I thought this new infographic is cool and worth sharing. I often wonder about stuff like this; regarding where some of my favorite movies and TV shows are actually filmed.
Many years ago, my wife and I visited New Zealand, the country where Lord of the Rings was filmed.
If you asked me now what my favorite TV show of all time is, I would say #3 would be The Office, #2 would be Lost, and #1 would be Breaking Bad.
The infographic shows the places in Albuquerque the show was filmed.
To my surprise though, Warner Bros. reached out to me a few weeks ago and asked if I’d review Dolphin Tale 2… How convenient!
My son Jack just turned 4 and had never seen a movie that wasn’t a “kids’ movie.” That changed with Dolphin Tale 2; it’s not a kids’ movie, it’s a family movie.
Dolphin Tale 2 is aimed for the whole family. It is a completely clean movie; it contains no words that I would imagine would be particularly inappropriate for young children. “Heck” and “darn” are about as intense as it gets there.
The movie is rated PG, as opposed to G. My guess is because the movie begins with one of the older dolphins, Panama, dying of old age. Several shots are shown of the dolphin’s body lying at the bottom of the pool; though nothing graphic.
And thus begins the movie’s plot line: A companion must be found for Winter, the dolphin with the prosthetic tale, in order for her to stay at the facility; according to state regulations.
Dolphin Tale 2 is actually the first movie I’ve ever seen in Blu Ray. Definitely a step up from what I’m used to.
My son Jack obviously loved the movie; he’s never seen so much footage of dolphins before.
Our family felt good about watching this movie together; it was very appropriate and entertaining for all of us; but not in a cheesy “Hallmark movie” kind of way.
If you’re looking for stocking stuffers for children, I think Dolphin Tale 2 would make a much appreciated choice.
Our family also sat down together and watched the first Dolphin Tale movie as well. It contains the same clean, family-friendly kind of content along with the same cast of actors revisited.
In the first movie, Winter the dolphin is discovered caught up in a fisherman’s trap which ultimately causes her to loose her tale, so people come together to create one for her in order for her survive.
I have a feeling there will be a Dolphin Tale 3, and I hope there is!
“Dolphin Tale 2” reunites the entire main cast, led by Harry Connick, Jr. as Dr. Clay Haskett; Nathan Gamble as Sawyer Nelson; Ashley Judd as Sawyer’s mom, Lorraine; Kris Kristofferson as Clay’s father, Reed; Cozi Zuehlsdorff as Clay’s teenage daughter, Hazel; Austin Stowell as Sawyer’s cousin, Kyle; Austin Highsmith as Winter’s lead trainer, Phoebe; and Oscar® winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) as Dr. Cameron McCarthy. The film also features Bethany Hamilton as herself.
“Dolphin Tale 2” is produced by Oscar® nominees Andrew A. Kosove and Broderick Johnson (“The Blind Side”), together with Alcon President of Worldwide Marketing, Richard Ingber, and Steven P. Wegner. David Yates and Robert Engelman served as executive producers.
“Dolphin Tale 2” will be available on Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and includes the film in high definition on Blu-ray disc, a DVD, and a digital version of the movie in Digital HD with UltraViolet. Fans can also own “Dolphin Tale 2” via purchase from digital retailers.
SYNOPSIS
The inspiring true story of Winter isn’t over. Several years after receiving a prosthetic tail, Winter loses her surrogate mother, leaving her alone, grieving and unwilling to engage with anyone, even her best human friend, Sawyer. Worse, she may have to be moved from her home at the aquarium due to regulations requiring dolphins to be paired. When Dr. Clay Haskett and his dedicated team can’t find her a companion, it looks like they may lose their beloved Winter…until an unexpected turn of events brings them Hope.
BLU-RAY AND DVD ELEMENTS
“Dolphin Tale 2” Blu-ray Combo Pack contains the following special features:
· Dolphin Tale 2: Underwater Magic Dolphin Tale 2: True Story
· Look Who’s Running The Show
· Bethany Hamilton Meets Winter
· Dolphin Tale 2: The Mission
· Cozi Zuehlsdorff – “Brave Souls”
· Gavin DeGraw – “You Got Me”
· Blooper Reel
“Dolphin Tale 2” Standard Definition DVD contains the following special features:
· Dolphin Tale 2: True Story
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS
On December 9, “Dolphin Tale 2” will be available for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on their favorite devices from select digital retailers including Amazon, CinemaNow, Flixster, iTunes, PlayStation, Target Ticket, Vudu, Xbox and others. “Dolphin Tale 2” will also be available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.
ABOUT DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET
*Digital HD with UltraViolet allows fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital HD with UltraViolet is included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. Digital HD with UltraViolet allows consumers to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through UltraViolet retail services like CinemaNow, Flixster, Target Ticket, VUDU and more. For more information on compatible devices go to wb.com/ultravioletdevices. Consult an UltraViolet Retailer for details and requirements and for a list of HD-compatible devices.
BASICS
PRODUCT SRP
Blu-ray Combo Pack $35.99
DVD Amaray (WS) $28.98
Standard Street Date: December 9, 2014
DVD Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Canadian French
BD Languages: English, Latin Spanish, Canadian French
DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French
BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French
Well, this weekend you were quite excited when Mommy and I learned that Abbi’s birthday actually had a costume theme.
While I tried to convince you just to wear your Ninja Turtle hoodie and be Donatello, you insisted on wearing your costume from Madison.
The logistical problem with that is that we had already boxed it up in our storage unit, as our new house should be ready by the end of next month.
Mommy was up for the challenge so we loaded up in the 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe we have been driving this week, as we await the news of whether or not my own car will be totaled thanks the albino deer that hit me on the way home the night before Thanksgiving.
Something really cool about every Hyundai I have reviewed is that basically the entire ceiling is a moon roof. You love that! You love being able to see so much of what’s going on.
Mommy’s favorite feature of the Santa Fe is the heated seats, especially this time of year.
My favorite thing about it is the size. Now more than ever, I like a good strong SUV that help protect me in the event I get hit by another albino deer. Hyundais are just nice vehicles anyway, as I’ve been quick to mention in my other reviews of them.
Speaking of safety, I also really appreciate the Blind Spot Detection System, which alerts me anytime another vehicle or object is getting dangerously close to me. (After having recently been hit by a deer, this is something I’m quite sensitive to this days!)
And not to mention, the back-up camera saves me a lot of worries too. (See below the relevant song that happened to come up on XM radio this week while we were driving the Santa Fe.)
Well, thanks to Mommy’s supreme packing skills, she was able to pull up the door of our storage unit, then immediately open up the box with your super hero costume! You then curiously asked about your monster trucks- she found that box too.
Before Abbi’s birthday party, we decided we should stop by our new house which is still under construction and see the latest updates.
Afterwards, as part of our tradition, we stopped by the model home so you could say hi to the in-house real estate agent. You had hidden a piece of foam (which you refer to as your “pizza parlor”) in the bushes and decided to crawl under the Christmas tree as a gift… because that’s normal for 4 year-old boys, I assume. (See top picture, again.)
When we arrived to Abbi’s party, we were greeted by hens, which we fed some dried worms to.
Once we walked inside the house, I was glad we had found your costume beforehand, because I realized your Ninja Turtle hoodie wasn’t quite enough for this costume-themed party.
You kept your eye mask on the entire drive and at least the first 30 minutes of the party.
And of course, your friend Madison (who gave you the costume) was so happy to see you wearing it. (Pictured below.)
You were lucky: you basically got to have an all-you-can-eat sweets buffet while we were there.
So we decided having dinner at Whole Foods would be a good way to offset that, but first we stopped to see some Christmas lights along the way.
Needless to say, we had a really fun week in the Santa Fe. And you especially had fun, being a super hero the whole time!
Love,
Daddy
2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Standard Features:
5 year/60,000 mile New Vehicle Warranty
10 year/100,000 mile Powertrain Warranty
7 year/Unlimited mile and Perforation Warranty
5 year/Unlimited mile Roadside Assistance
Advanced Safety Technology:
Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) with Traction Control
ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution & Brake Assist
I assume, like most kids, I was confused and troubled by the complicated logistics involved in Santa’s overnight delivery to all the (good) kids in the world… in a single night.
Not only would there be physical restrictions, but financial ones as well. Even with all the free labor (?) of the elves, I still questioned how Santa could budget such a feat.
Now, as an adult, thanks to this new inforgraphic, I can get confirmation that I had everyone reason to feel unsettled aboutall this.
So here it is, “What Would It Take To Store Santa’s Gifts?”
“People use Facebook status updates and pictures to find validation in their ideas and life choices.”
The more I’ve thought about it, the more it makes sense.
When I consider the selfie alone, it only makes sense that the “selfie taker” is looking for some kind of validation from their corner of society that their appearance is… relevant.
I say “relevant” because that could mean a lot of things depending on what the person is needing slight reassurance of:
Am I pretty enough? Do I look cool? Can people tell I’ve gotten in shape? Am I still funny? Am I even interesting?
With that being said, it goes beyond just the pictures we post. It transcends to our status updates and shared as well:
Am I doing a good job of being informative in society? Am I an influencer? Is the world aware I am part of it?
I would never want to be seen as the kind of person who is known for “needing attention” all the time, yet there’s this subtle paradox that says if you don’t post enough on Facebook, you’re sort of a Facebook snob who only looks at other people’s info and pictures without contributing or getting involved aside from “liking” other people’s post or very generically wishing them happy birthday after being prompted to by Facebook itself.
My theory is that those people who apparently don’t need confirmation or validation are at least looking for inspiration or, for a few minutes, to live vicariously as someone else.
Of course, I believe if you’re too inspirational, you may appear as a show-off. You don’t want your Facebook friends thinking you trying you’re, in essence, “trying too hard to win” at this unofficial game of Facebook.
Despite the daily overdose of negativity on Facebook, there is a fraction of my news feed that is actually positive; or at least neutrally interesting or fun. Like the pictures of my friends’ families: those are the posts I scroll my feed for.
More importantly, I try to be the person who is contributing those pictures, links, and status updates; just like Gandhi famously said:
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”
I really don’t think there’s truly a way to “win at Facebook,” sort of like the game Animal Crossings that I loved so much in college on Nintendo GameCube. Ultimately, to someone out there on Facebook, you’re going to contribute too much or too little; seem too showy or too aloof.
You can’t necessarily win or lose at the game of Facebook, but it’s a video game that millions of people play all day long, all over the world.
In theory, it’s the most popular and relevant video game of all time; that’s an idea proposed in the Netflix documentary, Video Games: The Movie.
But for this modern tower of Babel we have built and participate in, I say this is ultimately why we show up to it:
To give and/or receive legitimate validation, confirmation, and/or inspiration.
The reason I say legitimate is because not all ideas on Facebook should merit reinforcement. Plus, as I recognized earlier, Facebook has its fair share of negative people who would rather attempt to hurt instead of edify others.
Overall though, Facebook is a place (and/or social video game) where essentially anyone can give or receive confirmation on one’s beauty, worth, and relevance.
I can even post an “extreme close-up selfie” and I will get what I want out of it: for people to recognize the humor in it.
And no, I’m not writing this to get more “likes” on my Facebook page, or to try to prove I am a decent writer, or to simply feel validated by my Facebook friends so that I can essentially score more points in this video game we’re all playing.
Family Friendly Daddy Blog 