WIN a 47 Ronin iTunes Digital HD Code #giveaway #movie #ad

Disclosure: We're thrilled to partner up with Universal Home Entertainment again and have been given a blu-ray combo to review and a 47 Ronin iTunes Digital HD code for our readers.

47 Ronin is now available on Blu-ray/DVD from Universal Home Entertainment.  To celebrate, ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows is giving away one (1) 47 Ronin iTunes Digital HD code.  

ENTER HERE through midnight April 15th for your chance to win. The iTunes code is only for US residents. 

47 Ronin is available now on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD. 

Sure, 47 Ronin may not make it to the epic, elite of the marshal arts classics, but this movie is a visual feast and a lot of fun. We've long been fans of the genre and the PG13 rating means our tween & teen could watch, too, without too much gratuitous gore.  And the mythical beasties are well worth a look. It's a modern take on a classic story, and this plot line has stood the test of time. The final dragon battle is definitely cool. This is a fun one to own, and great for a lazy night of mindless popcorn gorging on the couch. 

47 RONIN

KEANU REEVES STARS IN THE 3D EPIC ACTION-ADVENTURE

47 RONIN

BE THE FIRST TO OWN IT ON DIGITAL HD MARCH 18, 2014
AND BRING HOME THE BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK INCLUDING
BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET™ ON APRIL 1, 2014

NOW MOVIE FANS CAN WATCH 47 RONIN ANYWHERE ON THEIR FAVORITE DEVICES
 

Keanu Reeves (The Matrix trilogy, The Day The Earth Stood Still) stars in a reimagining of one of Japan’s timeless tales, 47 Ronin, available on Blu-ray™ 3D and Blu-ray™ Combo Packs, DVD, DIGITAL HD including UltraViolet^™ and On Demand on April 1, 2014, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.­­­
 

Based on an epic story, this extraordinary tale of inspiring courage has its origins in the early 18^th century. After a treacherous warlord kills their master and banishes their kind, 47 leaderless samurai vow to seek vengeance and reclaim their honor. Transformed into a thrilling, visually stunning 3D film by director Carl Rinsch, 47 Ronin tells the story of a small group of warriors, or ronin, on a quest to avenge the death of their master. Battling across a savage world of mythical beasts, shape-shifting witches and wondrous terrors, the ronin must seek help from kai (Reeves), an enslaved half-breed they once rejected – in their ultimate fight for redemption.
 

Keanu Reeves leads an international cast that includes Hiroyuki Sanada (Sunshine, The Last Samurai) as Oishi, the leader of the ronin; Tadanobu Asano (The Wolverine, Thor: The Dark World) as Lord Kira, the treacherous villain who will stop at nothing to destroy his enemies; Academy Award^®-nominated actress Rinko Kikuchi (Babel, Pacific Rim) as the Witch, a siren who executes Kira’s deadly plans; and Ko Shibasaki (The Lady Shogun and Her Men, One Missed Call) as Mika, the forbidden love of Kai’s life.
 

The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack includes a Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet^™. 

·           BLU-RAY™ disc unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6x the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.  

·           DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.

·           DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet^™ lets watch movies anywhere, on any device. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad®, iPhone®, Android™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray players, game consoles and more.

EXCLUSIVE 3D BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK AND BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK BONUS FEATURES:

·           KEANU & KAI — Keanu Reeves embodies one of cinema’s most richly imagined heroes as Kai, the outcast who leads a small band of rebels against an army and supernatural enemies. Along with Reeves, director Carl Rinsch and other key voices from the filmmaking team reveal how this adventure would not be possible without Reeves’ mastery of martial arts and total immersion in the role.

·           STEEL FURY: THE FIGHTS OF 47 RONIN — This featurette explores the intense research, choreography and rehearsals that went into creating the film’s unique action sequences, including Kai’s epic battle against the silver Samurai and the heart-stopping Kirin hunt sequence. 

·           MYTHS, MAGIC & MONSTERS:  THE FX OF 47 RONIN — 47 Ronin’s world-class creative team reveals the technological magic it used to bring to life the creatures of ancient Japanese folklore, including The Kirin (a giant hybrid beast with the head of a dragon and the body of a deer), the Kitsune witch, the Oni troll and the demonic Tengu Monks.

 3D BLU-RAY, BLU-RAY and DVD BONUS FEATURES:

·           RE-FORGING THE LEGEND — The story of 47 Ronin is one of Japan’s most time-honored legends. The filmmakers talk about how they brought this “dream world” to the big screen, from script to costumes, visual design, and culture.

·           DELETED SCENES

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Rinko Kikuchi, Ko Shibasaki

Directed by: Carl Rinsch

Screenplay by: Chris Morgan, Hossein Amini

Story by: Chris Morgan, Walter Hamada

Producers: Pamela Abdy, Eric McLeod

Director of Photography: John Mathieson

Production Design by: Jan Roelfs

Editor: Stuart Baird

Costumes by: Penny Rose

Original Music by: Ilan Eshkeri

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – 3D BLU-RAY™:

Street Date: April 1, 2014

Copyright: 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Selection Numbers: 61131766 (U.S), 61131767 (CDN)

Running Time: 1 Hour 59 Minutes

Layers: BD-50

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, and thematic elements

Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital2, DTS Digital Surround 5.1 (Spanish, French)

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – BLU-RAY™:

Street Date: April 1, 2014

Copyright: 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Selection Numbers: 61130457 (U.S), 61131189 (CDN)

Running Time: 1 Hour 59 Minutes

Layers: BD-50

Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2.40:1

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, and thematic elements

Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital2, DTS Digital Surround 5.1 (Spanish, French)

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French

TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD:

Street Date: April 1, 2014

Copyright: 2014 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Selection Numbers: 61119170 (U.S), 61131190 (CDN)

Running Time:  1 Hour 59 Minutes

Layers: Dual Layer

Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1

Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some disturbing images, and thematic elements

Technical Info: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital2, DTS Digital Surround 5.1 (Spanish, French)

Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish and French

Below is a look at 47 Ronin’s amazing cast! 

Keanu Reeves (Kai)

Reeves is a Canadian actor that has starred in many popular, fan-favorite movies such as Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, and The Matrix trilogy. In 47 Ronin, Reeves plays the role of Kai, an outcast half-Japanese, half-British man who longs to be accepted. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he gets his chance to prove he has what it takes to be a samurai.

Hiroyuki Sanada (Ôishi)

Born in Tokyo, Sanada is a critically acclaimed actor who has starred in various films such as The Wolverine and The Last Samurai, as well as hit TV shows like “Lost.” In 47 Ronin, he portrays the dedicated samurai leader Ôishi.

Ko Shibasaki (Mika)

Ko, the rising Japanese star was born in Tokyo, and started her career at 14 when she was discovered. Her rise to fame was launched in the cult favorite films Battle Royale, and One Missed Call. Shibasaki portrays Mika in 47 Ronin, Kai’s love interest.

Rinko Kikuchi (Witch)

Global star Rinko Kikuchi has stolen her way to our hearts with her outstanding performances in independent films like The Brothers Bloom and Norwegian Wood, as well as award-winners like Babel, and blockbuster hits like Pacific Rim.  Kikuchi plays the Witch in 47 Ronin who uses her spells to manipulate fate.

About Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

47 Ronin, now available on Blu-ray™ 3D and Blu-ray™ Combo Packs, DVD, DIGITAL HD including UltraViolet^™ and On Demand from Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Disclosure: We're thrilled to partner up with Universal Home Entertainment again and have been given a blu-ray combo to review and a 47 Ronin iTunes Digital HD code for our readers.

WIN The Nut Job Blu-ray Combo, Check Out Squirrels In Pop Culture & Printable Fun #giveaway #TheNutJob

ChiIL Mama's giving one away! Click here to win a Blu-ray Combo Pack of your own through midnight 4/14!

Universal Home Entertainment’s upcoming release The Nut Job centers around Surly The Squirrel, and his group of critter-friends as they try to keep their colony of animals from starving in the winter. While the story and characters in the film are unique, this is hardly the first time a squirrel has been in the spotlight. In support of the April 15^th Blu-ray and DVD release of the film, we’ve compiled a list of the most famous squirrels to leave an impact on pop-culture.

Squirrels in Pop Culture

• Rocky, Rocky & Bullwinkle – Rocket J. Squirrel was the first squirrel to reach national superstardom. From 1959-1964, he was one of the stars of the animated show, Rocky and His Friends, as well as the Bullwinkle Show. He and his friend Bullwinkle lived in the fictional town of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota - where they often embarked on various adventures.
• Scrat, Ice Age – Scrat certainly understand the struggles of Surly and the rest of The Nut Job group. His sole goal in the Ice Age films was to store and protect his prized acorn. He was so obsessed with it, he risked his life on multiple occasions to protect it.
• Slappy & Skippy, Animaniacs – Much like Rocky - Slappy is also a long time squirrel-veteran of the entertainment industry. She first appeared in various episodes of the Looney Tunes from 1930-1969. Later in life, the grumpy, elderly squirrel moved in with her nephew Skippy, in order to be a part of WB’s Animaniacs. Skippy is completely the opposite of Slappy, as he is overly excitable and always very chipper. 
• Sandy Cheeks, Spongebob Squarepants – Sandy Cheeks has quickly become one of the most recognizable squirrels in the entertainment industry. After debuting in 1999, she has become a regular character on Nickelodeon’s Spongebob Squarepants. Known for her fierce attitude, and loyalty to her friends – she is one Texan you don’t want to mess with!
• Twiggy, The Famous Water-Skiing Squirrel – No “squirrels in pop-culture” list could be complete without Twiggy The Water-Skiing Squirrel. Twiggy first rose to prominence in 1979 after making an appearance on NBC’s Real People with his trainers, Chuck and Lou Ann Best. Since that time, Twiggy has had successors who have adopted the same name and unique water-skiing ability. Twiggy has gone on to be featured on numerous other shows & films including Vince Vaughn’s Dodgeball, Will Ferrell’s Anchorman, and even ESPN’s Sportscenter’s Top 10.

Click images below for a printable Nut Job coloring sheet & maze.

ENTER TO WIN: The Nut Job on Blu-ray Out 4/15 TODAY On DVD #Recipe #ChiILPicksFlicks #ChiILPicksList

Disclosure:  We're pleased to partner up with Universal to spread the word about the home entertainment release of their hilarious, animated feature, The Nut Job. We were given a Blu-ray copy of the movie for review purposes & one to give away.

BE THE FIRST TO OWN IT ON DIGITAL HD ON APRIL 8, 2014

AND BRING HOME THE BLU-RAY^™ COMBO PACK

INCLUDING BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET™ April 15, 2014

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List for 

Animated Family Friendly Fun:

Click Here through midnight 4/14 for your chance to WIN

What we're watching:

NEW RELEASES: 

GO NUTS FOR THE FAMILY MOVIE EVENT OF THE SEASON!

THE NUT JOB

NOW MOVIE FANS CAN WATCH THE Nut Job ANYWHERE ON THEIR FAVORITE DEVICES

Be prepared for one squirrelly adventure in the action-packed comedy, The Nut Job, starring Will Arnett (Despicable Me, Ratatouille) as Surly, a mischievous squirrel on a mission to prove himself. The Nut Job comes to Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray Combo Pack including Blu-ray, DVD, & DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet as well as On Demand on April 15, 2014, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The film will also be available on DIGITAL HD one week early on April 8, 2014.

Surly (Arnett) is a mischievous squirrel with a mission: to find the tastiest nuts for winter. When he discovers a whole store filled with his favorite food, he plans a heist of nutrageous proportions. But the place turns out to be owned by ruthless bank robbers so it’s up to Surly and his furry friends to stop the nearby bank heist and save the town.  

Showcasing an all-star cast including Brendan Fraser (The Mummy, Whole Lotta Love), Liam Neeson (Non-Stop, The Grey), Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up, The Ugly Truth), Maya Rudolph (Bridesmaids, Turbo), Jeff Dunham (Arguing With Myself, Spark of Insanity) and Gabriel Iglesias (Magic Mike, Hot & Fluffy), The Nut Job will prove “Enormously Entertaining” for the whole family (Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru)!

The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray Combo Pack include a Blu-ray, DVD and DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet.  

• Blu-ray unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound. 
• DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away. 
• DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet lets fans watch movies anywhere on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad^®, iPhone^®, Android™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray players, game consoles, and more.

EXCLUSIVE Bonus Features on BLU-RAY 3D & BLU-RAY:

• DELETED SCENES - Check out Surly, Grayson and the gang in scenes removed from the final version of the movie.
• STORYBOARDS - Watch key scenes from the film brought to life from the original sketches.
• THE GREAT NUT HEIST - Will Arnett, the voice of Surly the squirrel, discusses the great caper story at the heart of the film.
• DANCE-OFF END CREDITS - Surly joins his furry friends and a very special guest for this show-stopping number.

Bonus Features on BLU-RAY 3D, BLU-RAY & DVD:

• ANIMATED SHORTS – 
• SURELY SQUIRREL - Meet Surly for the very first time in the award-winning animated short that started it all.
• NUTS & ROBBERS - Surly and Grayson stumble upon a bank heist gone wrong in NUTS & ROBBERS – created by ToonBox Entertainment as a teaser for THE NUT JOB.

CAST AND FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl, Stephen Lang, Maya Rudolph, Jeff Dunham with Gabriel Iglesias & Sarah Gadon 

Directed by: Peter Lepeniotis

Produced by: Wookyung Jung & Graham Moloy

Executive Producers: Daniel Woo, Hong Kim, Jay Ahn, Mike Karz, William Bindley, Hoejin Ha, Tom Yoon, & Hyungkon Kim

Written by: Peter Lepeniotis & Lorne Cameron

Screenplay by: Peter Lepeniotis & Daniel Woo 

Edited by: Paul Hunter

Original Score By: Paul Intson

Art Director: Ian Hastings

CG Supervisor: Brad Falk

Animation Director: Daryl Graham 

Lighting Supervisor: Sumit Suri

Music Supervisor: Julianne Jordan

Music by: Paul Intson

Casting Directors: Robert McGee, Ruth Lambert & Joanne Boreham

Special nutty recipes inspired by the film! In celebration of the Home Entertainment release of Universal's hit-animated film The Nut Job, we've put together a special nutty recipe for you and your family to enjoy. We'd love for you to share the recipe with your readers, asking what nut-inspired recipes they love to make for their families. Don't forget to pickup your copy of The Nut Job  Available on Digital HD April 8th and Blu-ray & DVD April 15th CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE RECIPE

About Universal Studios Home Entertainment

Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Disclosure:  Once again, we're pleased to partner up with Universal to spread the word about the home entertainment release of their hilarious, animated feature, The Nut Job. We were given a Blu-ray copy of the movie for review purposes and one for our readers too.

Are You Ready to Hop and Roll? #HOPtoit

We were all hopped up after seeing a preview of HOP on Sunday.    This movie rocks, and it's sure to become an Easter classic.   Hop has a funky, fun soundtrack that's as appealing to the adults in the audience as the littles.   E.B. is one rockin' rabbit with attitude who's hard to resist.



Of course, I had to snicker a little when I heard the feature track, I Want Candy.   Back in the day, I performed in children's theatre productions, and during one of those stints where I played a number of fairy tale legends (IE: Little Red-Alice-Hood) I was in the cast with an entertainer named Tim.   He was a well known Midwestern magician who performed children's shows and opened with a fabulous number featuring a gingerbread house and a disappearing assistant, all set to the version of "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow.   






Tim was also an entertainer of another sort.   By night he was a male dancer, where he also did a routine to "I Want Candy" for his adult audiences.     I guess you never get too old to crave a little candy, eh? 


ChiIL Mama highly recommends Hop as family friendly fun all ages will enjoy.    There are timeless themes of family expectations, the pain and joy of following your dreams, and the insidious results of coup d'états by power hungry underlings.    We particularly loved the genius use of Easter Island as the Easter Bunny's headquarters.    We all laughed out loud multiple times, along this would be drummer's road to rock.   This is a buddy film as much as a bunny film.   Hop is quirky, cool and utterly original.





Check out their website at http://www.iwantcandy.com/ for lots of fun videos (don't worry-none feature my magician/dancer friend!)  The site features loads of fun games, show specifics and more.   Du Jay's been rockin' the Hop games on Poptropica and Sagezilla has been playing them through Webkins, where you can get a Hop bunny for your own house.  You can even follow Hop on Twitter and Facebook.   Hop officially opens April 1st, so hop to it and reserve your tickets today!