The new crew of the Starship Enterprise first hit the big screen in 2009. Chris Pine (Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Karl Urban (Bones), Zoe Saldana (Uhura), Simon Pegg (Scotty), John Cho (Sulu), and Anton Yelchin (Chekov) brought the iconic characters back to moviegoers. They reunited in 2013 for Star Trek Into Darkness. Now in Star Trek Beyond they again bring the crew of the Enterprise to life in a new story that is filled with plenty of fun and a lot of special effects.

This movie epitomizes the core of the Star Trek universe: that all kinds of beings can live in harmony. The Enterprise visits a man-made base in space, which is described in the bonus features as a “proxy earth.” This base, Yorktown, is a Utopian location where all kinds of aliens coexist in peace.

Then the crew is sent on a rescue mission to an unexplored planet, Altamid, where they encounter the possible destruction of humanity, as well as one of the original spaceships, the Franklin. It’s on this planet they also encounter Krall (Idis Elba), a man of secrets and hatred. They also meet Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), an alien that befriends the crew and aids them in defeating, or trying to defeat Krall from using the ultimate weapon against the Yorktown.

The bonus features examine the characters as well as the history of the franchise. Director Justin Lin grew up with the franchise and brings his own love of the characters to the screen. The movie was co-written by Simon Pegg, who also costars in the film.

Bonus features explore the heart of the movie, including the relationship between Bones and Spock, who are opposites in character but ultimately make a great team. The sets are also examined in detail. Instead of simply turning the camera, a revolving set of the Enterprise was built so as the ship was spinning out of control, the actors had to actually maneuver themselves to stay upright.

For the Yorktown the filmmakers went to Dubai where a futuristic city was pretty much already set up. The green screen sets were also used and they created Krall’s command center in the middle of a rock quarry. Watching the bonus features adds a lot to the background of the film and demonstrates the dedication of the filmmakers to the franchise.

This being the 50^th anniversary of the franchise called for something special. So what did they do? They created 50 unique alien races for the film. How’s that for dedication and commitment to the love of the franchise? A gag reel and deleted scenes are also included.

There is one more bonus that will touch the hearts of viewers. It is a tribute to Leonard Nimoy (the original and iconic Spock) who passed away during the writing of the screenplay, and Anton Yeltsin (Chekov) who passed away after the film was completed.

Star Trek has been a beloved franchise with several spinoff series’ as well as this new crew stepping into the shoes of the original cast. Sci-fi is at its peak with this series. Through the years it has reflected man’s hopes and desires that a peaceful existence is in our future. While it often is difficult to think that way, given the horrors happening on this planet, Star Trek offers the hope of a bright future. Live long and prosper.

The combo pack includes a Blu-ray, a DVD, and Digital HD. The film is also available on other formats. It is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence.

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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If you’re looking for some great stocking stuffers or perhaps party gifts or even little gifts for some neighborhood kids on your list this Christmas, there are plenty of fun holiday DVDs that are sure to delight young viewers. Many of them are starting to hit the shelves now so this is a good time to stock up on some extra gifts “just in case” you find yourself in a situation where a gift would be appropriate.

Holiday Double Feature – Santa’s Apprentice and The Magic Snowflake
Santa’s Apprentice and The Magic Snowflake combine to make a fun double feature. In Santa’s Apprentice, Santa is being forced to retire so he looks for someone to replace him. The candidate must ben an orphan with a good heart and be named Nicholas. When he finds the perfect little boy, he must convince him to be his apprentice and ultimately take over the big job. But little Nicholas has a fear of heights, something that doesn’t help his job in the flying sleigh. He also lacks self-confidence. But leave it to Santa for a happy ending.

The Magic Snowflake is the sequel with 7-year-old Nicholas. The boy is perfect for the job until he decides he wants to grow up faster after contacting Grown-up-allosis. That doesn’t bode well for him and the Council of Retired Santas decides to replace him with one of their own to save the holiday. Nicholas wants his job back and has to regain his carefree, whimsy attitude in order to take control once again.

Care Bears & Cousins Take Heart Volume 1 includes six episodes featuring those adorable Care Bears and their Cousins. We all know the Care Bears, but for those who are not familiar with the “Cousins,” they are just as adorable as the bears but they are different animals. There is Brave Heart Lion, Lotsa Heart Elephant, Bright Heart Raccoon, and Cozy Heart Penguin, among others. They bring even more love and caring to the land of Care-a Lot. Let’s just say this DVD is filled with “heart-warming” stories for kids. They are designed for ages 3-9 but how can anyone of any age resist these adorable little guys? They’re colorful and caring, and yes, inspire viewers.

The DVD box is packaged ready to give as a gift with a bright red bow printed on the box. The disc includes a DVD and Digital so kids can watch these fun little characters on other devices.

Power Rangers Dino Charge: Hero Christmas Edition is also packaged with a red bow printed on the box. This show is for a little older age group.

The DVD includes four episodes from the TV series as well as a bonus holiday episode “Race to Rescue Christmas.” When Santa’s computer is stolen the Rangers must retrieve it in order to save Christmas. This episode was highly rated when it aired. Combining Christmas with the Rangers adds a different dimension to the characters and viewers will get in the spirit of the holiday as the Rangers go on a mission from Santa to get back his computer. And that’s not all that’s happening in this episode. Chase might not make it home for Christmas, which is the only thing his sister Chloe wants this year. Will he make it back in time? Spoiler alert: yes! There is a DVD and Digital in this box.

Shaun the Sheep: We Wish Ewe a Merry Christmas is designed for ages 5+. Shaun the Sheep Movie was a hit feature film in 2015 and nominated for an Academy Award. Seven episodes on this disc will brighten up the holidays the gang prepares for the holiday with snowball fights, decorations, and more. Decorating the barn with ribbons, streamers and lights gets everyone into the Christmas spirit.

There are plenty of fun moments for family viewing. These characters are full of wackiness and cuteness.

The DVD includes a “Sheep-Shearing Game” in which kids get to shear the wool off their sheep.

Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Hi-Tech Fashion combines Strawberry and her friends and fashion – two things many young (and old) girls love. Three fun-filled berry adventures will entertain girls over and over again. And included in the box are stickers that will add some extra pizazz to any outfit.

The friends are always good for some cute adventures and helpful guidance. While this is not a “Christmas Edition” it   is a great stocking stuffer. This includes a DVD and Digital HD.

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

Daniel Radcliffe’s performance in Imperium will not conjure up any reflections of his Harry Potter role. In this movie Radcliffe plays Nate Foster, an FBI analyst who goes undercover in a dangerous and life-changing experience.

The movie was inspired by actual events from the life of Michael German who wrote the story. Foster is a young analyst who is enlisted by Agent Angela Zamparo (Toni Collette) to go undercover in a neo-Nazi community to hunt down some stolen toxic materiel that is going to be used to make a dirty bomb. While the others within the bureau are looking at Muslim groups, Zamparo has a feeling that the white supremacists are the ones in control of the material.

Foster shaves his head and turns from a nerdy agent into a tough skinhead in order to infiltrate the community. The white supremacist community is comprised of several groups – some are eager for conflict with anyone on the streets, and others are more contemplative and are biding their time for the right opportunity to strike.

While undercover in this new environment, Foster has a hard time understanding how these people think the way they do. He does a great job of fitting in, however. This man has done his homework and when the going gets tough, he rises to the occasion. This is definitely a different part of his job than he ever experienced before. He is used to sitting at a desk analyzing information. Now he is thrust into a deep, dark world of danger and uncertainty.

The acting is great and viewers will feel their skin crawl as they watch the hatred within the groups bubble to the top. Evil is at its peak in this movie, but so is the intrepid agent who puts his life on the line for the sake of good.

Bonus features on the Blu-ray include interviews with the cast and crew, a “making of” feature, and a featurette about “Living Undercover,” in which both Radcliffe and German discuss the story and how agents blend in when they are undercover. What makes this movie even more than a simple thriller is that the story was taken from actual events.

Imperium is rated R for language throughout. This is not a show for kids. It is a show about evil and hatred. In this case the good guys come out on top as far as the dirty bomb is concerned, yet there is no way of changing what is in the hearts and minds of the community.

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