Disney presents one of the greatest rescue stories ever told. THE FINEST HOURSa heroic action-thriller based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest small-boat rescue in Coast Guard history. Starring Chris Pine (the “Star Trek” films), Academy Award® and Golden Globe® nominee Casey Affleck (“Interstellar”), Ben Foster (“3:10 to Yuma”) and Eric Bana (“Lone Survivor”), “THE FINEST HOURS” makes its in-home debut packaged with a host of bonus features about the making of the movie and the remarkable true-life events that inspired it. It storms home on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere May 24th.
I cannot wait to see this film! We missed it in theaters (happens when you have young kids, I guess) but we were really looking forward to seeing it! My husband was in the Navy and we have many friends in the Coast Guard, so this is something we will really enjoy. We know the story, but cannot wait to see Disney’s take on it – and with actors like these, you cannot go wrong!
FILM SYNOPSIS:
This heroic action-thriller is based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest small-boat rescue in Coast Guard history. In 1952, a massive winter storm strikes off the coast of Cape Cod, ripping a T-2 oil tanker in half and trapping more than 30 sailors inside its rapidly sinking stern. When word of the disaster reaches the U.S. Coast Guard, four men led by Captain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) set out in a 12-seat boat on a daring mission to rescue the stranded men, braving freezing cold, 60-foot waves and hurricane-force winds, and guided by Webber’s vow that “We all live, or we all die.” Packed with thrilling, larger-than-life action and anchored in a belief in the strength of the human spirit, The Finest Hours is a triumph.
BONUS FEATURES*:
Blu-ray Combo Pack, Digital HD, Digital SD, Disney Movies Anywhere
AGAINST ALL ODDS: THE BERNIE WEBBER STORY – Visit the quaint and close-knit town of Chatham, and experience the events surrounding the most heroic Coast Guard rescue ever through the eyes of the people who witnessed them.
BROTHERHOOD – Cast members reflect on the bonds they forged during the shoot.
TWO CREWS – Chris Pine and Casey Affleck share insights into Bernie Webber and Ray Sybert, men who led their respective crews against all odds.
WHAT IS YOUR FINEST HOUR? – A Coast Guard member recounts an incredible rescue.
THE FINEST INSPIRATION: THE U.S. COAST GUARD Meet the people who put their lives on the line for others.
ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA):
Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it simple to buy your favorite Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars movies once and watch them anywhere. With DMA you can explore Disney’s library of over 450 eligible digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, and watch your digital movies from the comfort of the living room or across multiple mobile devices. Using the free DMA apps and website, you can connect your DMA account with participating providers including iTunes, Amazon Video, VUDU, Microsoft Movies and TV and Google Play and unlock access your eligible movie collections across platforms and devices – iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV/Airplay, Amazon’s Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Microsoft Movies and TV service on Windows and Microsoft Xbox devices, Android mobile and tablet devices and Android TV, Chromecast and the Roku® platform. In addition, you can redeem Digital Copy codes found in Disney, Pixar and Marvel Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase.
ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:
For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.
Recently Shushybye, a multi award-winning and critically-acclaimed children’s music-centric television series, found a home on Netflix. Search “Shushybye” to find this show and I promise you that your kids will love it! My 3 and 4 year old watch it all the time. They are huge fans already! We recently got the music CD collection and they have so much fun dancing around the house to all of the songs. The Shushybye Music CD ‘Cool-Lection” ($44.88) is comprised of five individual best-selling Shushybye music CDs (69 songs in all) and saves 15% when purchased as the 5-CD collection. It is by far worth it – and you can enter to win a set below!
The Shushybye Music CD “Cool-lection” includes:
Shushybye & Goodnight: The Deluxe Edition
Close Your Eyes
MOON-FM
My Newest Best Friend
Time to Tuck You In
About Shushybye
Shushybye is the land that sits on a cloud high in the sky Shushybye where the resident Shushies (who live in such villages as Nap Valley and Snore Shore) make dreams for children that are delivered to them as they fall asleep. A favorite on BabyFirst (www.babyfirsttv.com), the dream-themed SHUSHYBYE television series has just launched on Netflix! 26 episodes of Shushybye are available for instant viewing anywhere at any time via Netflix. Each of the Netflix Shushybye episodes features three Shushybye songs, along with vignettes starring the Shushies that impart important social values for children while introducing them to the world of the creative arts. Behind Shushybye is the acclaimed music team of creator-songwriter Steve Syatt and music producer-singer Michael North. The melodies are incredibly catchy, while the lyrics are written expressly for children. The debut Shushybye CD (Shushybye and Goodnight) won a prestigious iParenting Award. Michael and the Shushybye Show perform live to sold-out audiences in cities across the country.
The Shushybye music CDs are available from the Shushybye Shoppe located on the show’s website www.shushybye.com.
The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).
Welcome to another #TwoBlogsFunGuidesevent! We are presenting the Spring Craft Guide which is all part of the 2016 Spring Guide Series! This guide is filled with craft tools and DIY projects for crafters of all ages! Each product in this guide was personally approved by one of the two bloggers: Women and Their Pretties or Mama Smith’s Blog. Please enjoy and remember to keep coming back because new items are added daily! This guide may contain affiliate links.
This rubber stamp set will have you springing into crafting and card making. 16 little stamps feature lovely springtime messages and adorable icons like an owl, rabbit, mushrooms and butterflies. Perfect for card making, scrapbooking and all types of craft projects! Set of 16 stamps (3/4″ x 3/4″ each) and one black inkpad.
These pastel paint markers are perfect for Spring crafts. The glittering paint permanently writes on a variety of surfaces from glass to wood and metal. Pens include an extra-fine point, ideal for delicate details. The quick-drying paint is fade and weather-resistant. Colors include pink, peach, blue, lavender and aqua.
Welcome the spring season with the Fresh Flowers Elements Clearly Impressed Stamp Set by Christine Adolph. These clear stamps are sized to work perfectly with our acrylic mounts and each image may be used alone to bring a pop of color to a small tag or combined into beautiful blooming collages.
Stir your imagination with the Storybook Village Clearly Impressed Stamp Set by Purnima Girouard. Featuring a neighborhood full of delightful characters and whimsical cottages, these clear stamps will set the scene and add an extra quaint touch to your next project.
My young daughters are being raised on Disney everything. I have been a Disney fan since as long as I can remember. I grew up on Disney and I love that I am able to do the same thing for my girls. So when I learned that I was selected to throw a Disney Kids Preschool Playdate again, I was stoked! Last year we had a Sofia the First Tea Party at our house for my daughters and their school friends (which they are still talking about) so I couldn’t wait to find out the theme for this year.
When our HUGE box arrived, my 4 year old couldn’t wait to open it! My 3 year old was napping (and is quite camera shy), so I let her go at it by herself. It was filled with goodies to make our Disney Playdate perfect. We couldn’t wait to organize it. Unfortunately, we were hit by some rainy and cold weather and had to reschedule twice (since we were planning to hold it at the local park). We ended up having a smaller party than planned the day before Easter, but the kids that came had a blast! We had cake, a jellybean hunt, games, and of course, pirate hats and princess crowns. The kids loved their Disney Watch The Lion Guard backpacks and posters – and I have been told by some of the parents that the posters are already hanging up in their rooms! We didn’t let the weather get us down and ended up having a blast – gotta make the most of everything, right?
I am thrilled with the American Tourister Princess Sofia luggage that came in our box. We are planning a Disney trip for later this year AND a Disney Cruise trip for early next year. This is going to be perfect for my daughters to pack to take along! Not to mention it will go great with my Darth Vader luggage from American Tourister.
The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).
The other night I was just hanging out on the couch with my husband when my phone got an email notification. I opened it up and just about dropped my phone. Was I reading it right? I was invited to go screen Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR before it opens in theaters AND attend a press junket where I will be interviewing talent from the film!?! If you know me, than you know how much I love everything Marvel (my Twitter handle is MarvelGoddess24 because of my love for the comics and movies). I have been reading the comics for more years than I can count, and have been loving all of the films over the last several years. After I did a dance around the living room and my husband assured me that we would find a way for me to go, I teared up. I am not ashamed to admit it guys, this is HUGE for me. It totally validates the time I take to run my site, and let’s me know that Disney appreciates me (they are pretty amazing). I don’t have all the details yet, but here is what I do know.
Captain America: Civil War
The #CaptainAmericaEvent will be taking place from 4/9 – 4/12 and will include lots of awesome experiences, including getting to see Captain America: Civil War about a month before it hits theaters! I have been binge watching all the earlier Marvel movie to make sure that I remember exactly what has happened (and to try to weed out false memories from reading the comic books) – I want to know what is going on in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). I have never watched Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. (I know, I know, but something about a certain someone all of a sudden being alive did not sit with me well *Trying to be spoiler free here*) so I am working on catching up on those – and I am glad that I am! I am hooked!
I don’t know who I will be interviewing yet but you can’t lose with the cast and crew associated with this film – they are all prime talent, that is for sure! I truly cannot wait to sit down and tell you guys all about it when I get back. I can tell you one thing though, I am #TeamIronMan all the way – I keep telling myself about how active Robert Downy Jr. is on social media and how he just has to be there – especially if this movie goes down like the comics. Watch the trailer below and choose your team (come to the Stark side…).
About Captain America: Civil War
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in twocamps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.
Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo and Martin Freeman, with William Hurt and Daniel Brühl. Anthony & Joe Russo are directing with Kevin Feige producing. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee are the executive producers. The screenplay is by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely.
Get ready to pick a side and join the nonstop action playing out on two fronts when Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016.
I will also be getting a sneak peek at the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie “Adventures in Babysitting” inspired by the hugely popular 1980s film of the same name. I have not seen this movie in just about forever, so I plan to watch it again before I leave. I do remember loving it – and I also remember some Thor references. Since he is nowhere to be seen in Civil War, hopefully they keep the references in this film. I am really looking forward to seeing Disney’s take on this, I just know it will be hilarious and heartwarming (as most Disney Channel Movies are). I will also be interviewing available talent so let me know of any questions you might have!
About Adventures in Babysitting
This movie stars Sabrina Carpenter (of Disney Channel’s hit comedy series “Girl Meets World“) and Sofia Carson (of the hit Disney Channel Original Movie “Descendants“). In “Adventures in Babysitting,” a dull evening for two competing babysitters, Jenny (Sabrina Carpenter) and Lola (Sofia Carson), turns into an adventure in the big city as they hunt for one of the kids who somehow snuck away.
Coming Summer 2016 to The Disney Channel!
#AdventuresInBabysitting
The Catch
I am excited to say that I will also have the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the newest addition to #TGIT on ABC – The Catch! This show premiered yesterday (March 24) – and was trending on twitter! Be sure to check it out on ABC Watch or On Demand if you have not seen it because you do not want to miss out on this hit! It is fantastic – but with a cast like that, you really can’t go wrong. As soon as I heard about this show, I was eagerly awaiting its premiere. So of course, I cannot wait to get some exclusives and let you guys know all about it. I just loved Peter Krause on Parenthood – and he is incredible on this show, playing a totally different person! Are you #TeamMouse (Peter) or #TeamCat (Mireille)?
About The Catch
In “The Catch” (from the producers of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder”), Alice Vaughan (Mireille Enos) is LA’s top private investigator, but when her fiancé Benjamin Jones (Peter Krause) cons her out of millions and disappears, she goes on a private mission for payback stopping at nothing to catch her man.
And last but most certainly not least, I will be joining Jenna Bans, the creator & executive producer of ABC’s new drama, “The Family“, as well as available cast, for a family-style dinner! I will also be live tweeting episode 7 and getting a special sneak preview of episode 8! Oh, and did I mention the Q&A with available cast and the creator? So far we have secured four amazing interviews – Jenna Bans (creator and writer), Floriana Lima (Bridey), Zach Gilford (Danny), and Alison Pill (Willa) – plus you never know who could be added (Adam himself maybe?). I cannot wait to pick the actors’ brains about their characters and what they thought of the script when they first got it. And of course I want to chat with the creator, Jenna Bans, about how she came up with this amazing idea for a television show! If you have any questions, be sure to let me know so I can get them answered for you.
I hope you have been watching this show, and if not, it is time to catch up. It is incredible. After just the first episode there were so many questions – and it seems we keep adding more and are barely getting any answers (which makes it even more intriguing). I am totally hooked on this show and I cannot wait to see how it plays out. This family has many skeletons in the closet – and I don’t think they are going to stop falling out any time soon.
About The Family This thriller follows the return of a politician’s young son who was presumed dead after disappearing over a decade earlier. As the mysterious young man is welcomed back into his family, suspicions emerge—is he really who he says he is?
I am so excited to announce a new addition to my trip! I will have the opportunity to screen two upcoming episodes of The Real O’Neals, followed by Q&As with Noah Galvin (Kenny), Matt Shively (Jimmy), Mary Hollis Inboden (Aunt Jodi), Jay R Ferguson (Pat), and 3 of the Executive Producers (Casey Johnson, David Windsor and Stacy Traub). This show has been on my “to watch” list since I heard about it, so I finally sat down and caught up once I heard the news. It is hilarious and quirky and I am so excited to meet some of the cast! I was laughing out loud almost the whole time I was watching the episodes!
The Real O’Neals airs Tuesdays at 8:30/7:30c on ABC!
While in LA, I will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Los Angeles/Hollywood! This hotel looks amazing! I am so excited about the pool with the Hollywood sign. If I have room in my schedule, I plan to take a quick swim and enjoy it! I am also planning on hitting up the hotel gym every morning (but am not holding my breath on that one). The hotel is just a short walk from so many Hollywood sites, I cannot wait to explore.
My girls and I love the Ice Age series. We own all the movies and watch them at least once a month. Scrat is one of our favorites but all of the characters are pretty great. I was thrilled to be able to watch the latest Ice Age film – Ice Age: The Great Egg-Scapade with them. They loved it and immediately asked me to start it over when it ended. This film is fun for the whole family – and a great Easter movie! Available on iTunes, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Video, Sony Playstation Store, Microsoft Movies & TV and MGo, ICE AGE: THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE includes an exclusive sneak peek of the upcoming, all-new animated feature film ICE AGE: COLLISION COURSE, premiering in theaters July 22, 2016. Celebrate Ice Age: The Great Egg-scapade with Sid’s Egg Decorator, a fun interactive game on IceAgeMovies.com allowing fans to help Sid decorate his prehistoric eggs just in time for Easter.
Synopsis Scrat, Manny, Sid, Diego and a few new friends from the blockbuster animated franchise “Ice Age” return for a hilarious, all-new holiday adventure, ICE AGE: THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE, available on Digital HD March 21, 2016. In ICE AGE: THE GREAT EGG-SCAPADE, harried mom Ethel (Taraji P. Henson, EMPIRE) entrusts her precious, soon-to-hatch egg to Sid (John Leguizamo). When she recommends him to her neighbors – condor mom (Wendy Williams), Cholly Bear (Gabriel Iglesias) and Gladys Glypto (Lili Estefan) – business booms at his new egg-sitting service. However, dastardly pirate bunny Squint (Seth Green, FAMILY GUY), who is seeking revenge on the ICE AGE gang, steals, camouflages and hides all the eggs. Once again, with Squint’s brother, Clint (Blake Anderson), assisting, Manny (Ray Romano), Diego (Denis Leary) and the rest of the gang come to the rescue and take off on a daring mission that turns into the world’s first Easter egg hunt.
Digital HD Special Features Include:
Cosmic Scrat-trastrophe: A five-minute sneak peek of ICE AGE: THE COLLISION COURSE
Ice Age: The Story So Far
More Nuts for Scrat
Ice Age – Continental Crack-Up, Part 1
Ice Age – Continental Crack-Up, Part 2
Gone Nutty – Scrat’s Missing Adventure
No Time For Nuts
Falling For Scratte
Scrat: From Head to Toe
Educational Featurettes:
Lost Historical Films
The Sloth: “Nature’s Loveable Lisper”
The Saber-Toothed Tiger: “Nature’s Fearsome Feline”
The Possum: “Nature’s Spunky Spectacles”
ABOUT TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is the industry leading worldwide marketing, sales and distribution company for all Fox produced, acquired and third party partner film and television programing. Each year TCFHE expands its award-winning global product portfolio with the introduction of new entertainment content through established and emerging formats including DVD, Blu-ray™ and Digital HD™. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment is a subsidiary of 21st Century Fox.
The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).
I am so excited about new imagining of The Jungle Book movie! I watched it all the time when I was younger and I have watched it with my daughters many times. My 3 year old almost always chooses it for her family movie night pick. When we saw Zootopia in the theater, we saw the preview for The Jungle Book. I was worried the real animals might startle the girls, but the didn’t at all. In fact, they now keep asking when we will be taking them to see the movie (opening weekend sounds good to me – I can’t wait!). Disney has finally released a clip from the film (yay!) – in it we meet Shere Khan and all I can say is “wow”. This movie is going to be incredible.
As if that wasn’t enough, the brand new immersive site for Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK just launched! Created exclusively by Disney on Tumblr, you can explore chapters like “Words to Live By: The bare necessities for a man cub to survive” and “In the Face of Danger: Learn about the Red Flower and Shere Khan.” New chapters will be revealed over the next two weeks featuring exclusive content from the film. You can find that all HERE.
One more thing – brand new special shoot images featuring the cast of Disney’s THE JUNGLE BOOK are now out as well. These are some pretty cool shots. Featuring Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita Nyong’o, Sir Ben Kingsley, Christopher Walken, and Giancarlo Esposito, each image pairs the actor with their onscreen character. I mean, just check out how powerful these photos are.
Christopher Walken / King Louie King Louie is a formidable ape who desperately wants the secret of Man’s deadly “red flower”–fire. He’s convinced Mowgli has the information he seeks. “King Louie is huge–12 feet tall,” says Christopher Walken, who voices the character. “But he’s as charming as he is intimidating when he wants to be.”
Giancarlo Esposito / Akela Akela is the strong and hardened alpha-male wolf who shoulders the responsibility of his pack. He welcomes Mowgli to the family, but worries he may one day compromise their safety. “Akela is a fierce patriarch of the wolf pack,” says Giancarlo Esposito, who voices the character. “He believes the strength of the pack lies in what each and every wolf offers. He’s a great leader, a wise teacher.”
Idris Elba / Shere Khan Voiced by Idris Elba, Shere Khan bears the scars of man, which fuel his hatred of humans. Convinced that Mowgli poses a threat, the bengal tiger is determined to rid the jungle of the man-cub. “Shere Khan reigns with fear,” says Elba. “He terrorizes everyone he encounters because he comes from a place of fear.”
Lupita Nyong’o / Raksha Lupita Nyong’o voices Raksha, a mother wolf who cares deeply for all of her pups–including man-cub Mowgli, whom she adopts as one of her own when he’s abandoned in the jungle as an infant. “She is the protector, the eternal mother,” says Nyong’o. “The word Raksha actually means protection in Hindi. I felt really connected to that, wanting to protect a son that isn’t originally hers but one she’s taken for her own.”
Scarlett Johansson / Kaa Kaa is a massive python who uses her voice and hypnotic gaze to entrance Mowgli. The man-cub can’t resist her captivating embrace. “Kaa seduces and entraps Mowgli with her storytelling,” says Scarlett Johansson. “She’s the mirror into Mowgli’s past. The way she moves is very alluring, almost coquettish.”
Sir Ben Kingsley / Bagheera Bagheera is a sleek panther who feels it’s his duty to help the man-cub depart with dignity when it’s time for him to leave his jungle home. “Bagheera is Mowgli’s adoptive parent,” says Ben Kingsley, who lends his voice to Bagheera. “His role in Mowgli’s life is to educate, to protect and to guide. My Bagheera was military–he’s probably a colonel. He is instantly recognizable by the way he talks, how he acts and what his ethical code is.”
About The Jungle Book
Directed by Jon Favreau (“Iron Man”), based on Rudyard Kipling’s timeless stories and inspired by Disney’s classic animated film, “The Jungle Book” is an all-new live-action epic adventure about Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi), a man-cub who’s been raised by a family of wolves. But Mowgli finds he is no longer welcome in the jungle when fearsome tiger Shere Khan (voice of Idris Elba), who bears the scars of Man, promises to eliminate what he sees as a threat. Urged to abandon the only home he’s ever known, Mowgli embarks on a captivating journey of self-discovery, guided by panther-turned-stern mentor Bagheera (voice of Ben Kingsley), and the free-spirited bear Baloo (voice of Bill Murray). Along the way, Mowgli encounters jungle creatures who don’t exactly have his best interests at heart, including Kaa (voice of Scarlett Johansson), a python whose seductive voice and gaze hypnotizes the man-cub, and the smooth-talking King Louie (voice of Christopher Walken), who tries to coerce Mowgli into giving up the secret to the elusive and deadly red flower: fire. The all-star cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o as the voice of the fiercely protective mother wolf Raksha, and Giancarlo Esposito as the voice of wolf pack’s alpha male Akela. “The Jungle Book” seamlessly blends live-action with photorealistic CGI animals and environments, using up-to-the-minute technology and storytelling techniques to immerse audiences in an enchanting and lush world.
THE JUNGLE BOOK opens in theatres everywhere in 3D, RealD 3D, and IMAX 3D on April 15th!
The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).
Just in time for Easter, the faith‐based adventures of Bob, Larry, and their veggie housemates continue in VeggieTales in the House Season 3, where they are not only working on being the best friends they can be, but our cast also learns a variety of lessons, including: being a good listener, not over‐reacting, being honest, and appreciating the good things you already have! My daughters love this show (and so do my husband and I). We have been watching them daily – so they cannot wait for the next season to hit Netflix on Friday March 25, 2016.
See the clips below for a peek at Captain Mike Asparagus on a journey to find the “Best Pet Ever” and as Jenna Chive busts a move with the Veggies in their “Great Big House Of Friends”! I cannot wait for the full episodes!
About Veggie Tales in the House
Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and all their veggie friends venture off the countertop and into a bigger world for the very first time in VeggieTales In the House, which brings the beloved faith-based brand to their first ever Netflix original series. With important life lessons and inspirational messages built into each story, every episode also features a brand-new song (my husbands FAVORITE part of Veggie Tales), ensuring that the veggies are always fresh … and always fun!
The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).
I am a big fan of The Hunger Games. I have not yet read the books, but I plan to now that I have finished the movies. I have been dying to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 but with young children, it can be hard to get to the theater. So when this movie showed up on my doorstep last night (the day before it was to be released) my husband and I could not wait to pop it in. The second the girls went to bed, we were curled up on the couch ready to watch. I refuse to give anything away but I will say that I laughed a little, and cried a lot. The final chapter of The Hunger Games is dark and intense – but done extremely well. I loved every single second of it, and I was content with the ending as well – it could have been left off much worse. I have heard the movies follow the books almost to a T, but I have not read them yet so I cannot voice my opinion on that.
If you have not yet seen these movies, you need to! They are a must watch for just about anyone and I plan to watch them all back to back soon. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is available TODAY on Blu-Ray and DVD, as well as for the first time as a 4-Film Collection!
Synopsis
Based on the third novel in Suzanne Collins’ trilogy, the must-own limited edition Blu-ray release is packed with over five hours of special features, including the “Pawns No More: Making The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” 8-part documentary – an in-depth look at the making of the film from production design, costumes, hair, make-up, stunts, special effects and post production. The documentary also includes a touching piece – from the last day of shooting – in which the cast reflects on their experience shooting the four films. I loved watching this – and it had me crying all over again. It was really interesting to see how certain stunts were done. This is a must see extra feature if you ask me!
Also included is a detailed look at Cinna’s sketchbook and a walk through the on-set photography along with audio commentary by director Francis Lawrence and producer Nina Jacobson. The Blu-ray is encoded in Dolby TrueHD and features a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack, which delivers captivating sound that places and moves audio anywhere in the room, including overhead, to bring entertainment alive all around the audience.
Also available for the first time as a set on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD, The Hunger Games Complete 4-Film Collection includes The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 with all of the special features from each film’s initial release plus hours of all-new exclusive content including 13 never-before-seen deleted scenes from The Hunger Games and The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and two all-new featurettes: “Picturing Panem” and “Capitol Cuisine.”
Willow Shields, Meta Golding, Bruno Gunn, Eugenie Bondurant and Stef Dawson seen at “The Hunger Games” Fan Marathon at The Egyptian Theatre on Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Lionsgate Home Entertainment/AP Images)
The Hunger Games cast joined fans for the ultimate fan event at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood to celebrate the home entertainment release of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2! On Sunday, March 20th the odds were ever in these fans favor as got the chance to experience the ultimate fan event at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood to celebrate the home entertainment release of the final chapter to the beloved franchise, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2. The day was filled with screenings of all four films, an Effie Make-up corner, a photo booth to capture the 4 Films for fans forever, Q&A with members of the cast, a special costume contest and unreleased The Hunger Games content.
A general view of atmosphere seen at “The Hunger Games” Fan Marathon at The Egyptian Theatre on Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Lionsgate Home Entertainment/AP Images)Willow Shields seen at “The Hunger Games” Fan Marathon at The Egyptian Theatre on Sunday, March 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Lionsgate Home Entertainment/AP Images)
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY – PART 2 BLU-RAY / DVD / DIGITAL HD SPECIAL FEATURES* PURCHASE HERE
Audio Commentary with Director Francis Lawrence and Producer Nina Jacobson
“Pawns No More: Making The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” 8-Part Documentary**
Walking Through Fire (Concluding the Saga)
Real or Not Real (Visual Design)
High-Value Targets (The Acting Ensemble)
From Head to Toe (Costume, Make-up & Hair)
Navigating the Minefield (Production in Atlanta, Paris & Berlin)
Collateral Damage (Stunts, Special Effects & Weapons)
Tightening the Noose (The Post-Production Process)
A Different World (Reflections)
The Hunger Games: A Photographic Journey
Cinna’s Sketchbook: Secrets of the Mockingjay Armor
Panem on Display: The Hunger Games: The Exhibition
Jet to the Set** *Subject to Change **Exclusive to Blu-ray/ Digital HD
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ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, digital distribution, new channel platforms, video games and international distribution and sales. The Company has nearly 80 television shows on 40 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses. These include the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black, the multiple Emmy Award-winning drama Mad Men, the hit broadcast network series Nashville, the syndication successes The Wendy Williams Show and Celebrity Name Game (with FremantleMedia), the breakout series The Royals and the Golden Globe-nominated dramedy Casual.
Its feature film business has been fueled by such successes as the blockbuster Hunger Games franchise, the first two installments of the Divergent franchise, Sicario, The Age of Adaline, CBS/Lionsgate’s The DUFF, John Wick, Now You See Me, Roadside Attractions’ Love & Mercy and Mr. Holmes, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films’ Addicted and Pantelion Films’ Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.
Lionsgate’s home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com.
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The Internet has become an all-pervasive medium in the modern world and has grown and evolved almost beyond recognition. It’s only just over 30 years since the very first domain name was registered (symbolics.com) back in 1985. That was the home of a now long-gone computer manufacturer. Almost all the early web pages were dedicated to computers and technology. The early Internet was a very niche and specialist area but now it’s opened up to everyone. According to Internet World Stats, almost half (46.4%) of the world’s population now has access to the Internet. This rises considerably in developed nations, standing at 87.9% in North America and 73.5% in Europe. Facebook alone has 1.59 billion active monthly users – almost one in four of the world’s population.
Just because the Internet has such a big presence however, does that mean it’s necessarily a good thing for our children? There is certainly a lot of inappropriate content available online. There’s also the potential for coming into contact with unsavory characters. Giving children unrestricted, unmonitored access can be harmful and potentially dangerous. Allowing children to get involved with the online world in a safe and supervised fashion can, however, bring a large number of benefits.
The demand for digital skills
In an increasingly inter-connected and digitized world, digital skills are in high demand. They are often not only seen as desirable but essential for a wide range of jobs – and not just those directly related to the field of IT. One study found that nearly four fifths (78%) of middle-skill jobs in the US (roughly defined as those requiring more than a high school education but less than a bachelor’s degree) now require a baseline of digital skills, including spreadsheet, word processing and online familiarity.
Additionally, more and more jobs are being advertised online. Employers generally expect candidates to apply for positions online. From networking to using job sites and even conducting interviews over Skype, the Internet is an increasingly important tool in the process of transitioning from education to employment. You might think there’s a long time before your kids have to concern themselves with such issues but ‘digital natives’, who have grown up with the Internet and its associated technology, tend to be far more comfortable with and fluent in that technology. Those who haven’t, or were introduced to it later, could find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.
There are various campaign groups and other organizations aiming to encourage parity in Internet access, so that children from different social groups are not put at a disadvantage. Take a look at a breakdown of reviews and you will see from EveryoneOn reviews that there are groups such as this looking to provide both affordable connections and digital literacy training.
Learning benefits
Long before children have to think about workplace concerns there’s also plenty of evidence that appropriate, supervised access to modern technology and screen time can actually be beneficial in terms of learning outcomes in a number of different areas. It can help improve hand-eye and multi-sensory co-ordination and the ability to pay attention to detail. These benefits can apply to age-appropriate online games in general but there are also many different online sites, apps and games that are specifically tailored to achieving different learning outcomes. These could involve reading, verbal language and visual communication skills, and basic numeracy. This can all help promote early school readiness and cognitive development.
At a higher level and older age, many schools will now use the Internet as a teaching tool. Again, they may use custom-made apps and websites in connection with any number of subjects, or they may encourage the wider use of the ‘net’ as a research tool. Homework and coursework assignments may also be set and delivered using dedicated online portals.
Social interactions
There’s also a useful social aspect to being online. Younger generations are growing up alongside social media sites, forums and other ways of communicating online. Again, there are dangers involved in unrestricted access but supervised access can help children to develop their online social skills, which can also have an impact on their face-to-face social skills.
The Internet can also expose children to people from a diverse range of locations, cultures and backgrounds, enabling them to talk and exchange ideas. The Internet can also provide children with access to things they can’t always see in their everyday life, whether it’s viewing wildlife up close and personal or taking a virtual guided tour of an online museum.
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