As I sat down to write this column I marveled to myself: “Where did the summer go?” It seemed that spring had just recently sprung, then came summer with the kids home from school and now suddenly not only spring, but summer has slipped by. At this rate Christmas and Chanukah are just around the corner.
As I sat down to write this column I marveled to myself: “Where did the summer go?” It seemed that spring had just recently sprung, then came summer with the kids home from school and now suddenly not only spring, but summer has slipped by. At this rate Christmas and Chanukah are just around the corner.
Looking back at the recent past, two fine family films were released in August. One was the new version of Disney’s “Pete’s Dragon.” Unlike the earlier version, this dragon is not a cartoon, he is a computer generated fantasy creature who stands 24-feet tall. He is soft, green and loyal to those he loves like the little boy in the story.
This dragon will not only captivate your imagination, he will steal your heart as well. And for mom, Robert Redford is also in the film.
The other late summer film of note, is “Florence Foster Jenkins.” It is too adult for the younger kids in the family, but it will be fun for teens and older family members who enjoy a good comedy with plenty of heart. Meryl Streep stars as the title character, Florence, with Hugh Grant co-starring as her manager and partner in life.
This is a true story about a wealthy socialite who loved to sing, not realizing that she was tone deaf. Usually her protective ‘husband’ manager was able to shield her from critics, but things change when she sings at Carnegie Hall in 1944. Funny, sad and well worth seeing.
Presently there are not too many new films to enjoy so the next best thing to going to the movies is to bring the movies home to you via DVD. And this method is cheaper since the whole family can sit down and watch a show together for just one very small rental fee. Here are a few suggestions for DVD viewing.
If you are romantic at heart, don’t miss seeing “Me Before You,” which arrives on Blu-ray, DVD and digital HD from MGM and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Aug. 30. The film is based on the critically acclaimed, bestselling novel by Jojo Moyes, who also wrote the screenplay for the film.
When Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke, “Game of Thrones”) unexpectedly loses her job as a waitress she scrambles to find employment as soon as possible since her tight-knit family relies on her salary to stay afloat. In desperation, she accepts the job as caregiver to Will Traynor.-
Prior to a terrible car accident Will was a wealthy young banker with an adventurous soul. He loved life and lived it to the fullest, but since the crash he has no desire to live. He now keeps everyone at a distance.
Things change dramatically when Louisa (Lou) takes the job. Unlike his family, Lou refuses to cater to his overbearing attitude and mood swings. Her joy and sparkling personality, combined with her no nonsense spirit, are hard for Will to ignore. She is determined to show him that life is still worth living and eventually she encourages him to join her in a series of adventures that change both of their lives in ways they never expected.
The DVD package comes with added bonus features that include outtakes, deleted scenes and a segment called “Me Before You–From Page to Screen.” Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements and some suggestive material.
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“Quantico: The Complete First Season” comes to DVD on September 13, starring Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra. In the series Chopra is Alex Parrish, one of a diverse group of young recruits at the FBI Quantico Base. Despite intriguing personal secrets and complicated pasts, Alex and her fellow “NATS” (New Agents in Training) are the best, brightest, most thoroughly vetted candidates in the U.S., so it seems impossible that one of them could be a traitor.
The DVD has many bonus features that include: Bloopers, Deleted Scenes and a featurette entitled “Who Did It? False Leads, Theories and Red Herrings” in which the cast reflects on not knowing who was the culprit until the very end of the series, and the various theories they held about his or her identity and more. Running time is approximately 946 minutes for the 22 episodes (5 discs). This does not include the bonus feature materials.
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From PBS comes “ 9 Months That Made You” which is all about the lasting effects of our time in the womb. Mom and Dad, if you haven’t figured out how to tell your kids about the birds and the bees, this may be a very helpful guide. Discover the thrilling story of how you were made, from the moment of conception to the moment of birth 280 days later. In three episodes this breakthrough series charts how 100 trillion cells come together to make that unique individual — You.
