Rave and Review

The Muppets are BACK!

In case you haven’t noticed, the Muppets are coming, and around our house this is a very big deal. The Muppet Movie was released today, November 23rd, 2011 in theatres throughout the country and it seems the whole world is talking about it.  It’s been a few years since the last Muppet movie came out though, which means a lot of younger kids may not be as familiar with them as my generation was growing up. 

Instead of ignoring this fact as a lot of people would, the Muppets throw it out first and foremost by making it a major plot point of the movie. Coming from a household that used the Muppet Show as units of time {as in “We’ll be there in two Muppet Shows”} it’s hard to think of them as underdogs, but that is the reality today. 

So, in the beginning of the film we find the Muppets have stopped performing together, are spread all across the country and the old Muppet Theater is falling apart.  When an old oil tycoon {played by the always great Chris Cooper} sets up a deal to buy the theater but really intends to demolish it, the gang must reunite to save it. 

Will all the Muppets get back together? Will they save the theater? Well I won’t spoil the suspense for you here, but I will say that the same old sense of humor is here throughout the movie.  I’ve always thought the Muppets were one of the first shows to have jokes for kids and adults and that is definitely true in the new film. 

There are multiple times where the characters break down the third wall and mention the fact that they’re in a movie, mixed in with sight gags and fart jokes, as well as 80’s references and all sorts of social commentary.  I can’t think of another movie recently that I laughed at this much while my 3 year old daughter was enjoying it just the same. 

Another great staple of Muppet movies that continues here is the celebrity cameo. Every few minutes would be another instance of “hey look who that is!” It’s always fun to see who shows up, even to just deliver a line or two, and then see how many you can name at the end of the movie. 

Written by and starring Jason Segel the Muppets is a true celebration of Kermit, Miss Piggy and the whole gang. It is very clear that this was a labor of love and comes from someone who understands what the Muppets are all about.

So, if you like the Muppets even slightly, or just want a movie you and your kids can agree on you have to go see the Muppets movie. It really is a rare treat to be able to share something you loved from your childhood with your kids and have it be new for both of you. 
A big thank you to Disney and the Muppets for giving us a sneak preview into the new Muppet Movie. All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Winnie The Pooh on Blu-ray & DVD 10/25! {Giveaway & $5 Coupon Code}

Have you seen Disney’s new Winnie The Pooh movie?  We were sad we missed it in theatres, so I was really excited to review the new Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack a few days ago and have a movie night with the family.  Having seen numerous trailers for the release, I had thought the film would be cute, but it turns out that it’s adorable.  If you haven’t already seen the film, prepared to be enchanted. 

If you are a fan of Pooh, you will love the classic rendition of the gang and the common themes throughout all books, movies, and stories in the Hundred Acre Wood.  But, what’s really cool is that even if you aren’t a big Pooh fan, it’s still a fun and lighthearted movie the whole family can enjoy.  Scenes such as the knot/not done in a “who’s on first” style were absolutely hysterical and something we still talk about.  Really, that whole 10 minutes around the knot/not scene pretty much made the movie for me.  Not only were they classic Pooh, they also felt very current and fresh even after decades of watching the gang throughout my childhood. 

The movie has a running time of 63 minutes but it really felt more like 40, and we were all sad when the final credits rolled and family movie night was over.  Thank goodness there were bonus features, music, and mini adventures to keep the fun going after the movie had ended.  “Pooh’s Balloon” was a favorite mini feature and had us all laughing and watching it over and over.  Of course, as a fan of the band She and Him, we also loved the musical stylings of Zooey Deschanel and will be heading out to get the soundtrack soon as well. 

Here’s some more Winnie The Pooh fun!  Click below for video tutorials by famed Disney animators Andreas Deja and Mark Henn with instructions on how to draw your favorite characters!

Want to get $5 off the new Winnie The Pooh movie from Disney Movie Rewards?  Click below to print their special offer before it expires!  Be sure to stay connected with the latest news and information on Winnie The Pooh by liking them on Facebook and on Twitter!
 

Want to win Winnie The Pooh on Blu-ray and DVD?  Of course you do! 

To enter, simply tell me your favorite Winnie The Pooh character 

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar {2 extra entries, must be verified to count}

2) Tweet about this Giveaway after following us both {daily Tweet, just post link here}

Winnie The Pooh on Blu-ray/DVD #giveaway from @raveandreview and @DisneyAnimation!  http://bit.ly/vgieep

3) "Like" Winnie The Pooh on Facebook

4) NEW!  "Like" Rave and Review on Facebook! {2 extra entries}

5) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com homepage {2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup}

6) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website  {1 extra entry, must have an active link to R&R}

7) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

On November 11th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses.

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you to all who entered and congrats to:

108 Jenn S. said...  Email subscriber.

Thank you to Disney Animation for sending the film for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack

First Time in High Definition -- As A 2-Disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and Movie Download

I truly think that the movie Dumbo gets better with age.  When I was young, it was a funny story about an elephant with big ears, a mouse, and a funny supporting cast of characters.  But, the older I get, the more important the message is.  What better than a flying elephant to teach us the power of believing in yourself and that sometimes your biggest handicap ends up being your biggest asset in the end? 

Also better, but in this case despite its age, is the film’s newly restored state which returns Dumbo to its original pristine condition.  In honor of the 70th anniversary, Disney is releasing the restored classic as well as bringing the flying elephant into HD for the first time ever.  I will admit I hadn’t seen the film for over a decade before the newest release, but even so, I was really impressed with the restoration and how it revitalized the 70-year-old film.

Also impressive is how a 70 year old film not only remains relevant, hilarious, and heartwarming, but also how it captivates both the young and old alike.  Released in 1941, Dumbo may be Walt Disney’s 4th animated film ever, but the classic film is timeless and elegant even a full 7 decades later.  If you haven’t seen Dumbo recently, now is your chance to own the film as it was meant to be seen.  

On September 20th, the DUMBO 2-Disc Blu-ray Hi-Def & DVD Combo Pack was released, featuring exclusive bonus materials, songs, and behind-the-scenes footage.  Pick up your copy today and share the magic with your family. 

Bonus Features

DVD: Deleted Scene – “The Mouse’s Tale * Deleted Song – “Are You a Man or a Mouse?” * Taking Flight: The Making of Dumbo – A journey back to the origins of the film as everybody’s favorite baby elephant takes wing. * The Magic Of Dumbo:  A Ride of Passage – Witness the excitement and magic of Disneyland’s most popular ride through the eyes of a child. * Audio Commentary with Pete Docter, Paula Sigman and Andreas Deja * Sound Design Excerpt from The Reluctant Dragon * Original Walt Disney Television Introduction

Blu-ray: Everything on the DVD plus: Cine-Explore * Disney View * “What Do You See?” Game * “What Do You Know?” Game * “Celebrating Dumbo” Featurette * Animated Short: “The Flying Mouse” * Animated Short: “Elmer Elephant”

Movie Download (Standard Definition & High Definition Versions): Deleted Scene – “The Mouse’s Tale” * Deleted Song – “Are You a Man or a Mouse?” * “Celebrating Dumbo” Featurette

A big thank you to Disney for sending a copy of Dumbo for review.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

The Help Movie Pre-Screening Party

While I was at BlogHer last week in San Diego, I had a chance to attend a prescreening of the movie The HELP that is based off the best-selling book with the same name.  While it's been on my list for a while to read the book {as is getting rid of maternity clothes, organizing a dinner party, and cleaning out the garage}, I don’t get much time to myself these days and reading a whole book isn’t likely to come to fruition any time soon. 

I did, however, know a little bit of backstory of the plot such as that the story took place in the deep South in the 1960s and that it told the story of the racial inequality in Jackson, Mississippi and the women who set about to document the untold story of “the help”.  I also knew that I was probably going to turn into a big, blubbering mess of mascara and eyeliner, which was confirmed when I arrived at the reception site and saw tables of kleenex set out for after the movie.

The movie started with trailers for some much-anticipated coming attractions for winter and 2012 and then went right into the movie as the sea of bloggers in the audience powered off their phones {aka tweeting lifeline} and relaxed for a few hours in the midst of one of the busiest weekends of the year for bloggers.  As much as I was just excited to sit down for the first time all day, I was also extremely excited to see the film with all my blogging friends as I had been eagerly awaiting its release.   

About the movie:  The Help stars Emma Stone(“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different women from very different backgrounds living in Mississippi during the 1960s.  Even though by doing so they are breaking many societal rules and laws, these women forge an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that puts them all at risk. 

The film begins with Skeeter returning to her hometown after college, where she lands a job at a Jackson paper as a “housekeeping” help columnist under a pen name. Having never kept her own house, she turns to Aibileen, her friend’s hired “help” to assist her in writing the collumn.  It is during these meetings that Skeeter realizes that she wants to write about something more important than laundry stains and dusting and decides she wants to document the real story about “the help”.  Even through fear and intimidation, the women find the strength to meet in private and record their, and their town's, deepest, darkest secrets. 

The Help is one of those movies that will have you laughing, crying, feeling grateful we live in an age of tolerance and acceptance, as well as thinking about the things that really matter in life.  It is incredibly moving and is filled with outrage, humor, and, above all, hope.  The lesson that anyone has the ability to create change in their community, and possibly change the world, is not one that was lost on me.  While most of us are not blazing new ground or defying rules and laws everyday, we all face adversity and at times feel stifled. 

Reminding yourself that by putting our fear behind us and following our dreams we can achieve some really wonderful things is a fabulous way to spend a Saturday, don’t you think? 

DreamWorks Pictures’ THE HELP opened on Wednesday, August 10th and is now in theatres everywhere.

Find out more at http://www.thehelpmovie.com/ or by following the Twitter hashtag  #TheHelpMovie

A big thank you to DreamWorks for inviting us to a pre-screening party for the movie and for a small goody bag filled with The Help inspired The Republic of Tea Caramel Cake Black Tea {yummmmm!} and a small mirror and file as well as some desserts and drinks from Snake Oil Cocktail Company and Campine Catering.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

30th Anniversary The Fox and The Hound 2-Movie Collection {$5 off Coupon}

Learn the power of friendship in The Fox and the Hound and The Fox and the Hound 2, in a special 30th Anniversary 2-Movie Collection that features both movies in a single 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack.  For the first time ever in high-definition, you can now experience the adventures of best friends Copper and Tod in an all-new digitally restored version of the original 1981 film and 2006 sequel. 

Since my husband and I are children of the 80s and love all things Disney, you'd probably be surprised to know that up until a few days ago no one in our family had ever seen The Fox and The Hound... the original or the sequel.  So, when it arrived, we all snuggled up and had a family movie marathon as we watched the adorable story of a friendship that beat the odds.

And, it was adorable, from opening credits to finish – which involved singing along to “Best of Friends” karaoke-style together.  Since the day the Combo Pack arrived, our daughter has been talking all about Copper and Tod.  We’ve used it as a great way to discuss doing the right thing, about being a good friend, and about friends who overcome the odds, which is a great conversation to start with a young child.

In addition to both full length movies, the Combo Pack also comes with numerous special features to make family movie night even more fun.  From music videos, karaoke, and great behind-the-scenes segments, the bonus features were fun for the whole family.  I don’t know about you, but we will be celebrating The Fox and The Hound 30th Anniversary all year long.

The Fox and the Hound 30th Anniversary Synopsis - When Tod, an orphaned fox cub meets Copper, a coonhound puppy, they make a pledge to be lifelong friends, not realizing that Copper is being groomed to hunt wild animals, including foxes.  Copper spends the winter with his owner, Slade, and an older dog, Chief, tracking animals at a remote cabin. When they return, a lonely Tod eagerly greets his old playmate but is stunned when a reluctant Copper joins Slade and Chief to chase Tod through the forest.  During the pursuit, Tod escapes but Chief is seriously injured.  Seeking revenge, Copper hunts down Tod only to find himself confronting an even bigger enemy, which he and Tod must face together.

The Fox and the Hound 2 Synopsis - In The Fox and the Hound 2, music takes centerstage as Tod contemplates joining up with “The Singin’ Strays,” a group of harmonizing dogs appearing at the local county fair but dreaming of hitting the big time at the Grand OleOpry.  While Tod does his best to fit in with his new friends, Copper finds himself relegated to “roadie,” a position he begins to resent.  With the encouragement of Dixie, the “diva” of “The Singin” Strays,” Copper manages to sabotage an important audition.  The next day, their differences forgotten, Copper and Tod team up and, using Copper’s superior tracking skills, they locate the Grand Ole Opry talent scout who signs “The Singin’ Strays” (minus Tod, who chooses his friendship with Copper over fame) on the spot.

Downloadable fun:  Enjoy some kid-friendly activity sheets with mazes, games and coloring sheets will transform the traditional "ho-hum" afternoon into an exciting one!  Also included are some clips from the film and bonus features.

For even more fun, you should make sure you “Like” The Fox and The Hound Facebook page, Follow on Twitter and view exciting trailers, video clips and more at http://www.youtube.com/disneymovies.  Find out more at Disney.com or The Fox and The Hound link.

Suggested Retail Price: 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (1 Blu-ray + 2 DVDs) = $39.99 U.S./$46.99 Canada; 2-Disc DVD = $29.99 U.S./$35.99 Canada.  You can also download a printable coupon for $5 off here.

A big thank you to Disney for sending the Combo Pack to be reviewed.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

Roxio Creator 2011 {Review & Giveaway}

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Day 44

When we were at Sundance this year, 3D cameras, TVs and games were the main focus of many parties we went to.  Because our group held two filmmakers and a photographer, we spent a good deal of time talking to the creators of the newest technology.  What we found out was that many of these video cameras and still cameras cost more than my car and owning one wasn't likely to happen anytime soon.

Although I have owned an old stereo camera before, I have never actually owned a working 3D camera of any kind.  While some might say my camera collection is already complete, I had always held out hope I could create awesome 3D images and videos some day.

Roxio recognized this was probably the case for a lot of people and has now updated their Creator 2011 Media Suite to include 3D capabilities for both video and still images.  The really cool thing is that they don’t require you to use any specific cameras or equipment to get the 3D experience.  The software is smart enough to turn your normal everyday pictures and video into incredible 3D images after the footage is shot.  Or, if you want to shoot pictures specifically for 3D viewing you just follow the simple instructions for shooting specific left and right images and then meld them together into one shot to get the most depth possible.

The best part is all this technology is incredibly easy to use.  The process for creating your 3D image is basically as simple as choosing an image and telling the program to go for it, and within seconds you have the new image.  From there you can fine tune it by moving the right or left images closer or farther apart or rotating them to make sure it lines up properly.  While it is great to have the ability to make these adjustments, they were unnecessary in all the pictures I converted.

This ease of use continues through the rest of the Creator Media Suite where you are able to edit, copy and convert photos, music, videos and more.  With each different task there are easy to follow instructions as well as video tutorials that make every process simple and easy to do.  Knowing that these instructions are available throughout the whole project makes it a lot easier to jump in and really get creative, which will in turn make you happier with the finished product. 

What makes me truly happy with Roxio Creator is the fact that I can do everything I could possibly need to do with all my digital media without having to purchase and learn multiple programs.  As much as we love the new 3D option that was added in this new version, there are a bunch of other upgrades in the 2011 Roxio Creator that are perfect for digital sharing such as Facebook and YouTube uploading and the ability to stabilize hand held video shots, a feature I love because I can’t remember the last time I used a tripod. 

Speaking of video, do you have old VHS tapes just sitting around?  By adding the VHS to DVD hardware to your Roxio Creator program you can easily digitize your old VHS tapes, records and cassette tapes.  The VHS to DVD converter consists of an adapter that converts one of your USB ports into an RCA input so you can connect your old analog player directly to your computer.  From there you can edit and manipulate your music or videos just like the newest digital version and convert them to DVDs or convert them for playing on your iPod or other mp3 player. 

There are quite a few other video and photo editing software programs on the market, but I’ve never seen one that was so complete.   In addition to all the basic editing functions, Roxio Creator also adds so many cool features that no one else has.  As someone who is taking a whole lot of video these days and sharing them online (see my Flip SlideHD review) you can see why I am absolutely loving having all my editing tools in one place and all the extras the Roxio Creator Suite adds!

One lucky Rave and Review reader will win a Roxio Creator 2011 {ARV $99}! 

To Enter: Simply visit Roxio and tell me another product you would love to try

 And, as always, there are extra entries available!

1) Subscribe to Rave and Review, top of right sidebar (2 extra entries, must be verified to count)

2) Tweet about this giveaway using @raveandreview and @RoxioProducts with the link to this post (http://bit.ly/fS0SpK) after following us both (daily Tweet, just post link here)

3) Blog about this Giveaway with links back to this post as well as the www.raveandreview.com and Roxio homepage (2 extra entries, just post the URL where I can find your writeup)

4) Place my button in your sidebar on your blog or website (2 extra entries, must have an active link to R&R)

5) Comment love.  Enter any of my other Giveaways and/or comment on any non-giveaway post!

6) Email love.  Share this Giveaway with friends and family via email and cc Leanne (at)raveandreview (dot) com (I will never, ever contact your email recipients)

7) Vote for Rave and Review on Top Baby Blogs, logo in right sidebar (daily entry, just tell me what rank R&R has)

On January 28th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen.  Giveaway open to US Addresses only.

Winner, winner!  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to: #137 ohkeeka said...I'm an email subscriber (2)
A big thank you to Roxio for providing a sample suite for review as well as a giveaway to our fabulous readers.  All opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review.

Professor Kobré’s Lightscoop for Flattering Holiday Photos

Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: Day 24

Anyone who knows my family knows that we love to take pictures.  With photographers on both sides of my family tree, I’ve seen {and owned} my share of gear throughout the years, especially during my years getting my fine arts degree in photography.  While I now know how to properly illuminate a subject and how to use shadows and light to record the beauty I see around me, it’s just not always practical for me to perfectly light a subject each time I snap a picture.

Most of the time it’s a lack of portable equipment, but sometimes what limits me is a lack of space or time, or a subject that’s unwilling to wait while I illuminate it.  And, sometimes it’s just pure laziness.  With an active toddler and a little one almost always in my arms, I really don’t have the time or the patience to set up studio lighting – or to get them to demonstrate all of their adorableness in just the right spot for me to get that perfect picture.

While the summer months allow me to use the shadows and light of the sun for the natural photos I love, every year around this time I lament about the fact that my time for photographing is seriously limited – especially with the rainy and cold winters Seattle usually gives us.  This rain and cold usually keeps us indoors most of the winter months, which is great since my wardrobe has very little gortex in it, but awful for my photography. 

The result of these short days and damp weather is that I have a lot of pictures that are taken with the pop up flash on my camera, leaving the subject looking flat, over-exposed, red-eyed, and usually, surprised.  I needed a solution that moved with me and allowed me to have makeshift studio light, but something I didn’t need to worry about someone knocking over.  My solution is Professor Kobré’s Lightscoop® which has given me the ability to be spontaneous again.

While the Lightscoop isn’t a replacement for studio lighting and good old fashioned know-how, it is the easiest and simplest way to take natural looking photos of people, pets and hard to photograph subjects.  The concept is simple and uses a trick photographers have known for years, but it’s the fact that it can be attached to your on-board camera flash that makes it so exciting. 

I’m sure you’ve seen photographers use their large flash units to bounce light off the ceiling to photograph in low-light situations like wedding receptions, parties and more, and the Lightscoop works on the same principle.  By using a simple mirrored system that slides easily over your camera’s hot shoe to direct your pop-up flash upwards, it bounces the light off the ceiling before it hits your subject.  This bouncing of light diffuses the flash and makes for much more natural photos.  The result is less red-eyed subjects, fuller color and life in your photos, and natural looking subjects with no harsh shadows.  In short, it makes for much, much better photos.   

While I do have an external flash unit that mounts on a flash bar that I connect to my SLR, I really love that the Lightscoop is much more portable, doesn’t take batteries, and doesn’t require a separate flash unit or flash bar.  This makes it perfect for throwing in your camera bag just in case or simply leaving it attached to your camera while you’re at home.  Since it is so lightweight and portable it’s so much more likely that you will actually carry it with you – which, in turn, means that you just might have it when you need it most.    

While the Lightscoop has worked in every situation I have tried it in, including a room with a vaulted ceiling, it should be noted that the instructions recommend ceilings no higher than 8-12 feet or walls no further than 3-4 feet from the camera for best results.  For more information as well as a list of compatible cameras, you can click {here} to be redirected to their instruction page.  

If you have an SLR camera and are looking for a fairly cheap accessory that will give you much better indoor pictures, I would highly recommend the Professor Kobré’s Lightscoop®.  Priced at $34.95, the Lightscoop would be the perfect addition to a photographer's stocking this Christmas!

http://www.lightscoop.com/

I apologize for the lack of personal images in this post.  I took the most gorgeous picture of my grandmother with the Lighscoop but technical difficulties (unrelated the the Lightscoop) prevented me from uploading them.  A big thank you goes to Lightscoop for sending the sample to be reviewed.  Even though I borrowed their pictures, you can rest assured that I did not borrow anything else for this review and all opinions are 100% ours.

Sundancing with the Stars

Any of you that follow my tweets have probably already picked up on the fact that all of us at Rave and Review have been hanging out in Park City, Utah this past week living it up at the Sundance Film Festival.  We have been enjoying all their beautiful snow and sun, especially since it doesn't look like the Pacific Northwest is going to get much of either this year and having a great time meeting people from all over the world.

Even though we will be on our way home soon, we are really excited about all the great companies and brands we have met with that we will be working with this next month to bring you some really awesome reviews and some great giveaways.  We even have put together some Sundance Swag Bags that we will be giving away to readers with some of the cool stuff we found on our journey.  If that wasn't enough to be excited about, there's going to be some Sundance footage compliments of our friends at Cinemek that we will be posting later this month with interviews and more from the festival. 

Cinemek Hitchcock iPhone App Release Party

 

Interior Room

Camera Fade In

[Partygoers fill an industrial loft in Seattle, skyline visible through window]

Narrator: When Cinemek throws a party, you can bet there will be bacon.  No, not fatty bacon strips; that would get grease all over their iPhones. We're talking Bakon Vodka.

 

Celebrating the release of their Hitchcock iPhone app, a mobile storyboard creator that every filmmaker {with an iPhone or iPod Touch} needs to own, the folks at Cinemek whooped it up all night long. Jonathan Houser, the Hitchcock creator and mastermind, was on hand to hold baby and keep us all up well past our bedtimes.

 
[Narrator enters from left]

 

Narrator: If you are a filmmaker, know a filmmaker, or just really love storyboarding in your spare time, you should also know Hitchcock.

 

The app itself is an intelligent and easy to use program that allows you to create photograph driven storyboards from virtually anywhere.  Simple enough to use that us non-filmmakers can jump right in, but complex enough that even a seasoned filmmaker won't outgrow it, the Hitchcock app solves the stick figured storyboard problem for good.  Until now filmmakers had two options for getting their ideas on to paper; they could either learn to draw or hire someone who can. 

 

I had fun creating what I know would be the next big blockbuster (if only I could find a director) with zero history with an iPhone** and even less experience storyboarding. I'd tell you all about it, but then I would run the risk of losing the rights to the film.  Trust me when I tell you it's that good, and we'll leave it at that.  Unless, of course, you're interested in directing a heartwarming movie about two girls (one of them is a giant, the other is regular sized) and they both go visit the pyramids.  Lots of crazy camera angles, pans, tilts and high speed zooms will tell their tale as they each discover that what they are searching for has been right in front of them the whole time: Bacon. It's got blockbuster written all over it.

 

Fade to Black

** please note that no one at Rave and Review owns an iPhone and we have no interest in reviewing iPhone apps. However, we always make an exception when the company, the app and the party are this darn cool.

Portrait Professional - Review and Discount Code

I have found it - the perfect photo editing program for both amateurs and advanced photographers alike.  Portrait Professional is a simple program that is user friendly and intuitive, even for the casual photographer.  Portrait Professional delivers high quality work in a fraction of the time it takes to completely retouch a photograph on other editing programs, and is actually really fun to use. 

I cringe whenever I am doing an hours-long photo shoot and the subject casually says “you’re going to Photoshop these, right?” as if it’s just a button I press and her wrinkles magically disappear on all 3,000 images.  All photographers out there know Photoshop is great, but it does take a lot of time.  The Photoshop masking and layering functions are perfect if you have found The Image and need to make adjustments before you blow that baby up to 16x20, but pixel-by-pixel retouch really is not a huge multi-image photo session option.

 

Before                                   After

Portrait Professional is a simple download from their website and there are no manuals to read or necessary classes to take just to learn the basics.  Instead, the Portrait Professional program walks you through the entire portrait retouching and makes the whole process incredibly easy.  Once you open the Portrait Professional program, a simple “mark-up” stage begins, which asks you to identify certain markers on the face so the program can recognize your subject’s unique facial characteristics.  Once the markers for the portrait are set, the image automatically is altered to clean up imperfections and any lighting or color issues in the original file. 

I’m usually not a huge fan of “automatic fixes” as the result usually overcorrects any issues and tends to undo any purposeful artistic flair I have put into the photograph, but the Portrait Professional program was leagues smarter than I had anticipated.  Their facial recognition is based on an algorithm of biometrics and automatically alters images to fit the extensive Portrait Professional database of the natural beauty we are all drawn to.  Once the program has given you the corrected image, you can simply move sliders to enhance the after image or undo anything the software has auto corrected for you. 

The program offers options to do total facial resculpting as well as enhancing any number of your subject’s features.  You can smooth skin, widen eyes, remove blemishes and even change the color of your subject’s hair in minutes.  Once you’re done with that, you can add a sunkissed skin tone, whiten teeth, thin out the face and neck and then plump up lips – all without plastic surgery.  The program also offers small retouching brushes, but for the most part the image is corrected using the sliders and master control which requires no proficiency in photo retouching tools. 

One of the biggest complaints photographers have with photo retouching software is that usually it is overdone.  The great part about Portrait Professional is that you can see the “before” image in the same window if you’d like, so you don’t find yourself straying too far from the original image.  You can add as much or as little enhancement as you’d like with the uncorrected image to guide you, and you won’t end up with an ultra-retouched image that looks more alien than human when you’re finished.  Sure, you can still create glamour shots of your subjects easily and expertly, but you can also just add a more polished look to even a casual photograph. 

My dad said it best when he said that the Portrait Professional is still you, only better.  Instead of highlighting your blemishes or imperfections, Portrait Professional merely shows you what everyone else sees when they see you, whether that is your beautiful smile or the way your eyes captivate.  And that’s something we all can get behind.

To see a demo of the Portrait Professional software, click HERE

http://www.portraitprofessional.com/

Price: $69.95, with an additional 10% off for Rave and Review readers with the discount code "RR05".  If you aren't sold on it yet, you can download the free trial version and in minutes you can play with and enhance your favorite photos. 

Looks: Like software, naturally.

Overall: A cheap, yet sophisticated photo editing software.