HOLIDAY CLASSIC MOVIE SHOWCASE AT MJR THEATRES

Get into the holiday spirit with MJR Theatres' Big Screen Rewind, a special holiday edition bringing beloved seasonal movies back to the big screen at all 10 MJR Theatre locations in Michigan. The weekly series invites moviegoers to revisit the films that have become part of the holiday tradition, from laugh-out-loud comedies and family favorites to timeless Christmas classics.

Whether it's a long-standing family tradition, a favorite movie night with friends, or an opportunity to introduce a new generation to holiday films, Big Screen Rewind offers the perfect way to celebrate the season with a little nostalgia and big-screen magic. Each week features a different holiday favorite, giving audiences a new reason to head to the theatre and make memories throughout the most wonderful time of the year. 

Making the experience even sweeter, these all-ages films are only $5 per person and offer family and friends the ability to see their favorite seasonal films the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen!

November 6 – November 12

GREMLINS:  A wholesome, All-American town is turned upside-down, when "gremlins"--some impish little creatures--are accidentally unleashed and wreck havoc. Rated PG

November 6 – November 12

A CHRISTMAS STORY: In the 1940's, in the town of Hammond, 9-year-old Ralphie wants one thing for Christmas -- an official Red Ryder BB rifle. When he asks his mother for the BB gun for Christmas, she says, "No, you'll shoot your eye out". When he writes an essay about it at school his teacher gives him a C+ with a note saying "You'll shoot your eye out." Next he asks Santa for the gun, Santa's response is familiar, he says, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid." Ralph fears that he'll never get the BB gun for Christmas. But there may be a surprise in store for him. Rated PG

November 13 – November 19

THE GRINCH (2018): The Grinch tells the story of a cynical grump who goes on a mission to steal Christmas, only to have his heart changed by a young girl's generous holiday spirit. Funny, heartwarming and visually stunning, it's a universal story about the spirit of Christmas and the indomitable power of optimism. Rated PG

November 20 – November 26 

CHRISTMAS VACATION: Clark Griswold, the well-intentioned, walking disaster who has dragged his family through the horrors of traveling in two previous National Lampoon Vacation films, has decided to stay home for the holidays--and the neighborhood will never be the same.​ Rated PG-13

November 27 – December 3

ELF:  As a baby, Buddy crawls into Santa's toy bag and is whisked off to the North Pole, where he is raised as an elf. A misfit who grows to be three times the size of his elf family, Buddy ultimately heads to his birthplace of New York City to seek out his roots. Unfortunately, they turn out to be a "Scrooge"-like father and a cynical ten-year-old stepbrother who doesn't believe in Santa. Worst of all, everyone seems to have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. But using his simple elf ways, Buddy sets out to single-handedly win over his family and save Christmas in New York, hoping to at last find his true place in the world. Rated PG

December 4 – December 10

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (2000): The curmudgeonly recluse Grinch, who hates Christmas, becomes annoyed with the out-of-control Christmas festivities in Whoville, the town lying below his cave dwelling on Mt. Crumpit. But after the Grinch conspires to deprive the Who's of their favorite holiday by sneaking into town on Christmas eve to steal everything associated with the holiday, he learns that the spirit of Christmas goes much deeper than tinsel and toys. Rated PG

December 11 – December 17

THE POLAR EXPRESS: A young boy lies awake in his room one snowy Christmas Eve, excited and alert. Breathing silently. Hardly moving. Waiting. He's listening for a sound he's afraid that he might never hear--the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh. The time is five minutes to midnight. Suddenly, a thunderous roar startles the boy. Clearing the mist from his window he sees the most amazing sight--a gleaming black train rumbles to a stop right in front of his house, the steam from its powerful engine hissing through the night sky and the softly falling snowflakes. The boy rushes outside, clad only in his pajamas and slippers, and is met by the train's conductor who seems to be waiting just for him. "Well, are you coming?" the conductor inquires. "Where?" the boy asks. "Why, to the North Pole--of course. This is the Polar Express!" What unfolds is an adventure that follows a doubting young boy, who takes an extraordinary train ride to the North Pole; during this ride, he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe. Rated G

December 18 – December 25

WHITE CHRISTMAS: Ring in the holiday season like never before when Irving Berlin's beloved White Christmas returns to the big screen for a two-day celebration. Fans of all ages will gather together to experience the full splendor of a successful song-and-dance duo (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) pairing up with a charming sister act (Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen) to save a struggling Vermont inn. In addition to reliving this holiday classic, audiences will be treated to special backstage stories and an Irving Berlin White Christmas retrospective. Rated N/A

$5 tickets for these movies can be purchased online at mjrtheatres.com on MJR's App, and at theatre Box Offices.

GREMLINS GIZMO HAND PUPPET PROP

My kids and all their friends are talking about wanting their very own Baby Yoda just like from the MANDALORIAN Disney+ television show to bring home to live with them. That brings back memories of when I was their age and the movie GREMLINS had just come out. Everybody wanted their own Mogwai like Gizmo as a pet after seeing the movie.

So is GREMLINS a Halloween or Christmas movie? It is a horror-themed comedy providing a spooky Halloween vibe yet it takes place at Christmas with all the mischief beginning when someone receives a Mogwai they name Gizmo as a holiday present. Doesn't matter to us because my family enjoys watching GREMLINS any time during the year.

My childhood dream of having my very own Mogwai came true recently when I indulged in some '80s nostalgia by picking up an officially licensed replica of the Gizmo hand puppet prop used in filming GREMLINS crafted by Trick or Treat Studios. The closest thing you can have to a real Mogwai other than buying a Yorkie and calling it Gizmo!

This fantastic puppet was designed by Russ Lukich utilizing an original movie prop as a reference. From its dimensions to its hair this is a movie accurate replica of Gizmo from GREMLINS. It is like holding an actual movie prop in your hand!

While the Gizmo Gremlins Prop Replica from Trick or Treat Studios looks incredible to display, to be honest using it as a puppet isn't very practical unless your are actually buying it for use as a children's toy. My son and daughter were able to have some success maneuvering their fingers around to simulate movements by the puppet but my wife and I both had a difficult time manipulating it. Whoever was working this puppet in the movie must have had really tiny hands!

If you've ever wanted to own a Mogwai, this prop replica is a must have. It looks incredible to display and because it is a puppet it provides extra fun for playing around with. We've been using the puppet features to stage different selfies with it and give out candy to trick or treaters this weekend. With its life-like appearance just remember:

Don't expose to bright light

Don't get wet

Never feed after Midnight

You can get your own replica Gizmo Gremlins Prop Replica from Sideshow Collectibles. If you purchase it using a Geek Daddy link, this dad blogger will receive a small commission at no additional cost to your bill. Your support of ageekdaddy.com is appreciated!

LEGO DIMENSIONS HALLOWEEN FUN

My family always has a great time playing the LEGO DIMENSIONS video game.  Players take physical LEGO mini-figure characters and brick models, place them on a toypad and are transported to virtual worlds where they engage in adventures as digital versions of these characters.  It takes the fun of LEGO toys combining that with characters and places from popular movies and television shows and video game action.

LEGO DIMENSIONS has some great characters and settings available through its expansion packs to provide some spooky fun during the Halloween season.  You can tackle supernatural threats as heroes incluing the Ghostbusters, Harry Potter and Scooby Doo or take part in ghoulish mayhem with villains such as Beetlejuice, Lord Voldemort, Marceline the Vampire Queen and the Wicked Witch of the West.  Here are some great LEGO DIMENSIONS expansion packs for having Halloween fun:

GREMLINS TEAM PACK

You get both good and evil in this pack of characters that includes the heroic Gizmo and the dastardly Spike.  This duo unlocks an exclusive Gremlins themed Adventure World and Battle Arena that is especially terror-ific to play around Halloween.  Use Gizmo’s Combat Roll and Dash Attack abilities to get him out of sticky situations caused by the gremlins but beware because Spike's claws can really rip things up.

SCOOBY DOO TEAM PACK

Zoinks! When it comes to solving a mystery who are you going to call? No not the Ghostbuster but rather ... Scooby Doo.  This team pack includes the canine detective and his faithful sidekick Shaggy plus the classic Mystery Machine van to ride around in.  Activate Scooby Doo's special tracking, digging, and stealth abilities while Shaggy can lend a hand with his tracking and illumination skills to solve puzzles within the game.  Plus these characters unlock a spooky Adventure World that makes you feel like you've been pulled inside a Scooby Doo cartoon that provides a great vibe for some Halloween fun.

GHOSTBUSTERS LEVEL PACK

Oh yeah the Ghostbusters are part of this video game too!  Play through your favorite scenes from the original Ghostbusters movie (1984) with this expansion pack that includes an add on level to the LEGO DIMENSIONS game along with a Peter Venkman mini-figure and an Ecto-1 brick model.

SLIMER FUN PACK

Cause some chaos with everyone's favorite Ghost .... Slimer!  Fire his hot dog and activate his Boomerang, Sonar Smash, Flying, Dive, Hazard Clean, Illumination, Mini Access and Hazard Protection abilities to solve puzzles and battle enemies.  Slime your enemies with Slimer from Ghostbusters.

MARCELINE THE VAMPIRE QUEEN FUN PACK

This vampire will have your LEGO DIMENSIONS adventures rocking!  Not only does she provide some cool powers with her Sonar Smash and Bolt Deflector abilities, but this vampire unlocks an Adventure Time themed Adventure World and Battle Arena.

HARRY POTTER TEAM PACK

Enjoy the magic of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with this expansion pack that adds the boy wizard and the evil Lord Voldemort into the fray.  Unlock the Harry Potter Adventure World and bring the fight between good and evil into the Battle Arena. Use Harry to cast spells such as Wingardium Leviosa, Stupefy, and Expelliarmus to solve puzzles and fight off Death Eaters, or play as Voldemort for access to Dark magic.  Use the included buildable LEGO brick models to take a ride on the Hogwarts Express or to fly around in the Weasley family's enchanted car.

BEETLEJUICE FUN PACK

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice.  Summon the mischievous bio-exorcist for some spirited fun!  He unlocks a ghostly adventure world and battle arena but can stir up trouble anywhere within the game.  He also comes with a buildable brick model of the Saturn's Sandworm that can tear up a path through the LEGO DIMENSIONS multiverse.

WICKED WITCH FUN PACK

Fly around on a broom stick causing trouble or unleash your flying monkeys to dominate your foes with this Wizard of Oz themed mini-figure and brick model.  Cast a spell over the LEGO DIMENSIONS video game with her Flying, Magic, Illumination, Mind Control and Magical Shield abilities.  Plus the flying monkeys are a hoot!



Unfortunately, it was just announced that LEGO DIMENSIONS won't be adding any new expansions to the game from here on out.  The video game isn't in the grave just yet though as it will continue to be sold and receive product support for the foreseeable future.  So you can still play LEGO DIMENSIONS and Halloween is a great time to get in on the action.  For more information about the game, please visit www.lego.com/en-us/dimensions

Disclaimer:  Some of the products in this post were provided by LEGO DIMENSIONS for A GEEK DADDY to review and others were purchased with my own money.  I was not compensated for publishing this post and wrote it on my own inclination. 

A New Wave of Characters, Levels & Vehicles Expanding LEGO Dimensions Has Arrived

** A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free to review**

A new wave of expansion packs for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment's popular LEGO Dimensions video game are now on store shelves.  Players can now expand their game playing experience by incorporating new characters and vehicles from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Sonic the Hedgehog, Gremlins, E.T. -- The Extra-Terrestrial and Adventure Time into their LEGO Dimensions adventures.

In addition to adding new characters, vehicles and locals to LEGO Dimensions, all the expansion packs in this latest wave feature Battle Arenas with competitive split-screen local gameplay for up to four players. LEGO minifigures included in the expansion packs also come with special golden Toy Tags which unlock a free play Adventure World of the corresponding entertainment brand, as well as a battle arena that can be reached through Vorton. Players can explore Adventure Worlds for Gremlins, and also play four exciting gameplay modes within the battle arenas, including Capture the Flag, Objective, Base Bash, and Tick, Tag, Boom!. Each arena comes with its own traps, defenses, and special powers that make every Battle Arena unique. Battles can be played competitively or cooperatively in multiple player configurations including 2 vs 2, 3 vs 1, and individually against the system AI to create fun for the whole family.

The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Story Pack provides a complete movie-based gameplay experience that is full of secrets and surprises. It includes six action-packed levels and new LEGO Gateway bricks to build atop the LEGO Toy Pad.  Players can build the Newt Scamander LEGO minifigure and help him find his escaped magical creatures in New York City using a variety of spells, including and The pack will also come with the Niffler, which can be rebuilt into the Sinister Scorpion and Vicious Vulture. The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Story Pack will be the exclusive LEGO construction toy offering this holiday for the exciting expansion of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.

Fans of J.K. Rowling's wizarding world can also add the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Fun Pack with a Tina Goldstein LEGO minifigure to their LEGO Dimensions collection. She can cast to help solve puzzles and to keep her safe from enemies. Players in need of rescue can build the Swooping Evil which can be rebuilt into the Brutal Bloom and Crawling Creeper.

Additionally a Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack is now available where players can join Sonic and his friends in an epic battle against Eggman and Chaos. Spin into action speeding through iconic locations including Green Hill, Emerald Coast, and Labyrinth to collect all the Chaos Emeralds. Players can have the Sonic the Hedgehog LEGO minifigure use his Acrobat ability to swing off poles and avoid the Badniks, then use his famous grind rails move to make a quick escape.  The pack also includes a 3-in-1 Sonic Speedster which can be rebuilt into Blue Typhoon and Motobug, and a 3-in-1 The Tornado which can be rebuilt into Crabmeat and Eggcatcher.



The Gremlins Team Pack includes popular rivals Gizmo and Stripe LEGO minifigures. Each will unlock the Adventure World, where players can explore the Cinema, Clamp Industries, the High School, and so much more. Gizmo’s Combat Roll and Dash Attack abilities can be used to get him out of sticky situations and Stripe uses his claws with his Vine Cut ability. Players can rebuild the 3-in-1 R.C. Racer vehicle into the Gadget-o-matic and Scarlet Scorpion and the 3-in-1 Flash ‘n’ Finish into a Rampage Record Player and Stripe's Throne.

Phone home with the E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Fun Pack! It includes an E.T. LEGO minifigure with Illumination and Fix-It abilities, as well as special Stealth and Telekinesis skills to make his way around the LEGO multiverse.  Players can build E.T.’s iconic Phone Home device, then rebuild it into the Mobile Uplink and Super-Charged Satellite for additional in-game abilities. With the corresponding Adventure World, players can build new experiences at Elliot’s house and in the suburbs, throughout the park and the forest, on the BMX trail, and even in E.T.’s spaceship.

An additional Adventure Time Fun Pack is being added to LEGO Dimensions in this new wave of expansion packs as well featuring a Marceline the Vampire Queen LEGO minifigure. Players can activate her Sonar Smash and Bolt Deflector abilities using the Marceline Axe Guitar to solve puzzles and battle enemies. They can also build and use Marceline’s Lunatic Amp to make some noise, and then rebuild it into the Shadow Scorpion and Heavy Metal Monster for extra in-game powers. This fun pack is being released as a Toys R Us exclusive in North America.

These additions are the seventh wave of expansion pack to enhance the game play experience since the video game was introduced. LEGO Dimensions can be played on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and the Wii U system.  For more information, please visit lego.com/en-us/dimensions

LEGO Dimensions: The Gremlins Are Coming!

Halloween seems the perfect time for Adventure Time's spunky Vampire Queen Marceline to welcome the Gremlins to the LEGO Dimensions video game.  In the video below, the rocking Queen introduces us to Gizmo and Stripe, demonstrating exactly what not to do with a Gremlin, unless you are looking to wreak havoc!  In addition to Marceline playing a chill jam, the video also highlights Gizmo in action in the Gremlins Adventure World demonstrating his signature "Rambo" mode. Check it out!



Arriving on store shelves in November, the LEGO Dimensions' Gremlins Team Pack includes LEGO minifigures of Gizmo and Stripe. Gizmo's Combat Roll and Dash Attack abilities can be used to get him out of sticky situations and Stripe uses his claws and his Vine Cut ability.  Players can also rebuild the included 3-in-1 R.C. Racer vehicle into the Gadget-o-matic or Scarlet Scorpion and the 3-in-1 Flash 'n' Finish into a Rampage Record Player and Stripe's Throne.

LEGO Dimensions can be played on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii U.

E.T. Will Soon Be Calling LEGO Dimensions Home

Supergirl, the newest addition to the LEGO Dimensions video game, recently took a few moments out of her busy schedule of battling dastardly villains to introduce another friendly alien who will be joining her within the LEGO Dimensions Multiverse soon -- E.T.!!!  Check out this great introduction video featuring Supergirl and E.T. along with a special appearance by another do-gooding alien friend:



The E.T. -- The Extra-Terrestrial Fun Pack coming out later this fall includes an E.T. LEGO minifigure with Illumination and Fix-It abilities, as well as special Stealth and Telekinesis skills to make his way around the LEGO multiverse. Players can also build E.T.’s iconic Phone Home device, then rebuild it into a Mobile Uplink or Super-Charged Satellite for additional in-game abilities.

Supergirl will be available this fall for a limited time within LEGO Dimensions Starter Packs for Sony PlayStation 4 computer entertainment systems as an exclusive, bonus playable LEGO minifigure within the video game.  The Supergirl LEGO minifigure will have a number of extraordinary in-game abilities to help solve puzzles and battle enemies, including Super Strength, Flying, X-Ray Vision, and Beam Attacks which enable her to shoot heat beams out of her eyes.  She can also transform into Supergirl Red Lantern with additional abilities such as firing powerful Red Lantern energy bolts and energy beams from her Red Lantern Ring.



If you aren't able to obtain the Supergirl minifigure through this limited edition PS4 Starter Pack, the character will also become available in the near future as a "Hire-a-Hero" option for all consoles.  This is a feature in LEGO Dimensions that allows players to sample characters using studs collected in the game.  Players can select the hologram minifigure near certain hint stones to unlock characters for a limited time to try out their special abilities to solve problems and complete puzzles.

Also keep an eye out for additional expansion packs coming to LEGO Dimensions just in time for the holiday shopping season which will include Sonic the Hedgehog, Gremlins, and characters from the upcoming Harry Potter prequel  Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  In addition to providing some new great characters and special abilities to the LEGO Dimensions multiverse all of these new expansion packs will include golden Toy Tags which unlock special, all new Battle Arenas.  These Battle Arenas will offer first-to-LEGO video games competitive split-screen gameplay for up to four players at once!  Each will have four gameplay modes and come with its own traps, special powers and interactive environments that make every Battle Arena unique.

LEGO Dimensions is developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. For more information about the video game, visit lego.com/en-us/dimensions

LEGO Dimensions Announces New Wave of Exciting Expansion Packs

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has announced several new expansion packs for its popular LEGO Dimensions video game will be arriving at stores on November 18, 2016 just in time for the holiday shopping season.  For those of you who already own the LEGO Dimensions starter pack you'll be pleased to know that no updated master game software or new toy pad hardware will be needed to incorporate these expansion packs into your existing game play.  When you purchase the new expansion packs you'll find your new characters, accessories, and environments are fully compatible to mix-and-match with all those previously released for use within the LEGO Dimensions which utilizes LEGO toys to create a hybrid video game experience.

The upcoming expansion packs will introduce my son's favorite video game character, Sonic The Hedgehog, to LEGO Dimensions.  Characters from two iconic movies of my youth, E.T. and Gremlins, will also be joining the LEGO Dimensions cast of characters.  For those of you looking forward to the upcoming Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them you'll be excited that LEGO Dimensions will be incorporating elements of the movie into the video game as well.  Plus all of these new expansion packs will include golden Toy Tags which unlock special, all new Battle Arenas.  These Battle Arenas will offer first-to-LEGO video games competitive split-screen gameplay for up to four players.  Each will have four gameplay modes and come with its own traps, special powers and interactive environments that make every Battle Arena unique.

The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Story Pack will be the largest of the new expansion packs providing a complete movie-based gameplay experience with 6 levels and comes with new LEGO Gateway bricks to build the Magical Congress of the United States of America on top of the LEGO toy pad. Players can build a Newt Scamander LEGO minifigure and help him find his escaped magical creatures in New York City and use a variety of spells, including Diffindo, Reparo, and Lumos.  The pack will also come with a 3-in-1 Niffler which can be rebuilt into two other creatures from the movie, the Sinister Scorpion and Vicious Vulture.  A Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Fun Pack will also be available which will include a Tina Goldstein LEGO minifigure and a 3-in-1 Swooping Evil which can also be rebuilt into the Brutal Bloom and Crawling Creeper creatures from the movie.

The Sonic the Hedgehog Level Pack will allow players to race as the Blue Blur at lightening speeds through favorite locations from his previous SEGA video games including Green Hill, Emerald Coast, and Labyrinth.  The pack will include a Sonic the Hedgehog LEGO minifigure, a 3-in-1 Sonic Speedster, which can be rebuilt into the Blue Typhoon or Motobug, and a 3-in-1 The Tornado, which can also be rebuilt into Crabmeat or Eggcatcher.

The Gremlins Team Pack includes LEGO minifigures of Gizmo and Stripe. Gizmo's Combat Roll and Dash Attack abilities can be used to get him out of sticky situations and Stripe uses his claws and his Vine Cut ability.  Players can also rebuild the included 3-in-1 R.C. Racer vehicle into the Gadget-o-matic or Scarlet Scorpion and the 3-in-1 Flash 'n' Finish into a Rampage Record Player and Stripe's Throne.

Phone home with the E.T.: Extra-Terrestrial Fun Pack that includes an E.T. LEGO minifigure with Illumination and Fix-It abilities, as well as special Stealth and Telekinesis skills that can be used throughout the LEGO Dimensions multiverse.  Players can also build E.T.'s iconic Phone Home device, then rebuild it into the Mobile Uplink and Super-Charged Satellite for additional in-game abilities.

These all look to be great additions to the LEGO Dimensions video game! Which one is your favorite?  LEGO Dimensions is now available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii U.