MY ENTERTAINMENT

Planning Family Entertainment for the Holidays

2008-10-29T15:36:00.010-05:00

What are your plans for the Holidays? How are you planning to celebrate the Holiday Spirit? Many families are planning to spend time watching Movies, DVD's or TV with all of their favorite Holiday Classics. Having family and friends over for buffet style dinners as they sit in the Entertainment room may replace dining out or traveling for many families as they try to enjoy the Holidays to their family and friends by increasing the quality and quantity of time spent together.

They spend money on the entire family when they buy a Movie or Collection of favorite TV shows because the entire family can enjoy them this year and in future years. Being together as a family is returning as we make the most of our limited income in these trying times. Join millions of other families as they learn to come together and enjoy each others company in their own space. In the space they think of as their own "Entertainment Center".

Home entertainment offers an alternative for many. Watching Movies, TV, or DVD's is one way to provide a pleasant atmosphere, and create lifelong memories and traditions between family and friends. Classic movies such as "It's a Wonderful Life," "Miracle on 34th Street" are easily available to the public. Enjoying these in a group can be a wonderful way to spend time together.

Classic Holiday entertainment from Charlie Brown's search for The Great Pumpkin to Frosty the Snowman and The Grinch That Stole Christmas have been created and revised in a great number of formats. Comic strips, Children's books, Cartoons, Plays and Movies have all found their origins in many of the "Holiday Classics". Many may recall seeing or hearing these classics as children and repeating the process with their own children. Isn't that the way family "traditions" begin?

Yet we continue to recognize more recent items as "Classics" when they are exceptionally well done, or when they reinforce popular public "myths". Good examples are the Tim Allen movies starting with "The Santa Clause". The movie was mentioned as an "instant Classic" We admit the movie had instant appeal and has displayed enough popular support to spawn two follow up movies, but will it stand the test of time to become a "Classic" that spans multiple generations? Only time with tell. There was similar uproar over the "Home Alone" movies, but they do not seem to be standing up to time as well as first thought.

This Holiday season may see more families enjoying the newest classics along with older classics at home. The local theater may become a luxury in periods when money is scarce. Spending our limited resources this year in family and friendship groups is something already being planned in most of groups that this author has been able to participate. Several of the groups I know of are replacing the dinner parties with gatherings where everyone brings their favorite dish as they gather in a casual setting around a Home Theater system to watch Holiday movies, parades, sports and other broadcast or recorded entertainment.

Hope you find a way to make this Holiday Season something to remember for your entire family.

Watching Movies at Home

2008-10-02T16:56:00.005-05:00

Do you like Movies? Movies at home are available in DVD and Blue Ray. What do you have? What do you want? Action, Horror, Romance, Drama, Comedy or Family movies. Most Movie Theaters are experiencing a drop in attendance. The drop has prompted Movie distributors to discuss offering loans for equipment upgrades to local theaters. They believe that offering digital equipment that will allow 3D movies without 3D glasses is the only way to compete with the rise in Home Theaters use.

Did you know that you can get TV in many different ways and in all price ranges? Current Television, Past Television Shows and even Videos that have never been offered on broadcast TV are available on the Internet. NBC Universal is an excellent site for TV shows from NBC and Universal Studios Movies. The site is well designed, informative and easy to use. You can see clips or full episodes of TV shows from the network for free.

Family oriented shows come from many sources and can be found in most places that sell or rent Movies. The Disney site is an excellent place to find Movies, Game, Toys or gifts. Buy.Com also has an excellent selection and the prices are better than expected.

Entertainment in the Home

2008-10-02T16:43:00.008-05:00

Our parents grew up in an era when going to the movies was a very special event. TV was the primary form of entertainment and there were only three channels to watch. Now we live in a world of mass media and we can buy or rent what we want at any time. We can go to the local movie store or get Movies, DVD s, our favorite Television Shows, Music and even our favorite video games from the comfort of our own homes. My Entertainment offers an exclusive site for My Movies and My Television. Become your own critic by entering a comment about your favorites. You can download music, watch TV or catch up on your favorite sports team all from your computer.

Most of us have developed an area in our home dedicated to entertainment. Our own Home Theater and it doesn't matter whether it is a small theater or a grand theater. It is OUR Theater. We save and shop until we find exactly what we want at a price WE can afford. The Internet has given us better selections and prices without driving 30 - 40 miles all over town and then paying high prices for delivery.

If you enjoy enjoy musical concerts, movies, or your favorite Television shows at home on a TV with full surround sound home theater system. They are available on DVD, cable and satellite TV. Now we have combination software systems such as Real Player and Rhapsody that offer us a wide variety of choices for Music in one package deal. Yes, you might miss the roar and excitement of the crowd, but you can still hear the music and watch the action. over and over again. You can even turn the sound up loud enough to get lost in the moment (or damage your neighbors hearing). You can watch what you want, when you want to watch.

If you can not find the Disney movies you wanted for your children at your local Video Store, now you can not only purchase them, but often watch for free on the Disney website. Movies, books, tapes, toys, games and many other items can be found on many websites and there are some that specialize in children's themes and items for the family that are G rated. Most movie, DVD and gift websites have a section for family or G rating. What are your favorite memories of childhood movies and have you watched them with your children?

Religious or spiritual themes are also available and can be found in many basic religions. Christianity is popular in the United States, but the Internet is a truly worldwide service and religion has found a home to display the religious movies, spiritual tapes, texts or symbols and other items that are needed by most of the world's large religions.

Do you like Movies? Movies at home on DVD or even in High Definition? What do you like? Action, Horror, Comedy, Romance, Drama or something for the entire Family. Movie Theaters are experiencing a drop in attendance and the distributors have offered them loans to upgrade their equipment in an effort to show special effects that the distributors feel will increase attendance. The movie distributors believe that being able to see 3D movies without the old 3D glasses will help. Perhaps the ability of people to see Movies and TV at home with better quality and on bigger screens with High Definition has played a part in the change to home viewing rather than "going to the movies". Perhaps the exorbitant price of a soda or popcorn has played a role in reducing attendance. Many families cannot afford to spend the $50 to $100 it takes to take a family of four to the movies with popcorn and soda. Purchasing a Home Theater system becomes a wise choice.

Did you know you can get TV in many different ways and in all price ranges? Current Television, Oldies, even videos that have never been broadcast. NBC Universal is an excellent site for some favorite TV shows from NBC and Universal movies. The site is well laid out informative and easy to use. See clips or full shows such as "The Office" online from the network for free. Find out how and where on My TV.

How about Family Entertainment. See My Family Entertainment and get information about family oriented Movies and Shows. Disney is not the only place to get movies, games, books, toys or gifts for your family. Disney is only one of the biggest and maybe one of the best. Decide for yourself.

Music! So Many places to download music today. Find out where to get music on line today. Come see us at My Music. Did you know that music awards are now being given for online digital music, or that a band in Europe release an album available only in digital form by download and that the fans bid on how much they were willing to pay?