The Secret World of Arrietty is one of my favorite movies this year.  If you weren’t able to catch it in the theaters, now’s your chance to pick it up on Blu-ray and DVD.  It’s a great story about “little people” living under our floorboards who “borrow” things that we don’t notice, like a piece of tissue paper or a cube of sugar.  Their goal is to never be seen, and for the big people (“beans”) to never know that they borrowed anything.  I love that the main character is a strong-willed 14-year old girl who is forced to make many tough decisions about life, love, and family, and develops a heart warming relationship with a bean living in the house.

If you’ve enjoyed other Japanese animated movies such as Kiki’s Delivery Service, Ponyo, Spirited Away, or My Neighbor Totoro, you’re going to love this movie. Brandon (4 years old) really loves this movie!  He loves to pretend that he’s going on a big adventure to borrow things that we don’t need anymore.  :)

“Residing quietly beneath the floorboards are little people who live undetected in a secret world to be discovered, where the smallest may stand tallest of all.  From the legendary Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away,” “Ponyo”) comes “The Secret World of Arrietty,” an animated adventure based on Mary Norton’s acclaimed children’s book series “The Borrowers.”

Arrietty (voice of Bridgit Mendler), a tiny, but tenacious 14-year-old, lives with her parents (voices of Will Arnett and Amy Poehler) in the recesses of a suburban garden home, unbeknownst to the homeowner and her housekeeper (voice of Carol Burnett). Like all little people,Arrietty (AIR-ee-ett-ee) remains hidden from view, except during occasional covert ventures beyond the floorboards to “borrow” scrap supplies like sugar cubes from her human hosts. But when 12-year-old Shawn (voice of David Henrie), a human boy who comes to stay in the home, discovers his mysterious housemate one evening, a secret friendship blossoms. If discovered, their relationship could driveArrietty’s family from the home and straight into danger. The English language version of “The Secret World of Arrietty” was executive produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, and directed by Gary Rydstrom.”

DreamWorks Studios has just released Real Steel on Blu-Ray Hi-Def and DVD!

Set in the near future where robot boxing is a top sport a struggling promoter feels hes found a champion in a discarded robot. During his hopeful rise to the top he discovers he has an 11-year-old son who wants to know his father.

Brandon watched this with Daddy, and they enjoyed it a lot because they both love robots, but make sure your child is ok with some violence – this is a movie about robots boxing each other.

Ambush is a low-rent circuit bot. The best fight that Charlie can arrange for Ambush is literally against a piece of livestock.

Atom may not be in the biggest or the flashiest bot in the ring, but he is the most extraordinary. He is the “hero” robot.

Colored in gold and red, Midas sports a mohawk. He’s a brawler. He follows no rules. He’ll use whatever means necessary to win a fight.

Noisy Boy is a former league bot. When he started losing fights, he was exiled to doing boxing exhibitions in South America and Asia. He’s now back, but he’s no longer league caliber, so he’s fighting in underworld venues.

With a block-shaped upper body, Twin Cities is a vicious two-headed robot!

Zeus is the champ of the WRB. He is enormous. He is described as “The Death Star.” He is painted reflected black. He has piston-programmed punch mechanisms in his arms. Not only has Zeus never been beaten, but also, no other robot has even survived beyond the first round with him.

We got to review the Disney’s Magical Fireplace DVD for the Holidays, and really loved it.  It was perfect background music for the holidays, and characters would pop in and out throughout the DVD.  Brandon loved watching for his favorite characters, and the music was really nice and cheery.  We don’t have a fireplace, so it’s fun to see the flickering flames of the yule log.  We will definitely bring this out again next year!