Coraline Blu-ray Movie Gift Set

Coraline was one of the best blu-ray movie releases of 2009. If someone you know has adopted HDTV and blu-ray and doesn't already own this movie, it is a top-rated gift idea.

Coraline is an excellent movie, an animated 3D stop-motion film with a spooky bend. Not quite appropriate for young children but definitely worth thinking about for older children, say tweens and up. (Check Coraline's rating.)

The limited edition blu-ray gift set includes the contents of the regular blu-ray movie in collectible packaging plus a set of postcards and a book called 'Getting Things Right.' The book shares Henry Selick's thoughts about his own inspiration for the movie and about the creation of the movie.

Any family with older children and teens would enjoy this movie as would anyone who loves stop-action movies done in the style of Tim Burton.

Quick Link:

Click here to order your Coraline Blu-ray Movie Gift Set.

Harry Potter Pop-Up Books

Definitely a top gift choice for any Harry Potter fan is this Harry Potter pop-up book. It is based on the Harry Potter movie images that we have known and come to love and it is brand-new this year.

Available right now as a pre-order item from Amazon and complete with Amazon's price guarantee, it will be shipped on November 16th and arrive in your mailbox in plenty of time for Christmas gift giving this year.

To read more about this Harry Potter book, to see the exciting video of it and to learn about other Harry Potter pop-up books, click right here.




Quick links:

Order this pop-up book from Amazon.
View the exciting trailer for this book.

PONYO: A Top-Rated Movie For Young Children

Anyone who is looking for an excellent movie choice for young children need look no further than Ponyo.  A masterfully animated Japanese film from Hayao Miyazaki and Disney and the Studio Ghibli, it is a lovely and gentle movie, perfect for gift giving.

Sometimes, however, a movie alone seems a little lacking in the gift giving sense and, in this case, Disney has solved the problem for us by providing a beautiful Ponyo DVD and plush gift set.

The Ponyo gift set includes the two-disc special edition DVD and a plush Ponyo. If you've seen the movie, you will be able to understand how wonderful it will be to actually own a plush Ponyo.



Click here to read my full review of Ponyo.
Click here to order your Ponyo DVD Plush Gift Set from Amazon.

Scary Movies For Tweens

Do you have a tween in your family with a birthday near Halloween? Are you looking for a great gift idea for him or her? Or maybe you just have a tween who is clamouring for a scary movie.  If you are looking for a scary movie that is scary but not too scary for tweens, I have put together a great list.

My son has an October birthday and really enjoyed having a Halloween themed birthday party. When he moved into his tween years I remember that he really, really wanted to show a scary movie but we felt that he was not ready for most of the horror movies that were available. What resulted was a search for a movie that was scary but not too scary for pre-teens.

We found a few great older movies, like Creature From The Black Lagoon and Walt Disney's Watcher In The Woods and, more recently, we discovered Coraline is a great choice, as long as you check out the age recommendations first. Even Coraline can be disturbing for some tweens. If in doubt, I say read as much as you can about the age recommendations for a movie and consider previewing it for your children.

A Halloween movie birthday party for tweens IS a great idea. Just be sure you know the age appropriateness of the movie you pick. Most horror movies are simply not suitable for children who are pre-teens.




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Not Too Scary Movies For Tweens or Pre-Teens on Halloween

Ballet Shoes

Looking for a family friendly movie like Anne of Green Gables or The Road to Avonlea? Ballet Shoes, starring Emma Watson, Lucy Boynton and Yasmin Paige is just such a movie.

Definitely of more interest to a girl because of the title, the story really would be fine for a boy...if he were able to get past that title. It tells the story of a unique family: one eccentric uncle, his niece and her nanna and three babies adopted from far flung parts of the world.

Set in 1930's London, it is charming and well done. A lovely story based on the popular book of the same name by Noel Streatfeild. A quality movie for those looking for pleasant family viewing. Perfect if you are careful with what you allow your children to watch.



Quick Links:

Read my complete review of the Ballet Shoes movie.
Order your copy of the movie from Amazon.

Ruby Slippers For Women and Little Girls

Click your heels together three times and repeat, "There's no place like home; there's no place like home; there's no place like home..." so says the extremely well-known line from one of the best movies of all time. If you are familiar with The Wizard of Oz movie, you are aware that you will need some ruby slippers to make your wish come true.

Whether you are looking for a ruby slipper to complete a Halloween costume, to be a part of your regular wardrobe or to add to your collection of Wizard of Oz items, I have found a number of interesting choices in the selection of ruby red slippers at Amazon. 

If you are searching for a style reminiscent of Dorothy's red shoes like the Funtasma shoe shown here by Pleaser or you are looking for a high-heeled modern pair or even a flat pair for either yourself or your daughter, Amazon has an appropriate option. Amazon usually offers a nice discount from the regular retail price plus orders worth $25 or more feature FREE shipping.

If you would love to see a page full of ruby slippers and read a bit more about the history and trivia surrounding Dorothy Gale's ruby slippers, you can visit my new page about her shoes by clicking right here.

Once you gain your ruby slippers, your power will be the greatest in Oz! Make sure you take special care of them or the Wicked Witch will have them...



Quick Links:

Buy the Funtasma shoe by Pleaser from Amazon.
See Amazon's collection of ruby slippers.
Read more about Dorothy's Ruby Slippers.

The Ultimate Guide to Chick Flicks

The Ultimate Guide to Chick Flicks is a thoroughly enjoyable guide to movies that women love. There are so many great movies filled with romance, glamour, tears and much more. I've been thoroughly enjoying this book which includes:

• A year's worth of chick flicks.
• Noteworthy fashion movies.
• DVD recommendations.
• Movies you might have missed.
• Sequels to films you enjoyed.
• A chick flick quiz.
• Recipes for disaster
• Recipes for heartbreak
• Recipes for Fried Green Tomatoes
• Information about Hollywood's HOT men
• And more

Kim Adelman's 2005 book is packed with great movies for women. If you love chick flicks, you will love this book. Pretty in Pink, don't you think that it would also make a wonderful Valentine's Day gift for someone you know who loves chick flicks?

Quick Links:

Buy The Ultimate Guide to Chick Flicks from Amazon.

Wizard of Oz the Movie, A Top-Rated Movie Choice

Can there be a better movie gift this Christmas for the movie-loving females in your life than Wizard of Oz, the Movie? If they are anything like me, I say, "No!" This movie is a perfect choice for anyone who grew up watching it year after year after year, like I did and like many of my contemporaries did. I cannot wait to see it all polished and cleaned for the 70th Anniversary release and, of course, I am especially looking forward to seeing the blu-ray version.

As a matter of fact, I would be open to receiving a theme gift set featuring the Wizard of Oz. I have already said I would love the movie but if I am on your shopping list, you could add one of the great Wizard of Oz ornaments showcased here and, if you are taking notes Santa, you might want to be aware that I am particularly enamored with the Wicked Witch's Christmas stocking and Kurt Adler's ruby slippers.

I am not alone in my attachment to this movie and I am willing to bet that any Wizard of Oz fan would love to find this movie under the Christmas tree!

Quick Links:

Buy Wizard of Oz, the Movie from Amazon.
A Blu-ray Wizard of Oz Gift Set

Clint Eastwood Gran Torino

Movie lovers in my world look forward to Christmas time because they love receiving movies like Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino under the tree. Gran Torino will appeal not only to the Clint Eastwood fans on your list but also to those who like a drama movie that has a good story line.

Right off this movie had me laughing. Eastwood plays a pretty mean old guy in this film and some of the moments were funny...but some were sad, too. Viewers might find themselves laughing and crying but they might also find themselves squirming and cringing in their seats . It is a good story, although not without some violence and plenty of racial slurs. The violence was, as my co-blogger Dianne said, necessary to the story and not gratuitous. The racial issues, part of the times. All of these factors combined to make a very enjoyable movie.

The Amazon Customer Reviews are near perfect for this movie. L. Power wrote, "Gran Torino is the second best movie I have seen this year. Not just for the acting, not just for the directing, but for the storytelling, and the emotional journey on which it takes you, the laughter, the feeling of being gripped, and its more surprising moments."

With reviews like that, I don't think you can go wrong choosing this movie. If you are looking for a great movie for the movie lovers on your Christmas list, this might be just the ticket.

Quick Links:

Clint Eastwood Gran Torino Blu-ray Movie Review

Buy Gran Torino from Amazon