Category: Movies

August 7, 2018

The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island DVD Giveaway

Just in time to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the book series, The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island are headed to Blu-ray and DVD on August 7^th with the release of the new animated feature film.

About The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island

The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island, is the highly anticipated movie adaption of the popular children’s book of the same name. The DVD stars Golden Globe®-winning actor Martin Sheen (The West Wing) as James Alden, Oscar®-winner J.K. Simmons (Whiplash) as Dr. Moore, Dane DeHaan (Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets) as the mysterious Joe, Joey King (Independence Day: Resurgence) as Jesse Alden, Carter Sand (Frozen) as Benny Alden, Gil Birmingham (Twilight) as Lonan Browning, Griffin Gluck (Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life) as Henry Alden, Stephen Stanton (Star Wars Rebels) as Capt. Daniel and Talitha Bateman (Love, Simon) as Violet. Now that is a list!

The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island follows the adventures of the orphaned Boxcar Children as they spend an entire summer living on their Grandfather’s small, nearly uninhabited island. There they meet Joe, who is friendly and helpful, and inexplicably living on their island. Does their new friend have a secret?

The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island is fun for the whole family. It is directed by Dan Chuba and Mark Dippé, and is produced by Legacy Classics and co-produced by Shout! Factory, Albert Whitman & Company and Blueberry Pictures. The DVD is the first of three new animated features to be adapted from the “The Boxcar Children” book series, as part of a partnership between Shout! Kids and Legacy Classics.

“The Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner is one of the best-selling children’s book series of all time. Having just marked its 75^th anniversary, over seventy million books have sold world-wide. There are one hundred and fifty books in the series, and over one million kids read the books in schools across North America every year.

Our Thoughts

Having never read the books (I know – crazy right!), I was not sure what to expect from this movie but we fell in love with the Alden family and their focus on family and adventure.

The movie starts off with school ending and the children excited for a special adventure with their Grandpa. Their Grandpa has decided to take them to Alden Island for the summer! What an amazing surprise for any child – we all looked at each other and said we wished we had our own island too! Can you imagine all of the fun you could get up to? And these kids sure did that! The children spend their time in the farm-house (one of my favourite places to visit as a kid), fishing, eating food fresh from their garden and exploring every little spot on the island.

The bond of family is clearly seen throughout the movie, the children help each other and are there to care for each other. We also sense there is a secret hiding in the background but can’t quite put our finger on it. We do find out near the end of the movie but it is how the family pulls together which is beautiful and heart warming.

This is an excellent family movie that all members of the family will love, regardless if you have read the books or not.

Make Violet’s Ice cream!

The Giveaway!

Enter to win one of two DVD copies of this exciting film set to be released on August 7th via the Rafflecopter form below – GOOD LUCK!

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Disclosure: I received a DVD copy of this film in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

July 19, 2018

Dream Big: Engineering Our World DVD Review and Giveaway

Get ready to dream big and explore the world, when this new two DVD set hits the stores on July 24th, 2018.

About Dream Big: Engineering Our World

The education-focused 2-DVD edition of Dream Big: Engineering Our World will offer the complete movie along with a 150-page educator’s guide (12 lesson plans, including handouts), 10 educational shorts, 8 behind-the-scenes featurettes and 8 more short “Fun Fact” videos. This set brings the wonder of engineering to life for students everywhere

Narrated by Academy Award^® winner* Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), Dream Big: Engineering Our World is a spectacular look at man-made marvels that will forever transform the way you think about engineering. It celebrates the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels big and small and shows how engineers push the limits of innovation in unexpected and amazing ways. It is more than a movie — it’s part of a movement aimed at bringing engineering into the forefront of our culture. Dream Big is the first giant-screen film to answer the call of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) initiative, which aims to inspire kids of diverse backgrounds to become the innovators who will improve the lives of people across our entire planet as we head into the twenty-first century and beyond. That’s why the film will be accompanied by ongoing educational, museum and community efforts to expose young people from all backgrounds to what engineering is … and what it can conjure in the world.

Originally filmed for and seen in IMAX® and Giant Screen theaters, this stunning film will now be available in living rooms across the country on July 24th, 2018.

Our Thoughts

The world around us is amazing and full of surprises – even if we don’t realize it engineering plays a great role in our world. This video is aimed at children and young adults to recognize and inspire them to embrace the exciting world of STEM. This movie encourages youth to touch, learn and discover for themselves the wonders of innovation. We learn about what inspired engineers to start down their career path and some of us can probably see ourselves in them (a need and desire to help others and to solve problems). This was an exciting educational experience from start to finish that all members of our family enjoyed.

You can purchase this DVD on Shout Factory.

Trailer

The Giveaway

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 16, 2018

Maya the Bee 2: The Honey Games DVD Giveaway

On May 1st, Maya, the little bee with a big heart, is back for another adventure.

About Maya the Bee 2: The Honey Games

Maya The Bee 2: The Honey Games is based on the well-known children’s novel and popular animated series in Europe, Australia and Asia and offers an immersive cinematic adventure into a spectacular macroscopic world. A must-have for fans of all ages, the film is an instant classic that delivers wholesome family entertainment— emphasizing the importance of friendship, responsibility and courage.

After a slow harvest season, the very survival of the hive is threatened. Maya, and her sidekick, Willy, go to Buzztropolis, where the Empress invites them to participate in the Honey Games. But if they lose, the hive will have to give the Empress all of their summer honey! Needless to say, Maya and Willy’s teammates are neither enthusiastic nor athletic, but Maya remains positive and exclaims that “every bug has a talent!”.

Can Maya and Team Poppy win and secure her hive’s future? Only if Maya is able to gain new friends and learn about teamwork, accountability, and overcoming preconceived notion.

One of the best-known and beloved children’s brands of all-time, the stories of Maya The Bee have been passed down among generations of families for years. Originally a German children’s novel by Waldemar Bonsels, The Adventures of Maya the Bee was published over a hundred years ago in 1912. Since the original publishing, the book has been translated into many other languages and enjoyed by children all over the world. In addition to the book, Maya The Bee is also a comic book series, appeared in various iterations as animated series and now as major animated feature films.

Our Thoughts

Maya has to be the cutest little bee ever! This animated character has a very special message for children about teamwork, friendship and working together. She shares this message in her adventures and through her actions.

This DVD is all about teamwork and having the courage to go outside our comfort zone. Maya who isn’t as athletic as others has to compete in the Honey Games in order to save her hive. While this is daunting for her and her friends, Maya encourages them to do their best. Every person (or bee) has a special skill that makes them unique.

This is a fantastic family movie that makes for a fun family movie night. It is geared for younger children.

You can purchase an early copy of this DVD on Amazon.

Movie Trailer

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD, all opinions expressed are my own.

March 8, 2018

When Calls the Heart Review and Giveaway

The love story blooming in Hope Valley continues with the television special, When Calls the Heart, available on DVD from Shout! Factory on March 20th, 2018.

About When Calls the Heart

From celebrated author Janette Oke (The Love Comes Softly series) comes a rigorous and romantic adventure as epic as the wide frontier. Erin Krakow (Army Wives), Daniel Lissing (Eye Candy), Jack Wagner (Melrose Place) and Lori Loughlin (Full House, 90210) star in When Calls The Heart, a beautiful story filled with “many of the values we all hold precious such as love, family, friendship, community, faith and caring about one another” (Military Press).

The citizens of Hope Valley find the true meaning of the holiday season with a Wishing Tree that helps everyone’s dreams come true. As Abigail, Bill, and the rest of Hope Valley work together to create a special Christmas parade to warm the town’s collective hearts and bring everyone closer together, Elizabeth longs only for the return of her beloved Jack.

Executive produced by Michael Landon Jr., When Calls the Heart currently airs on The Hallmark Channel.

Our Thoughts

This was a wonderful, wholesome movie that I couldn’t help but fall in love with (not to mention our youngest – who was so excited to see “Aunt Becky” in this film). After watching it, I had to find out a little bit more about the history of Hope Valley and Elizabeth. The television series was based on the books by Janette Oke’s Canadian West series. In the television series, the wealthy Elizabeth heads off to the Canadian Frontier to teach children in a small mining town in Alberta. She must learn the ways of small country living in order to fit in and survive.

This movie was Christmas themed based on the themes of hope, love and faith. The town sets up a Wishing Tree where everyone can hang up an ornament with their Christmas wish. Residents were then encouraged to take one back in turn to help someones wish come true. Also going on is the return of a past resident who is doing penance for his crimes, Elizabeth’s wish for Jack to return and stay with her and the possible loss of a pregnancy in one of the town members.

There were a lot of great themes in this heart warming story. We learn a lot about hope, faith and love. We are reminded to believe in others and always see the good in their hearts, sometimes we have to move past their past actions in order to see the good but it will definitely be worth it. We are faced with faith that we will make it through every possibly negative experience okay and that each experience is meant to teach and guide us. This is a movie that all members of the family can enjoy all year round, even with the Christmas theme.

You can purchase a copy of When Calls the Heart on Shout! Factory.

The Giveaway!

My Canadian and American readers can now enter to win an advance copy of When Calls the Heart DVD! Enter via the Rafflecopter form below – good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

February 26, 2018

My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship DVD Giveaway

Everyone’s favourite characters our back! My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship leaps onto DVD February 13th in all new episodes!

About My Little Pony: Spring Into Friendship

Big trouble is on the horizon when Twilight Sparkle is given only two coveted tickets to the most anticipated event in town. But how will she decide which of her best friends gets to go with her? She faces quite the challenge.

Discover the answer, and see four more amazing pony tales, as Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy help usher Springtime into Equestria!

Episodes Included:

The Ticket Master
Sisterhooves Social
Just for Sidekicks
Princess Twilight Sparkle Part One
Princess Twilight Sparkle Part Two
Bonus: Sing a long!

This beautiful DVD has been released just in time to make a perfect addition to Easter baskets with its spring themes if you are thinking of Easter basket ideas. The DVD has a run time of 110 minutes and enough episodes to keep your little one engaged and craving more. Can’t wait for Easter? Why not set up a My Little Pony viewing party with colourful snacks, decorations and their favourite characters and get set for a night of fun and entertainment.

You can purchase a copy of this DVD on Amazon and Shout Kids.

My American and Canadian readers can now enter to win their own copy! Enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a copy of this DVD. All opinions expressed are my own.