HBO's 'ETHEL': Lessons Learned

This past summer I was invited to attend a preview screening of HBO's Ethel (Tonight, 1/18 at 9pm on HBO), a feature-length documentary about Ethel Kennedy that was produced and directed by her daughter, Rory Kennedy. I'm already a fan of Rory's (her Ghosts Of Abu Ghraib was so outstanding) so I knew I would enjoy Ethel - but who knew I'd get such an education at the same time?

(Also, I was thrilled to be able to meet Rory Kennedy in person at the post-screening reception. I tried not to go too fangirl on her, but I knew it was the closest I'll ever come to a Kennedy.)

The film covers Ethel's Kennedy's life, touching on her childhood, her early years with Robert F. Kennedy, raising their eleven children (!), RFK's campaigns and Ethel's world after his assassination. Ethel's life was often eclipsed by her more visible and glamorous sister-in-law Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, but it's been a remarkable story nonetheless.

But it's not just a story about Mrs. Kennedy - it's a much more personal, insightful glimpse into historical events that we all know about, but whose intricacies I'd never fully understood. The Cuban Missile Crisis, the standoff with then-governor George Wallace at the University of Alabama, RFK's friendship with Martin Luther King, Jr., his clashing with J. Edgar Hoover – Rory Kennedy does a great job of showing a timeline and insight into these events through interviews with Ethel, her other children and with family friends and associates.

Definitely recommend watching this, and if you have older kids – have them watch it with you. Such an important glimpse into our country's history told so lovingly by the Kennedy family.

Ethel premieres tonight, October 18 at 9pm on HBO.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   

Tweet Pin It

'The Hunger Games' Giveaway: And The Winner Is...

I used the magical List Randomizer at Random.org to swirl up the names of the entries, and it looks like the odds were ever in the favor of:

Congratulations edj! Your Hunger Games Prize Package will be on your way to you soon!

Thank you to all of you who entered!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Tweet Pin It

'The Hunger Games' – Let The Giveaway Begin

Maybe you've heard of this little movie coming out called The Hunger Games. Just a small film, based on a book that sold a gazzilion copies and now has people everywhere eagerly anticipating the movie's release on March 23. There will be a tiny crowd waiting outside, only in the trillions.

To be honest, I've never read the books the movie is based on, but my teenagers have and are going to be amongst that thronging crowd on opening night. We've already got our tickets for the 12:10 showing, and they've got their excuses lined up to tell their teachers the next day explaining why they had to miss first period that morning – they had a fever. Hunger Games fever.

To get you infected with the fever (it's not as painful as it sounds, and I promise there's no blisters involved) I'm giving away a Hunger Games prize package:

• 1 Softcover book
• 1 Hunger Games pin
• 3 Mini posters (Katniss, stadium, final)
• 1 Trading card pack
• 1 Copy of the soundtrack

Here's how to win: Tell me what you're doing in the name of Hunger Games fandom. Maybe you're going to stand in line for days for opening night tickets, or maybe you're watching the trailer for seven-thousand times in order to set a record. Maybe you've tattooed the likenesses of all the characters across your belly, in which case I beg you not to post any photos.

Or if you're not doing anything in the name of Hunger Games fandom, make something up and tell me what you would do if you were a crazed teenage fan with endless time on your hands and waiting to see one of the biggest movies of your generation. 

Leave your Hunger Games fandom stories here before midnight on Saturday, March 24. (Sorry, only US entries, please.) Then I'll use random.org to pick a winner. One comment per person, and make sure you leave me a valid email address. (Nothing makes me madder than when I pick a winner and then I can't get in touch with you.)

And speaking of trailers, here's one to feast your eyes on. Only 6,9999 more times to go!



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Tweet Pin It

See ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED for FREE

My teenagers are too old for this movie, but I know many of you out there with younger kids are going to have to give in to the begging, do your parental duty and take your little charges to see ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED. 

So why not see it for FREE? 20th Century Fox has provided 50 guaranteed seats for my readers at an advanced screening of the film this Saturday, December 10. Use the code below to download your passes and you'll be on your way. But hurry – it's first come, first served and you don't want to miss the boat. (Sorry, I couldn't help myself.) 


Screening info: 
ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED

Saturday, December 10 @ 11am

AMC Burbank 16 
125 E. Palm Ave.

Burbank, CA

Click on gofobo.com/RSVP and enter code SWPMX5WV to download your passes. 

Have fun, Chipmunk fans!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

 

Tweet Pin It

They Make It Easy Bein' Green: 'The Muppets' at the El Capitan Theatre

I realize I'm probably the last person on the planet to see 'The Muppets'. We had an invitation to see it a couple of weeks ago, but alas life and turkey preparations got in the way. My 13-year-old has already seen the movie and loved it and is determined to get the rest of the family on board, so we'll be going in the next week or so if she has her way. Which she always does – how is it that 13-year-olds always get their way? I must learn their secret so I can use it the next time the phone company says I'll have to wait for a whole week for service.

When we do finally go and see 'The Muppets', it will be at the El Capitan Theatre. Not only is the theater itself plush and comfortable, but there is a Sing-a-long with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy before each movie. You won't get that at your local multiplex, only a guy in an ill-fitting uniform telling you to turn your cellphone off and to stop talking. So much less fun.

And to add to the Muppet mania, on select days the El Capitan is offering a chance to attend Disney’s Most Sensational Muppet Party before or after the movie at Disney’s Soda Fountain & Studio Store. There's food and cupcake decorating, a special gift and a commemorative photo for each guest. And don't forget that anything you order at the Soda Fountain can be brought into the theater to be enjoyed during the movie. Although, out of respect for Miss Piggy you might want to skip the BLT. (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

The Muppets is at the El Capitan Theater from Nov. 23 - Jan. 8. Go here for tickets. The Most Sensational Muppet Party is only offered on select days, so check the website for availability or call 818-845-3110.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Tweet Pin It

Winnie the Pooh (and Breakfast, Too!) at the El Capitan Theatre

Who knew my teenagers would be so excited to meet Winnie-The-Pooh? I was invited to a screening of Disney's new Winnie the Pooh movie at the El Capitan Theater as well as a pre-show character breakfast at the Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store and I had initially thought I would pass it up – while my girls are still very much into Disneyland, I thought they'd roll their eyes at seeing an animated movie and the prospect of meeting a big, sweet bear in a red shirt.

Boy, was I wrong.

The last time I saw them this excited was when they discovered that the local high school's boy's cross country team runs right through our neighborhood, shirtless. They didn't even balk when I told them we'd have to get up early on a Saturday in order to make it to the breakfast by 9:15. Who knew that Winnie the Pooh was such a chick magnet?

Seriously, when they saw him appear in the doorway, they started squealing like a couple of - well, girls. It was as if they'd spotted the boy's cross country team running behind him.

Hipper than the average bear.

The pre-show Breakfast With Pooh was a huge hit with my girls. Along with getting their famous Mickey Mouse Belgium Waffle, they were genuinely excited when Pooh came around to our table and greeted them personally. I'm not kidding, my 13-year-old said, with all sincerity, "This is better than the time I met Miley Cyrus." Sorry, Miley, but you've been trumped by a bear.

Here's the menu – I had the scrambled eggs and bacon. Confession: I couldn't decide between the bacon and sausage so I had my 15-year-old, who doesn't eat meat, order the sausage and then I took it. Stop looking at me like that.

Bacon or sausage? It was like Sophie's Choice.

Here's an added bonus: According to our waitress, anything you order from the Disney Soda Fountain can be taken into the El Capitan Theater. So of course I had my coffee refill put into a to-go cup. I would have done the same with the waffle but it was gone shortly after I snapped this photo.

Get yer coffee and Mickey Waffle to go.

Seeing any movie at the El Capitan is a unique experience, and this was no different. It started off with an organist playing a medley of Disney tunes followed by a little pre-show by that stud himself, Winnie-The-Pooh.

I'm telling you, he's got the teenage girls wrapped around his paw.

The movie itself is sweet and lovely to look at, just what you'd expect from a story about Christopher Robin and all his friends in the Hundred-Acre-Wood. This is a brand-new movie that will have a limited run at the El Capitan and is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

And here's the kicker – as if my teens needed yet another reason to love it - it features the music of their absolute favorite person, Zooey Deschanel. I know, right? So now my girls are hooked on the song, 'So Long' that Zooey sings in the closing credits. Man, now Pooh's a teen dream and has indie cred. Put a hoodie on him and next he'll be headlining at Coachella.



This was a great experience all around. While it's perfect for families with younger kids, I was excited to find something I could do with my teens that was fun for them and nostalgic for me. It once again proves how timeless Disney is, and I have to give them kudos for providing entertainment that's wholesome while still managing to pique the interest of older kids. And for proving a silly old bear can even hold his own against Hannah Montana. And maybe even a pack of sprinting, skinny high school boys.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Winnie The Pooh is at the El Capitan Theater from Nov. 4 - Nov. 20. The pre-show Breakfast With Pooh is only offered on select days, so check the website for availability (I found it fairly confusing to figure out the breakfast/movie tickets on the website – you might be better off calling the box office at 818-845-3110.)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Tweet Pin It

'Sing Your Song': HBO Documentary on Harry Belafonte Will Make Your Day-O

Recently I was invited to a screening of 'Sing Your Song,' the HBO documentary about Harry Belafonte that is airing tonight. Like me, you're probably most familiar with him because of the song 'Day-O.' You can listen to it here. Trust me, you'll be singing, "Daylight come and me wanna go home," for the rest of the day. You're welcome.

But what I didn't know about Belafonte was what a passionate activist and dedicated humanitarian he is. He's been a hands-on participant in political and social movements since the Civil Rights Movement and was a close friend and confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as being one of the earliest figures to rally the support of celebrities to support causes he fought for, such as fighting apartheid in South Africa and the fight against AIDS in Africa. He also coordinated Nelson Mandela’s first visit to the United States after his release from prison.



One of the most moving moments in the evening came before the screening started and filmmaker Susanne Rostock relayed a conversation she had with Belafonte. He said to her, with tears in his eyes, "I'm so worried that I'm not going to be passing the baton." It gave such a vivid portrait of the actor and his dedication to his fight for equality and social justice not just for himself and his peers, but for generations to come.

The documentary contains moving footage of Belafonte with King and John F. Kennedy among others, and also interviews with friends including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Tony Bennett, Sidney Poitier and Quincey Jones. But the documentary also touches on the actor's shortcomings as a husband and a father, and he talks openly about his two failed marriages and he voices his regret at being an absentee father.

I loved getting this glimpse of the active and dedicated, yet modest life of Harry Belafonte and I have such admiration for his dedication to fighting for social causes that continues to this day - he recently lent his support to the Occupy Wall Street movement.

And, as my friend and I remarked to each other at the screening - we forget that Belafonte was – and is – so suave and such a stunner. Check out this video of him singing the title song from his 1957 movie 'Island In The Sun.' Take a lesson in class, all you 20-year-old hipsters on MTV:




Watch 'Sing Your Song' on HBO tonight (Monday, October 17) at 10pm.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
 

Tweet Pin It

Real Deal! Real Steel Giveaway

Have you seen Dreamworks' Real Steel yet, the new movie starring the beautiful Hugh Jackman and an equally stunning robot? I have to admit, I'm a little partial because my husband worked on the ad campaign and had been raving about it for awhile. So I knew it was going to be good and apparently everyone else agrees – it just opened and is already number one, taking in $27.3 million this past weekend. Man, that's a lot of change in Hugh's wallet – I wonder how much the robot made? Here, check out a clip from the movie:



And in case you're waiting to see it until you have something awesome to wear, you've come to the right place. I'm giving away this fly t-shirt, along with a prize pack that includes some other Real Steel merch like stickers, a bottle opener and temporary tattoos. Just leave me a comment here by midnight on Monday, October 17 and I'll use random.org to pick a winner. Or maybe I'll get my robot to do it.

(One comment per person, and make sure you leave me a valid email address. Sorry, only US and Canada, please.)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
 

Tweet Pin It

'Kung Fu Panda 2' finds inner peace. Me, not so much.

Last week I was invited to a screening at DreamWorks Animation for a preview of the upcoming animated feature 'Kung Fu Panda 2'. There was fighting, betrayal, and the triumph of good over evil. But enough about the the post-screening blogger luncheon and the brawl over the last panini – let me tell you my thoughts about the movie.

'Kung Fu Panda 2' is definitely a worthy sequel to the first film, although slightly darker in tone. The writing is crisp, funny and sophisticated while still being appropriate for kids. The animation is gorgeous (the movie is in 3D, although we screened a 2D version.) There is an adoption storyline that, while heartwarming, is intense as it deals with issues of abandonment and loss so anyone touched by adoption should be forewarned. But kids (and adults) will still love it as much as they loved the first film.

Will I recommend it to my friends? I'm still on the fence about that and I'll tell you why after a quick rundown of the plot.

This latest installment picks up where the last one left off with Po the Panda (voiced by Jack Black) using his newly-earned status as Dragon Warrior to seek out and defeat a new villain, the evil peacock Lord Shen (Gary Oldman). Po gets help beating on the bad guys from his band of loyal kung fu master friends led by the Tigress (Angelina Jolie), while Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) continues to lead our panda friend on his spiritual journey, this time on a quest for inner peace. At the heart of the new story is Po's search for his origins that provide some touching sequences involving a baby Po. By touching I mean everyone was crying during these scenes, and how often does a cartoon make you cry? (Unless you count The Simpsons episodes that get all, 'Nothing's better than family!" I can't stop the waterworks whenever Homer and the kids hug.)

Now here's my uneasy feeling about the film. The fact that the story takes place in China, where the characters are supposed to be Chinese (albeit in animal form) and the main characters are voiced by non-Asians is a problem for me. I'm aware that it's an animated film, but the actors voicing the characters are as big a part of the film (and as widely publicized) as their animated counterparts. And during a time when whitewashing seems to be a trend, as grossly demonstrated by 'The Last Airbender' and the upcoming 'Akira', the omission of Asian actors in the lead roles is starkly apparent to me.

No one's saying Jack Black should have been replaced for the sequel – I get the value of having a proven, big-name actor in the lead. But Angelina Jolie's part could have just as effectively (if not more so) been played by Lucy Liu, who ended up having a smaller role in the film. (Liu was a Charlie's Angel so we already know she could kick some serious ass.) And no disrespect to Gary Oldman, but his villain could have been played with much more authenticity by James Hong, (or, in a timely and brilliant piece of casting - George Takei) And here's a question for Angelina, who has a son adopted from Vietnam and another from Cambodia: Wouldn't you love for your kids to see faces like their own, featured in the movies you take them to see?

Maybe my discontent is magnified because I just had the good fortune (no pun intended) of recently seeing two outstanding productions (The Chinese Massacre and Krunk Fu Battle Battle) consisting of predominately Asian casts that highlighted what a vast pool of talented Asian actors that are out there. Could be I'm still cranky from the exhaustive period following the catastrophic Japan quake and tsunami, and the inexplicable amount of anti-Japanese and anti-Asian racism that reared its ugly head. Or maybe I'm just tired of seeing Hollywood consistently shortchange Asian actors when it comes to giving them fair representation in mainstream media.

Look, I'm not calling for a boycott of the film - in fact I'm sure you'll love it and my own kids probably will, too. I just think that Dreamworks missed a valuable opportunity to do something extraordinary here, during this Asian Pacific Heritage Month, to roll out a film that bucked the trend of whitewashing and demonstrate the innovative and forward thinking they're known for. As it stands, that inner peace that Po was searching for? Something tells me I'll have to look somewhere other than 'Kung Fu Panda 2' to find it.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


'Kung Fu Panda 2' opens on Thursday, May 26 and is rated PG. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tweet Pin It

Giveaway! 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides'

As you might have heard, some little film called Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is opening this Friday, March 20. I hear it stars some guy named Johnny Depp that's got my teenage daughters all in a hizzy. Take a look at the new movie – it looks awesome and has lots of pirates and boats:



I don't know about you, but the hardest thing about going to the movies is deciding what to wear. Lucky for you the generous, swashbuckling people at Disney have solved that and have given me a 'Pirates' t-shirt and bandana to give away. Also, some temporary tattoos. (Don't laugh – some of us have mothers who won't let us get real ones.)

Check it out – it's pirate's booty! (Man, I've been waiting forever to use that in a post.)

Also, I'm throwing this in on my own, but only if you live within driving distance of me and I'm going to be seeing you in person sometime soon so that I don't have to spend five-dollars sending a bag worth $1.99:

Here's how to win: In lieu of the predictable "Tell me your favorite 'Pirates' movie" requirement, I've decided to change it up a little. Leave me a comment with your best fake meeting-Johnny-Depp moment. Maybe you were at the supermarket reaching for the lamb chops and Johnny's hand brushed up against yours. Or perhaps you were at Ikea, and you and Johnny locked eyes over the HOVÅS footstool. Then again, maybe it was totally sleazy and Johnny walked in while you were wrapped around a pole at the Kitty Klub and handed over a twenty. Don't worry, I don't judge.

What I will do is pick the top three best comments, and then use random.org to pick a winner. Or, maybe I'll get Johnny to do it when he stops by to fix my refrigerator.

Leave your fake Johnny Depp story here before midnight on Monday, May 23. One comment per person, and make sure you leave me a valid email address. (Sorry, only US and Canada, please.)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Tweet Pin It

Disney's 'Prom': Like your prom, minus the hangover

Last week I was invited to a screening of Disney's 'Prom,' although to be honest it wasn't exactly at the top of my list of movies to see. In fact, my 15-year-old didn't want to go at all, and my 12-year-old decided to come along and ask two of her friends only after she found out the screening was being held at a theater where they had previously seen a really cute boy working at the concession stand. I'm not making this up.

I had seen the previews of 'Prom' and guessed it might be mostly unwatchable for me - I was really going just to gauge the reaction of my daughter and her friends, the intended demographic. I was looking forward to just sitting in the dark for ninety minutes with my tub of buttery popcorn, and the girls were looking forward to taking a really long time ordering and paying for their popcorn while subtly flipping their hair.

As it turns out, we all enjoyed the movie. Not making that up, either.

While it's a given that a Disney prom will be a far cry from a real prom, that's exactly what makes this movie so charming. No one was sneaking off to chug champagne in the bathroom or smoke a clove cigarette behind the gym (you know who you are.) And while the movie has been criticized for its lack of edge, in this case the absence of cynicism and snark was a welcome relief - can't some nice kids just go to the prom and have a good time? I was relieved when no one ended up passed out under the bleachers or pregnant by the track coach at the end of the movie.

Another surprise - the filmmakers made a real attempt at making the movie inclusive and avoiding stereotypes for the most part. There's even an Asian girl who isn't president of the Math Club and who doesn't wear thick glasses or talk with an accent! The result is an eclectic, interesting cast of characters that still maintain their wholesome charm. (Even the resident stoner is never seen partaking in anything except for excessive snacking – he might just be high on Doritos.) Disney's 'Prom' is one where misfits, oddballs and the not-so-perfect – as well as the beautiful and near-perfect – can still have that magical night at the end of the school year. Corny, yes, but not such a bad message for tweens and teens to hear.

My daughter and her friends didn't end up seeing their Snack Stud behind the counter, but they'd forgotten about him by the time the movie started because of this guy, a Johnny Depp lookalike who plays the campus not-so-bad-boy with a heart of gold:

They deemed him 'hot' – and judging by the sighs and squeals when he took off his shirt to reveal his biceps - all the other tween girls did, too. (He wasn't completely bare chested - he still had on a tank top. This is Disney, after all.)

Unfortunately, Disney timed the release of 'Prom' horribly, as two days after seeing the movie the Royal Wedding took place and my daughter and her friends immediately forgot about both snack dude and Depp 2.0 and had moved on to this:

Man, tween girls are a fickle bunch. Take note, Disney.

Although, knowing them they're probably already working on a movie about William's rakish younger brother and his exploits at the wedding, maybe a sequel to one of their biggest hits. 'Prince Diaries' coming soon to a theater near you? My tween and her friends will be there.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tweet Pin It

Wii and Netflix Go Together Like Pizza and Martinis

A few weeks ago Nintendo threw me a fantastic party to help me get the word out to my friends about their partnership with Netflix. Did you know you can stream movies and TV shows straight from your Netflix queue through your Wii and watch them on your TV? Well, did you? Yes, it's amazing but don't ask me how it works – like my explanation for everything else I don't have a clue about, I'll just tell you it's done with magic. How does the music come out of the radio? Magic. How does an airplane stay in the sky? Magic. How does popcorn pop? Magic, voodoo, and a little bit of oil.

Nintendo sent over a Netflix/Wii streaming disc (which you can get here), some genuine concession stand treats (hello, Raisinettes!), a catered meal and best of all provided me with a three-month subscription to Netflix. We had a subscription many years ago, but canceled it when we realized it wasn't cost effective for people like us who take eight months to get around to watching a DVD – that one viewing of Eraserhead in '02 cost us $96.

(The process is simple: Set up an 'Instant Queue' on your Netflix account online, pop the streaming disc into the Wii, access your queue and select the title you want, and the movie downloads within seconds.)

Our meal that night came from one of our favorite restaurants – California Pizza Kitchen – and we decided the drink of choice for the night would be martinis. Maybe an odd beverage to pair with pizzas and salads, but we thought it would add a nice adult, upscale air to the evening of dining and fine cinema. After all, we were using our fancy new movie projector, and I was looking forward to kicking back with my friends, noshing on some pizza and sipping a beverage while watching La Dolce Vita.

Which is why it all felt so futile when the choosing of the movies quickly got overtaken by the kids at the party, and I turned my back for a minute to mix up a pitcher of Cosmos and came back to find this on the screen:

Damn those diabolical toddlers! I managed to lure them out of the room by throwing a box of Junior Mints out onto the lawn, but when I left again to mix up a pitcher of Lemon Drops (hey, my friends are insatiable when it comes to free booze) I came back to find a gaggle of girls watching this:

Come to find out this movie was neither streaming through the Wii nor a Netflix DVD, but was a gift my 14-year-old had gotten for her birthday. This party was seriously getting out of control. What was coming up next – reruns of Matlock on Beta? Thank goodness the Nintendo people weren't at the party see the anarchy.

This time I lured all of the teens and tweens out to the backyard with a couple of Forever 21 gift cards tied to a string so that we could get to some serious movie watching. Unfortunately, by then a lot of the adults were starting to get restless from the mixture of vodka and pepperoni in their stomachs and headed outside before I could get another movie queued up. Personally I think it was just an excuse to go out and dig around in the lawn for those Junior Mints.

Eventually I gave up, and gave the controls back to the kids so they could watch 3 Ninjas and Ace Ventura which they had so cleverly queued up when I was busy mixing up that fifth pitcher of martinis. I joined the party outside, but not before sneaking onto the computer and queuing this up to watch later on my own:

I forgot to mention the nice people at Nintendo also sent over a Flip camera to record the festivities with, and my 12-year-old aspiring filmmaker was in charge of that. Here's a movie she made:



Mandatory small print disclosure that I implore you to read: I was not given any monetary compensation for hosting this event or writing about Nintendo or Netflix products, nor was I required to write a review. From Nintendo I received a Flip camera, a three-month subscription to Netflix, food for my guests and Wii Points cards to distribute. Beverages were provided by me, but if Nintendo were paying for the vodka I'm sure it would have been the good stuff and not the cheap swill I passed off to my guests.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tweet Pin It

Bolt Is No Ordinary Dog

Most people I know with kids rush out on opening weekend to see movies as soon as they hit the theaters. We're just the opposite, preferring to wait until the crowds have died down and our children are the last ones amongst their friends to see a particular movie, setting them up for constant ridicule and taunting. They come home saying things like, "Lindsay's seen Wall-E! Katie's seen Wall-E! When am I going to see Wall-E?" We then give them our standard response, "Next week!" and then we just try to keep stalling until one of their friends takes them to see it or until it comes out on DVD, whichever comes first.

Not so with Bolt, the Disney movie about the ordinary dog who plays a superhero, and then takes an extraordinary journey to find out that he is, in fact, a superhero. That dog is so powerful, it got us out of our house to see the movie even before it opened! Granted, we were invited to a special screening of Bolt in 3D at the amazing El Capitan Theater, but still. I say it takes one badass dog to make sure my kids aren't the laughing stock of the playground. And to make the experience even more special, we were treated to a live holiday stage show before the movie. Take that Lindsay and Katie!

We all loved Bolt. It's a rare movie that gets both the kids and parents laughing, but this one did. (Of course, you all know that since you rushed out to see it this past weekend.) Rhino, the hamster is one of my favorite characters in a Disney movie ever, and I love that he is voiced by one of the story artists at Disney, and not by a celebrity. Sort of an ordinary soul doing extraordinary things - hey, just like Bolt!

Even crazier, we all liked it so much I may be taking my girls to see it again, and bringing their friends along. This is unheard of, going to see a movie twice before it's relegated to one of those scary bargain theaters with gum on the seats. I told you that Bolt was no ordinary dog

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Get your tickets here to see Bolt at the beautiful, historic El Capitan Theater. The show opens with a live holiday stage show that kids will love. Also, a chance to hear the Wurlitzer Organ - maybe not so thrilling for the kids, but us dinosaurs love it.

Many thanks to Scott Howard at Walt Disney Studios for making this day possible!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

tags: bolt | disney | bolt reviews | el capitan theater

Tweet Pin It