All About Kimberly

Sailing Along the Life of Single Parenthood

Tag Archives: movies

31 Days of Oscar

If you like award winning movies – from the old to the new – now is the time to become a regular Turner Classic Movie fan.  Currently TCM is running their 31 Days of Oscar. During this festival, every film that TCM shows has received at least one Academy Award and/or nomination.  These350 movies will be shown unedited and without commercials.  (This would be a great tim to DVR some favorites).  The series started February 1st and will end March 3rd.

TCM chose a really cute theme this year called “TCM University.”  The movies are categorized by Departments and Course Offerings.  How cool is that?  Today’s subject – my favorite – ENGLISH….Today you can view, Intro to Charles Dickens, Shakespeare Tragedies, and British Novelists including Rebecca (one of my favorite books).

Check out the complete movie schedule here.

There’s also a contest going on over at TCM to enter for a chance to win a 31 Days of Oscar Composition Notebook in the TCM 31 Days of Oscar® Sweepstakes.  This is a really handy composition book (I have one) with the schedule in the front and regular composition paper in the back.  I’m using mine for my blogging notes to myself.  Find TCM on your channel line up and check out all the movies that will be airing over the next month – you’re sure to find a few old favorites or great movies you missed seeing.

Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story

Have you seen the previews for this movie (Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story) that will be airing on Turner Classic Movies in conjuction with under the JOHNSON & JOHNSON SPOTLIGHT PRESENTATION® movie banner?  It’s the story of a young boy who has so many obstacles in his life, but somehow overcomes them all to become a world-renowned neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.  It stars one of my favorite actors, Cuba Gooding Jr. and also actress Kimberly Elise.

Ben Carson became even more than the pediatric neurosurgeon. He also became a famous author and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  According to the press release,

The film opens with Carson’s childhood in Detroit.  The young Bennie struggles in school after his father abandons the family and his mother, who suffers from bouts of depression, is forced to be the family’s sole provider, despite the fact that she can’t read and has only a third-grade education.

Seeing that her son is having problems in school, Sonya soon realizes it is because he has troubles seeing.  With a new pair of glasses and encouragement to spend time at a library, Bennie dives into the world of books.  The joy Bennie gets from reading and the undying love and support he receives from his mother pave the way for him to overcome his impoverished background and graduate from high school, college and medical school.  To fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor, he also must face down racial prejudice and other obstacles that threaten to derail him.

Along the way, Carson gets married and starts a family.  But his home life becomes strained when his work starts to consume his every waking hour, especially as he faces the challenge of becoming the first doctor ever to successfully separate conjoined twins joined at the back of the head.  In the end, however, Carson’s family comes to understand that his work is vital in helping other families, including a young couple whose twins’ lives are saved thanks to Carson’s remarkable skills, knowledge and courage.

I have my DVR set to record this Saturday so that I can make sure to watch it (maybe more than once if it turns out to be classroom appropriate).  If you’d like, watch the preview below:

Gifted Hands will premier on Turner Classic Movies on February 7th at 8PM EST.

Delgo: In Theaters December 12

Have you heard of this movie?  I had not until I got a message from Team Mom. Trusting the instincts of this wonderful organization, I went straight over to the Delgo website to watch the preview and get more information. I have to admit that this first movie from Fathom Studios has my attention. In fact, I’ve already gone to see which theater in my area will in fact be showing Delgo.

Not heard of this movie either? Let me start by giving you just a few of the voices you’ll hear if you watch this movie:

  • Freddie Prinze Jr
  • Val Kilmer
  • Michael Clarke Duncan
  • Jennifer Love Hewitt
  • Anne Bancroft (in her last performance)
  • Chris Kattan
  • Lou Gossett Jr. 
  • Kelly Ripa 
  • Burt Reynolds 
  • Sally Kellerman 
While you may not recognize all of these movies, I think all movie fans will find at least a few of their favorite actors in this all star cast lineup. 
So what is Delgo about?  According to the press release,

The story takes place in the magical land of Jhamora which is divided between two cultures – the Nohrin, winged masters of the skies, and the Lockni, the terrestrial tribe who harness the mystical powers of the land.  When Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt), hostilities between the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled empress (Anne Bancroft) to exact her revenge and reclaim her rule. 

Falsely imprisoned, Delgo and his best friend, Filo (Chris Kattan), must put aside their differences to join forces with a sworn enemy, Bogardus (Val Kilmer), and travel to the mysterious land of Perran to rescue Princess Kyla.  Here they encounter fanciful creatures and discover more than just a kidnapped princess, they learn the value of different cultures and the importance of working together.

 And of course every parent needs to know the fine print: Delgo is rated PG and has a running time of 90 minutes.

Our First Drive In

A crazy woman? Or a dedicated mom? At times, I’m not so sure which category I fall into.  Last night is a perfect example.  Cameron has been waiting anxiously for High School Musical 3 to come out so as soon as tickets became available online, I ordered us a set as I wanted to make sure we got seats.  Then Friday morning, I got an email from a subscription service I had signed up for – a drive in movie’s schedule.  Friday morning I got the email that they were showing High School Musical 3.  So what did I do?  I gave away our tickets to the local theater (30 minutes away), and we drove 90 miles to the drive in last night to watch our first drive in movie.  Yes…three times the distance (which means we didn’t get home until almost midnight).  Crazy or dedicated? I’m still not sure. :)

On that note though we had a blast.  We snuggled in the car, cuddled under a blanket, and watched High School Musical 3.  What a blast!!  In fact we enjoyed it so much we’ve been recruiting other people to go see others with us sometime.  It will never be a “regular” thing for us.  Though getting in the movie and concessions were cheaper, the time in driving and cost of gas just isn’t feasible.  We might go back with another single mom pal of mine though t osee Madagascar.

Disney Cartoons We Love – Coming to BluRay

We haven’t bought a BluRay yet, but I wanted to be sure to share this piece of Disney news with you guys that may have a bluray player that Disney has announced that they will be releasing a large number of their classic cartoons over the next two years on BluRay. Already on the list are:

Among the films announced for release are:

  • “Beauty and the Beast”
  • “Pinocchio”
  • “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”
  • “Fantasia”
  • “Fantasia 2000”