DVD Review: Brewster Leads the Way!

*I received a copy of this DVD at no cost to me to facilitate my review - all opinions are my own*

My boys love having new DVD's and more often than not, we screen them in my car while we wait for my daughter to be picked up after school, but when I opened the envelope and Erik saw Brewster on the cover, he couldn't wait for a car trip - I had to cede my laptop to him so he could watch Brewster Leads the Way right away - and it's barely left the DVD player in my computer since!  

Review and Giveaway: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ultimate Showdown DVD set #Sponsored

I remember as kids when my brother discovered the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with his friends and so I was really pleased for my boys when Nickelodeon came out with an updated band of turtle brothers that still embody the vibe and feel of the original series.  The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Ultimate Showdown contains the last twelve episodes (including the double length final episode) of the first season of the new and improved TMNT!


The episodes that are included are:

1. I, Monster
2. The Alien Agenda
3. The Pulverizer
4. TCRI
5. Cockroach Terminator
6. Baxter's Gambit
7. Enemy of My Enemy
8. Karai's Vendetta
9. The Pulverizer Returns!
10. Parasitica
11. Operation: Break Out
12. Showdown, Parts 1 and 2 (Season Finale)

Our family's review:

My boys, especially Erik are obsessed with comic book style super heroes and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are right up there with the Avengers and Spiderman in his eyes.   This 2 DVD set contains what I consider to be the twelve most exciting episodes of the first season - especially since they build to the ultimate climax - a showdown between Splinter and Shredder... 

As a mom, I appreciate how well written each episode is and how much fun all the characters are - with their quirks and strengths - it makes for fun family entertainment!

Win your copy:

Do you or your kids need to add TMNT: Ultimate Showdown to your collection?  Just fill out the rafflecopter below:

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Sponsored DVD Review: DRAGONS: RIDERS OF BERK from @FHEInsiders

I am so pleased to have been asked to become a Fox Home Entertainment Insider and to have the opportunity for my family to review Dragons: Riders of Berk - Part 1 and Part 2!  There is also a giveaway going on for you to win a copy of both discs for your family!

  

From Fox Home Entertainment:

Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announces the DVD release of the Annie Award® winning TV series DreamWorks DRAGONS: RIDERS OF BERK. The two-part DVD will be available everywhere July 23. Loaded with exciting bonus content for the whole family to enjoy, disc one containa episodes 1-11 and disc two features episodes 12-20. Based on the DreamWorks Animation Academy Award®-nominated hit movie How to Train Your Dragon, the series features original voice talent from the film including Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Zack Pearlman, and more.

Fans that purchase the DVD will be able to unlock exclusive content in DreamWorks’ School of Dragons, the all-new game from JumpStart based on DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise. When it comes to action and excitement, the sky’s the limit in this high-flying animated TV series.

The two-part DVD set is jam-packed with special features that dive deeper into the world of Dragons. As a bonus, each DVD comes with a code to unlock an ultimate battle pack – and in select DVDs an exclusive Whispering Death or Thunderdrum dragon – for the DreamWorks’ School of Dragons game. School of Dragons lets players enter the world of Berk, where Hiccup, Toothless and other friends help players become the finest dragon trainers around. With cinema-like graphics and an immersive 3D world, it takes more than courage to train a dragon, but brains as well. For more information, visit http:www.schoolofdragons.com

Our review:

If, like my kids, you watched How to Train Your Dragon and wanted to know more about the dragons and their viking friends, then this 20 episode series is for you!  And you don't have to be a little kid to enjoy it - when I received the two DVD's in the mail the other day, Robyn was the first one to grab them and pop the first DVD into her player.  

With 20 episodes you get to see way more about each of the dragons, their humans and their adventures!  In true DreamWorks form, each 22 minute episode is a great story and contains fabulous graphics.  The boys discovered How to Train Your Dragon just this year and are thrilled to be finding out more about the whole gang.  Since we don't have cable, they were thrilled to be able to watch TV episodes that came out so recently!

What you get on Disc One:

1) How to Start a Dragon Academy
2) Viking for Hire
3) Animal House
4) The Terrible Twos
5) In Dragons We Trust (part 1 of a 2 part episode)
6) Alvin and The Outcasts (part 2 of a 2 part episode)
7) How to Pick Your Dragon
8) Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Man
9) Dragon Flower
10) Heather Report Part 1
11) Heather Report Part 2

What you get on Disc Two:

12) Thawfest
13) When Lightning Strikes
14) What Flies Beneath
15) Twinsanity
16) Defiant One
17) Breakneck Bog
18) Gem of a Different Color
19) We Are Family Part 1
20) We Are Family Part 2

We haven't explored the School of Dragons yet, but I know that will be another great bonus!

One of the benefits of being an insider is that I get access to cool bonuses like these exclusive badges:

 

 

If you want to own  Dragons: Riders of Berk - Part 1 and Part 2 you can find them on Amazon.com and at your favorite retailers too!  Or you can check out my giveaway by clicking here.

Sponsored Review & Giveaway: Dora & Blue's Clues Double Feature: Dora Musical School Days & Blue's Big Musical Movie

It was a dark and rainy day at our house when I unwrapped Dora & Blue's Clues Double Feature: Dora Musical School Days & Blue's Big Musical Movie for the boys!  I love hearing the excitement in Erik's voice when I unwrap anything new with "Dora Boots" and what I really liked is that there was something that caught Liam's attention too - Blue's Big Musical Movie!

A little about each DVD:

Blue's Big Musical Movie: 

Join Steve, Blue and all their friends as they plan a backyard musical show! Preschoolers will help Steve and Blue get the show underway, write an all new song with G-Clef --the voice of Ray Charles, and of course, play Blue's Clues. In Blue's Big Musical Movie, preschoolers will sing, dance, play, and learn that they can be anything they want to be! Includes 6 Brand-New Songs! Promotes Critical Thinking, Music (Curriculum including Notes, Rhythm & Tempo), Problem Solving, Confidence, and Self-Esteem

Dora's Musical School Days:

Getting to school becomes a musical adventure for Dora and her best friend in "La Maestra de Musica" and "Boots to the Rescue."

Preschoolers--and their parents--will be excited about the brand-new, never-before-seen episode, "La Maestra de Musica," in which Dora's music teacher has to get to school on time but has a broken bicycle. As always, viewer participation is strongly encouraged as children get to learn and practice Spanish vocabulary words and practical skills along with Dora and Boots. They'll also gain a real appreciation for music and realize that even the most difficult obstacles can be overcome with a positive attitude and a song in your heart.

Our Opinions:

This DVD combo package is the perfect way to treat your preschooler to a musical adventure!  Although the episodes are older, my boys were still singing along and enjoying hanging out with Dora, Boots, Blue and Steve and all of their friends!

If you are looking for a great way to share a rainy summer day with your kids or want some fun travel DVD's for your next trip, then picking up the Dora & Blue's Clues Double Feature: Dora Musical School Days & Blue's Big Musical Movie!

Want to win your copy? Just fill out the rafflecopter form below:
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Review & Giveaway: Fireman Sam: Holiday Heroes

No sleet, no snow, no cold of night will keep Sam from protecting his citizens this holiday season. From finding friends lost on a mountain or trapped on thin ice to putting out accidental fires and stopping giant runaway snowballs, Sam’s the man to save the day! Featuring five-winter themed episodes, the Fireman Sam: Holiday Heroes DVD includes an all-new bonus Christmas music video, “Merry Christmas Everybody!”, and is available for the suggested retail price of $9.98.



DVD SYNOPSIS

It’s the holiday season and Fireman Sam’s adventures are heating up! Norman causes trouble baking more than holiday cookies and Sarah and James’ search for a polar bear turns into a snowy rescue! Trevor and his passengers find themselves on thin ice and Norman’s snowboarding antics leave Mike in a mountain of trouble. Sam shows his firefighting talent when Pontypandy’s holiday lighting competition goes haywire. With jingle bells and fire alarms, Fireman Sam is well prepared for the season’s best saves!

Episodes include:
“The Big Chill”
“The Pontypandy Polar Bear”
“Ice-Cold in Pontypandy”
“Snowball of Doom”
“Floodlights”

My Review:

What can be better during the holidays than Fireman Sam and his big red fire truck "Jupiter" racing to the rescue?  If you have preschoolers with a penchant for laughing at Norman's antics and you constantly shake your head at Dillis' lack of parenting skills, but laugh too, then you're going to want to add Fireman Sam: Holiday Heroes to your pre-holiday wishlist!    This DVD contains 5 fun and pretty typical episodes of the Fireman Sam show and makes for a great DVD to have on in the background as you get your family ready for the holiday season!  Our favorite episode was "The Snowball of Doom", but you'll have to get the DVD and figure out which one you like most!

And now for the giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: I received a copy of this DVD at no cost for the purpose of my review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Review and Giveaway: The Magic School Bus on DVD

Are you ready to hop on the Magic School Bus?  Click on the youtube below to get into the mood before you keep reading...


Yep, there's now a way to take your kids on ALL the adventures with Mrs. Frizzle and her class - all 52 episodes on 8 DVD's with The Magic School Bus - The Complete Series - all the way from Outer Space to Inside Ralphie - growing, shrinking and learning all about the world around them!

Liam is at the perfect age for learning all about science from Mrs. Frizzle and the gang - he's been asking to watch new episodes every day when he gets home from school... and while Erik is still a little young for the actual science, he loves to watch how boppy and  fun the music, animation and story are!  He has also taken to calling his own school bus a Magic School Bus!

His favorite episode so far has been the trip into the Solar System, but I'm sure as we get further into the series, he'll continue to enjoy and learn from some of these great classic episodes!

It's honestly hard to believe that this series is celebrating 25 years!  It really has stood up well against the test of time and makes for enjoyable family watching and a great nostalgic kick for me (and for Robyn who used to be obsessed with The Magic School Bus a few years ago)

Featuring a striking 3D lenticular cover with new artwork that makes the vibrant characters leap off the page and that will encourage kids to ask the question “how did they make that?”, the collectible thin-pack set also includes a guide for kids with teasers, trivia and experiments, plus a Parents’ Guide with lessons and learning options. This interactive guide creates wholesome and healthy entertainment for the entire family.

Also new to the line – and just in time for Back to School activities -- will be two special 3-pack configurations, which will each include more than four hours of THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS adventures! Join Ms. Frizzle to explore everything from the smallest cell to the largest galaxy in the universe with THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS: BLAST OFF! FROM SEA TO SPACE and THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS: FIELD TRIP FUN AND GAMES. Both, feature 12 episodes, some releasing for the first time.

Finally, you can get four THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS singles, each featuring 90 minutes of science fun with Ms. Frizzle and her students:
· The Human Body – Science topics include digestion and body mechanics.
· Super Star Power – Science topics include stars and cells.
· Takes a Dive – Science topics include coral reefs and tidal zones.
· Takes Flight – Science topics include weather and flying.

Whether you want to start out small and just grab a topical DVD or you're ready to dive into the whole collection, it's time to take another look at The Magic School Bus on DVD!

One lucky Acting Balanced reader from the US is going to win a copy of The Magic School Bus: Field Trip Fun and Games!  Just fill out the rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review and Giveaway - Barney: Planes, Trains & Cars

Barney is one of our favorite characters and this DVD has been requested several times in the past few weeks since it arrived in our home.

Come along for a dino-mite ride filled with laughter, friends, fun and song with preschool favorite Barney™ and his playground pals in Barney: Planes, Trains & Cars! It's available on  DVD, Digital Download and On Demand from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. Let your child’s imagination be their guide as they trek to places near and far by air, ground, rail and sea – all without ever leaving the comfort of your home – in these four new, transportation-themed adventures.

Trusted by moms and adored by children, Barney displays sharing, caring, imagining, dancing and learning on television and online and through live events, home entertainment, toys and publishing. The Emmy® award-winning series, Barney & Friends™ is one of the top-rated preschool shows today, airing on PBS KIDS® and Sprout®.

Spring is in the Air... or is that Pepe Le Pew?

I love introducing my kids to cartoons that I remember as a kid... and one of the most interesting cartoon characters of my youth had to be the incomparable Pepe Le Pew...

DVD Review and #Giveaway: Nickelodeon Favorites - Dance to the Music!

Dance and sing along with preschoolers’ favorite characters from Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomi, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, and Ni Hao, Kai-lan, who star in the all-new DVD, Nickelodeon Favorites: Dance to the Music! Nickelodeon’s top-rated preschool show Bubble Guppies is making its DVD premiere in this collection and as an added bonus kids can enjoy two Bubble Guppies karaoke music videos. Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, Nickelodeon Favorites: Dance to the Music! arrives on DVD on Feb. 28, 2012, but you can pre-order it now on Amazon.com for just $11.99!

Nickelodeon Favorites: Dance to the Music! Synopses:

Kung Fu Panda 2 - 2 Disk DVD/Blu Ray Combo

My family got a great movie package to review this holiday season and it's one of those that we'll watch all year round - Kung Fu Panda 2 / Secrets of the Masters (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy).  

Featuring an all-star cast of voice talent including Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride and Jean-Claude Van Damme, KUNG FU PANDA 2 offers us a story for the whole family to share:

DVD Review: Dinosaur Train T-REX TALES

If your kids are like mine, they are huge fans of Buddy, Shiny, Tiny and Don... all of the kids in the Pteranodon family, so getting Dinosaur Train: T-REX TALES for review was like Christmas coming early to our house!

About the DVD:

Get on board the Dinosaur Train with Buddy, an adorable dinosaur, and his adoptive Pteranodon family as they embark on nine whimsical voyages in the Dinosaur Train: T-REX TALES DVD available from PBS Home Video and Paramount Home Entertainment.  In these special adventures, Buddy travels to Rexville, home of the Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaurs, and learns that he too is a Tyrannosaurus!

Holiday Gift Guide - DVD - Young Justice

I had the opportunity to review Young Justice Season 1 Volume 2 over the past few weeks with my family.  My husband is a big superhero cartoon fan, so he was pleased to be able to share Young Justice with our kids.

About the Series:

In Young Justice, being a teenager means proving yourself over and over—to peers, parents, teachers, mentors and, ultimately, to yourself. But what if you’re not just a normal teenager? What if you’re a teenage super hero? Are you ready to join the ranks of the great heroes and prove you’re worthy of the Justice League? That’s exactly what the members of Young Justice—Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian and Artemis—will found out, whether they have what it takes to be a proven hero. Based upon characters from DC Comics.

DVD Review - Smurfs: A Magical Smurf Adventure

 There was a time when I felt really old. I'd walk into one of my kids schools and start talking about the Smurfs and no one, save the teachers, would know what on earth I was talking about...


After being out of the rotation for a while, the lovable Smurfs are back and Smurfs: A Magical Smurf Adventure is just one of the many choices you have for your smurfing pleasure.

DVD Review: Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated, Season 1, Volume 3

As a fan of the original Scooby-Doo series, I was pleased to be asked to review Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated, Season 1, Volume 3 here on Acting Balanced.  My daughter, who has seen the original but was tainted by the movies has chimed in to help me with my review.


This DVD is obviously the third installment of this set of DVDs and Volume 1 and Volume 2 are also available.

#Giveaway and Review - Snow Flower and the Secret Fan on DVD

Enter to Win a Copy of

Coming to Blu-ray and DVD November 1st

From Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Growing up in 19th century China, Lily (Bingbing Li, The Forbidden Kingdom) and Snow Flower (Gianna Jun, My Sassy Girl) are brought together in a Laotong friendship—a lifelong bond between two women who rely on each other for companionship and comfort. Amid the civil unrest and gender discrimination of the era, the pair deals with life’s hardships together until they are separated by marriage and childbirth. As sworn sisters, however, the women continue to communicate through the secret Chinese language of nushu, hiding their stories and messages within the folds of delicate silk fans.

In present day Shanghai, the Laotong’s descendants Nina (also played by Li) and Sophia (also played by Jun) struggle to maintain the intimacy of their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers and complicated love lives. Drawing on lessons of the past, the two modern women must understand the story of their ancestral connection or risk losing one another forever. What unfolds are two stories, generations apart, but everlasting in the notion of love, hope and friendship.

My Review: I got a sneak peek copy of the movie to review on DVD because the book is one of my all time favorites and I was curious about how the movie would fill in all the nuances and tell the story. As with all movies that are made from books, I recommend reading the book first, but I was very pleasantly surprised by how well the movie tells the story and it doesn't lose the flavor from the book. I especially like how the same two actresses portray both the ancient and modern women in the film - I think it connects things in a very real way that helps the viewer see the parallels in the story. This would be a great opportunity for book clubs to revisit the book and then watch the movie together!

You can also check out this great site: http://www.snowflowerstory.com/

The Snow Flower Story is a visual experience that immerses people in the video, music and photography of the film. Through these pages, written passages from the original novel are brought to life and complimented by imagery and video to create a seamless blend of book and film.

Win your copy before you can buy it!

#Giveaway and Review: Nickelodeon Favorites: Merry Christmas

Get in the holiday spirit with preschoolers’ favorite characters from Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, Blue’s Clues, Team Umizoomi and Ni Hao, Kai-lan, who star in the all-new DVD, Nickelodeon Favorites: Merry Christmas ! Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, Nickelodeon Favorites: Merry Christmas! comes to DVD on Oct. 4, 2011.

#Giveaway and Review - SpongeBob’s Runaway Roadtrip DVD

Join SpongeBob and Patrick for a never-before-seen hilarious and adventurous vacation in the DVD debut of SpongeBob SquarePants: SpongeBob’s Runaway Roadtrip, which arrives on store shelves before its on-air premiere in November 2011. Enjoy the Great Barrier Reef, a romantic cruise, a trip to the Ocean Mint, a homebound holiday and a trip that’s out of this world.  Featuring six adventures in one grand vacation, everyone just might need a vacation from this much fun packed into one DVD.

DVD Review: Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song

Sometimes you just need a fun, feel good movie to curl up with and A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song starring Lucy Hale, Freddie Stroma and Megan Park is one of those movies!

#Giveaway and Review of iCarly: The Complete 3rd Season

 I am pleased to have been able to get a sneak peak review of iCarly: The Complete 3rd Season with my daughter and share some memories of when iCarly was one of her favorite shows... I am also pleased that I have a copy of iCarly: The Complete 3rd Season for one of my lucky readers!  iCarly: The Complete 3rd Season is going to be available everywhere on August 30th

DVD Review and #Giveaway: Go, Diego, Go!: Fiercest Animal Rescues!

Gorillas, grizzly bears, hippos and more pack the brand new DVD, Go, Diego, Go!: Fiercest Animal Rescues!, which includes a never-before-seen double-length adventure.  Catch this special before its on-air premiere as Diego saves animals in Africa, Australia and Alaska.  Throughout his adventures Diego receives help from his sister Alicia, animal pals, Rescue Pack, Click the Camera (voiced by Rosie Perez) and the viewers at home.  Created by Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment, Go, Diego, Go!: Fiercest Animal Rescues! is available on DVD for the suggested retail price of $16.99.