Over The Top Mommy

Movies

Chatting About Ghostbusters With Ivan Reitman

Last week I had the opportunity of a lifetime! I was invited out to the the Sony Pictures Studios Lot with a group of “Mommy Bloggers” to hang out with Ivan Reitman, you know, the director of the Ghostbusters movies?  Oh my goodness, what an honor! ghost-corps-rainbowAs I approached the lot, I could see the giant rainbow! If you’ve ever driven by the area, you may have seen it because it’s larger than life and visible from the street. Did you know that this rainbow was built as a tribute to Wizard of Oz? When you walk under it you almost feel like Dorothy.ghost-corps-ecto-1Our group was headed to meet Mr. Reitman at Ghost Corps, which is like the Ghostbusters  “creative headquarters”. If you’re a fan of the film(s), it’s pretty much like nostalgia heaven! As we approached the area, I know more than one of us was giddy to find the original Ecto-1, parked right outside. Never pass up a photo opportunity like that! ghost-corps-photo-oppShortly after we took 1000s of photos with Ecto-1, because that’s what women do, we walked through the doors of Ghost Corps to find Ivan Reitman standing with coffee in hand. He was so welcoming and genuinely wanted to chat with us about the Ghostbusters of yesterday, as well as the new kick-butt reboot of the film. (Yes, I’m a fan of the new one.)ghost-corps-ivan-reitmanYou could feel how much his heart was into the entire project as he shared about his vision for the original and all that went into it. He also shared about his desire to put out more sequels and talked about how and why that never continued to happen.ghost-corps-group When Mr. Reitman spoke about the loss of the great Harold Ramis, you could feel a true sadness in his voice and he shared that after such a loss, he didn’t visualize himself directing any more Ghostbuster films. ghost-corps-bloggers-with-ivan-reitmanYou could also see his face light up talking about how the new film finally came to life! I don’t think he ever thought another Ghostbusters would happen. It’s a Ghostbusters for a new generation! With a power cast of mainly females,  Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones really show us how modern-day ghost catching is done! ghost-corps-cast-magazinesIvan was surprised when we shared how much our own kids loved the film, since we’d screened just the night before. I think it surprised him because he told us that the original was never created with an audience of children in mind, even though many children saw it. (I know I did!) My own daughter already asked when we’d see it again after the screening! ghost-corps-screening-night-beforeMr. Reitman asked us to share all of our thoughts about the new film with him. He was really listening to us and truly wanted the feedback. I can’t imagine he’s getting much sleep these days, anticipating the film’s release on July 15!  ghost-corps-buttonI’m a huge fan of the original Ghostbusters, which came out in 1984. It was a special part of my childhood and has remained part of the nostalgia of my generation. When I stood in the conference room of Ghost Corps, I almost felt like I was part of the brainstorming process! (Ok not really, but it was still exciting!)ghost-corps-officeIt was fun to see some of the original toys in a collectors’ case, inside of Ghost Corps. The case also had some of the new toys in it. As Mr. Reitman said, “Here are some of the new Ghostbusters toys that your kids are going to be begging you for!”. Yeah, I’m sure he’s right. And if not our kids, our husbands!

ghost-corps-toysSome other cool things inside Ghost Corps were actually things that scared me as a kid. I was able to conquer some of my childhood Ghostbusters fears like standing in front of Terror Dog and looking at Stay Puft right in the eye! ghost-corps-terror-dog

ghost-corps-stay-puft-manAs soon as I heard about a new Ghostbusters being made, one that is going to belong to today’s generation, I couldn’t wait for its release! Seriously, my daughter will have “her own version” with a cast full of females! That’s amazing! By the way, If you’re one of the 5 people who still haven’t watched the trailer for Ghostbusters, here it is:

It was an amazing day to be on the Sony Lot and have this unique experience. We also got a guided tour of the entire lot and among other things, saw such grand attractions as the Barbara Streisand Scoring Stage, where countless famous artists have recorded, and the Wheel of Fortune Studio. The most magical part of the day for me though, was meeting Ivan Reitman! ghost-corps-barbara-streisand-scoring-studio-1ghost-corps-barbara-streisand-scoring-studio-2ghost-corps-barbara-streisand-scoring-studio-3

ghost-corps-wheel-of-fortune-studioConnect with Ghostbusters on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Stay tuned for more of my own Ghostbusters related posts later this week.

I was invited as a guest of Sony Pictures to attend the media press junket. All opinions are 100% my own. Clips are property of Sony Pictures.  #Ghostbusters #Ghostbloggers

 

Watch the New Trailer for Trolls! #DreamWorksTrolls

DreamWorks Animation and 20th Century Fox have released a NEW trailer for TROLLS! From the genius creators of SHREK, Trolls stars Anna Kendrick as Poppy, the optimistic leader of the Trolls, and her polar opposite, Branch, played by Justin Timberlake. trolls-posterTrolls also stars Gwen Stefani, James Corden, Russell Brand, Icona Pop, Ron Funches and Kunal Nayaar. DreamWorks Animation’s Trolls is an irreverent comedy extravaganza with incredible music! Together, the Trolls must embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the only world they’ve ever known.
Watch the new trailer:
Personally, I’m really excited about this film and can’t wait until Trolls hits theaters everywhere on November 4, 2016!

Connect with Trolls on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and clips are property of Trolls and DreamWorks Animation. 

New clip from Ice Age: Collision Course in Theaters July 22!

The Shangri Llama will see you now. Celebrate International Yoga Day with a new clip from Ice Age: Collision Course, in theaters July 22ice-age-national-yoga-dayIn this this latest adventure, Scrat’s epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age World. To save themselves, Sid, Manny, Diego, and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, traveling to exotic new lands and encountering a host of colorful new characters. ice-age-yoga-day-poses

The Shangri Llama is voiced by Modern Family’s Jesse Tyler Ferguson and also stars Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, Seann William Scott, Josh Peck, Simon Pegg, Keke Palmer, Wanda Sykes, Jennifer Lopez and so many more! We can’t wait for July 22 when Ice Age: Collision Course hits theaters everywhere! Will you be there?

Connect with Ice Age on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images, clips, and logos are property of Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox. 

The New Trailer for Disney’s Pete’s Dragon Is Here! #PetesDragon

Oh, “Pete’s Dragon” brings back some childhood memories for me! They’re not the clearest memories but I remember loving this film. I also remember seeing this float in the Main Street Electrical Parade when it was in Disney California Adventure Park. (You can now watch this parade at Walt Disney World, inside Magic Kingdom Park.) disneys-petes-dragon-1I was super excited when I saw the announcement for a new trailer of the all-new, reimagined version of this classic Disney tale. “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon. “Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (“Cedar Rapids”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”), is written by Lowery & Toby Halbrooks based on a screenplay by Malcolm Marmorstein and produced by Jim Whitaker (“The Finest Hours,” “Friday Night Lights”), with Barrie M. Osborne (“The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Great Gatsby”) serving as executive producer.  disneys-petes-dragon-3For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley).disneys-petes-dragon-2 Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.
Here, just watch this:, I’m most excited about the fact that I’ll get to share this story with my own daughter now. She obviously wasn’t around for the original so this is something we’ll get to experience for the first time, together! “Pete’s Dragon” opens nationwide on August 12! Are you excited to see it? Did you see the original?

Connect with Pete’s Dragon on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images are property of Walt Disney Animation Studios. 

Watch the New Trailer for Disney’s #MOANA!

I have been so excited about Disney’s “Moana” since I first heard the announcment about it, I was ecstatic. disneys-moana-1Disney Animation Studios never ceases to amaze me! She’s beautiful, as is the scenery! I love visiting Hawaii and cannot wait for this film to be released on November 23, 2016! \Watch the new teaser trailer:

“Moana,” is an animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity. disneys-moana-2“Moana” is directed by the renowned filmmaking team of Ron Clements
and John Musker (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “The Princess & the Frog”) and produced by Osnat Shurer (“Lifted,” “One Man Band”), disneys-moana-poster“Moana” sails into U.S. theaters on Nov. 23, 2016. Find Moana on Facebook and Twitter

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images are property of Disney Animation Studios. 

{Giveaway} New Dinosaur Train DVD “Under the Volcano” Available on DVD July 12

Exciting news surrounding the PBS Kids’ popular series, “Dinosaur Train”! Fans of the production from The Jim Henson Company will be able to purchase a new DVD “Under the Volcano” on July 12! (I’m giving away a copy, too, so see below!)dinosaur-train-dvd

Join Buddy and his family as they watch the mighty volcano, Old Smoky, erupt! In this DVD featuring dino-mite adventures, learn all about lava and geysers, see what happens when Mr. Pteranodon and Larry Lambeosaurus get stuck in a mud pit, and get inspired to make nature art when Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, and Don find ways to use a pile of leaves, petals, wood, and shells from the family nest. shiny-dinosaur-trainHere are the episodes included on the DVD:

“Under the Volcano” – Buddy, Tiny, and Dad take the Dinosaur Train to see Old Smoky, the local volcano. It’s such a spectacular sight that they go back for the rest of the family, only to discover they’ve already gone to see the volcano! The merry mix-up concludes as the whole family meets up just in time to catch Old Smoky erupting.

“Old Reliable” – Mr. Pteranodon and Mr. Lambeosaurus take all the kids to see a field of geysers – holes in the ground that hot water shoots out from! At the same time, Mrs. Pteranodon and Mrs. Lambeosaurus are relaxing nearby in soothing pools of warm water, called hot springs. In the end, the kids love seeing the geysers and then joining the Moms in their hot springs, while accidentally surprising Mr. Conductor who is secretly trying to relax in his own private hot spring pool!

“Nature Art” – Mrs. Pteranodon cleans out the clutter from the family nest and the kids are amazed at the pile of stuff – leaves, flower petals, pieces of wood, and shells. Tiny stops Mom from throwing out all the stuff, determined that she and Buddy, Shiny, and Don will find a use for it all. And, they do – the Pteranodon kids have fun making nature art on the beach using the items from the nest!

“The Big Mud Pit” – There’s big trouble at the Big Pond when Larry Lambeosaurus gets stuck in a mud pit, and then Dad tries to get Larry out, and ends up getting stuck himself. Buddy and Leroy Lambeosaurus have to think quickly to pull their dads out before some big meat-eater finds them!

“Derek the Deinonychus” – Buddy, Tiny, and Mom visit a family of Deinonychus dinosaurs with large, sharp toe-claws. They meet a kid named Derek who uses his toe-claws to not only hunt with but to carve great art!

“Triceratops for Lunch” – Our Pteranodon family eats lunch with their friend Tank Triceratops and discovers that he and his family are all plant-eaters, with great leaf-eating teeth and giant appetites!

“The Forest Fire” – When a forest fire comes to woods not far from the family nest at Pteranodon Terrace, the family takes the Dinosaur Train to visit a nearby area where a fire has already been. The Conductor leads the kids on a Nature Tracker hike through the woods to see how new life is growing back – even after the forest fire’s devastation.

“Sunrise, Sunset” – Dad takes the Pteranodon kids on an overnight camping trip where they watch both a sunrise and sunset, learning that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. The kids also find out more about nocturnal (night-active) animals, and diurnal (day-active) animals.

The Jim Henson Company’s “Dinosaur Train”  helps kids ages 3 to 6 to apply scientific thinking as they discover new types of dinosaur species, compare and contrast dinosaurs to today’s creatures and embrace the living sciences of paleontology and natural science. DINOSAUR TRAIN airs weekdays on PBS KIDS (check local listings).

Enter to win a copy of your own on the Rafflecopter! Good luck everyone!
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This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and cover art are property of The Jim Henson Company and PBS Kids. 

Disney’s “Alice Through The Looking Glass” Now Playing at El Capitan Theatre Through June 12

Hollywood’s legendary El Capitan Theatre will present a special engagement of Disney’s “Alice Through The Looking Glass” from May 27 – June 12, 2016, in Dolby Vision™ 3D and Dolby Atmos®. disneys-alice-through-the-looking-glass-logo

Dolby’s breathtaking projection technology – 3D Dolby Vision™ – is a state-of-the-art laser projection system that delivers richer colors and distinctly brighter images while preserving deep and dark blacks. There is no better place than The El Capitan Theatre to return to the whimsical world of Underland and experience “Alice Through The Looking Glass”. Like Alice herself, El Capitan guests will be transported to a fantastical realm. Alice-Through-The-Looking-Glass-posterBefore the movie, guests at El Capitan will be immersed in the mesmerizing world of Underland in an all-new light and projection show. alice-through-the-looking-glass-before-the-show
See it FIRST at El Capitan
Also, on May 26, El Capitan guests will have the opportunity to be among the first to see the all–new spectacular adventure, “Alice Through the Looking Glass”, at a special opening-night screening at 7 p.m. featuring a costume contest, raffle prizes, and more! To purchase tickets, go herealice-through-the-looking-glass-2

Daily showtimes are 10 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 4:20 p.m., and 7:30 p.m., with a 10:40 p.m. on opening weekend (Friday through Sunday) and each Friday and Saturday during the engagement of the film. Tickets are on sale now, available at the El Capitan Theatre (6838 Hollywood Blvd.), online at http://www.elcapitantickets.com or by calling 1-800-DISNEY6. Special group rates for parties of 20 or more are available by calling 1-818-845-3110. Showtimes and dates are subject to change.
alice-through-the-looking-glass-tick-tock-tea-timeOn select dates, El Capitan guests may also enjoy Tick-Tock Tea Time at the Chado Tea Room in Hollywood, which includes tea sandwiches, desserts, teas and a surprise gift.  Advance reservations are required with the purchase of a movie ticket by calling (818) 845-3110.

Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns to the whimsical world of Underland in Disney's ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, an all-new adventure featuring the unforgettable characters from Lewis Carroll's beloved stories.

The El Capitan Theatre will also host a very special 2D Tiny Tot Tuesday every Tuesday at  10 a.m. during the run of ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.  During these special screenings, parents and small children may enjoy the movie in a 2D tot-friendly way—with lights dimmed rather than out and reduced sound levels.

Connect with El Capitan Theatre on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images and logos are property of Walt Disney Studios and El Capitan Theatre. 

{Giveaway} New Kate & Mim-Mim DVD, “Balloon Buddies,” Floats Onto DVD May 24

The popular series “Kate & Mim-Mim” is inspired by a real life little girl, “Kate & Mim-Mim” follows the fantastical adventures of five-year-old Kate, who, together with her toy rabbit Mim-Mim, travels to the fantasy world of Mimiloo where Mim-Mim comes alive as a larger-than-life playmate. In each story, Kate and Mim-Mim and their group of loveable friends discover exciting new places and set off on adventures, all in the hope of solving a puzzling problem Kate has encountered in the real world. kate-and-mim-mim-2Exploring themes of friendship, adventure, and problem solving, “Kate & Mim-Mim” encourages children to use their imaginations and work together, believing no problem is ever too big to solve! “Kate & Mim-Mim,” which recently launched its second season on Disney Junior, airs weekdays at 11:00 am. Beginning this fall, plush, dolls, figure packs, and role play products will be rolling out from global master toy partner Just Play. Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House, is the North American publishing partner for the brand. Their initial line will launch in fall 2016 and they will offer young readers a variety of formats, including storybooks, leveled readers, e-books, doodle books and sticker books. Other licensed products include a digital app from A.C.R.O.N.Y.M. Digital (worldwide).

On May 24, a new DVD, “BALLOON BUDDIES will be released. This DVD includes fun-filled imaginative stories which feature Kate and Mim-Mim working to re-inflate a balloon tree, construct a castle out of beautiful fluffy clouds, and arrange a picnic with their Mimiloo friends in Happy Hallow. kate-and-mim-mim

The new DVD includes 3 stories: 
Balloon Buddies
Kate is making a balloon buddy for Mim-Mim and needs a big balloon. In Mimiloo, Kate, Mim-Mim and their friends find a balloon tree, but all its balloons are droopy. They must find a way to re-inflate the balloons for the big balloon parade, where Kate has a big surprise for Mim-Mim!

Cloud Castle
While cloud-gazing with Mom and Dad, Kate points to a cloud that looks like Mim-Mim, but Dad can’t see it. In Mimiloo, Kate, Mim-Mim and their friends pull clouds down from the sky to build a bouncy cloud castle. But problems arise when it starts floating away!

Clean Sweep
Kate is cleaning her room, but it’s taking forever! In Mimiloo, the gang wants to have a picnic, but their picnic basket is lost in a messy sea of Tack’s inventions. Tack hurriedly shoves his inventions into a shed, but the shed’s so full, it bursts, making an even bigger mess! The picnic fun is canceled…until Kate has an idea.

Have you watched “Kate and Mim Mim” yet? Which episode is your favorite? I’m also giving away one (1) copy to one of my lucky readers. If you’d like to enter the giveaway, please do so on the Rafflecopter below. Good luck!
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This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Cover art is property of FreMantle Media. 

Watch New Clips From Alice Through The Looking Glass + Free Coloring Sheets

Alice Through The Looking Glass is arriving in theatres everywhere on May 27th and the studio just released 2 new clips, as well as a bunch of free printable coloring pages and activity sheets!

Alice-Through-The-Looking-Glass-posterThe first clip is titled “Meet Young Hatter“. Watch it and you’ll see why:The second clip is titled “Save the Hatter“. Watch this:

Walt Disney Studios just released some free, fun printables for you to enjoy. Just click on the link below each one to print them out! Enjoy! alice-through-the-looking-glass-mad-hatter

alice-through-the-looking-glass-queen

3

alice-through-the-looking-glass-chesire-cat

Click here to print out the “Through the Looking Glass” coloring sheets. alice-through-the-looking-glass-mazeClick here to print out the Mazealice-through-the-looking-glass-bookmarksClick here to print out the character bookmarks. (I recommend printing them on cardstock.) alice-through-the-looking-glass-spot-the-difference

Click here to print out the “Spot the Differences” pages.

So, what are you most excited about in “Alice Through The Looking Glass”? I can’t name off just one thing!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own. Images, clips, and printables are property of Walt Disney Studios.