The fun Disney Junior Preschool series Mickey and the Roadster Racers drives home with this new DVD that includes 3 full-length episodes as well as a bonus episode and 2 music videos. Actually, there are 8 stories in all since each episode consists of 2 different stories.

The series premiered in January 2017 as the next step to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. This time Mickey and friends drive their own unique vehicles in adventures around the world. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy all work together to bring high-octane fun to youngsters.

And an added element to the series is Minnie and Daisy’s Happy Helpers business where they provide assistance to anyone in need. For instance, they are once tasked to babysit a cat and discover the little kitty has taken off. The two must chase it all over town to keep their word that nothing bad will happen to the little guy.

The gang heads over to Spain where Donald plans to rejoin the Three Caballeros for a concert. But when he loses his voice, Daisy must sub for him, at least for a little while.

Besides the regulars, Pete, Chip and Dale, and the fun Cuckoo Loca (Minnie and Daisy’s little bird friend) often join the gang. In addition to these well-known animated characters, we cannot forget that the foundation of the show is cars, so world famous drivers Danica Patrick, Jimmie Johnson, and Jeff Gordon voice animated versions of themselves. And, to add even more fun for adults who are watching the series with their kids, Jay Leno, Tum Gunn, Hoda Kotb, Tia Carrere, Jane Leeves, and Gordon Ramsay supply voices in the series.

Included in this first DVD from the revved up preschool show are the following episodes:
Mickey’s Wild Tire! / Sittin’ Kitty
Goofy Gas! / Little Big Ape
Race for the Rigatoni Ribbon! / Roaming Around Rome

The bonus episode is Mickey’s Perfecto Day! / Running of the Roadsters!

The aspect of the vehicles (Goofy has a converted bathtub) along with Minnie’s Happy Helpers side business makes this an entertaining series for boys and girls. And the fun of the gang with all the bright colored animation is something kids enjoy watching. Everyone knows the group is filled with good times and with their globetrotting adventures it’s definitely a wild ride for Mickey and friends.

This DVD is filled with several fun adventures from the popular series. Mickey and the Roadster Racers is rated TV Y for everyone. As an added bit of fun, the disc comes with a metal name plate with letters to stick on so kids can create their own name plate to put on their door, wall, or bicycle.

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.

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Moana is a delightful adventure that introduces the newest Disney Princess. With the Blu-ray Combo Pack, viewers not only get to relive the movie – over and over again – but also learn about how the film was made.

Watching the bonus features will give viewers a new respect for the filmmakers who made many trips to the Polynesian islands to make sure they accurately represented the people and their heritage. The goal was to portray the islands so that when the islanders saw the film they could see themselves and their villages in the movie. When viewers see the 30-minute documentary about the making of the film, they will see the depth the folks at Disney went to to create a culturally representative movie featuring a young girl named Moana, which actually translates to “ocean” or “from the ocean.”

The film was also made to represent respect for nature. And speaking of nature, they had to create new software to animate the ocean, which itself is described as a character, and the hair. Imagine the progress that has occurred in the animation industry over the past several years. This film truly brings the viewers into the story as well as makes them forget they are watching an animated movie. The realism is awesome.

Portraying the island cultures was not enough for the filmmakers. People with Polynesian roots voice all the characters, with the exception of Heihei.

Moana, Maui the Demigod (voiced delightfully by Dwayne Johnson), Pua the pig, and Heihei the rooster combine in a fun film featuring memorable (and Oscar-nominated) music. Besides the fun, interesting, and educational bonus features, there is a deleted song. Viewers can now experience a version of the song, “Warrior Face” sung by members of the Broadway cast of “Hamilton.” Too bad this little ditty didn’t make it into the film or even the soundtrack CD.

Casting Hawaiian native Auli’i Cravalho as the young adventurer was a coup. This young woman is only 17 years old and has already made her mark on pop culture and the entertainment industry. Director Ron Clements told the media, “She embodied the character.”

A feature about the costumes and a look at the various elements of the film (water, lava, hair, and Mini Maui) take viewers right into the movie-making process. Something that might come as a surprise to viewers is the fact that the integration of 2D and 3D animation is a new process. To animate Mini Maui, one of the tattoos on Maui, animator Eric Goldberg hand drew the character, who is basically Maui’s conscience. As Goldberg says, he’s “Jiminy Cricket with attitude.”

Deleted scenes and a cute little short with Maui, Moana, and a fish round out the bonus features.

Moana is rated PG for peril, some scary images and brief thematic elements.

Check out some of the bonus clips:

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

Robert Mitchum stars in The Yakuza, a 1974 film about the Mafia-style gangsters that run the back streets of Japan. Harry Kilmer (Mitchum) was stationed in Japan after the war. He knows his way around the country and he knows how the gangs work. He also knows the culture.

Kilmer left Japan years ago and has made his living as a private investigator. One day he is contacted by George Tanner (Brian Keith), an old friend who tells him a Japanese gang kidnapped his daughter because he owes them some money. Kilmer feels he must help Tanner. He travels to Japan where he reunites with several old friends – including his Japanese girlfriend and her daughter – and enlists the help of her brother Tanaka Ken (Ken Takatura) in his effort to find the missing girl and set things right with the gang leader.

Things go wrong. People are killed. Kilmer and all his friends are in danger. This is an eye for an eye community. Plenty of action and underlying dramatic stories involving past relationships bubble up to the surface.

As the body count keeps rising, it is unsure who will survive. Whether killed by swords or bullets, there are plenty of dead bodies piling up. Originally not wanting to disturb The Yakuza, Kilmer ends up being hunted by them. The Japanese mafia will find him and kill him. But will he and Ken be able to survive or are The Yakuza more powerful and cunning?

The Japanese culture is interesting to watch as Kilmer gets further entangled in their system and with their people. Honor is important to this culture. How can he successfully go up against them?

Robert Mitchum brings sensitivity to this role. As he quietly maneuvers through Japanese society, he basically manages to fit in and understands who must be included in negotiations and what must be done to end the killings. But can he do it?

The Yakuza is part of the Warner Archive Collection. It is available from their website.

The Yakuza is rated R. it is bloody and not intended for young viewers.

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

In 2015 Robo-Dog was invented and the idea that a furry, loveable dog that could talk, understand, and have other great powers and would never die intrigued young viewers. Inventor Tom Austin (Patrick Muldoon) created Robo-Dog for his son Tyler (Michael Campion) and the two were inseparable. Now it’s time for an upgrade. Robo-Dog: Airborne is the sequel. This time Tom has added wings so the pup is able to fly. Unfortunately, there is a minor gyro problem so his landings aren’t so good.

Tyler is just as brilliant as his father and he wins his local science fair with his newest invention, a voice locator. With the next science fair coinciding with his father’s science conference, their friend Barry (Kenny Beaumont) volunteers accompany Tyler and Robo-Dog to the science fair then they will all meet up with Tom in the big apple where Robo-Dog is to be the star attraction. The problem is, Robo-Dog goes missing and Tyler and Barry set out to find the beloved “pet.”

Carson Perry (Jonathan Silverman), another great technology wiz, finds Robo-Dog in the street. He takes him home and his daughter Mira (Brooklynn Prince) thinks the dog is for her and Carson doesn’t have the heart to tell her otherwise. Carson removes Robo-Dog’s memory chip and reboots him. Now Robo-Dog thinks he belongs to Mira. She names him Mr. Sparky and he makes her happier than she has been in a long time. Carson doesn’t want to break her heart. Looking at how happy his young daughter is and seeing her smile and laugh is worth the deceit – at least for a while.

Meanwhile, Tyler is searching for Robo-Dog and Carson knows it is just a matter of time before he must face the music and disclose the truth to Mira. He knows he did a bad thing, but he did it for a good reason.

The bottom line is this film is only for kids. If they liked the original movie they will enjoy this one.

The bonus feature looks at the making of the film with the actors discussing their characters and storylines. Silverman is the anchor to this film, along with Robo-Dog, aka Mr. Sparky.

Robo-Dog: Airborne is rated G.

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 Care Bears and their cousins are always loveable, colorful, and leave viewers feeling happy with a smile on their faces. This new DVD includes several episodes featuring the delightful little bears and their cousins as they learn lessons about life and friendship.

The land of Care-a-lot is filled with magic and viewers see all the wonders of the land as well as the magic and fun of the characters. In one episode, jealousy rears its ugly head when Share Bear and her BFF Harmony Bear have a little problem and each thinks the other has found a new BFF. But thanks to Cheer Bear, they realize they don’t have to have only one BFF.

In another episode Lotsa Heart Elephant has a hard time concentrating on her poem, which she promised to do. After wishing that “tomorrow would never come” so she wouldn’t have to recite the poem she forgot to learn, Wish Bear grants her wish. Unfortunately, everyone is stuck in that same day/night until Lotsa realizes she is to blame and understands that keeping a promise is important.

There are some other great lessons to learn in these episodes, each filled with all the fun characters we have all come to love and cherish. Whether it’s Cozy Heart Penguin (my favorite), Brave Heart Lion, or any of the delightful bears and cousins, these episodes will delight kids as they watch and learn about live and caring.

Six episodes from the Netflix series are included in this DVD.

Check out this list of characters from Care-a-lot:

Tenderheart Bear
Cheer Bear
Grumpy Bear
Share Bear
Harmony Bear
Funshine Bear
Wonderheart Bear
Care Bear Cousins
Brave Heart Lion
Lotsa Heart Elephant
Bright Heart Raccoon
Cozy Heart Penguin
Good Luck Bear
Thanks-a-Lot Bear
Love-a-Lot Bear
Secret Bear
Surprise Bear
Wish Bear
King Beastly

And there are some great apps available to download to continue the fun of the characters.

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