Monthly Archives: December 2008

Movie review: Delgo – a mom’s review and an exclusive movie image

December 10, 2008Film, Holiday, TelevisionCG, computer animated, delgo, fathom studios, feature length, FilmAlicia

every battle. every journey. every adventure. needs a hero

Just reading that gives me the shivers. Delgo, an action packed, family-friendly (rated PG), romantic, and humorous movie is truly one-of-a-kind. Delgo features a voice cast of Freddie Prinze, Jr. (Delgo), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Princess Kyla), Anne
Bancroft (exiled Empress Sedessa) as well as Chris Kattan (Filo), Val
Kilmer (Bogardus), Lou Gossett Jr. (Nohrin King), Michael Clarke Duncan
(Lockni Stonesage Council), Kelly Ripa (Kurrin), Burt Reynolds (Delgo’s
Father) and Sally Kellerman (Narrator). Very impressive for a production not made in Hollywood. Delgo was created by Atlanta based Fathom Studios with a small but extremely talented staff and is the first feature length CG film created outside of the studio system.

Here is an exclusive image from the film, Delgo, thanks to Team Mom.

A mom's review (me) of Delgo – based on the trailers – The variety of character types includes fairy, dragon, dinosaur, and sea creatures. Delgo's characters are colorful, and their impeccably smooth motions bring them to life in a way that I've never seen in a computer animated movie before. I can't wait to see the entire film!

Press release excerpt –
"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, a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden
friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla, hostilities between
the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled empress to
exact her revenge and reclaim her rule. Falsely imprisoned, Delgo and
his best friend, Filo, must put aside their differences to join forces
with a sworn enemy, Bogardus, 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."

Delgo teaches children about the need
for people to come together, despite their culture, history, and backgrounds, to
work for a better future for everyone and that it can be done. Delgo is rated PG but there is violence in the form of a war. As far as I can tell from the trailers, you won't see blood or other distressing signs of bodily injury.

Delgo looks very sci-fi which I like because I think that gives younger children less chance of taking the characters as reality and holding on to the more violent parts of the film which are far surpassed by the funny, romantic, humorous parts.

Click on 'Downloads' on the Delgo.com website to download free Delgo Wallpapers for your computer, a Delgo screen saver, and Delgo buddy icons.

Go to Delgo.com to watch two trailers for the movie and check out the Scrapbook while you are there. It's really interesting.

I would love to get your feedback on Delgo after you've seen it!

Jumpstart 3D Virtual World – My First Adventure

December 9, 2008Educational Toysfirst adventure, game, jumpstart, software, toddler, virtual worldAlicia

JumpStart made the first PC games I had for Sebastian years ago. 8+ years later, JumpStart still rocks the computer game world for kids.

Their new PC game, 3D World, My First Adventure, combines a whimsical 3D world of imagination, and adventure, with interactive learning.

There is a Movie House where players complete missions to unlock storybooks providing the player with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

Skill and activities include ABC's, counting, planting flowers, sing-along music videos, and games that are appropriate for kids ages 3-5. I have to admit though, that Sebastian, my 9 year old, enjoyed this game a lot!

Parents have access to personalized progress reports and advice from educational experts.
The Virtual World concept adds extra excitement as kids love to interact with characters and feel like they are part of a larger adventure!

Price: Can be purchased for about $10 at Amazon.com

Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Smart Bounce & Spin Pony

December 9, 2008Age 3-5, Toysbounce and learn pony, fisher price, play, toddler, toyAlicia

Madelyn had the first Fisher-Price bounce and play toy, it was a zebra. It

stayed in our living room for over a year and half and it was so cute because she would randomly get on and bounce and spin.

Now, we have the Bounce and Learn Pony in our living room and it's a totally different experience and she appears to be having just as much if not more fun with it.

The Bounce and Learn Pony is an active learning toy that interacts with the television. The Pony uses a wireless device to connect with the TV delivering animated content. Madelyn interacts with the toy and TV by bouncing up and down and spinning a roller on the handle bars. I can choose the level of play and audio options (really handy!) so as she has learned skills it is easy to move up to the next level. There was a little bit of a learning curve so you will want to stay in the room the first few times your toddler gets on the Bounce and Learn Pony. After that, you should be able to run into the kitchen to fix dinner or vacum a couploe of rooms. The Bounce and Learn Pony doesn't have to be connected with the TV to be interactive. It will still play songs and sound effects from the pony itself.

Price: About $55 at Amazon.com

Little Tikes Rated Green products

December 3, 2008Games, Green, Toysgreen toy, little tikes, toddlerAlicia

Little Tikes is known for making colorful, fun, and educational toys for kids. Sebastian, now 9 years old, had a Little Tikes picnic table, toddler bed, an outdoor play house, and little climber with a slide. Our house and yard could have been a Little Tikes advertisement!

You can't go wrong with Little Tikes which recently came out with a line of Green toys including the Bamboo 3-D Memory Matching Game, Bamboo Tangram Game, Travel Flash Card Assortment: Numbers, Toddler Words, Subtractions, and Card Games: Old Maid, Go Fish and Slap Jack.

Madelyn loves the Little Tikes Bamboo 3-D Memory Matching Game. The wood tiles are easy to pickup and hold and the cute character pictures on the tiles are colorful and easy for little eyes to remember and recongnize.

Besides being fun and educational, toys in Little Tikes' new line of Green toys are made from real babmoo (a renewable, sustainable, natural material), soy based ink, 100% reclylced paper and come in cases made from a biodegradable material called CBR (Corn Based Resin).

Little Tikes Rated Green educational toys and games are available at the Little Tikes online store, here.

Giveaway: Enter to win a set of Little Tikes Rated Green products!

Zen Class Nirvana Organizer

December 3, 2008Diaper Bags, Organization, Travelairplane, bag, diaper, packing, Travel, zenAlicia

I was recently given a Zen Class Nirvana Organizer to review and it couldn't have arrived at a better time. It is an awesome organizational and 'sanity keeper' tool. Used on an airplane, the Zen Class Nirvana Organizer mounts directly to the seat back tray table of the seat in front of you, keeping all your in-flight essentials within arm's reach. When I was taking things out of the bag in front of Tim and Sebastian, they were cracking up because they said it looked like I was never going to stop finding things to take out of the bag! Boys are easily ammused. I felt like a modern day Mary Poppins.

There are eleven zippered and mesh storage compartments of varying sizes including pockets especially for your cell phone, plane tickets, credit cards, and cash.

The Zen Class Nirvana Organizer can also be put on the headrest of a car seat in front of your child so they can reach their snacks, cup, crayons, and toys. No more screaming for help from mommy or daddy to pick their favorite toy up off the floor. Each child should have their own Zen Class Nirvana Organizer!