Author: Francine Brokaw

‘The Bridges at Toko-Ri’ on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

William Holden, Grace Kelly, Fredric March, and Mickey Rooney star in The Bridges at Toko-Ri, a tense story taken from the novel by James A. Michner. This 1954 release won the Academy Award for Best Special Effects.

The story takes place during the Korean War and features the camaraderie as well as heroics of the men on a Navy ship. Holden is Lt. Harry Brubaker, an attorney from Colorado who has no idea why he was called up for this war. He has a wife (Kelly) and two daughters, as well as a thriving law practice. He continually wonders how he ended up in the middle of a brutal war.

As a fighter pilot, Brubaker is stationed on a Navy ship along with Mike Forney (Rooney), and Nestor Gambidge (Earl Holliman), and Rear Adm. George Tarrant (March), Commanded Wayne Lee (Charles McGraw), and Captain Evans (Willis Bouchey). Forney and Gambidge are rescue personnel, with Forney piloting a helicopter and Gambidge assisting and once in awhile jumping into the ocean to save downed pilots. That was the case when Brubaker crashed his plane into the sea. In minutes Forney and Gambidge were there to rescue him. That was life on the ship and in the war.

Although they had had a somewhat pretty uneventful tour, things changed when they were given the assignment to bomb several Korean bridges. These bridges at Toko-Ri were defended to the max. The mission would not be easy, and they all knew it.
Brubaker had his misgivings about going on the mission. Should he remove himself from the line of attack or accept his fate? His ambivalence was seen by others on board the ship, yet he decided to take on the challenge.

Before this mission was undertaken, the crew had leave in Japan, and Brubaker met up with his wife Nancy and their daughters where they spent a nice family vacation. But when she discovered what her husband was going to undertake once he returned to his ship, she grew increasingly uneasy. Not letting her husband see her fear, they continued with their little family reunion.

Once back on the ship, the mood of the movie changes drastically. There is a tenseness permeating throughout the ship. With a difficult and dangerous mission in front of them, they continue with their daily activities.

The final part of the film is filled with tension and tragedy. It is a statement on the very act of war. By the time the credits roll, viewers will be feeling loss and sadness. That is what war is all about.

The Bridges at Toko-Ri is not rated. It is not for children as it contains war action. This new Blu-ray release is from the Kino Lorber Studio Classics collection.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Get ready for ‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

When a magical meteor crash lands in Adventure City, it gives the PAW Patrol pups superpowers, transforming them into The MIGHTY PUPS! For Skye, the smallest member of the team, her new powers are a dream come true. But things take a turn for the worse when the pups’ archrival Humdinger breaks out of jail and teams up with Victoria Vance, a meteor-obsessed mad scientist, to steal the superpowers and turn themselves into supervillains. With the fate of Adventure City hanging in the balance, the Mighty Pups have to stop the supervillains before it’s too late, and Skye will need to learn that even the smallest pup can make the biggest difference.

Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie comes to theaters September 29, 2023.

 

‘Juggernaut’ now on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

From 1974, Juggernaut is one of the many disaster films that were entertaining audiences in that decade. This particular story is set in the mid-Atlantic ocean as a luxury liner is making its way from England to New York. What starts out as a rocky voyage, thanks to the rough seas, turns into a rougher voyage thanks to several bombs that have been stored on the ship.

Juggernaut is the name the terrorist uses when speaking to one of the heads of the liner. He says he wants $500,000 pounds in exchange for remotely diffusing the bombs. But will the company negotiate and give in to a terrorist? The government is firmly against it. But with 1200 lives on the line, it is a decision that is difficult. Weighing the option of giving into a terrorist or letting all the innocent people die is as rough as the seas.

Onboard the ship, Captain Brunel (Omar Sharif) is hoping the ransom is paid, while Police Superintendent McCleod (Anthony Hopkins) is torn between the government’s stand and giving in. His wife and two children are on the ship. 

Lt. Commander Anthony Fallon (Richard Harris), a bomb expert with a good track record, is flown out to the ship along with his team. Fallon is easy-going and optimistic he will be able to stop the bombs from going off. As he sucks on his pipe while looking over the situation, he knows he and his team will be successful. Unfortunately, some of his optimism begins to fade the more they learn about the bombs.

With the personal stories playing out on and off the ship, the majority of the story is aboard this luxury liner. The Social Director (Roy Kinnear) does everything in his power to keep the passengers upbeat while they are waiting for whatever comes. Their fates rest with Fallon and the powers that be.

It’s interesting to see the credits rolling in the beginning as Hopkins, a great actor by any standards, is not given a high billing. 

The 1970s was a time when disaster films filled the theaters. The Poseidon Adventure, Airport, The Andromeda Strain, The Towering Inferno, and The China Syndrome all captivated audiences. Juggernaut is not as well known and watching it viewers can see from the get-go that it is dated. Yet the cast is wonderful and even though it lacks a lot of action, the tense drama is what drives the film.

Juggernaut is rated PG and is now available on Blu-ray from KL Studio Classics.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘The Art of Elemental’ is a beautiful book

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The new Disney/Pixar animated film Elemental takes audiences into a colorful world where Fire, Water, Earth, and Air live together in Element City. The Art of Elemental book adds additional magic and fun to the story while delving into the background, the characters, and the art that make this film fun and enjoyable for all ages. Even the cover art of the book is immediately engaging, delightful, and magical.

The story of Elemental is about family, love, and being able to join the two. Taken from director Peter Sohn’s memories of his South Korean family melding with other immigrant families of different backgrounds is what drove him to this particular story. 

This book takes readers into the story and the story of how the artists took on this challenge of creating elements that were worthy of emotions for both themselves and the audiences. There are hundreds of images in the pages that will definitely put a smile on readers’ faces. Just looking at the characters and their expressions even without knowing their stories is endearing.

Element City is filled with color and a variety of shapes. It is the quintessential magical location. It is where all the elements live together. The small touches might not be immediately visible to audiences when they see the film, but the book points out several cute touches that make the film adorable: The Chemis-Tree plant shop, ION IT eyeglass shop, etc.

While the images in the book are beautiful and educational for readers to see the progression of the film over time, the information presented gives readers a complete background into how the characters, scenes, and places were created.

Quite frankly, even without knowing the storyline, the images are adorable to look at and learning about the background of them makes them all the more interesting. Take the “Wetro,” which is Element City’s metro, or subway. All aspects of a real city are included in Element City. After all, it’s where the elements live.

The artists had real challenges with the characters. How do you create a water character, a fire character, an air character, and an earth character. Alice Lemma, a character designer on the film, said, “When I first started working on Elemental, I tried making an Air character out of cotton.” (pg. 122) She worked with that mock-up for awhile. That was only one challenge met by the talented artists.

Elemental connects Sohn’s New York experience “to a world similar to New York – a world where Fire, Earth, Air, and Water all live on top of each other, mixing and not mixing, and trying to create a life for themselves.” (pg. 9)

Just flipping through the pages enforces the hard work that went into creating this magical film. This is a work of art.

  • Publisher  –  Chronicle Books (May 16, 2023)
  • Hardcover  – 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 –  1797218514
  • ISBN-13 –  978-1797218519

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ get a wet introduction at Disneyland Resort

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

To introduce guests to the new Pixar animated film Elemental, a new limited-time water short titled “Elemental Connection” will be showing prior to “World of Color – ONE” in Disney California Adventure.

For a limited time beginning June 2, 2023, this two-minute pre-show will bring the land, air, water and fire residents of Element City to life with brilliant projections across vast water screens. Just like fire element Ember and water element Wade, viewers will learn that stepping out of their element will help them discover who they really are.

The evening water shows are always enjoyable and with this new pre-show short, guests will get a special treat.

 

 

Check out ‘Taz: Quest For Burger’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Taz is a fun and popular character from Looney Tunes. His next adventure is sure to please his fans.

After an outlaw abducts her father and steals their town’s food supply, a feisty adolescent Bandicoot named Quinn recruits The Tasmanian Devil to help her find the thief. Taz may be an ill-tempered rogue with a fearsome reputation, but he and Quinn will have to work together to track the criminal through the wilds of Tasmania and save her community.

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment releases Taz: Quest For Burger Digitally on June 6, 2023.

Check out the trailer here from © Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.

Pixar Place Hotel opening Fall 2023 at Disneyland Resort

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Beginning the Fall of 2023 guests to the Disneyland Resort will be able to stay at the newly remodeled hotel which will offer plenty of fun for the whole family. The Paradise Pier Hotel is being transformed into the Pixar Place Hotel and take guests into the heart of Pixar with a contemporary atmosphere as well as special touches unique to Pixar.

Guests staying at this hotel will have easy access to Disney California Adventure theme park, in the same way guests now have at the Grand Californian hotel. Artwork throughout the hotel focuses on Pixar characters and their stories.

After opening, guests will first encounter the iconic Pixar lamp and ball in the lobby, as well as being surrounded by favorite friends from the films. And the new water play area is themed to Finding Nemo, with an amazing 186-foot-long waterslide and a pop-jet splash pad. These will be in high demand during the hot days. Later on there will be a family play court with activities and fun all inspired by many famous Pixar short films.

Great Maple is the new American eatery opening in the hotel for guests who are staying on the property or anyone that just wants a change of taste.

The benefits of staying at a Disney hotel are numerous. Besides additional park hours, it will become easy to send some park purchases directly back to the hotel. This eases “schlepping” items around all day. And the “Hey Disney!” voice assistant will help guests with convenience and fun while in their hotel rooms.

Pixar Place Hotel will be an additional and enjoyable new addition to the resort. Besides this hotel, there are two other hotels at Disneyland: Grand Californian and Disneyland Hotel. By the way, the Disneyland Hotel is expanding with a special Disney Vacation Club tower, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel, which is set to open later 2023.

Disneyland has the moniker of “The Happiest Place on Earth,” and for fans this says it all.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Images are Artist Concepts/Disney

Printable books for kids

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Follow the link below to download specially selected books to print for ages 4-8. They are short and some include activities and coloring pages. Learning to read and understand English whether as a primary or secondary language can be challenging and frustrating at times. Try these free downloadable books to explore with your child to make it fun and enjoyable.

https://www.websiteplanet.com/blog/learn-english-free-books/

Disney Princess recipe books are the perfect way to enjoy a summer celebration

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

It’s summer – finally! This is the perfect time to have some get-togethers, tea parties, or just some family fun. And at the center of all of these is – food! The Disney Princess recipe books are an enjoyable and unique way to spruce up your get-togethers. Photos of the final products as well as drawings of the princesses bring additional excitement to creating the dishes and drinks.

Disney Princess Baking

Disney Princes Baking has over 60 treats inspired by the Disney Princesses. There is a variety of mouth-watering treats for breakfast, snacks, and desserts. As the introduction says, “For over eighty years, since Snow White first appeared on the big screen, the princess of Disney have captured the attention of the world, motivating us to achieve our dreams while staying true to ourselves.” The recipes in this book bring a little magic to any occasion, whether it is for adults or kids.

Jasmine Pistachio Honey Baklava is a little taste of the Middle East. While enjoying this delicacy, everyone will be thinking of flying carpets and exotic locales. Moana Heart of Te Fiti Pinwheels brings the flavor of the South Pacific to your table. And not only do they look delicious, they are!

Percy the Pug’s Cherry Streusel Tart brings the heart of Pocahontas to any dessert. And for something from that chef herself, Tiana New Orleans Doberge Cake is like a New Orleans treat. 

If the theme of your get-together is princess magic, the Disney Castle Cake is not only a good dessert, but makes an adorable centerpiece while enjoying the main course. Obviously, just the cake and some tea or coffee would work too!

Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather Fairy Cakes are enchanting cupcakes that even during the school year would be a good option for students to bring for bake sales. And something I personally enjoy, Cinderella’s Magical Pumpkin Bread is easy-to-make and delicious for all of us pumpkin spice lovers.

Disney Tea Parties

Whether you’re having a tea party for adults or getting some of your children’s friends together for a princess party, there are over 50 recipes in here inspired by the Disney princesses. The introduction states, “From sweet tale featuring woodland creatures and beautiful melodic voices to bold stories of being fierce in the face of challenge, Disney Princess movies entertain while demonstrating guiding principles of favorable characteristics.” 

From sweet to savory, sandwiches to soups, as well as beverages, there are plenty of recipes in here to bring a sparkle to any tea party (or any party). How about some Bibbidi-Bobbidi Blueberry-Lemon Scones? The Heart of Te Fiti Spinach-Artichoke-Mozzarella Pinwheels sound yummy. I haven’t tried these yet but they are on my list.

Another savory delicacy is Captain Li Shang Pepper Jack Finger Sandwich. Jasmine’s Jeweled yogurt Parfaits, Whistle While You Wurst Lettuce Wraps, Gus-Gus Cheddar Puffs, and Ariel Roasted Tomato Mini Pies are just some of the other delights in the book.

Disney Princess Healthy Treats

Yes, you can have magical treats and still eat healthy. This book includes 55 recipes inspired by several of the Disney princesses which are not full of sugar, calories, or fat. But they are still tasty. “Everyone benefits from eating healthier – princesses included!” There are plenty of suggestions for sugar-free sweeteners and healthier flour than plain white flour.

Breakfast has been touted as the most important meal of the day. There are some great healthy options in this book. Aurora Overnight Oats Parfait is something parents and kids can make together before going to bed, then in the morning it is ready to eat. 

There are several bread recipes like Rapunzel Challah and Pocahontas Skillet Cornbread. Entrees include Tiana Gumbo Rolls and Belle Cheese Soufflé (delicious). Treats and beverages add to the tasty yummies in the book. Rapunzel Berry Crumble, Cinderella Latte, King Triton Ocean Fizz, Jasmine Date and Walnut Pie, and more will have the while family enjoying these healthier options while still keeping with the fun and fantasy of the Disney stories.

Whether you’re making a family meal, a special party, or even a school function, there is something in each of these books for everyone.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, 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, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

A kind of poetic justice in Paramount+’s reimagining of ‘Fatal Attraction’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

You don’t need to have seen Adrian Lyne’s 1987 blockbuster psychosexual thriller to figure out that Fatal Attraction is the story of an ill-fated affair and its violent and devastating aftermath. I’ve seen the film, but never in a million years did I think Michael Douglas’ successful Manhattan lawyer Dan Gallagher could be ruined in any shape or form; he was too affluent, sleazy, and smarmy. It’d have been just another fling if Glenn Close’s frizzy-haired temptress Alex Forrest were a garden variety career woman looking for a good time with no strings attached. Close is known to be very vocal in condemning the film’s misogynistic legacy — a hysterical woman who refuses to be “ignored” — and has always hoped a reimagining of the movie would delve deeper into Alex’s side of the story.

The updated eight-part adaptation of Fatal Attraction opens in the present day, with a grizzled Dan Gallagher (Joshua Jackson) up for parole after serving 15 years for killing Alex Forrest (Lizzy Caplan). Stripped of all his wealth and influence he took for granted, the disgraced legacy kid/political animal tries to reconnect with his now college-aged daughter, Ellen (Alyssa Jirrels), and desperately wants to prove his innocence with the help of his investigator buddy Mike (Toby Huss).

Flashback to 2008. Alex, a new member of the Victim Services Bureau, meets the LA County prosecutor who seems to have everything going for him. Dan embodies all of the things Alex wishes she had; a life of normalcy, acceptance, and unconditional love from his spouse. Once Alex puts the latest shiny object on a pedestal, she gets busy with countless cringeworthy schemes all in the name of love. I mean, we’ve all done things we’re not proud of, but making it rain in a restaurant really takes the cake!

With two timelines (2008 and 2023) and multiple perspectives, the remake of Fatal Attraction is reminiscent of The Affair (Showtime 2014-2019) — a study of emotional and psychological effects of an affair with a whodunit murder mystery. Casting Jackson who played Cole Lockhart — the jilted husband and the most enlightened person among the star-crossed quartet — may have something to do with it, but Jackson’s Dan is less despicable and much more sympathetic than Douglas’ Dan. And when the parade of people tell him what a jerk he is to his face, I cannot help rooting for Dan who paid a disproportionate price for his midlife crisis affair. Sure, Dan shouldn’t have strayed, but can you blame him? He used to be a paragon of white privilege who was handed his job and rarely experienced a consequence in his life until his judgeship was snatched away from under his nose. His brief fling with Alex was a colossal mistake and his own presumptuous arrogance led to his downfall.

A strange chemistry forms when Alex’s borderline personality disorder (BPD) meets Dan’s midlife crisis — self-fulfilling prophecy of ‘what I fear, I create’ — and explodes in an unimaginably sinister and tragic fashion. When the paroled Dan morphs into a pathetic loser right in front of our eyes, it defeats the purpose of showcasing the ‘whys’ of Alex; a troubled childhood, undiagnosed and untreated BPD, a strong, innate aversion to therapy or help, and then some. Think about it. It’s not like Alex was walking around with a “Fragile — handle with care” warning label. Unless you’ve had an experience dealing with a person with BPD, you don’t have a clue what triggers her violent outbursts and the dramatic changes in personality at the drop of a hat. With a whiff of abandonment or criticism, Alex turns into ’a black hole of need’ and scans for clues to cling onto her fantasy. When Dan’s innocent good-bye hug pushes Alex over the edge and compels her to do far more sinister things than the original film, we’re all reminded that a homewrecker is a homewrecker, no matter how you slice it!

So in this iteration the showcreators’ attempt to contextualize Alex’s psyche ends up backfiring spectacularly. I don’t think that’s the kind of ‘reimagining’ Close had in mind. However, Fatal Attraction 2.0 certainly develops into Alex’s wish fulfillment fantasies of revenge and triumph, where her deep-seated emotional needs and burning desire to destroy the Gallaghers are ultimately fulfilled: Dan is a convicted murderer with no money, no prospects, no retrial in sight; Beth (Amanda Peet), ex-wife on her way to sainthood, hides desperate sadness behind eerie tranquility; and Ellen, a psychology major, is already an Alex in the making. Maybe there is a kind of poetic justice in that.

The first four episodes of Fatal Attraction are streaming on Paramount+, with subsequent episodes premiering on Sundays.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.