Trick Costume Knife with Disappearing Blade
From Loftus

This is a fake knife which the blade goes up into the handle when pushed on to an object! Great effect! Can be used over and over again!
Amazon Sales Rank: #31819 in Toys & Games Brand: Joker Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x 7.50" l, .6 pounds

Retractable fake knives Great for stage productions (which is what I used it for). Safe if used correctly. Not the most durable, but a good value for the money. Order Extras As part of a Peter Pan birthday present package, I ordered two knives (ostensibly to represent the pirates), one for the 5-year-old, one for the 8-year-old. They were wildly successful, and the 8 year-old broke his very soon. I'm not unhappy about that because (a) they were cheap and (b) that taught a lesson. But you might want to order duplicates. I recommend this to anyone with a husband who likes knives! I bought this as a surprise for my husband. He loved it. A great toy for adults because it's cheap enough that you don't feel guilty for spending money on a toy for yourself, as an adult, knowing you're only going to play with it for 10 minutes. This would also be great if you're doing theatre with a knife fighting scene (think "West Side Story").

   

Walt Disney Treasure Chest
From Brimar Publishing

Five Classic Disney titles: "The Jungle Book", "Bambi", "The little Mermaid", Peter Pan", and "101 Dalmations"

   

L'isola che non c'era (Italian Edition)
By Marco Arcelli

Francesca had always dreamed of leaving by sea, to a far away island that she imagined as a quiet stretch of white sands and green palm trees under blue skies and a perennial sun. Paolo had offered her the chance to move to London. But Britain turned out to be different from their dreams, a cold and hostile island where they would struggle to survive. L’Isola che non c’era is an Italian novel denouncing the frenzied, black-and-white life of bankers in London, focused on ideals defined by others, and promoting a simpler, more colourful life on the Italian Riviera. It is a novel about the gradual realization that every single act of ours, however simple, gives us the chance to choose between good and evil and become one again with God. The realization that each experience, however painful, is the tool to understand the meaning of our lives and the meaning in itself. And that life is beautiful, no matter what it brings.

About the Author
Marco Arcelli was born in 1971 in Genova, on the Italian Riviera, whose color and flavors he still carries in his heart. He has lived several years in the US, UK, Italy, Denmark, Slovakia and is now a resident of Rome, Italy.

Extra from the author
Francesca had always dreamt of leaving by sea, to a far away island that she imagined as a quiet stretch of white sands and green palm trees under blue skies and a perennial sun. Paolo had offered her the chance of her life. But London turned out to be not the island they had dreamt about.

L'Isola che non c'era is an Italian novel denouncing the frenzied, black-and-white life of bankers in London, focused on ideals defined by others, and promoting a simpler, more colourful life on the Italian Riviera. It is a novel about the gradual realization that every single act of ours, however simple, gives us the chance to choose between good and evil and become one again with God. The realization that each experience, however painful, gives meaning to our lives and is the meaning in itself. And that life is beautiful, whatever it brings.

   

The Great Buck Howard
Directed by Sean McGinly

Once upon a time, Buck Howard [John Malkovich] spent his days in the

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27824 in DVD
• Brand: MAGNOLIA FILMS
• Released on: 2009-07-21
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

As Buck Howard (John Malkovich) explains in Sean McGinly's funny valentine to the talk show mainstays of yesteryear, he's a mentalist, not a magician. Unlike the brooding protagonists of The Illusionist and The Prestige, Howard doesn't do Harry Houdini-style tricks. Rather, he reads minds, finds hidden objects, and performs other feats that eschew props and assistants. Back in the day, Howard appeared on The Tonight Show 61 times (McGinly based his character on The Amazing Kreskin), but his best years appear to be behind him when he takes on law-school dropout Troy (a low-key Colin Hanks) as his road manager. From the start, Troy finds his temperamental employer fascinating and frustrating in equal measure. Desperate to get back in the limelight, Howard decides to hypnotize several hundred audience members at once. Along with a sassy press agent (Emily Blunt) and two over-enthusiastic venue managers (Steve Zahn and Debra Monk), Troy works with Howard to make it happen. To his surprise, things go both better and worse than expected, and everything changes for the unlikely pair. Produced by Tom Hanks's Playtone banner and featuring the two-time Oscar winner as Toby's disapproving father, The Great Buck Howard follows the rise, fall, and rise template of many Hanks productions (see That Thing You Do!), but McGinly handles a large cast with ease, the laughs are plentiful, the cameos--John Stewart, Conan O’Brien, George Takei, etc.--are a treat, and the unpredictable Malkovich gives his most nuanced performance since, well, Being John Malkovich. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

A GREAT SMALL FILM
Among the many films that are released each year we are treated to some huge blockbusters. One this week out on DVD will no doubt be WATCHMEN. But while that movie may be the most sought after film, it will also leave many behind who won't get to the store in time for their copy. So instead, why not take a risk and watch something a bit more human, a bit more funny and a bit more sad. Why not watch THE GREAT BUCK HOWARD?

If you've never heard nor seen this film don't be surprised. As I said, blockbusters tend to take up space in the multiplexes around the country where an 18 screen complex offers only 4 films at a time. If you have HDNet, you may have caught it on the premier night it ran. If not, do so now.

Colin Hanks stars as Troy Gable, a young student in college studying to be a lawyer not because he loves it or sees himself having a future here but because his father has sent him here. Realizing he has no desire to live this life, he takes off and heads to LA and begins searching for a job. This results in his meeting the Great Buck Howard, now in search of a new road manager.

Buck Howard (John Malkovich) is a low level celebrity on the down side of life. At one time a notable performer who was featured on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson 61 times, he now finds himself playing regional theaters to half packed audiences. But at least these people are fans, those who recall his glory days and now have that moment to bask in the glow of this celebrity who has come to their lives.

Buck is a strange character. A mentalist with a touch now and then of magic, Buck is hard on his staff of one but loving of his crowd when on stage. Until a few take things into their own hand in one instance throwing off his game a bit. But Buck genuinely loves performing for these people and he does so stupendously, always ending with his signature trick where he has someone hide his fee for the night and then returns to the stage to locate it in the audience.

But even though he is the character centered in the title, the story is more about Troy than it is Buck. Troy is at that time in his life where he's trying to decide what he wants to do. He wants to be a writer but with little life experience, he finds himself gaining more and more as he travels with Buck from town to town. He sees Buck's ups and downs, his dealing with overindulgent fans, uninterested media types and many who have forgotten him.

Into Troy and Buck's life comes Valerie Brennan (Emily Blunt), a press agent sent out to handle Buck and a special event he has planned in an attempt to once again get into the spotlight. Valerie and Troy become romantically involved but catastrophe looms around the corner as Buck begins to place over 300 people into a trance at once. Unfortunately he's doing so in Cincinnati and at the same time Jerry Springer is involved in an accident. When the moment comes, no one is there to see it.

But word slowly gets out after Buck collapses and he suddenly becomes big once more. One recalls that Huey Lewis lyric "It's hip to be square". Buck suddenly finds himself on TV shows, being lured by Vegas and finally having the chance to go on The Tonight Show once again. But his rise leads to a decline as well and we are left to wonder what will happen to the Great Buck Howard? And what will become of Troy and Valerie as well?

Tons of celebrities make cameos in this coming of age tale including Regis and Kelly, Martha Stewart, Jon Stewart, Jay Leno, Tom Arnold, Conan O'Brien, George Takei and Tom Hanks (Colin's real life father) as Troy's father, the man who wants him in law school at any costs. And each scene with these celebs comes off as real and genuine, a testament to all actors involved, especially Malkovich.

This movie may not be the big blockbuster release of the week. But it is a film that will entertain and delight that those of us who recall the great days of Carson's Tonight Show will enjoy. Of note, the film (at least the stage work) is based on the Amazing Kreskin who director/writer Sean McGinley worked for as road manager. His love shines through in the character of Buck Howard. And I dare anyone to walk away from this film not feeling the same affection for a little known celebrity on the outs trying to work his way back in.

Excellence
If you ever had to wonder why you loved John Malkovitch, this is the reason why. This is the kind of movie you watch with your mouth open. The acting is strong. There's not a lot happening, this isn't a thriller, but even in the most ordinary scenes you can see that everyone believes in their characters. I thought I had this film figured out, but I was happily wrong. This story defies convention! John is simply fantastic in this role. Colin Hanks turns in a competent performance. He's a young actor so he still has to cut his teeth a little, but he did a fair enough job. His father even shows up for a scene and that's always nice.

But the real heart of the story I think is "do you still believe in magic?" not the real kind with witches and spells - but "magic" in a sense of wonder and amazement. I don't want to give anything away but in every scene when you think the story is about to fall apart, John Malkovitch pulls it off! He holds this film together with his bare hands. He's like a rock surrounded by superglue. He just makes this story happen. The way he talks about the human spirit -- without talking about it.
The only way I can give an analogy is...remember in "Braveheart" at the end when he dies for his people and screams "Freedom!" well, that scene only works if you completely believe in his character. If you believe that William Wallace really was THAT much of a believer. Mel Gibson took that character to the wall and you had to believe it.

THAT's what John does with Buck Howard. The character is so outrageous and over the top that at first you laugh at him. But then later on you come to realize that this man is a believer. This man is for real, this isn't an act. He's not acting. Buck Howard does believe in the magic of the human soul.

There is a scene at the end when Buck Howard looks at Colin Hanks. Looks at him and you will believe, too. When I left the theater I said to my friends "I have just seen the best movie of the year. And it's March."

A genuinely fresh movie
I'm not a huge John John Malkovich fan, but this seems like one of those rare occasions when actor and role seem perfectly matched to produce an entertaining movie. Malkovich plays Buck Howard, a failing magician loosely based on the Amazing Kreskin. Malkovich's character is both corny and charming. He undergoes a transformation from being frustrated with his fate of performing for small-town America, to finding the his big break didn't necessarily bring him what he most needed. Meanwhile, Colin Hanks (Tom Hank's son) plays a young man searching for himself after dropping out of law school. Ultimately, this movie isn't a slapstick comedy and you probably won't find yourself laughing out loud. Nonetheless, it has some funny moments and is a breath of fresh air compared to the stale comedies Hollywood has been producing (with their utterly predictable plots).I found myself unable to predict where exactly the story was going or what would happen next to Buck Howard - and I loved that. Hopefully you will too.

   

Tinker Bell (BD Live) [Blu-ray]
From WALT DISNEY VIDEO

Born into the fantastic world of Pixie Hollow, Tinker Bell thinks her fairy talent as a tinker isn t as special or important as the other fairies talents. But when Tink tries to change who she is, she creates nothing but disaster! With encouragement from her friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn and Iridessa, Tink learns the key to solving her problems lies in her unique tinker abilities and discovers that when she s true to herself, magical things can happen.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4400 in DVD
• Brand: Buena Vista Home Video
• Released on: 2008-10-28
• Rating: G (General Audience)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 70 minutes

On the Blu-ray Disc
The Blu-ray "BD Live" bonus feature allows viewers with Blu-ray or Playstation 3 players connected to the Internet to go online with friends or family anywhere in the country who also have Blu-ray and Internet capability to set up specific movie chat times. Both parties must own the Blu-ray version of the same movie in order to sync the movie for simultaneous viewing and the person who initiates the chat session controls movie functions like pause, fast forward etc. Chat session participants can instant message one another right on screen as the movie plays for an interactive experience that's just a step away from viewing the movie together in the same room. The only real delay is the time it takes to maneuver your remote through the onscreen keyboard, though the capability to link with your computer keyboard or handheld device makes messaging back and forth less cumbersome. The movie mail option allows users to upload video files they've created on their computer to automatically play alongside the movie in a particular scene--that means your little fairy princess can work some magic right alongside Tinker Bell and your friends online can watch her performance. Movie Challenge is an online interactive trivia game with three difficulty levels that plays scenes from the movie behind multiple choice trivia questions--players choose opponents from their true friends list (still coming soon as of this review's writing) or from anyone in the country who happens to be online with their Blu-ray player and the same movie. Viewers can also program parental controls and redeem points on Disney Movie Rewards right from their Blu-ray player. Other functions still "coming soon" as of October 2008 are a calendar function that plots future movie chat times up to three months out, news, and movie notifications. The only real downside of BD live is that the functions and menus are not always the most intuitive and both setting up your account and compiling a list of true friends is a multi-step procedure that requires many trips back and forth between your Blu-ray player and computer and/or phone. Assume that children and the non-tech-savvy will probably need some assistance. Once everything is set up and you've figured out how to navigate the system, it's time to watch and game with your friends and family--no matter how far away they live. --Tami Horiuchi

Review
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Review
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Great family entertainment!
"Tinker Bell" has gotten a lot of online commentary, most of it negative, so I wasn't really excited to watch my preview copy of this movie. I was VERY pleasantly surprised by what I saw. "Tinker Bell" is an enjoyable movie, perfect for children and even entertaining for adults. Based upon what I'd read previously, I would not have gone to a theater to see this; however, after watching it, I believe this movie is worthy of both big screen AND home entertainment viewing. Unfortunately, most of the banter has focused on the fact that Tinker Bell speaks. Personally, this is a minor point, as the animators have done a tremendous job of having Tinker Bell retain her spunky nature and movements that we all know from "Peter Pan (2-Disc Platinum Edition)."

The story is fairly simple; Tinker Bell arrives in Pixie Hollow, where all the Fairies have talents. It is discovered that (no surprise) Tinker Bell's talent is "tinkering" or fixing things. However, in Tink's opinion, this is not very exciting. She'd rather be one of the Fairies who gets to take Spring to "the mainland" (aka London). As you can imagine, Tink's early time at Pixie Hollow is filled with figuring out who she really is and that she is just as important as the other fairies who have more glamorous talents. There is plenty of humor, emotion, and visual beauty that helps elevate what seems like an oft-told tale.

The animation is fantastic; although it is obviously computer generated, it is apparent that the level of the animators doing it is such that they focus on camera movements, lighting, color, and emotional nuances rather than just the basics. Still, the characters do still have somewhat of a doll-like/mechanical quality. The movement and facial emoting is a vast improvement over some of the early computer animation, but it does still have a little way to go.

There is also a first-rate cast behind the scenes, giving the voices to these animated characters: Anjelica Huston (Queen Clarion), Lucy Liu (Silvermist), America Ferrera (Fawn), Kristin Chenoweth (Rosetta), Kathy Najimy (Minister of Summer), and my favorite, Jane Horrocks as the sassy Fairy Mary. The Celtic-inspired music is also enjoyable and the perfect accompaniment to the film.

The extras include:

* Tinker Trainer: Hone your skills as a Tinker Fairy in this activity

* Magical guide to Pixie Hollow: Discover the Ancient Realm of Fairies with Tinker Bell

* Ever Wonder: Discover how Fairies put the "wonder" in natural wonders. Combining special effects with live action, you are "shown" how grass grows between the cracks in the sidewalk, etc. A cute little featurette.

* Creating Pixie Hollow: See how the filmmakers created this magical realm.

* All-new music video by Disney Channel's Selena Gomez.

* Deleted scenes: enjoyable, but not really missed.

* Sneak previews, most notably the Blu-ray version of 1940's "Pinocchio." It looks fantastic! Being released March 2009.

Blu-ray exclusive:

* Disney BD Live: Connect with Family & friends through this innovative movie-watching experience

Movie specs: on Blu-ray, 1080 HD/1:78:1 video, with English 5.1 Uncompress & English 5.1 Dolby Digital audio.

Utterly gorgeous to look at and sure to delight all young children
I just watched TINKER BELL on Blu-ray and I was quite impressed. Time was that direct-to-DVD meant, well, bad. Low production values, second tier talent, and a disposable story. Lately, however, a number of studios have begun struggling with ways to develop a business model that allowed them to make profits on projects that bypassed theater releases. For instance, MGM has had some success with the Stargate movies, which have a solid but niche market, enough fans to buy DVDs with enthusiasm, but not enough general public support to justify a general release into theaters. Universal has reputedly been thinking of the possibility of doing the same with a SERENITY sequel, a film that merely broke even (after international sales) in the theaters, but has been a huge success on disc. My point is that it is no longer possible to dismiss anything that makes its debut on disc.

TINKER BELL is a great example of the greatly increased quality of direct-to-DVD productions. Visually, this is just a stunning movie. Story apart, there is never a moment when the film isn't utterly riveting. As an adult I found it great to look at from beginning to end. I think small children, especially young girls, will find it entrancing. The story isn't very complex or nuanced, but there are some nice messages of empowerment. If classic Disney frequently was mired in notions that the primary hope of women was for someday their prince to come, this one's theme is of a young fairy striving to be all that she can be. The emphasis is on what she can make of herself, not only the need for a romantic Other to make her life complete.

I mentioned the relative lack of talent in traditional direct-to-DVD releases. That is not the case here. Tinker Bell is voiced by Mae Whitman, who many will know as the delightfully forgetable Ann on ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (viewers of the show will know what I meant by that). Some of the main fairies are voiced by such excellent performers as Kristin Chenoweth, America Ferrera, Angelica Huston, Lucy Liu, and Jane Horrocks.

Honestly, the movie is not going to blow most adults away. This is very definitely a kids film. As someone who raised a daughter as a single dad, however, I am confident that small children, especially young girls, are going to love this movie. And it is something that adults will be able to enjoy watching a first time and not find too unpleasant on the unaccountable repeated viewings that very young children love to engage in (there are still many animated movies that my daughter watched a few dozen times that I have nearly every scene memorized).

If you have a small child, this is a very good movie to consider picking up, especially if the child in question is a girl. It features very high production standards, is unbelievably beautiful to look at, and has a much better than average moral. And it is clearly intended to be the first of at least two films, since an insert inside the case advertises a new Tinker Bell film to be released in the fall of 2009.

Great movie, thanks one more time...Disney
I went to see the movie this afternoon, yes.. here in Mexico is playing in teathers. It is a great, fantastic, incredible, wonderfull and beautiful movie. The movie was in Spanish and it was great, the music and the colors. What I like the most was the story, because it has a deep message, I mean it has to do with your own acceptance to society. Think has to prove and acept by herself what she was meant to be. She is like a mechanich or something like that, but she wants to be different until the moment that she figures it out what she really is. All the fairies are so beautyful, the colors and the 3-D animation. I am wondering why Disney studios did not give this project to Pixar Animation, because I can tell that the animation is a little poor compared with Wall-e, resolution and color are very good, Dubbing was incredible and the story remains me something naive and sweet. I strongly recomend this movie to little childrend, my wife love it, and I am actually cry because it has a lot of love. Oh... and my favorite character is "queso" or "cheese", a little mouse that helps tinker bell trying to capture weeds, and my favorite fairy is Vidia, because she is kind of evil but no so much, and she is prettier than tink. Queen Clayron is so pixie and understanding person, and tink's friends are so funy, specially the fat guy. I can't reveal the end, but I can say that Wendy is in the movie (yes... the Pete's friend). Finally, it seems that think has a friend that likes her a lot. I can't wait to compare this movie with the blu-ray version. My expections about this movie were so high and I can say that well done. Thank's Disney. I am so happy to see an incredible and pixie Movie.

   

Peter Pan Snowglobe Bookends
From Disney

Your novels will never walk the plank while anchored by our Peter Pan Snowglobe Bookends. Captain Hook's ship, the Jolly Roger, is divided into two halves, each with its own pixie-dusted snowglobe scene. You'll thrill again to the swashbuckling duel between ''insolent youth'' and ''old codfish'' as the cast of Never Land favorites looks on. Capture the spirit of youth in your home or office library. Flocked bottom prevents slippage.

• Amazon Sales Rank: #781025 in Kitchen & Housewares
• Brand: Disney

   

Starring the Baby-sitters Club (Baby-Sitters Club Super Special # 9)
By Ann M. Martin

With Kristy in the title role in her school's production of

One of the bests
This book was really good. When I am little my favourite book is Peter Pan and now it's the BSC-series-perfect! I like that idea Stacey and Sam play the Darlings but I think Jessi would be better Peter Pan than Kristy. My hobby is acting and now we're going to start Peter Pan! I want to be Tiger Lily, like Cokie, but Cokie is stupid. Especially when she said Jessi a little twerp.
I've read 22 books in finnish and 10-15 in english. And I like Starring the BSC is one of the bests in english.

Just Really Unrealistic
This book is really good, and if you put aside the fact that this could never happen in real life, then you'll enjoy it. However, there were lots of times in the story when I thought, "Yeah, right." First of all, the SMS play would not have elementary or high schoolers in it--they would SMS students play all the parts. Plus, the high-schoolers would be too busy with their own play. I think that whole thing was just to give Mary Anne (the backstage baby-sitter), Mallory (since she and Mary Anne were sort of fighting about that) and Stacie (Sam was acting ridiculous) a conflict. Next, the casting wasn't very accurate--and I know from being in several school and summer-camp productions myself. Kristy didn't try out for the part of Peter Pan, wasn't really a superstar during the auditions, hadn't memorized the lines she was going to read, and didn't even prepare a dance routine. That would DEFINITELY not impress the director enough the give her the lead role, unless, like, he favored her or something. Jessi would be much more likely to get the party-the only advantages Kristy had were that she was an eighth-grader and maybe the director wanted to let someone who hadn't been in the spotlight so much a chance to shine. Still...and Dawn would have really gotten in trouble if she had done that in real life--plus, who the heck cares if the play is sexist? It's not like men were going to go out and make women do everything after seeing Peter Pan. If you want a good but VERY inaccurate book, you would enjoy this, but otherwise, just skip it.

good
The Baby Sitters get involved onstage and off in SMS school production of Peter Pan.