GoodyBlog

Friday Night Movies

This Week's Big-Screen Goody:

La, la, la...Go Speed Racer! Go Speed Racer! Go Speed Racer, go! I wasn't a huge fan of the show growing up, but I still remember the theme song to this day because it was one of the few cartoons my older bully brother would let me watch. Truth be told, he was more into it than I ever was. Boys and their cars–I still don't get it. Now he has an 11-year-old son he can use as his excuse to see the new live-action version of Speed Racer (rated PG) out today. Personally, I still feel the theme song was the best part of the show. Come to think of it–lots of cartoons from the '80s and early '90s had really rocking openers. Special shout-out goes to ThunderCats. What was your favorite?

 

This Week's DVD Goody:

The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin: Mysteries of Hard to Find City

Avatar the Last Airbender: Book 3 Fire, Vol. 3

Barney: Hi! I'm Riff!

Doodlebops: Live in Concert 

Madeline: Next Stop, America

The Secret of the Sword
   
Speed Racer the Next Generation: The Beginning
 
Thomas & Friends: Mud Glorious Mud
   
Veggie Tales: Lessons from the Sock Drawer
            
           

TMI! Documentary of the Week
The Business of Being Born

 

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:
I'm Not There

 

Mother’s Day Giveaway: Win 10 DVDs and a Popcorn Pack

Say goodbye to Dora and Diego! It's time to reclaim the remote, ladies!  And we've got everything you need for a relaxing movie night: A variety box of gourmet popcorn and 10 chick flicks (no action-adventure nonsense here!) Check out all the goodies in this must-have prize pack:

A five-gallon tub of Popcorn Duos. Divvies makes delicious, allergy-free treats, and their gourmet popcorn is at the top of the list. This huge "circus" box is filled with nut-, dairy-, and egg-free popcorn in two yummy flavors: kettle corn and chocolate caramel. 

10 new DVDs for your collection. We've got a movie for whatever mood you're in. Drama? You bet! Romantic comedy? Duh! Pregnant-teen-coming-of-age tale? Sure, why not!  Here's the rundown:

27 Dresses

Bette Davis Centenary Celebration Collection

Jane Austen's Sense & Sensibility Collector's Set

Juno

Lars and the Real Girl
 
Lions for Lambs

Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's For One More Day

The Savages

Tyler Perry's: Why Did I Get Married?

Walk the Line (New Extended Cut)

To enter to win, just post a comment on this post (click on "comments") by midnight ET on Friday May 9. We'll email the lucky winner on the following Monday. Goody Luck!

Full rules here.

Friday Night Movies

 This Week's Big-Screen Goody:

Summer blockbuster season officially kicks off today, and you know what that means: Lots and lots of grown men running around in costumes and using their superpowers to save the planet and stuff. First up is Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man (rated PG-13). Are you going to take your husband kids to see it?

   

This Week's DVD Goody:

One of last year's most controversial movies is now out on DVD. The Golden Compass (also rated PG-13) is based on a children's fantasy book, and it's considered to be anti-Christian by some, while other believe it's all about free will and thinking. We want to know your take on this whole brouhaha:

   

 

Kourtney's Cult Classic Pick:

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

    
 

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

 

 

Friday Night Movies

This Week's Big-Screen Goody:

Fellow GoodyBlogger Josh and I took a field trip to see the new comedy, Baby Mama (rated PG-13). We consider ourselves the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler duo of the office. The only problem is we always argue over who gets to be Tina Fey (we <3 her brilliance). Now we're fighting to see which one of us has to be the baby mama–my money's on Josh. Needless to say, we were SO excited about this movie.

A little background for you in case you haven't seen the trailer. Tiny Fey plays a woman with a "T" shaped uterus, which apparently means she can't carry a baby to term. So, she hires a surrogate (Amy Poehler) to do it for her, and that's where the hilarity ensues. The first half of the film didn't disappoint. Josh and I were in stitches, especially during the childproofing and prenatal vitamins scenes (why do they make those pills so large, anyways?). Unfortunately, the second half of the movie was a bit of a letdown. I won't give anything away, but it takes some weird twists and turns that didn't work for us. In the end, we still love watching these ladies together in anything, so we gave the film a "B" as the final grade (A+ for the first part, C for the second). If you're big fans like us, you may still want to hire a babysitter and check it out in the theaters. If not, just wait for the DVD.

BTW, the film has a fun site called Baby Mama Maker, where you can take a photo of yourself and a friend and create a composite of what your child will look like. Here is a picture of our.... Girl? Boy? Baby? Click here, and scroll down for real photos of Josh and I. Please tell me you don't see any resemblance. Please? Maybe we should hold off on this baby-mama plan.

This Week's DVD Goodies:

Best of Backyard Habitat

Gumby: the Movie

Todd World, Vol. 3
   
Wonder Pets: Save the Beetles!

 

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:
Cloverfield

    
 

Earth Day DVDs

In honor of Earth Day, we're going to help you turn your boob tube into a green screen. Whether it's wildlife documentaries or a "Very Special" episode of your child's favorite show, DVDs can be a great way to educate and entertain your family about Mother Earth. Check out these top eco-friendly flicks....

Perfect for Preschoolers:
It's a Big, Big, World: The Earth Needs You

Cool for Kids:
The Jeff Corwin Experience: Season 1

All About Animals:
National Geographic: The Wildlife Collection
   
Great for Grown-Ups:
The 11th Hour

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Earth:
The BBC Natural History Collection

 

Now that you know our Earth Day picks, it's time to share yours. We've rounded up four of the best animal-themed features on DVD. Vote on which one you think is the top doc:

 

Friday Night Movies

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:

There's not much coming out on DVD for the kiddies this week, but one of my grown-up favorites is FINALLY hitting shelves. I'm of course talking about that Oscar-nominated, little-movie-that-could Juno. It's a bit much in the beginning, but stick with it for some on the best character development and family dynamics on the big screen this year. The film managed to put a big smile on my cynical face (it's my movie Prozac). It even won over both the pro-life and pro-choice camps (maybe we should send Juno to the Middle East?)
But there is one downside: After watching it, I came up with probably the worst "Knock, Knock" joke in history, which I will now repeat for you because I have no shame:

"Knock, Knock!"
"Who's there?"
"Juno."
"Juno, who?"
"Juno!"
"Juno, who?"
"Juno it's me, so stop asking!"

 

Yeah...I'll be here all week, folks! Twice on Saturdays!

      

This Week's Kid-Friendly DVD Goodies:

Big Comfy Couch: Upside Down Clown, Vol. 5

Classical Baby: The Poetry Show

Nick Jr: Sleepytime Stories

SpongeBob SquarePants: Pest of the West

Woody Woodpecker and Friends Classic Cartoon Collection, Vol. 2

 

Friday Night Movies

This Week's DVD Goody:

I'm not a big fan of reality TV, but I have to admit I can get sucked into shows like Supernanny and Nanny 911 (Season 1 on DVD today) rather easily when I flip passed them while channel surfing. I tell myself that it's okay because these programs are helping families in need of a major parenting overhaul and teaching the audience tricks at the same time. But that's not why I watch. The truth is I get some weird satisfaction from pointing out what the parents are doing wrong. And this got me thinking (yes, it happens sometimes): What do we really get from watching these makeover shows? Is it a form of self-help, or just another voyeuristic look behind closed doors? Let us know by placing your vote below:

Kid-Friendy DVDs:

Ben 10: Race Against Time

Meerkat Manor: Season 2

Rugrats: Tales From the Crib–Three Jacks & a Beanstalk

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Season 6

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep

WordWorld: Lucky Duck

 

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:

There Will Be Blood

 

Friday Night Movies

This Week's Big-Screen Goody:

Have you ever noticed how Jodie Foster takes on characters who get mixed up in a lot of bad situations, from hunting cannibals to home invasions? In her latest, she's stranded on a deserted island. But the good news is Nim's Island is a PG-rated movie based on the popular children's book of the same name. So, think more Swiss Family Robinson and less Lost. We recently jumped at the chance to talk to the child star turned Academy Award-winner and ask her one of the most quintessential questions of our time: If you were stuck on a deserted island and could only take along five things, what would they be?

"My books and my iPod. The kids, of course, but they're not things. Food and drink are pretty important to me, so I might have to take tiny airplane-size Bordeaux wine bottles and a catalog from Dean & Deluca [a NYC gourmet food store] so I could order take-out. Technically, more than five things."

 

Check out the rest of the interview in the April issue of Parents!

 

 

This Week's DVD Goodies:

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Animated Classics

Growing Up Wild Cats

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

 

 

Friday Night Movies

This Week's Big-Screen Goody:

Summer better watch its back! Spring is trying to replace it as the season of blockbusters. There are lots of big-time movies with pre-June release dates this year. We want to know which summer spring film you're most psyched to see with your kids.

                   

This Week's DVD Goodies:

Arthur: Big Brother Binky

Arthur: Season 10

Discovery Channel: Baby Mammoth

It's a Big, Big World: Be Healthy and Happy

It's a Big, Big World: Everybody's Different

Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors, Vol. 1

      

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Picks of the Week (TV Edition):

Battlestar Galactica: Season Three

Painkiller Jane

Party of Five: The Complete Third Season

Sliders: The Fourth Season

         

Friday Night Movies

Last Week's Giveaway Goody:
Happy Easter! Ho, Ho, Ho! I just realized this holiday has no fun catchphrase. Someone needs to get on that. Anyways, thanks to everyone who entered to win a copy of It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, proving once again that the "Blockhead" is still the man. Here are the 10 lucky winners who snagged the DVD:

Bob V., who wrote: "Great for my grandkids!"

Susan Ledet, who wrote: "This would be enjoyed by everyone. Thank you for the great giveaway."

Katie, who wrote: "One of my FAVORITES! My sons would love to have this!"

Samye, who wrote: "My kiddos would LOVE to watch this while munching on their Easter findings!!!"

Johnny, who wrote: "We love the Peanuts...would love to have this for our kids"

Becky S., who wrote: "Oh, my kids would LOVE this. We have the Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween Peanuts movies.....this would be a great addition."

Soha Molina, who wrote: "Charlie Brown RULES!!!"

Carmen, who wrote: "Thanks for this fun giveaway!"

Deborah, who wrote: "LOVE Charlie Brown!  Happy Easter!"

Brandy W., who wrote: "My kids would enjoy this so much...even I love watching Peanuts"

   

Congrats to all! If you didn't win today, stay tuned!  We have more great giveaways coming your way!

 

Kourtney's New Classic Pick:

Enchanted

 

This Week's DVD Goodies:

Dennis The Menace: Trouble, Trouble Everywhere

Go Diego Go!  Moonlight Rescue

Johnny and the Sprites: Meet the Sprites

The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show: The Complete Series

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo: The Complete First Season

The Seeker: The Dark is Rising

The Put-Your-Kids-to-Bed-First Pick of the Week:

Atonement