Want some cool Halloween fun to share with your little one today? You’re invited to the spooky return of CURIOUS GEORGE: A Halloween Boo Fest— check out the special today on PBS KIDS!
It’s George’s first Halloween in the country, and Bill tells him and Allie about the “Legend of No Noggin” – a spooky tale about a hat-kicking scarecrow who haunts the countryside on Halloween. But is the legend real? George and Allie are determined to find out by taking a picture of No Noggin in hat-kicking action. But first, George needs to figure out what he’s going to be for Halloween so he can win the costume contest at the town Boo Festival and give the prize to the Man with the Yellow Hat. Will George be able to put together the perfect costume and find out the truth about No Noggin? Only the curious will find out!
On Tuesday morning, during a special event at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed the films that will make up Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring a mix of fan-favorite characters and several heroes who will be making their big-screen debuts.
The next two films to be released by Marvel are AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON on May 1, 2015, and ANT-MAN on July 17, 2015. Marvel revealed the dates and titles of nine additional films through 2019, including upcoming Captain America, Thor, Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy installments, along with films featuring Black Panther – who, Feige announced, will be played by Chadwick Boseman – Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, and the Inhumans.
The announced films are as follows:
5/1/15 – AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON
7/17/15 – ANT-MAN
5/6/16 – CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
11/4/16 – DOCTOR STRANGE
5/5/17 – GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY 2 (previously dated 7/28/17)
7/28/17 – THOR: RAGNAROK
11/3/17 – BLACK PANTHER
5/4/18 – AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART I
7/6/18 – CAPTAIN MARVEL
11/2/18 – INHUMANS
5/3/19 – AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR PART II
Ten films have already been released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with 2008’s IRON MAN. All 10 films opened at #1 domestically and have collectively grossed over $7.1 billion globally.
Two of these films, MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS and IRON MAN 3, set records as the #1 and #2 domestic openings of all time with $207.4 million and $174.1 million respectively. MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS went on to become the third biggest film of all time worldwide, while Marvel’s IRON MAN 3 ranks as the sixth biggest film ever. They are the two highest grossing Super Hero films of all time.
Earlier this year, Marvel’s CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER, which broke the April opening domestic record with $95 million, earned $714 million worldwide and is the #5 film of 2014. Most recently, Marvel’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXYcrossed $757 million globally after opening with a domestic August record of $94.3 million and setting an October debut record in China, where it has now grossed nearly $90 million. It’s the #1 film of the year domestically and the #3 film worldwide.
While there may not be as many milestones for us “grown-ups” to achieve, the life of a kid is filled with mini-milestones that happen more often than you think! Anything from your child’s first lost tooth or first time trick-or-treating (especially timely with Halloween just about a week or two away) to their first job or big game deserves a celebration… and Netflix is there to help you with the festivities! Check out our selections below to help you commemorate the mini-milestones in your child’s life (and keep scrolling for a few milestone celebration suggestions for moms & dads too!)
For the kids:
New Sibling: The Hive: S01E01, Babee’s Room: Buzzbee helps deliver mail when the postman gets hurt. / The Queen pays a visit to the school. / Rubee and Buzzbee await their new sister’s arrival. Losing Your First Tooth: Super WHY: S01E10, The Story of the Tooth Fairy: When his mom tells him that the Tooth Fairy will come and take his first lost tooth, Whyatt wants to know what happens if he wants to keep it. Getting Glasses: Arthur: S15E09, Through the Looking Glasses: Arthur has hip new glasses, but all the attention he’s getting from them is going straight to his head! First Sleepover: Bratz Kidz: Sleep-over Adventure: When new girl Ginger throws a slumber party, the Bratz are in for an exciting night of fun as the girls reminisce and expand their circle of friends.
First Trick-or-Treat: Julius Jr.: S01E06, Dressed for Spook-cess: Worry Bear and Ping cooperate on figuring out their Halloween costumes. First Pet: Beethoven: A father reluctantly agrees to let his children keep a St. Bernard puppy, but the playful pooch soon turns into a full-grown engine of destruction! First Move: The Croods: When an earthquake obliterates their cave, an unworldly prehistoric family is forced to journey through unfamiliar terrain in search of a new home. First Big Game: D2: The Mighty Ducks: Coach Bombay again leads his old team, plus several new players, as the lovable underdogs face off against competitors at the Junior Goodwill Games.
First Spelling Bee: Akeelah and the Bee: Eleven-year-old Akeelah Anderson is determined to spell her way out of South Los Angeles and make it to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. First Dance: Kickin’ It: S01E20, The Wrath of Swan: When Jack declines a dance invitation from Kim, a suspicious new kid steps in. First Break-Up: Good Luck Charlie: S01E20, Girl Bites Dog: Worried that Charlie is affecting her relationship with Spencer, Teddy decides to surprise Spencer at work — only to discover him with another girl. First Road Trip: Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: Guy Fieri takes a cross-country road trip to visit some of America’s classic “greasy spoon” restaurants that have been doing it right for decades.
First Kiss: Wizards of Waverly Place: S01E02, First Kiss: Justin’s first kiss is a disaster, so Alex uses a time spell to give him a second chance — and a third and a fourth. First Job: Good Burger: Two L.A. teens with summer jobs at Good Burger try to save their small restaurant when a corporate giant burger franchise moves in across the street. First Time Babysitting: The Baby-Sitters Club: The beloved book series comes to life in this family-friendly show about a group of middle-school misses who operate a baby-sitting service. First Concert: Taylor Swift: The Journey to Fearless: This special will take you from Taylor’s earliest days as an aspiring singer-songwriter to her triumphant arrival as a global superstar.
And for moms & dads:
New Job: The Office: This hit comedy chronicles the foibles of disgruntled office workers — led by deluded boss Michael Scott — at the Dunder Mifflin paper company. Getting Married: My Fair Wedding with David Tutera: Wedding planner David Tutera surprises brides who have only weeks before their big day, and irons out all the details, from the dress to the cake. Having a Baby: What to Expect When You’re Expecting: This star-studded rom-com follows the intersecting lives of several couples who hazard the ups and downs of pregnancy and impending parenthood. Life as a Parent: Parenthood: Four grown siblings juggle parenthood, relationships, careers and more as they cope with life’s ups and downs in this drama set in Berkeley, Calif. Running for Office: Parks & Recreation: In this droll comedy, an employee with a rural Parks and Recreation department is full of energy and good ideas but bogged down by bureaucracy. Buying a Home: House Hunters: Prospective buyers and their realtors deal with both the practical and the emotional repercussions of finding and purchasing their dream home.
Another one of our favorite firsts? Going to the movies. Check out these tips from Common Sense Media to make sure your kids’ first trip to the theater is a good one.
Though it would seem too early to start counting down to the holidays for some, with Halloween just a few weeks away, the season of giving is just around the corner! So it should be no surprise that we’ve already gotten a look at what we’re projecting to be this year’s hottest gift items. From toys to video games and more, we sure got an eyeful of the must-haves for 2014 at the Time To Play Media Holiday Showcase event! Check out our top picks below to see what we’re looking forward to finding (and giving) all wrapped up during this year’s holiday season!
Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition: Marvel Super Heroes
It’s no secret that we’re big Disney Infinity fans in this house (and big Marvel fans as well)– and as such, we’re thrilled with the new Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition: Marvel Super Heroes. Where else can you get all the creative fun of Disney Infinity and all of your favorite Marvel heroes like Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the Guardians of the Galaxy? This game’s got it all, and with new toys rolling out all the way until spring 2015, Disney Infinity 2.0 is a perfect holiday surprise that’s sure to excite and entertain Disney and Marvel lovers of all ages!
Skylanders: Trap Team
Continuing the hit franchise that started with 2011’s Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure, the fourth and latest installment, Skylanders: Trap Team features a unique new perk. The combination of a redesigned “Portal of Power” and new Trap Crystals allow players to trap Skylands’ most dangerous villains and use them to fight for good. In an unprecedented move for the franchise, which traditionally had the player putting characters into the game (still possible, with the pre-existing figures and new Trap Masters), Skylanders: Trap Team lets players take the characters out of the game as well. It’s a definite must-have for the 2014 holiday season!
Zoomer Dino
Finally, to divert from video games for a moment, there’s Zoomer Dino by Spin Master. A robotic dinosaur that you can tame, Zoomer uses “True Balance Technology” to perfectly balance on two wheels as he freely explores your home! Additionally, Zoomer responds to both the included RC remote and touch from your hands, giving you the freedom to build your friendship with this dino and tame him however you like! Zoomer Dino is a great toy for younger kids, and sure to be a hit this year!
Recently we were able to attend a very special screening ofDisney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day courtesy of the Moms, with a guest appearance (and Q & A) from Jennifer Garner herself! The movie follows Alexander Cooper first as he experiences an awful day that’s all too common to him– he gets gum stuck in his hair, his rival schedules a birthday party on the same day as his, he gets in trouble at school– but Alexander feels like no one else in his family cares because things are going well for them. His father lands an interview for a video game company, his mom prepares to spearhead the launch of a brand new children’s book (and maybe get a promotion along the way), his sister is set to play the lead in the school production of “Peter Pan,” and his brother is about to be crowned prom royalty with his girlfriend. Things are looking up for the Coopers, except for Alexander.
But all that changes when on the eve of his birthday, just as the clock strikes twelve and his special day begins, Alexander wishes that the rest of his family could experience a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day just like the ones he’s so used to. Suddenly things begin to go awry for the family– and with their world in utter chaos on this “cursed” day, will they be able to pull their lives back together in time? Check out Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to find out!
Following the film we got an opportunity to talk with Alexander star Jennifer Garner in an audience Q & A, where she discussed the trials and tribulations of making the movie (like her inability to keep a straight face during some of the funnier scenes, and the fact that in one pivotal scene, they used an alligator rather than a crocodile) as well as her experience being a mom in real life. It was great getting to pick Jen’s brain about the process of making Alexander, and she’s absolutely perfect in the part of Kelly Cooper in the movie.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is in theaters now.
