THE FABELMANS COME HOME FOR A FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment provided ageekdaddy.com a complimentary digital movie code for The Fabelmans

The Fabelmans are looking to have a big night at this year's Academy Awards with seven Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score, Best Original Screenplay and Best Production Design. So, we were geeked to see what all the buzz regarding the film is about with a family movie night watching The Fabelmans. The movie is available now on digital to add to your home entertainment video library and will be out for Valentine's Day date nights (February 14, 2023) on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD.

Animated movies, comedies, superhero adventures and flicks tend to be the focus of what my family watches together. In fact, I don't recall the last drama that my kids may have watched. With that in mind, I wasn't sure how my children were going to react to watching this coming-of-age tale written and directed by Steven Spielberg. My kids actually were captivated by The Fabelmans with their eyes fixated on the show and both said "that was a great movie" as the credits started rolling. Their appreciation of the show earns it a Geek Daddy nod of approval. 

The film rekindles the awe and specialness of Hollywood magic from a time before everyone carried a video camera around town with them. It highlights the artistic elements of filmmaking. Plus, The Fabelmans delves into the human interactions that have made drama a fascinating aspect within generations worth of storytelling. Having to cope with bullying, biases and bizarre family members are subject that are both intriguing and relatable for most of us. 

The Fabelmans is a deeply personal portrait of a 20th century American childhood through the lens of a semi-autobiographical story inspired by Steven Spielberg’s own youth. It is about a young man uncovering a shattering family secret and the power of film and imagination to help us see the truth about ourselves and each other. The movie rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA rating is for some strong language, thematic elements, brief violence and drug use. 

With a star-studded cast featuring Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea, My Week with Marilyn), Paul Dano (The Batman, There Will Be Blood), Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs, An American Pickle), Gabriel LaBelle (The Predator, “American Gigolo”) and Academy Award nominee Judd Hirsch (Uncut Gems, Ordinary People), The Fabelmans tells a timeless tale of heartbreak, healing, and hope for the dreamer inside all of us. The movie's story is complimented by a marvelous musical score from maestro John Williams. The Fabelmans has a runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes. 

Extras on the home video release of The Fabelmans include: 

• The Fabelmans: A Personal Journey - Steven Spielberg reflects on how the movie is inspired by his own personal story and family. 
• Family Dynamics - Discover how the film's cast brought The Fabelmans to life as Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen and more build a bridge between their onscreen personalities and their true-life counterparts. 
• Crafting the World of The Fabelmans - From costume and set design to music and cinematography, the filmmakers reveal how they created movie magic while capturing the film's unique look.

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ET & JAWS BEING RERELEASED ON IMAX

Here is some news that has this '80s kid GEEKED, E.T. is being rereleased for theatrical showings exclusively on IMAX screens to celebrate the film's 40th anniversary. The trailer for the new IMAX release of E.T. will premiere during showings of Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World Dominion which arrives at theaters on June 10, almost 40 years to the day since E.T. originally debuted in theaters on June 11, 1982. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial will then be released exclusively on IMAX screens nationwide beginning August 12, 2022.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, originally released in the summer of 1982, not only soared to become the highest-grossing film of the year, capturing four Academy Awards® and nine Oscar® nominations including Best Picture, but it also captured the hearts of audiences around the globe. Four decades later, it still ignites the joy, wonder, discovery, magic and heartbreak of childhood. And E.T. isn't just nostalgic for us '80s kids, because my 13-year-old daughter LOVES the film and I am sure is going to demand that we go to see it on an IMAX screen this summer for a family outing to the movie theater.

IMAX is also bringing another classic Steven Spielberg summer blockbuster back to movie theaters this year with JAWS. The 1975 thriller will be released on IMAX screens and can be seen for the first time in RealD 3D beginning September 2. Duunnn dunnn… duuuunnnn duun… duuunnnnnnnn dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun ... will you be wrapping up your summer by going to see the original JAWS movie on an IMAX screen in 3D?

Originally released on June 20, 1975, Jaws, based on the best-selling novel by Peter Benchley, became the first true summer blockbuster and a cultural tsunami. It shattered every record to become the highest-grossing film of the year, earning a nomination for Best Picture and winning three Academy Awards®, including one for John Williams’ iconic musical score. Almost five decades later, Jaws has become inexorable from global film culture, has inspired multiple generations of filmmakers and remains one of the most thrilling, terrifying and unforgettable films of all time.

With Jurassic World Dominion, E.T. and JAWS playing on IMAX screens it will be a great summer to go watch some great Steven Spielberg brands at the movie theater!

MOVIE THEMED LESSON PLANS HELP EDUCATORS TEACH JOURNALISTIC PRINCIPLES

20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND JOURNEYS IN FILM HELP TEACHERS INSTILL THE IMPORTANCE OF FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

In the fledgling years of the United States, it was realized journalism served as an important check on the power of government vital for preserving the integrity of a democracy.  With this in mind, the nation's Constitution was amended to assure the freedom of the press through the Bill of Rights adoption in 1791.  While a lot has changed in our society during the more than 200 years that have passed, the importance of an uncensored media is still as important today as it was when the First Amendment was ratified. So, I was impressed to find out about how Journeys in Film, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating inspiring educational materials and classroom lesson plans based on popular films, has partnered with 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment to create an eight-part curriculum guide based on the Academy Award-nominated film, THE POST.

From Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's investigation of President Nixon to Jim Schaefer and M.L. Elrick's exposes on Kwame Kilpatrick, journalists have played a crucial role throughout the history of the country in uncovering misdeeds and ensuring the integrity of our governmental institutions.  The Washington Post's Pentagon Papers battle is another example of journalists keeping government officials accountable.  THE POST, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, tells the true story of legendary publisher of The Washington Post Katharine Graham (Streep) and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks) as they join forces to expose a decades-long cover-up brought to light in a series of leaked military documents dubbed the Pentagon Papers.  The ensuing legal battle with the White House over the right to publish information from these documents went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and set an important precedent prohibiting censorship of the press.

A LESSON PLAN EXAMINING THE TRUE EVENTS BEHIND THE POST

IS NOW AVAILABLE TO CLASSROOMS NATIONWIDE

The curriculum guide created by Journeys in Film and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment consists of an eight part lesson plan, designed for students in grades 6 through 12, that is available to teachers as a free online download. Educators can utilize these lesson plans in conjunction with THE POST to help explain to students journalistic principles and ethics, the important role the press play in a democratic society, and the historical context of the Pentagon Papers among other topics relevant to the movie.

• Lesson 1 establishes “the facts of the case” by having students work as journalists, digging through excerpts from real government documents to find the 5 Ws—who, what, when, where, and why—and using a jigsaw activity to share their information.
• Lesson 2 explores the First Amendment, the case of Marbury v. Madison, and the Espionage Act under which Ellsberg was charged to understand the Supreme Court’s decision to allow publication. A document-based question gives students practice in synthesizing primary sources to write historical analysis.
• Lesson 3 answers the question of what happened to Daniel Ellsberg, acquainting students with the differences between civil and criminal courts and further exploring the protections guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.
• Lesson 4 is a study of journalistic ethics. What principles should professional journalists work by? How closely do our contemporary news outlets adhere to these principles?
• Lesson 5 uses readings and videos to establish why a free press is so important to a democratic society. Students also survey the varying degrees of freedom under which the press must operate in other countries and the consequences for citizens of having a free or not-so-free press.
• Lesson 6 brings these ideas home to students by exploring the rights of student journalists under the Supreme Court case of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier and asking them to investigate policies in their own school or school district.
• Lesson 7 is a drama lesson in which students first work in pairs to research important figures in the Pentagon Papers case and then script and perform mock interviews with these figures to learn more about their personalities and motives.
• Lesson 8 gives students the opportunity to explore some of the directorial choices made by Steven Spielberg in turning the history of the Washington Post’s decision into a dramatic and compelling film.

CURRICULUM GUIDE AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD: journeysinfilm.org/films/the-post

THE POST is now available from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD and Digital.  Watch it through the Movies Anywhere service that lets people stream or download their digital movie library to view films anytime and anywhere it is convenient for them. For more information about the movie, head over to foxmovies.com/movies/the-post

Disney brings Roald Dahl's children's novel THE BFG to the big screen

Four of my favorite children's books growing up were James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and  Charlie and the Chocolate Factory plus its lesser know sequel Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator written by British author Roald Dahl. During his lifetime, Dahl wrote numerous books for both young audiences and adults that have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide and additionally wrote the movie screen plays for 1967's James Bond: You Only Live Twice, 1968's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and 1971's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory based upon his popular book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 2016 would have been the 100th birthday of the author who passed away in 1990.  In a touching tribute to the centennial anniversary of the author's life, Walt Disney Pictures is releasing on July 1, 2016 a movie adaption of a children's book Dahl wrote in 1982 titled The BFG that he had written in dedication to his daughter Olivia who had died at the age of seven from measles encephalitis.



The BFG - short for BIG FRIENDLY GIANT - tells the imaginative story of a young girl and a Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country.  In this film directed by Steven Spielberg, a young orphaned girl in London named Sophie sees a mysterious figure outside her bedroom window and slips out of the orphanage to check it out.  Sophia encounters the Big Friendly Giant (BFG) who explains that he nightly travels the Earth blowing dreams into the bedrooms of children and then transports the young girl with him to Giant Country where he shows her the wonders and perils of his homeland.

While initially scared of BFG, the 10-year old girl soon realizes that the Giant is actually quite gentle and charming.  BFG refuses to eat people and primarily eats a foul-tasting vegetable known as snozzcumber to stay alive.  The same can't be said for Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater and the other inhabitants who reside in Giant Country that are twice as big and twice as scary as BFG and also have a particular taste for including children in their diet.  Sophie's presence in Giant Country entices these other giants to head to London to go upon a feeding frenzy.

BFG and Sophia head to London to head off the giants and warn the Queen of this precarious situation.  They must convince the Queen and her maid, Mary, that giants really do exist and come up with a plan to get rid of their threat once and for all.

I have to admit not having read The BFG before learning about the upcoming release of this new Disney film.  Based upon my fondness for Roald Dahl's other work and Steven Spielberg's great track record of creating tremendous motion pictures our family will absolutely be heading to the movie theater this summer to see The BFG.  We'll probably pick up a copy of Dahl's book after we've seen the movie to read with my kids and see how it compares to its film adaption.

For more information about Roald Dahl's children's books visit www.RoaldDahl.com which features a great "kids section" that includes a quiz on which Dahl children's character you most resemble ( I'm Willy Wonka! ), craft ideas, and interesting background information about all his books ranging from The Enormous Crocodile to Matilda.

For more information about Disney's The BFG, visit movies.disney.com/the-bfg