Monday, October 6, 2008

Mickey Mouse: Disney Movie Club

By Steve Collins

The most popular animated character of all-time is undoubtedly Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse is the creation of Walt Disney with the help of fellow animator Ub Iwerks. While he was originally nothing more than a cartoon character, he has transformed into one of the most recognized symbols in the world. How did this astounding character come to be?

Walt Disney had already achieved a certain amount of success with his character "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit." However, his distributor procured the rights to the character and hired away most of Disney's staff. After meeting his contractual obligations with Oswald, Disney experimented with a number of different animals including a horse, cow, and frog. A new character was on the horizon. When Walt was a boy in Missouri, he had a pet mouse. His affection for this mouse would finally inspire one of the greatest animated characters of all time. He asked Iwerks to come up with some sketches of a lovable little mouse and the initial drafts called the loveable mouse "Mortimer Mouse." Luckily his wife talked him out of the idea and they came up with the idea of "Mickey."

Mickey Mouse was first seen in a short movie called "Plane Crazy." In this movie, Mickey hopes to be an aviator. He and Minnie take a flight during which Minnie parachutes from. Mickey eventually crashes the plane. The short received mixed reviews and did not fare as well as Disney had hoped.

Mickey eventually broke through with the movie "Steamboat Willie." This was generally credited as Mickey's official debut. The reason behind this is that this feature actually got picked up by a distributor, while the previous Mickey shorts did not. While this wasn't the first cartoon to have sound, it was the first one to synchronize the sound with the action. It is interesting to note that Disney personally performed the voices for Mickey and Minnie.

The path to becoming a global icon was set. Disney capitalized on Mickey's popularity by putting his likeness on everything from lunch boxes to movie cases. Presently, those big black ears are recognized by practically anyone. In recent years, his status has continued with children as a result of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cartoon and similar shows. As each generation introduces him to the next, the appeal of Mickey Mouse knows no bounds.

Mickey Mouse can be seen in a number of loved movies and cartoons. If you would like to introduce your family to his high antics, enroll in the Disney Movie Club today. You can have classics like "Fantasia" delivered right to your door. Share the magic tonight!

About the Author:

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Convert DVD to AVI File - Movavi VideoSuite Discount

By Luke Richards

Many programs are available that can allow you to backup your DVD movies to your computer. The most common form of backup file is the .AVI file, which can hold an entire movie by itself with low file size but high quality. AVI files typically use DivX or Xvid codecs to create the movies.

They are the most common file that movies are stored in on computers. So common, in fact, that many DVD players can actually play them now, so you can backup DVDs to your computer, then burn them again to a DVD-Recordable disk and play them on your TV (if you have the right software).

A great and popular piece of software that can do all of this and much more (including video editing, burning...) is Movavi Videosuite. It is a fully-featured video editing product that is used by beginners and professionals alike.

Using Movavi Videosuite, there are only a few simple steps you need to take to backup DVD to AVI:

1. Run the Videosuite, click the DVD button and Add DVD. This will allow you to backup everything on the DVD. Choose the correct IFO or VOB files that you wish to copy.

2. Select the correct audio track in the correct language that you want in your AVI

3. Choose output format as AVI (DivX, Xvid, etc)

4. Select a proper video output path for the file you are saving to your computer.

5. Click the convert button to begin backing up your dvd.

This is a great way to store DVDs in small file sizes which are still near-DVD quality. If you have a DVD burner and DVD-R DVDs, then you can burn several movies onto one disc!

Of course, remember to only make backup copies of DVDs that you rightfully own.

About the Author:

Download Rambo 4 The Movie Online

By Davion W

Did you manage to watch Rambo 4? If not, you can always download Rambo 4 the movie online. This is one of the most popular blockbusters and it is definitely worth the few hours of your time. Read on to learn how to download Rambo 4 the movie online.

This part 4 of the popular Rambo series sees Sylvester Stallone kicking butts and stringing his bow and arrows on the villains once again. This is an action movie that is packed with explosive action and thrills, more than what you have seen so far. Download Rambo 4 the movie online and decide if this is the best.

Well, the previous Rambo 3 was released some 20 years ago. Now, this is a long wait. Then again, when you say "Rambo", it will still attract the crowds. Download Rambo 4 the movie online and see Stallone in action once again as the Vietname Hero, John Rambo this time in Burma.

This time round, you will see Rambo taking on the entire army against an odds that well, only John can handle. The underlying message that is conveyed through the movie is the difference a man can make if he is willing to try. See all the action when you download Rambo 4 the movie online and watch.

The battle of good and evil continues in the movie. Rambo, entrusted with the mission to rescue some missionaries who were captured. Towards the end of the movie, you see John returning home to the United States. Could this be a hint of another sequel?

The movie is hardly boring. There is no moment where viewers have to contend with boring dialogues or try hard to make sense of the movie. The plot is as straightforward as ever, Rambo style. This movie sees more action than the 3 prequels before it.

See for yourself why the movie was the highest grossing blockbuster for the opening week, behind 'Meet the Spartans'. It was also one of the most controversial movies of the year, with the biggest distributor in Britain, Odeon, refusing to screen it. It was also not screened in parts of Switzerland. Watch the movie for yourself and find out what caused all this controversy in a movie that people had been waiting for, for so long.

Go over to the resource below to download Rambo 4 the movie online now.

About the Author:

Friday, October 3, 2008

Things You'd Like To Know To Download Transformers The Movie

By Davion W

There had already been a lot of raving reviews about Transformers the Movie because of its amazing audio and visual effects, among others. If you missed seeing it when was shown in theatres around the globe, you can still watch the full length movie in DVd or download Transformers the Movie from the internet.

The risk of spyware infection, however, may turn you off to download Transformers the Movie in your system. The possibility of spyware infection is big only if you download from illegal or free sites. Legitimate sites, on the other hand, are usually spware-free.

Before you begin to download Transformers the Movie, there are several things you need to have. First and foremost is the obvious --- you will need a computer, preferably with a large amount of space, because movie files usually have large space requirements.

Next, an internet connection is a must. Whether you have DSL or Broadband or a slower connection, you can still be able to download Transformers the Movie. However, a high-speed internet connection is recommended because the downloads are a lot faster and therefore, less time-consuming.

Lastly, you must have a membership in a legitimate site that offers downloading services. Legitimate sites always require a certain fee --- that's a given. Some charge a one-time membership fee, an annual fee or a monthly subscription, while others may charge you for every download that you make. A wise choice is to go for a one-time membership fee because it is less expensive in the long run, plus you get unlimited access to movies, not just one.

An important thing to consider before you download Transformers the Movie is that the site must not only be legitimate, it has to be of good quality as well. Good quality sites often have an efficient technical support system, a secured payment system, and high quality and updated movie files.

Definitely, you will find so many free sites in the internet. Instinctively, you may choose to download from these sites rather than paying the membership fee. However, internet experts will always warn you against doing so. Free sites do not have a secure payment system nor an efficient technical support, and the worst thing about free sites is the malware that you get to download into your system when you download the movie files.

Why not hop over to my entertainment blog to download Transformers the movie safely and instantly?

About the Author:

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Vineyards and Wineries of Washington State

By Penelope SanMateo

Joining the growing number of wineries in the nation Washington has seen a 400 percent increase in the number of wineries in the past decade. With this increase has come the ability to buy great wines from this beautiful region that will satisfy the most discriminating taste.

Modern technology has made the process of making wine more sophisticated but the talent to produce great wine is all in the hands of the vintner who uses skills developed over generations of great wine makers sharing their knowledge to have some of the best wines now available at the wineries in Washington.

If you were in France and drinking wine in the regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy you would be at the same exact latitude of the wine country in Washington. With all the positive things going for wine in Washington being designated as American Viticulture Area is certainly a plus!

No crowds, no hurry, no pressure. Isn't that what a vacation should be? You will experience the peace and pleasure of great countryside and great wine on a wine tour in Washington. Find the wine you like by going to the wine tastings offered by the different wineries. Find a great place to stay while in the area and make it the most relaxing and enjoyable vacation you have ever taken.

It may be dinner time at your house and what better way to set a relaxing environment than to have a wonderful glass of wine with dinner. Perhaps you are having something that a dry white will enhance or maybe you want a full bodied red to wake up your taste buds. Either can be obtained from one of the wineries in Washington.

Swirl it, Smell it and Slurp it! Get your wine glass, pour in your favorite wine, then swirl it around the glass to get the air to it, smell the wonderful aroma of the wine and then slurp (quietly, gently please) a little to add more air to bring out the full flavor of the wine. The experience will be absolutely delightful.

If just 1% of the wine grapes of Washington are grown on the eastern side of the Cascades then you would think that it was a poor area for wine growers. In fact, it is a great area where the soil is right, the climate perfect and the growing season long to provide fully ripened, fruit flavored grapes with good acid levels and pleasing aromatics. This area will certainly become more of a draw to vintners in the time to come.

The French, Italians and Germans began planting wine grapes in the state as early at 1825 for their own use when they were settling the area. Commercial planting of wine grapes didn't being in Washington until the 1960's with rapid expansion of the industry occurring in the mid-70's. Now there are new wineries opening every couple of weeks for your enjoyment.

About the Author:

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

How To Watch Free TV On PC

By Jed Elaine

TV is undoubtedly getting to be a cosmopolitan culture. In fact, there are now different forms of TV transmission. Of late, a niche form of IPTV is catching on really well. This one is accessed and watched on PC. It's Free TV PC through Internet, where satellite TV is streamed directly to our computer over the internet.

Again, they could involve software, hardware or a combination of both. Of these, the most popular is the software-only option because of practical reasons such as ease, immediacy and cost.

Actually, Free TV On PC through Internet has been around for years. It's just that the connection speed had constrained the technology for the longest time, in particular characterizing it with sporadic image stuttering. But not anymore, with broadband typically into the mega-bps nowadays, that problem has become a thing of the past.

Most households have a PC with internet access anyway and they're all that's needed to watch free TV PC. If navigating in search of these freebies is too bothersome, then there're the commercial service providers to turn to. You can still watch TV on Computer free but there's generally a one-time fee for the software.

The process is simple and immediate. Once the sign-up is completed with payment, you will be directed to the download site for the proprietary software to enable access to the service. Installation is a matter of minutes and there will be no further charges whatsoever, ever. It's TV galore within minutes.

Thousands of channels download on demand, across the board genres, no question refund guarantee and worldwide access are standard features of the program. While a fee is involved, it's one-time for a lifetime. With so much for so little, there's no stopping Free Satellite TV For PC now.

About the Author:

Pete's Dragon Roars On

By Fabian Toulouse

Before the day's of Disney's Pixar and digital animation, there were a special group of people whose lasting innovation brought to the big screen some amazing work that blended live-action and animation. Originally planned as a live-action production, "Pete's Dragon" never got off the ground, ending up in the Disney vault for nearly two decades. Almost ten years after the death of Walt Disney, the fantasy of "Pete's Dragon" was revived. In the original version, Pete's invisible dragon, Elliott, was only going to be seen once in the movie. But under the genius of Don Bluth and Ken Anderson, Elliott not only came to life, but has become one of the most beloved Disney heroes in history.

The process of adding an animated main character into the live-action film was no small task. Keep in mind the technology of digital animation was new in the early 1990's with "Beauty and the Beast" and "The Rescuers Down Under." That was a total of fifteen years after "Pete's Dragon" began production. Pixar, when they came onto the scene, were considered light years ahead in comparison to the technology used in "Pete's Dragon." Rather than Xeroxing the drawings of Elliott onto the live-action cells, many of the cells had to be laboriously hand inked. To ensure that the final artwork matched the live action, Don Bluth insisted that Elliott's stomach and outline were hand inked in key scenes.

The film begins with young Pete trying to escape the abuse of a swamp family, the Gogans, who had bought him from an orphanage to essentially work as a slave. The viewer is immediately pulled into the story, watching the Gogan family, headed by the talented Shelly Winters, break into a song and dance about the torture they plan to inflict on poor Pete.

With the help of his invisible dragon, Elliott, Pete makes his way out of the swamplands and ends up in the little fishing village of Passamaquoddy. It isn't long before we see that, while Elliott is usually invisible, he still takes up a wide berth and leaves evidence of his size in his wake. This causes a massive amount of trouble for the scrawny, bedraggled Pete who has a hard time convincing the townspeople of his innocence. Befriended by the breathtaking lighthouse keeper, Nora (played by Helen Reddy), Pete is welcomed into a real home where he is given warm food, clean clothes, and the first acts of human kindness he had experienced in a very long time. Nora's father, Lampie, played by Mickey Rooney, believes wholeheartedly in the existence of Pete's invisible friend. The story unfolds with laughter, love, compassion, adventure, and the conviction that happy endings are simply miracles in the waiting.

"Pete's Dragon" showcases the talents of Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters, and Jim Backus. This all star cast, combined with the skill of Disney, makes "Pete's Dragon" a must have for movie aficionados of all ages. Disney Movie Club is proud to help you make "Pete's Dragon" a part of your home video collection today.

About the Author: