Bring Home ‘The Jungle Book’ on Combo Pack

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

Neel Sethi stars as Mowgli, the little boy who was raised by wolves. In this partial live action movie, Disney has combined parts of the original Rudyard Kipling stories with aspects of their 1967 animated film. The Jungle Book is beautifully filmed and completely enjoyable.

Mowgli was discovered when he was a toddler. Bagherra (Ben Kingsley) found him wandering around alone and took him to be raised by the wolves.

When the tiger Shere Khan (voiced by Idis Elba) announces he wants the man cub, Mowgli’s life is in danger. Shere Khan says he will kill animals until he gets the man cub. He wants Mowgli dead because Mowgli’s father had burned him badly with “the red flower” before he died. The red flower is fire, which is associated only with man.

With his wolf family in danger, Mowgli leaves the pack and heads toward the man village. Along the way he meets Baloo (Bill Murray) and yes, they do sing “The Bare Necessities.” He also encounters King Louie (Christopher Walken), Kaa (Scarlett Johansson), and all the familiar characters we have come to love from the story.

The film is visually stunning. It’s gorgeous and it’s amazing to see how seamlessly the flesh and blood character meshes with the digitized characters and the scenery. This is truly a feast for your eyes and the story is one that has entertained generations of readers and viewers. It is touching and fun at the same time.

Bonus features on this combo pack include a look at how this film was created. Director Jon Favreau discusses the elements that went into this project, which, at first, seemed overwhelming to him. But the filmmakers worked together and created this magical and mystical movie.

There is a feature about casting Sethi, and another feature showing how the different layers of drawings, animation, and music combine to create one scene – in this case the King Louie scene and the song “I Wanna Be Like You.”

Disney’s The Jungle Book is rated PG for some sequences of scary action and peril. It is a bit darker than the 1967 animated movie but the visuals are amazing.

Check out some behind the scenes action:

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for 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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Meryl Streep talks about ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’

Posted on August 18, 2016August 18, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

Florence Foster Jenkins’ ear piercing shrills could easily have left dogs howling in pain, but nothing could dissuade the delusional chanteuse from pursuing her dream. Despite her obvious lack of talent, Florence has finally earned hard earned recognition some 72 years after her death.

Not only has her name been immortalized in the recent French art house hit Marguerite, but now she can be seen Stephen Frears’ Hollywood caliber Florence Foster Jenkins, co-starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, as St. Clair Bayfield, her devoted husband/manager.

Cornering plum roles for women of a certain age, Streep easily shifts into the skin of her protagonist and abandons her own musical abilities, which were on display in Mama Mia and last year’s Ricki and the Flash.

The Summit, NJ native’s first brush with Florence’s notoriety dates back to her Yale School of Drama days. She recalled, “One lunch break the orchestra pit was made up of students and they were screaming and laughing in a little gaggle in the corner so loud that we were alarmed. We asked, ‘What are you listening to?’ And it was her on a cassette.”

Playing her tone-deaf alter ego required a serious adjustment, as Streep noted, “I have a clear understanding of my voice, which hovers around a B, B+, and I have wonderful friends who are great singers. I know I’ll never be able to do that, but singing through a character is something I can do. I liked finding what it was in Florence’s recordings that insured her longevity. I don’t think they were ever out of print since the ‘40s. It’s not just how bad she was, but rather it’s aspiring, how hopeful. You hear her breathing wrong in places, which lead me to understand her exuberance and her will.”

One of only six actors to have earned three or more competitive Academy Awards, numbered among her nominations are 1981’s The French Lieutenant’s Wife, 1983’s Silkwood, 1985’s Out of Africa, 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada, 2009’s Julie & Julia, 2013’s August: Osage County, and 2014’s Into the Woods. Streep has also received 29 Golden Globe nominations with eight wins.

So much in Florence is about the need to perform. Where does that personal need come from? During a doesn’t come from stem education. It comes from the encouragement at home, maybe music being played. On the other hand, I don’t know where the artistic impulse comes from because my husband (Don Gummer) grew up in a house in Indianapolis that had no art, no art books, and he’s just this formidable creative mind and incredibly visual, but that wasn’t necessarily what surrounded him, except in his imagination.”

She continued, “I think as children we have such rich fantasy lives, imaginative capacities that too often get beaten out of you by the years, and the worries of early adolescence. ‘Oh, I don’t want to stand out.’ Or whatever it is that stops us from out unbridled access to fun, abandon, and play.”

How has playing Florence affected Streep’s life? For starters, don’t expect to hear Meryl belting out an aria in the shower anytime soon.

“As for Florence, I’m more in the Eeyore category than Pooh. I tend to look at the half full aspect of life. I think doing this film and some other things I’ve done has helped me more towards a more optimistic frame of mind,” she concluded.

About the Author

Winnie Bonelli is a former entertainment editor for a daily metropolitan New York City area newspaper. She is passionate about movies and television and loves to take readers behind the scenes.

Beast Plush Doll – New from the Disney Store

Posted on August 18, 2016August 24, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

25 years ago Belle and the Beast wowed audiences. Beauty and the Beast is a beloved animated film that won two Academy Awards. It is now being turned into a live action feature film. The story has something for everyone – young and old, male and female.

To commemorate this quarter century anniversary, the folks at the Disney Store have created a plush 15½ inch Beast that is just as comfortable being cuddled, carried and loved by boys as it is by girls. While Belle is a treasured Disney Princess, the Beast is a character that all ages have taken to their hearts.

This plush doll is soft and his expression is full of love for anyone who picks him up. He wears a velour jacket and his mane is made of faux fur. His ponytail is tied in the back with a satin ribbon.

Beast is a character that transcends ages and genders, so he is going to be requested by everyone this year. It has been a long time since a beast plush has hit the shelves, and none have been this adorable, soft, and cuddly as this new doll.

While it is not a limited edition, there is no guarantee it will be available at the holiday time so if you are interested in the Beast for you or for anyone in your family, this is the time to get him. He has always been a popular doll and this one is, in my opinion, the best beast they have ever produced. He is well made, soft, and adorable. Just one look is all it takes to fall in love with this fellow.

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.

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‘A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits’ on DVD

Posted on August 18, 2016August 18, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

A little twist on the Cinderella tale has Sofia Carson in the role of Tessa, a kind-hearted girl with an evil stepmother and two self-absorbed stepsisters. Tessa is forced to accompany her stepmother Divine (Jennifer Tilly) and her daughters Athena and Olympia (Amy Louise Wilson and Jazzara Jaslyn) on a vacation to a luxury resort where they are going to try out for a role in a play with pop-star Reed West (Thomas Law) who will be playing the Prince in a musical fairytale of Cinderella.

If this sounds like it has been done before in a similar story, it has – many times. But the story of Cinderella is one that is uplifting to viewers in any form it takes. This version is unique in that it brings singers/dancers/actors of today together with a modern touch.

Tessa is a brilliant mechanic. She is also a fabulous singer and dancer. Her family knows about her grease-monkey aptitude, however they are unaware of her other talents.

While at the resort Tessa is relegated to a small room under the steps (Harry Potter style) while her family takes beautiful suites. She makes new friends among the staff and is talked into audition for the play. Knowing her stepmother won’t allow her to do so, she goes to the audition made up to look completely different. Unlike her natural brunette hair, she wears a blonde wig, colored contacts, and takes on a British accent and goes under the name of Bella Snow.

If you guessed that she gets the part of Cinderella, you’d be right. But she also is asked to help Reed fix the motorcycle. So she is doing double duty, and no one except the makeup artist knows about it. Reed thinks he is falling in love with Tessa, a grease monkey who wears overalls and gets down and dirty with the bike, and is costarring with Bella, a proper British girl who is a fabulous singer and dancer. Tessa has a hard time juggling her duties to her stepmother and her time working on the bike, not to mention rehearsing and costarring in the play.

In this movie are several song and dance numbers, which add the modern touch to the film. Bonus features on the DVD include two music videos, a feature on how the wardrobe department outfitted the various characters, how Tessa’s two identities were created, and a lesson on how to dance the popular dance in the film – instructed by Thomas Law.

A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits is rated PG for some mild rude humor.

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Season Two of Amazon Original Series ‘Creative Galaxy’ on Prime Video

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

Season 2 is available September 16, 2016.

Young viewers will join adorable alien Arty (Meesha Contreras), and his sidekick Epiphany (Kira Gelineau), as they travel around the galaxy to solve problems using various forms of art. Each vibrant and engaging episode highlights a unique creative medium – painting, music, sculpting, cooking and more – to showcase how art can be found in all different places and in many forms. The interactive stories and unique live-action craft segments designed to help adult viewers recreate the art projects featured in each episode with their kids, inspire children to “go be amazing!” and become idea makers and creative thinkers.

In Season Two, the galaxy expands as Arty introduces audiences to two exciting new art forms – cooking and singing/dancing – with new planets and celebrity hosts: Cooktopia with Chef Zesty (Donovan Patton) and Grooveopolis with Melody (Lisa Loeb). In addition, the new episodes celebrate key childhood “milestones” such as a parent’s birthday and losing a first tooth, bringing even more relatable preschool experiences to families everywhere.

Keurig K15 Brewer – Perfect for College Dorm Rooms

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

Keurig has come out with a new compact brewer. It’s perfect for dorm rooms, so if you are sending your child off to college, this would be a good item to take. The K15 comes in a variety of colors including the new Jade, True Blue, and Chili Red.

Measuring 10.8″H x 6.9″W x 10.7″D, the K15, the footprint of this new brewer is their smallest. But that doesn’t mean it has to brew a small cup of coffee or tea. This machine has the capability to brew 6, 8, and 10 ounce cups, unlike their compact brewer of the past, which limited users to just the smallest capacity.

In about 2 minutes you have a freshly brewed cup of your favorite Joe! But coffee is not the only thing this brewer makes. There are varieties of teas, hot chocolates, and even Campbell’s has soups that can be made in the Keurig. With caffeinated, decaffeinated, half-caff, organic, etc., there are all kinds of hot beverages you can make with this unit. And if you want an iced tea or iced coffee, simply brew it over ice. That’s easy. It takes about 2 minutes for the K15 to brew your beverage (or soup).

For a look at all the varieties of coffees, teas, cocoas, and soups, check out the Keurig.com website. They offer seasonal flavors throughout the year, and if you join their club you will get periodic discounts on your orders.

The Keurig K15 is their latest compact machine. This little unit fits into dorm rooms, offices, small apartments, and RVs. It might be their smallest, but it is just as functional as their larger machines. The only difference is the amount of options it can do.

So, to make sure your college student has the latest and greatest way to make a good cup of java, tea, or a hot cup of soup, send the K15 to school with them. And for care packages, you can always order some K-cup pods to be sent to the dorm. That way you know they won’t be making a midnight run to the latest coffee place for a pick-me-up during long nights of studying!

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‘Dinotrux Free Party Kit download

Posted on August 13, 2016August 13, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

DINOTRUX is having it’s first birthday this weekend, and we want you to help us celebrate! Here’s a new button that has tons of activities to print your own DINOTRUX birthday party kit that you can assemble with your kids. Now you can have a DINOTRUX party.

Disney’s Animators’ Collection Expands

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

Disney’s Animators’ Collection has been a popular line of dolls and plush animals. They started with several animators’ visions of young Disney princesses. Both young and not-so-young fans of the characters immediately cherished these 16-inch high dolls. Then other characters were added to the line, including Tinker Bell, Lilo, Alice in Wonderland, Kristoff, and Aladdin. Each of the dolls has been adored by fans.

Seeing the immense popularity of the characters envisioned as youngsters, Disney added a few plush versions of some of their non-human characters. Then came the mini play sets, featuring 5-inch versions of the dolls in carry cases, which also includes accessories.

The beloved line is expanding even more. The folks at Disney realized how beloved these animators’ versions of their characters have become so they are giving the consumer even more ways to enjoy the artist renderings of the young princesses with clothing, cups, mugs, and even an iPhone case and a rolling bag covered in the artwork that makes the doll boxes just as enjoyable to look at as the actual doll.

Animators’ Collection Deluxe Figure Play Set ($24.95)

This year there is a Deluxe Figure Play Set for ages 3 and up. This play set includes 11 small figures (approximately 3 ¼ inch) depicting the characters as toddlers. The benefit of this set over the mini sets is that the entire figure is molded so the hair won’t matte or get messy. This is a great set to take in the car or to keep at grandma’s house. And simply wipe them off with a damp cloth to clean them if sticky fingers manage to add something extra to the figure.

The set includes Belle, Snow White, Ariel, Pocahontas, Merida, Cinderella, Jasmine, Rapunzel, Jasmine, Aurora (depicted as Briar Rose), and Mulan. Each one of these hard plastic figures has a whimsical expression that is sure to delight both young and old fans of the princesses.

The box has the usual sketches on it and the figures are inserted in plastic molded steps. They can be pulled out (with help from an adult) and played with, then pressed back into their settings (also with the help from an adult as it is a bit tricky) for display. However most likely, if this is for a youngster, the figures won’t be needing their display case as there is no doubt the princesses will be played with and taken everywhere. They fit into little hands and with kids’ imaginations the stories they will create with them are endless. Sure, we all have our favorite, but when they are together like this, it’s hard to select one that is cuter than the others.

Animators’ Collection Drink Bottle with Straw ($8.95)

Whether your child is a fan of Snow White, Tinker Bell, or Elsa and Anna, there is a new plastic (BPA-free) drink bottle for them. These little bottles hold 20 ounces of cold liquid (not hot) and look like milk bottles from the past. They are each adorned with the animators’ sketches of the characters, and each have a screw-on lid with a straw for easy, no-spill drinking.

While these bottles are not microwave or dishwasher safe and cannot hold hot beverages, they are perfect for juice and milk. And if your child isn’t a milk lover, try this – fill the bottle with milk and place it on a lower shelf in the refrigerator. Throughout the day your child will be able to grab the bottle and drink some milk without your help. A friend who was a nurse gave me this tidbit. And it makes sense, especially when the bottle has the image of a beloved character.

Animators’ Collection Plush ($14.95)

If you have one –or more – of the animators’ dolls, you know that the hair can get messed up and their beautiful clothes can also get dirty when played with. So, for very young kids the new animators’ plush collection is perfect.

These little plush dolls, around 13 inches high, can be loved, squished, slept with, and played with for a long time. Since they don’t have rooted hair, the hair stays as is.

Currently there is a plush Ariel, Anna, Elsa, Belle, and Kristoff. Boys especially will enjoy Kristoff. They don’t often get a plush boy doll that they can love like this. Their faces and bodies are made of soft plush, making them safe to sleep with and easy to cuddle.

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‘Doc Hollywood’ on DVD

Posted on August 13, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

Michael J. Fox stars in this 1991 comedy about a fish out of water. Fox was in his heyday during this period of time having just completed a successful run from 1982-1989 in the hit sitcom Family Ties. Doc Hollywood is a fun story anchored by Fox.

Dr. Benjamin Stone (Fox) has just left his ER position in a hectic New York hospital and is driving his sports car out to Los Angeles for a prospective position in a plastic surgery practice. That would be a change of pace for this man who has been working long hours under difficult circumstances.

On his journey he accidentally knocks down a fence in the little town of Grady, South Carolina. Stone is sentenced to 32 hours of community service for his “crime.” This small Southern town is welcoming to this young man, however they have an ulterior motive for their attention to him. Their doctor, Dr. Hogue (Barnard Hughes), is getting old and about to retire. They are looking for a new doctor and would love a young one who would stick around for many years and be part of the community. If they can persuade Stone that their town is a nice place to live, he just might decide to take the position and stay.

While settling into his circumstances and learning to live life a little less stressed, he finds the people rather dull and boring. He is given a pig as payment by one of his patients. For a man who has been living in a city with sophistication and a lot of entertainment and excitement, Grady is like a fictional place to him. He really has a difficult time but once he meets Lou (Julie Warner), the ambulance driver, things start to look up. He feels he can connect with her, but she sees him as a cocky young doctor who only wants to get to L.A. to make a lot of money and have fun.

During his stay in Grady Stone starts to settle down and actually, to his amazement, enjoys his life there. Grady, The Squash Capitol of the South, turns out to be just what the doctor ordered, no pun intended.

David Ogden Stiers, Frances Sternhagen, Bridger Fonda, and Woody Harrelson costar in this witty and enjoyable film. It’s a cute story with Fox’s character changing from his high- powered busy life into a relaxed Southern gentleman.

Doc Hollywood is part of the Warner Archive Collection. Besides the Back to the Future films, this is probably Fox’s best comedic feature film.

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The King Cousins 50th Anniversary Summer Pop Concert

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Francine Brokaw

Taking us back in time to the days of vocal harmony and music that actually touched our hearts and minds, The Four King Cousins celebrated their 50th anniversary as a group with a fun concert in Los Angeles. While they have been performing longer than 50 years with the rest of the King Family (“America’s first family of song”), it was 50 years ago that these women formed their own group, “The King Cousins.”

They were originally the “5 King Cousins” with their other cousin Jamie joining Tina, Cathy, Carolyn, and Candy. Jamie had other plans and the group was whittled down to 4, which they have remained ever since. But the audience at this special 50th Anniversary concert were treated to a surprise. Jamie joined her cousins (and sister Candy) on stage for a couple songs.

Not only did the audience get the surprise of Jamie, everyone was surprised (including the 4 women on stage) when their younger cousin Cam (who was one of the “King Kiddies” back in the day of the King Family Show), came on stage to present the women each with a red rose and serenade them with “My Best Girls.” This was not only touching for those of us in the audience, but it was clear the cousins were deeply moved by his song of love for his older cousins. The closeness of this family has remained through the years and through the generations.

For those of us who remember the King Family Show with the King Sisters, The King Cousins, and The King Kiddies, it’s concerts like this that remind us of our past and memories that were made all those years ago yet still remain a big part of our lives.

The concert was a meant to bring back “music and memories” to everyone. Beginning with “I love you more today than yesterday” and then moving on to “California Nights,” the group covered plenty of songs they have recorded over the years.

When they first formed their cousins group and performed away from the rest of the family, LBJ was president and, as Tina Cole said, “A gallon of gas cost 32 cents.” It was a different time and a different world, and through their concerts these women remind us of a time when things were not quite as hectic and a little more musical. Harmony was in and rap, thank goodness, had not become a music genre. The harmony of these three women is absolutely beautiful. They picked up their mesmerizing harmony “through osmosis” by listening to their mothers, The King Sisters.

The King Cousins are part of America’s First Family of Song and although The King Sisters are gone, the harmony, music, and memories continue with these four delightful women. On the stage they joke and sing, and it is clear they are very close off stage as well. With the blend of their voices they performed their hearts out and gave the audience a delightful experience that hopefully, will continue for many years.

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