Rave & Review

Welcome to the world of Mike the Knight {Fisher-Price prize pack & DVD giveaway}

by Susan, editor and reviewer

I'm not going to lie; my kids love TV. Sure, we love playing outside together, and building with blocks, but they are also big fans of the TV.  When I was first pregnant, visions of sharing princess movies with my kids danced in my head. So far, I have boys. Boys who are not interested in princesses. Thank goodness for Mike the Knight! 

When we first discovered Mike and his friends in Glendragon, I was very happy. It's a very vibrant show that really teaches kids about problem solving, being a good friend, and doing the right thing! "Be a knight; do it right!" is always the end motto - and the one most repeated by my 3 year old.

As a parent, I really appreciate the positive message the show teaches, including some deeper things like equality, accepting all people (or trolls or Vikings) for who they are.  Mike, his horse Galahad, and his two dragon friends Sparkie and Squirt have many adventures, and work together to help Mike find the knightly way to handle every situation; including getting along with his little sister Evie!

So, naturally, when our package arrived for review full of Mike the Knight goodies, the kids were excited!  "MIKE THE KNIGHT!!!" was the triumphant yell from my oldest as I pulled out each item; the first being the very new Mike the Knight - Knight in Training DVD. The new DVD launch of Mike the Knight also coincides with a majestic array of knightly toys from Fisher-Price, as well as a new line of books from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. 

We got to play with the Fisher-Price Sword and Shield toy, which were excellent companions when watching the show! My three year old attempted to re-enact every scene right along with Mike, and his little brother was playing along right with him!

I was told that knights do not stand still for pictures.

The coloring book was equally fun! Since the show is so bright and colorful, it's easy for kids to remember the colors of their favorite characters and color them in.  My oldest was pretty fascinated by the nearly life-size poster of Mike that came in the "Welcome to Mike's World" coloring book!

Of course we have already watched the 6 adorable episodes on the DVD a few times; my favorite (yes, I have a favorite) is when Mike learns that his little sister might not enjoy the type of birthday party he would like.  The kids love the fun and dynamic characters, and I love the nod to the King Arthur tales I had to read in college! We still haven't yet had time to play the matching game that comes with the DVD, or to watch the music videos, but I'm sure we will soon!

Who needs princesses anyway!?

Mike the Knight: Knight in Training is out on DVD in stores and online now, or you can buy it directly from NCircle Entertainment today.

How would you like to win a Mike the Knight prize pack from Fisher-Price with the following:

•   Mike the Knight: Knight in Training DVD
•   Mike the Knight Sword & Shield
•   "Welcome to Mike's World" book from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

To Enter: comment below with why you'd love to win this prize pack

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome Mike the Knight DVD and Fisher-Price prize pack giveaway {http://www.raveandreview.com/2013/06/welcome-to-the-world-of-mike-the-knight-prize-pack-giveaway.html} with 2x extra credit if you tag Rave & Review and NCircle Entertainment

1 Extra Entry {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, follow on Pinterest, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet  

1 Extra Entry - Like @RaveAndReview and @NCircle on Twitter

1 Extra Entry - Comment love on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On July 7th at 12:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US only, 18+

A big thank you to NCircle Entertainment for providing the Mike the Knight prize pack to facilitate our review as well as an additional pack for our fabulous readers.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Secure your TV with SANUS {tilting TV wall mount giveaway}

I’m sure everyone out there has read the horrifying stories about little kids climbing furniture and pulling it down on themselves, but I’ve got one more for you.  About ten years ago, my little niece climbed the drawers on a dresser in her older brother’s room to change the channel on his TV.  Since the TV perched on top already made it top-heavy, the addition of a 35+ pound child was too much and the entire dresser tipped forward onto her, along with the heavy TV.

Unlike all the stories you read online, her injuries weren’t too serious and she just had a gash above one eye.  She was rushed to the ER to treat the gash and to evaluate her bumps and bruises, but ultimately, she got to come home with us that night.  We were incredibly lucky, and I’m happy to say that my niece is a beautiful, talented, and articulate teenager who I am absolutely positive will go on to do wonderful things.  Anyone who knows her well is nodding in agreement, because she really is that amazing.   

Other families aren’t so lucky and one tipped TV causes a lifetime of pain and “what ifs” for many.  Please don’t let that happen to you.  Secure your big {and little} pieces of furniture, make furniture un-climbable by removing shelves and drawers that might be tempting for young kids, and by all means, SECURE YOUR TVs, people! 

Notice how flat screens are increasing in size these days while getting thinner and thinner?  These two factors make it easier than ever to topple off furniture and cause injury or even death.

Your flat screen may look harmless enough, but even a smaller screen could do some horrible damage if dropped on a little one.  This definitely falls under the category of times it’s better to be safe than sorry, and I’m urging everyone to go home and look at their TVs {no, really look at them… imagine a ball bouncing at them, a child trying to change the channel, or a simple bump of the entertainment center} to see if there’s any way possible your TV could fall.  If the answer is yes, please do everything you can to keep your family safe and secure it today.   

So, how can you secure your TV?  You can get a SANUS mount and secure your TV right to the wall – either above the entertainment center or above the fireplace in a TV nook.  And, even better than just offering a safe and secure solution to the tip-able and dangerous stand-alone TV, the SANUS mounts actually make your TV viewing even more enjoyable.  By allowing you to take that TV that used to just sit there and tilt it and/or turn it just how you’d like to avoid glare, aim it at the couch, or make it easier to watch throughout the room whenever you would like. 

And, now SANUS, the leading designer and manufacturer of flat panel TV wall mounts, has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide to educate consumers of the risk of unsecured flat panel TVs.  The statistics are really frightening.  A 2011 US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report on flat panel TV safety revealed that TV tip overs are responsible for a child's death every 3 week, an ER visit every 45 minutes, and over the last 10 years injuries have increasde by 31%.

If that's not enough to scare you, check out this video by Safe Kids Worldwide and find out more at SafeKids.org and TVsafety.org.  Frightening, right?  You might want to check out these tips from SafeKids.org on more ways to keep kids safe from furniture and TV tip-overs.

How would you like to win a complimentary flat panel SANUS TV tilting mount that fits your TV?

To Enter: watch the embedded video above and comment about something you learned

And, as always, there are extra entries available! {Please leave a separate comment for each completed}

2 Extra Entries - Post on your Facebook wall about this awesome Sanus tilting TV mount giveaway {http://www.raveandreview.com/2013/06/secure-your-tv-with-sanus-tilting-tv-wall-mount-giveaway.html} with extra credit if you tag Rave & Review

1 Extra Entry {per method} - Follow Rave & Review! Subscribe by RSS feed, Subscribe by email, follow on Pinterest, become a fan of R&R on Facebook or add R&R to your blogroll or sidebar.

1 Extra Entry {daily} - Twitter.  Retweet this tweet  

1 Extra Entry - Like @RaveAndReview and @SanusSystems on Twitter

1 Extra Entry - Comment love on any post, just leave a comment here as well.

On July 5th at 11:59pm PST a winner will be drawn, announced here and notified via email. Winner will have 24 hours to contact me or a new winner will be chosen. Open to US only, 18+ 

A big thank you to SANUS for providing a giveaway to our fabulous readers as well as a complimentary mount for a member of our team.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.  Installation is not included, winner will be responsible for installing your mount. 

Explore, Rescue, and Protect with the Octonauts Television Series

Growing up, I hated cartoons.  Before you go checking for a pulse or wondering if I’m actually a robot disguised as a girl, I should clarify that I liked TV and I loved movies, but I just didn’t like kid’s cartoons.  Unfortunately for my kids, this dislike has continued into adulthood, and I just can’t stomach most shows geared towards kids.

What can I say?  I like history, learning shows, and anything I can take away something from.  All of this and more is why I love the new British Octonauts series for preschoolers age 2-6 on Disney Junior that is fun, engaging, and has my kids fascinated by all things under the sea. 


The Octonauts TV show is based on the books by Meomi: Vicki Wong & Michael Murphy and features a team of 8 underwater explorers that work together to rescue and protect the inhabitants of the world’s oceans and teach kids all about marine life.  Each action-packed episode takes kids on an adventure that gives an opportunity to explore the depths under the sea and all the various critters and creatures that live there.   

What I love most is that instead of a show that merely throws in a few “lessons” or morals as a second thought, the Octonauts is based in fact, showcases great problem solving skills, and develops a love of knowledge even with its youngest viewers. 


While the show is fiction in that there is no Octopod filled with heroes racing around the ocean floor helping distressed ocean dwellers, the show provides factual information taken from marine biologists about each animal they help.  But, not only do they provide learning opportunities infused in each short episode, they also do an awesome musical  “Creature Report” at the end of each segment that gives the bullet points of what they learned, helping the littler ones absorb all the fun facts they might have missed in the problem and resolution stages. 

But, shhhh!, don’t tell my kids any of that.  To them, Octonauts is simply a great show that takes them to places they have only dreamed of to see animals and creatures they will likely never encounter elsewhere.  Although admittedly we don’t watch much TV around here and just about any kids show sends the littles running to the couch, from the very first episode it was clear that this show was going to be different.

As for me, I knew it would be one of my favorite children's shows as soon as I watched even a few moments of an episode.  I'm not sure if it's the quirky accents, the adorable graphics, or the relaxed pace of the show, but whatever it is, I love it.  If I had to choose one show for the kiddos to get into, it would most definitely be the Octonauts. 


Even though up until now my daughter has shown zero interest in ocean dwellers of any kind, she is now so into the Octonauts {or “Octonods” as they call it} that she talks nonstop about narwhals, flying fish, sea horses and walruses.  And then we went to a toy store the other day and she bypassed the snuggly owls, the bunnies for Easter, and the cute little kitties for a surprising pick... a stuffed octopus.

This is extra surprising considering that up until the moment she picked it, she named octopus as her #1 thing she was afraid of.  Not being alone.  Not the dark.  Not wild animals indigenous to our area.  Nope, an octopus.  She’s so scared that she’s called me into her room in the middle of the night worried about an imaginary octopus, is so scared that she won’t even touch my son’s wall hanging that is shaped like an octopus and so scared that she won’t even listen to reason about how she will never, ever run into an octopus she’s not looking for.  That kind of scared. 

But, all that fear vanished in one sitting of Octonauts and now she sleeps with a stuffed octopus because it reminds her of her favorite show.  I will hear her drifting off to sleep singing “creature report, creature report!”, reciting all the things she learned on the show while hugging her octopus tight.  Go figure.   

Whereas before she would ask to watch a show every week or so when we were at home, ever since the first episode of Octonauts she’s had a one-track mind.  The good part is that I know she’s really learning something while she’s watching and because she’s not allowed much screen time, she has been working hard at keeping her room and play areas clean, helping around the house, and playing good with her brother to earn extra Octonauts time.  Win, win. 

Think your little one would like to hang out with Professor Inkling Octopus, Tunip the Vegimal, Dashi Dog, Tweak Bunny, Shellington Sea Otter, Peso Penguin, Kawzii Cat, and Barnacles Bear and go on missions to help marine animals?  I have a feeling you will be as surprised as I was by the love of all things aquatic that will emerge as your child explores the oceans with their newfound friends – all from the comfort of home. 

The Octonauts airs on Disney Junior at 6:30 AM EST/5:30 AM CT.  You can visit the Octonauts TV show website to play games and see episode details as well as character profiles or follow Octonauts on Facebook. 

I am thrilled to be an Octonauts Blog Ambassador to share how much my whole family loves the show. While this post is part of a sponsored campaign organized through Child's Play Communications, my review and opinions remain 100% my own.

Disney's Wreck-It Ralph is in stores now!

Enter the world of video games where every character has a specific job that they do and good guys and bad guys are pre-scripted.  This is the world of Ralph, who has begrudgingly played the bad guy in his popular video game, Wreck-It Ralph, for decades. 

But, when he isn’t invited to the game’s anniversary party where Fix-it Felix Jr. is being honored as the star of the game, Ralph sets off on a mission to show everyone that he’s simply misunderstood.  His journey takes him into the taboo world of arcade game-hopping where he tries his best to prove himself to be a true hero at heart while learning the ropes of each new game.

Shenanigans and hijinx ensue when Ralph leaves his pre-scripted life for one of adventure and unknowns.  Along the way he meets new friends and new predicaments that teach him that his role in his game is vital, and that even “bad guys” can have a big heart.

Since I had missed the movie when it was in theaters, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Wreck-It Ralph on Blu-ray Combo Pack so we could watch it as a family.  For months I’ve been hearing Wreck-It Ralph references and hearing what an awesome family film it was and had been counting down the days until March 5th.

But, even though I was prepared to like the film based on all of the reviews I had heard, I didn’t expect that my 4 year old daughter would love it as much as she does.  Her world these days revolves around fairies and princesses and unicorns, so I thought a film about a video game was going to be a hard sell.  I was pleasantly surprised when she ended up loving the movie and that the show sparked a whole series of questions about video games and arcades and why Ralph was in Grand {Game} Central Station.

I personally thought the film was hilarious and I loved that there was humor that only us parents that grew up with arcades and 8-bit video games could appreciate.  Even though I'm no gamer by any means, I still got all the references and ended up laughing along with most of the movie.  But, even though my son has zero experience with video games, he still really loved the film and all the silly catch phrases and one liners. 

The DVD and Blu-ray combo pack also includes something for everyone with bonus features that take you even deeper into the world of video games.  Over an hour of all-new bonus material is featured on the Digital and Blu-ray Combo Pack, including deleted and alternate scenes, the theatrical short “Paperman” that everyone has been raving about, and much more. 

Other features include:
* Bit by Bit: Creating the Worlds of “Wreck-It Ralph” – Fans of the film will get a look at five new worlds created for “Wreck-It Ralph.” The short takes viewers into Game Central Station with the artists who brought Sugar Rush, Hero’s Duty and Fix It Felix Jr. to life.
* Alternate & Deleted Scenes – Four separate scenes are highlighted with an introduction and optional audio commentary from director Rich Moore.
* Video Game Commercials – Viewers can check out the commercials created for the video games featured in the film - Fix It Felix Jr., Sugar Rush, Hero’s Duty and Fix It Felix Hammer.
* “Paperman” – This animated short film played in theaters before “Wreck It Ralph.” It tells the story of a young man in an office who sees the girl of his dreams in a skyscraper window across the street. But how can he get her attention?
   
And of course, my favorite new feature, Disney Intermission.  Wreck-It Ralph comes with Disney Intermission: The Gamer’s Guide to “Wreck-It-Ralph” – When the Blu-ray is paused, host Chris Hardwick appears on screen to guide viewers through a series of 10 video segments offering an inside look at the many video game references, Disney references and other hidden surprises featured in the film. 

If you are looking for a great family film for boys and girls, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Wreck-It Ralph.  It's been compared to many other Disney "greats" since its release and I am not alone in feeling this is destined to become a family classic.

A big thank you to Disney films for sending Wreck-It Ralph to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic... and so is playtime

 

It started innocently enough with one My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic video on the LeapPad, and ever since then my kiddos have been very big fans of everything Equestria.  So, it’s no surprise that they were smitten when they were introduced to the line of My Little Pony toys from Hasbro a few months ago. 

Since that day, they have been playing non-stop with their My Little Pony friends {or “Pones”, if you’re my 2 year old son}.  They set up MLP weddings, they host galas, but most of all, they play nicely... and quietly... together for hours like this:

There’s really only way to describe how much they love their Ponies and that would be BPFF {you know, Best Pony Friends Forever, if you're a MLP fan}.  Anyone who knows my unicorn and horse loving daughter would understand that My Little Pony would be a huge hit with her, but what was surprising to me was how much my son adores them as well. 

Clearly I have a Brony in the making, and I don't mind a bit.

And, really, who can blame him when our ponies come with their own RC cars and working trains?  Add in the fact that “his” pony has a mohawk and glows in the dark, and it’s a recipe for Brony love.

But, even more shocking than my son loving MLP is that I am quickly becoming a My Little Pony fan as well.  Anyone who knows me and my adversion to character toys, and especially pink ones, is likely shocked at this, and the truth is that I was, too. 

As it turns out, the show is actually pretty funny and it’s one of the few programs we have all given our stamp of approval.  I love that there are bits of humor that work for all the different age groups in our family mixed into stories that focus on friendship, loyalty, and just how to be a decent person. 

Of course, there’s also rainbows and magic along with horses, Pegasus and unicorns, so really, the show’s for everyone.   

We recently got to check out My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Pinkie Pie Party, and as I expected, it did not disappoint.  Instead of a full-length feature, the movie is broken down into different episodes, which are perfect length for watching one before naptime or for watching them all in a row for our bi-weekly movie nights.  

Far and away the favorite episode is "Too Many Pinkie Pies", which my daughter absolutely loves.  Maybe this is because she actually has two Pinkie Pies {one was bought separately and another came in a playset}, or maybe it's that she loves pink, but whatever the reason, this is her favorite episode to watch next to the MLP royal wedding. 

Shout! Factory Kids in collaboration with Hasbro Studios is proud to release My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Pinkie Pie Party.  Running time is 110 minutes, which includes 5 episodes along with bonus features like a Sing-Along and a Party Activity Kit. My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic - Pinkie Pie Party is priced at $14.97 SRP and will be available exclusively at Walmart.

A big thank you to Shout Factory and Hasbro for sending Pinkie Pie Party and Twilight Sparkle in an RC Car to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

Peter Pan Diamond Edition on Blu-ray Combo Pack arrives on 2/5

A few years ago, I got burned by the Disney Vault.  My sister and hubby and I were working on a Peter Pan themed “Neverland” mural on our play wall and we needed an aerial image of the island to work off of.  The problem was that after 6 book stores, we could find exactly one picture of Neverland as a whole, and it was the background of the table of contents page so it was hard to see much of anything.

While we ended up just finishing up the mural using a very loose representation of Neverland, I would have loved to have a copy of Peter Pan to pop in so we could merely pause it over the aerial view.  More than that though, I would have loved to get into the spirit of Neverland by watching the film as we painted, but unfortunately, it was locked away in the Disney Vault.

You’d think with a pirate-themed play area like this, that my kiddos would be all about Peter Pan, right?  Ironically, they had never seen the movie and didn’t understand just how cool their little “scrog pit”* is.

Luckily, Peter Pan has recently come out of the vault to celebrate his 60th anniversary, and has been restored in high definition just in time for my kiddos to really appreciate it.  We got to check out the new Peter Pan Diamond Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack and it was a very big hit.  The timing of the film arriving was perfect as it’s been cold and rainy for almost a week now and we really needed to snuggle up and have a family movie night.     

It was the first time for both kiddos watching the film, but it was also my first time watching it in over 16 years, and I was surprised by how much of the film I had forgotten.  But, in other ways, I was surprised that it was just as magical as it had been in my memories.  Bright, vibrant, and with amazing cinematography that transports you to a magical land you can only get to if you believe, I think it's impossible to not fall in love with this amazing movie. 

Only Blu-ray could possibly match the beauty of childhood memories, and once again, it did not disappoint.  In fact, I’m actually glad that Peter Pan was locked away in the Disney Vault all these years so that the first time I experienced it during my adult years was in high definition and restored to the high standards of a little girl who loved everything Neverland. 

In addition to being beautifully restored, the new Diamond Edition Peter Pan also has some great new bonus features, including never-before-seen deleted scenes and an alternate ending, and my favorite new feature – Disney Intermission. 

When watching with small children, you end up pausing the movie every time a child needs to use the restroom or get a drink, so I love that the new Disney Intermission makes it fun for all the people left waiting for the film to restart.  With interactive games and puzzles, the kids liked intermission almost as much as they loved the film!

Bonus Features: Disney Intermission (new), Growing up with Nine Old Men (new), Disney View (new), Introduction by Diane Disney Miller (new), Deleted Songs & Scenes , You Can Fly: The Making of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell: A Fairy’s Tale, Disney Song Selections, Audio Commentary Hosted by Roy Disney, Music Videos & More!

To learn more and keep informed on this release:

• “Like” the Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/PeterPan
• Follow us on Twitter at @DisneyPictures
• View videos at www.YouTube.com/DisneyMovies

*Scrog Pit is a term my nephew coined using the pirate term "scrog" which means an inexperienced sailor or small child to decribe our pirate ship play area.  The name stuck. 

A big thank you to Disney for sending the new Diamond Edition Peter Pan to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours. 

Just in Time for the Holidays: Finding Nemo on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D

Tonight as we were getting ready for bed, my daughter asked if I would search all over the ocean for her if she ever got lost.  After explaining that she probably wouldn’t be in the ocean, and that I can’t really swim, and that’s why I need her to stay right with me whenever we’re out, blah blah blah, the answer was undoubtedly yes. 

If you can’t already tell, we’ve been spending a lot of time watching Finding Nemo.  Released on 12/4 in high-definition Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D, Disney/Pixar's Finding Nemo has been a big topic of discussion at our house over the past week.  From questions such as “what exactly is a clownfish” to asking why Nemo had a hurt fin, and wondering whether any of the fish in the doctor’s office are Nemo, there’s been a ton of discussion both about the movie and the things a 4-year-old takes away from a film such as this.


And, as it turns out, there are quite a few important life lessons in Nemo that I hadn’t really realized when viewing it pre-kids.  I remembered how hilarious the film was, and how much I loved Ellen Degeneres as Dory, but the serious parts just didn’t hit me the way that they do now.  Watching it today, I can feel for Marlin wanting to keep Nemo close and insolate him from the big, bad outside world, but I can also see that Nemo needs to have some independence as well.

Oh, and there were some great life lessons in there for the kiddies, too.  Stuff like not wandering off and getting snagged by a fishing boat.  And, learning to “just keep swimming” may not seem like a life lesson, but I would argue that it is – sometimes you just have to keep on track and stay focused in order to get through the tougher moments.      

And that is part of the magic of Disney/Pixar movies, mixing life lessons and tough subjects with entertainment for all ages. For instance, as anyone who has seen Finding Nemo will tell you, the beginning is a bit of a downer.  From the opening scenes of Marlin losing his entire family, save Nemo, to the moment that Nemo is taken from him, there’s not much to cheer about. 

This emotional beginning serves the story by setting the stakes high, which then allows them to make the comedy that follows really count.  Luckily, all the sadness is quickly forgotten when you come along on Marlin’s journey to rescue Nemo with a hilarious cast of characters he meets along the way. 

On top of the great story is the fact that Finding Nemo looks amazing on Blu-ray.  There is just something about the way animated movies look in 1080p that blows me away every time, but the underwater scenes in Finding Nemo are truly gorgeous. The whole family loved feeling immersed in the ocean, and were all amazed as the beauty continued up into the Sydney harbor above the surface.

Besides being available on Blu-ray for the first time, Finding Nemo is also now available in 3D.  This is one of those movies that just needed to be in 3D, and makes me really wish we had a 3D capable TV.  With all the depth and detail in the ocean that is there in the normal 2D version, I'm sure the it is really a sight to behold with even more depth.   P.S. Anyone have a 3D TV we can borrow for a few years?

Of course, there's also some great new bonus features on the new Blu-ray release, such as: HD Aquariums (NEW), CineExplore (NEW), Knick Knack (Original Theatrical Short), Filmmakers Roundtable Discussion (NEW), Reinventing the Submarine Voyage (NEW), Flashbacks, Art Review, Making Nemo, Outtakes, Deleted Scenes, Exploring the Reef, Studio Tour, Old School, Publicity Pieces and Mr. Ray's Encyclopedia

A big thank you to Disney/Pixar for sending Finding Nemo on Blu-ray to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.

BRAVE on Blu-ray and DVD Today

Sometimes when I’m snuggling with my daughter, she will put her hands on both cheeks, look into my eyes and say, “I never, ever want to turn you to a bear!”  The reference, of course, is the DisneyPixar movie, Brave that we saw last spring and she has been talking about ever since. 

A heartwarming tale of following your heart and of mother-daughter love, Brave is one movie I can really get behind.  Knowing it would be coming out in time for the holidays, I knew this would be one movie we had to own and have been eagerly awaiting the release date.

I firmly believe all young girls should watch Brave as it’s got some great lessons and extremely colorful characters.  Instead of a movie about a girl who wanted to be a princess, Merida is a princess who would like nothing more than to be allowed to have freedom that princesses aren’t usually given.  Merida is a strong character that target shoots, rides horses, climbs, and explores like some sort of adventurer, not at all what you would expect from a princess.

And, in addition to a very different type of princess, I also love that Brave doesn’t have a prince.  Well, technically it’s got a lot of princes, but not one that’s a love interest.  No meeting the prince and falling in love at first sight or overcoming a wicked-something-or-other as love conquers all, instead Brave is all about choosing the road less traveled to be true to yourself.

Although Merida is the undisputed star of the film, Queen Elinor and King Fergus are not the typical King and Queen role, either.  With multi-dimensional roles and strong background stories, they are a wonderful characters that add so much to the film.  Throw in the mischievous and adorable triplet brothers who are always looking for fun and excitement, and the colorful family is complete.

Beyond the great cast of characters and the action-packed plot-line, you can’t talk about this movie without raving about the animation.  Set in the lush, green Highlands of Scotland, Brave is a magical transportation to majestic castles, sweeping skyline, sparkling sea and magical knolls.  Merida’s fiery red hair is such a beautiful contrast to the darker hues of the scenery and it truly has a life of its own.  With curls you just have to see to believe and ringlets that often steal the show, her hair almost deserves a movie all on its own.    

And, now you get to see that amazing hair in the comfort of your own home as Brave hit shelves today and is now available at retailers everywhere.  I would highly recommend picking it up as one for the Disney movie library or as a gift for a special little girl this holiday season.  I know we will be watching it over and over again as the weather turns cold and rainy and it will be really nice to have a princess adventure awaiting us each time we pop it in.

A big thank you to DisneyPixar who provided the movie to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours and no form of monetary compensation was received in exchange for this Rave Review. 

The Secret of the Wings is Released on DVD and Blu-ray Today {$5 off Coupon}

Know what’s cuter than a fairy?  Why, two fairies, of course!  Disney’s The Secret of the Wings, gives you two for the price of one as a new fairy, Periwinkle, joins Pixie Hollow.

As much as I was anticipating the release of The Secret of the Wings even as far back as BlogHer this summer, my daughter was even more excited.  Every time she saw a commercial or ad she would say “ooooh, fairies!” followed by “I can’t wait to watch that with you, mama.” 

So, when the film landed on our doorstep a few days ago she was seriously overjoyed – and there was a whole lot of jumping, squealing and dancing as she waited for nighttime when we could have a family movie night.  As soon as the sun went down we popped some corn, made some cider, and sat down as a family to watch the new Disney fairy movie. 

I hadn’t heard too much about the plot ahead of time, but what I did know made me certain my daughter would love it.  And, she did.  Or rather, we all did. 

Just look at my little Tinker Bell fairies playing with the wings we got at BlogHer this year.  Obviously, they are big fans.

In The Secret of the Wings, Tinker Bell lets curiosity get the best of her and ventures into the Winter Woods even though she was warned to never go there.  Once she crosses the line from summer to winter, her wings began to shimmer and sparkle as they never have before, and she won’t rest until she finds out why.

Her search leads her back to the Winter Woods, where she encounters a frost fairy named Periwinkle.  They find themselves drawn together when they find out a secret from their past that links the two of them and they become fast friends. 

Unfortunately, they cannot be together long because they must return to their sides of Pixie Hollow before the extreme temperatures take their toll.  Hijinks ensue so they can remain together in secret and the result of their scheming threatens to throw the seasons out of balance for good.

You can find out what happens to Tinker Bell and Periwinkle today, October 23, 2012, when you pick up the 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download.  Starring the voices of Mae Whitman, Lucy Liu, Megan Hilty, Raven-Symoné, Angela Bartys, Matt Lanter, Timothy Dalton, Lucy Hale and Debby Ryan, The Secret of the Wings has an all-star cast and is a fun addition to the Tinker Bell series. 

Want to save some money when you go pick up the Combo Pack?  Click the image below to get a $5 off coupon for a limited time!

A big thank you to Disney for sending a copy of the movie to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours. 

E.T. The Extra Terrestrial Anniversary Edition Blu-ray and DVD Combo Pack

Before this week, I had never seen the movie E.T.  Sure, I knew of it and that it was about a little boy who eats Reese’s Pieces and turns into a googl-y eyed monster with a glowing finger that scares Drew Barrymore.  Then through the kindness of others and the determination to win, he eventually wins the big game and the heart of the head cheerleader and they ride off in the sunset together. 

Okay, maybe I didn’t know what it was about at all, but I did have the Reese’s and Drew Barrymore parts right. 

After seeing E.T. for the first time this week in stunning Blu-ray, I’m actually quite sad I didn’t see it as a child.  It’s one of those great movies from the 80s where the kids work together to solve a problem that’s bigger than them and find out a lot about themselves along the way.  You know, the kind of heartwarming and empowering stuff every kid loves. 


But, watching the film now with my kids on my lap was almost as good as enjoying it in my youth as I was able to see it through their eyes as well.  Seeing how they would light up at the funny parts and were really quite scared that E.T. was going to be captured by “the bad men” was really cute and it was fun to watch it the first time with them.

While I can’t speak to the film quality differences between the original VHS/DVD to the new remastered Blu-ray high definition version, I can say that the film quality was amazing.  I love it when I hear of classic films being rereleased with the newest technology, thus preserving them for the next generation of kids {and those who *ahem* missed it the first time around}.

And, the image quality was truly amazing.  The nighttime scenes had a beautiful almost glowing effect and were made even more beautiful with John Williams’ famous score. 

Need more motivation to check out this classic on Blu-ray?  Check out all these awesome bonus features:
•    The E.T. Journals:  In this all-new bonus feature, retrace the day-to-day experience of creating E.T from never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage shot by Academy Award®-winning cinematographer John Toll.   This piece will give viewers a unique feeling of being on the set and living the excitement of what it was like to make E.T.
•    Steven Spielberg & E.T.:  Watch an all-new interview with Steven Spielberg, as he reflects back on the film and discusses his experience working with the actors, as well as his overall and current perspective on E.T.
•      Deleted Scenes: Two scenes from 2002 version of the film.
•      A Look Back:  A special insider’s look into the making of E.T. featuring interviews with Steven Spielberg, the cast, and others intimately involved with the film.
•      The E.T. Reunion:  The cast and filmmaker reunite to discuss their thoughts on the impact of the film.
•      The Evolution and Creation of E.T.:  From idea to screenplay, throughcasting and making the film.
•      The Music of E.T.:  A Discussion with John Williams:  Interviews and footage focused on the long-standing relationship between John Williams and Steven Spielberg.
•      The 20th Anniversary Premiere:  Composer John Williams played the score of E.T. live at the Shrine Auditorium for the re-release premiere of E.T.   This featurette gives us a behind the scenes look at this presentation.
•      Original Theatrical Trailer
•      Special Olympics TV spot
•      Designs, Photographs and Marketing
•      UltraViolet™:  The revolutionary new way for consumers to collect movies and TV shows, store them in the cloud, and instantly stream and download to computers, tablets and smartphones. Consumers can now truly enjoy their movies anytime, anywhere on the platform of their choice.  Currently available in the United States only.
•      Digital Copy:  The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack includes a digital copy of the film compatible with iTunes®, iPad®, iPhone®, iPod™, iPod™ touch, Android or online retail partners.
•      pocket BLU™ App:  The popular free pocket BLU™ app for smartphones is now even better with newly updated versions for iPad®, Android™ tablets, PC and Macintosh computers, with features made especially to take advantage of thedevices’ larger screens and high resolution displays.
o    Advanced Remote Control: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease.
o    Video Timeline: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the film.
o    Mobile-To-Go: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there is a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
o    Browse Titles: Users will have access to a complete list of pocket BLU™-enabled titles available and coming to Blu-ray™. They can view free previews and see what additional content is available to unlock on their device.
o    Keyboard: Entering data is fast and easy with your device’s intuitive keyboard.
•    BD-LIVE™:  Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to access the latest trailers, exclusive content and more!

Get Social with E.T. on Facebook, Twitter {hashtag #ETPhoneHome}, Pinterest and YouTube

A big thank you to Universal Studios for sending a copy of the film to facilitate this review.  As always, all opinions are 100% ours.