Coast 2 Coast Mom

Star Wars Phantom Menace 3D Fun at AMC Theatres

The force was with lucky folks (including C2CDad and the Kiddo) today at ten AMC Theatres nationwide for a Star Wars special event to celebrate Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace coming to the big screen in 3D. Here in New York City at the AMC Theatre Empire 25, Star Wars fans were treated to photo opps with Darth Maul, Queen Amidala, and face painting (Darth Maul was by far the favorite).

Representatives from Microsoft's Xbox 360 team gave kids and adults alike the opportunity to play the new Kinct Star Wars pod racing game, and showed off the special edition Star Wars Xbox Kinect bundle with the R2-D2 Xbox, gold C3PO controller and white Kinect.

If that wasn't enough, people could work on building a Darth Maul mosaic made entirely of LEGO pieces. Hundreds of square color-coded LEGO tiles were set out, each numbered on the back, corresponding with its place on a big board. By the time we left you could see the image of Darth Maul starting to take shape.







Of course you can't forget about the movie (the reason why C2CDad and The Kiddo were there). This AMC Theatre was distributing "Pod Racer" 3D glasses made to look like the pod racing glasses worn by Anakin Skywalker in the movie.  The Kiddo thought these were great, and kept him on his head as he played with Star Wars Fighter Pods that were handed out before the movie started. These tiny Star Wars action figures come with their own clear pod that you can spin on any flat surface.

A big thanks to Joe Fitzpatrick and his team at the AMC Theatre Empire 25 for putting on a fun event where everyone seemed to have a great time. I hope they repeat these activities for the subsequent Star Wars 3D film launches as I know we'll make an effort to attend.

 

Big Miracle - a Delightful Family Movie about a Whale Rescue

Earlier this week we had the opportunity to attend a screening of the movie Big Miracle followed by a Q&A with lead actress Drew Barrymore. The way the Kiddo obsesses over Shark Week on Discovery, Nat Geo and every Animal Planet and BBC wild animal re-enactment film made, we simply couldn't miss it. Big Miracle arrives in theaters February 3, 2012.

The movie is based on a true event in the 1980s when three gray whales find themselves trapped under the Arctic ice on their annual migration to the Baja coast in Mexico. Big Miracle chronicles the events that led to freeing the whales and guiding them on their way - highlighting the "it takes a village" concept where political and cultural enemies from around the country and globe come together to save the whales.

It's a little bit romantic comedy, but has a lot of story to it - family-friendly and heart-warming. How could it not? It stars Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski (from The Office), Kristen Bell (have loved her since Veronica Mars!), Ted Danson, Dermot Mulroney, Rob Riggle and others.

We each enjoyed the movie and the real-life news recaps interspersed reminding us that it really happened. When asked afterward, the Kiddo's favorite character was the whale affectionately known as Bam Bam. When you see it, make sure to stay through the credits so you can see where all of the real life characters are today. :-)

It astounded us that neither @c2cDad or me remembered this whale rescue happening, but maybe we were too young . . .

Despicable Me 2 Toys Planned for Summer 2013

Despicable Me 2 is in production and making its way to theaters next year, and I just learned that a toy line is brewing for 2013. Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L), Illumination Entertainment and Thinkway Toys announced earlier this month that they'll partner on the global production of toys based on the highly anticipated follow-up to the blockbuster hit Despicable Me.

Thinkway Toys has been awarded the master global toy license for Despicable Me 2, and will develop a wide variety of toys featuring the Minions and other key characters including interactive toys, figures, plush, dolls, playsets, vehicles, role play and novelty items.

Despicable Me 2 arrives in theaters July 3, 2013. The toy line will arrive on store shelves in summer 2013.

Despicable Me came out in July 2010, grossed more than $543 million at theaters worldwide, and went on to become the 10th-highest-grossing animated film in U.S. history. Despicable Me also debuted on Video on Demand in January 2011 and has become the No. 1 most ordered animated film since that time.

Steve Carrell and most of the cast members are expected to return for the sequel, and I read that Javier Bardem was in negotiations to voice a new villain in Despicable Me 2 according to The Hollywood Reporter last fall. 

Also exciting, this summer (2012) Universal Orlando Resort in Florida is launching a 3D theme-park attraction based on Despicable Me. We found the Minions so funny, and we smiled the instant we came across one at Universal a year ago.

 

Brisk Iced Tea Launches BriskSaber App with Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3-D

Brisk Iced Tea is launching a new mobile app called Brisksaber, in conjunction with the theater release of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3-D. When I first read about it, I had a huge grin on my face because I couldn't wait to share it with the Kiddo and @c2cDad.

The Brisk app, Brisksaber, brings iconic Star Wars lightsaber battles to smartphones, and makes players choose to play for The Light Side or The Dark Side right off the bat. If you choose The Light Side, you'll battle evil characters like Darth Maul, Jabba the Hutt, Darth Sidious and Darth Vader. If playing for The Dark Side, you'll be up against Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jar Jar Binks, Luke Skywalker and Mace Windu. The app includes a progression of content allowing players to unlock new characters and objects based on the redemption of codes found on specially marked packages of one-liter Brisk Iced Tea.

 

They've even created some fun commercial spots with Yoda and Darth Maul to promote the app, which will air on January 15, 2012 be featured in movie theaters and online. . .

 

The Brisksaber can be downloaded via UncaptheApp.com, Facebook.com/Brisk, or in the iTunes Store and Android Market now. The "Uncap the App" promotion and limited-time Darth Maul Brisk Tea packaging will be available until April 30, 2012.

Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace in 3-D arrives in theaters February 10, 2012.

 

 

 

TiVo "Rewarding" Recording with Toys for Tots Donation Campaign

I'm excited to share that your TiVo DVR will soon be "rewarding" your recording with an oh-so-easy way to be charitable this Christmas! TiVo will make a $1 donation to Toys for Tots for each individual recording of It's A Wonderful Life airing on NBC on Saturday, December 24th at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT. It's A Wonderful Life was the most "TiVo'ed" holiday movie last year.

Just as “every time a bell rings, an angel gets their wings,” this holiday season every time a TiVo® DVR “Badoops,” a child in need is closer to receiving a new toy. . . .

Guess this means we'll be responsible for a $4 donation via TiVo this year. ;-) We'll have to set it before we head to the grandparents. Now if only they'd reward my GetGlue check-ins. ;-)

While you have TiVo on the brain, check out their holiday singing TiVograms. . . kinda cute! I already sent one to @c2cdad.

7 Favorite Transformers Toys and Gifts for the Holidays

Last winter during NY Toy Fair, I had the pleasure of visiting the Hasbro showroom for a peek at the toys coming over the course of the year :-D There was a lot going on for our family that weekend in the city, so we drove in, and as @c2cdad and the Kiddo dropped me off, they shouted out in simultaneous excitement, "That's Optimus Prime! Optimus Prime's here!!" It was exciting and hilarious both at once - the real, full-size Optimus Prime from Transformers Dark of the Moon on the streets of NYC.

But of course, here was Optimus inside the showroom...

Curious George Holiday Spectacular Premieres Tonight on PBS Kids

That loveable monkey, Curious George is back just in time for the holidays. He'll be "monkeying around" with not one, but three movies that will broadcast starting tonight on PBS Kids, with what could be the start of a new family holiday tradition.

First, is the broadcast premiere of the original Curious George movie starring the voices of Will Ferrell, Drew Barrymore and Dick Van Dyke followed by Curious George 2: Follow That Monkey and Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas. The Holiday Spectacular will air on PBS KIDS throughout Thanksgiving weekend, so if you miss it today, you can still check it out!

Disney Universe Brings Disney and Disney Pixar Worlds to Life

Today, Disney launches Disney Universe, a fun and darkly whimsical new game for tweens and families from Disney Interactive Studios that takes 45 Disney and Disney Pixar movie characters set in your choice of six Disney or Disney Pixar movie sets - all in one place for the first time ever.

As the story opens, the Universe is a peaceful place where VIC, the Virtual Information Cube is your tour guide, and characters called Cast bots are designed to take you on a "journey of your dreams" through beloved Disney environments that you know from the movies. As you're being assured that things are "completely safe" VIC is taken over in a Mr. Hyde kind of a way by a villainous cube named HEX, who proclaims himself the new master of Disney Universe. As he says, he's ready to "rock, roll and reboot."

The Smurfs Movie - Suprisingly Smurfalicious

Laa la, la la la la, la la la la laaaa....It's okay to admit you have that song running through your head right now. Last night my boys caught an advance screening of The Smurfs at the Sony Building in NYC. I grew up watching the Smurfs on TV, so there's always been a place in my heart for the little blue guys. When I heard that Papa Smurf, Gargamel and the rest of the Smurf gang were making their silver screen debut I was excited - yet skeptical. I think we've all seen some pretty bad live action disappointments recently (anyone love Garfield? and think better than Cats & Dogs).

I'm happy to report that they walked away from the movie screening last tonight thinking "this was a pretty smurfin' good movie!" - and the Kiddo in particular agreed. :-)

LEGO Star Wars The Padawan Menace TV Special

The LEGO Group and Lucasfilm are joining forces to present LEGO® Star Wars: The Padawan Menace, their first-ever original TV special. Premiering on Cartoon Network on Friday, July 22 at 7 p.m., the 30-minute original standalone special will feature the charm, action and humor that we've come to expect from the LEGO Star Wars animation collaborations. (We just love their facial expressions and animated noises - such creative personalities for bricks!)