“Real Steel” Giveaway!

Last week I saw DreamWorks Pictures’ “Real Steel.” You can read my review and see a clip here. Now you can win a special movie prize pack. The prize pack includes:

REAL STEEL t-shirt in adult  sizes of S, M, L, XL

REAL STEEL bottle opener

REAL STEEL stickers

REAL STEEL temporary tattoos

 

This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. age 18 or older and ends Friday, October 14th at 11:59 p.m. ET. Good Luck! The movie hits theaters tomorrow, October 7, 2011!

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DreamWorks Pictures’ “Real Steel” Review

I had the opportunity to see “Real Steel” last night before it hits theaters October 7, 2011. I was looking forward to this movie. I like action movies. I like attractive leads. But for me, “Reel Steel” misses the mark.

 Directed by Shawn Levy from “Night at the Museum,” “Real Steel” (rated PG-13) is a gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, “Real Steel” stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.
  
Call me conservative, but I don’t like it when movies are billed as “family” movies and they feature a cursing 11-year-old boy. I asked my students today what they thought about a young kid swearing and their overall reaction was that it was unneeded. On girl exclaimed, “It’s hard to find movies today where kids don’t swear.” Do any parents find this sad? Once I explained a little bit of the story to them—a guy who left his son and didn’t really want him—they collectively agreed that the boy had a reason to swear. I’m just not sure if this reason is appropriate for a family movie.

I have no problem connecting with inanimate objects. I would love it if my car was a Transformer, and I even shed a tear when the Autobots show their love for the humans. I just wasn’t emotionally connected to the robots in this movie or any character really. There’s one scene where Atom seems to “feel,” but that connection isn’t really continued. The characters lack depth. Charlie’s dashed boxing dreams, his love interest with Hailey, and his connection to his ex are all underdeveloped. However, Dakota Goyo does a great job playing a cast aside kid. There’s no doubt in my mind that we will be seeing him star in more movies.

Overall, the film isn’t bad, but I wouldn’t rush out to see it on opening day. Oh, I rarely notice product placement in movies, but you won’t miss Budweiser and Dr. Pepper displayed.

 

“Real Steel”: Champions Aren’t Born. They’re Made.

 


DreamWorks next big hit is arriving in theaters October 7, 2011. A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, “Real Steel” stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

“Real Steel” is directed by Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum” franchise and “Date Night”). Like the movie on Facebook or follow on Twitter.

“The Help” Movie Review: Change Begins with a Whisper

Courtesy of Disney Pictures, I was able to see an advance screening of “The Help.”  The movie is based off the book “The Help” written by Kathryn Stockett. As an avid reader, I think I’ve only seen one film adaptation of a novel—“Little Women”—that I really liked.

This movie doesn’t disappoint, and dare I say it. . . I almost liked it better than the book! Read away because I won’t put any spoilers in this review. The last thing I want is for you to bring me “The Terrible Awful.” You’ll laugh after you see the movie.

“The Help” is set in Jackson, Mississippi, during the 1960s.  The Civil Rights Movement is at an all-time high and racial tension is at the core of everything going on in this town. The Help, as the Black maids are called, clean the houses, practically raise the children and are often times poorly treated by the white families employing them. One young woman, Skeeter played by Emma Stone, and two maids, Aibileen (Viola Davis) and Minny (Octavia Spencer), embark on a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk.

 The acting was superb. There wasn’t a single weak actor or actress in the film.  Not a single one. I already knew that the story would be good; I read the book, but the subtle body language and emphasis on certain words really brought the book to life. I don’t remember crying while reading the book or even laughing as much. This isn’t a dainty laugh, either. I’m talking a full out loud HA HA laugh. I don’t want to retell the funny or sad parts here because I could never do them justice, but be prepared to be shocked, entertained, and touched by the characters in the film.

What I really liked best about the film was that it was inspiring. As I watched I knew instantly that this movie would become a classic shown in classrooms in the coming years. Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t make the moving boring, but there are few movies created that show regardless of your status that “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” The film celebrates the courage to inspire change. It shows that finding your voice is empowering and that one person with one idea can create change. Isn’t that what we want to believe? Aren’t these the very themes America was built upon? You will leave this film wanting to do something great and I encourage you to act. If not now, when?

“The Help” is in theaters now. You can share your stories and make a difference at http://www.takepart.com/thehelp. You can also download “The Help” book club kit and see a video clip from the movie. If you entered “The Help” contest, check your email to see if you won.

 

 

DreamWorks Pictures’ “The Help” Giveaway

The most anticipated movie of the summer is about to hit theatres on Wednesday, August 10th – DreamWorks Pictures’ THE HELP! I’m going to an advance screening of the film August 8th and can’t wait. I read the book this June and couldn’t put it down.

The Help” is a provocative and inspiring look at what happens when a southern town’s unspoken code of rules and behavior is shattered by three courageous women who strike up an unlikely friendship. If you have already read the book or plan to go to the movie, check out “The Help” Book Club Kit. The Kit includes drinks and treats all inspired by the book.

Fun Facts

  • The film is based on the phenomenal New York Times best-selling book by Kathryn Stockett. With 3 million copies in print, “The Help” remained on the NYT best-seller list for 103 weeks, six of which were at No. 1.
  • Tate Taylor directed and wrote the screenplay for “The Help.” Both he and the author of the novel, Kathryn Stockett, were childhood friends and grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, where the book is based.
  • Growing up in Jackson, Miss., in the 1970s, both director Tate Taylor and author Kathryn Stockett had maids (whom both refer to as their “co-mothers”) who cared for them while their mothers worked. Taylor’s “co-mother,” Carol Lee, has a small part in the film.
  • The film was shot on location in and around Greenwood, Miss., and the citizens of Greenwood willingly pitched in to find period props for the film by digging around in their attics and basements, and many played extras in “The Help” as well. Even producer Brunson Green’s grandmother’s dress wound up in wardrobe.
  • Local chefs were brought in to make sure foods used in the scenes, from fried chicken to congealed salads, were regionally correct and also correct for the times, and a conscious effort was made to make it all look homemade—not fancy or store-bought—to add to the authenticity of the film.
  • Cast members spent a whole day in a ballroom learning how to do period dances, including the bunny hop—taught by Sissy Spacek.
  • A dialect coach, hired to make sure everyone’s southern accent was perfect, flew into Jackson, Miss., to record accents for the actors.  Even the real southerners in the cast were coached in the proper way of speaking specifically for the Mississippi Delta. Allison Janney picked Producer Brunson Green’s mother’s accent to emulate for her character, Charlotte. In 1963, Mrs. Green was the same age as the character Skeeter, played by Emma Stone.
  •  The mothers of Tate Taylor, Kathryn Stockett and Brunson Green all have appearances in “The Help.”
  • Due to the intense summer heat in Mississippi, the filmmakers adjusted the schedule to shoot only indoors in the middle of the day. Exteriors were shot in the early morning and late afternoon.
  • Director Tate Taylor grew up visiting Greenwood, Miss., as a child and would later spend nights in the home used for the interior of Skeeter Phelan’s house. Taylor was college buddies with the homeowner’s son.
  • The Mayflower Café, a Jackson, Miss. landmark, where Stuart and Skeeter eat oysters in the movie, is one of Director Tate Taylor’s favorite restaurants. It is the place where Taylor ate his first raw oyster as a child.
  • The movie theater that Skeeter observes in the beginning of THE HELP while getting gas was the theater Director Tate Taylor went to as a child. It closed down in the 1980s and was brought back to life by the production crew. The gas station is a yoga studio today, but was transformed back into a gas station for the shoot.

Thanks to Disney Pictures, I’m able to offer you a chance to win an awesome “The Help” prize pack including:

Adult female sized t-shirt (S, M, L or XL)

Pocket note jotter & pen

Fan

Nail file/mirror

The contest is open to US and Canada residents only. Prize Pack will ship directly from Disney at the end of August.

How to Enter…

  1. REQUIRED: Leave a Comment To Enter to Win. Your comment can be about anything, but if you have read the book, I’d love to hear what your favorite part was.
Bonus Entries!
For bonus entries follow any or all of the steps below being sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.
  1. Follow @WDWFieldGuide on Twitter
  2. “Like” Vacation Field Guides on Facebook
  3. Subscribe to Vacation Field Guides Newsletter (on the right sidebar)
  4. Tweet about this giveaway including a link to this post

Giveaway ends August 8, 2011 at 11:59 EST. Good Luck!

“The Help” Book Club Kit

The Help” opens in theaters Wednesday, August 10. You have just enough time to read the book before seeing the movie, and DreamWorks Pictures has created an awesome “Helpful Book Club Kit” which contains everything you need to create a perfect “The Help” themed meeting for your club! The Book Club Kit includes southern style recipes, drinks inspired by the characters, and discussion group questions.

Now for a little bit of fun. I’ve listed the character descriptions and the drink descriptions, inspired by the characters. See if you can determine what drink goes with what character.

SKEETER PHELAN (EMMA STONE): A bright, enthusiastic recent college graduate and aspiring writer, Skeeter bucks the trend for southern women of the time by being more interested in her career than marriage.

AIBILEEN CLARK (VIOLA DAVIS): A third-generation housemaid, who at 53 years old has raised 17 children in her care, Aibileen discovers her voice and the courage to defy the conventions of the early 1960s.
MINNY JACKSON (OCTAVIA SPENCER): Known as much for her sass as her great cooking, Minny won’t take much guff from anyone, but her heart is always in the right place.
HILLY HOLBROOK (BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD): Pretty, well-groomed Hilly Holbrook is the queen bee of the young mothers’ social network in Jackson, Miss., and the epitome of southern charm and hospitality—especially when she is manipulating someone.
CELIA FOOTE (JESSICA CHASTAIN): Unpretentious, rough-around-the edges Celia snagged the hottest bachelor in Jackson, Miss., and now is paying the price by being shunned from all the social circles.

Drink Descriptions

  • Sweet, strong and a little spicy.
  • Strong, with a kick
  • Sour and chilled, with a sharp twang.
  • Subtle, smooth and strong.
  • Sugary sweet, a true Southern treat.

Even if you don’t have enough time to read the book, you could always use the treats and drinks for your pre-movie party. So what drink best suits your personality?  Are you a Skeeter, Aibileen,  Minny, Hilly or a Celia?

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Dreamworks’ “The Help”

“Change Begins with a Whisper”

 I’m very excited about the August 12, 2011 opening of “The Help.” I just finished the book and was completly drawn into the story.

Based on one of the most talked about books in years and a #1 New York Times best-selling phenomenon,  “The Help” stars Emma Stone (“Easy A”) as Skeeter, Academy Award®–nominated Viola Davis (“Doubt”) as Aibileen and Octavia Spencer as Minny—three very different, extraordinary women in Mississippi during the 1960s,  who build an unlikely friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk. From their improbable alliance a remarkable sisterhood emerges, instilling all of them with the courage to transcend the lines that define them, and the realization that sometimes those lines are made to be crossed—even if it means bringing everyone in town face-to-face with the changing times.

Deeply moving, filled with poignancy, humor and hope, “The Help” is a timeless and universal story about the ability to create change.

You can follow “The Help” on Facebook, Twitter, or visit them on the web at http://www.thehelpmovie.com.