It’s around this time of year that families like to cuddle up and watch a good movie, and what could be better on a cold night than a little Disney magic? To help kick the holidays into high gear, we’re giving away a basket full of hit Disney flicks to one lucky reader! The prize pack includes Cinderella, Finding Nemo, Brave, The Secret of the Wings, and Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups. Enter to win by posting a comment below. We’ll pick a winner in a random drawing. For the full rules, click here. Goody luck!
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 21 years and older. Begins: 9:00 a.m. E.T. on December 7, 2012. Ends: 9:00 a.m. E.T. on December 14, 2012. Subject to Official Rules at www.goodyblog.com. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Meredith Corporation.
Just in time for All Hallow’s Eve, Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory (Three-Disc 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition) is coming out. I know what you’re thinking: Wait, Willy Wonka isn’t a Halloween movie. And you’d be correct. But the first time I saw this movie–at 4 or 5–I was frightened. The young me was pretty sure that I’d also fall into the chocolate river (I knew I was a klutz even back then), and forget about the Oompa-Loompas. Terrifying. Now I love the movie and can appreciate the dark side of the candy paradise. But this got me thinking about what’s scary when you’re little. So we want to know which scary or slightly spooky movies creeped you out when you were a child. Tell us in the comments section below.
Now that we know what’s your favorite family movie for 2011 so far–there’s still time to vote!–we want to find out which kid-friendly classic coming to DVD this fall are you most excited for. Take our poll below. And as always, let us know in the comments section if we forgot your favorite.
We’ve interrupted our regularly scheduled “Friday Night Movies” column to bring you our First Annual Readers’ Movie Poll. Now that Labor Day is upon us and the summer blockbuster season is sadly coming to a close, we want to know which family-friendly movies and DVDs have become your favorites of the year (so far). Vote in the poll below. Don’t see your pick for best movie or DVD? Add it in the comments section below! We’d love for your family to weigh in!
P.S. While they’re not out yet, a few classics that we’re excited for are re-releasing on DVD and Blu-ray this fall. If you think Dumbo (70th Anniversary Edition), The Lion King (3D), or Willy Wonka & Chocolate Factory (40th Anniversary Edition) still has what it takes to blow away the new guys, feel free to make one of them your top pick in the comments. Happy voting!
Nothing reminds me more of how old I’m getting than those anniversary editions of classic cartoons (OK, the gray hair is also right up there). The most recent example is the 25th Anniversary DVD set of She-Ra: The Complete Series. I can still remember pretending to be the Princess of Power and trying to convince my big brother that she was way more awesome than her twin, He-Man. He didn’t buy it back then, but now I can get all 93 episodes of the show’s campy goodness and try to convince him all over again.
Has your child ever wanted to star in a video featuring Dora the Explorer and Diego?
Kideo.com (a play on “kids” and “video”) gives kids the fun opportunity to upload their photos and customize them in videos that feature popular cartoon characters such as Dora, Diego, Spider-Man, Barney, Care Bears, and more.
Kids can personalize their own entertainment and enjoy watching themselves go off on adventures with their favorite animated heroes. Nine scenarios over 20 minutes long are currently available for kids to choose from including “Dora, Diego, and Me!,” “Dora the Explorer: Whose Birthday Is It?,” and “I Am the Amazing Spider-Man.”
Creating the videos are free, but keeping them involve pulling out your credit card–a streaming video costs $7.99, a download costs $9.99, and a DVD costs $19.99. For a child who loves watching cartoons over and over again, this might be a unique and worthwhile gift for the holidays!
Vampires, werewolves, and aliens, oh my! It’s getting a little freaky at the box office this weekend. Your kids might beg to see the uber-hyped–and unintentionally funny–Twilight: New Moon (rated PG 13). Some moms might even consider it–you know who you are (I’m Team Jacob, BTW). But the animated alien adventure, Planet 51 (rated PG), is probably the safer supernatural bet for families with younger kids.
This Week’s Flashback Goody:
This Week’s Big-Screen Goodies (Black Friday Edition): 
This Week’s Big-Screen Goody: