Disney•Pixar’s “Incredibles 2”

It’s not a stretch to say audiences have missed their favorite family of Supers over the past 14 years. Disney•Pixar’s “Incredibles 2,” the sequel to 2004’s beloved Oscar®-winning “The Incredibles,” received a mega-strong reaction from critics and audiences — earning a 93 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, rocketing atop the list of highest-grossing animated films, and surpassing $1 billion at the global box office. Fans can reunite with this incredible family of Supers instantly on Digital in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and on Movies Anywhere on Oct. 23, and on Blu-ray 4K Ultra HD,™ Blu-ray,™ DVD and On-Demand on Nov. 6.

Family members of all ages will be hypnotized by hours of delightful entertainment, with never-before-seen “Incredibles 2” bonus material highlighting the beloved characters in the film and the  filmmakers who bring them to life. When audiences instantly bring home the film two weeks early on Digital, they will receive additional exclusive featurettes, including two SuperScene Breakdowns and Samuel L. Jackson discussing his character Frozone a.k.a. “The Coolest Guy in Show Business.” Overall bonus includes an all-new mini-movie “Auntie Edna,” which gives  a glimpse of fashion visionary Edna Mode’s all-night endeavor to design a suit to best harness baby Jack-Jack’s expanding super powers. Also included are an inside look at the impressive production team at Pixar Animation Studios; documentaries highlighting the film’s relatable characters and stand-out scenes; 10 never-before-revealed scenes; filmmaker commentary; the touching theatrical short “Bao” and a corresponding featurette about how the dumplings sprung to life; and much, much more.  

“Incredibles 2” is packaged and released in several different ways, offering families the flexibility to watch the movie instantly and on a variety of devices of their choosing, including Digital 4K Ultra HD, HD and SD and physically as a 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital Copy), a Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy) and a single DVD.  Additionally, the Digital HD/SD, Blu-ray and DVD versions of the film have been modified in an effort to accommodate photosensitive viewers, however individual sensitivities may vary.

In “Incredibles 2,” Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers back, while Bob (voice of Craig T. Nelson) navigates the day-to-day heroics of “normal” life at home with Violet (voice of Sarah Vowell), Dash (voice of Huck Milner) and baby Jack-Jack—whose super powers are about to be discovered. Their mission is derailed, however, when a new villain emerges with a brilliant and dangerous plot that threatens everything. But the Parrs don’t shy away from a challenge, especially with Frozone (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) by their side. That’s what makes this family so Incredible.

My Thoughts

In Incredibles 2, the heroes, who have been in hiding for years, are hoping to make a comeback. Helen is chosen as the hero to lead the way, and Bob is left home to manage the family affairs. Things get out of hand for both of them as the baby begins to develop his powers and Helen goes after a villain using the internet to control the minds of the people. A whole new cast of young heroes joins the team, and a few rich humans are fronting the project. But someone among them is not who they seem. Before she knows it, Helen finds herself in deep trouble, and only Bob and the kids can save the day.

This is a film my whole family was excited about. My older kids are 16 and 18, and they remember when the original came out. They introduced their younger siblings to it, and we all enjoyed watching it together. It was great seeing the family pick up where they left off. We loved the new additions to the super hero team, and seeing the baby develop his powers and fight with the raccoon. The short in the beginning was interesting as well, though I admit to being a little weirded out by the ending.  I hope they will consider adding a third movie to the franchise, because the Incredibles are a great cast of characters we just can't get enough of.

You can grab a copy of the Incredibles 2 in stores nationwide or online at Amazon for only $22.99.

King Solomon's Mines - The Complete Mini Series Event

An adventurous quest for hidden treasure, based on H. Rider Haggard's timeless tale.

The greatest treasure known to man. The greatest adventure of all time. 

No one knew if the fabled tomb existed. Those who have searched for it never returned. It’s been said that whoever finds it will become the richest soul on the face of the earth—some say, the most cursed. Now, one brave man, renowned safari hunter Allan Quatermain (Golden Globe nominee Patrick Swayze, Ghost) has been hired to find out what is true, what is myth, and what is really buried in the darkness of King Solomon’s Mines.

My Thoughts

If you love a good adventure flick, this one a must-watch. Allan is a safari hunter who wants to  leave Africa because of the mercenaries that are running wild. To make ends meat, he takes on a job with a beautiful woman named Elizabeth. Her father has been kidnapped and she needs help getting him back. Allan finds himself back in the heart of Africa, searching for Solomon's Mine. This mythical mine is said to be filled with treasure, but also cursed. Allan and Elizabeth are plunged into danger and adventure. They face angry natives and lots of death traps as they search for Elizabeth's father and the treasure. 

As if all that is isn't enough, the film stars Patrick Swayze, one of my all time biggest heart throbs. He was amazing in his role and really brought the film life. This was a movie that really needed to be told in a mini series. You wouldn't get the full effect with only a regular feature film. This is a thrilling flick that I could watch over and over again and never get tired of it.

Norm of the North on Blu-ray!

This winter’s coolest family comedy, Norm of the North, slides onto Digital HD March 29 and Blu-ray Combo Pack (plus DVD and Digital HD) and DVD (plus Digital) April 19 from Lionsgate. Telling the ultimate tale of a loveable underdog who proves anything is possible with determination and a posse of loyal lemmings, Norm of the North features the voices of Rob Schneider (Grown Ups), Heather Graham (The Hangover franchise), Ken Jeong (The Hangover franchise), Colm Meaney (Con Air), Loretta Devine (TV’s “Grey’s Anatomy”), Gabriel Iglesias (Magic Mike), Michael McElhatton (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) and Bill Nighy (Love Actually).

Life can be a real bear—just ask Norm, a polar bear with unusual talents and a heart as big as the great outdoors. When he hears that human homes are going to be built in his Arctic backyard, Norm comes to the rescue. With a team of ragtag lemmings at his side, Norm heads to the concrete jungle of New York City on a freewheeling, fun-filled mission to stop the madness and save the Arctic.

Experience even more exhilarating adventure with special features including deleted scenes, outtakes, “The Arctic Shake” sing-along and a trivia challenge for the whole family to enjoy! The Norm of the North Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $34.99 and $29.95, respectively.

           

For artwork, please visit www.lionsgatepublicity.com/home-entertainment/normofthenorth/

Trailer: https://youtu.be/uqBtDMQNnh4

Website: www.NormoftheNorth.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/NormoftheNorthMovie

My Thoughts

Norm of the North is an adorable movie that centers around a lovable polar bear named Norm. He loves his habitat and when it's threatened by land developers, he takes a gang of of friends on an insane trip to New York to try to save their home. Along the way, they have lots of adventures and get into more than one scrape.

Though some of the animation, especially the humans, could've been better, this is still one of the cutest movies I've seen in a long time. My son is especially fond of bears, so he really loved it. The animals are endearing characters and there is humor that both kids and adults can appreciate. And not only is it a fun film, it also has a strong message about the enviroment and working to preserve animal habitats.  It's the perfect choice for family movie night.

Movie Review: Nina Forever

There are some movies that come along and leave you wondering what on earth you just watched. This was one of those movies. I'll warn people upfront: this is not a movie for everyone. It's a bit dark. There's some nudity and explicit scenes in here. (Side note: Never watch a review movie in public at a coffee shop without being 100% sure about the content. LOL. I had to make sure my screen was not visible at all when I got to a certain scene.)

None of this is to say it was a bad movie. On the contrary, I thought it was an interesting concept. Basically, the male protagonist's (Rob) girlfriend dies in a car accident and he went through a period of being suicidal. Eventually, he and another character (Holly) become attracted to each other and begin a relationship and his dead ex takes exception to it and actually appears in his room at very, shall we say, inconvenient times. Rob and Holly then have to figure out a way to make things work. 

The actors are great, owning the quirky humor as well as the serious moments. I really, really love the dark humor in here. Especially the scene with Holly in CPR class. It seriously made me crack up, and I had to struggle to keep quiet since I was out in public. There's also some great scenes between the three leads that I really enjoyed. 

If you're into quirky, dark material and don't have a problem with adult content, give this one a try. An interesting note for any Whovians out there: Nina's father is played by David Troughton, son of the second doctor, Patrick Troughton. 

  

Movie Review: "Guidance"

As a child of the '80s who grew up on classic Nickelodeon, I couldn't resist reviewing this dark comedy made by a former member of the cast. 

Pat Mills wrote/directed/starred in this film that tells the story of a former child star on the edge. Sick, broke, and facing other issues, David Gold decides to assume a new identity and applies for a job as a high school guidance counselor. The premise seems far-fetched, especially these days, but it still made for an extremely entertaining and, at times, touching story. 

Mills showed he learned a lot from his days on Nick, with plenty of twisted moments. One of the funniest for me came when David arrives for an interview and finds himself in a cussing match with another student while the lady at the desk goes to tell the principal he's arrived. The student tries to rat him out, but is of course, not believed. David slips back around the corner to point out that he told him F*** you, not F*** off. The look on the student's face was priceless. 

Throughout the movie he uses a lot of obviously wrong methods to try and get through to the kids, but they work. He relates to the kids on a level the other adults do not, which makes one think this character could've had a future there.

Watching this character's journey through his madness and seeing how it ends makes for a satisfying watch. I'm looking forward to seeing what else comes from this talented filmmaker. 

This movie is an Official Selection of the Toronto International Film Festival, Miami International Film Festival, Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Seattle International Film Festival, Frameline Film Festival, Outfest Los Angeles LGBT Film Festival. 

Movie Review: The Odd Way Home

I chose to review this movie partially because of the premise, and partially because I loved co-lead Christopher Marqeutte from his days on Joan of Arcadia and Strong Medicine. The film tells the story of an abused young woman (Rumor Willis) and an autistic young man who is now alone in the world after losing his grandmother.

Willis' Maya takes Marquette's Duncan on a journey to find his father. Along the way, Duncan occasionally frustrates Maya with his obsession with routine and pattern, although she is also impressed with his ability to draw maps. The two form a friendship that teaches both of them lessons, hopefully leading them both to better lives. 

I loved the simplicity of the film. It was more of a character piece instead of relying on a big, intricate plot. You learn a bit about autism without being beat over the head with some big point. At the same time, you also get to see Maya struggle to pull herself out of an abusive childhood that led her to an abusive relationship. 

The acting was great, and I was particular surprised with Willis. I'd never really seen anything she'd been in, so I wasn't sure what to expect. She surpassed expectations and I was surprised to learn she's a great singer as well in a scene where her character ends up on stage. Marquette was compelling as well, able to go from big dramatic outbursts to calm, matter-of-fact moments easily. 

While a couple of moments (particularly those involving the parents) might seem a bit cliche, they still had a ring of truth to them that I'm sure anyone who has been in those situations will relate to. I'd definitely recommend this one to people who like simple films that focus on getting inside a character's head.