Guardians of Oz is a cute animated story that takes place after Dorothy and Toto have gone back to Kansas. All the characters of Oz – and some new ones – are together for a new adventure.

Apparently, Glinda was too kind of a witch to let the wicked witch of the west, Eviline, die so she “unmelted” her. To keep her from doing evil again, Glinda transferred all Eviline’s powers to her broomstick and made the Tin Man, the Lion, and the Scarecrow guardians of it as well as kings of Oz.

The flying monkeys help Evaline to steal back her broom, however a little monkey named Ozzy, grabs it and takes off. Although his father is one of the head monkeys, Ozzy has a mind of his own. He doesn’t want the wicked witch to get her powers back. After she turned his father into a chicken, Ozzy realized she can not be trusted. But how can he help his father turn back into a monkey? Simple. He needs to find Glinda.

Unfortunately when Ozzy finds Glinda, he discovers a young sorceress named Gabby had accidently frozen the good witch. She needs one more ingredient to make her potion to reverse the spell, but she is missing that one item. Ozzy and Gabby join forces to find the ingredient to unfreeze Glinda so she can save his father and all of Oz from the evil witch.

Another glitch in their plan is that Eviline has put a spell on the three kings of Oz and Ozzy has to contend with that as well. He is a cute little guy and with Gabby’s pluckiness they make a great team.

This is a fun and colorful story for kids with characters that will make them laugh out loud. It’s the story of good versus evil and is filled with charm and magic. The two young heroes, especially little Ozzy, will be adored by viewers of all ages.

There are additional features on the disc including a behind-the-scenes look at the story with the cast and filmmakers. Guardians of Oz is rated PG for mild action.

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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A Patch of Fog takes place in Northern Ireland and centers on two characters. First, there is Sandy Duffy (Conleth Hill), a best-selling author/TV host/college professor, and second there is Robert (Stephen Graham), a security guard at a local store. These two have nothing in common however their lives will be inextricably linked forever after their first encounter.

Both of these men are flawed. Sandy is hiding a secret from the world. Actually, he is hiding several secrets. To make him feel better about his life he steals. He doesn’t steal big things. He just pockets an item once in awhile without paying for it.

Robert is a lonely man. He lives with his pet snake and desperately wants a friend. When he catches Sandy stealing from the store, he takes him to his office. Before calling the police Sandy begs Robert not to turn him in. His reputation will be ruined. He even offers a financial bribe. But Robert doesn’t accept the money. Instead he tells Sandy he won’t turn him in if he buys him a coke after work. Well, that sounds great to Sandy. He gets off the hook with one coke.

But that isn’t the end. Little by little Robert keeps blackmailing Sandy into doing things together. He wheedles himself into Sandy’s life and soon they are always together. But enough is enough for Sandy. He wants the evidence of his thievery but Robert insists it is safe. This cat-and-mouse story has several twists as the two men continue their “friendship.”

While Robert is a lonely man, he has some good qualities. He is loyal. His loyalty to Sandy is something that cannot be shattered, as viewers will see. He simply wants to be friends with this man.

Sandy has several layers and one by one Robert manages to peel them off. Soon all his secrets are bare but that doesn’t stop Robert from wanting to be his best buddy. On the contrary. Robert sees himself as a help to Sandy rather than a burden. But Sandy sees him more as a burden.

As they wind their ways through this maze viewers will most likely take sides. Which one is the sanest?

This is a cleverly written thriller. It brings the viewer right into the story from the opening scene.

A Patch of Fog will be released on VOD and iTunes January 24th.

Check out the trailer below

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

We’ve all grown up with the Peanuts gang. This new DVD collection features vignettes with Good Ol’ Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Sally, Woodstock and the whole gang. “Consumers today may not remember that Peanuts originated as a comic strip. Peanuts by Schulz: Snoopy Tales has combined two wonderful mediums, print comic strips and cutting-edge animation to create a really unique Peanuts experience,” said Mary Ellen Thomas, Vice President Family & Animation Marketing at WB. She added, Peanuts by Schulz: Snoopy Tales takes us back to the origins of Charles Schulz’s remarkable work. No Peanuts fan will want to miss this new release.”

There are over 3 hours of fun in this 2-disc collection. While everybody’s favorite beagle Snoopy is front and center, the rest of the gang are also part of this great set of vignettes with their trademark humor and heart.

Whether Snoopy is trying to get Linus’ beloved blanket or catching snowflakes on his tongue, this little guy is full of mischief, love, and sweetness. True to her personality, Lucy is disgusted when Snoopy kisses her on the lips, and Woodstock and Snoopy often share his doghouse often with frustration, and Linus tries to outwit the little fellow when it comes to keeping his blanket, but through all the scenes, these kids (and dog and bird) never fail to entertain and put smiles on our faces.

Besides the antic with Snoopy, there are scenes with Sally worried about writing to Santa Clause, Lucy at her psychiatrist “office” for 5-cent evaluations, and plenty more fun with the group. Which one is your favorite? Do you love the innocence and gullibility of Charlie Brown, the steadfastness of Lucy, the sweetness and intellect of Linus, the curiosity and suspiciousness of Sally, the wackiness of Woodstock, or the fun and imagination of Snoopy?

These vignettes are designed to put a smile on your face and bring back the emotions you felt when you first encountered the comic strip. Do you remember the strip?

While the gang has come a long way since they first caught the public’s attention, they are still adorable and entertaining. The feature film (The Peanuts Movie) which came out in 2015, proves the endurance of these loveable characters. For over 50 years they have been part of pop culture and the scenarios depicted in this new DVD set preserves the original aspects of the series.

Take a trip back down memory lane with the entire family with 32 fun-filled animated episodes.

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

Based on the true story of the turning point in the Korean War, Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite looks at Douglas MacArthur’s secret mission to infiltrate the Communist headquarters in the North and ultimately land UN forces at Incheon to liberate South Korea. This movie was made in Korea and has been dubbed into English for American viewers, having been a blockbuster in South Korea last summer.

Liam Neeson plays MacArthur who put together a group of Korean military men to infiltrate the Communists and clear the path for MacArthur and his forces. They face challenges around every corner as the group undertakes this dangerous mission, for which every one of them volunteered.

Neeson and the Americans obviously didn’t have to be dubbed into English, but all the Korean parts were. And the banners and signs that are written in Korean are subtitled, so viewers will understand what is on the screen.

This is a bloody and violent story, as the group encounters suspicion by the North Korean commander. Led by their desire to free their families and their country, the men know that they are tasked with a difficult mission, which for many of them will definitely be their final one. Nevertheless they continue to do their jobs and clear the way for the incoming invasion. Their hardest part is keeping enough of them alive long enough to complete their mission.

The 1950 surprise attack by MacArthur was ultimately the battle that would lead to turning the tide and freeing South Korea. With 261 warships and 75,000 UN Troops, MacArthur was successful and gained the momentum to push back the North Koreans until eventually they were met by the Chinese, which forced them to revert to the 38th parallel. This fight was about the spread of Communism and President Truman was not going to allow the Communists to take any more land than they already had. MacArthur insisted his plan to take Incheon was the best way to go and in the end he persuaded Truman to go along with it, which resulted in the successful battle. The General wanted to liberate North Korea as well, but when they encountered the Chinese in the north they pulled back.

The war lasted until 1953, however it was the brave unsung heroes of Operation Chromite who cleared the way for success. The odds of the mission succeeding, with the infiltration and MacArthur’s subsequent landing, were 5,000 to one. They got the one!

Many of us aren’t as familiar with the Korean War as we are with other wars. This movie adds some clarity to the situation and is dedicated to the men and women of Operation Chromite.

Battle for Incheon: Operation Chromite is rated R. The violence does not make this suitable for young viewers. It is, however, an interesting story for older viewers and shows the dedication of the freedom fighters as they lay down their lives for their country.

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

Keanu Reeves stars in a murder tale filled with twists and turns. The Whole Truth is a legal drama also stars Renee Zellweger, Gabriel Basso, and Jim Belushi.

Richard Ramsey (Reeves) is an attorney defending the young son of his murdered friend (Belushi). Mike (Basso) is a minor but due to the nature of the crime he is being tried as an adult. Having confessed to stabbing his father, Mike will not say anything more about the incident. He does not communicate with anyone, making his defense difficult to mount. Ramsey needs his client to talk, but the boy refuses to do so.

Mike’s mother Loretta (Zellweger) watches as the trial unfolds and it looks like her son will be found guilty. With Janelle (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) coming in as Ramsey’s assistant on the case, the two try to figure out their next move, yet it looks as though they are simply playing out the game until something changes. Then, something does change which adds to the confusion as to what happened that day.

Ramsey tries to steer the defense in a different direction and the prosecution is now in the hot seat. This goes back and forth as the details of Mike’s life unfold. He does not want this boy to go to prison for the rest of his life, knowing the circumstances of his family life. It is not justice. But he has to put all the facts out there so the jury will acquit the boy. This tense legal drama has many twists as the facts change from one minute to the next. Janelle sees things others don’t and adds greatly to the defense, yet she also feels something else is amiss. That leads viewers to see the trial in a new light. (No spoilers here!) Will she uncover the whole truth?

There are no bonus features on the disc other than an audio commentary by the director.

This is a story that will have viewers trying to figure out the whole truth throughout the film. Fans of Keanu Reeves will be delighted in his performance as the chilling story unfolds. Reeves has had a long and successful career, starring in a range of films like Point Break, Speed, A Walk in the Clouds, Sweet November, Something’s Gotta Give, The Lake House, and the Bill and Ted, the Matrix, and the John Wick franchises, and more.

The Whole Truth is rated R for language and some violence including a sexual assault.

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 newest DVD featuring the loveable animals of the Pride Lands and especially the five youngsters that comprise The Lion Guard: Life in the Pride Lands is filled with colorful and musical episodes. There are five episodes from the popular Disney Junior TV series.

Every episode captures the heart of the characters. In one episode little Bunga, a brave yet often pesky honey badger, finds himself stuck in a hole with non other than Simba, the King of the Pride Lands. While Simba’s patience is often stretched to the max with this little guy, they realize they are closer than either of them things. Timon and Pumba raised both Simba and Bunga so, in a sense, they are like brothers. This, and the philosophy given – or sung- to them by Timon and Pumba, Hakuna Matata, helps them find their way out of the hole through a maze of caverns.

And speaking of Bunga, there is a bonus feature of six “It’s UnBungalievable!” shorts. In each one Bunga and Ono look at different animals and, as they both learn and as viewers learn, there are amazing facts about each animal they examine while Bunga decides which one is the quickest (cheetahs or hummingbirds), the hungriest (hippos or bears), the cutest (baby chimps or baby cheetahs), the loudest (elephants or lions), the mightiest (lions or bears), and who has the cuter hair (giraffes or zebras).

Also included on the disc are two music videos filled with scenes from the show. The episodes are: “The Rise of Makuu,” “The Kaputana Celebration,” “Bunga and the King,” “Never Roar Again,” and “The Imaginary Okapi.”

While the Lion Guard is busy keeping the Pride Land animals safe, they are a fun bunch to watch. The Circle of Life is filled with Hakuna Matata and the entertaining adventures of The Lion Guard.

In addition to the DVD, the box contains five wristbands in five different colors and bearing the names and traits of the five members of the Lion Guard: Kion, the Fiercest, Fuli, the Fastest, Bunga, the Bravest, Beshte, the Strongest, and Ono, the Keenest of Sight. These red, purple, gold, green, and blue wristbands are fun for kids (ages 3 and up) to wear and show their support for Kion and the group.

This is a fun collection of antics featuring the loveable animals from The Lion Guard. It’s, as they say in the Pride Lands, “Hevi Kabisa,” or as we who don’t speak Swahili say, “totally intense.”

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