It’s anything but peanuts. Charlie Brown’s All-Stars, the second primetime animated TV special based upon the popular Peanuts, originally aired on CBS on June 8, 1966. The show, which earned two Primetime Emmy nominations, celebrates its golden anniversary this year. (It lost the Emmy for Outstanding Children’s Program to Hanna-Barbera’s Jack and the Beanstalk, starring Gene Kelly.) Warner Bros. Home Entertainment honors the occasion by releasing this delightful story in a deluxe 50th anniversary edition, completely remastered in beautiful high definition. You have to wait until the release date of October 4, but remember one thing: Charlie Brown never gave up. And neither should you.
Charlie Brown’s All Stars follows the bittersweet story of Charlie Brown, who won’t give up on trying to bring his baseball team to victory, in spite of facing great criticism from the team’s players. The DVD release is timed to the culmination of the World Series.
In Charlie Brown’s All Stars, it’s summer and baseball season gets underway. Charlie Brown is put in charge of managing the Peanuts’ baseball team again, which in the past, has only suffered crushing defeat from its opponents. The disillusioned players blame Charlie Brown for the team’s past poor performance. When a sponsor offers Charlie Brown real baseball uniforms and a chance to be part of an actual league, he is thrilled. He believes the new uniforms and acceptance into a real league will motivate his players.
His excitement however, soon turns into disappointment when he learns that if he accepts the offer, Snoopy, Lucy, Patty, Violet and Frieda will be kicked off the team because the league’s policy prevents girls and dogs from playing. Poor Charlie Brown, not only is he criticized by his teammates for being a bad manager, he’s now faced with a difficult moral dilemma. Should he accept the uniforms?
Proof that Sir Isaac Newton was on the ball. COOP Sports offers so many ways for kids to get outside and move that’s there never an excuse . . . even if it’s dark! Their newest line is Reactorz, made with Reactive Light Technology, so a kicked soccer ball or a tossed football becomes illuminated on contact. Like Sir Newton’s law of motion, for every action–toss, throw, kick–there’s an equal and quite bright reaction when kids play with one of eight Reactorz products. From regulation-sized basketball and soccer to football (throws just like a real, regular football) and disc, these sporting goods are priced an allowance-friendly $5.99 to $19.99.
Imagine the added surprise to a kickball or four square game with the Reactorz 8-inch Playground Ball ($17.99). Built-in LEDs create a flash of light with each toss and catch. Textured, semi rigid construction makes the ball easy to grip, throw and kick. How does it work? Don’t look for the on/off switch because there isn’t one! Coop designers, prized for their attention to detail, took a whole year of product development to get this just right! The secret is the long-lasting battery life built in each ball, and the micro prism core that refracts light. Then they put their focus on the exterior. Each Reactorz boasts one of three core colors–Atomic (lime), Ice (blue) and Lava (red). Covering the balls is a contrasting shield color. The final result is like nothing else on the market.
Head a soccer ball as the sun is setting and your team mates might see one of three effects–Atomic Core/Plasma Shield, Lava Core/Laser Shield or Ice Core/Biogreen Shield. The flying disc is the exception with a color scheme of four swirls: Atomic Swirl, Laser Swirl, Atomic Tribal and Atomic Swirl. Reactorz doesn’t need to wait for the sun to go down as their LED lights dazzle brightly morning, noon or night. As the honchos explain: “The core refracts light while the shield blocks it, creating a unique lighting effect and interactive experience between the ball and players.”
Look for this collection at Toys R Us (in stores and online) and Academy Sports + Outdoors stores. All are designed for girls and boys ages 5 and up. Four of the items enjoy an under-$10 price tag.
She doesn’t work 9 to 5 . . . according to her flaks, “without a doubt, Dolly Parton continues to be one of the most aggressive artists in music when it comes to marketing themselves.” This time, Dolly is spreading herself as thinly as she can as she prepares for the August 19 release of her new CD Pure & Simple–with four different pre-order bundles to help promote the album.
“I may not be pure, but I’m as simple as they come!”she coos. “This new Pure & Simple project is really special to me because I’m taking my fans back to my roots. I feel like these songs have a pure, tender side and we didn’t go overboard with arrangements. I’m so glad we’ve teamed up with our friends at Sony to get this album out to the fans.” Spoken just like a well-seasoned, well-paid press flak.
Dolly should be ashamed that in this economic market, she knows her fans cannot fork over hundreds of $ for such crap.
Standard Bundle ($40) Pure & Simple album cover art on black 100% preshrunk cotton T-shirt, Pure & Simple CD, as well as an album digital download that will be delivered via email on August 19.
Deluxe Bundle ($60) Pure & Simple CD, as well as digital download of the album (to be delivered via email on August 19), a set of three notebooks with different Dolly logo designs (each notebook measures a measly 3.5″ x 5.5″) and a rhinestone and lace Dolly tote bag.
Collectible Bundle ($100) Pure & Simple CD, as well as a digital download of the album (delivered via email on August 19), a Dolly guitar string bracelet and gift box, the set of three notebooks and the Rhinestone and lace Dolly tote bag.
Commemorative Bundle ($400) Pure & Simple CD, as well as a digital download of the album (will be delivered via email on August 19), as well as the Dolly guitar string bracelet and gift box, the three notebooks, the rhinestone and lace Dolly photo tote bag and a “Collectible Limited Edition” plaque commemorating the release of Dolly’s new album Pure & Simple.
We have praised the work of Cohen Media Group since2008 when it was founded by Charles S. Cohen, an executive producer of multiple Academy Award nominee Frozen River. The Group produces and distributes select films throughout North America; CMG’s Cohen Film Collection (formerly the Rohauer Collection) includes some 700 cinema landmarks, including films by D.W. Griffith, Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks and Luis Bunuel and Federico Fellini.
On August 9, the Group releases two newly-restored films by Philippe de Broca, known for That Man From Rio and King of Hearts. On Guard is a swashbuckling, action-packed adventure in which it takes cavalier Lagardère 16 years to avenge his friend the Duke of Nevers, who was assassinated by the Duke’s cousin and only known heir. Whew! Sixteen years to assert the triumph of morality, protect the true heir, save honor . . . and find love.
In Five Day Lover, Jean Seberg brings all of her considerable coquettish charm to the role of Claire, a young mother married to Georges, but also having an affair with bachelor Antoine, who is being kept by her good friend Madeleine, a wealthy fashion designer. But the meetings at Antoine’s apartment, five afternoons a week, come to a halt when their partners learn the truth.
There’s a way of getting teens, tweens and reluctant readers to devour a book . . . believe it or not! The key? Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Unlock the Weird! ($28.95), the newest and perhaps oddest book in the bestselling series from Ripley Publishing.
The book is a mind-blowing collection of fantastic, fun, and even freaky stories from around the world. Sections include Animals, Pop Culture, Feats, Art, Food, and Beyond Belief. What they all have in common is that they’re all true and handpicked by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!—the authority on all things unusual and incredible!
Here are some of the stories that await readers when they Unlock the Weird!
• Read about one man’s attempt to take a break from reality, spending three days climbing the Swiss Alps on all fours as a goat!
• Soar on jetpacks above the deserts of Dubai with breathtaking aerial imagery.
• Meet Birdman Ted Richards who had his ears removed and his face and eyeballs tattooed to look like his pet parrots!
• Savor the flavor of sheep dung spitting, an Irish event that is just as unappetizing as it sounds!
• See double with Twin Strangers’ Niamh Geaney, who has found multiple doppelgängers that look exactly like her!
As Zorba the Greek liked to sing . . .
Life is what you do while you’re waiting to die, Life is how the time goes by! Life is where you wait while you’re waiting to leave, Life is where where you grin and grieve!
But what about the “9 Months That Made You”? This three-part PBS program takes viewers through the astonishing journey of human gestation and its minute-by-minute genetic process. Told through a series of personal stories that introduce viewers to people born with surprising and unexpected differences, the program explores just how complex the human gestational process truly is. The riveting documentary will be available on DVD from PBS Distribution August 2; the program will also be available for digital download.
With the help of CGI, the program goes inside the womb to re-create the growth process of a fetus and explains how genetics can cause fascinating and unexpected mutations. In the initial episode, “The First 8 Weeks,” for example, viewers meet a family in Brazil whose multi-generational genetic mutation has caused half of them to grow six digits on each hand. Later, the series visits professional surfer Laird Hamilton, whose extreme sense of fearlessness is actually a genetic trait he may have passed on to his children.
Below are descriptions for each of the three episodes.
“The First 8 Weeks” Follow the story of how a fertilized egg acquires individual traits through the gestation process. Chart the metamorphosis from the various embryonic forms you once took on until the moment around 12 weeks when you became unmistakably human.
“One of a Kind” Learn how you became the unique individual you are. No two people—even “identical” twins—are identical. Through riveting examples, explore how your face was shaped, why you’re likely to be right-handed, even how your sexuality formed.
“The Final Countdown” Meet the miracle that is you. See how your time in the womb, as your senses mature, has determined your destiny on the outside. Survey the latest epigenetic research that shows how the womb environment leaves its mark, even altering your DNA.
And so said Indiana Jones a few times in the 1981 hit Raiders of the Lost Ark. We may hate snakes, but three 11-year-old boys from Mississippi loved Indy and the film so much that after Steven Spielberg’s classic was released 35 years ago, they set out on what would become a 7-year-long labor of love and tribute to their favorite film: A faithful, shot-for-shot adaptation of the action adventure film, which The New York Times calls “a testament to the transporting power of movie love.” They finished every scene . . . except one; the film’s explosive airplane set piece.
Drafthouse Films and MVD Entertainment will release Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on August 16.
More than two decades later, the trio reunited with the original cast members from their childhood in order to complete their masterpiece in what IGN has dubbed “the Boyhood of fan movies.” Featuring interviews with John Rhys Davies, Eli Roth and more, Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made is just that: The story of this long-gestating project’s culmination, chronicling the friends’ dedication to their artistic vision-mixed in with some movie magic-to create a personal, epic love letter to a true modern classic.
Tim Skousen and Jeremy Coon’s critically-acclaimed documentary (Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes with a 93% rating and an Audience Score of 92%) premiered at SXSW in 2015 and enjoyed a healthy festival campaign before its debut in theaters and On Demand. At the same time, film subjects Chris Strompolos and Eric Zala embarked on the multi-city “Follow Your Dreams Tour”, presenting Skousen and Coon’s film alongside their rarely-screened Adaptation, which will continue into September.
Special features include more than four hours on bonus content such as dual audio commentary tracks (with Skousen and Coon as well as Strompolos and Zala); deleted scenes from the documentary; outtakes from Adaptation, Q&A footage from the Adaptation‘s 2003 premiere at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, TX;, a photo booklet featuring storyboard art from the Adaptation and a free HD digital copy of the film.
Harrison Ford is not included, but we’re not saying anything about snakes . . .
It’s known as the “Peoples’ House”, yet no one ever invited me to spend a night. Michelle and Barack: You have just a short time to send me an invite! Figuring they won’t, I visited their digs with the PBS documentary “The White House: Inside Story.” It took me on an intimate behind-the-scenes historical tour told through the first-person stories of First Family members, former employees, historians members of the press and a rare informal interview with President Obama inside the Oval Office.
Through current-day filming combined with stock footage and still photos of past presidents, their families and staff, viewers will experience the precision with which the Executive Mansion operates—as a private home and a workplace where military and economic decisions shape and affect history.
Those who missed the show can nab it on DVD; the program will also be available for digital download.
In addition to President Obama and former President Jimmy Carter, the program features new interviews with First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Barbara Bush and Rosalynn Carter reminiscing about their families’ place in the 200-year history of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. These personal stories are interwoven with historical facts about the “house that George Washington built.” First Lady Michelle Obama, for example, reveals that “the White House is a fabulously magical place to live, that’s not difficult to make a home.” Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter admits that thinking about the history of the White House “gives her chills.” And former First Lady Barbara Bush recalls, “You can feel history, and hope you can live up to it.”
Perhaps most revealing is a story told by former Chief Usher Gary Walters, who was preparing a luncheon for the entire Congress and their families on the White House lawn the morning of September 11, 2001, when news of the terrorist attacks reached Washington. Despite Secret Service orders to evacuate the White House, Walters recalls how he quickly assessed the severity of the situation and made the decision to remain behind and dismantle the outdoor luncheon space, thus freeing up the lawn to allow the president’s helicopter to land. He then went on to prepare the Oval Office for President Bush to address the nation later that day. “One of the things that I turned to in my own mind on 9/11 was the role that the White House plays in disasters and wars,” says Walters. “People have a tendency to turn to the White House as a symbol of our American Heritage.”
Adds Michelle: “This is really what the White House is all about. It’s the “People’s House.” It’s a place that is steeped in history, but it’s also a place where everyone should feel welcome. And that’s why my husband and I have made it our mission to open up the house to as many people as we can.”
Jupiter, Pluto and two stunning sets of U.S. postal stamps. In recent weeks, the solar system and certain planets have been taking center stage, even if Jupiter’s stage (when the Earth and Jupiter are at their closest point, 365 million miles) and Pluto’s stage is 4.67 billion miles miles away.
Anyone can take a journey from your doorstep into outer space with A Journey Through Space ( QEB Publishing, $16.95).Zoom through the solar system, discovering satellites, comets and asteroids along the way. Explore craters on Mars, do the moonwalk around Jupiter and get a close-up view of Saturn’s amazing rings. You’re even warned not to travel too close to the Sun.
The book, packed with lively illustrations to reveal our amazing universe, is perfect for a parent and child to read together or to explore independently. Bonus: The book includes a dust jacket that unfolds into a poster.
QEB Publishing has released a second book that’s outer space! Get ready to explore the magical night sky. Find out everything there is to know about what you can spot in the sky, such as how explorers used constellations as a form of navigation. Discover the best time to spot comets and why the Moon’s appearance has changed over time. Night Sky Watcher ($12.95) includes everything from the Sun to the Moon, to the stars and planets.
Symbols are used within the book to show what can be seen in the northern and southern hemispheres, allowing readers to view exactly what they can see in the sky, regardless of their location. The book comes with a zipper slipcase, so you can take it on all your adventures!
The thing escaped in 1982, when legendary filmmaker John Carpenter unleashed The Thing, a chilling sci-fi thriller that raised the bar on shocking special effects and terrified movie audiences worldwide. See it again in a way you’ve never seen it, since Scream Factory will present the landmark horror film in a 2-disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release which includes a brand new 2K scan of the film (supervised by Director of Photography Dean Cundey) and more than 5 hours of extras. Save the date: You’ll have to watch the old DVD until you scream for the Scream Factory release onSeptember 20.
Remember? In the winter of 1982, a twelve-man research team at a remote Antarctic research station discovers an alien buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon unfrozen, the form-changing alien wreaks havoc, creates terror and takes on the appearance of those it kills.
The Thing stars Kurt Russell and features special visual effects by Albert Whitlock and special makeup effects by Rob Bottin. This definitive set includes a collectible slipcover featuring newly rendered artwork and a reversible cover wrap featuring original theatrical key art. A must-have for movie collectors, sci-fi horror enthusiasts and loyal fans, The Thing Collector’s Edition Blu-ray set is available for pre-order now at ShoutFactory.com.
What makes this thing so special? Some things we should tell you:
NEW 2K scan of the inter-positive supervised and approved by director of photography Dean Cundey
NEW 4.1 created from the original 70mm Six Track Dolby Stereo soundtrack
NEW Audio Commentary with director of photography Dean Cundey
NEWThe Men of Outpost 31: Interviews with Keith David, Thomas Waites, Peter Maloney and others
NEW Assembling and Assimilation: An interview with editor Todd Ramsay
NEW Behind the Chameleon: Interviews with visual effects artists Peter Kuran and Susan Turner, special make-up effects artist Rob Burman and Brian Wade
NEW Sounds from the Cold: Interviews with supervising sound editor David Lewis Yewdall and special sound effects designer Alan Howarth
NEW Between the Lines: An interview with novelization author Alan Dean Foster
Audio Commentary by John Carpenter and Kurt Russell
John Carpenter’s The Thing: Terror Takes Shape: A documentary on the making of The Thing featuring interviews with Carpenter, Russell, special effects make-up designer Rob Bottin, legendary matte artist Albert Whitlock plus members of the cast and crew (80 minutes – SD)
Outtakes (5 minutes – SD)
Vintage featurettes from the electronic press kit featuring interviews with John , Kurt and Rob Bottin (12 minutes – SD)
Vintage featurettes: The Making of a Chilling Tale and The Making of The Thing (1982 – 14 minutes – SD)
Vintage Product Reel: Contains a promotional condensed version of the film with additional footage not in the film (19 minutes – SD)
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment honors the occasion by releasing this delightful story in a deluxe 50th anniversary edition, completely remastered in beautiful high definition. You have to wait until the release date of October 4, but remember one thing: Charlie Brown never gave up. And neither should you.
Charlie Brown’s All Stars follows the bittersweet story of Charlie Brown, who won’t give up on trying to bring his baseball team to victory, in spite of facing great criticism from the team’s players. The DVD release is timed to the culmination of the World Series.
