2011 Holiday Guide: Holiday DVDs for gift-giving

"Santas" photo by Paula Slade

With Thanksgiving just a week away, we turn our attention to preparing for the upcoming holiday season.

 

This article, the first installment in this series, provides information and ideas for parents and caregivers for children’s entertainment-oriented gifts. 

 

From now until December 21, 2011, new offerings will be featured in multiple entertainment categories.

 

Today, we focus on some new DVD releases for this year.

 

The products, which appear below have been researched for quality as well as value, and are geared to provide the children in your life with many hours of positive and fun-filled entertainment.

 

Although pricing has been provided for you at time of this publication, it is suggested that you cross-compare with various online as well as stick and brick retailers when available.

 

For some of the listed DVDs, trailers are provided, so you may wish to bookmark this page to enable viewing, or further explorations of the highlighted links at your leisure. 

 

As always, you are the best judge of what is appropriate for your child's entertainment.

GIVING THANKS…AND MORE STORIES TO CELEBRATE AMERICAN HERITAGE

Just in time for Thanksgiving, and as families gather together, comes the latest offering from Scholastic Storybook Treasures – Giving Thanks… and More Stories to Celebrate American Heritage.

American history and friendship skills, are the emphasis on this DVD, which includes four stories to help celebrate what makes our country great, including the recent Parent’s Choice Award winner “Lincoln & Douglass: An American Friendship” by Nikki Giovanni, narrated by Danny Glover. 

Other stories include “Giving Thanks”, narrated by Native American Mohawk leader Chief Jake Swamp and offering an alternative language track in the Mohawk language, “Hiawatha” and Marcia Sewall’s “The Pilgrims of Plimouth”, which dramatically chronicles the arrival of the Pilgrims in the New World. 

The 92-minute DVD (plus bonus extras) includes the ever-popular read-along function, and an interview with “Lincoln & Douglass” author Nikki Giovanni.

The suggested retail price for Giving Thanks… and More Stories to Celebrate American Heritage is $14.95 and is available through Amazon Marketplace starting at $5.69.

A CHRISTMAS WEDDING TAIL

From Anchor Bay Entertainment and Michael Feifer (producer/director of The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation and Your Love Never Fails) comes an adorable and heartwarming new holiday release, A Christmas Wedding Tail, which launches at retailers nationwide starting Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011.

A Christmas Wedding Tail is a Family/Romantic-Comedy about canine matchmakers and their blended families, as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of relationships.

Product Details

“Jennie Garth (“90210”) stars as Susan, an unemployed Los Angeles museum curator and widowed single mom temporarily living in a small California town with her three sensitive sons.

Jake (Brad Rowe of “General Hospital”) is a single dad of two tomboys who owns a local winery.

When Susan’s dog Rusty (voiced by Jay Mohr of “Ghost Whisperer”) falls for Jake’s poodle Cheri (voiced by Nikki Cox of “Las Vegas”), these canine matchmakers help their owners fall in love too.

Tom Arnold and Catherine Hicks (“Seventh Heaven”) also co-star in this film.”

A Christmas Wedding Tail is rated PG for “mild language” and includes an Audio Commentary with Executive Producers Jeffery Schenck and Barry Barnholtz and Writer/Co-Producer Peter Sullivan, plus A Christmas Wedding Tail: Dog Tracks.

Suggested retail price: $19.98 and the DVD is available at Amazon.com with release-day delivery option, which may be available at checkout for most continental U.S. addresses.

Below, for your enjoyment is the trailer for A Christmas Wedding Tail

A Christmas Wedding Tail Trailer

BABAR AND FATHER CHRISTMAS

From Entertainment One, comes a beloved holiday classic that has been digitally restored and re-mastered on DVD – Babar and Father Christmas. 

This delightful holiday animated tale takes Babar on a journey to find Father Christmas, and save the day for his children and everyone in Celestville.

This year, Babar celebrates his 80^th birthday being everyone’s favorite elephant whose stories highlight core family values.

As a special bonus this DVD includes a Babar coloring book plus two extra episodes of Babar - “A Child in the Snow” and “The Gift”

The suggested retail price of Babar and Father Christmas, which runs 70-minutes, is $14.98. The DVD is now available through Amazon Marketplace starting at $6.22.

Below, for your enjoyment is the trailer that includes complete storyline for Babar and Father Christmas

Babar and Father Christmas Trailer

25 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS

Also from Entertainment One, and at retailers nationwide comes, 25 Days Until Christmas, a unique Advent calendar on DVD.

A wonderful way to start a new family holiday tradition, 25 Days Until Christmas reintroduces the Bible into your holiday festivities by counting down the Advent calendar with daily scripture readings of the Christmas story, beautiful high definition winter scenes, seasonal devotions and beloved inspirational music 

Listen one day at a time or “play all.”

Suggested retail price this 60-minute plus extras DVD is: $14.98. 25 Days Until Christmas is available for immediate shipping through Amazon with a price of $9.99.

Stellar lineup of musicians tackle bullying in meaningful and entertaining ways

 

This past October was National Anti-Bullying Month, and it was established to create awareness in the media, hopefully reaching out to parents and educators with news and messages about this consistently growing problem, which unfortunately may spell tragedy in young lives.

                                           

Bullying affects kids every day and not just for a month.

In June, this column covered some startling facts about bullying along with excellent literary resources to share and help open a dialogue with the children and teens in your life.  Authors J.D. Holiday, Annie Fox and 70 other writers were part of a recommended reading list, which you’ll find by connecting to this previous post – The Book Report: Books about ‘Bullying’

In today’s column, we cover a host of musicians who have joined the anti-bullying cause and whose music addresses this burgeoning problem, which is not only fraught with intimidation and cruelty, but issues of self-esteem.

Each of these recommended CDs helps to reach kids on a different entertaining level.

From Recess Music and their Best Foot Forward Series comes Big Bully, a compilation of 15 tuneful tracks (45-minutes, ages 4-11) featuring genres that range from pop to rock, rap to country, all expertly performed by highly recognizable music industry professionals – performers include Milkshake, The Hipwaders, Mary Kaye and The Uncle Brothers (to name a few) who ply their craft with important messages for kids that are delivered in a meaningful and non-preachy way. 

Tracks such as “I’m Sorry,” “Don’t Bully Me” and “I Can Make a Difference” impart a good dose of recognition and enlightenment on a kid-friendly level.

Big Bully is available to sound sample and download in MP3 format from Amazon.com for $0.99 per track, or all 15 songs for $8.99. The CD format is also available through Amazon for $13.14 or Amazon Marketplace for $6.12.

Also from Recess Music, comes an awesome adjunct album to the Big Bully CD – U R SOME 1.

Again, part of the Best Foot Forward Series, this newest release, U R SOME 1 includes 12 tracks (32 minutes ages 4-11) with songs that focus on self-awareness, acceptance and self-esteem.

Gifted children’s musicians Peter Himmelman, Anna Moo, Katherine Dines and others provide an upbeat and happy recording whose overall message stresses that being human and unique is a pretty nifty thing.

The album is available to sound sample and download in MP3 format from Amazon.com for $0.99 per track, or all 12 songs for $8.99. The CD format is also available through Amazon for $13.14 or Amazon Marketplace for $8.31.

Steve Pullara, a Grammy nominated Producer and Parents’ Choice and NAPPA Awards- Winner, has created a one-of-a-kind recording that effectively tackles head-on, the difficult topic of bullying in the album,  All About Bullies… Big and Small.

Pullara, who not only served as Producer and Supervising Creative Director for this recording, is also part of the performance line-up. In the creation of All About Bullies, Pullara assembled one of the most diverse and recognized teams of recording artists and producers in the music industry. The contributing credits for this album read like a “Who’s Who”, and the end result and combined creativity is a recording that not only entertains but fosters parent/child communication about a difficult topic.

All About Bullies is a masterfully crafted gem that marries spoken words delivering wise messages, poetry and music, and toe-tapping tunes with meaningful lyrics. The end result offers up 37 unique tracks, with a mix of genres created from one of the largest assembled musical casts, each participating artist offers their own special message and approach on the subject of bullying.

Full-track sound samples are available for listening at: 

http://allaboutbulliesbigandsmall.com/albums/all-about-bullies-big-and-small

CD Baby has the entire All About Bullies… Big and Small CD album available for $15.00, or MP3 download of the entire album for $10.00.

All profits from the proceeds of this recording are donated to PACERKidsAgainstBullying.org

Pullara’s commitment to this anti-bullying project is best summed up when he says “Always keep in mind, we have another tomorrow and that bullying shouldn’t be a part of childhood.”

Below, for your enjoyment are three music videos created from the album.

Debbie and Friends – “Walk Away”

Blue October- “Jump Rope”

Peter Alsop – “Courage”

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week's movies with ratings and trailers

‘Popcorn’ photo by Petr Kratochvil

It’s time to make weekend family entertainment plans and see if this week’s current crop of films will be part of your schedule. The following report covers motion picture theatrical releases opening nationwide beginning Friday, November 11, 2011.

The movies listed below have a rating, which has been established by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and have been provided with an italicized commentary from the Classification and Ratings Administration (CARA).

If a film has not been provided with an official rating, additional information may, or may not be provided.

If a film is designated NC-17, very limited information will be furnished.

For your convenience, each film title links directly to the Internet Movie Data Base, which provides the most comprehensive listing about the movie’s storyline, and includes a trailer, cast and crew information, initial audience reaction (if prior screenings have taken place) and parent advisories when available.

As always, you are the single best judge for determining your child’s choice of entertainment.

FILMS OPENING THIS WEEK

Opened November11, 2011 11-11-11 – Horror, Thriller- R-because of “bloody violence.” – NOTE: In limited release.

Opened November 11, 2011 The Greening of Whitney Brown  – Adventure-PG- because of “brief mild language.”

Opened November 11, 2011 Immortals – Action, Drama, Fantasy-R- because of “sequences of strong bloody violence, and a scene of sexuality.”

Opened November 11, 2011 Into the Abyss - A Tale of Death, a Tale of Life – Documentary, Crime- PG-13- because of “mature thematic material and some disturbing images.” – NOTE: In limited release.

Opened November 11, 2011 J. Edgar  – Biography, Drama- R- because of “brief strong language.”

Opened November 11, 2011 Jack and Jill – Comedy- PG- because of “crude material including suggestive references, language and comic violence.”

Opened November 11, 2011 London Boulevard – Crime, Drama, Romance- R- because of “strong violence, pervasive language, some nudity and drug use.” –NOTE: In limited release.

Opened November 11, 2011 Melancholia – Drama,Sci-Fi- R- because of “some graphic nudity, sexual content and language.” -NOTE: Los Angeles and New York only.

Opened November 11, 2011 Tropa de Elite 2 – O Inimigo Agora E (Elite Squad: The Enemy Within) – Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller- NOT RATED -NOTE: New York City only.

For information on films that opened November 4, 2011, which included:  A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas;    Killing Bono;    The Son of No One and  Tower Heist, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened October 28, 2011, which included: 

13;    And They're Off:….;Anonymous:    The Double;    In Time;    Janie Jones;    Like Crazy;    Medianeras;    My Reincarnation;    Puss in Boots and The Rum Diary, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened October 21, 2011, which included:  Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey;    Elevate;    Glitch in the Grid;    Johnny English Reborn;    Le Havre;    Margin Call;    Martha Marcy May Marlene;    The Mighty Macs;    Norman;    Oranges and Sunshine;    Paranormal Activity 3;    Revenge of the Electric Car;    Snowmen,  and  The Three Musketeers, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened October 14, 2011, which included:    The Big Year;    Father of Invention;    Fireflies in the Garden;    Footloose;    The Skin I Live In;    Texas Killing Fields;    The Thing, and Trespass, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened October 7, 2011, which included:    1911;    Blackthorn;    Dirty Girl;    The Human Centipede II;    The Ides of March;    Real Steel and The Way, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened September 30, 2011, which included:    50/50;    Courageous;    Dream House;    Margaret;    Sarah Palin: You Betcha;    Take Shelter;    Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and What’s Your Number? , please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened September 23, 2011, which included:    Abduction;    Dolphin Tale;    Killer Elite;    Machine Gun Preacher;    Moneyball;    Pearl Jam Twenty;    Puncture, and Thunder Soul, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies


For information on films that opened August 19, 2011 to September 16, 2011, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened June 24, 2011 to August 12, 2011.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened May 20 to June 17, 2011, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened April 1 to May 13, 2011, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened the weeks of Friday, February 4 to Friday March 25, 2011 please click on the link below, where you will also find previous listings and links for prior weeks in January, as well as films that opened in 2010:

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

G GENERAL AUDIENCES (All Ages Admitted) PG PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED (Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children) PG-13 PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED (Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13) R RESTRICTED (Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian) NC-17 NO ONE 17 AND UNDER ADMITTED – As determined by the Rating Board/Motion Picture Association of America.

This week’s top picks for upcoming live entertainment

"Dancers' photo by Peter Griffin

Mark your calendar and save these dates for the following entertaining and diverse line-up of events in New York City, Amherst, Massachusetts and Santa Monica, California.

New York City

The Just Kidding at Symphony Space all-ages series will continue to provide New York City families with ground-breaking entertainment most Saturdays through April 2012, and on this Saturday, November 12, at 11:00 a.m. Just Kidding provides one of the nation's top "kindie rock" stars, Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights.

Leeds is one of those big, beautiful rock 'n roll sopranos whose voice goes full-out or soft and tender, and she uses both to full effect.

Her tuneful melodies and rich, funny and thoughtful child-respecting lyrics give depth and irresistible zip to songs about sunglasses at the beach, goodnight hugs, popcorn popping and creative blame-shifting.

Check out the video below from Leed’s YouTube channel to see her in action.

Then, on Saturday, November 17 at 11:00 a.m. Just Kidding offers a unique mix of multimedia performance art from the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players  when they present their "indie-vaudeville conceptual art-rock pop band" concert.

 

Originally from Seattle, and now based in Brooklyn, the Trachtenburgs are a domestic trio (dad Jason, mom Tina Piña, and 16-year-old daughter Rachel), who play quirky indie pop songs in the key of "unironic."

It's all good, clean fun with one major catch: All the songs and carefully rhyming lyrics come from the vintage slide collections they've found at estate or garage sales that accompany their performances.

The intrepid trio has appeared on Nick Jr. and the "Conan O'Brien Show," and they've taken their show on the road to Bonnaroo, the Edinburgh festival as well as comedy clubs around the nation - all the while winning over famous fans like Meg White (The White Stripes), Matt Groening ("The Simpsons") and John Waters ("Hairspray").

The Trachtenburgs have just released a new CD called Lost and Found.

and for your enjoyment below, the Players on Nick Jr.'s "Jack’s Big Music Show”.

This diverse line-up is part of the ongoing weekly shows aimed at children ages 3 to 9 and their families. For details about all of the shows, tickets and subscription information, visit Just Kidding online. 

Amherst, Massachusetts

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, Massachusetts, is presenting Picture Book Theatre featuring Eric Carle’s “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth and Rooster’s Off To See The World, Saturdays, November 12, 19, 26 and Friday, November 25 with 45-minutes performances at 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.. Tickets are $5 and can be reserved in advance by calling the Museum at 413-658-1126.

Directed by founder Therese Brady Donohue, Picture Book Theatre is now in its sixth season and is known for adapting picture books into puppets and dance productions suitable for all ages, especially the very young.

This year’s productions include the premiere of the stick puppet show “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth, with music composed by Karen A. Tarlow.

The story includes 27 puppets representing endangered rain forest species. Norton Juster voices a recorded introductory message from Eric Carle and Onawumi Jean Moss is the storyteller.

Double cast local puppeteers include Margaret Arsenault, Frances Caparello, Joan Hanson, Naomi Ossar, Diane Westfall, and Karin Wilburn and professionally designed lighting is by Steve Morgan and operated by Dan Fedora of Harrison Digital Productions.

Each family will receive a copy of Carle’s “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth during the show (like a libretto) to reread and relive what they have seen.

A grant from the Amherst Cultural Council administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council has helped to underwrite this new show.

The second show is a revival of Carle’s Rooster’s Off To See The World that showcases young dancers from Amherst Ballet. Sharing the title role are Isabel Wardlaw and Stone Dresser. The dancing role of two cats is shared between Amy Benedetto and Isabela Gomez, and Madeline Poole and Rachel Oram-Brown. Music is again by Karen Tarlow and the recorded narration is by Museum Chief Curator Nick Clark.

All puppets in the show exactly replicate the illustrations in the Carle books.

For further information about these performances and current exhibitions in the Museum’s galleries and many other ongoing events visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.

Santa Monica, California

To celebrate the launch of her newest CD, Everyday Adventures, award-winning singer/songwriter Deborah Poppink (a/k/a affectionately known by her fans as “DidiPop”) is appearing at the legendary McCabe’s Guitar Shop, 3101 Pico Boulevard., at 31st Street, Santa Monica, California on Sunday, November 13 at 11:00 a.m.

The performance includes a 5-piece band (not too loud) costume changes and magic. Plus, there will be Mardi Gras beads for the kids, and a chance for them to do the hula with the magnificent BoBo Bernstein on pedal steel.

 DidiPop will play spoons, piano, guitar, ukulele and even some mock accordion.

Ticket price is $8 (kids under 2 get in free). To purchase tickets online, connect to McCabe’s website at http://www.mccabes.com/condata.html

Below, for your enjoyment, is a sample of DidiPop’s The Cool Alphabet Song, which she’ll be performing at McCabe’s.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week's movies with ratings and trailers

‘Popcorn’ photo by Petr Kratochvil

Due to the severe snowstorm and extended power outages in parts of New England, this report reflects films and industry news for the week beginning Friday. November 4, 2011. Apologies for the delay, as our regularly scheduled posts now resume. Thanks for your patience.

The movies listed below have a rating, which has been established by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and have been provided with an italicized commentary from the Classification and Ratings Administration (CARA) 
.
If a film has not been provided with an official rating, additional information may, or may not be provided.

If a film is designated NC-17, very limited information will be furnished.

For your convenience, each film title links directly to the Internet Movie Data Base, which provides the most comprehensive listing about the movie’s storyline, and includes a trailer, cast and crew information, initial audience reaction (if prior screenings have taken place) and parent advisories when available.
As always, you are the single best judge for determining your child’s choice of entertainment.

NEWS

JOHN LASSETER TO BE HONORED WITH STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

On November 1, 2011, the members of the film making industry gathered in front of the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to honor John Lasseter with the 2,435^th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures.

Celebrities were in abundance that morning as Emcee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Leron Gubler and guest speaker Bonnie Hunt feted Lasseter for his myriad industry accomplishments.

Lasseter is a two-time Academy Award®-winning director and creatively oversees all films and associated projects from Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios (celebrating its 25^th Anniversary in 2011).  

He made his feature directorial debut in 1995 with “Toy Story,” the first-ever feature-length computer-animated film and, since then, has gone on to direct “A Bug’s Life,” “Toy Story 2” and “Cars.” He returned to the driver’s seat this year, directing “Cars 2.”

His executive-producing credits include “Monsters, Inc.,” “Finding Nemo,” “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “WALL•E,” “Bolt” and last year’s critically acclaimed “Up,” the first animated film ever to open the Cannes Film Festival and the recipient of two Academy Awards^® for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score.

Lasseter also served as executive producer for Disney’s Oscar^®-nominated films “The Princess and the Frog” and “Tangled” as well as Pixar’s most recent Academy Award-winner for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Song, “Toy Story 3,” which is based on a story written by Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich.

Lasseter wrote, directed and animated Pixar’s first short films, including “Luxo Jr.,” “Red’s Dream,” “Tin Toy” and “Knick Knack.” “Luxo Jr.” was the first three-dimensional computer-animated film ever to be nominated for an Academy Award® when it was nominated for Best Animated Short Film in 1986; “Tin Toy” was the first three-dimensional computer-animated film ever to win an Academy Award® when it was named Best Animated Short Film in 1988.

Lasseter has executive-produced all of the studio’s subsequent shorts, including “Boundin’,” “One Man Band,” “Lifted,” “Presto,” “Partly Cloudy,” “Day & Night” and the Academy Award®-winning “Geri’s Game” (1997) and “For the Birds” (2000).

Under Lasseter’s supervision, Pixar’s animated feature and short films have earned a multitude of critical accolades and film-industry honors. Lasseter himself received a Special Achievement Oscar® in 1995 for his inspired leadership of the “Toy Story” team. He and the rest of the screenwriting team of “Toy Story” also earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Original Screenplay, the first time an animated feature had ever been recognized in that category.

In 2009, Lasseter was honored at the 66th Venice International Film Festival with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. The following year, he became the first producer of animated films to receive the Producers Guild of America’s David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Motion Pictures. Lasseter’s other recognitions include the 2004 Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery award from the Art Directors Guild, an honorary degree from the American Film Institute, and the 2008 Winsor McCay Award from ASIFA-Hollywood for career achievement and contribution to the art of animation. 

Prior to the formation of Pixar in 1986, Lasseter was a member of the Computer Division of Lucasfilm Ltd., where he designed and animated “The Adventures of Andre and Wally B,” the first-ever piece of character-based three-dimensional computer animation, and the computer-generated Stained Glass Knight character in the 1985 Steven Spielberg-produced film “Young Sherlock Holmes.”

Lasseter was part of the inaugural class of the Character Animation program at California Institute of the Arts and received his B.F.A. in film in 1979. Lasseter is the only two-time winner of the Student Academy Award for Animation, for his CalArts student films “Lady and the Lamp” (1979) and “Nitemare” (1980). His very first award came at the age of 5, when he won $15 from the Model Grocery Market in Whittier, Calif., for a crayon drawing of the Headless Horseman.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame – www.WalkOfFame.com is an internationally recognized Hollywood icon. With approximately 24 star ceremonies annually broadcast around the world, the constant reinforcement provided to the public has made the Walk of Fame a top visitor attraction. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce continues to administer the Walk of Fame as the representative of the City of Los Angeles. The Walk of Fame is a tribute to all of those who worked diligently to develop the concept and to maintain this world-class tourist attraction. 

NEW TRAILERS FOR THE MOST ANTICIPATED UPCOMING FILMS

For your enjoyment, three newly released film clips from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures upcoming November 23, 2011 nationwide launch of THE MUPPETS.

The Muppets: "Surprise Tickets" Film Clip

The Muppets: "Idea" Film Clip

The Muppets: "Showdown" Film Clip

FILMS OPENING THIS WEEK

Opened November 4, 2011 A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas – Comedy- R-because of “strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, pervasive language, drug use and some violence.”

Opened November 4, 2011 Killing Bono  – Comedy-R- because of “pervasive language, some sexuality/nudity and drug use.” – NOTE: In limited release.

Opened November 4, 2011 The Son of No One – Action, Crime, Thriller-R- because of “violence, pervasive language and brief disturbing sexual content.”

Opened November 4, 2011 Tower Heist – Action, Comedy, Crime- PG-13- because of “language and sexual content.”

For information on films that opened October 28, 2011, which included: 

13;    And They're Off:….;Anonymous:    The Double;    In Time;    Janie Jones;    Like Crazy;    Medianeras;    My Reincarnation;    Puss in Boots and The Rum Diary, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened October 21, 2011, which included:  Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey;    Elevate;    Glitch in the Grid;    Johnny English Reborn;    Le Havre;    Margin Call;    Martha Marcy May Marlene;    The Mighty Macs;    Norman;    Oranges and Sunshine;    Paranormal Activity 3;    Revenge of the Electric Car;    Snowmen,  and  The Three Musketeers, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened October 14, 2011, which included:    The Big Year;    Father of Invention;    Fireflies in the Garden;    Footloose;    The Skin I Live In;    Texas Killing Fields;    The Thing, and Trespass, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened October 7, 2011, which included:    1911;    Blackthorn;    Dirty Girl;    The Human Centipede II;    The Ides of March;    Real Steel and The Way, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened September 30, 2011, which included:    50/50;    Courageous;    Dream House;    Margaret;    Sarah Palin: You Betcha;    Take Shelter;    Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, and What’s Your Number? , please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened September 23, 2011, which included:    Abduction;    Dolphin Tale;    Killer Elite;    Machine Gun Preacher;    Moneyball;    Pearl Jam Twenty;    Puncture, and Thunder Soul, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened August 19, 2011 to September 16, 2011, please click on the link below.
The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened June 24, 2011 to August 12, 2011.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened May 20 to June 17, 2011, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened April 1 to May 13, 2011, please click on the link below.

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

For information on films that opened the weeks of Friday, February 4 to Friday March 25, 2011 please click on the link below, where you will also find previous listings and links for prior weeks in January, as well as films that opened in 2010:

The Popcorn Report: Guide to this week’s movies

G GENERAL AUDIENCES (All Ages Admitted) PG PARENTAL GUIDANCE SUGGESTED (Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children) PG-13 PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTIONED (Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13) R RESTRICTED (Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian) NC-17 NO ONE 17 AND UNDER ADMITTED – As determined by the Rating Board/Motion Picture Association of America.