to get him fixed at a Doggie store, which is like a Build-a-Bear. They manage to stitch up the dog just like new and during their time at the store they end up at a (stuffed) doggie tea party, and dressed in high-tea fashion.

These and more fun adventures are included on this disc. With plenty of music and adorable characters, this show is a delight for viewers of Disney Junior and now with this DVD kids can watch the playful pugs any time they want. There are six episodes included on this DVD; each episode has two stories, so there are twelve different whacky adventures with Rolly, Bingo, Hissy, Bob, and ARF on the disc.

Let your kids “go on a mission” with these wonderful pooches. Don’t be surprised if they start asking for a pug of their own.

Puppy Dog Pals is rated TV-Y for everyone.

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

‘William Howard Taft’ by Jeffrey Rosen – Book Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



What do you know about William Howard Taft other than the fact he was a President of the United States? Most of us know very little, unless we happen to be historians. This new book, William Howard Taft, is an interesting look at the man who was our president and also Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

This is a fast-paced, easy-to-read look at the life of Taft, the man who was our biggest president, topping the scales at one point at 340 pounds. He was a big baby and had weight issues his entire life, but that isn’t what we should know about this man. He was a brilliant constitutionalist and dedicated patriot.

Yale educated then earning his law degree from the Cincinnati Law School, Taft had an amazing career even before sitting down in the Oval office. His father was a judge on the Ohio Superior Court where he stood up for the separation of Church and State.

William H. Taft wanted desperately to be on the U.S. Supreme Court. He was the Solicitor General then served on the Sixth Circuit Court for eight years before moving his family to the Philippines where he helped set up the country and their constitution as the civilian governor. His dedication to the people of that country was so intense he turned down the opportunity to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court to conclude his business overseas. Then he became the Secretary of War. His list of credits just kept piling up. But throughout all this time, his heart was always dedicated to the Constitution.

When he became president, he approached that job as a constitutionalist. Other presidents see it as an opportunity to inflict their personal ideas and ideals on the country. But Taft saw it as a way to strengthen the Constitution.

William Howard Taft was an interesting man, and in reading this book his life unfolds page after page. He was responsible for the Supreme Court building we have today. He was our 27th president but so much more. His contributions are widespread. During his presidency he reorganized the government and updated the State Department.

While reading this book, it seems that Taft was not what we today would consider Democrat or Republican. He marched to his own drummer, a drummer that was dedicated to the United States Constitution. He was, at that time, a Republican, but reading about his views, today he would most likely be a compilation of a variety of parties.

This is a quick way to learn about William Howard Taft without having to search through a textbook. This book is easier to read and more interesting than most text books too. He was a fascinating and very intelligent man, and his children all followed in his footsteps with his son Robert becoming a U.S. Senator, his son Charles was mayor of Cincinnati, and his daughter Helen was an American history professor, dean, and president at Bryn Mawr College.

It’s a fast read and one that makes a good companion when you’re going on an airplane, out to the beach, or just sitting home on a rainy day. James Rosen has done a good job of making the life of William Howard Taft come alive in an interesting way. This is part of The American Presidents series of books.

William Howard Taft
Author: Jeffrey Rosen
Series: The American Presidents
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Times Books; 1st edition (March 20, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0805069542
ISBN-13: 978-0805069549

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books 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

‘Gone are the Days’ – a gritty Western

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



Gone are the Days is the first feature film by Director/Producer Mark Landre Gould. It’s a gritty western without all the shoot-em-ups. “It was an incredible first feature experience. The fact that we were able to get such a great cast and crew, then get picked up by Lionsgate is amazing,” stated Landre Gould. This is a unique film in that the dialogue is minimal. It is a character study of an old and sick outlaw who wants to set things right with the daughter he abandoned when she was a baby.

Lance Henriksen plays Taylon, a man at the end of his life. He knows his days are numbered. He has endured tragedies in his life and is haunted by them. Mark Landre Gould said, “Seeing this wasn’t a ‘shoot em’ up kind of film,’ but more of dramatic piece like the old westerns, I purposefully decided to keep the guns away from Lance as much as possible during production. I knew this was going to frustrate him, and he channeled this frustration to add tremendous depth to his portrayal of Taylon. When he signed onto the project, he told me, in his signature voice, ‘I want to live the part, no acting,’ and he did.”

The movie is a bit discombobulated, as viewers have to piece the scenes from his past together with his present to figure out exactly what has happened to Taylon and how he ended up where he did. Is it his sickness that brings up the hallucinations of his past or the heroin he is taking to help him through his illness?

Taylon is on his last leg (not literally) and before he dies he wants revenge and also some peace for the daughter he never knew. He devises an elaborate scheme to put everything in motion and heads out of his ranch toward Durango.

The sheriff in Durango is his old friend Will (Tom Berenger) who has been keeping tabs on Taylon over the years. They have a history that is revealed at the end of the show, but they also have a secret that has been shared their whole lives. Before he dies, Taylon must set things right.

This isn’t a movie filled with action. It is a slow-moving story of an aging outlaw in a land of good and bad. He finally wants to do something good before he dies.

Gone are the Days opens in theaters March 23, 2018.

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 Last Movie Star’ stars Burt Reynolds

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



Burt Reynolds stars in The Last Movie Star, a drama about an aging has been who comes to terms with his life. He plays Vic Edwards, a former Hollywood star with plenty of physical problems. When he is asked to attend a film festival in Nashville honoring his body of work, he decides to go. After all, the invitation says Clint Eastwood and several others had been selected in prior years. So off he goes from LA to Nashville expecting to be honored in a big way.

What he discovers is that this film festival is a small independent little gathering of film buffs, but they all dote on the aging star. At times, he is a bit brash when it comes to dealing with people. But he always does his best to give his fans a smile, photo, and something to remember him by. He is Old Hollywood, and knows how to treat his fans. Well, kind of.

During his time in Nashville he takes a journey back to his past. It’s a cathartic adventure for this old timer and one that brings up a lot of history for him. What is truly interesting in the film is how the movie combines Reynolds now with his past films. The filmmakers managed to put the old Reynolds into clips from his former films right next to the younger characters he played throughout his career. In a way, this is a tribute to the career of Burt Reynolds.

Fans of the star will enjoy the combination of the young and old But Reynolds. For younger generations, Burt Reynolds is probably just a name in movie history. But for baby boomers and older, this man was a major film star of his day. The way the film combines the old clips with Reynolds today is what truly sets this film apart from other movies about Hollywood “has beens.”

The Last Movie Star is an enjoyable film fun to watch. It’s rated R. The movie opens in theaters March 30, 2018.

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

‘Something Wonderful: Rogers and Hammerstein’s Broadway Revolution’ by Todd S. Purdum – Book Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



It’s not secret that Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein shaped American musical theater, and thereby musical films. In this delightful new book, Something Wonderful: Rogers and Hammerstein’s Broadway Revolution, their personal lives as well as their professional collaborations combine to form a well-rounded look at the men and their legacies.

Oklahoma (1943), Carousel (1945), State Fair (1945), South Pacific (1949), The King and I (1951), Cinderella (1957), Flower Drum Song (1958), and The Sound of Music (1959) all rank among the best loved musicals of the twentieth century. And every one of these mega Broadway hits made their way onto the big screen. And interestingly enough, each of these stories was tied to the American lifestyle and touched the hearts of the audiences in ways that reflected the intricacies of the country. The book closely examines the history of this great collaboration. As Purdum states about the songs, “They are woven seamlessly into the fabric of American life as ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ or ‘Home on the Range.’”

Throughout the pages, readers get insight into how the songs we know and love came to be. And there are plenty of instances where the lyrics are printed out. It’s impossible not to sing the songs when reading the lyrics. This book is like an interactive experience.

One of my favorite stories is South Pacific. Reading how the story came to be from the collection of stories, Tales of the South Pacific by James A Michener, and then how the production came to be is an interesting story in itself. Then, learning how the songs came together is the icing on the cake.

The two men made history and even won a Pulitzer Prizes. Their shows broke Broadway records.

Whether you are interested in the personal quirks of the men (Hammerstein was stingy), their marriages, or their working relationship, it’s all in this book. This is the quintessential book about Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein.

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (April 3, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 162779834X
• ISBN-13: 978-1627798341

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

The Wonder Crew – Buddies for Boys

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The Doll of the Year at this year’s TOTY awards is the Wonder Crew. This line of boy dolls was created especially for boys, of course girls will love them too.

The dolls were created to give boys a “buddy” they could take with them and play with. These superhero little guys come dressed in their Wonder Crew outfits and have capes and masks. Plus, there is a cape and mask included in the box for their human friends. These little guys are available in a variety of ethnicities so there is a little Wonder Crew Hero for everyone.

The company says, “Our buddies combine the adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of the favorite stuffed animal.” Boys can take their hero buddies along wherever they go, and will undoubtedly be connected emotionally to their soft-body buddy for life. These are the kinds of dolls that get passed down from one generation to another, with plenty of stories to go with them!

Besides the red hero outfits, there are other buddies and outfits out now and on the horizon: an astronaut, a construction worker, and more.

Social and emotional intelligence, imagination, and confidence were a priority when designing this line of dolls.

Where action figures are hard plastic, these buddies have soft bodies, with soft plastic heads, arms, and legs. They are meant to be a friend to little boys and are more endearing than stuffed animals. Boys will have plenty of adventures with these little guys. And, as stated earlier, although they were designed for boys, girls will also find them loveable.

The Wonder Crew Superhero’s each list for $29.99. There is Superhero Will (Caucasian), Superhero James (Black), Superhero Marco (Hispanic), and Superhero Erik (Asian). Parents will undoubtedly be purchasing additional outfits ($19.99) for the dolls so their child can experience several adventures with his buddy – especially the pajamas for a great nighttime pal. The Wonder Crew inspires kids to be strong, adventurous, and helpful.

Their motto is “Go anywhere. Be anything.” These dolls fill a void in the toy market for boys. And, they’re completely adorable!


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

‘Fighting Parkinson’s …And Winning’ by Howard Shifke – Book Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



In his book Fighting Parkinson’s …And Winning, author Howard Shifke gives those with the disease hope and a new outlook. With celebrities coming forth about their personal struggles with the disorder, more and more people are becoming aware just how prevalent it is.

Shifke himself had Parkinson’s and details his life with the terrible disease. His mother had suffered with Parkinson’s and he inherited it. Besides the physical toll it took on him, the emotional repercussions were just as upsetting to his life.

If you don’t know anything about the disorder or what sufferers experience, the author gives a pretty good description as well as a general way the public can get an idea for themselves. He puts everything out there.

But if you are suffering with Parkinson’s, it is a good idea to read this book as Shifke takes readers through his journey to the other side. Yes, for him there was a good ending, with his “positive attitude” and recipes for winning.

Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder. But there are definitely ways of dealing with it. And, as Shifke opens up about his daily life and struggles, he also takes readers on his path to his recovery.

While this is not a “recipe” for everyone, it is definitely worth a try if you have the disorder. Shifke wants others to know how he suffered and made it through. He wrote this book to give hope to those with Parkinson’s and it definitely does just that.

Through his book and his work with Parkinson’s patients, Shifke is dedicating his life to helping others.

The book is available through Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books, 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

ECOlunchbox – ecofriendly and convenient

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The line of stainless steel food containers from ECOLunchboxes are handy, well made, and attractive. And, they are plastic-free. Lately it has been discovered that we have been ingesting plastic when we drink water from plastic bottles. Well, that may be true for other plastic items as well. With these ECOlunchboxes, Bento boxes, containers and other items, you can rest assured there is no plastic to ingest.

There are a variety of containers and container collections. To date they have sold more than 485,000 containers that are environmentally friendly, and most importantly, plastic-free. Check out their 3 in 1 Splash Box set, each with a leak-proof silicone lid and stainless steel containers. They nest together making them handy and convenient to store when not in use. Plus, they are dishwasher-safe.

After using these containers, you will most likely want to replace all your plastic containers with the ECOlunchboxes. There are shapes and sizes to fit almost anything you want.

With the variety of sizes, it is easier than ever to pack a nutritious lunch for your child. Since they are leak proof, you can easily put some hummus in one and some celery or carrot sticks in another for a healthy snack. Or put some tuna salad in one and some crackers in another. And when you’re off to the office and want a healthy lunch for yourself, simply put a salad in the large container and dressing in another. Whatever you put inside you can be assured it won’t leak. The snap-on silicone lids are sturdy and secure.

With these eco-friendly containers, the oceans are cleaner and you are safe from plastics, which is a big concern these days. They are easy to nest/stack/store, clean, and leak proof. The next time you need a housewarming gift or are invited to a party, think about a set of ECO-lunchboxes. They are a thoughtful gift.

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’s Babies – Brought by the Stork

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The stork delivers the latest group of Disney’s Babies plush animals. These adorable little guys are wrapped in a soft blanket pouch, which Mr. Stork carries in his beak.

These cuddly animals are about 10” high and posed for delivery in their colorful and soft sacks. Their blanket pouches have images that correspond to their stories.

Baby Dumbo is adorable. In the movie he was delivered to his mom by the stork. Now he is delivered to your home by the stork, via Shop Disney. His oversized ears are soft and floppy and can wrap over his sweet and innocent little face. He is dressed in his circus hat and collar and his facial features are embroidered with great detail. blanket pouch is designed with circus animals and even little Timothy is represented. The blanket pouch is fastened with Velcro so it’s easy to unhook and remove the cuddly little elephant. And once he’s out of his pouch he’s an adorable, soft little fellow that makes a great sleeping pal. Actually, he’s just as cuddly when he’s wrapped in his pouch.

Other animals in the current collection include baby Sven, baby Bambi, baby Thumper, baby Flower, baby Simba, baby Marie, baby Scamp, and baby Pegasus. Hopefully there will be others in the future as they are sweet little guys and a welcome addition to the Disney’s Babies line of plush. The past line of Disney’s Babies had the animals wrapped in their own blankets that closed via Velcro. This new line has the soft blanket pouches that make them easy for toting by a child or by Mr. Stork. They are all posed to fit inside their pouches but are each free to get hugs once out of their swaddling delivery pouches.

Each of their expressions are endearing. It’s hard to choose just one. They are all sweet and loveable.

The Disney’s Babies cuddly animals in their blanket pouches are only available at the Disney Parks and on the Shop Disney website. They are delightful baby representations of some of the most beloved Disney animated animal characters.

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