Author: Francine Brokaw

’45 Years’ on DVD and Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


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Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay star in this deeply dramatic story of a couple about to celebrate their 45th anniversary. 45 Years is the story of love, life, secrets and aging when Kate (Rampling) discovers something about Geoff (Courtenay), the man to whom she has dedicated her life and who has been her partner in life for the past four and a half decades.

In their golden years Kate and Geoff have settled into a comfortable existence. They are happy in their lives and their marriage. Then one day they receive news that rocks Kate to her core. It’s about Geoff’s old girlfriend, a woman who was killed before Kate met him but who now threatens their marriage. After all these years, Kate slowly discovers how important this woman, Katya, was in her husband’s life and whose memory has played an important part in his life and decisions.

Finding out something about her husband now, after 45 years, is something that deeply disturbs Kate and haunts her every day. While preparing for their anniversary party, Kate is distracted. How could he not tell her about the love of his life? Was she his second choice?

Kate feels alone and confused. They don’t have children and their house is quiet and up until now the only thing that has been a concern to them was Geoff’s bypass surgery five years before. Now Kate peels back the layers of her husband’s life and discovers things he has never told her but that have been important to him and that made him the man he is.

For Kate, the stability she had known is now rocky. The comfort she has known has been disturbed. The final moment of the film is disquieting as Kate realizes her life will never be the same.

Rampling was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance in this movie. There is no doubt about her acting ability. Her performance is touching, sensitive, and heartening.

45 Years is a drama in every sense of the word. It tells the story of how a secret revealed can disrupt and disturb a formerly content and happy marriage. It’s rated R for language and brief sexuality.

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.

Follow her on Twitter

‘Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle’ GIVEAWAY

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


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As the opening narration explains: “The jungle: Here I was born; and here my parents died when I was but an infant. I would have soon perished, too, had I not been found by a kindly she-ape named Kala, who adopted me as her own and taught me the ways of the wild. I learned quickly, and grew stronger each day, and now I share the friendship and trust of all jungle animals. The jungle is filled with beauty, and danger; and lost cities filled with good, and evil. This is my domain, and I protect those who come here; for I am Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle!”

The popular animated series from the 1970s is now available on DVD. We have some copies of the first season to giveaway. There are all 16 Episodes From Season 1 in a 2-Disc Collection Set

To be eligible to win a copy of Tarzan Lord of the Jungle email us at [email protected] with “Tarzan Giveaway” in the title. Please supply your name, address, phone number and email address (so we can let you know if you are a winner).

The deadline for this giveaway is June 24, 2016.

New Trailer for ‘Moana’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Three thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world voyaged across the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, for a millennium, their voyages stopped – and no one knows why.

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes Moana, a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. Moana sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016.

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‘Finding Dory’ – Movie Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

(Pictured) DORY. ©2013 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Finding Dory is just as fun, heartening, emotional, and enjoyable as Finding Nemo, which premiered 13 years ago and captured the hearts of moviegoers around the world. All the characters from the original film return and are joined by some great new ones.

We all know Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) is a Blue Tang fish with a short-term memory problem. She helped Marlin (Albert Brooks) find Nemo in their last adventure. Now, fast forward one year from that time and they are all living together. But Dory suddenly starts remembering her past, most importantly, her parents. She remembers “the Jewel of Morro Bay” which is the Marine Life Institute where she was born, and decides she has to go to California to find her parents Charlie (Eugene Levy) and Jenny (Diane Keaton). Her new family – Marlin and Nemo (Hayden Rolence) accompany her through the waters to California, with the help of some old friends – Crush and Squirt.

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When they finally get to the Marine Life Institute where Dory grew up, the next step is finding her parents in this big place. But that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Dory. She always manages to get exactly where she needs to go, and always with the help of her friends.

An octopus named Hank (Ed O’Neill) becomes her accomplice, although initially he has ulterior motives. And then Dory enlists the aid of her childhood friend Destiny (Kaitlin Olson), a near-sighted whale shark, and Bailey (Ty Burrell), a beluga whale who feels he has a problem with his sonar skills. Meanwhile, Marlin and Nemo get help from a crazy loon named Becky who will also steal the hearts of viewers. The new characters, combined with small roles of the cast from the original film, make this another instant classic from Disney/Pixar.

“It’s amazing to me that Dory has resonated with people so much,” says Ellen DeGeneres, who lends her voice to the funny fish whose motto “Just Keep Swimming” has inspired and motivated audiences worldwide. “Dory was such a big part of Finding Nemo that it makes sense that people might wonder about her journey. We want to see how it worked out for her. Are Marlin and Nemo her family now? Does she have a family and will she ever remember them?”

Flashbacks to her childhood introduce audiences to young Dory, a cute little girl who cannot remember much but is filled with wonder, excitement, and love for her parents. She’s a memorable (no pun intended) character that will be loved by viewers of all ages.

“I think people love Dory because there’s not one speck of judgment in her,” adds DeGeneres. “She’s never mean. No matter what she’s faced with, she just carries on. She does what needs to be done.” And that becomes front and center in this story. “What would Dory do?” Is something Marlin, Nemo, and even Dory ask from time to time when the going gets tough.

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Between all the characters (and that includes some adorable otters who ultimately help Dory and Hank), and the emotions throughout the story, Finding Dory is a film that will resonate with audiences both young and old.
This movie fills in the gap – for audiences as well as Dory – about her past, how she got separated from her parents, how she learned to speak whale, and much more.
Before the film, pay close attention to the new Pixar short, Piper, a fun little story of a young sandpiper who is afraid of the ocean. This little bird must learn to tame her fear in order to get food. It’s one of the cutest shorts from Pixar in a long time.

Finding Dory opens in theaters June 17, 2016 and is sure to be a summer event for the entire family. It’s rated PG for mild thematic elements.

NOTE: While kids might be tempted to ask their parents for a Nemo (Clown Fish) or a Dory (Blue Tang) of their own, the real ones take a lot of care. Saltwater fish are beautiful however require a lot of upkeep to make sure they are safe and cared for. They are not like goldfish that people have in their tanks and aquariums. They require much more attention. So, the best thing to do when your child asks for a fish like Nemo or Dory is to head to the Disney Store and purchase a stuffed one. Besides, they can also be bedtime buddies, unlike the live ones!

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.

Follow her on Twitter

‘Suicide Squad’ First Product Releases

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


In celebration of the August 5th release of Warner Bros. Pictures’ action-adventure Suicide Squad, the most iconic Super-Villains of the DC Universe take over ShopDCEntertainment.com! The Official Shop of DC is now packing a criminal lineup of collectibles for every type of villain. Armed to the teeth with Warner Bros. Consumer Products licensed hoodies, phone cases, figures, statues, Funko Vinyl Pop! figures, mugs, pillows, and over 60 shirts featuring The Joker, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Katana and more—this store is your first stop for all DC mayhem!

Visit their website for all the products.

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Exclusive Clip from ‘Pudsey the Dog: The Movie’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


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A heartwarming, quintessentially British adventure for all the family, Pudsey The Dog: The Movie follows cheeky London stray dog, Pudsey (David Walliams), who is quite happy being a lone ranger, looking out for number one, until he meets siblings Molly (Izzy Meikle-Small), George (Spike White) and Tommy (Malachy Knights). After losing their father, their mother Gail (Jessica Hynes) is moving the family to the sleepy village of Chuffington and Pudsey tags along, to the dismay of their landlord, Mr. Thorne (John Sessions), and his cat Faustus. As Pudsey starts to settle in with the family and realize what he was missing when he was alone, he stumbles across Thorne’s evil plan and he determines to save them and the whole village.

The movie is on VOD beginning June 6, 2016

Skinny Tan 7-Day Tanner– Product Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


We all know the sun is bad for us. And we all want to look tan and healthy instead of pale and ghostly, especially in the summer during swimsuit and shorts season. For decades many of us have relied on spray tans in the salons and self-tanning lotions to get a healthy glow. Skinny Tan is a product from Australia that is now available in the United States.

What makes Skinny Tan different from other self-tanners on the market? First of all, instead of that strong, unpleasant smell of most of the others, Skinny Tan has a tropical, coconut scent that will make you feel like you’re on vacation in the Hawaii or the Caribbean. It’s a light, pleasant scent.

Secondly, Skinny Tan is a light brown color to help users spread it evenly on their skin, instead of being white so when you use it you don’t see where it’s been applied. This color guide is beneficial to getting an even bronze. The key is not to over do the spreading of the lotion. It doesn’t take a lot of product to cover your skin, and with the help of the lotion that goes on brown, you’ll see exactly which areas have been covered.

Finally, Skinny Tan is supposed to reduce the appearance of cellulite. This is the only thing I didn’t see when I tested this product. But that’s not to say others will.

As someone who has tried multiple self-tanners through the years, I can say that this is definitely a good product, even if I don’t credit it with reducing the look of cellulite. I love the scent, which has been a pet peeve of mine in the past. I have not been comfortable with the scents of other self-tanners. And the color is not fake looking. It is a healthy bronze that looks as though I spent a day at the beach.

To test this product I first used the Pre-Tan Primer, which is a gentle exfoliate that also has the coconut scent. This made my skin soft and evened out the rough spots to make it smoother for the tanning lotion. It’s good to use this especially on elbows, knees, ankles, toes, and fingers (if you are tanning your hands). Even if you aren’t tanning, this is an exfoliate I would still use regularly because it works wonders and smells delicious.

Then I spread the Skinny Tan 7-Day Tanner on my legs. With the color guide, I didn’t have any blank spots, which has happened in the past with other products. It didn’t take long before my legs had a healthy glow, which is supposed to last for seven days.

The thing I don’t like about self-tanners is the wait time before you can touch anything. True, this is a problem with them all, but we have to sacrifice a little to get that gorgeous bronze skin in a healthy way. The length of time until this lotion dried and I was able to sit on the couch without worrying about transferring the color or smudging my legs was only about 20 minutes.

The company recommends keeping the product on for eight hours before rinsing it off. Overnight is a good length of time. When it is rinsed off the color has already tinted your skin. For me there were no streaks, only a light brown color all over my legs.

While I didn’t see any difference in cellulite appearance, I still like this product because of the scent and the ease of application. And, the final result definitely meets my approval. The color is good and there are no streaks.

The product contains Guarana, an ingredient that is common in cellulite creams, so after time it might do something to change the look of cellulite, but I wouldn’t recommend this product solely for that reason. If you want a healthy easy-to-apply self-tanner with a tropical scent, then this is a product for you.

There are several options in the Skinny Tan line of self-tanning products. Check their website.

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

‘Hello, My Name is Doris’ – on Blu-ray and DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


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Sally Field carries this story about an eccentric woman who falls for a much younger man. Field is Doris, a single woman who just lost her mother. She is not an everyday kind of gal. As a matter of fact, she’s definitely unique. Hello, My Name is Doris is her story of hope.

Doris is a hoarder. Her house is filled to the brim with junk. She wears odd clothing and fifties-style cat-eye glasses. She works quietly in her cubicle and has a crush on John (Max Greenfield), the new guy in the office. The thing is, he’s young enough to be her son.

To get to John, Doris uses cyber-stalking and discovers his love of a certain band. Not being familiar with electronic music she has no idea who they are, but searches them out in the store. Then she attends one of their concerts where she “accidentally” runs into John. From there their friendship blossoms and they become good buddies. Doris enjoys being with John and his friends, and they embrace her quirkiness. She becomes one of the gang. But she wants more from John. She honestly sees them being a couple.

Her imagination goes into overdrive sometimes and viewers see her thoughts as she encounters John in several locations. Her fantasies take over until she is brought back to reality.

Her new stature in life is a nice change for her. She had been a wallflower for most of her life, but now is out enjoying the world and a variety of new people, thanks to John but to the consternation of her best friend Roz (Tyne Daly). Doris takes to heart the advice of a personal growth guru (Peter Gallagher) who tells her not to think about something as being “impossible.” Instead, she is told to think, “I’m possible.” These two words of encouragement becomes her mantra as she sheds her shy personality and blossoms into a fun and fun-loving woman.

Bonus features include deleted and extended scenes.

The movie is enchanting at times as viewers get caught up in the transformation of Doris as they go along with her on this wild, whacky ride.

Hello, My Name is Doris is rated R for language.

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.

Follow her on Twitter