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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:30:44 PDT

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to my selections below, you can also add Speed Racer, Made of Honor and a little independent film starring Kate Beckinsale called Snow Angels to your lists.

TV-to-DVD Debuts
Today's a big day for several television series that are now available for the first time on DVD. Whether you love these shows and want to cherish them forever or just need a refresher before the next seasons start up again, here's a guide to what's out this week.

Pushing Daisies: Season One
Special features include the cast and creative team members chatting about the show secrets.
Dirty Sexy Money: Season One
Special features include bloopers, deleted scenes, and creator commentary on the inspiration for the Darling family.

Private Practice: Season One
Special features include a featurette titled, "Practice makes perfect - Journey with Kate through her acting career to see how she landed one of TV's most sought-after roles," behind-the-scenes footage, extended episodes, deleted scenes, and outtakes.
Chuck: Season One
The DVD includes special featurettes like, "Chuck's World: Character development and original casting sessions," "Chuck vs. the Chuckles: Gag reel," and "Chuck on Chuck: Series stars join creators for some point/counterpoint."

Two more movies out on DVD, so

Deception
This thriller boasts an exciting cast, and in my opinion the performances make this a great choice for some at-home entertainment. Of course, this is at-home adult entertainment as the plot of Deception centers on a secret high-class sex club for New York's elite. Ewan McGregor plays Jonathan McQuarry, the quiet and reclusive accountant lured into this world, Michelle Williams is the beautiful member of the club he falls in love with, and Hugh Jackson slithers into the skin of a mysterious evildoer.

Special features include commentary with director Marcel Langenegger, a featurette on the making of the film and something titled "Club Sexy." Your guess is as good as mine on that one.

Young @ Heart
Oh man, elderly folks singing rock songs - is there anything more soul touching? It made me cry, but they were tears of joy, the result of something wonderfully life-affirming pulling at the old heart strings. Young @ Heart is a documentary that follows a group of older folks who learn "young people's" tunes, like those by the Ramones, David Bowie, and Gloria Gaynor. The result? An adorable, funny, inspiring, hopeful little movie about growing old in America.

Special features include 10 deleted scenes and a featurette titled "Young @ Heart Goes to Hollywood."

Young@Heart: Will Make You Weep-Laugh for Hours

BuzzSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:32:34 PDT

Going into the screening for Young@Heart, I knew I was doomed. I have a soft spot for stories about elderly folks, so I knew it would make me cry. Coldplay songs also make me cry ("Fix You"? Come on!). And oddly enough, standing ovations and enthusiastic applause sometimes make me cry. The Young@Heart documentary has all of this - and more. It had my number from the start, and I went through many tissues. But I also smiled a lot, and felt the joy that radiates off these inspiring people, leaping through the screen and into the hearts of the audience. Young at heart, indeed.

The movie opens on an auditorium full of people wildly cheering, standing, beaming (Buzz's Weepy Face, Take One). Soon we discover that they're at a kind of rock concert, and we hear the first wail of "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by the Clash. But it's not a group of stringy haired punk kids onstage - it's a collection of earnest, wrinkled faces and heads with gray-white hair. It's the Young@Heart senior citizen choir of Northampton, Massachusetts. And that's just the first few minutes, so

Under the tough-love leadership of choir director Bob Cilman, this group of older folks gets together a couple times a week to learn songs that - as we find out in the one-on-one interviews with the members - aren't necessarily enjoyable music to these people. But for the most part, the choir members like learning new things and get a kick out of performing these "young peoples'" tunes. Throughout the film we're treated to renditions of songs by the Ramones, David Bowie, Gloria Gaynor and - to the dismay of my tear ducts - Coldplay.

In between songs (and music videos!) we grow attached to certain members through personal interviews, as they all work toward learning a whole new lineup for a big upcoming concert. The new songs present their own challenges and some of the members begin to suffer greatly from health problems, but they doggedly attend rehearsals and study the words of the songs because Young@Heart is that much fun. And because audiences are counting on them.

Honestly, this stuff writes itself. The subject matter naturally taps into some of our most basic fears: that growing old means winding down and maybe being forgotten, neglected or unheard. Here, as a powerful contradiction, old folks are given voices - actually, big screamy punk rock voices - and far from tuning them out, people pay money to hear them. It's a most hopeful and exciting take on the issue of growing old in America.

Photos courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Movie Preview: Young @ Heart

BuzzSugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:31:20 PDT

I missed this documentary at Sundance this year, so I'm thrilled that it's coming out this Friday in limited release. The trailer alone for Young @ Heart brings tears to my eyes - but not sad tears. The film follows the Young@Heart Chorus of Northampton, Massachusetts which consists of about two dozen senior citizens who sing covers of rock, punk and R&B classics with the help of their choir director Bob Cilman. They perform for everyone from inmates at a nearby prison to sold-out crowds at the local concert hall.

I'll post my review of the movie later this week, but just the trailer is totally inspiring so

Photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight

Yum Market Finds: Young at Heart

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 11:55:11 PDT

I'm not sure why, but it seems like my friends and I are constantly hunting for things that make us recall our youth and feel like kids again. I'd say that it was unique to us, but when I was going through the Yum Market it was pretty obvious that we're not the only ones. Do you remember the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine? TeamSugar member amh678 bookmarked this cultural icon and it, along with all the other things below, are whisking me back to my youth.

Contemporary Green Cheese Grater	Cakesicles!!
Sleepy Panda Salt n Pepper Set	Snoopy Sno-Cone Maker : Urban Outfitters
UrbanOutfitters.com Wonder Bread Container	fredflare.com \| smiley face cup
Twinkie Bake Set : Urban Outfitters	Sugar Rush Mugs : Urban Outfitters	Kidrobot Gloomy Bear Heat Sensitive Mug

Wes Anderson's Guide to Love

Tara Block — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:10:00 PDT

As a self-proclaimed Wes Anderson junkie, I was ecstatic to see his latest film Moonrise Kingdom this week. And considering I was either smiling or tearing up (or both) the entire 94 minutes, I'd say it was a hit. The camp-themed coming-of-age film has all the recognizable Wes Anderson-isms fans of the director love, and the young star-crossed lovers at the center of the sweet story really just melt your heart. Set in the '60s on a New England island, the film follows Suzy and Sam, troubled preteens who write love letters to each other before deciding to run away together. Wes Anderson's films always incorporate a romantic coupling, exes, or love triangle in them, and the characters involved are usually full of witty advice and observations on relationships. So see some of my favorite couples and ex-couples from Wes Anderson movies along with their lines on love's redeeming, disappointing, and confusing qualities.

Moonrise Kingdom: A Retro Delight

Shannon Vestal — Fri, 25 May 2012 06:00:00 PDT

Everything about Moonrise Kingdom is unmistakably Wes Anderson: the hazy cinematography, the clever dialogue, and even the use of the director's favorite actors. Indeed, Anderson isn't leaving his comfort zone as a filmmaker, but Moonrise Kingdom is still a pleasure to watch. Set in 1965, the movie tells the story of Sam and Suzy (newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward), preteen pen pals who conspire to run away together. As they set up camp all over an island off the coast of New England, they're being pursued by Sam's scout troop (led by camp counselor Edward Norton), Suzy's parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), and different authorities (Bruce Willis and Tilda Swinton). Sam and Suzy's experience with young love is sweet and complicated, and made all the more dreamy through Anderson's lens.

The elements might be familiar, but Anderson proves why he's such an admired director with a film like this. It's surprisingly romantic, but there's also a real threat to Sam and Suzy in the wild. Their compelling journey paired with the optical treat of Anderson's style makes Moonrise Kingdom a must-watch for fans of the distinctive director. To find out what else I liked about the film, just keep reading.

5 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Paying For College

LearnVest — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:15:23 PDT

Paying for college is such a complex issue. LearnVest helps simplify it by answering some key questions in regard to paying tuition.

If you believe everything you read, then you might think you need to be a Rockefeller to have kids.

That, of course, isn't the case.

Yes, kids are expensive, and thinking about paying for a college education can be scary and frustrating . . . but that's where we come in.

As with everything else in life, figuring out what to do about your kid's college savings is all about the planning, says Stephany Kirkpatrick, CFP, LearnVest's director of financial planning. Depending on where you are in life right now and how old your kids are, you may have questions about how to set up a 529 plan (which is an education savings plan designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs), what to look for, and when to start saving.

If you're pregnant or have a newborn and are starting to think about this, then good for you! The earlier you get started socking away cash for their college, the easier it will be. You'll learn a lot in this article, but you should also check out our Baby on Board Bootcamp, which will tell you everything you need to know - financially - to be ready for a baby. It includes 529 advice, as well as financial tips on everything from putting together a will and picking out a life insurance policy to buying nursery basics.
If your kid is slightly older and you’ve done your research but haven’t yet started saving in a 529 plan, then first read the four mistakes to avoid when choosing a 529 plan, and then check out the different college savings plans available to you.
If this is the first you’re thinking about it, no matter your kid's ageI, then don't worry about it. You have to start somewhere!

Read on for more.

What to Rent: New DVDs This Week

Maggie Pehanick — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

This Means War

In This Means War Reese Witherspoon plays a woman tasked with a tough challenge when she starts dating two guys (Tom Hardy and Chris Pine) at once, who just so happen to be secret agents and best friends. Her choice becomes harder as the super spies pull out all the stops to win her heart, including some hilarious hijinks meant to sabotage the other's efforts. It may be a corny premise, but it's easy to fall for both leading men and the script keeps it light and funny. Extras include commentary by Director McG, deleted scenes, and alternate endings.

25%

The Woman in Black

In the Edwardian era, a young lawyer (Daniel Radcliffe) travels to a small town to manage the affairs of a recently deceased local. While he is there, he finds the real case is a string of child suicides in the area. Though he still has many demons of his own, he attempts to investigate as more children die at their own hands. Locals alert him of the legend of the Woman in Black, and before long, he has his own run-ins with the ghost, who is none too pleased to have a man encroaching upon her space. DVD extras include commentaries and behind-the-scenes and making-of featurettes.

65%

One more release when you

Red Tails

Cuba Gooding Jr. and Terrence Howard lead the cast in this World War II-era flick about the role of African American pilots, produced by George Lucas. Despite racial segregation, the Pentagon has no choice but to deploy the number of African American airmen enlisted for the war. Though they are initially outcasts, the squadron soon wins the respect of the entire air force with their dedication and skills in the air. Extras include "Double Victory: The Tuskegee Airman at War" mini-documentary and featurettes on the director and the cast.

36%

An Everyday Athlete Is Still an Athlete

espnW — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:59:39 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our fave stories from espnW here on FitSugar!

By Risa Isard

On June 23, 1972, Title IX was signed into law, leveling the playing field for female athletes. To mark the 40th anniversary, espnW explore the impact of this landmark legislation.

You might not know me, but chances are you know someone like me. I'm that girl who grew up playing hoops in the driveway with my dad and brother every night after dinner. The one who played rec soccer for 10 years, starting out on a boys team. The one who persuaded her middle-school gym teacher to let her run the monthly timed mile against boys, then wrote her target time on her arm - in permanent marker. The one who took field day just a little too seriously.

The one who is thankful every day for Title IX.

Counting down the best of the past 40 years

Growing up, I wasn't an elite athlete, but I had passion to spare. I ran, jumped, threw, and kicked on a daily basis and eventually I found my calling in high school track and cross country. I was good (I earned seven varsity letters), but not good enough for the next level.

So when I arrived at Duke nearly four years ago, I found myself wondering something that had never crossed my mind before: was I still an athlete?

Answering that question was no easy task. As I read about various elite athletes, I recognized our shared pasts. Like gymnast Jordyn Wieber, I used to pull old cushions into the middle of the family room and do cartwheels, somersaults, and front handsprings. Like many WNBA stars, I was the only girl in neighborhood basketball games. I lacked their natural ability, but I came to realize that we are connected through dreams and experiences. We all began by thinking of ourselves as athletes and scheduling our lives around sports at a young age. That doesn't just go away.

Read on for more.

13 Health Gimmicks You Can Stop Wasting Money On

Business Insider — Tue, 01 May 2012 00:15:21 PDT

Consumers have a tendency of falling for the next big health gimmick. Save your money on health duds with these Business Insider tips.

No matter how many times we're told otherwise, Americans' obsession with get-healthy-quick schemes will likely never die. Too bad most of these fads aren't worth their weight in salt - or your hard-earned dollars. We've put together a list of some of the worst budget-sucking health trends that still persist today.

Coconut Water

Coconut water may be nature's version of Gatorade but some brands have already caught fire for over-hyping its nutrient content. Vita Coco agreed to settle a $10 million class action lawsuit over an independent study that showed the drinks didn't pack near as many electrolytes as advertisements implied. Some coconut waters are also loaded with added sugar, which will do nothing to help your waistline.

Alternative: Pick up your own young green coconuts on the cheap from an Asian produce market. Just crack them open with a cleaver and pop in a straw.

"All-Natural" Foods

30 percent of Americans bought more natural foods in 2011, according to a Rodale study. But what are we really paying more for? There's no clear cut regulation on what makes food "natural," which means just about any company can slap that label on its packages, add a fancy green theme and jack up the price.

Says Andrew Schrage of MoneyCrashers: "Before buying any food that is touted as being 'all natural,' take a look at the ingredient list before you check out. Keep in mind that butter and salt are indeed natural ingredients. So stocking up on natural foods may not achieve anything other than increasing your grocery bill."

Read on for more.