Secretariat Out On Blu-Ray and DVD!

Secretariat is out now on Blu-Ray disc and DVD and it is a MUST-SEE.

I got to see it with my 6-year-old in the theater and we both loved it. In general, I'd say it's a family film for those of you with children 10 and up because the subject matter can be a bit dry for younger children, but if you have a little horse rider, the exciting race scenes in particular will be enough to keep him or her riveted.

Secretariat will especially be loved by the adults in your house- The storyline is compelling and Diane Lane and John Malkovich are stellar in their roles, as usual. This was one of my favorite movies of 2010.

Here are the Blu-Ray specifics:

FILM SYNOPSIS

Behind every legend, lies an impossible dream. Witness the spectacular journey of an incredible horse named Secretariat and the moving story of his unlikely owner, a housewife who risked everything to make him a champion. Out of the gate with never-before-seen bonus features, Secretariat is hours of pulse- pounding entertainment for the whole family!

DISC BONUS FEATURES:

BLU-RAY:The same as the DVD, plus...

• Choreographing The Races - This piece looks at how director Randall Wallace and the filmmakers used innovative tools and technology to accurately and excitingly recreate the Triple Crown races that make the viewer feel like they are standing on the backstretch themselves.
• A Director’s Inspiration: A Conversation With The Real Penny Chenery - Director Randall Wallace sits down with Secretariat owner Penny Chenery to review the movie and some of the key scenes. Penny reflects on what it was like to have been a woman in a male dominated sport and to have been part of horse racing’s most exciting moments in history.
• Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace - View the film with optional audio commentary from Director Randall Wallace.
• Deleted Scenes With Optional Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace - The same deleted scenes as the DVD, plus four more...

• Alternate Opening
• Introduction
• “Are You A Golfer?”
• No Time To Rest

• Secretariat Multi-Angle Simulation - Relive Secretariats triumphant 1973 Preakness race by viewing the race from a number of perspectives as well as listening to commentaries from fans, announcers and even the jockey who rode Secretariat to their record finish.

DVD:

• Heart Of A Champion - This feature takes a look at one of the most famous thoroughbred horses ever known. Secretariat was a horse with style as well as amazing speed and an unsurpassed racing record. We interview all the key players from the day as well as today’s filmmakers to learn more about the horse affectionately called “Red.”
• Deleted Scenes With Optional Audio Commentary By Director Randall Wallace:

• Director Introduction
  
• Memories
  
• Seth Joins The Team
  
• Too Soon T o Celebrate

• Music Video – AJ Michalka “It’s Who You Are”

Secretariat is available on Blu-Ray at Amazon.com for $22.99.

Disclosure: I received a screener of this movie in order to write this review.

Alice in Wonderland Out February 1st in Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack

Coming out February 1st on Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack: Alice in Wonderland, 60th anniversary special edition!

We received a screener of this movie and even though the kids have seen it several times already, they were riveted by this remastered version. The picture and sound are crisper than ever and I really love seeing classic cartoon movies on Blu-Ray- It's a whole new viewing experience. We also enjoyed looking at some of the many special features on this DVD. It's really fun to see the deleted scenes and song from this film in particular. All in all, this one is definitely worth adding to your permanent collection.

Here are the disc specifics:

Film Synopsis:

Alice in Wonderland is a story about a young girl who grows bored listening to her older sister read aloud from a history book about William I of England.

While dozing off, she dreams about falling down a rabbit hole (“Wonderland”) that is populated by a peculiar series of misadventures. The always sensible Alice whirls through a world of contradictions, imagination and surprises where she encounters amazing creatures - including a pocket watch-toting White Rabbit, the imperious Queen of Hearts and her army of playing cards, a Cheshire Cat with a lingering smile in an unforgettable fantasy, and the off-kilter Madhatter – and tests her sensibility and courage.

In the end it’s all a dream, she is awakened by her sister’s voice, and as the two of them return home for teatime where she realizes that perhaps logic and reason exist for purpose. And in return, her sister realizes affectionately that Alice is still young, but will grow-up in time.

Blu-ray Disc Bonus Features:

Brand-New Blu-ray Features:

• Through the Keyhole: A Companion's Guide to Wonderland - View the movie in this special mode and discover references to the original Lewis Carroll classic. Kathryn Beaumont introduces.
• Disney View - Watch the movie in this expanded viewing experience with new Disney art in the wings of the screen.
• Painting the Roses Red Game - Help paint the roses red in the Queen's garden. Careful, or someone could lose their head.
• Walt Disney Color TV Introduction (1959) - A never-before-seen color TV intro by Walt.
• Reference Footage: Alice and the Doorknob - Kathryn Beaumont, the voice of Alice, provides an introduction to this newly discovered reference footage of Alice talking to the doorknob.
• Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks - Kathryn Beaumont introduces a newly discovered pencil test of Alice shrinking.
  

Plus, Classic Features:

• "I'm Odd" Newly Discovered Cheshire Cat Song + Intro
  
• Thru the Mirror Mickey Mouse Animated Short (Now in Hi-Def)
• Art Gallery (with new design and new images)
• Reflections on Alice
  
• Operation Wonderland (Now in Hi-Def)
• One Hour in Wonderland
• An Alice Comedy: Alice's Wonderland
• Original Theatrical Trailers (1951 & 1974)
• Walt Disney TV Introduction (1954 & 1964)
• The Fred Waring Show (Excerpt)
• Deleted Materials

1. Deleted Scene-- Pig and Pepper
   
2. From Wonderland to Neverland: The Evolution of a Song - An entertaining look at how a song originally written for Alice in Wonderland, finally found its home in another Disney favorite, Peter Pan.
3. Deleted Storyboard Concept: Alice Daydreams in the Park - Deleted storyboard sequence set to music.
4. Original Song Demos: "Beware The Jabberwock"; "Everything Has A Useness"; "So They Say"; "Beautiful Soup"; "Dream Caravan"; "If You'll Believe In Me" Movie
   

Download Bonus Features (SD & HD):

• Pencil Test: Alice Shrinks
• Thru The Mirror Mickey Mouse Animated Short
• Reflections on Alice

You can pre-order this Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack for just $19.99 right now on Amazon.com.

Disclosure: I received a screener of this movie in order to write my review.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Ticket Giveaway for This Weekend's Nashville Show!

I have always loved the circus- and now as a parent, I LOVE taking my children to see it.

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was always my favorite- but lately with all the circus competition out there, it has gotten even better.

That's why I'm extra-excited about the latest FUNundrum show, coming to Nashville this weekend.

Here's what you can expect:

Featuring 130 performers from six continents and almost 100,000 pounds of performing elephants, cowboys, pirates and mermaids, Barnum’s FUNundrum!SM is a super-sized spectacle so massive you just can’t miss it.

This monumental, once-in-a-lifetime event celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the legendary P.T. Barnum, the greatest showman on Earth, and can only be experienced at The Greatest Show On Earth®, Barnum’s living legacy.

Ringmaster Jonathan Lee Iverson invites the audience to leap aboard the Ringling Bros.® train and go on a family FUNtastic adventure to meet exotic characters and witness thrilling performances that attempt to answer Barnum’s FUNundrum!SM, “What special wonders create The Greatest Show On Earth®?”

I can't wait to see it!

Another feature of this show that I love is that ticket holders can come an hour early for the all-access Pre-show, where they can meet circus performers and learn circus tricks. This will really get my kids excited about what they're going to see.

FUNundrum will be at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena this upcoming weekend. Showtimes are:

Friday, Jan. 21 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 22 – 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 23 – 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m.

Tickets are $14 to $25, VIP tickets are $40 to $65 and Circus Celebrity tickets are $100. All seats are reserved and available at www.Ringling.com, Ticketmaster or the Bridgestone Arena box office.

The Ferrier family will be there this weekend- and one lucky Suburban Turmoil reader can win four tickets to see the show, too! To enter to win, leave a comment on this post and tell me why you'd like to go see the circus between now and Wednesday, January 19th at 11:59pm, CST. Be sure and leave your e-mail address in your comment so that I can contact you if you've won.

Good luck!

Disclosure: I received tickets to see the circus as thanks for hosting this giveaway.

Giveaway: Family Flick Night Prize Pack, Including 4 Tickets Good for Most Major Movie Theaters!

Here's some truly cool information.

Right now, you can receive a free movie ticket when you purchase two specially marked packages of Big G cereals, including Honey Nut Cheerios® (17 oz.), Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (17 oz.), Lucky Charms® (16 oz.), Trix® (14.8 oz) and Reese´s Puffs® cereal (18 oz.).

After purchasing two participating cereals, all you have to do to get your ticket is visit generalmills.com/moviecash to enter the unique code found inside each box of cereal and print your free Movie Cash certificate (good for one admission of up to a $12 value at participating theatres).

To find a participating theater in your area, log onto http://emoviecash.com/dis_locator/.

I found that all the major theaters we frequent here in Nashville accept these tickets- and when we used our printed out tickets at Green Hills Cinema, we had no problems or hold-ups - The employee told us he had seen the printouts many times before.

Interested in entering to win a "Family Flick Night" gift pack, including two boxes of the participating Big G cereals and four Movie Cash certificates?

Leave a comment on this post between now and Monday, January 10th at 11:59pm, CST telling me how you like to make movie night special for your family. Be sure and leave your e-mail address in the comment so that I can contact you if you've won.

Good luck!

Disclosure: This information and a Family Flick Night prize pack were sent to me from General Mills through MyBlogSpark. My opinions on the move cash certificates are my own.

Giveaway: Four Bridgestone Arena Monster Jam Tickets for Friday Night Here in Nashville!

Coming January 7 and 8 to Nashville's Bridgestone Arena....

MONSTER JAM.

No, Frankenstein and Dracula won't be there.

I'm talking about monster trucks- trucks that are 12 feet tall, 12 feet wide, 10,000 pounds, and can fly up to 35 feet in the air.

I managed to secure tickets for my husband and three-year-old son for a "Guy's Night Out" and they are both totally psyched!

Hubs cut out a picture of one of the trucks in the newspaper over the weekend and Bruiser has put it up at his level on the refrigerator. He's talking about the upcoming show every day.

A little bit about the Nashville show:

Monster Jam® shows consist of three main fan-favorite elements – the pit party, racing and freestyle. The Nashville show will feature the return of Grave Digger®, the world’s best-known monster truck and three-time champion, which will be making its first appearance in Nashville since 2004. It will also feature the Monster Mutt®, which is known by its massive motorized tongue, the AAP Grinder, Predator, Blue Thunder and more. It will also feature the Quad Wars™, where two teams of four-wheel ATVs race on a motor cross track and duel it out to the finish line.

Prior to each show, fans who have purchased a ticket can attend the Party in the Pits event, which gives them a free opportunity to get their shoes dirty by stepping onto the arena dirt to get a view of the massive trucks up close and personal.

Tickets are on sale now and cost between $25.75 and $52, with half-price kids seats (excluding front-row and Gold Circle).

Best of all, I'm giving away a set of four tickets for the Friday night Nashville event on January 7th. It starts at 7:30.

To enter, just leave a comment on this post between now and Thursday, January 6th at noon, CST, telling me why you want to see Monster Jam! I'll choose a winner on Thursday afternoon. Be sure and leave your e-mail address in the comment so that I can quickly contact you if you've won.

Good luck!