July 22, 2010

Featuring lovable characters like Dookie Duck and his adorable little sister Dottie, the Baby Prodigy line of educational DVDs is full of interactive fun, perfect for days spent indoors with your baby.

We recently received three DVDs to try out from the Baby Prodigy line– Baby’s First Words, Baby Pre-School and 30 Minutes to Quiet Baby.  Each 30 minute video is packed full of funny moments from Dookie, fun musical numbers, and engaging content that really kept my kids engaged and interested.  We especially enjoyed the Barber Shape Quartet scene!

(Read the rest of the entry…)

Education, Giveaways, TV, DVD & Movie Reviews 116 Comments

June 21, 2010

Attention Tinker Bell fans!  Are you ready for the next installment of Tink’s fun filled adventures?  You can pre-order the Blu Ray and DVD on Amazon (for considerably less than MSRP), but in the meantime, please enjoy the following clip from the upcoming movie, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue .  FYI the following preview is straight from the movie and is about eight minutes long!

About the Film:
What would you do if you met a fairy? Witness the historic moment when Tinker Bell first meets a human being, and it’s not who you think.
Years before meeting Wendy and the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell met Lizzy, a little girl with a steadfast belief in the power of pixie dust and the magic land of fairies.  During the fairies’ summer visit to the flowering meadows of England, two very different worlds unite for the first time and Tink develops a special bond with a curious child in need of a friend.  As her fellow fairies launch a daring rescue, Tinker Bell takes a huge risk, putting her own safety and the future of all fairykind in jeopardy.
Experience Disney’s astonishing all-new movie about the true power of faith and friendship. Bursting with excitement and imagination, Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue is magical entertainment for the whole family.  You might even learn to fly.

Deals & Discounts, Previews, TV, DVD & Movie Reviews No comments

December 2, 2008

I’m going to start this off just by saying that I didn’t like the first Chronicles of Narnia movie all that much, but Prince Caspian exceeded my expectations completely!  Available on DVD and Blu-Ray as of today, December 2, 2008, Disney’s The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, based on C.S. Lewis’ fantasy novels, offers a little bit of everything and will appeal to every age group represented in your family. 

There’s magic and swordfights and castle sieges, as well as a hint of romance and the coming of age theme that resonates throughout the film.  Prince Caspian is action packed and will definitely keep you on your toes as you follow Caspian on his journey to reclaim his stolen throne and as the Pevensies fight to save their beloved Narnians. 

(Read the rest of the entry…)

TV, DVD & Movie Reviews 1 Comment

November 24, 2008

The Hannah Montana DVD Game is definitely the perfect present for any Hannah fan!  Plus, you don’t even need a fancy new gaming console to play it, just a DVD player attached to a television.  There’s everything from a karaoke game, a “dance off”, a memory game, trivia and more, bringing the total to 11 standalone games.  There are one player and multi-player modes, so your star can always share the fun with her friends.

It’s available now, but if you want to try out a demo before you pick up a copy, just check out DisneyDVDGames.com.  At an MSRP of $29.99 (and only $26.99 brand spanking new at Amazon), I have to say that the Hannah Montana DVD Game is definitely worth it.  First of all, the fact that you don’t need a console at all makes this game a great buy for Christmas.  That means that no matter where you are, as long as you have a DVD player that girl on your holiday shopping list can have interactive fun with this easy to maneuver game. 

Another thing I noticed is that unlike many of those add-on games that come on the same disc as movies or shows, there’s no lag, so just because you’re going with a DVD game won’t mean your sacrificing um, gaming quality.

You can win your very own brand new copy of the Hannah Montana DVD Game!  Just leave a comment on this post (make sure you use a VALID email address), and tell me why you should win.  The contest ends on December 2, 2008 at 11:59EST, and the winner will be randomly chosen.  The winner will be notified by December 5, 2008 via email and will also be announced via PRIZEYwinners.

To earn extra entries, you can mention this giveaway on your blog, but you have to make sure you leave me a comment telling me you’ve done so.  You must have a US mailing address to be eligible.

Technorati Tags: Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, DVD Game, Disney

TV, DVD & Movie Reviews 19 Comments

November 17, 2008

It’s true!  No longer are we subject to watching Cars over and over again (oh, how children love repetition!)  A new movie has ignited a strong, feverish love in my son’s heart, and that is Wall-E, which is coming to DVD and Blu-Ray on November 18, 2008.  Disney and Pixar never fail to deliver satisfying, family entertainment!  littleQ was already familiar with Wall-E it’s one of the few games I actually play on our PS3 from time to time (yes, I’m a dork).  When I whipped out the Blu-Ray, he squealed “Wall-E! Eve!” and could hardly contain himself as I loaded it into the PS3 for us to watch.

Wall-E is the cute, endearing story of a garbage compacter robot Wall-E in post-apocalyptic Earth.  He has a penchant for collecting junky “treasures” and he’s always watching a VHS tape (remember those?!) of Hello Dolly, recording songs from the movie to his um, hard drive.  Sure, he has a cockroach for a friend, but for reasons that aren’t delved into, he seems to be the last Wall-E left on Earth 700 years after the mega-giant Buy N Large orchestrated a mass exodus on the space cruise ship the Axiom.  He meets Eve, a sleek robot sent to Earth to search for viable life, and nurses an unrequited love for her for much of the movie.  (Will she reciprocate?  Not telling!)  Upon the Axiom, we’ll see what has happened to humankind after centuries of inactivity and virtual mind control.  Will our lovable, well-meaning Wall-E save the day?

(Read the rest of the entry…)

TV, DVD & Movie Reviews 1 Comment

November 15, 2008

Grinchy folks whose cold hearts are melted by the power of love and the magic of Christmas: It’s the tried and true theme that is the loose backbone of Paramount’s Noelle. (Psst, it works!)  Noelle is a family friendly and Dove Family Approved Christmas movie that takes place in a tiny fishing village on (or is it in?) the Cape, and begins with the impending closure a close-knit community’s church.

At first Father Jonathon Keene (played by David Wall) is sarcastically distant and full of darkly humorous cynicism.   He’s definitely not one’s ideal vision of a priest, and he does in fact admit, quite ironically, that he actually tries to keep away from the “people side of it all.”  Juxtaposing Father Keene is his old classmate from the seminary, the truly good hearted though unconventional (at least in Father Keene’s eyes) Father Simeon Joyce (played by Sean Patrick Brennan), the very priest whose congregation is in danger of losing their church due to it being not quite “financially viable.”

From the growth and change that Father Keene goes through, to the little girl he sees (but no one else can), to the woman who is at the crux of his transformation, and all the twists and surprises throughout, Noelle will definitely warm your heart, and it might even move you to tears.  There are elements of cynical comedy, drama and romance in this Christmas tale, so it’s definitely a movie the entire family can enjoy.  Noelle is a story of secrets, love and forgiveness and makes a very special addition to any family’s holiday movie collection.  Even if you’re not a Christian, you’ll definitely still be able to appreciate the beauty of this film and the lessons learned by its characters.

Noelle is rated PG by the MPAA and is available on DVD.  Buy it at Amazon.

Technorati Tags: Noelle, DVD, movie, religious, Christmas movie, Dove Family Approved, holiday movie, spiritual, Christmas

Holidays, TV, DVD & Movie Reviews No comments

November 10, 2008

Kung Fu Panda hit DVD and Blu-ray shelves yesterday!  Now, if you’re looking to get the DVD, you have the option of purchasing the Pandamonium Double Pack (currently $22.99 at Amazon ) which gives you Kung Fu Panda and Secrets of the Furious Five.   The latter is a totally new DVD and is the a world premiere of a brand new story that allows Kung Fu Panda lovers a deeper look into the backgrounds of Po’s kung fu compadres Monkey, Tigress, Mantis, Viper and Crane.

Jack Black’s Po will delight not the kiddos, but you as well.  Kung Fu Panda is family friendly but still funny enough to elicit laughter from serious, Dexter obsessed parents and adults.  Secrets of the Furious Five will teach an important lesson about what it really takes to succeed as a ninja, and that lesson can definitely be applied to those with goals and aspirations of even the non-ninja persuasion.  At times the story and humor is a little less than captivating, especially around the middle, but all in all the Kung Fu Panda DVD with its included bonus features will make for a wonderful family night in when paired with a bucket of freshly popped kettle corn popcorn.

Technorati Tags: Kung Fu Panda, Pandamonium Double Pack, DVD review, Secrets of the Furious Five

TV, DVD & Movie Reviews No comments

November 9, 2008

What’s available on DVD and loved by new and expecting parents, including celebs like Nicole Richie, Camila Aviles, Jessica Alba and Giada De Laurentiis?  It’s the Laugh and Learn DVD series, created by award winning pregnancy and baby expert and Ob/Gyn R.N. Sheri Bayles.  She’s also a Certified Lamaze Instructor and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

Okay so lamaze classes rock and everything, but it’s also true that it’s not always the most convenient thing to fit into you and your significant other’s busy schedules.  Due to the hubby’s not so conventional work hours, which, by the way, are still not what one would call “normal” (sorry, he doesn’t like me to talk about him on here, so can’t tell what he does!), we weren’t able to attend any birth preparation classes while I was pregnant with littleQ.  Setting up private sessions that would work with our availability was just way, way too expensive for my purse.  I did well with what I’d gleaned from birthing books and the superior knowledge of the veteran mommies in my family, but while I was freaking out on my back in the delivery room, it did briefly occur to me that maybe I should have done some sort of childbirth class.  Yeah… if only I had known about Sheri’s video classes back then.

Laugh and Learn About Childbirth is a comprehensive childbirth class on DVD and split into 6 separate 45-minute long lessons that cover everything from the signs of labor, to breathing and comfort techniques, medications, cesarean and vaginal delivery and more.  And no, it’s not just Sheri talking into the camera, it’s Sheri actually teaching fun, relaxed classes to five expectant couples.  With her video classes, you’re able to learn and move forward at your own pace and in your own living room.

[keep reading for giveaway information]

Education, TV, DVD & Movie Reviews 1 Comment

November 6, 2008

Christmas tree?  Check!  Candy canes? Check!  Ogre?  Check!  On November 4, 2008, DreamWorks added some Christmas DVD magic to the Shrek mix, with a sweet and funny family-friendly tale of Shrek’s first Christmas with Fiona and the ogre kidlets.  Of course, Donkey’s antics and Puss’ silly suaveness play a part in this cute Christmas tale as well.

From buying a book entitled Christmas for Village Idiots for help on how to plan the “perfect” Christmas, to getting lit on fire with his own Christmas tree, Shrek the Halls is a heartwarming little tale of a certain ogre learning a lesson about just what Christmas is all about.

Just when Shrek thought he could finally sit back, relax and enjoy his happily ever after with his new family, the most joyous of all holidays arrives.  It’s Christmas Eve, and everyone is filled with holiday cheer, except for Shrek.  He isn’t exactly the picture of yuletide joy, but for the sake of Fiona and the kids, he tries to get into the spirit of things as only an ogre can.  Unfortunately, everyone seems to have their own ideas about what Christmas is all about, so when Donkey, Puss In Boots, Gingy and the whole gang try to join in on the fun, Shrek’s plans for a cozy family celebration end up spiraling into one truly unforgettable Christmas.

~Shrek the Halls synopsis from DreamWorks Animation

Besides the main feature, the Shrek the Halls DVD also includes some fun special features, with a couple of Christmas song sing a longs featuring the crazy penguins of Madagascar, a music video jukebox featuring songs from the Shrek movies and other DreamWorks animated flicks, a gingerbread man matching game with Gingy, and even a PC demo of the Shrek Carnival Craze video game. 

[keep reading for your free Shrek the Halls coloring sheet]

(Read the rest of the entry…)

Holidays, Printables, TV, DVD & Movie Reviews No comments

October 22, 2008

What’s the latest to be leaving the Disney vault?  It’s Tinker Bell, a pixie spectacular which features the famous Tinker Bell of Peter Pan and chronicles her first days as a fairy (after being born of a baby’s laughter and joy, nonetheless), learning, well, to be a fairy.  For the first time ever we are introduced to her internal conflict about what she’s truly meant to do (hell, who doesn’t go through that?).  I was given a review copy of the BluRay, and I have to say the movie is great!  Although…I must admit I’m biased towards Disney movies.  I think it’s near impossible to match Disney’s ability to constantly put out family classics.  (P.S. – Keep reading for more info on how you can score your very own Tinker Bell DVD and a set of fairy wings for your little pixie from MamaDivas.com)

Available in both BluRay and DVD on October 28, 2008, Tinker Bell is full of high def animated goodness as you follow Ms. Bell on her quest to find her true worth as a Tinker Fairy in Pixie Hollow.  Unlike in Peter Pan during which Tink is silent save for that pixie bell sound we’re so familiar with, Tinker Bell is fully vocal in this full length feature.  Plus, there’s no misplaced pixie jealousy!  We’re introduced to a totally good hearted but somewhat gullible Tinker Bell who’s just not convinced that she’s destined to be a Tinker Fairy, which is a fairy engineer of sorts, working in the fairy background putting seeds and nuts together and not out in the sun frolicking with dancing tulip bulbs or creating breezes through the leaves (which she’s obviously convinced herself is not only more important but more glamorous).

Tinker Bell tries with all her might to mold herself in to what she thinks she should be, but with help from her fairy friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Iridessa and Faun, and thanks to a lesson learned from her frenemy Vidia, she learns the very important lesson that all she needs to do is be true to herself and that’s how she’ll realize how special and important her own gifts and talents are.  In the end, our petal sized heroine saves Springtime with the help of all the other fairies of Pixie Hollow.

I’m a sucker for that classic romance you find in Cinderella or Doris Day’s Pillow Talk, and although Tinker Bell contains no romantic elements, I still enjoyed it.  I think it lacked a bit of the suspense I was hoping to see, but it was still good.  Besides, Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is coming out soon and that promises to be filled with adventure.  It’s a great movie to share with your family because it teaches two somewhat familiar but nonetheless valuable and super important lessons: Be true to yourself and the importance of working together.

Here are my favorite parts of the movie and what I think are the best features of the BluRay (and DVD):

• The introduction when we see Tinker Bell come alive and the fairy job assignment process- it’s magical!
• Did you know that Disney BluRay’s have this kick butt movie chat and movie mail feature?  Seriously!  Through the BD interactive features you can pretty much sync a movie party with friends and relatives across the country and send messages with clips of your fave scenes of Tinker Bell to your friends.
• Tink tries so hard to coax a baby bird to fly, but instead she gets it so irritated and frightened with her gung ho attitude, that it quickly rearranges its broken shell around itself to hide from her.
• Tinker Bell’s epiphany at the pixie dust pool during her conversation with the “pixie dustkeeper guy” Terrence – It’s the turning point where she realizes exactly how wrong she is to ignore her own natural talents.

*There are also a bunch of extra features like deleted scenes, exclusive previews, a game where you can test your Tinker fairy skills, and a music video of Fly to your Heart by the Wizards of Waverly Place’s Selena Gomez.

Now how would you like to win your very own copy of the Tinker Bell DVD and a pair of super cute fairy wings?

(Read the rest of the entry…)

Giveaways, Previews, TV, DVD & Movie Reviews 8 Comments