Movies Archives - Busy Moms Helper

Dumbo: The Family We All Need

March 27, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I remember watching the animated classic Dumbo when I was little, thinking not much could be more adorable than the little elephant with ginormous ears – now I have to admit that there is something better….the new version in the live-action remake that’s hitting theaters this week! Seriously, he’s super cute – but more than that, the whole film is full of amazing characters and touching moments, plus excitement and laughter to round it all out. After enjoying the adventure with this crew, you’ll realize that Dumbo is the Family We All Need.

I love that there’s several nods to the original film, from hints or remakes of the songs (Baby Mine is BEAUTIFUL), to the mice, and – of course – Dumbo’s feathers. It’s similar in story, but also completely different with new characters, villains and challenges that they must overcome. Don’t think that just because you’ve seen the beloved classic, means you won’t be in for big surprises with the newer Dumbo!

We were able to take the whole family, and every single one of us loved it – from my young boys and early teen girls, on up to my hubby (who was a bit skeptical going in, but did truly enjoy it after all). The music was both fun, beautiful and tense depending on the moment, and really delightful the whole movie through. I didn’t ever feel like it dragged on, as each scene was important and well-performed. The graphics were incredible, too, as my kids kept asking ‘did they use a real elephant?’ Love it!

The cast is full of talent, from Colin Farrell and Danny DeVito to Michael Keaton and Eva Green. They bring a lot of heart to the film, pulling you in and making the audience wish they could come along for the ride.

I’ve seen the original movie, I knew some of what to expect (knowing some things would be different), but still had moments with tears in my eyes – kudos to the directors, screenwriters and cast for making such a touching film that is truly feel-good!

There’s also some important messages from Dumbo, such as what family really means and the importance of treating others well. What lengths will someone go to for those they care about? Some further than others, that’s certain.

Hurry & see the magic of Dumbo for yourself – in theaters this week!

Captain Marvel: The Hero We All Need

March 5, 2019 by Danielle 1 Comment

You’d think that after more than a decade of Marvel films, we’d start to get bored or things would become monotonous and repetitive – but that’s certainly not the case! Captain Marvel is a super fresh film that keeps you on the edge of your seat in suspense, while trying not to spit out your soda from laughter at the same time! She not only comes with plenty of humor, strength (inside and out), confidence (mixed with uncertainty, making her totally relatable), determination and plenty of spunk – but she’s the hero we all need. (no spoilers, I promise!)

I admit that I didn’t know tons about Captain Marvel before the film – just bits and pieces from various comics or the cartoon shows my kids watch. I thought she was tough and cool, but no idea just how amazing she actually is! Seriously, I can honestly say she’s my new FAVORITE superhero – which is saying something, because there’s some incredible ones to pick from. My favorite thing about her is that she’s full of sass – but has a very kind, honest heart. Veers, as she’s known by her Kree ‘noble warrior hero’ companions, certainly isn’t perfect, which makes her that much more likable because we’ve all been through doubts or insecurities.

Like Veers, we often find ourselves fighting with ‘one hand tied behind our backs’, so to speak. Letting others put limitations on us, holding us back from our full potential. Or maybe it’s ourselves that simply don’t allow ourselves to be as truly remarkable as we can be, as we’re meant to be. Either way, it’s time we take a cue from this new superhero and find out what are abilities REALLY are!

Along for the ride, Veers brings on the infamous Nick Fury to help solve the puzzle – and since this is back in the 90’s, he’s quite a bit younger with much better vision (if you know what I mean) than the regular Avengers-era Fury we know. We also get to see the ‘newbie’ Coulson, who I already loved but now adore even more so – you’ll see why! There’s plenty of friends – old and new – joining her mission. My favorite may be ‘Lieutenant Trouble’ who is the cutest little girl full of personality. Seriously, she may even save the world herself someday!

Since I don’t want to share an spoilers, here’s a few reasons you need to nab tickets to this movie (in theaters THIS WEEK) fast!

Probably the best music list of any Marvel movie yet (in my opinion)
Plenty of laughs
Mystery, suspense and adventure galore
A spunky superhero who is hard not to want to be friends with
During the credits, a sneak peak to get you more excited for the upcoming Avengers: Endgame next month! Woot woot!

You may also find some clues or answers to:

What really IS Captain Marvel?
How did Nick come about the eye patch?
Why are the Skrull so afraid of Goose, the cat?

Hurry & see why Captain Marvel is my new favorite hero – she’s in theaters now!

Fly with Toothless at iFly

March 2, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We received a complimentary visit to try this flying adventure. All opinions are mine alone.

We’ve all dreamed of flying with dragons – and now you can really experience the adventure and Fly with Toothless at iFly! Dreamworks and iFly have teamed up for the release of How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World to offer you an unforgettable experience that the whole family will be talking about for a long time to come. Our family had the opportunity to try out this unbelieve Virtual Reality experience, and we’re still on cloud 9!

Our family was a mix of excitement and nervousness, as we had no clue what to expect from our exciting evening. Despite a few fears, even the littles couldn’t wait to try it out and were talking about it for many days leading up to our appointment! We went to the Dallas location, but the How to Train Your Dragon virtual reality experience is available nationwide (there’s over 30 locations in the U.S.) exclusively at iFly.

First of all, the basics: While you can enjoy iFly indoor skydiving as young as 3 years old, the Virtual Reality (VR) experiences are for ages 6 and up and for weights up to 260 pounds. As first time flyers (but now definite repeats!), our package included a short training to start – so they could explain how it works and the various hand signals used in the wind tunnel – as well as two 1-minute flights each before the VR.

They provide the jumpsuits (can fit over regular clothes, just don’t wear something bulky), helmets, goggles and foam ear plugs. You do need to wear closed-toe shoes that won’t slip off.

I knew they worked with younger kids, but was still nervous if they’d have something that fit my littles – but they had quite the variety and had the right thing for all 7 of us! Don’t we look adorable in our gear? 😉

I’m so glad we got to try out the regular flight before, because you can really get a feel for the wind blowing and the instructor guiding your body around as you fly. Especially for the kiddos, I don’t know how they would’ve done having a VR set on without knowing their ‘real’ surroundings first. Plus we could experience the VR better as we weren’t as ‘flingy’ as the first flight!

If your kiddos are a bit unsure like some of mine were, don’t worry – the instructors are incredible, preparing us with all the information beforehand and guiding us every step of the way. Ashley was with our crew, and I can’t speak highly enough of her. She kept it extremely fun, safe and was super patient with some of my littles that were more CLINGY….

If you’re wondering – after this first flight of his, he had his arms fully out for the second, so we were thrilled at his progress and feeling more at ease! Just from the flights, the kiddos were begging to come back again soon – and we hadn’t even done the awesome VR, yet!

Now it was time for the BIG event – flying like a dragon! We raced Toothless and Astrid, but you can also pick Hiccup if you’d rather him. They get you all equipped with the VR headset outside of the tunnel, making sure it’s working and you can see. Then you begin your race in a fully-immersive and exhilarating adventure through the world of Berk from the new film How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World!

The instructor has you the entire time, moving you around so your flight is totally life-like. They have a screen so the instructor can see exactly what you see, so they can move you perfectly around the mountains, hills or other obstacles you may encounter.

Feel free to look around as much as you’d like, because there’s stuff to see ALL AROUND YOU, not just in front! It was so incredible to soar right along our beloved dragon Toothless, and really feel what it’s like to fly. This breathtaking journey is unforgettable, and it’s truly a family experience I recommend for everyone that’s able. My kids are STILL talking about it, and can’t to go back as soon as we can. Be sure to ask them about return pass deals when you’re there, because that’s when you can get the best prices!

Of all the exciting things I’ve had the privilege of doing for this site, I can honestly say that this was definitely in my top 10 favorites! Hurry and schedule your time to try out this incredible VR experience to feel and see for yourself what it really is like to fly like a dragon!

Who’s YOUR favorite from How to Train Your Dragon?

Walt Disney Movies Coming in 2019

January 6, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Grab your popcorn, nab those tickets and bring your friends because we’re in for an incredible year of motion picture releases! Here’s all the exciting, beautiful, grip-your-seats Walt Disney Movies Coming in 2019!

Planning a Disney trip? Check out Get Away Today for great prices – use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper

To make things easier, I put them in order of release date – get ready for some amazing movie watching this year!

March 9, 2019 – CAPTAIN MARVEL (Marvel Studios) #CaptainMarvel

This all-new adventure takes place in the 1990s, a previously unseen perdio in the history of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) following the journey of Carol Danvers who becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes. Can Davers and her small crew of allies protect mankind when a galactic war between two alien races reaches Earth?

The film stars Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou, Lee Pace, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Rune Temte, Algenis Perez Soto, Mckenna Grace, with Annette Bening, with Clark Gregg, and Jude Law.

Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” is produced by Kevin Feige and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jonathan Schwartz, Patricia Whitcher and Stan Lee (oh how we miss this incredible man!) are the executive producers. The story is by Nicole Perlman and Joe Shrapnel & Anna Waterhouse, and the screenplay is by Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck and Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Jac Schaeffer.

March 29, 2019 – DUMBO (Walt Disney Studios) #Dumbo

Many of us remember this touching, adorable film from our own childhood, and now it’s coming to life in an all new live-action adventure where differences are celebrated, family is cherished and any dream can take flight!

Directed by Tim Burton (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger (“Ophelia,” “Dream House”), and produced by Justin Springer (“TRON: Legacy”), Kruger, Katterli Frauenfelder (“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” “Big Eyes”) and Derek Frey (“Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” “Frankenweenie”).

April 17, 2019 – PENGUINS (Disneynature) #DisneynaturePenguins

Follow a coming-of-age story about an Adélie penguin, named Steve, who joins his ‘few’ fellow males (millions of them, actually) in the icy Antarctic spring as they’re on a quest to build a suitable nest, find a LIFE partner and start an adorable family of penguins. Will Steve get his happily ever after, or will killer whales or leopard seals get in the way?

From the filmmaking team behind “Bears” and “Chimpanzee,” Disneynature’s “Penguins” opens in theaters nationwide in time for Earth Day 2019.

April 26, 2019 – AVENGERS: ENDGAME (Marvel Studios) #AvengersEndgame

Get ready for the ENDGAME with the next, much anticipated Avengers film!

More details to come!

May 24, 2019 – ALADDIN (Walt Disney Studios) #Aladdin

This was always a favorite of ours, so of course we’ve shared the animated classic with our kids numerous times. Now it’s an even more exciting adventure in vibrant and thrilling live-action! Watch the tale of the charming street rate, Aladdin, as he joins the brave and self-determined Princess Jasmine on an adventure where the Genie may be the key to their future.

“Aladdin” is produced by Dan Lin (“Sherlock Holmes”) and Jonathan Eirich (“Death Nate”) with Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner Marc Platt (“La La Land”) and Kevin De La Noy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) serving as executive producers. Eight-time Academy Award winning composer Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid”) provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Oscar-winning lyricists Howard Ashman (“Little Shop of Horrors”) and Tim Rice (“The Lion King”) and includes two new songs written by Menken and Oscar and Tony Award-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land,” “Dear Evan Hanson”). The film, which was shot on practical stages in London and on location amidst the stunning desert vistas of Jordan, has a talented creative team helping to bring Agrabah to life, including: director of photography Alan Stewart (“The Commuter”), production designer Gemma Jackson (“Game of Thrones”) and costume designer Michael Wilkinson (“American Hustle”).

June 21, 2019 – TOY STORY 4 (Disney·Pixar) #ToyStory4

I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of watching our favorite group of toys on their next adventure – this time, a road trip with friends old AND new can show Woody just how big the world can be for a toy.

Directed by Josh Cooley (“Riley’s First Date?”) and produced by Jonas Rivera (“Inside Out,” “Up”) and Mark Nielsen (associate producer “Inside Out”).

July 19, 2019 – THE LION KING (Walt Disney Studios) #TheLionKing

I recall seeing this in theaters when I was little, and can’t wait to share this beautiful new version! In the African savannah the future king, Simba, is born, but after some betrayal, tragedy and drama, Simba finds himself in exile. With a curious pair of newfound friends, he’ll have to figure out how to face his past to take back what’s rightfully his.

The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon, “The Lion King” utilizes pioneer filmmaking techniques to bring these treasured characters to life in a whole new way.

August 9, 2019 – ARTEMIS FOWL (Walt Disney Studios) #ArtemisFowl

For any who’ve read the beloved book by Eoin Colfer, you’re in for an amazing treat as we follow the adventure of 12-year-old Artemis Fowl as he seeks to find his father who mysteriously disappeared. Can this genius, criminal mastermind figure out what happened, or will his dangerous plan prove to be too much for even him?

“Artemis Fowl” is directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Tamara Smart, Nonzo Anozie, with Josh Gad, and Judi Dench. Judy Hofflund and Branagh are producing with Angus More Gordon and Matthew Jenkins serving as executive producers. Conor McPherson wrote the screenplay.

November 22, 2019 – FROZEN 2 (Walt Disney Animation Studios)

I’m sure there’s many families out there who can’t wait to see what Olaf, Elsa, Ana and the whole Frozen crew are up to in their upcoming film – more details on the way!

December 20, 2019 – STAR WARS: EPISODE IX (Lucasfilm)

Beautiful Nostalgia in Mary Poppins Returns

December 18, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I’ve been so excited to see the new adventures of the Banks family, and share all the magic, music and adventure with my kids as I remember from the original film in my childhood. The audience in the theater was filled with beautiful nostalgia every moment of Mary Poppins Returns, and the perfect cast, incredible choreography and thrilling story capture our hearts all over again!

As usual, I wouldn’t dream of sharing any spoilers, because you’ll want to enjoy every surprise along the way for yourself. Here are some things that really had us talking the entire drive home after the movie, and why you need to hurry out to see Mary Poppins Returns with your family right away.

Perfect Casting

I’ve always deeply admired Julie Andrews, so was a bit worried that this just wouldn’t leave up to her level. I couldn’t have been more wrong, as Emily Blunt was ‘positively perfect in every way’. It was as if a day hadn’t passed for our beloved Mary Poppins, with the same spunky, adorable personality and mannerisms as before.

Along for the ride is Jack, played by the talented Lin-Manuel Miranda, the leerie (lamplighter, if you were wondering), who was a boy the last time Mary Poppins made an appearance. Together, they help the new Banks children – Anabel, John and sweet Georgie – deal with an incredible loss, and help their father, Michael Banks, and aunt Jane to find a solution to the family’s current dilemma before they lose the home they all love so dearly.

Music & Dancing

You can’t have a Mary Poppins movie without songs and just as before, the music is not only amazing, but will have you singing along while hearing beautiful (and much needed) messages that will touch your heart and help guide your life. I was particularly fond of the leerie dance scene, with bike stunts and everything!

Just wait for a special appearance by Dick Van Dyke himself, it had me almost in tears I was so excited!

Quotable Lines

There’s plenty of lines in the original film that I still quote to this day, and now I have more from Mary Poppins Returns that I know I’ll use with my family in the future. I love the fun, excitement, imagination and the practical sense all mixed together!

I don’t want to share too much, but my whole family was pulled into this beautiful film every moment, and couldn’t wait to see the newest adventures with Mary Poppins. Hurry out to see it this week with your own family and relive the magic, adventure and fun!

What’s your favorite Mary Poppins song?

Family Holiday Movie List

November 24, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

There’s so many wonderful things about the holidays, and great movies to enjoy as a family are among the top. We love sharing some great times together, snuggled with blankets and mugs of hot chocolate (with marshmallows, of course), watching some old favorites along with any new films. Whether you do a whole day movie-a-thon, or spread it out during the entire Christmas season, we’re sharing our favorites in this Family Holiday Movie List!

There’s not really a specific order to this list – pick your favorites or tackle them all in whatever order your family prefers. That being said, our family does have a traditional ‘first holiday movie’ we start with. Since it’s kind of a mix of the holidays, we like to ‘kick off’ with The Nightmare Before Christmas. Not only is it a great Disney film (love seeing Jack & Sally during the Halloween party at the Disney parks!), but it’s a fun way to say goodbye to Halloween and welcome in Thanksgiving and Christmas time.

Animated Holiday Movies

Arthur Christmas – PG – 1hr 37m

Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – NR – 26m

Frosty the Snowman – TVG – 25m

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – TVG – 47m

Polar Express – G – 1hr 40m

A Charlie Brown Christmas – TVG – 25m

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas Special – TVPG – 26m

Prep & Landing – TVG – 22m

The Search for Santa Paws – G – 1hr 36m

Kung Fu Panda: Holiday – TVPG – 21m

The Grinch (in theaters November 9th 2018) – PG – 1hr 45m

Mickey Mouse Holiday Movies

Mickey’s Christmas Carol – G – 26m
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas – NR – 1hr 6m
Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas – G – 1hr 8m
Mickey’s Magical Christmas – TVG – 1hr 6m

Live Action Holiday Movies

Pete’s Christmas – PG – 1hr 26m

Nutcracker and the Four Realms (in theaters) – PG – 1hr 39m

Santa Buddies – G – 1hr 28m

Christmas with the Kranks – PG – 1hr 39m

Ernest Saves Christmas – PG – 1hr 35m

Jingle All The Way – PG – 1hr 29m

Jack Frost – PG – 1hr 41m

I’ll Be Home for Christmas – PG – 1hr 26m

Miracle on 34th Street – PG – 1hr 54m

Prancer – G – 1hr 43m

It’s a Wonderful Life – PG – 2hr 10m

The Santa Clause 1 – PG – 1hr 37m

The Santa Clause 2 – G – 1hr 44m

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause – G – 1hr 37m

ELF – PG – 1hr 37m

The Muppets Christmas Carol – G – 1hr 25m

Home Alone 1 – PG – 1hr 43m

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York – PG – 2hr

Home Alone 3 – PG – 1hr 42m

A Christmas Story – PG – 1hr 34m

How the Grinch Stole Christmas ft. Jim Carrey – PG – 1hr 44m

This is certainly not a list of ALL the holiday movies available, but these are our favorites and ones we think would be a hit with the whole family (although I admit hubby and I will pass on Santa Buddies or Search for Santa Paws)!

What’s your favorite family holiday movie?

Nonstop Laughs when Ralph Breaks the Internet

November 14, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Guys, you know that I love Disney movies – the classics, live action remakes, Marvel, Star Wars, newer Pixar ones, all of them – so it goes without saying that I’ve been eager to see Ralph & Vanellope’s newest adventure. Knowing how well Disney typically does with sequels, I was expecting it to be as good as the first – but I was wrong. It was even better!!! No kidding, I loved this film so much, and consider it one of the funniest animated films I’ve ever seen – if not THE funniest! You’ve got to run out and see this new movie (hitting theaters November 21st) if for no other reason that it’s Nonstop Laughs when Ralph Breaks the Internet!

As my usual with reviews, I don’t want to spoil a single thing – especially any of the hilarious, laugh-so-hard-your-face-hurts moments – so I’m just gonna really quick say a few reasons you NEED to see Ralph Breaks the Internet with your family (or by yourself, it’s still amazing). Hubby walked out of the theater saying ‘that’s the best animated movie ever’ at least a handful of times. Even before the two funny mid-and-post credit bits our faces already hurt from laughing!

So beyond the humor – which had some that was more adult and plenty that was for the kids, too – here’s why seeing Ralph Breaks the Internet in theaters this season should be on your must-do list:

New Adventure Full of Surprises

Ralph and Vanellope hit the internet to try and save Sugar Rush, but along the way there’s plenty of obstacles – some that will even test their amazing friendship. I couldn’t guess the ending, but loved the way it played out even though it wasn’t what I was expecting. Since we’re all really into being online lately, tons of the animation, little blips, and scenes will be totally relatable and make you think a new way next time you’re online!

Super Cool Characters

Along with many of your favorite faces from the original Wreck it Ralph, there’s plenty of new characters along for the ride. ‘Yes’ from ‘BuzzTube’ has so much spunk and sass, you instantly want in to her circle. Spamly may not be the most ‘professional’ guy, but at least he tries to help out and I kind of found him sweet. My absolutely favorite, though, had to be Shank – a fearless and charismatic woman in the game Slaughter Race who’s voiced by the lovely (and equally amazing) Gal Gadot (wonder woman)! You know her and Vanellope are gonna hit it off, both being up for adventure and excitement as well as their love of racing. The whole lot of Disney princesses also shine in their own way, offering plenty of quotes worthy of repeat.

Hard Truths

While I don’t want to give anything away, there’s plenty of scenes in this film that may be a hard reality for some – pointing out how the internet doesn’t always bring out the best in people, how much time or nonsense of our lives we can waste there, and so much more. I was reminded of a few things I should check about myself when choosing how to spend my time online, and perhaps it’ll do the same with some of you. A movie that can possibly make us better as a person is surely worth a look (or three!).

There’s so many more reasons that Ralph Breaks the Internet is one of my absolute FAVORITE animated movies, and why I think it’s even better than the first – but you’ll have to see it for yourself to know it all. Every now and then a movie comes along that my family will go see multiple times before it hits DVD and this is definitely one of them!

Go see Ralph Breaks the Internet ASAP, then tell me your favorite part!

The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, a New Holiday Tradition

November 2, 2018 by Danielle 4 Comments

Everyone’s been abuzz with anticipation at the newest movie release, and eager to see how Disney brings this beautiful old tale to a new life. After seeing the beauty, adventure and mystery brought to the screen with incredible acting and affects, our family has decided that The Nutcracker and the Four Realms will be a New Holiday Tradition to enjoy year after year! I don’t want to ruin a single moment of this amazing new film, so we’ll avoid any spoilers. Here’s a few things to help convince even the most skeptical to rush out and see it in theaters asap!

Visit a Breathtaking World

No passport needed to experience this beautiful, colorful world that Clara visits during a Christmas Eve party at her Godfather’s house. Each of the Realms has its own special theme, bringing to life the Land of Snow, Land of Flowers, Land of Sweets – and even the Land of Amusements – with their own characteristics.

The Ballet a Whole New Way

The Nutcracker wouldn’t be complete without at least some of the lovely dancing, and they don’t dissapoint! The beautiful and talented Misty Copeland pulls you in with every movement as the ballet tells an important piece of the story. Also, be sure to watch some of the dancing during the credits, because you’ll see some awesome moves not normally associated with the classic song!

Finding Yourself

It seems like so many people in today’s society need help finding themselves, their own identity, talents, and – especially – confidence. Often times, people look outside for answers to problems, instead of at their own selves. Due to events in her life, young Clara is struggling with this herself, and you may be gripping your seat as you hope she can figure it out in time to help save the day.

Seeing How Grief Can Affect Us

After losing a loved one, people react in so many different ways as they deal with the grief. For some, pretending things are the same helps them cope. Others feel guilt about moving on or finding any joy without the person. Some may feel anger or abandonment or resentment. Others simply sorry and acceptance. Grief is intense, but it’s how we handle it that can matter – as some in the story will learn.

Adventure & Mystery for All

Along with graceful dancing and touching story, we have a plot full of adventure, declarations of war and a fate of the realms to tackle. As Clara tries to find her way, and maybe peak a bit into her mother’s past, she’ll need a lot of courage, intelligence – and, of course, her trusty Nutcracker to help.

A Female Hero with a Great Mind

I’m a big fan of movies with female heroes, and absolutely LOVE that they not only created Clara as such – but she’s such a brilliant young lady, as well. She uses her mind to get through many obstacles, and her heart to go further.

Nothing is as it Seems

Be ready for some surprises along the way, because no story would be quite complete without a twist or two!

Run see The Nutcracker and the Four Realms in Theaters NOW!

Movies to Watch Before Disney World

September 5, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

If you’re planning a Disney vacation, you may be considering watching some movies leading up to it, just for fun or perhaps to refamiliarize your kids (or yourself) with the characters. The problem is that there’s SO MANY MOVIES to choose from! If you only have time for some, here are our favorite Movies to Watch Before Disney World.

Our family loves doing little activities or things to get more excited (and to help us be patient) leading up to a Disney vacation. Whether it’s decorating our MagicBands, decorating with our printable Disney banner, or doing a cool countdown chart, it’s a lot of fun and helps us make family memories even before we leave on the trip. Watching movies is a must, as well, to get us in the mood – and this year to introduce our kids to new things, such as Pandora land at Animal Kingdom by watching Avatar!

Whether you want to just want to watch a couple top picks, or as many Disney movies as you can fit in, here are the top movies to watch before Disney World we chose before our trip this year…

1: Avatar – with the opening of Pandora land a couple of years ago, I knew we had to watch this film just to give my kids an idea of the beautiful sights they have waiting for them there. Not only that, but the Flights of Passage ride will make much more sense!

2: Toy Story – With rides like ‘Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters’ and ‘Toy Story Mania’, this was already a good pick. Now with the opening of the whole Toy Story LAND, it’s a definite must-see!

3: Beauty & the Beast – of course there’s Belle around the parks, but especially if you’re going to dine at Be Our Guest restaurant (which I highly recommend!), this will give you a sense of nostalgia when you walk into the ballroom dining room, and definitely the West Wing.

4: Star Wars – We love ‘Star Tours’ and the like, but now there’s even more experiences and shows with this awesome series! Not only that, but Star Wars Land opens in a year or so, making this even more important to refresh on.

5: The Lion King – My favorite show at Disney World is the Festival of the Lion King, so I wanted to watch this childhood favorite with my family again before we take them to see it.

6: Finding Nemo – This wasn’t one of our TOP priorities, but with a ride for this film that I know they’ll enjoy, we added this to our list.

7: The Little Mermaid – Again, the ride in Magic Kingdom is a fun reason to watch this classic – but also because Ariel is a character you can find in many areas of the parks.

8: Alice in Wonderland – Maybe it’s just me, but I love remembering the film when riding the Teacups! Plus, since this one is a bit older, your kids may not have ever seen it before.

9: Peter Pan – Tinker Bell and Peter Pan are quite popular, as is the ride, so it’s fun to compare the sights you see during the ride to the film.

10: Cinderella – With that big beautiful castle at the center of Magic Kingdom (and particularly if you’re able to nab a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table), this is ideal to watch again just for that magic.

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11: Frozen – The Frozen ride in Epcot will be much better if you remember the songs and friends in the movie.

12: Monsters, Inc. – Kids will get a big laugh at the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor, but if they’ve recently watched the film then it’ll make it that much better.

13: Aladdin – Jasmine and our favorite street rat are quite popular, plus the entire area around the Carpet ride is themed after the film.

14: Tangled – Maybe it’s just me, but the little area by the Tangled restrooms is so pretty – plus those are some of my favorite restrooms!

15: Dinosaur – If your kids will be riding Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom, it may be good idea to have them watch the movie first. Knowing ‘Aladar’ in the cute film might help them not be so afraid in this darker ride!

Now, there are plenty more that could go in this list (like Lilo & Stitch, Winnie the Pooh, Sleeping Beauty, Cars, etc.) – because there’s TONS of characters and experiences! These were our top for this particular year, though, and because we had to prioritize due to time (as much as I’d love to rewatch every Disney movie ever made each year, that’s just not realistic).

What’s your favorite movies to watch before Disney World?

Christopher Robin Brings out the Best of Childhood

August 2, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I’ve always loved the Winnie the Pooh films and stories, with the silly ol’ bear and his crew tackling all sorts of adventures with their dear friend Christopher Robin. That being said, I was a bit concerned when I heard they were making a live-action version, because how could it appeal to adults and children enough to be a hit? After seeing it with my family this week, though, I gladly admit that Christopher Robin Brings out the Best of Childhood, and of life in general – with a touching, hilarious adventure and message we all need!

If you’ve seen any of the trailers, you know that in this story, Christopher Robin is all grown up. He works for a large luggage company, and that seems to be his priority over his beautiful and sweet wife, as well as his intelligent and adorable daughter.

When he hits a particularly rough patch that doesn’t seem to have a happy ending, he’ll need help from his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood to get through!

Pooh Bear hasn’t changed a bit, it seems, when he suddenly appears to Christopher in London, leading him on a whole new adventure full of old friends, happy memories, and one particularly sturdy red balloon.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but encourage y’all to go see it when it comes to theaters this week because it’s ADORABLE, and still full of the family-friendly humor we all enjoy. Not only that, but I think it’s message about needing joy, happiness and laughter in our lives – and what’s truly important – is something our entire society could use. We’re all so busy doing ‘something’, that we forget how amazing doing ‘nothing’ can be – and what it can really lead to.

Today my kids were saying there’s ‘nothing to do’, and my first thought was ‘perfect, that’s exactly what you should do then’! They remembered the movie, and went on about to do some very fun ‘nothing’ for a long while. We need more moments like that – and more reminders of the intelligence from a bear with very little brain, but very big heart!

Christopher Robin hits theaters TONIGHT, so nab some tickets and enjoy this incredible, beautiful family film with those you love most!

Who’s your favorite Christopher Robin character?

Ant-Man and Wasp: 5 Reasons it’s Even Better Than the First

June 27, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

With so many great Marvel films coming out, you may be tempted to skip out on one or two. Trust me, though, you’ll regret it because the newest one – Ant-Man and Wasp – is not only hilarious, but downright touching and full of adventure. Today we’re sharing it all with you (no spoilers!)! Ant-Man and Wasp: 5 Reasons it’s Even Better than the First! And since I completely loved the first film, you know this one must be great 😉

#1: The Cast is Phenomenal

If there’s no other reason you want to see this movie, just go for the cast. Seriously! With amazing talent like Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer and more, it’d be hard NOT to turn out with a wonderful movie experience. Each character is displayed and performed so well, it’s like they were each MADE for these parts. I mean, wait until you see Paul Rudd (aka: Ant-Man) spending his time while under house arrest (his consequence from his part in Civil War) – talented guy!

#2: You Might Cry

Or at the very least, get all the feelings – from hope and despair, to excited and afraid, not to mention all the relationship-type feelings such as between Scott and Hope, Scott and his absolutely adorable daughter, or between Hope and her parents. I had tears in the first five minutes, so needless to say this pulls you in right from the start!

#3: You WILL Laugh

If you don’t, then something might be wrong. Among all the emotions and adventure, there are a TON of hilarious antics, conversations and the likes that you would expect from such an incredibly funny guy like Paul Rudd. And don’t forget his best friend Luis, you definitely brings a whole new level of humor to the screen!

#4: Adventures of Epic Proportions

Guys – there’s car chases with MINIATURE vehicles! Add to that a huge PEZ dispenser (Hello Kitty, of course) and Lang’s suit that just isn’t working quite right, and this will be one wild ride. Not only does Scott need to repair his relationship with Hope and Hank, stay out of trouble (and ‘in his house’) for 3 more days until his sentence is over, but also help them attempt a rescue for Hope’s mom, who may still be alive – but lost for the past 30 years – in the Quantum realm. Oh, and did I mention a Quantum-phasing woman with her own agenda, an eager-for-a-win FBI agent and a black market dealer eager for a big paycheck? Yup, you’re in for a crazy time with all these folks trying to beat the clock – and each other!

#5: Because ‘Peanut’ is the Coolest Kid Ever

We got a feel for Scott’s cute daughter in the first film, but she really shines in Ant-Man and Wasp so we see much more of her personality – which is AWESOME! Seriously, more kids need to be this level of fun, supportive, understanding AND unknowingly wise. Just wait until you see more of Cassie in the film, and you won’t be able to help but love her, too.

Bonus: All the ‘ANT’ Names!

Okay, so maybe this doesn’t make this one BETTER than the first film, but it sure was hilarious hearing the names Scott picks for his several ant friends. My favorite is probably ‘ANT-onio Banderas’!

Ant-Man and Wasp hits theaters July 6th, 2018 – so grab your tickets and enjoy!

Incredibles 2 Blows Away Expectations

June 13, 2018 by Danielle 2 Comments

Elastigirl, Mr. Incredible, Frozone & the whole gang are back after 14 long years (though only moments from the ending of the last film). You may be wondering why so much hype when it’s been such a long time, and I admit I had my reservations as well. But guess what – it was well worth the wait because Incredibles 2 Blows Away Expectations and as my hubby put it ‘may be one of the best animated films I’ve ever seen’! Don’t worry, no spoilers here 😉

Please Note: Disney released a seizure warning due to some scenes with flashing lights. Please use your best judgement.

Old Friends

Whether your favorite from the original film was one of the Incredible family members, ‘uncle’ Frozone, or even agent Dicker, you’ll be thrilled to see them on the big screen once again as they face new challenges.

Newcomers

Among the great originals, you’ve got some new friends AND enemies, including wealthy super-fan Winston Deavor and his brilliant inventor sister Evelyn. The cast grows with new supers being introduced, with powers from dimensional portals to ‘regurgitating’ fire.

Among the awesome crew is also a new villain, Screenslaver. Elastigirl sure has her hands full trying to figure out her new mission to bring down this mastermind.

Great Story

Incredibles 2 picks up right where the previous one left off, so be ready to learn what’s in store for the supers now that they got a taste of being out of hiding. With Mr. and Mrs. Incredible adjusting new roles – hero and stay-home parent – there’s a whole new slew of challenges for them to tackle. Being the supers they are, though, they won’t shy away from it!

Handing Over the Spotlight

In the past, Mr. Incredible was front and center, so taking over the home duties while handing that over to his equally talented wife sure isn’t going to be easy. All the parents out there fully understand that parenting is no easy mission, even for super parents, so many will relate to his struggles. Half of the laughs are because we’ve all been there, too!

Dad’s are SUPER

I’ll admit, I was concerned that the movie would portray Robert Parr as a stereotypical dad who can’t handle being a stay-at-home parent. Boy was I in for a surprise, because like any super dad out there he steps up to the task and surprises us all!

Edna is Still my Favorite

Edna Mode (aka ‘E’) was my favorite in the first film, and still is after seeing her join in the adventures with the Incredible family. Her blunt talk, confidence, and pure sass is downright hilarious and makes me love her even more now!

Jack Jack

As we saw at the end of the first Incredibles, Jack Jack isn’t your average baby – but the family never saw otherwise! Now Mr. Incredible is at home adjusting to parenting full-time, with a child that has more than a few surprises up his sleeve. Parenting isn’t easy, and Jack Jack is the EXTREME of adorable challenges!

So be ready to laugh like crazy, grip your seat from suspense, jump in a few intense parts, and be moved by this super family who handles all life’s challenges – both the superhero ones and the day-to-day ones we can all relate to – while growing closer together.