Rox and Roll

A Time-Out for Twins

This is a sponsored post.  Details appear at the end of it.

My second and final child, Dash, turned seven years old this past weekend.  While I have a whole post forthcoming about that momentous event, it also reminded me of the moment I learned that I carried only a singleton and not twins, a surprise both times.  On my father's side, twins appeared with regularity, and my grandfather was a twin; on my mother's side, my great-grandmother was a twin.  For generations on both sides, eager relatives have been waiting for twins to reappear -- to no avail.  I have to admit that I'm a wee bit bummed that they didn't appear for me, for I've always envied twins; no playdates are necessary, for a friend is always available... right?  (According to some twin-mom friends, yes; according to others, no.)   I'm intrigued on a numer of levels, not the least of which is how twin relationships are portrayed in the media.  Twins seem to be fodder for some funny, funny stuff. 

For example, in Adam Sandler's recent comedy Jack and Jill, his annual "playdate" with his twin sister comes in the form of an annual visit as they're both adults.  The juxtaposition of a pretty laid-back brother with a sister who can be described as passive-agressive at best sets a pretty tense scene, interrupted periodically by high-profile cameos (hello, Johnny Depp!).  The release of this movie on DVD inspired me to think about twin movies that I've enjoyed in the past -- and for someone of my generation, The Parent Trap stands out first and foremost.

Whether your favorite, like mine, is the original Parent Trap from 1961 starring Hayley Mills, or the redone LiLo verson (1998), the movie is so engaging because of the twins at its heart.  Divorced parents each take a twin and raise her.  The pair ends up at the same summer camp, at total odds with each other until they are forced to spend time together -- at which point they figure out their twinship.  The movie is spent plotting how to reconcile their divorced parents, neither of whom ever remarried.  The girls ultimately bring the parents back together by returning home in the other's place, one to California and one to Boston, necessitating a switch-back.  For the rest of the story, you'll just have to watch it... What I enjoy most about this movie is the plotting of the kids because of their strong desire to be together; but as a mom, now, it takes a lot to get past the "how on earth could parents separate twins?" sentiment.

 

Then, too, Twins, from 1988, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, is another twin-touchstone film of my youth.  Schwarzenegger plays Julius, a child created from a lab experiment to be genetically perfect (athletic, smart, etc.) while DeVito plays Vincent, a good-for-nothing "accident" of a twin, considered to be genetic trash.  The experiment is considered a failure because of Vincent's birth alongside Julius's.  The whole premise is hilarious because of the obvious difference in size, stature and -- well -- everything between DeVito and Schwarzenegger, neither of whom knew they had a twin at the start of the movie.  It's part comedy, part action-movie, part social commentary, and all-around fun.  And the best part is the very end of the movie (spoiler alert!), where the brothers work alongside each other, happily raising their own families -- including, of course, twins for each.  What I enjoy most about this movie is simply watching two funny actors at their craft -- not Oscar-worthy, but certainly a laugh riot.

Do you have a favorite twin-themed movie?  I'd love to add to my list through your comments below!  And if you're interested, click here for an Amazon link if you're interested in adding it to your twin movie library.  Enjoy the show!

Sponsored by "Jack and Jill",  Now on Blu-ray™, Combo Pack & DVD

*Note: The thoughts and opinions in this post are my own. 

Holiday Gift Guide, Part Two: Gifts of In-Home Entertainment, Part B: Movies, including a giveaway!

Pssst: At the end of this post, you can find a link to Good Stuff Rox, where I'm giving away three copies of a new Christmas movie!  See details below.

Movies are one of my favorite gifts to give and to receive, especially if they're good and can be watched over and over and over again.  I've been fortunate to review a host of movies this year for various companies, and that's always a fun task.  Oftentimes, on Friday nights, I pop a big bowl of popcorn, and the whole family snuggles up on the couch to watch (and to review) a movie.  It's a nice way to end a week of running around.  Below is my list of picks for this year's holidays.  When I've reviewed a movie or it's been suggested for inclusion in the guide, I've noted a disclaimer; I've also added in some of my all-time favorites.

Before I give you this year's gift picks, though, I offer the general suggestion of pairing your movie thoughtfully with a movie-inspired gift.  For example, if you're gifting Slumdog Millionaire (one of my favorites, mentioned below), think about pairing it with chai and chai cups, and Indian cookbook, or takeout.  Remember Lucy's chocolate factory scene?  How about pairing the Lucy series with a big box of chocolates?  The movie "Date Night" (also referenced below) is an awesome gift paired with a date-night kit: Baker's chocolate fondue (in the supermarket baking aisle - ready to go, just microwave!), candles, wine... Think about the movie you're gifting and what might go well with it to create a special gift of in-home entertainment this year.

Without further ado, here are my suggested movie gifts this year:

Adult films and TV series:

• Date Night: Over the summer, I reviewed this movie for Fox, and, though far-fetched, it's pretty darned funny -- how could it not be with Tina Fey and Steve Carell?!  It's the story of some "old marrieds" trying to break the mold and how far afield their attempt at "something different" went.  This is the perfect movie to give to some "old marrieds" along with a "rekindling" gift basket.

• Slumdog Millionaire: It's a movie from 2008, but it's on racks at the "big box" stores for around $5 this year and is one of my favorite films.  I picked up a copy to watch again and to lend to friends who haven't seen it.  About a kid from the slums who competes on India's version of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and the life that surrounds him, its a story of hope, and love, and loss that sticks with you for a long, long time. 

• Modern Family: The Guv and I are having a blast reviewing the Modern Family TV series, which I recently gave away on this blog.  It's a fantastic comedy show about a family that puts the "fun" in "dysfunctional."  I don't think it's a show for kids (maybe teens and up), but it's great to curl up on the couch and watch with your spouse.  Season One is out on DVD, and Season Two is airing now on ABC.

Family films and TV series:

• Avatar: I reviewed this movie for Fox early in the summer, and it's one of my all-time favorites; it's a prolific commentary on the environment and on how we treat those different from us.  It is not appropriate for very young children but is probably fine for about 4th grade and up.  Petunia cites it as her favorite movie, as it would be for any extremely empathetic, environmentally-engaged person. The extended collector's edition just came out last month on DVD and Blu-ray.

• Marmaduke: Our family reviewed Marmaduke for Fox this fall, and it's another of Petunia's favorite movies -- so much so that she chose to air it at her 10th birthday sleepover.  It's a great tale of how dogs (and people) can struggle but still overcome obstacles to end up in a happy place.  It's appropriate for all ages.  Other favorite dog movies: The Beethoven Pooch Pack, The Adventures of Milo & Otis, and Santa Buddies (and so many more...).

• The Garfield Show: Odie-Oh!*: Petunia's my dog lover, and Dash is my cat lover; sadly for him, cat allergies run in my extended family, so, while we have a dog, Dash's cats have to be on DVD or in books or stuffed animal form!  We received a copy of The Garfield Show for review, and he didn't watch anything else for weeks -- just watched it over and over again, laughing non-stop at Garfield's, Odie's, and John Arbuckle's antics.  This show is currently airing on the Cartoon Network, and, surely, it'll never get old.  It started as a cartoon strip in 1978 and just keeps getting better in its new incarnations!  This is appropriate for all ages, especially for families where the parents grew up with Garfield, like I did.  Other favorite cat movies: The Adventures of Milo & Otis and The Cat in the Hat TV series.

• The Sound of Music 45th Anniversary Edition*: I've owned the original 1965 Sound of Music movie for years, so I was excited to review the updated anniversary edition for Fox to see how it might be made better -- and all I can say is "wow."  The way both picture and music have been updated (sounding fantastic through my surround-sound) is incredible!  There are sing-along and interactivity options that enhance the viewing experience -- fun for the whole family, especially for those of us who grew up with the movie and know all of the words to all of the songs to teach our kids!  In addition to the DVD, there is a whole collection available (I found it online at Costco) that includes a music box, a scrapbook, souvenir program, and more -- a great gift for the Julie Andrews fan in your life!

• Harriet the Spy: The Blog Wars*: Petunia reviewed this movie for me, and I'll be watching it with her over the holiday break.  She says that I'll love it because it's about two kinds of competition: a mean-girls' style popularity contest and a blogging contest.  She really enjoyed it, and, now, she wants to launch her own blog.  I like that it connected her with one of my favorite childhood characters, Harriet the Spy, and like that the movie updated Harriet for the modern age.  This is a great gift for a girl in 4th grade through middle school.

• The Andy Griffith Show 50th Anniversary: Best of Mayberry Collection*: (Not yet released: Coming 12/21)  One of my favorite songs these days is "Mayberry" by Rascal Flatts, hearkening back to the times when we all knew how to slow down, knew our neighbors and appreciated small-town life.  I'm now in a more urban setting, far from my roots in the West Virginian countryside -- and now, more than ever, I want to watch shows like Andy Griffith, especially with my kids, so that they can get a taste of what life in fictitious (but real to me) Mayberry might've been like.  Plus, this show is funny!  I think this is a great gift both for grandparents who watched the show way-back-when and also for any family who seeks an alternative to modern shows like iCarly ... about as far removed from Mayberry as one can get.

• Toy Story 3: Frankly, it feels silly to recommend this movie; everyone knows of the success of the Toy Story franchise.  This movie, like the first two, is simply great.  My kids have watched the first two about a hundred times a piece -- and even Petunia, who's 10, isn't tired of it.  If you haven't gone down the Toy Story path yet, pick up the trio and some of the classic toys from the movie (Potato Head, slinky dog, and more!). 

Holiday-themed films and TV shows:

• The Original Television Christmas Classics: From 1969, this DVD set includes Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town, Frosty the Snowman, Frosty Returns, and the Little Drummer Boy.  I bought it a few years ago for my kids, and we all watch it over and over as the holidays approach.  Since I don't let them sit around and flip through channels, there's little chance of us catching these when they air on TV, so it's nice to have them handy.

• Christmas Treats*: This DVD included eight holiday-themed TV episodes from Happy Days, Cheers, the Lucy Show, the Beverley Hillbillies, and more.  I think it'd be great fun to have on hand for family viewing, especially as many of us will remember the episodes from different times in our lives.  This would make a great gift for grandparents!

• Christmas in Canaan*: This Hallmark Channel original movie, starring Billy Ray Cyrus, starts in 1964, where a conflict in Texas between two boys of different races launches a beautiful tale of how to find happiness and peace in life no matter what cards you're dealt.  We received a copy of this movie to review, and, though I was skeptical at first, our whole family (even the Guv!) agreed that this movie is a very special one, a reminder of "the reason for the season," so to speak.  We've watched it a couple of times since and enjoy it quite a bit.  For this reason, I'm sharing it with you! 

GIVEAWAY:

Viviendi Entertainment and RHI Entertainment have provided me with three copies of Christmas in Canaan to give away to my readers.  To enter, please leave a comment on my product review and giveaway site, Good Stuff Rox.  You'll get a bonus entry for sharing your favorite holiday movie, and another entry if you tweet this contest using the hashtag #goodstuffrox.  The deadline to enter is next Tuesday, December 7 at midnight PST; winners will be drawn and notified by noon the following day and must respond by end of day on Thursday, December 9 to claim their movies, else other winners will be chosen.  Good luck!  And remember: comments are welcome here, but the only eligible entries into the giveaway must be made on Good Stuff Rox! 

* All movies marked with an asterik (*) were suggested by companies for inclusion in my gift guide.  While I accepted the suggestion, I've only received review copies where noted; and I've included them of my own free will because I do believe they'd make good gifts.  I have not been compensated otherwise for their inclusion in my list.  Most of my reviews come about through my relationship with Bender/Helper Impact.  I'm grateful to them for the opportunities they send my way!

P.S. As always, I promote Blog With Integrity.

Next up: Holiday Gift Guide, Part Two: Gifts of In-Home Entertainment, Part C: Games.

Cross-posted on Good Stuff Rox

Glee! And ... not so much!

Where in the world is Rox this week?  Rox is in her minivan: goalie training 2x/week, practice 2x/week, games 2x/weekend.  Girl Scouts just about every week.  Newspaper on Fridays, followed by community service.  Guitar lessons.  And that's just the kids' stuff.  Then there's library duty x2, "centers," taking the dog in for Petunia's "VIP" presentation, taking Dash to the nutrition clinic, church, farmers' market ... cooking, cleaning, laundry, and more laundry.  This does not feel like the life of a Rox star.  This feels like the life of Cinderella pre-ball.  Rox is never home.  And Rox is tired.  But... it's like 80-and-sunny here in Silicon Valley every afternoon, and one of my flower bushes just decided to have a fall bloom, so Rox'll just stop complaining right now and get on with things.

Somewhere in between soccer and sleep, I had little fun on my other two sites, and I'll give you an I.O.U. for some heartwarming kids' stories in the near future, like Dash's letter to John Williams and Petunia's girl drama.  Wait, that's not heartwarming, that's claw-sharpening.

Anyhoo, here's what's up with me elsewhere:

On Good Stuff Rox, I have a Glee: Season One giveaway going.  I'm giving away Modern Family next, so stay tuned if that's your cup of tea.

On Rox on a Soapbox, I wrote a silly little ditty called "'Twas the Night before Election."  I'll be following that up soon with a piece on why Democrats need to abandon the teachers' unions.  Trust me, it'll be more gripping than a murder mystery, 'cause I just watched "Waiting for Superman," and I'm on a warpath.

And I'm reading one the best books I've ever read for my next book club, "The Good Daughters" by Joyce Maynard while I'm waiting in my minivan.

So y'all go and have some fun on my other sites, and I'm going to sleep, for tomorrow's another day of driving myself crazy kids around. 

GIVEAWAY! Date Night on DVD

My husband ("The Guv") and I recently made an in-home date night out of screening "Date Night."  Right away, the movie struck a familiar chord: the couple, Phil and Claire Foster (played by Steve Carell and Tina Fey), scheduled a regular "date night" with a sitter and find themselves doing the same thing time and time again, eating the same dishes at the same restaurant, blah blah blah boring.  Awakened by some friends' marital difficulties, the Fosters decide to make a better go at it and set off on the craziest "date night" you've ever seen.  The Guv and I chuckled right away, because we can relate: at least 50% of the time we schedule a night out, instead of trying a new venue on our very long list, we retreat to the familiar -- not a bad thing at all, as we're still enjoying each other's company outside of our traditional in-home roles, but far less exciting than trying something new.  The Fosters may have scared us off from venturing outside the norm ever, though...

The knock on the movie is just how far-fetched this date gone awry is, but in the midst of the madness are things with which any "old marrieds" can identify: relying on each other's resourcefulness while at the same time realizing how little you know about what your spouse can do once you step outside "the usual."  In the movie, there's love in the familiar -- and love in the unfamiliar.  Which is better: same-old, same-old, or breaking the mold?  Watch the movie to see how the hysterically funny Carell/Fey team come out on the other side.

In the spirit of the movie, I have to share the Guv's and my "date night" gone awry tale: Back in New Jersey, with two young kids at home, the Guv and I hired a sitter and decided to enjoy an Italian dinner at a familiar place in our town -- a nice place, dimly-lit and cozy.  I wore my new cashmere sweater and a leather jacket, warming up from a chilly fall night as we sat down and enjoyed some drinks before dinner.  The Guv took a swig of his beverage and suddenly coughed, absolutely covering me with Diet Coke... my new cashmere sweater, my jacket, my hair, my face -- covered.  As we were in a booth open to the rest of the room, the restaurant instantly became silent, and then the little girl sitting at a table near us said, "Mommy!  That man just spit on that woman!"  Her eyes throwing daggers our way, the mom took the little girl from the table, saying "let's take a walk away from here for a minute," and sending the manager to our table.  He also suspected trouble, and I don't think he bought my husband's true answer that the whole thing was an accident -- the Guv was recovering from a cold, and the mess couldn't be helped.  I'm pretty sure I had steam coming out of my ears, which didn't help our situation.  We remained for dinner, and I think my only words were: "What would you have done if this were a business dinner?"  The Guv insists the same thing would've happened to someone else.  Who's to say?  We never ate there again.  (In fact, we moved across the country to escape the sordid tales!)

Thanks to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, I have TWO copies of "Date Night" on DVD to give away.  For a double entry, tell me YOUR "date night" stories.  The drawing will be conducted on Sunday, September 5 at 9 am PDT.  (That's noon EDT for my East Coast friends.)  I'll contact winners that day.  If winners haven't responsed by Wednesday, September 8, alternates will be chosen.  DVDs are sent directly to you from Fox. 

Thanks for entering -- good luck!

Disclaimer: My family received a free copy of "Date Night" from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.  I did not commit to reviewing this movie positively and have not been compensated otherwise for this review.  I'm grateful to Fox for providing me the opportunity to give movies away to my readers -- thanks!

TWO GIVEAWAYS! Percy Jackson & the Olympians AND Diary of a Wimpy Kid on DVD

It's back-to-school time, and, for my almost-10 year-old daughter, that means sleepover time!  She's spending lots of time catching up with friends whom she missed for most of the summer while we were back East.  They're plotting this last year of their elementary career "ruling the school" as 5th graders and talking about middle school already (too soon!).  Thanks to the folks at 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, she and her friends have been able to enjoy two great movies during these sleeping-and-planning sessions: "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid."  Our reviews of these movies follow, and there's a chance for you to win one or both of them at the end of the post!

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Based on the award-winning popular book by Rick Riordan, this Percy Jackson movie chronicles an epic, heroic adventure in which modern and mythical worlds collide.  In the film, Percy Jackson learns he's the son of Poseidon, and he gets caught between a battle of gods when he becomes the prime suspect in the stealing of Zeus's lightning bolt. 

My daughter, Petunia, really enjoys mythology, and this movie delivers big on that front, making myths come to life in a fun way.  She hadn't read the book -- an unusual exception on my part, as I usually require the reading first (like with the Harry Potter series).  According to her friend who watched it with her, the movie deviates a lot from the text -- so much so that it's annoying.  (I heard this complaint from a number of parents who had read the book, too.)  Regardless, they ended up giving the movie positive reviews, especially Petunia, since she lacked the point of comparison.  They deemed it too scary for little brother Dash, though (he's 5), so it seems a good pick for the late-elementary/early-middle school sleepover set.  They noted that "it's not Harry Potter" -- but Petunia added, "but it's not supposed to be, as it's myth-based, not just fantasy."  That said, it does seem to be a movie that the Potter fans would enjoy.

From mom's perspective, the cast was a draw: Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan and Rosario Dawson are among the greats joining relative-newbie Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson.  As well, I sought out the books for my daughter, who had labelled them "for boys" before seeing the movie.  Any movie that gets her interested in new books gets the thumbs-up from me!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Featuring character Greg Heffley navigating his life in middle school, this movie fit right into our phase of life and scored super-big with both of my kids -- even 5 y.o. Dash loved it!  For anyone who remembers the middle school (which we called junior high) social scene as rife with awkwardness, wedgies, and big plans to overcome it all, this movie is epic.  Based on the book by Jeff Kinney that sprang from a series of on-line cartoons, the movie doesn't venture as far afield from the original book as Percy Jackson does.  Since my daughter read the book(s) before watching the movie, it was nice to see how well-entertained she was by the movie version.

As a parent, the down-side to this series for me involves a few things with which I'm guessing I'll struggle as Petunia reaches middle school: the quest for popularity, evolving notions of friendship, and language, language, language ... I once wrote a post about how my kids can use George Carlin's list of swear words, but they'd better never say "stupid" in my house.  This movie says stupid, and moron, and idiot, and a whole bunch of other not-quite-swear-word insults that I'd rather not hear anyway.  Dash and I had to have a talk about his incorporation of the word "moron" into his vocabulary after this movie -- not cool.  (But not horrible, either ... is it alright to admit that the "funny" outweighs the "bad" for me in this case?!)

All that said, the movie is well-done and pretty darned funny.  It's perfect for the same age-range as Percy Jackson watchers: late-elementary to the first year/two of middle school.  Petunia and Dash have watched it multiple times, so I'm betting it'll be a hit in your house, too.

GIVEAWAY!

If you're interested in owning either "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" or "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," leave a comment below, making sure to tell me if you're entering for one title or for both (I'll assume both if you forget).  BONUS: If you share an awkward junior high moment, you double your chance to win!  (I have two copies of each movie to give away, so four in total.)

Since my kids help me review these movies, we don't use an electronic randomizer; we use commenter names in a hat and do the drawing the old-fashioned way -- so there's some trust involved here.  I'll try to remember to take a picture of our methodology this time.  In any event, the drawing will be conducted on Saturday, August 21st, at 8 pm PDT.  (That's 11 pm EDT for my East Coast friends.)  I'll contact winners that night.  If winners haven't responsed by Tuesday, August 24th -- that's our first day of school! -- alternates will be chosen.  DVDs are sent directly to you from Fox. 

Thanks for entering -- good luck!

Disclaimer: My family received free copies of these movies from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment.  I did not commit to reviewing these movies positively and have not been compensated otherwise for these reviews.  I'm grateful to Fox for providing me the opportunity to give these movies away to my readers -- thanks!

Movie Review: Avatar

The Guv and I just watched Avatar for the first time, and I'm left with a whole ton of emotion plus one overwhelming word: WOW.  I mean, really, WOW.   The Oscars should give James Cameron a "Ruler of All things Cinematic" award.  I doubt anyone will ever make a movie that prolific ever again.  It was like "An Inconvenient Truth" if Al Gore weren't so stiff, boring and had an imagination with a Phish concert and some special drugs effects mixed in -- and yet, Avatar is still so much better!

If you haven't seen Avatar, the basic plot is this: The main character, Jake Sully, is a paraplegic Marine who, after his identical twin brother the scientist dies, is trained to take over his brother's mission to the faraway planet of Pandora.  The mission in progress is that of a corporation mining precious materials.  His brother's role (now Jake Sully's) is the operation of an avatar that looks Na'vi among the Na'vi people, Pandora's natives.  The scientific hope is to build understanding so that the Na'vi will be less resistant when the American corporation spearheading the mission removes precious materials from their land.  The corporate figurehead running the mission is smarmy but not quite as despicable as the Marine running the military unit that would just as soon kill all of the natives to ease access to the product.  Things get complicated when Jake Sully's avatar falls in love with a native girl, and he finds himself in the middle of a battle of corporate greed versus a native people that he loves and their land.  The cast is all-star: Sam Worthington (who was on the brink of homelessness before being cast) plays Jake Sully, and Zoe Saldana plays Neytiri, his love interest.  What would a sci-fi movie be without Sigourney Weaver, who plays Dr. Grace Augustine, the avatar mission's lead scientist?  Stephen Lang plays Colonel Miles Quaritch, the despicable head of the military occupying Pandora, and Giovanni Ribisi plays the corporate figurehead, Parker Selfridge.  (Side note: I thought Ribisi's casting was the weakest part of the movie, as he's not a believable leader, being short among other things -- but I also think that was part of the point, to make him weak against his military leader and Sigourney Weaver.  Still, that's the one part of the movie I thought could've been cast better.)  There are a host of others in smaller roles who also play great parts, and that's one of the most special things about this movie: most of the actors are people I don't readily recognize, and I think that helps to sell the story of this as a "different" film.  Sigourney Weaver is legendary, of course, but the movie is definitely not all about her; the unknown Sam Worthington magnificently playing the character of Jake Sully is what really makes the film.

In any event, as my daughter, Petunia (age almost-10), watched the movie also, we had some follow-up discussions on the movie's message.  Petunia always has been my nature-lover, and she had a lot of defensive thoughts about the Na'vi people and those "greedy miners" who try to exploit their land.  While the message of the movie wasn't overt, it's clear that my kid picked up on the conflict of material wants/money-making schemes versus the destruction of the earth (and, in the movie's case, its people).  We've talked about this a lot lately when it comes to shopping for our food.  Living in NorCal, we have access to some fantastic farmer's markets, and we patronize them each weekend.  I've shared with my kids why we try to buy local, organic produce and why large corporations' farming practices (like Monsanto and the others highlighted in Food Inc.) aren't in the best interest of protecting our earth.  Having grown up on a farm in rural West Virginia, I feel a particular defensiveness about from where our food comes.  (Specifically, I don't think it needs to come from genetic modification and pesticide-laden, over-controlled land.)  Family farmers aren't in it for the money, just like, in the Avatar movie, Jake Sully didn't end up working for the corporation's interests but, rather, chose the land. The message of Avatar -- a connectedness between people and their land -- is a universal one.  To my great sadness, though, it's not one that my kids are hearing much about in school.  While my kids' schools compost and recycle, it varies teacher-to-teacher how much they learn about why these things are important.  I think educators fear being charged with "indoctrination" (after all -- for shame! -- some people don't believe in global warming!) -- but I'd rather they be charged with "responsibility."  During "Earth Week" at school, kids are asked to walk/bike, and there's a family picnic (no-waste lunches encouraged!) -- but, to me, those are the same old baby-steps.  I'd rather see something like the "Cool the Earth" program brought into the school. I could go on and on about this subject (heck, I could -- and probably will -- blog about it for years!), but suffice it to say that I feel like it falls to me to teach my kids environmentalism.  I take that seriously, for they are the future, after all. 

With regard to kids, I feared that Petunia might be too young for Avatar, but it was fine for her (a fourth-grader); there are a few references to mating, but nothing about the movie or the mating is overtly sexual.  There's a bit of swearing, but, ahem, that doesn't bother my kids. The reason for the PG-13 rating is most likely the battle scene at the end of the movie, in which people die.  (You can click here for IMDB's Parental Guide if you want more specifics.)

One last thought about this movie, which has nothing to do with the environment, but, rather with people: watching this movie soon after Arizona's new immigration law took effect -- a law with which I strongly disagree -- made me think of another message of the movie.  When Jake Sully becomes his avatar (he slips into a machine in which he's brain-linked to his blue Na'vi), he's walking a fine line between being one of "us" and one of "them."  He comes into the movie a paraplegic Marine, and he ends it as much Na'vi as a non-Na'vi could be, having come to understand that the Na'vi are a people of value, too -- and one with which he identifies more than he ever did with his prior life.  It's the old "walk a mile in their shoes" message... When we do that, we come to understand that we're not so different in our value systems after all; we just might go about the process of attaining our best life a little differently.  Bringing this back to Arizona, I agree wholeheartedly that immigrants to this country should be legal and documented; but, until we make that process more simple, especially among those border states, I think Arizona needs to remember a few things: how many businesses and farms rely on cheap labor in addition to how that cheap labor is often fleeing a life that's more impoverished and difficult than many Americans can imagine.  Walk a mile in an illegal immigrant's shoes, and you don't see anyone smiling and dancing that they've pulled one over on the American government.  Often, you see families still struggling, but struggling in a place where, at least, their kids have a chance at a better life.  This used to be the land of "give me your tired and your poor," and now it's "give me cheap labor but I don't want to be responsible for other baggage like kids and healthcare."  Well, it's not that simple, is it?  We're all people who have an interconnectedness and mutual need; fences and laws are obstacles, not solutions.  Arizona needs to figure out a different way, just like Jake Sully did in Avatar.  Maybe they have; maybe the U.S. government finally will change immigration policy now that Arizona has made it look so bad.  Otherwise, like in Avatar, they're fighting a senseless war in which people will die for no reason.  What a tragedy.

To sum up, I highly recommend this movie -- definitely one of my favorites ever, and one I'll watch again and again.  As a bonus, when you purchase this film, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and the Earth Day Network have teamed up to plant 1,000,000 trees worldwide in celebration of the April 22nd release of the film.  Purchasers of the movie receive an online access code that can be used to adopt a tree and chart its location and progress.  Now that's some good work following up a fantastic movie!  (The picture below is of James Cameron and others planting a tree on the Fox lot.  Nice!)

* I received a complimentary copy of Avatar from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.  I did not commit to reviewing the movie favorably; the writing and opinions above are mine alone.  Other than the movie, I received no compensation for this review.  I want to thank Fox for the opportunity to do this review; I enjoyed it immensely.

GIVEAWAY! Fantastic Mr. Fox on DVD

Based on a Roald Dahl book, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a tale about what can go awry when a fox caves into his sneaky nature.  The film tells a story of fox-nature, adaptation, survival, struggle and, most of all perhaps, family that is compelling to all ages watching.

Hands-down, my kids and I believe that Fantastic Mr. Fox should've won the Best Animated Film Oscar.  Sure, it's an honor just to be nominated, but we LOVED this movie far, far better than the winner (Up).  When I asked Petunia why she loved Fantastic Mr. Fox so much, she said because it's funny and because it's different, and I agree; there's nothing formulaic about this wonderful film.  It's also in stop-motion animation, which is a medium we often don't see.  Another big plus is how Director Wes Anderson loaded the film with a top-notch cast: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe...wow.  This is a movie worth owning.

To that end, the good folks at Twentieth Century Fox and MGM Home Entertainment are allowing me to give away up to three DVDs of this magnificent film.  To enter, leave a comment below.  Winners will be selected this Friday, April 16, at 9 pm PDT (that's midnight EDT).  Soon after, I will be giving away Amelia on DVD... so stay tuned for more film reviews from Rox and Roll!

P.S. If your kids loved Fantastic Mr. Fox, they'll love these activity pages, too.  Click the image to enlarge, print, and enjoy!

  

* Disclaimer: I received a screener copy of Fantastic Mr. Fox from Twentieth Century Fox/MGM Home Entertainment but have received no compensation otherwise for this review.  I did not commit to a positive review, but I offer the giveaway to my readers because I sincerely liked (loved!) this movie and think you will, too.  Good luck to you!

"Free Style" starring Corbin Bleu - DVD review and giveaway

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment*, our family screened the movie Free Style last weekend.  Starring Corbin Bleu of High School Musical fame, Free Style follows the dreams of Cale Bryant, who aspires to race motocross professionally.  Bad luck derails his dreams until he meets Alex (Sandra Echeverría, star of Telemundo’s “Marina”), who gives him the support he needs to race and win.   Free Style also stars Penelope Ann Miller (Kindergarten Cop) and Madison Pettis (The Game Plan), and features music from star Corbin Bleu and The Jonas Brothers.

Beyond High School Musical, my kids are big Corbin Bleu fans from the movie "Jump In," so they had high hopes for this film.  In the end, they found the movies very comparable: the lead character has big dreams, obstacles get in the way, but the character triumphs anyway.  Both movies are formulaic, but that works well for my 9 year-old girl who is gripped by hardship and loves when it leads to a happy ending.  My 5 year-old boy wanted more dirt-to-rubber in the movie; there was to much else to the story for him when he just wanted to see racing.  That said, both kids enjoyed the movie enough to want to watch it a second time a few days later, which doesn't always happen.  All in all, the movie is family-friendly with some good life-lessons.

The only thing better than our family enjoying a good new movie is the opportunity to share it with your family.  Thanks to 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, I have three copies to give away!  If you're interested, leave a comment with your favorite "extreme" sport, making sure to sign in with your e-mail address (which won't display).  I'll enter everyone into a randomizer to pick winners this Sunday, February 28 at around 9 pm PST.  I'll contact winners on Sunday; winners should reply by Tuesday, March 2 at 9 am PST with your address in order to receive your movie.  Good luck, and enjoy the show!

* Disclaimer: Our family was provided with a screener copy of this movie.  I am not obligated to write about the movie or to review it in a positive way; I do so of my own free will and with no compensation beyond a copy of the movie and an opportunity to share it with my own readers through a giveaway.

GIVEAWAY! Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

I have mad, mad love for the "Night at the Museum" movie franchise.  Perhaps it's because we were members of and frequent visitors to the American Museum of Natural History when the first "Night at the Museum" film came out -- or perhaps it's because I've been a Ben Stiller fan since "There's Something about Mary."  Regardless, they are fantastic movies, especially because the entire family really can enjoy them; there's a crazy-awesome cast (hello, Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, etc.!) that parents will love, and awesome stuff-coming-to-life that kids will love.  But despite my love of the first "Night" movie, I never made it to the theater to see the second one; I figured I'd wait for the DVD.  Enter Fox-MGM, who sent me a sneak preview, and we watched it twice in a row (and several more times in the week after)!  "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian" involves the return of our favorite characters from the first "Night" film (e.g. Robin Williams as Teddy Roosevelt) and adds some fabulous new ones, such as Amy Adams as Amelia Earhart.  These movies deliver fun, action, and adventure in a family-friendly PG format.  I can't rave enough!

Just in time for some fantastic holiday-break family movie nights, the folks at Fox and MGM Home Entertainment are offering Rox and Roll readers the opportunity to win copies of this fun film.  I have three copies to give away.  Anyone who reads my blog and does not reside in my immediate household can enter to win!  To enter, here are the rules:

1. Leave a comment, making sure you've registered with your real e-mail address, by noon P.S.T. on Saturday, December 5.  (I'll pick a winner that evening using a randomizer, and I'll notify you.)
2. In your comment, tell me: what would you like to see come to life in a future "Night at the Museum" movie?  (Disclaimer: Fox-MGM didn't ask me to ask you that question -- it's just a fun thing that my kids and I imagine when we're in museums now, thanks to these awesome movies!)
3. If you win and respond to my e-mail by Monday, December 7 at 9 a.m. E.S.T., you'll get a copy of this fantastic DVD.  (If you don't respond, I'll pick another winner at that time.)

Any questions, e-mail roxinsv at gmail dot com (replacing at and dot with the appropriate symbols!). 

And to answer my own question: I'd love to see a future "Night" movie in New York's MoMA with the helicopter flying around -- a dream shared by Dash! 

Enjoy the show!

Movie Review: Ice Age III: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Recently, my kids and I have been enjoying a lot of movie-watching at home.  Between one getting hit with H1N1 and the other's never-ending sniffles, couch time and some great kids' entertainment is just what the doctor ordered!  The folks at Fox & MGM Home Entertainment provided me with a copy of Ice Age III: Dawn of the Dinosaurs for review, and my kids squealed with glee when I opened it.  They're big fans of the Ice Age movies but hadn't seen this one.  With John Leguizamo as the voice of Sid, Ray Romano as Manny, Queen Latifah as Ellie, and Denis Leary as Diego, I was pretty sure I'd be entertained, too; I hadn't seen the other Ice Age movies and was eager to see what all of the hype was about.

Fortunately, Ice Age Dawn of the Dinosaurs did not disappoint; in fact, at the end of the movie, my 9 y.o. Petunia proclaimed this the best of the Ice Age trilogy.  That said, she lost some focus in the middle, as did I; the story seemed a bit disjointed, more a combination of parts than a flowing tale; but the ending of the movie ties up the loose ends in a way that will make it more enjoyable to watch a second time.  My 4 y.o. Dash loves anything with dinosaurs, so that was a home run for him; the fantastic animation kept him glued to the screen, too. 

From this mom's perspective alone,  I appreciated how the question of "what makes a family" pervaded the movie, adding a nice, progressive social commentary angle that I'd never expect from a Fox-branded film.  That said, the movie also rankled me a little in that its historic accuracy was off; for example, mammoths and dinosaurs didn't co-exist, but they do in this movie.  (Alright, alright, it is a cartoon...!)  Thinking again, the whole concept of an Ice Age lying beneath the earth's surface is beyond a stretch, so I won't get too hung up on the accuracy angle; after all, I don't think that one movie is going to mess up my kids' understanding of earth science forever... will it?

All in all, this is a movie to watch more for the animation than for the story, though it's all a decent way to spend a couple of hours on a sick day.  On a scale of 1-10, this movie came in around a weak 7 for our family, which is not a bad rating but is below many of our other animated (mostly Pixar) films.  If your kid gets this movie for Christmas, (s)he won't be disappointed, but will (s)he return to watching it as often as, say, Toy Story?  Time will tell; my 4 y.o.  son has requested it enough that I think I'd consider it as a gift for a younger boy, but there are other movies I'd choose for the school-aged set.  If you do choose to purchase this movie, one nice thing is that you can do so in a three-disc combo pack: DVD, Blu-ray, and digital -- a plus if, like us, you're contemplating the move to Blu-ray and want to be able to watch your kids' favorite movies in that format.  Enjoy the show!

Disclaimer: Fox-MGM Home Entertainment did not compensate me for this review other than providing a copy of the DVD for my family's enjoyment.  The opinion written here is mine alone (with some feedback from my kids, obviously).