The Last Leonard Maltin Movie Guide

Posted on August 31, 2014 at 8:00 am

Leonard Maltin was only 17 years old when he was offered the chance to create his guide to movies on television. For many years, I kept the latest copy on my desk and anyone who came into my office could pick a page number at random. If I had not seen any of the movies on that page, I had to buy them lunch. It never happened.

I love that guide, still the best and most comprehensive resource available. And I was very sorry to hear that the 2015 Movie Guide coming out next week will be his last.

Be sure to pick up a copy. And listen to his great interview with Marc Maron, where he tells the story of how it all began.

Contest: Arthur Goes Back to School

Posted on August 11, 2014 at 8:00 am

Eight-year-old Arthur the aardvark has four adventures in this new DVD, available tomorrow, August 12, 2014. This is the perfect back-to-school treat, as Arthur and his friends find out that a candy bar may not be as appetizing as they thought, learn how to handle a big test without getting too stressed out, and work hard to be better at baseball. And is “Brain’s Biggest Blunder” trying to turn Buster into a math whiz? The DVD has printable coloring pages and activities.

I have a copy to give away! Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with Arthur in the subject line and tell me your favorite part of school. Don’t forget your address! (US addresses only.) I’ll pick a winner at random on August 16. Good luck!

Free for a Limited Time: 121 Best Books for Children

Posted on August 7, 2014 at 9:14 am

The wonderful folks at Dinner A Love Story have kindly made their 121 Books: The Greatest Kid Books of All Time ebook available for free for a limited time, so grab it right now.

Happy Anniversary of the First Moon Landing

Posted on July 20, 2014 at 3:26 pm

45 years ago today, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon, a powerful reminder of what is possible if we put no limits on our goals “for all mankind.” I hope we never lose that sense of endless possibility, boundless curiosity, and the determination and courage to carry it through.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keoF8YmTjWg

For more about the moon landing, I recommend For All Mankind, and what I consider the finest miniseries ever produced in America, Tom Hanks’ From the Earth to the Moon.

Brits on Vacation

Posted on July 13, 2014 at 3:13 pm

Summer is a time for travel, and, whether you’re traveling or not, it’s a great time for movies about travel as well. Film Forever has an excellent list of movies about Brits traveling abroad. Here are my favorites.