The Rolling Stones Unleash Crossfire Hurricane

 As part of the ongoing celebration marking the Rolling Stones 50th anniversary, the stadium rockers will release Crossfire Hurricane next week in the USA which documents the key periods of the Rolling Stones’ career and their incredible journey.

As quoted from the Rolling Stones press release, “Directed by Brett Morgen, Crossfire Hurricane provides a visually stunning and an amazing  perspective on the Stones’ unparalleled journey from blues-obsessed teenagers in the early 60’s to rock royalty. It’s all here in panoramic candor, from the Marquee Club to Hyde Park, from Altamont to Exile, from club gigs to stadium extravaganzas.

With never-before-seen footage and fresh insights from the band themselves, the film will delight longtime devotees, as well as a new generation of fans, with its uniquely immersive style and tone. Crossfire Hurricane places the viewer right on the frontline of the band’s most legendary escapades.

As befits the first rock band to reach the 50-year milestone with their global stature now greater than ever, the film combines extensive historical footage, much of it widely unseen, with contemporary commentaries by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and former Stones Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor. Period interviews, extensive live performance material and news archives give the production a truly kinetic aura and no-holds-barred approach.

Bonus features on the DVD and Blu-Ray include previously unreleased concert footage –  “Live in Germany ‘65”, NME Poll Winners concert footage from 1964 and 1965, a new interview with director Brett Morgen, “The Sound and Music of Crossfire Hurricane”, footage from The Arthur Haynes Show (1964), and the theatrical trailer.

Crossfire Hurricane received its worldwide premiere at the London Film Festival in October, where Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ronnie Wood all hit the red carpet.”

Crossfire Hurricane is now available to order in the USA digitally on iTunes, Blu-ray and DVD.

The Rolling Stones are currently in the midst of their 50 & Counting North American Tour which hits Anaheim, CA on May 15th. So far stops around the country have included guests like No Doubt’s Gwen Stefani, Katy Perry and Tom Waits along with the live debut of Emotional Rescue. There are scattered seats left for some of these shows. Don’t miss your chance to witness rock royalty live! Stop by Ticketmaster today and see if you can grab a pair of tickets before they disappear.

 

Another Honor for Duran Duran – Headlining the Olympics

by Jade Robledo

It is a GREAT time to be a Duranie. That is, a fan of Duran Duran.

First there was the release of the artwork for their upcoming DVD / CD, A Diamond in the Mind. Then there was the first date of the South American leg of the All You Need Is Now tour, a date in which the band was joined on stage by popular Brazilian singer Fernanda Takai for a duet of “Ordinary World.” Now the news from this morning.

It has been announced that Duran Duran was selected to perform at the opening ceremonies for the 2012 Summer Olympics to be held in London on July 27th. As the United Kingdom consists of four different nations, it was decided that the opening ceremonies should consist of live performances from an act representing each part. Duran Duran were chosen for England, with Snow Patrol representing Northern Ireland, Stereophonics selected for Wales and Paolo Nutini on behalf of Scotland. Each act will perform a “greatest hits” set in front of 60,000 fans in Hyde Park, and countless others watching throughout the world.

For those who may want a bit more than one of their many hit songs from the past three decades, the tentative release date for A Diamond in the Mind is set for July 10th, 17 days before the Hyde Park show. Filmed at MEN Arena in Manchester, England on December 16th, the DVD / CD set showcases the band’s critically acclaimed 2011 release, All You Need Is Now, along with their older hits.

If you are lucky you will be able to catch the band live. Their upcoming dates can be found on their official site.

Tom & Jerry Cartoon Capers on DVD

Tom & Jerry DVD image courtesy of Warner Bros.

So tell me, did you watch Tom & Jerry growing up? I know it was on all the time in our household and I love that Tom & Jerry Fur Flying Adventures Volume 2 is out now on DVD for another generation to enjoy! It’s hard to believe that Hanna Barbera created this zany cartoon more than 70 years ago! Amazingly, every decade since Tom & Jerry’s inception in the 1940’s have seen the comic duo re-emerge as a top cartoon in that decade from Saturday morning cartoons to movie shorts, they are always there.  

In case you aren’t overly familiar with the cat & mouse team (perhaps you’ve just returned from say, Mars?) here is a little bit more info about them and what to expect on this fun-filled DVD from Warner Bros. I love how Spike the dog always steps in to help Jerry and how the lady of the house usually catches Tom in the act of some wrongdoing and yells out “Thomas!”.

One flustered feline + one resourceful rodent = 14 wild and wacky cartoons! Tom – the eternally crabby cat – and Jerry – the hopelessly adorable mouse – find themselves in a fracas once, twice and many times again in this latest bunch of 14 fast and funny cartoons! This time around the dizzy duo takes their tiffs to the beach (Surf-Bored Cat), to the Alps (The A-Tom-inable-Snowman) and to the orchestra (Tom and Jerry in the Hollywood Bowl). In Top with Pops Spike the dog pounces into the fray and Jerry learns a mouse’s best friend is a dog! Even vampire hunter Van Helsing gets in the middle of the cat/mouse combat in Monster Con. Your hunt stops here: this new collection of animated antics will delightfully drop you into the middle of non-stop family fun!

As a parent, one of the best things about having kids is that you still get to watch cartoons on a regular basis! I love this DVD compilation because it contains 14 different episodes so if the kids really want to watch some Tom & Jerry, they can pop it in and watch an episode or two without taking over the TV for the time it takes to watch an entire movie. I’m really enjoying the resurgence of cartoons that I enjoyed on Saturday mornings long past and hope you will enjoy this fun DVD with your family too.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – midnight screenings now on sale!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (part 1) doesn’t hit theaters until November 19th, but many theaters have already started selling tickets for midnight screenings. Fandango is offering them in some areas and most major cities should have them available shortly if they aren’t already listed. Enter your zip code to check your area!

The final two-part journey in the Harry Potter series is indeed a bittersweet one. For more than a decade Harry Potter has shaped the world, encouraged young readers to dive into books and live in the fantasy world of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. As the movies have developed, we’ve watched the young actors, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson grow into young adults.

As much as I’m looking forward to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on the big screen in November, I dread the last movie in July 2011. Harry Potter will always live on in our home but we will miss not reading about new adventures in the lives of these fabulous characters.

How To Train Your Dragon – out now on DVD/Blu-ray

Cover via Amazon

Dreamworks How To Train Your Dragon is out today on DVD/Blu-ray.

This movie is the perfect mixture of adventure, comedy and friendship that leaves you wanting your own dragon by the end of the movie.

Hiccup (voice by Jay Baruchel) is the skinny, inquisitive boy who constantly fails at all attempts to be a proper Viking.  His father, chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler), has pretty much given up on his teenage son and apprenticed him to blacksmith Gobber (Craig Ferguson). Worse, Hiccup knows the village loser hasn’t a chance of impressing Astrid (America Ferrera), the girl of his dreams and a formidable dragon fighter in her own right. When one of Hiccup’s inventions actually works, he hasn’t the heart to kill the young dragon he’s brought down. He names it Toothless and befriends it, although he’s been taught to fear and loathe dragons.  Hiccup uses his newly found knowledge to help his village fend off a dragon attack and change the minds of some stalwart old Vikings.

This movie is rated PG: suitable for ages 8 and older, violence, some intense action and scary dragons so preview and/or discuss it with younger children before allowing them to view it.

Vons/Safeway have a great deal going on now for the DVD.  They have the How To Train Your Dragon DVD plus one Izze Fortified Beverage 4-pack, any flavor + one Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn (2, 3 or 4 pack, select varieties) + two Kraft Macaroni + Cheese Dinners, any 5.5 oz “fun” shapes. All for $16.99 with Safeway/Vons card! I haven’t checked Albertsons yet but they typically offer these DVD deals as well.

Valid 10/15/10 – 10/31/10 on single DVD only (not Blu-ray).

Best Buy, Target and Wal-Mart always have great sales the first week of a DVD/Blu-ray release as well but the best deal by far is the grocery store deal that includes free snacks with your movie.

It’s going to be Dragon movie night at our house for sure tonight! This is one kids movie you definitely want in your collection for all to enjoy for many years to come.

Iron Man 2 Now Available on DVD & Blu-Ray

by Cindy Robinson

Paramount Pictures & Marvel Entertainment’s Iron Man 2 starring Robert Downey Jr is out on DVD and Blu-Ray today! Look for an alternate beginning to the film and nearly three hours of bonus features.

Iron Man 2 DVD courtesy of Marvel

 

Follow up to Marvel’s 2008 smash hit Iron Man, the sequel also features Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson , Don Cheadle and Sam Rockwell. The sequel wasn’t quite as great as the first film, feeling a bit choppy in places but there’s no denying that Robert Downey Jr put on a stellar performance with his usual sarcastic wit & charm. Mickey Rourke’s brief appearance as Whiplash was strong.

Iron Man 2 picks up six months after the end of the first movie, where Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) has used his Iron Man armor to bring about a negotiated peace treaty between the major super powers of the world, and his immense popularity with the general public is only furthered when he fulfills his father’s dream by opening the “Stark Expo”, to showcase all the latest inventions that will benefit the world. Stark is, however, still vilified by the United States government, and Senator Stern (Gary Shandling) in particular, who demands that he hand his armor technology over for military application. Stark refuses, publicly shaming rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) in the process by highlighting his own failed attempts at recreating the technology. All is not well in Stark’s life, however: he has discovered that the palladium in the arc reactor keeping shrapnel from penetrating his heart has begun to poison his body, slowly killing him, and all attempts to find a substitute element have failed. Slowly going off the rails as a consequence of what he believes to be his impending death, he appoints his former personal assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) CEO of Stark Industries, replacing her with Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson).

Robert Downey Jr premieres Iron Man 2 in Hollywood

 

We’ll next see Iron Man and Scarlett Johansson’s character, Natasha Romanoff (the Black Widow) in the upcoming Joss Whedon directed Marvel mastermind, the Avengers due out in 2012.

The Jonas Brothers Close Out The Road Dogs Season With A Win!

Photos & story by Cindy Robinson

 

Joe Jonas

 

LONG BEACH – The stands were filled with cheering tweens & teenage girls as the Jonas Brothers each went up to bat in the final Road Dogs game of the season in Blair Field on Sunday (the game was moved from Irvine).

 During the game, a couple thousand fans joined the brothers in pledging not to text while driving or by designating someone to answer the phone while the car is in motion by adding their thumbprint to a banner promoting “X The Text” sponsored by Allstate insurance.

The brothers said they chose to support the campaign to help raise awareness of this killer on the rise. Recent statistics show that:

‐ Teens
crash
four
times
more
often
than
any
other
age
group


‐ Car
crashes
are
the
No.
1
killer
of
teens

‐ Texting
and
driving
can
increase
your
risk
of
crashing
by
23
times


‐ Reaching
for
a
phone
while
driving
increases
your
risk
of
a
crash
by  nine times

‐ Texting
takes
our
eyes
off
the
road
for
an
average
of
5
seconds.
At
55
mph, that’s
driving
the
length
of
a      football
field
–
completely
blind.


‐ Behind
the
wheel,
one
text
while
driving
equals
four
beers


The Road Dogs won 15-7 against the Marquis Jet Flyers on Sunday, pulling in the win for the season and delighting their fans. Fans cheered on from the stands as the Jonas brothers were presented with the trophy for the winning season.

The  Jonas Brothers also wrapped up their summer tour, Camp Rock Live! featuring Demi Lovato in Irvine, CA on Sunday night.  Camp Rock 2 is out on Disney DVD and Blu-Ray now.

 

 

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