Bambi Presents Romance

                     

DISNEY ADDS A NEW GEM TO THE BLU-RAY™ DIAMOND COLLECTION

Walt Disney’s

BAMBI Diamond Edition

Releases From The Disney Vault on March 1, 2011

Burbank, Calif., December, 2010 – The Walt Disney Studios proudly announces the addition of BAMBI to its coveted, cutting-edge Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection line-up of Disney’s greatest animated-classics. Released from the Disney vault for a limited time only, BAMBI Diamond Edition features the loveable and adorable wide-eyed fawn and his forest friends in Blu-ray high-definition on March 1, 2011.

The Diamond Edition debut of BAMBI, Walt’s fifth full-length animated classic, is an endearing tale about a young prince of the forest who learns valuable life-lessons about friendship, love, and the miracle of life. The movie is a must-own coming-of-age story that Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has especially packaged with families in mind - providing the ultimate, interactive hi-def home entertainment experience with a newly enhanced digital restoration, enhanced picture and sound, games, activities and more.

The new BAMBI Diamond Edition will be available as a 2-Disc Disney Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) for the suggested retail price of $39.99 US/$46.99 Canada, a High Definition Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $19.99 US/$39.99 Canada, and/or a Standard Definition Movie Download for the suggested retail price of $14.99 US/$24.99 Canada. Those who wish to own the standard definition DVD version of BAMBI will need to wait seven additional weeks – until April 19, 2011.

Disney’s new “Second Screen” technology, which is being introduced for the very first time on the BAMBI Diamond Edition release, will further transform the at-home movie watching experience by empowering viewers with the ability to engage with film content on multiple media platforms and bring them to life in their own hands at the touch of a button. By simply downloading the new Disney Second Screen App onto an internet-connected computer or iPad™* and synching it to the movie, consumers will instantly be able to dive deeper into the film by engaging with fun interactive elements like animated flipbooks, galleries, photos, trivia and more.

Film Synopsis:

As morning light breaks across the meadow, a young deer named Bambi is born and hailed as ‘Prince of the Forest.’ Soon Bambi emerges from the thicket on wobbly legs, much to the delight of his new friends, Thumper, the playful rabbit, and Flower, the bashful yet lovable skunk. But the fun of nibbling on fresh blossoms and frolicking through the woods is only the beginning. Exploring his new world, and guided by the wisdom of Friend Owl,Bambi learns valuable life lessons with every adventure – experiencing the power of friendship, family, and love along the away.

The Making of the Film:

BAMBI was Walt Disney’s fifth animated full-length feature film which released in 1942 during World War II and took approximately five years in the making due to the exquisite artwork and attention to detail of each and every scene, character and figure.  The artwork itself was created by some of the legendary “nine old men,” including Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Marc Davis, Milt Kahl and Eric Larson and in order to achieve the film’s unprecedented level of realism, animators modeled anatomical studies using live animals (including a pair of fawns named Bambi and Faline) and imbued each with a uniquely endearing personality. Bambi’s delightful forest home received the same painstaking attention to detail, as background artists painted hundreds of landscapes based on extensive field research and nature photographs. 

Walt Disney broke the longstanding animation tradition by casting child actors in the roles of Bambi’s young animals, including Bobby Stewart as Baby Bambi, Donnie Dunagan as Young Bambi, Hardie Albright as Adolescent Bambi and Peter Behn as Young Thumper. The cast also includes Sam Edwards as Adult Thumper, John Sutherland as Adult Bambi, Paula Winslowe as Bambi’s Mother and Sterling Holloway (the voice of Winnie the Pooh and The Jungle Book’s Kaa, the snake) as Adult Flower.

Film Accolades:

BAMBI was nominated for three Academy Awards^® for Best Song (“Love Is a Song,”), Best Sound Recording, and Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. To date, BAMBI is No. 3 on the list of American Film Institute’s Top 10 Animated Films of All Times. And in 2004, the movie was commemorated with a first-class U.S. postage stamp and in the 1990’s the film inspired astronomers to name a pair of asteroids after the adorable characters – Thumper (April 20, 1993) and Bambi (October 17, 1995). 

Bonus Features:

            Backstage Disney:

·      Inside Walt’s Story Meetings-Enhanced Edition - A fascinating, multi-tiered, interactive story-telling experience. Go                              back in time with dramatic voice re-enactments of the moments with Walt that led to the creation of this classic film.

·       2 Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes

   ·       Deleted Song: “Twitterpated”

 ·       Blu-ray Galleries—A collection of the extraordinary images originally created as part of the design process for BAMBI.

Family Play: Games & Activities:

  ·       Disney’s Big Book of Knowledge: BAMBI Edition— An interactive educational gaming experience that uses the film as a learning tool. Players can customize their own Big Book of Knowledge and learn all about forest creatures, seasons andmore! Each time a player completes a task, they are rewarded with new stickers to decorate their Big Book of Knowledge.

Digital Exclusive:

  ·       The Golden Age

Classic DVD Bonus Features:

  ·       The Making Of BAMBI: A Prince Is Born—A comprehensive look at the making of BAMBI covers the story, the characters, the actors, the art design, the music and the history of Walt Disney’s classic film using behind the scenes footage, production stills, animation, artwork and multiple interviews withperformers and behind the scenes participants.

    ·       Tricks of the Trade (excerpt)—In an episode from the 1957 Disneyland TV show, Walt narrates the story of the multiplane camera, an animation innovation crucial to the production of BAMBI.

      ·       Inside the Disney Archives—Disney Supervising Animator Andreas Deja guides viewers through Disney’s Animation Research Library, where artwork from past Disney animated feature films is stored, including early story sketches of Bobo the rabbit,” (who became Thumper),  glass paintings made for the multiplane camera and more.

    ·       The Old Mill—Winner of the 1937 Academy Award^® for Best Short Subject/Cartoon, The Old Mill was a testing ground for several techniques critical to Walt’s artistic vision for BAMBI, including the multiplane camera, animating realistic animals and experimenting with such natural occurrences such as wind, rain and lightning. 

   ·       DisneyPedia: Bambi’s Forest Friends 

Disc Specifications:

	BLU-RAY	DVD
Street Date	March 1, 2011	April 19, 2011
Direct Prebook	January 4, 2011	February 22, 2011
Distributor Prebook	January 18, 2011	March 8, 2011
Suggested Retail Price	2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) = $39.99 US/$46.99 Canada; High Definition Movie Download = $19.99 US/$39.99 Canada; Standard Definition Movie Download = $14.99 US/$34.99 Canada	2-Disc DVD = $29.99 US/$35.99 Canada
Feature Run Time	70-minutes	70-minutes
Feature Rated	G	G
Technical		FastPlayÔ enabled
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1	1.33:1
Sound	7.1 DTS-HD High Resolution Audio,	5.1 Dolby Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix (DEHT)
Languages	5.1 Dolby Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix (DEHT) French and Spanish Language Tracks	5.1 Dolby Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix (DEHT) French and Spanish Language Tracks
Subtitles	English SDH, English ESL, French & Spanish	English SDH, English Line 21/CC, French & Spanish

About Disney’s Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection:

Disney’s Blu-ray™ Diamond Collection represents The Walt Disney Studio’s most prestigious animated classics. The Collection will be comprised with many of Walt Disney’s most treasured animated classic titles to be released through 2016. These titles represent the highest level of picture and sound, feature groundbreaking, state-of-the-art immersive bonus content, and include unprecedented levels of interactivity, personalization and customization, made possible because of Blu-ray technology.

About The Walt Disney Studios:

For more than 85 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company (DIS: NYSE) was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under four banners: Walt Disney Pictures, which includes Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios, Disneynature, Touchstone Pictures and Marvel. Through the Home Entertainment division, innovative distribution methods provide access to creative content across multiple platforms. Original music and motion picture soundtracks are produced under Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records, while Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Broadway theatrical productions, Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!  For more information, please visit www.disney.com.
All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Book Review: Gift of the Magpie

About the Book
When Max falls in love with Regina—a magpie with a fetish for shoes—he thinks of the many ways to make her smile. The two spend the summer together, searching for food and footwear, while laughing until their feathers shake.

From cowboy boots to penny loafers and pearly pumps, Max hopes to find the perfect shoe for building a nest. But after he surprises Regina with an old sneaker, she takes flight. Brokenhearted, he joins a new flock, and Regina wonders if he will return. Will these two lonely love birds ever reunite.

Janeen Mason’s vibrant illustrations, set to warm backgrounds of blushing pinks and reds, are the perfect complement to this sweet love story.


About the Author
Besides serving on the board of directors of the Friends of the Blake Library, Janeen Mason is the secretary of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. She is also a member of the Children’s Book Council and is the past illustrator coordinator for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in the state of Florida. Mason has received such honors as a Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award, the U.S. Maritime Literature Award, and the National Award for Excellence in Communities. In addition to illustrating Pirate Pink and Treasures of the Reef; The Pirate, Pink; Kissimmee Pete, Cracker Cow Hunter; Kissimmee Pete and the Hurricane; and The World’s Greatest Explorer, she is the author and illustrator of Ocean Commotion: Sea Turtles and Ocean Commotion: Life on the Reef, all published by Pelican.

My Take on the Book
This book is beautiful both in story and in artistic display. The author does an amazong job of sharing a story of love and friendship. My girls also loved the fact that though Magpie Max was completely enamored with Magpie Regina, she was (like many women) in love of other things, namely shoes! The color and beauty within this book drew my girls in and they simply loved the storyline as well as the illustrations.

I was so impressed with this book, I went to our local library to find other books that had been written by the author, as I knew my girls would love these other books as they loved this one.



All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Cupid's Valentine's Day Message to Parents: L.O.V.E.

Cupid's Valentine's Day Message to Parents: L.O.V.E. By Gary M. Unruh MSW LCSW

Parents are constantly under the microscope. Whether they're being compared to Chinese mothers, or childless Aunt Susie is giving her two cents' worth of parenting advice, parents are all too often left shaking their heads in aggravation. "Isn't there a simpler, less frustrating way to raise my child?" Yes, and it's called fully developed parental love -- the age-old Valentine's message shined up for twenty-first-century frustrated parents. After counseling over 2,500 children and parenting four of my own, it has become clear to me that tapping in to love's transforming power is the only way to go. Love covers all the essential parenting requirements: L for Limit-setting, O for Openly communicating,  V for Valuing, and E for Empathizing. One thing is certain: the more humans feel loved, the more they fully live life.

Here is a quick look at what fully developed parental love looks like. L is for Limit-setting. Whoever invented the word love knew that the first letter needed to stand for limit-setting. Children are not born demonstrating good conduct; they need to learn acceptable behavior. Parents train their children best using two limit-setting activities: teaching good behavior and teaching a child how to stick with something until it is done (hard work pays off). Children need to learn the benefits of hard work, like giving up a fun weekend with friends to get a project done well. The right mix of fun and games with hard work will result in a responsible, resilient child.

O is for Open Communication. One of the most important needs of a child, or anybody for that matter, is to feel understood. That requires open communication. When a three-year-old hits his sister, the natural parental response is to yell and send him to his room. With open communication, understanding is the first step. Parents achieve this by calmly asking the child what made him so upset, then listening -- with no "buts." When children feel understood, they become more comfortable with themselves, more self-assured. Then, after understanding, the L comes back around -- limit-setting consistently.

V is for Valuing. At the heart of love is the letter V for valuing and validating. The need to feel valued is as important for children as their need for food. Telling children what they did right every day builds self-confidence. Children feel most valued when parents validate their feelings, especially during conflict. When Jared whines about chores, validate his frustration with "You are really frustrated and it's no fun to pick up," and then firmly set limits. He can stop whining and pick up his mess, or go to his room. A valued child is a child who wants to learn good behavior.

E is for Empathy. The learned ability to stand in another person's shoes ensures less risk for physical health problems and develops kindness, compassion, and quality intimacy. That's what happens when parents are successful in teaching their children all aspects of love, especially the valuing component. When children feel valued from the get-go, they know firsthand all about empathy. Over and over again I've seen these children become very empathetic individuals. The most gratifying success in life is enduring, close relationships -- one of the best results of developing empathy in our children.

Conclusion: When parents fully unleash their love, they can expect to raise responsible, loving, resilient children. Thank you, Cupid, for Valentine's Day -- a day devoted to experiencing the transforming power of love.

Gary M. Unruh, MSW LCSW, is a child and family mental health counselor with nearly forty years of experience. He is the author of the 2010 award-winning bookUnleashing the Power of Parental Love: 4 Steps to Raising Joyful and Self-Confident Kids (www.unleashingparentallove.com).

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Book Review: Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer

About the BookAccording to Romance Writers of America, romance fiction tops the publishing charts with $1.37 billion annual sales* - Now that's sexy.  Clearly, romance is alive and well in the world of publishing.  Readers can't get enough, which is why the timing is ripe to unleash a book that goes beyond the fictional bedroom doors…between the story-filled satin sheets…to uncover the intimate secrets behind the real romantic relationships of more than 65 beloved, bestselling romance novelists.
Linda Lael Miller, Mariah Stewart, Robyn Carr, Heather Graham, Joan Johnston, Kat Martin, Pamela Morsi, Sabrina Jeffries, Eloisa James, Rachel Gibson, and many others share what has made their own true romances loving and lasting.  At the heart of Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer (HCI Books -- $14.95) is the author--bestselling romance writer Amelia Grey.  Together these ladies of luscious language tell secrets about their own true loves.
Readers will enjoy glimpsing into the exclusive and private world of their favorite romance writers.  Humorous, poignant, and entertaining from beginning to end, Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer reveals what it takes to have your own happily ever after, just like the ones your beloved writers are creating…and living.
Amelia Grey is a pseudonym for Gloria Skinner, the author of more than 20 books and winner of the Booksellers Best Award and Aspen Gold Award for writing as Amelia Grey.  Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she has won the Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter, the Maggie Award, and the Affaire de Coeur Award for best historicals.  Her books have been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs and have sold to many countries in Europe, Russia, Indonesia, and China.  She grew up in a small town in the Florida Panhandle, and has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for more than 35 years.  Learn more about the author at: www.ameliagrey.com.

My Take on the Book
This book is a treasure trove of great short examples of what love should and could be. I loved the fact that there were so many authors sharing their thoughts on love. and what was best about this was the fact that these individuals are supposed to truly know what they are talking about (as they write about it in their novels). I would have liked to have seen some male authors possibly, but maybe they would not have been able to give the same type of background and insight that these authors provide.

Each section is short and to the point and most of all, easy to read. If you are looking for a great book that gives you many of the steps that each of us should consider in our loving relationships, look no further!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

  

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