Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Foyle’s War’ streams on Acorn TV

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Foyle’s War was a popular British drama set in the time of World War II. This series aired from 2002-2015 and is available to stream on Acorn TV. If you haven’t seen it yet, it is definitely worth watching.

The show focuses mainly on DCS Christopher Foyle, a police detective with some wit, some charm, and a nose for unraveling mysteries. This is an interesting series in that it depicts the mood and atmosphere in England during and after the war, and the British sentiments toward the American soldiers.

In the beginning the war is just starting and the people are struggling with rations, shortages, bombs, and through all of this there are still crimes being committed that have nothing to do with the war. It is up to Foyle and his Sergeant Paul Milner (Anthony Howell) to get to the bottom of these crimes, especially the murders. And there are plenty of murders to keep them busy.

Foyle and Milner are joined by Samantha (Sam) Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks), who has been assigned as Foyle’s driver even though she is not in the police. With the war raging everyone does what he/she can to help out. Sam is an energetic and eager young woman who tries to insinuate herself into the cases, to the chagrin of Foyle. But Sam manages to help many times. Her insight and cunning add to the team.

As Foyle deals with his job, his son Andrew (Julian Ovenden) joins the RAF and goes on flying missions. And after several seasons Milner is promoted, leaving Foyle with a new Sergeant and the desire to retire, or resign, from the department.

As the episodes pile up, the Yanks join the war and the British and Americans clash over cultural differences and language. The end of the war brings new challenges to the characters and Foyle takes on a different job with different responsibilities.

The show is sprinkled with fun and witty comments, however the majority of the time is pure drama. For Americans the interest lies not only in the characters but also with the way the British people faced the obstacles and tragedies of the war while wondering when the Americans will help them defeat the Germans. The aftermath of WWII is the setting for the final seasons.

Foyle’s War is an intriguing and addicting series. All of the episodes are available to stream on Acorn TV.

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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Courtesy photo

‘Nine Days’ delves into the human condition

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

The film Nine Days is a psychological/metaphysical drama about life, literally. The story focuses on life before life.

Will (Winston Duke) is in charge of deciding which souls/spirits get to experience life and which ones will be extinct. He lives in a house surrounded by vastness. Nothing is around him except his assistant Kyo (Benedict Wong) who oversees the process. All the lives Will has selected to become human beings are played out on TV monitors in his house and he keeps up with his “people.”

There is one girl he is especially drawn to. Amanda is a gifted violinist and both Will and Kyo enjoy listening to her play. They “see” her life through her eyes, as with all the other selectees. When tragedy happens Will is forced to confront his own demons.

One by one the candidates arrive at his house. Out of them he must select one to fill the vacant spot. The candidates are given nine days to answer questions, observe the people on earth, and experience both the good and bad of the situation in which they find themselves. They are not people yet. They are souls, or spirits. They inhabit a body but have not been born.

As the candidates learn about life and being alive, Will discovers more and more about his own past. He had once been alive, unlike Kyo. One candidate in particular, Emma (Zazie Beetz), brings out emotions in him that he never expected. Emma is unusual. She looks at life differently than the others. You could say she was a “glass half full” kind of girl. She sees happiness when others only see the grim part of being alive.

The film is dark, both in content and cinematography. It is meant to get viewers to look deeper at life itself. How do people confront situations? How do they survive among dissidence? How do relationships play out?

The content in the story can be a bit disturbing so it is not a film for younger viewers. Nine Days is rated R for language. It opens July 30, 2021.

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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘The Christmas Dance’ is what the holiday is all about

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Sarah (Kristen Vaganos) has been a avoiding returning to her hometown for years. When she was a little girl she fell during the Christmas play and made an embarrassment of herself. Ever since then she has been a Scrooge around the holiday. She has no Christmas spirit. That darn dance number and the fall has spoiled the holiday and she still bears the emotional scars of that fateful night.

Now she is grown and living in the big city, Sarah tries everything to avoid returning home for the holiday. She has a successful career as a writer for a magazine and thinks her life is heading on the right path. That is until she is given the assignment to write a heartfelt Christmas article. It seems the magazine is “going in a new direction” and it’s one she doesn’t like. Anyway, they have definitely assigned the wrong person to this article.


Sarah is frustrated. She wonders how she will write the piece when she has no holiday feelings herself. Then her brother has an accident and without thinking she drives back to her hometown where she is confronted by her past, old friends, memories, and her family.

It’s not the ideal setting for her with this assignment deadline looming. If she doesn’t write it she will be fired.

While experiencing Christmas in her hometown with family and friends, Sarah slowly begins to regain that holiday spirit. Is there jolly in her heart after all? Confronted by the annual Christmas play, she comes to terms with her past.

This is a religious film. It’s not a typical lighthearted Christmas story. It is filled with religious references and the like. But it is clear the holiday spirit lives in Sarah’s hometown and it’s not something she can avoid. And, truth be told, she discovers she is not immune to it after all.

The Christmas Dance premieres in theaters and VOD July 23, 2021 for Christmas in July.

 

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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘The Art of Luca’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The latest Disney/Pixar film Luca is a magical and mystical tale that takes place in a fictional seaside town in Italy. “The Art of Luca” book takes readers into the film with background information and plenty of images that inspired the characters and the film.

Gelato and Vespa motor scooters are a big part of the story as is the architecture of the region. The sea monster characters themselves, as described in the book, were inspired by art. This adds a great dimension to the look of them.

While gazing at the colorful images on the pages, take time to read the background information. “The graphic design found throughout the towns of coastal Italy is incredibly inspiring.” (p. 125) By including them in the film viewers are taken to this part of the world and immersed in not only the characters but also the culture and history of the region.

Luca is a sweet and sensitive story of a summer friendship. It is filled with fun and cute characters, along with immersing viewers in the Italian culture and atmosphere. Plus, there is an additional aspect of the underwater sea folk’s world. By merging the underwater world with that of the human world, the film brings a fantasy aspect to the story.

For the underwater homes, “The design was based heavily on the Italian trullo house” from southern Italy. (p. 39) They have a natural look, which adds to the scenery of the underwater life.

Flipping through the pages of the book, readers see all aspects of the film depicted in these images. It is a colorful book that is sure to take readers back to the film and through the art and storyboards that ultimately led to the finished product.

“The art of Luca” is filled with images. Unlike many of the books in the series, this one has fewer editorials than others. Instead, there are images of sketches and the computer generated graphics. This is a colorful book like the film and for fans of the film and fans of animation itself, it is a “must have.” The characters are delightful and viewers and readers get immersed in the culture of Italy while enjoying the magical and mystical story.

  • The Art of Luca by Daniela Strijleva
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Chronicle Books
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 176 pages

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, from Sourced Media Books, 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.

‘Paw Patrol: The Movie’ coming to theaters and Paramount+

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The PAW Patrol is on a roll!  When their biggest rival, Humdinger, becomes Mayor of nearby Adventure City and starts wreaking havoc, Ryder and everyone’s favorite heroic pups kick into high gear to face the challenge head on.  While one pup must face his past in Adventure City, the team finds help from a new ally, the savvy dachshund Liberty.  Together, armed with exciting new gadgets and gear, the PAW Patrol fights to save the citizens of Adventure City!

PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE IS IN THEATRES AND STREAMING ON PARAMOUNT+ ON AUGUST 20, 2021

 

‘DreamWorks Trollhunters: Rise of the Titans’ epic finale

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Following the events of the Tales of Arcadia trilogy, the heroes of Arcadia from the hit series Trollhunters, 3Below, and Wizards must band together in their most epic adventure yet to protect humanity from the evil Arcane Order, who wield their dark and uncontrollable magic to summon ancient titans that threaten to destroy the world. On the surface, Arcadia appears to be a slice of timeless Americana, but it is no ordinary town. It lies at the center of magical and mystical lines that make it a nexus for many battles among otherworldly creatures including trolls, aliens and wizards.

The epic finale premieres worldwide July 21, 2021 on Netflix.

‘Behind the Attraction’ looks at the origins of several notable Disneyland attractions

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The new 10-part series on Disney+ is not only fun but also very informative. Behind the Attraction is a look at how so many of the iconic attractions in Disneyland and the other Disney parks came to be.

The episodes explore the histories and culminations of:

  • Hall of Presidents
  • Trains, Trams, and Monorails
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Disneyland Hotel
  • The Castles
  • Space Mountain
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
  • Star Tours
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Jungle Cruise

 

Several of these attractions got their start at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. That was when Walt Disney was asked to supply attractions that he ultimately added to Disneyland. Not only do viewers see the origins of these attractions, but there are also some pretty funny anecdotes that go along with them.

Technology was advancing but not as far as it has come today. Animatronics was just in its infancy. The first animatronic attempt was Abraham Lincoln who, after the fair, was relocated to Anaheim where he took up residence in the Opera House on Main Street USA in Disneyland. To say his beginning was something of a disaster is a mistake. He would stand up and smash his chair, leaving the creators to figure out what in the world was going on. Well, as explained in the show, they finally found what was happening and he was once again standing tall next to his chair. Wait until you see what caused his malfunction. Anyway, in Orlando at Walt Disney World Lincoln was joined by all of the presidents in the Hall of Presidents.

Walt was really into transportation. His love of trains led him to create the train station at the entrance of Disneyland. And his idea for the monorail system was inventive and could have changed the landscape and structure of Los Angeles. But the powers that be did not have the foresight that Disney had. Alas, L.A. is stuck with an outdated freeway system.

The iconic castles in the various parks around the world have their own histories. And the famous Jungle Cruise, which opened in 1955, has loyal fans. As a matter of fact, it has been made into a feature film. In the past the attractions were based on films, but these days there are films based on the attractions.

How did they come up with the 10 episodes? In a virtual press conference Brian Volk-Weiss, executive producer and director, explained, “So we started with a list that I exaggerate not, was like, it would have been over one hundred, but I think Mark was like that you might you might want to trim that down a bit. So I think we I think we still submitted a list of 30. The good news to get it down fast was we decided very early on not to work, not to do any episodes about attractions that don’t exist anymore.”

Disney Imagineer Dave Durham told the media, “Literally the coolest thing for me as an Imagineer is to be able to go stand by the exit of a new attraction that we opened. And you you’ve put years working with a team, so many hours, so many meetings, so many decisions. And you have the vision the whole time as to what you what you hope that thing will end up being. And then when all is said and done, the guest literally speaks as they come off the ride. And you’re listening. Do they like it or are they happy? Did it meet the expectations? And what I watch for is do they run right back around and get back in line again? And it’s this thing where you don’t have to say a word. Their actions say it for you and you just sit back and smile and go. That was worth it. And so it’s not always what you hear is what you see.”

Disney Imagineer Jeanette Lamboy explained, “So I think sometimes we use technology that exists in different ways,” citing the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror which has been transformed into Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout.

“That’s one perfect example of how we think out of the box.”

Yes indeed, the Imagineers are truly dedicated to their work.

Volk-Weiss said he wanted guests to the parks to learn about the attractions so when they visited the parks they would be further engaged and interested in them.

Lamboy admitted, “My favorite attraction of all time is Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean, but it is expressed differently and our most recent Pirates of the Caribbean and Shanghai is such an amazing technological masterpiece and really one of the finest rides in the world. So I would love to see that covered. And I’m sure that was on the short list of things that got cut Brian. Season two.”

Behind the Attraction is a must-see for fans of the Disney parks. It is not only entertaining, but also very educational. It’s a fun experience. The episodes stream on Disney+ beginning July 21, 2021.

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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home ‘Jenny the Chimpanzee’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

“Today I have a story to tell. A story that I know so very well. The story of how we came to be. Told by no other than “Jenny the Chimpanzee.” That is how the adorable book, Jenny the Chimpanzee” begins. The book was written by Lotus Kay, a 19-year-old with a passion for endangered animals. This book is sweet and wonderfully illustrated by Chey Diehl.

 

The story is written in rhyme and tells the tale of this little chimpanzee and how the entire world is connected. We’re all part of the circle of life and need to care for and look out for each other, and that definitely includes the animal world.  Jenny is a sweet little chimp that will capture the hearts of those who hear her story.

Chimpanzees and humans are closely related. True, they are smaller, but just looking into their eyes will reveal their emotions. They have thoughts and feelings just like we do.

The book won a Gold Award from Mom’s Choice for one of the best in family-friendly media, products and services.

Eifrig Publishing says their mottos it their mission. “Our books promote social and environmental consciousness and empower children as they grow in their communities.”

After her story ends, there are some quotes from Jane Goodall, probably the person on the planet with the most expertise about chimpanzees. “The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” And she hit the nail on the head with that. We need to work hard to save the endangered species and our beloved chimpanzees, among other animals. When they are gone, they are gone for good, and there is no good in that!

To go along with the book there is a plush Jenny that can be purchased separately. I have no doubt that the combination of the book and the plush will be among favorites for kids and passed down through generations. The plush is soft and huggable and for little kids Jenny makes a great sleeping partner. Just looking at this delightful little innocent face will hopefully encourage people/kids to think about endangered chimpanzees. And maybe the next Jane Goodall will be born from someone who takes Jenny into his or her heart and home.

The book is recommended for ages 4-9. And the plush is for everyone. She sits comfortably on my bed and reminds me that we are all one world.

The 26-page book from Eifrig Publishing retails for $14.99 for the hardcover and $9.99 for the softcover. The plush/book combination sells for $49.95.

To purchase gift sets of the books and companion toys, click here. “Jenny the Chimpanzee” and other Bears for Cares books are also available for sale here.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of all books and toys will be donated to the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program.

For more about chimpanzees click here.

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, from Sourced Media Books, 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.