Attention “Toy Story” fans, this announcement is for YOU!

  On Sunday, June 23rd, the “Toy Story 4” Summer Road Trip will be making a stop in the Kansas City area. A “Toy Story 4”-themed RV will roll into Kansas City, featuring photo opportunities for fans, film-themed prizes, carnival games and lots of family-friendly fun.     

Local “Toy Story” fans are invited to take part in the activities. Two film ambassadors will be on hand to share details about fan-favorite characters—Woody, Buzz, Bo Peep—as well as new characters coming to the big screen—Forky, Bunny, Ducky and Duke Caboom, among others—learn more about this all-new adventure.     

The event will be held at the AMC Town Center 20, 11701 Nall Ave. in Leawood, Kansas and will run from 10:00 am through 3:00 pm.

In a world of delivery food, social media, online pokies and photo filters, it is nice every once in a while, to be reminded of simpler times and places. “Deadwood: The Movie,” transports us to one of those forgone times. 

It is project that’s been rumored and waited for patiently over the last decade which finally pulled into the station on Friday, May 31st, amidst the tragic news that creator David Milch is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Even if you’re not aware of the situation of the film’s creator, there’s an unexpected poignancy in every frame of “Deadwood,” but the miracle of this production is how deftly Milch and company avoid cheap theatrics and emotional manipulation as they provide a satisfingy ending to an iconic TV show. 

Befitting one of the most complex television shows of all time, it’s a rich and well paced 110 minutes of filmmaking that rewards fans without pandering to them. It is the product of someone who has been living with these characters since the show unceremoniously went off the air in 2006. 

If you Loved the TV Series….

You get the feeling that he knows everything that’s happened to them since then, and we drop in on their current lives as if they have gone on as normal while we’ve beenunable to watch. As much as fans have desperately wanted another season or movie before now, there’s something so perfect and beautiful about how this movie came out that makes you glad that it happened this way.

It’s 1889, a full ten years after the actions of  “Deadwood” season three. South Dakota is becoming a state, which means a visit to Deadwood by the villainous Senator George Hearst , who rode off at the end of season three after causing havoc and death in his typical cold hearted way. He, as always, is looking to expand his empire, trying to take land owned by Charlie Utter , and he’s particularly startled to find that his attacker Trixie, whose death was faked, is still breathing.

Meet Up with All Your Fav Characters

Meanwhile, we check in with most of the “Deadwood” familiar faces. Without too many spoilers, characters aren’t all that far from where we left them and yet there’s definitely a sense of time having passed as well. Milch is incredibly smart about how age doesn’t necessarily equate to wisdom, understanding, or drastic change. Time can mellow some antipathies, but it can harden others, and deepen emotions and resentments.

When Alma Garret returns to Deadwood and crosses paths with Seth Bullock there is both a sense of what they once had and that they’ve been happy apart. Both can be true. A vision of a content Bullock family, wife Martha and thier three new children—and seeing a grown Sophia with Alma drives this home.  Milch deftly drops in flashbacks to remind us of what these two once meant to each other, conveying how events can shape us but not always trap us. Seth and Alma moved on, but their relationship was formative. As were the events that transpired the last time that Hearst was in town.

Ten Years Later…

Every one of the performer slides back into the characters that kickstarted their careers as if they had kept them close all these years. A well turn from other long-delayed sequels or reboots in which the passage of time is barely alluded to and certainly not believable if it is. The three year run of “Deadwood” gave us one of the most talented ensembles in TV history and their acting skills allow us to belive the passage of time and real events since the end of season three.

Bullock seems more grounded, Sol & Trixie are exceddingly pregnant, Cochran has the look, feel and attitude of someone who has seen a decade of drama, Joanie has returned to her old ways due to her struggle with her emotional demons—they are familiar and yet they bring the gravity of time with them, repeating old habits without feeling like they haven’t changed or aged at all in the last decade.

And the Star of the Show is…

Well, what about Al Swearengen?!?! I’ll just say that Ian McShane’s show-stealing charatcter does not get the arc or ending that  fans might be expecting. The iconic anti-hero feels like a projection of the writer, as the movie opens with a dire diagnosis from Doc Cochran that practically sidelines the noble cuthroat. 

It’s interesting that Milch choses to turn his most outspoken, aggressive, and popular character into more of a supporting role in the film (which is not to say that McShane isn’t amazing in the film … he is), someone watching the action of the characters around him with a brooding sense that the end is near. 

And in the End

And yet “Deadwood: The Movie” is never the sentimental downer it could easily have been. But don’t expect cock-eyed optimism either. Good men die. Bad men prosper. That’s life. What feels miraculous about “Deadwood: The Movie” is how much it captures the comfortable humanity in between those two extremes. 

It feels like the product of a creator who fully understands that this is his last creation, but even he refuses to end on an easy note. There can be closure without sentimentality. Sometimes we stop bleeding when we heal. And sometimes we stop bleeding when we die.

This week we talk SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2, DARK PHOENIX, the short horror film GEORGIE and we discuss which animated film made us realize the medium wasn’t just for kids. Enjoy! Listen HERE!

So you’ve made an introduction on your favorite date site like this and are chatting about the possibilities of arranging your first get-together. One suggestion frequently arising is to head over to your local theater, where you could snuggle together in the plush seating, refreshments to hand, waiting for the lights to dim. There’s also the more intimate choice of inviting your new partner over for a movie night, where you would have the option of choosing from a vast menu from TV, Netflix, YouTube or even DVDs. The only thing you need debate now – which movies are most apt for a first date? Here are suggestions for seven of the best.

Love Actually (2003)

Featuring an ensemble cast and covering ten separate storylines, writer/director Richard Curtis unashamedly plays with our heartstrings. With the added bonus of being set around the Christmas holidays, you and your partner can laugh at Bill Nighy’s cynical rock star, Hugh Grant’s prime minister dancing around 10 Downing Street, Andrew Lincoln pining after his best friend’s girl, Kiera Knightley, and numerous other engaging plots.

Groundhog Day (1993)

Some of the best romcoms have featured the attraction of opposites. World-weary TV reporter Bill Murray might not seem like an obvious romantic lead, but when he meets the charismatic Andi McDowell, an unlikely event occurs which assists his efforts to win her heart. He gets caught in a time loop. His attempts to engineer events based on outcomes he is already aware of makes for a sweet and inventive comedy, perfect for your date.

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Featuring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon as an unlikely drag act, forced to impersonate girls in a touring musical troupe while fleeing murderous Chicago gangsters, this is one classic comedy which has certainly stood the test of time. As well as enjoying the brilliant one-liners, the sight of screen siren Marilyn Monroe at the peak of her tragically cut-short career will definitely give you both a warm feeling.

Titanic (1997)

Ok, so there’s nothing guaranteed to hamper your enjoyment of a film more than knowing how it ends. But even although James Cameron’s feature is set aboard the Titanic is it cruises towards its destiny with an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean, a love story unfolds between passengers Kate Winslet, from the pampered above-deck passengers, and Leo Dicaprio, a streetwise kid from below. The ship’s inexorable voyage to its demise only accentuates the intensity of their feelings. You and your date will need to ensure you have access to tissues as well as popcorn.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Tom Hanks received the best actor Oscar for this box office smash, an overview of America’s unfolding 20th-century history, as seen through the eyes of a slow but kind-hearted young man from Alabama. Masterful film editing also sees Gump spliced with real-life footage of US presidents. He does have a childhood sweetheart, but this is more about life affirmation than love and is a captivating drama for your date.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

A perennial story – how does platonic friendship survive natural sexual attraction – is enacted through a series of sparkling encounters between Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, including that scene in a New York diner.

The Outlaw King (2018)

US star Chris Pine, best known for playing a young James T Kirk in the Star Trek reboot, makes a much more brooding medieval Scottish King, Robert the Bruce, in this epic drama. It has everything you could ask for in an entertaining date film – drama, tension, sweeping battle scenes, and Bruce’s love for his Queen, Florence Pugh.

The second season of Hulu’s hit series The Handmaid’s Tale left more than a few fans stunned when June (Elisabeth Moss) bucked her chance to escape to freedom in Canada with her baby and instead handed the infant off to Emily (Alexis Bleidel) while turning back into the world that still holds her other child hostage.

This weekend eager Handmaid’s fans finally got to see where June’s unexpected decision has lead the inhabitants of Gilead when showrunner Bruce Miller and actress Ann Dowd (“Aunt Lydia”) brought the premiere episode of the third season to New York’s BookCon.

Without going into episode spoilers, I will say what I saw went a long way in explaining why June would make such a tremendous sacrifice in that finale and the acting across the board continues to be top notch. Alexis Bleidel’s Emily in particular had me moved to tears more than once. And the BookCon crowd broke out into applause at least twice.

While the terrifying Aunt Lydia did not appear in the premiere ep, the trailers showed that she will return after Emily very literally stabbed her in back last year. Dowd, who was also nefarious in last year’s horror hit Hereditary, is delightful and warm in person and said of Lydia, “she is doing quite well…she’s very concerned” She also offered some exciting tidbits into where season three might take Aunt Lydia.

Although in the last two seasons we’ve seen almost every protagonist’s backstory, Aunt Lydia has remained a mystery. Apparently that will change in season three. Of this insight, Dowd commented that while it wasn’t exactly what she thought it would be “it’s so true to what might have went wrong.” On that change she added that whatever happened, “her life leaned toward Gilead and [to being] one of the most staunch believers of that group.” And while Dowd clearly loves playing Lydia, she joked about her inner dialogue with the character: “I say I’m disappointed with her and she says to mind my business!”

The Handmaid’s Tale returns weekly to Hulu starting Wednesday June 5th.

2019 is another great year for the film industry. Here the biggest hits in 2019 to date.

Avengers: Endgame

And just like that, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ruled the box office with Avengers: Endgame. The last film in the Avengers franchise, the movie going public went gaga over the story arcs and the turnout of the movie. Directed by the Russo brothers Anthony and Joe, the Endgame stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Scarlett Johansson, Brie Larson, Paul Rudd, Don Cheadle, and Josh Brolin. It grossed USD 357,115,007 on opening day in 4,662 theaters and has earned USD 2.344 billion. Besides being one of the most successful supehero movies, Avenger: Endgame can easily be considered one of best action movies 2019. 

Captain Marvel

Shown on March 8, 2019 in the US under the direction of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, Captain Marvel opened in 4,310 theaters and grossed USD 153,433,423 on opening day. Starring Brie Larson in the title role, Captain Marvel comes as the 21st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It went on to earn USD 1.122 billion in its entire theatre run from a budget of USD 175 million.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Toothless and Hiccup are back! How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World came out in February 22, 2019 and profited USD 357,115,245 on opening day in 4,259 theaters. Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and Cate Blanchett lend their voices again in this sequel. It cost USD 129 million to produce this film but it was able to get good money as it took home USD 517.3 million in the box office. You can watch How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World online via Prime Video & Redbox. 

Shazam

Based on the DC Comics character, director David F. Strasberg presents Shazam! March 5, 2019 saw the US release of Shazam! Starring Zachary Levi and Asher Angel, Shazam! grossed USD 53,505,326 on opening day in 4,217 theaters and has earned USD 357.8 million from a budget of USD 100 million.

Us

Lupita Nyong’o headlines in Us (check where to watch Us online) , a psychological horror written and directed by Jordan Peele. Released on March 22, 2019 by Universal Pictures, it earned USD 71,117,625 on opening day in 3,741 theaters. From a budget of USD 20 million, it has a total earning of USD 252.2 million. It is a story of a family of four haunted by their dopplegangers, shadows who share the same spirit as their lookalikes and they have come to free themselves.

It’s not just television that is currently experiencing a golden age in American culture. The theater too is riding a dramatic upswing, both in terms of creative output and commercial success, attracting younger audiences to plays and musicals alike.

There are probably a variety of reasons for this happy situation. Theater is a medium of immediacy which provides a visceral thrill that can’t be streamed, downloaded or enjoyed later. In theater the action is always happening right now, and you have to be in the audience on the night to experience it.

For decades, theater suffered because it couldn’t win the competition with younger mediums like film and TV. The mistake was to fight these mediums on their own terms. Theater is now winning because it is concentrating on what it does best: thought-provoking live performances. It’s ironic that this great revival of the stage has come at a time when movies and television are also better and more popular than ever.

Breaking new ground

Back in the 1990s the theatrical resurgence began with staged adaptations of popular movie properties like Beauty And The Beast, Mary Poppins and The Lion King. This move succeeded in drawing in a new, younger audience. The likes of Aladdin, The Lion King, Frozen, Mean Girls and Wicked are still going strong, continuing to break their own box office records.

At the same time however, Tony Kushner’s ground-breaking play, Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia On National Themes (1992) ushered in a new era of American drama that reflects a heightened awareness of identity and intersectional themes of gender, ethnicity, sexuality and class.

Changing times

Brooklyn-born playwright Lynn Nottage is perhaps the best example of those currently working in this tradition. Nottage is the only playwright to have won the Pulitzer Prize for two separate plays. In 2009 she was awarded this coveted accolade for Ruined, which looked unflinchingly at the plight of women in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2017 she won it again for Sweat, produced by Louise Gund initially at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 2015, then off-Broadway in 2016 and finally on Broadway in 2017.

Sweat looked at changing economic and industrial patterns, plus familiar themes of race and identity, in one of the poorest cities in the US, Reading, Pennsylvania. The play was seen by many as an explanation for Donald Trump’s presidential victory in 2016 and as such was deemed “The first theatrical landmark of the Trump era” by the New Yorker.

Challenging sensibilities

As well as Nottage, the prolific, inventive and innovative Suzan Lori-Parks has also won many accolades for plays like Topdog/Underdog (2001) and Father Comes Home From The Wars Parts 1, 2 + 3 (2014), both of which look at racial identity and how it intersects with American history. An Octoroon was Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ radical re-appropriation of an 1859 melodrama about race and slavery which won the Obie Award for Best New Play in 2014, while Bruce Norris’ Clybourne Park (2010) viscerally challenged the sensibilities and assumptions of its predominantly white liberal audience.

Younger audiences

Meanwhile the big shows on Broadway continue to break records. In January, Hamilton: An American Musical became the first Broadway show to gross over $4m in one week, while in the same month To Kill a Mockingbird took the highest single-week gross of any non-musical American stage production ever. Both were outdone however by Harry Potter and The Cursed Child, which had the highest single-week gross of any play in Broadway history.

Hamilton is credited with bringing a younger audience to the theater with its rap score and discussion of contemporary issues like race, gender and freedom, despite being set during the American Revolution. It debuted in 2015 and was an immediate critical and commercial success. Many have credited it with the 1.8m increase in attendance at Broadway musicals from 2013 to 2016, and the record-breaking attendances since.

A golden age

The 21st Century is proving to be a golden age for American theater, with writers addressing the urgent topics of today as well as finding new ways to address age-old themes. Meanwhile audiences are flocking to the stage in a commercial revival that few expected, but which contrasts remarkably with the struggles of film, television, print and the music industry to adapt to a digital age where audiences expect entertainment on demand and, more worryingly, free of charge.

Live theater can’t be streamed or bootlegged and at its best offers an experience to be remembered for a lifetime. Right now we are seeing American theater at its best. Those who only get their culture and entertainment mediated via a screen are definitely missing out.       

Online WSOP bracelet seats 50th anniversary

2019 is here, and it’s a big year for fans and players of online poker. In 2019, the World Series of Poker (WSOP), celebrates its 50^th year – and you know what that means? Big celebrations, big cash prizes, and lots of chances to win a coveted bracelet, that’s what! The event kicks off in Las Vegas (where else?) on May 20^th and runs for 50-days until June 2^nd. For those of you who can’t make it to Vegas – fear not, there are plenty of chances for you to get in on the action too. In fact, the action is already well underway…

If you’re one of the lucky ones, located in New Jersey or Nevada, you probably know by now that online bracelet events are a big part of this year’s WSOP schedule. Via WSOP.com, you can compete in real-money games, and enter into satellite competitions, which feed right into the tournament’s many events, including the big one – the $10,000 Main Event starting on July 3^rd.

The online action started back in January, when the New Year Kickoff Series saw online poker players compete in eight events in a bid to win a chunk of the $380,000 prize pool. Those that placed in the top three had their poker dreams come true when they were automatically granted a place in the WSOP $400 Online Bracelet event scheduled for this summer. In addition, those that missed out on the top three spots but turned up to play in three or more of the tournaments within the Kickoff Series were rewarded for their loyalty by being entered into a Player’s Challenge Freeroll. And, you guessed it, the top three victors in this will gain access to the WSOPs $1,000 Online Bracelet Event, also scheduled for this summer.

Just because you’re not in Las Vegas doesn’t mean you won’t get a tasty slice of the pie. This time last year, we saw online players win huge cash sums. William Reymond defeated almost 3,000 online opponents to take home $154,996 in the $500,000 Guaranteed No-Limit Hold’em Online Bracelet Event. Ryan Tosoc won a whopping $238,778 in the $1 million Guaranteed No-Limit Hold’em Online Bracelet Event and Chance Kornuth won $341,598 in the $1m Guaranteed No-Limit Hold’em High Roller Online Bracelet Event.

Last year there were nine events that afforded online players a crack at winning a WSOP gold bracelet. This year organisers have doubled that number to celebrate their 50^th year. Bill Rini, Head of WSOP.com commented:

‘Just like the land-based WSOP, the annual summer series is also the best time for online poker players in the U.S. to chase big prize pools and WSOP gold bracelets. WSOP.com is offering a consistent gold bracelet schedule this year, plus non-stop satellites to both the online and live events, giving players the best opportunity to participate in the 50th Annual WSOP.’

We hope you’ve been honing those online poker skills in preparation for this historic celebration. This could be your year!

According to research, teenagers and kids spend an average of 4.5 to 6.5 hours in front of screens. Knowing the dangers associated with excessive screen time, parents try to get kids off screens into a more productive activity like study.

What many parents miss, however, is that they could harness the power of movies and channel it to studies realizing even more benefits than those attained from the less-screen time approach. By selecting an appropriate educational film for students, you get to educate them on class issues and get points to stick for even longer.

However, finding a suitable educational movie requires more effort than an online search and watching whatever pops up first. To help you find suitable films for study, here are scrutinized movies recommended by educators for different levels and addressing various subjects.  While at it, consider engaging professionals to get your paper written and score credits in multiple subjects.

America: the study of US

With a plethora of educational films in the historical niche, none excels in narrating the US history like this film. In this 12-series nine-hour documentary film, you are taken through the history of America from its inception to the point it became a superpower.

Unlike other films, this documentary-drama narrates the American history with precision and in an entertaining manner thus increasing the ability for students retaining the information. Among the areas tackled in these movies include the technological advancements in America and how the shaped growth and industry.

The industrial developments, economic progression and the engagements of America in the world wars and the cold war. In the early episodes, the movie shows how America rid itself of the shackles of the British crown rule to gain the independence to govern themselves freely.

Although it covers dark parts of American history, this film does not include gory images and as such can be used for middle school kids.

The Story of all of us Mankind

Apart from being shrouded with many theories and ideologies, the history of humankind can prove a mind-nabbing lesson for students. To ease the concepts for students, this documentary lays down an account of evolution and describes the emergence of governance, metropolis, and superpowers.

As opposed to other educational films on the evolution of man, this film does not incline to any particular evolution theory instead marries various elements to create a flow of ideas and try to figure: what happened.

Apart from evolution, this documentary also shows the socio-political growth and rivalry that shaped the path to development until the current time. Also, this movie covers the challenges that informed the development of tools and other transitioning that early man had to accommodate to survive. Like the former, this is a twelve-hour series that should be studied in bits depending on the topic you aim to address.

American Promise

Unlike the latter and the former that is based on the historical occurrences, American promise is a documentary based on the current society and addressing the societal evils being faced currently.

Set in the school background, this movie shows the gap in the value of education between, African-Americans and white kids. Despite the talent levels of Idris and Seun, the families face a fair share of challenges getting them through the system due to the racism and other circumstances.

As you engage the movies and learn issues that you may have skipped in class, it is wise to hire experts on my paper done.com thus getting quality work for an affordable price.

Take a listen HERE

This Saturday, May 4th, will see the recording of episode # 200 of the very popular podcast, “Behind the Mikes.”

To celebrate we would like to invite readers of Media Mikes to submit to us their favorite movie franchise. Is it the recent AVENGERS series? STAR WARS? JAMES BOND? LORD OF THE RINGS? Whatever it is, please let us know in the comments below. All votes will be tabulated and the top 3 will be recognized.

Random entries will be chosen and will receive some cool movie swag.

Thanks for supporting Media Mikes and listening to “Behind the Mikes.”

It used to be that the only place that people could try their hand at blackjack or test their lucky number on the roulette wheel was a casino hall, made of brick and mortar. As the internet took hold and developers realized the popularity and demand for the likes of baccarat and slot machines, the games started to migrate to the virtual halls of online casinos.

It has been 15 years since the first online casino opened; technology has come a long way since 1994, and online casinos are now in abundance, so much so that online casino comparator websites have arisen to help players to decipher which casinos are the best in the UK. But what are the remaining differences between online casinos and land-based casinos?

The live casino experience

The obvious point to make is that the experience of going to land-based casinos is very different to that of online casinos. Regarding gambling opportunities and the chances to win, they both offer a similar experience, but gambling on a tablet, phone, or computer is quite different to gambling at a real felt table against a real dealer. People will make a night out of going to a land-based casino, enjoying the atmosphere and the chance to move chips and win cash.

With online casinos, the hands-on experience can be somewhat limited by comparison, but the accessibility and ease of use make the online experience more desirable to those who simply want convenient gaming and don’t want the additional expenditure that comes with going to a land-based casino, such as travel, food, and drink. A fairly new section of online casinos, the live casino section, is bridging the gap between the two forms of casino gaming and proving to be very popular.

Enhanced gambling security in-house

The convenience of online casinos can come at a price: that they become more readily available to those who may become problem gamblers. Online gamblers can set betting limits to help to enhance their personal gambling security, but some people won’t do so and will, therefore, expose themselves to possible risks.

Land-based casinos tend to be too far away for many people to find gambling opportunities on a whim, venues will remove any person who appears to be intoxicated, and they will have set maximum bet sizes. Online casinos are local to everyone and currently don’t have overly strict betting limits. Online casinos in the UK are very closely and stringently regulated, but there is a need for new restrictions on the size of bets that can be placed to help stop people from betting more than they can afford.

The variety of games

Land-based casinos are very limited on the number of games that they can host. A land-based casino can only fit as many games as its floor space will allow. On top of this, games need to be purchased, and until quite recently, the only way to upgrade the offering was to buy new games. This is to a slightly lesser extent now that digital slot machines have become more viable, but the issue of floor space and the cost of set-up are still very limiting.

Online casinos boast a tremendous variety of games, offering players chances to win across a whole host of different themed creations and twists on popular games. While online casinos do have their limits in terms of space, those limits are far greater and easier to expand than land-based casinos, which allows them to update the variety of games on offer regularly.

The continued development of online casinos

The online gambling industry is incredibly competitive, which is why websites are always keen to update their offering, add bigger and better games, offer bonuses to players, and improve in other areas as well, including complying with the Gambling Commission’s enhanced stance on consumer protection. There’s only so much that land-based casinos can do because each update will cost more money and will require upkeep.

Online casinos continue to expand the variety of games on offer and grow in popularity while the real-feel experience of land-based casinos is less sought-after, which has led to a decline in venues.

I had no idea that back in May of 1998, when I first snuck in to see a film in theaters called “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, that he would end up becoming one of my favorite directors and influencing my interest in film so much. Terry Gilliam has always had a lot of luck with getting his film well receptive. They are always unique and never follow the Hollywood typical bubble that every other film does. Well “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” is no different for Gilliam. This was a film that he was trying to get made for nearly three decades. If that shows nothing else it is that the guy was determined to bring this project to life no matter what. Well after it’s long journey to the world, it is definitely worth the wait.

Back in 2000, Jean Rochefort was originally cast to play Don Quixote and Toby was to be played by Johnny Depp (imagine that?!). They even made a documentary about this failed attempt called “Lost in La Mancha”, worth checking out. I have to admit thought, I am HUGE fan of Jonathan Pryce, who also collaborated with Gilliam in his film “Brazil”, another one of my favorites). Pryce nails it for me as Don Quixote. Other than Depp, the role of Sancho Panza has previously had even Robin Williams and Ewan McGregor attached before Adam Driver aka Kylo Ren in the “Star Wars” Universe. I have to admit, if I had a dream cast and out of all the people that could have played Panza Driver probably wouldn’t have been my first choice. Don’t get me wrong, he was good in the film and did the role justice but I wanted a little more from him here.

Here is the film’s official Premise: “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” is the story of Toby (Driver), a cynical advertising director, who finds himself trapped in the outrageous delusions of an old Spanish shoe-maker (Pryce) who believes himself to be Don Quixote.  In the course of their comic and increasingly surreal adventures, Toby is forced to confront the tragic repercussions of a film he made in his idealistic youth – a film that changed the hopes and dreams of a small Spanish village forever. Can Toby make amends and regain his humanity? Can Don Quixote survive his madness and imminent death? Or will love conquer all?

When I watch a Terry Gilliam directed film, you know you are going to get amazing locations, really unique set designs, wonderful costumes and simply the best cinematography. “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” delivers in all of these departments, no question. The film runs a little long for me personally and when watching it with my wife, I noticed she checked out not shortly after it started. I think I appreciated it cause you can see where all the blood, sweat and tears went into this film. You can tell that this was the hail Mary pass at the end of the quarter for Gilliam and I definitely think it was a score!

Speaking earlier of “Lost in La Mancha”, the writers and directors of the film are currently working on a follow-up film, titled “He Dreamed of Giants”, which dives into the history of the film’s making this time around and what has happened since the events documented in “Lost in La Mancha”. Count me in!

Sponsored content: If you go searching for this film you might have to do a bit of digging since it can be a little hard to find a stream. Be sure to browse safely and enjoy this less than typical film.

Do you have someone special you want to celebrate? It may be a friend or relative who has just completed their studies or is getting married or has a birthday party. Whatever the occasion may be, a party bus will crown the event for you. If you have a group of people with you, you’ll need to rent one.

To guide you further, here are 4 tips to renting a party bus for a celebration of life service:

1.    Know The Number Of People You’ll Be Carrying In It

The purpose of the party bus will be to carry people and so you want to rent one that has enough capacity to hold everyone you plan to have on board. It is important that you know the number of people you intend to carry in the party bus to avoid any inconveniences.

You don’t want to hire a 50 seater bus and yet you’ll be carrying 20 people since the renting cost will be higher or hire a 33 seater bus yet you have a group of 50 people with you. Determine the right capacity before hiring the party bus.

2.    Know The Cost

The cost of hiring a party bus will cut across several areas. The company renting you the bus will most likely charge you on an hourly basis. It’s important therefore to know the total time span you’ll have the bus with you.

Other charges that you may incur include gratuity to the party bus driver, taxes, and other costs such as fuel or parking fees at your target destination depending on the terms of the agreement.

Defining these costs earlier in advance will help you raise the money to rent the bus more so if you are sharing the cost with the people who you’ll be going with to the celebration of life service.

3.    Know Your Destination

You’ll definitely be driving off on the party bus to a specified destination or several destinations. It is advisable that you map out these destinations earlier in advance and discuss them with the rental company.

They’ll be able to advise you on which bus best suits your needs in terms of flexibility moving around, comfort, safety, and speed in getting to the various destinations. It also helps the rental company to prepare the bus driver in advance on the routes which will be more convenient to use.

4.    Comfort And Entertainment

Your main purpose for renting the party bus is to celebrate a life. As such, entertainment is a necessity to crown the whole agenda of the day. You’ll want to rent a bus with good looks to start with. The bus should have some class and glamor with comfortable seats and enough room for everyone to pump up and have some fun.

Music is a must-have. You want a bus with a good music system. Satellite television is also a plus to have on the bus for those who would want to watch, say, a game. Entertainment also comes with refreshments such as drinks and snacks. You can organize for these with the rental company.

Conclusion

There you have it. These four tips will guide you as you seek to rent a good party bus. If you’re not sure which rental company to approach, here’s one with the best party bus rentals.  

Fill, Tie and String 40 Balloons in only 40 seconds – Prep Less and Party More!

We are thrilled to share that a real game-changer for any kind of a party/get-together or specialized event (anniversary, graduation, weddings, baby and bridal showers, kids and adult parties) you can imagine for everyone at every age called Bunch O Balloons Self-Sealing Party Balloons™ (BOB Party) from ZURU! Balloons truly bring a sense of happiness to everyone and this is one of those (WOW kind of product’s) you really must see to believe how totally awesome it is!

Party planning can be tons of fun, but the execution itself can literally take your breath away, especially when it comes to balloons, but there is a magical solution to it all! With Bunch O Balloons Self-Sealing Party Balloons™you can fill, tie and string 40 balloons in only 40 seconds. There is literally no more blowing, no more tying and no need to add ribbon or string! Simply attach the balloon stems to the Electric Party Pump and press go! Within seconds, ZURU Bunch O Balloons Party Balloons will fill and self-tie with ease and convenience. Think how many balloons you can make in minutes without losing your energy and making every event a showstopper and the talk of the town!

See it for Yourself – BOB Party In Action:

ZURU Bunch O Balloons Self-Sealing Party Balloons are reusable and refillable and come in a variety of colors and themes.  In addition, they can also be filled using a helium tank or an air compressor.

RETAIL INFORMATION:

The ZURU Bunch O Balloons Party Starter Pack comes complete with the Electric Party Pump, 48 Self-Sealing Party Balloons, helium tank adaptor and fast-fill hose attachment for other inflatables, priced at  $29.99 plus postage and is available now at wwwbunchoballoonsparty.com.

In May 2019, the product will be available in Walmart. The ZURU Bunch O Balloons Party Pump Starter Pack with attachment accessories and two balloon stems (16 balloons) will be available for SRP $14.99 and ZURU Bunch O Balloons 3 stem (24 Balloon) packs including a helium adaptor will be offered in various colors for SRP $9.99 each. 

ZURU Bunch O Balloons Party Follow Bunch O Balloons on Facebook @BunchOBalloons. For more info, visit www.zuru.com, and follow on Facebook @ZURUToys, Twitter @ZURUToys and Instagram @ZURU.toys.