Reviews by Shaz
I don’t celebrate Christmas, but I suspect that there may be, oh I don’t know, 2 or 3 of you out there that do! 
I got these “Wrapped & Ready DVDs” anyways, because, amm, my kids really wanted Kung Fu Panda and Iron Man I thought I would be selfless and try it out so I can let you know how I felt about pre-wrapped DVDs. Well, I kinda liked the idea. What I liked was 1) the choice of wrapping – it was theme based, as in the theme of the movie, which is good so, like, if you wanted to give it as a secular, nondenominational, “holiday” gift, you would surely be able to do that, 2) they are great movies, 3) if I did have like a paper-boy or a milk-man or any other such stereotype person that I had to give a gift too for obligation, this would be a good choice.
Ok. It’s a really easy present!
And I am giving away Indiana Jones!
Leave a comment to enter. I’ll do a random draw on Tuesday!
Reviews by Shaz
I was asked to review Roxio Creator 2009, which basically a media-processing-ninja-type software that is super easy to use. Firstly, it’s for Windows, so I had to install it on my slowly dying laptop, which I think made it slightly slow but I am going to blame that on the hardware and not the software. Secondly, I was actually pretty impressed with the completeness of the product as a media solution, and the general easy of use.
I’ve outlined a list of features that stood out to me…
1) You can upload your photos, video, slideshows or any other projects and easily share them with your friends and family.
2) You can also email images by selecting them directly within Creator and it will resize them automatically.
3) You may edit your photos, for example – red eye reduction, cropping, and more not-so-basic techniques.
4) You can create slideshows, panoramas, and albums by simply selecting the photos you want to include and customizing the options.
5) You can burn cds, edit audio, and apparently convert LPs and Tapes to digital formal.
6) You can create playlists and audiobooks.
7) You can easily sync media from all your devices. (I tried to connect my iPod, but it didn’t really work, or I didn’t know what I was doing! Either way, I didn’t read the manual, which I am sure could have helped me out,)
8) You can import video, edit videos and create DVDs.
I guess for Mac users, it’s like having iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie all wrapped up in one, and for Windows users, I would totally recommend Creator 2009 as an easy way to collect, edit, and manage all of your media files.
Additional Reviews:
PCMag.com
PCPro
Reviews by Shaz
I appreciate cartoons, even in my 20’s I would watch Saturday morning cartoons – I don’t think they have them anymore, like Recess, and The Weekenders… I don’t remember anymore names, but anyway, I liked them!
Phineas and Ferb sort of reminded me of those shows, it was smart and funny, and not weird or gross or bizarre like most cartoons these days. I loved how Phineas and Ferb, step-brothers, effortlessly thought out and executed stupendous summer “projects”, for example, creating a beach in their backyard, or building the world’s biggest hunted house, while their older sister constantly freaks out and tries, unsuccessfully, to tell her mom about their schemes.
The humor is great though, very subtle and ironic and witty – but of course if you’re considering getting this for your kids and not yourself, well, I think they will also enjoy it! Especially the theme song. My kids are quite fascinated by the outrageous plots, and the little platypus-like creature who has a whole secret superhero life that is quite strange and yet captivating.
Here is the theme song for Phineas and Ferb – it’s catchy!
Reviews by Shaz
I had never heard of VeggieTales until the movie The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything was released, and my kids went to see it, and then could not stop talking about it! Apparently, they really enjoyed it!
So, when I got the opportunity to review a VeggieTale movie, of course I said yes because I thought the kids would enjoy it, however, Tomato Sawyer & Huckleberry Larry’s Big River Rescue was not as entertaining as the real cinema movie had been – or so I am told by both kids!
The movie has a very strong moral lesson, told in a fun way, I sort of enjoyed watching it, and so did my 2 year old, but I don’t think that it really held the interest of my older kids.
You should check out the company that makes it though, Big Idea – the “veggies” are cute and they have some unique and innovative products.
Reviews by Shaz
The Spiderwick Chronicles was a cute (in a sort of disturbing way) movie and I really enjoyed it. My kids are too young, except that I did watch it with my 2 year old, who, was strangely intrigued by the interesting and bizarre characters.
It was like “Lord of the Rings” for kids, at least that’s how I would describe it! It was definitely too scary for my 4 and 5 year old, but it was very fascinating and, for a kids movie, I found it quite entertaining.
I have 2 copies to giveaway… first 2 commenters gets it! [not valid if you win the transformers dvd!]
From the beloved, best-selling series of books comes the extraordinary fantasy adventure, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, debuting as a two-disc Special Collector’s Edition DVD and Blu-ray on June 24, 2008. Bringing to life the fantastical, unseen world that exists all around us, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES is “an action-packed theme park ride” (Los Angeles Times) that is both “scary and wondrous” (Time). From the moment the Grace family moves into a secluded old house, peculiar things start to happen. Unable to explain the accidents and strange disappearances, the Grace children—Jared, Simon and Mallory—start to investigate and find the unbelievable truth of the Spiderwick Estate and the amazing creatures that inhabit it. Directed by Mark Waters (Mean Girls), the film features an all-star cast including Freddie Highmore (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory), Mary Louise Parker (“Weeds”), Sarah Bolger (In America) David Strathairn (Good Night, And Good Luck), Nick Nolte (Tropic Thunder) and the voices of Seth Rogen (Superbad) and Martin Short (Jiminy Glick In Lalawood).
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES two-disc Special Collector’s Edition DVD and Blu-ray presentations boast multiple behind-the-scenes featurettes including a Making Of, a look at the cast and characters, “The Magic of Spiderwick”, “Spiderwick: It’s All True”, an exploration of the Spiderwick world and more, plus deleted scenes and a peek inside Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide. THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES also will be available as a single disc DVD in full screen or widescreen.
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