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Congrats to Amy S. Our Fandango Gift Card Giveaway Winner!

December 22, 2015 by Deirdre McAndrew

Enter the Fandango Gift Card Giveaway!

Enter our giveaway and you could win a $25 Fandango gift card for you and your family. With a number of awesome, family-friendly movies coming out, you’ll be sure to put this prize to good use.

From The Peanuts Movie to Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip, there’s something for everyone this holiday season! Spend your winter break right, see you at the movies!

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The Good Dinosaur – Fandango Family Movie Review

November 26, 2015 by Denise Courter

Movie: The Good Dinosaur

Rating: PG

Running time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Moviegoers: Mom, 45; Dad, 40; Luke, 7; Sydney 5.

Family movie faves: Inside Out, Minions, Star Wars.

Fave movies for grown-ups: The Holiday, Mission Impossible, Never Been Kissed.

Review of The Good Dinosaur

What’s the story: Go on an epic journey into the world of dinosaurs where an Apatosaurus named Arlo makes an unlikely human friend. It is a world where humans and dinosaurs exist and the relationships that develop in a challenging world of survival. The film follows the youngest of three dino siblings, Arlo, and his quest to earn his place of respect in his family.

What parents may like about this movie: The story included a ton of action-packed scenes, which kept my son entranced and brought tears to my eyes as Arlo evolved in his quest to make his family proud. The story focused on resilience, empowerment and family and they are all themes that resonated with each of us.

What kids will like: The 3-D effects and plenty of lively fight scenes, not to mention the budding relationship between a boy and a dino had both my kids glued to the screen. When the movie ended, they did not want to leave and insisted we remain in our seats until the very last credit. Always a sign of a great movie.

Concerns: There are themes of parental loss, plus some scary scenes of animal battles that were loud and unsympathetic to the characters. It certainly had me concerned about the scare factor and if our fascination with dinosaurs would fall by the wayside.

Bottom Line:

Positive themes: Learning to overcome your fears and having confidence in your abilities was a great theme for our family. Confidence and loyalty were great storylines and ones that are a part of our every day life, so I really appreciated these themes as a parent. (5/5)

Violence/scare factor: There were plenty of bad guys to put some fear into the kids. But, they are pretty realistic and understand the “circle of life” concept. But, it was more than one scene of violence and that made me wary. However, when we left the theatre, the scenes and characters that were negative seemed to have disappeared from their minds and they only focused on the positives. (3/5)

Sex/Romance: None (0/5)

Bad language: If there was any, we didn’t notice it. 0/5

For more information about this movie or to buy tickets, visit Fandango.

“In accordance with the FTC Guidelines, I am disclosing that I received compensation from Fandango for my participation in the Fandango Family Digital Network. Although we have material connection to Fandango, any publicly stated opinions of Fandango and their brands remain my own.”

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Fall Movies with Fandango Family Room

October 11, 2015 by Denise Courter

Summer may have blockbusters. But, Fall has some family favorites and this years Fall movie season is shaping up to be more engaging and entertaining than ever before.

We were really excited to attend the screening of Hotel Transylvania 2 and it did not disappoint. Helmed by Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez, the film had my kids cracking up, the whole way through. We have become big fans of chapter books in our family and my 2nd grader can’t wait to see Goosebumps in theaters on October 16th. We spent the summer and the beginning of the school year brushing up on this great series and can’t wait to see it come to life, with the help of the hilarious Jack Black.

Take a look at some of the upcoming films that you are sure to enjoy with your family, with the Family Movie Guide. Print it out and tape it to your refrigerator for a reminder of what to see with your kiddos!

Fall Movies with Fandango Family Room — Courtesy: Fandango Family

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines, I am disclosing that I received compensation from Fandango for my participation in the Fandango Family Digital Network. Although we have material connection to Fandango, any publicly stated opinions of Fandango and their brands remain my own.

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Cinderella Teaches Us to Have Courage and Be Kind…Enough Said

March 23, 2015 by Denise Courter

Cinderella Teaches Us to Have Courage and Be Kind…Enough Said

The timeless tale of Cinderella has come to life in the live action re-telling of the classic story of a princess and her prince. The storyline remains true to the animated original. So, there are certainly no surprise endings. And yet, the stellar cast, headlined by the wonderful Lily James, best known for her role as Lady Rose on Downtown Abbey, as well as the wonderfully wicked Stepmother, played by the beautiful Cate Blanchett, seems to breathe new life into the much-read fairy tale. Another standout is Richard Madden, best known for his role in Game of Thrones, as the dashing and handsome Prince Kit. The film was directed by Kenneth Branagh and he manages to capture the intensity of Cinderella’s dire circumstances, all the while showcasing Cinderella’s kind and forgiving heart. The scenery and backdrop made for a perfect canvas for the telling of this timeless tale.

I was lucky enough to be invited to an early preview of the film and turned the invitation into a date with my daughter. My 4 year old was thrilled that she was able to wear her Cinderella ballet costume to the theatre and couldn’t believe she was able to meet so many other little girls dressed up in their favorite costumes as well. Sharing the movie experience with her, and watching her excitement as the movie was screened was memorable.

I must admit that I didn’t know if my daughter would understand some of the themes of the movie. I was worried it would be too grown up and not true to the original fairy tale. I was able to utilize the Fandango Family Room for a synopsis of the film, which was a big help. But, all of the kids in the theatre seemed to be enraptured with the film. Both my daughter and I noticed the advice given to Cinderella by her mother, on her deathbed. She advises her to “have courage and be kind”. These simple words have really made an impact on her and myself. And, it has struck a chord in the social media world as well, since it has been trending since the debut of the movie. I hear myself reminding my daughter as well as repeating these words to my 6 year old son. This theme is woven throughout the movie and it really was a sweet sentiment that holds true for all ages. She continues to talk about being kind and the importance of saying sorry and treating people fairly. She has also taken it upon herself to spread the message of courage and kindness to anyone that will listen.

I love the fact that my daughter and I were simply going to a movie and walked out with an opportunity to talk about important topics like courage and kindness. The movie was sophisticated enough to attract an audience of grownups, but tame enough to hold the attention of an audience that included children.

With my little kids turning into big kids, I cherish these opportunities to spend time with my kids, enjoying a movie and having a chance to talk about themes that are important for the little kids as well as the big kids! Share your photos with us. We loved Cinderella and its message to have courage and be kind…enough said!

Disclosure: In accordance with the FTC Guidelines, I am disclosing that I received compensation from Fandango for my time and participation in the Fandango Family Digital Network. Although we have material connection to Fandango any publicly stated opinions of Fandango and their brands remain my own.

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