Author: Francine Brokaw

Disneyland Resort update for September 2022

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The Disneyland Resort is always growing and changing. Imagination is the key, which the folks at Disney have plenty of.

With the upcoming reimagining of Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, there was little doubt Tiana’s influence would be felt more than in the one attraction. There will soon be a restaurant in New Orleans Square with plenty of Tiana’s New Orleans tastes. Also, a new shop in the square features apparel, foods, and more. Eudora’s Chic Boutique is inspired by Princess Tiana’s mother Eudora. This shop is a much-needed addition to New Orleans Square. (photos courtesy Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)

And Disneyland Resort will soon be supporting the Magic Band+. Finally! This is a welcome addition to the resort. Guests who have visited Walt Disney World know the advantages of having a Magic Band. It is hands free and allows guests to enter the parks and some attractions just by swiping the band next to the electronic icons, making entry to the parks and some lightning lanes fast and easy.

Magic Band+ adds additional elements, which add interactive elements for guests. For instance, some of the nighttime shows will be synched to the bands.  PhotoPass photographers will be able to tap the band to synch your photos.

In Star Wars: Galaxy Edge the bands bring a new interactive element to the galaxy far, far away. More features of the MagicBand+ will be revealed at a future date. If WDW is to be the example, statues around the parks will be interactive simply by waving the band in front of the statues. Let’s wait to see if this feature makes it to Anaheim. Needless to say, many of the new updates to the resort will be a great addition and add more enjoyment for guests as they experience all the fun of Disney.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 28 years. 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.

‘Death in Paradise’ is still fun after all these years

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

In 2011 Death in Paradise premiered on BBC. The first season is available on BritBox for all of us to watch. Even though this is over ten years old, it is still fun and entertaining, thanks in part to the star Ben Miller.

Miller has had a long career in the acting business that continues today. Having just discovered Death in Paradise, it is no surprise. Viewers will recognize him from shows like Bridgerton, Primeval, and other TV series as well as feature films. Fans of the movie The Prince and Me will recognize him as Soren, the faithful aide to the Prince. With a resume going back to 1991, his career has been long and varied.

In Death in Paradise Miller steps into the shoes of DI Richard Poole, a straight-laced, uptight London cop who is sent to the Caribbean island of Saint-Marie to investigate the murder of a fellow British policeman who was working on the island. Poole insists on wearing his dark suit, leather shoes, and carrying his briefcase, even though the temperature is high and half of the time he is walking on the sand. He wants to solve this crime and return to the dreary streets of London as soon as possible.

To his chagrin, Poole is permanently assigned to the Saint-Marie police department and he must work alongside DS Camille Bordey (Sara Martins), who is more easy-going (although everyone on the island is more easy-going than Poole) and tries her best to help him learn the island ways.

Officer Fidel Best (Gary Carr) always gets the drudgework, thanks to his superior Officer Dwayne Myers (Danny John-Jules). This foursome is a motley crew, but they always manage to solve the crimes, thanks in large part to the great mind of Richard Poole.

Poole is in the same vane as Columbo, except he is not disheveled or untidy. He often looks like he just stepped out of a page of British GQ and he fixes up his cluttered beach home to reflect his cleanliness. He is a fish out of water yet makes the best of his situation. He is not one for cute banter. He is professional – most of the time. That said, he does have his island moments.

This is a fun show with plenty of entertaining characters, and at the top of the list is DI Richard Poole. He is a brilliant detective who manages to see things in little clues that others cannot. Sound familiar? (Columbo) Later seasons Poole is replaced however the original episodes are filled with his unusual ways and clever mind.

Death in Paradise is now streaming on BritBox. Check out their website for subscription information. They have a free 7-day trial so there is nothing to lose.

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.

Bring home ‘Minions: The Rise of Gru’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The latest film in the franchise, Minions: The Rise of Gru, is 90 per cent minions and 10 percent Gru, which will please fans of these adorable little yellow fellows. The story explains how Gru ended up adopting the Minions, and not only are Kevin, Stuart, and Bob front and center, this film introduces their friend Otto. Otto is a sweet rolly polly guy with braces and he is eager to help and eager to please.

12-year-old Gru admires the Vicious 6 who are the most evil bunch of villains. When a vacancy arises in the group, Gru applies to join this notorious gang of villains, but when they discover he is only a child instead of a tiny man they belittle him and evict him from their lair. But Gru decides to show them how evil he can be and steals their precious stone, intending on returning it once they admit him into the fold.

The problem is, Gru doesn’t fully anticipate their reaction and soon it is Otto who is entrusted with the stone. But Otto is not the most trustworthy of the group. With the stone lost somewhere in suburbia, Gru is taken hostage by his hero, and soon the minions must find the stone and take it to San Francisco to rescue their beloved Gru.

Steve Carell returns to voice Gru alongside Julie Andrews voicing his mom. Alan Arkin voices Gru’s hero Wild Knuckles, with Michelle Yeoh supplying the voice of Master Chow who ends up teaching martial arts to Kevin, Bob, and Stuart. Taraji P, Henson adds the voice of Belle Bottom, Russell Brand is Nefario, Jean-Claude Van Damme is Jean-Clawed, Dolph Lundgern is Svengeance, Danny Trejo is Stronghold, and Lucy Lawless is Nun-Chuck.

This action-packed story is now available on 4K, Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital with plenty of bonus features: 2 mini-movies featuring the adorable Minions, outtakes, a look at the characters, a lesson on how to draw the characters, and some more fun things to watch and do.

Minions: The Rise of Gru is rated PG for some action/violence and rude humor.

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. Francine is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

D23 Expo 2022 – mini roundup

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

As ever, the D23 Expo was filled with people, merch, info, and a lot of fun. Here is a roundup of the 2022 expo at the Anaheim Convention Center.

To kick things off, the opening ceremony and Disney Legends awards was everything I expected. This year’s legends are: Anthony Anderson, Kristen Bell, Chadwick Boseman, Rob’t Coltrin, Patrick Dempsey, Robert Foster, Josh Gad, Jonathan Groff, Don Hahn, Doris Hardoon, Idina Menzel, Chris Montan, Ellen Pompeo, and Tracee Ellis Ross. Coming from the animation side as well as film and TV, the new legends take their place among some of the giants of Disney history. The ceremony was MC’s by Tamron Hall.

Next, Walt Disney’s iconic airplane, known as “The Mouse” was on display. This is a true historic plane. The plane was used by Walt and his wife to search for land for what is now Walt Disney World, to transport them to the New York World’s Fair, back and forth between Burbank and the East Coast, and overseas.

 

Disney Parks – well, even though there was a full session about the parks, not much new was discussed. “It’s terrific to be together in person and connect with our fans again at D23 Expo. I love sharing in the excitement with them for what we have ahead of us,” said Josh D’Amaro. “As the world’s greatest storytellers, I’m thrilled to share the new and innovative ways we are bringing next-generation Disney magic to life across Disney parks and experiences.” We know Splash Mountain is being transformed into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in the near future. Now there will be a Palace restaurant, which delighted all the fans. I always thought there would have to be a restaurant in the parks celebrating the world of New Orleans since that was Tiana’s dream.

Star Wars fans were delighted to learn that Grogu will be making personal appearances in Disneyland with the Mandalorian. Also appearing at the Avengers Campus will be Hulk. This guy is huge.  DCA (Disney California Adventure) will be expanding and remodeling. The bridge in the park will be reimagined as San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6. And the Pixar Pier Hotel is changing into the Pixar Place Hotel and will immerse guests into the animated world of Pixar.

Other changes in WDW and overseas parks were also discussed.

Merchandise!!

With plenty of panels throughout the three days, most fans were interested in the merchandise, and there was plenty of that. From pins to art to everything Disney, if you wanted it it was probably there.

This year several items that made their debut at the Expo also launched on shopDisney that same day.

  • Disney Munchlings
  • Disneyland Resort Fantasyland Collection by Shag
  • Princess Tiana Collection by Color Me Courtney
  • Magic Kingdom Fantasyland Collection by Ashley Taylor
  • Star Wars Guided by the Light by Ashley Eckstein
  • World of Wakanda

  

While they were available at the Expo, these items will be available on shopDisney later this Fall

  • Avatar
  • Aristocats Artist Series Collection by Ann Shen
  • Frozen Artist Series Collection by Brittney Lee
  • Spider-Man 60th

So, you might be wondering what I purchased. My followers know I always make a big purchase at the Expo. This year was a little different. Although there were plenty of items that caught my eye, I simply purchased some of Duffy’s friends. Duffy is set to make a big return to the parks soon. Duffy and his friends are very popular overseas, and although they did not prove to be as popular in the U.S., they will be coming back. Yes, Duffy and his friends will be starring in their own show next year on Disney+. Let’s face it, these guys are adorable!

So, if you missed the D23 Expo for 2022, here are some moments from the Anaheim Convention Center and remember, 2023 is the 100th anniversary of DISNEY.

    

This is just a small snippet! And to think, it all started with a mouse!

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.

Bring home ‘Elvis’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

I’m sure many women would have loved to “bring home Elvis.” But alas, they must settle for memories, movies, music, and now this new film Elvis, which is directed by Baz Luhrmann and stars Austin Butler as the king of rock and roll. The film delves into the iconic entertainer and looks at his life and career, narrated in part by Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks).

From his rise to stardom through the stress and complications of being the king of rock and roll, the story also plays out against the backdrop of the decades. Olivia DeLonge is Priscilla, his girlfriend then wife and mother of his only child Lisa Marie.

The cinematography makes this story different than a usual biopic. It is artistic which is evident from the beginning. With plenty of songs peppered throughout the film, diehard fans of the entertainer will undoubtedly enjoy the film. It is, however, a little slow moving.

There are plenty of bonus features included on the Blu-ray and 4K discs. A “making of” feature looks at the creation of the film. The story of Elvis strips away the icon and makes him more relatable to the viewers. American history plays out as an undertone in the film, which also looks at how gospel music played an important part in Elvis’ life and music.

Austin Butler is Elvis. He takes on the role that has been played by many actors in the past, however Butler does the singer more justice than anyone else has. He studied all things Elvis when accepting the role. He also paid a visit to Graceland where he immersed himself in the famous home of Elvis and looked at his belongings.

Another bonus looks at the costumes that also play an important part in the film. After all, we all know about Elvis’ attire through the years and recreating them was important to the filmmakers.

Believe it or not, the film was shot on location in Australia. Yes, Australia. They recreated Graceland from blueprints of the estate and decorated it in the current fashion. The house had been updated through the years, but the filmmakers know that fans that visit the estate now will want to see it as it is. And as Butler said, when he stepped inside the set of Graceland, he felt as though he was back in Memphis.

Several more special features are included.

To be honest, the best and most amazing aspect of this film is Austin Butler. There are many times when the camera will catch him at a certain angle and it is impossible to tell the difference between the real Elvis and this actor. He is that good at recreating Elvis in both look and sound. It’s truly amazing and he deserves accolades for his performance. It is evident he gave it his all.

Elvis is rated PG-13 for substance abuse, strong language, suggestive material, and smoking.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 28 years. 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.

 

This disc was sent to me by Warner Bros. for review.

Halloween time again!!! Disneyland resort 2022

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

It’s Halloween time again at the Disneyland Resort.

You’ll see Mickey, Minnie and their pals dressed in their Halloween costumes because Disneyland Resort kicks off the fall celebrations with Halloween Time running through October 31 and Plaza de la Familia at Disney California Adventure running through November 2.

All the favorites are back like Haunted Mansion Holidays, the seasonal decorations in Cars Land, the return of Halloween Screams fireworks, Guardians of the Galaxy Monsters After Dark and celebrations of Dio de los Muertos.  Go to disneyland.com for tickets and reservations.  And of course, you can’t forget the pumpkin spice churros!

Click below to check out all the fun.

‘Gigi and Nate’ is a heartwarming story

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Inspired by a true story, Gigi and Nate is a heartwarming story of a young man whose life was tragically altered but found hope in the form of a monkey. The story also delves into the question of what animals are appropriate to keep as service animals.

Nate is about to go off to college. On the Fourth of July when his family is celebrating the holiday, his adventurous side nudges him into jumping into a lake from a high ledge. Little did he know that that one action would change his life forever.  Nate ended up with a meningitis that resulted in him being a quadriplegic.  For an active and adventurous young man, this was a horrific result of one act. 

His family was also devastated yet they were appreciative that Nate was alive. Nate did not feel the same and tried to kill himself. His future was bleak. What did he have to look forward to? What was he going to do with the rest of his life? He was depressed and saw nothing good in his future. 

Then Nate was provided with a service animal in the form of an eight-year-old capuchin monkey named Gigi. It took awhile before Gigi blended into the family, but Nate took to her from the start. Little by little Gigi helped Nate with his exercises and their bond grew stronger. They were not only working on Nate’s rehabilitation, they were also best friends. Gigi was as much a part of the family as anyone. With her help and love, Nate’s progress became remarkable to the point that the doctors were amazed.

But this wonderful surprise in their lives was shattered when an animal rights group decided that capuchin monkeys were not safe to have as service animals. Their legal battle became a tragedy for Nate and his family. 

Gigi not only gave Nate back much of his mobility, she gave him hope. His outlook for his future was not bleak anymore. She taught him skills and even though she could not speak, she taught him how to be happy again.

Yes, there are sad parts to this story but rest assured that it results in a happy ending. 

Charlie Rowe plays Nate with much emotion and heart. The cast includes several veteran actors. Marcia Gay Harden plays his mother, Jim Belushi plays his father, and Diane Lane plays his grandmother.

This is a hopeful story. While they would have preferred Nate never gotten sick, it shows that given a difficult situation, it is possible to make the best out of it and for those who are faced with a life-changing illness and disability, there is hope. Hope and love are the key. And in this case both come in the form of a little monkey.

“It’s a beautiful movie about real people and real experiences and written in the most honest and authentic way,” Belushi said. “The reason I know it’s authentic and real is because most people have gotten that phone call, where the electric energy through your system changes. That phone call I’ve had in my life, and it is a gut-wrenching moment that puts you into shock and once you come out of the shock, you have a lifetime of adjustment.”

While Nate adjusts to his circumstances and a future that is different from what he originally planned, his entire family must also adjust. The story take audiences on the changes within the family through the darkness to the light. “This script, this family, we’re watching them recover as a family,” Belushi acknowledged.

Rowe stated, “I want the audience to feel moved, I want them to feel energized,” he says. “I want them to feel everything I felt when I read the script for the first time. It’s a rollercoaster on four wheels. It’s about family and the difficulties of losing something you love.”

Gigi and Nate is rated PG-13 for some thematic material and language. It opens in theaters September 2, 2022.

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.

It’s almost time for ‘Pinocchio’ live action from Disney

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Academy Award® winner Robert Zemeckis directs this live action retelling of the beloved tale of a wooden puppet who embarks on a thrilling adventure to become a real boy. Tom Hanks stars as Geppetto, the wood carver who builds and treats Pinocchio (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) as if he were his own son. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Jiminy Cricket, who serves as Pinocchio’s guide as well as his “conscience”, and Academy Award® nominee Cynthia Erivo is the Blue Fairy.

Pinocchio premieres September 8, 2022 on Disney Plus.

Get ready to bring home ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Tom Cruise stars in the global phenomenon TOP GUN: MAVERICK, the #1 film of 2022 with over $1.3 billion in worldwide box office and the highest grossing film of the producer/actor’s acclaimed career.  TOP GUN: MAVERICK lands on Digital August 23, 2022 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD November 1 from Paramount Home Entertainment.

After more than 30 years of service as a top naval aviator, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot. Yet, Maverick must confront the ghosts of his past when he returns to TOP GUN to train a group of elite graduates and comes face-to-face with Lt. Bradshaw (Miles Teller), the son of his former wingman, “Goose”. Bitter rivalries ignite as the pilots prepare for a specialized mission, which will require the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.

Check out the explosive trailer and hold onto your seats.