Tag Archives: movies

Disney & SMRT Collaboration

Love Star Wars, The Avengers & Frozen? Then you’re in for a treat! SMRT and Disney have an 18-month collaboration and you will be able to get up close and personal with their most iconic characters. Disney’s franchises and brands will be brought closer to over 2 million passengers and hundreds of thousands more shoppers in SMRT’s transport and retail networks daily.

We attended the official launch on 12 November and the kids were delighted to be greeted by Stormtroopers when the train doors opened. Of course, they were there just for the launch but it was still pretty cool.

just another day on the train

just another day on the train

harassing the Stormtrooper

harassing the Stormtrooper

check out this carriage!

check out this carriage!

the Force is strong in this train

the Force is strong in this train

Ms Dawn Low of SMRT and Mr Rob Gilby of Disney

Ms Dawn Low of SMRT and Mr Rob Gilby of Disney

The entire train is Instagram-worthy and I can imagine fans of Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar and Disney having a blast taking photos of themselves in their favourite themed carriage. The kids at the launch all zoomed to the back of the train where characters from Frozen were prominently displayed on the windows.

I love all things Disney and I think this is such a great collaboration that will make our train rides more interesting. Really looking forward to riding the train with different Disney characters at the different lines and stations!

superheroes galore!

superheroes galore!

our favourite

our favourite

the kids are loving it!

the kids are loving it!

Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6

with Baymax

with Baymax

We caught Big Hero 6 on Saturday and absolutely loved it. Even before the movie was over, I wanted to watch it again! The kids enjoyed the show too and they simply adore the cuddly and squishy Baymax.

Set in San Fransokyo (a mash-up of Tokyo and San Francisoco), Big Hero 6 is an action packed comedy-adventure about robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who learns to harness his genius—thanks to his brilliant brother Tadashi and their like-minded friends: adrenaline junkie Go Go Tomago, neatnik Wasabi, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. When a devastating turn of events catapults them into the midst of a dangerous plot unfolding in the streets of San Fransokyo, Hiro turns to his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—and transforms the group into a band of high-tech heroes determined to solve the mystery.

San Fransokyo is a perfect setting for Big Hero 6: fast paced and energetic with traditional elements to show that there is still some heart in the midst of technology. I love how there’s so much humour in the movie but many touching moments as well where I had to wipe away a tear or two. The main character, Hiro Hamada, is imperfect and hence very human and easy to relate to. I was also heartened by the fact that the female characters are smart and independent women who fight alongside the men! Big Hero 6 brings the action while focusing on family, friendship and teamwork without being trite.

Official Trailer: http://bit.ly/1rzaIrz
Official release date: 13 November 2014
For more information, head to the official Walt Disney Studios SG Facebook page & Youtube page.

Grab your friends, give them a big Baymax hug, and catch Big Hero 6 today!

Planes: Fire & Rescue

The school holidays start tomorrow! One must-do for the holidays is to catch Disney’s latest animated feature Planes: Fire & Rescue!

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Planes: Fire & Rescue is a new comedy-adventure about second chances, featuring a dynamic crew of elite firefighting aircraft devoted to protecting historic Piston Peak National Park from raging wildfire. When world famous air racer Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire-and-rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his courageous team, including spirited air tanker Dipper, heavy-lift helicopter Windlifter, ex-military transport Cabbie and a lively bunch of brave all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.

Some of my favourite characters from Planes: Fire & Rescue.

PLANES FIRE & RESCUE
When world-famous air racer Dusty Crophopper returns to his hometown after another victorious racing season, he revels in his new career success until a fateful training run changes his course with a career-ending injury. Forced to shift gears, Dusty decides to train with the Aerial Fire Fighters at Piston Peak Air Attack Base as a Single Engine Air Tanker.

PLANES FIRE & RESCUE
Windlifter is a heavy-lift helicopter who can hoist dozens of trees or a huge tank of fire retardant. The American Indian’s wisdom is vast—he’s chock full of fire folklore, and his connection to nature allows him to sense fires before they’re even spotted. The former lumberjack became a firefighter to help others, and no mission is too big for Windlifter.

Blade_Ranger_-_Planes_Fire_and_Rescue (600x400)
Blade Ranger, a veteran fire-and-rescue helicopter, heads up the Piston Peak Air Attack team. Haunted by a storied past, he’s a tough and demanding air boss with a wry sense of humor, and he’s not exactly enthusiastic about his new trainee Dusty. But Blade is a pro and does everything he can to bring the new SEAT up to speed.

We caught the media preview on Tuesday and really liked it. Planes: Fire & Rescue has an inspiring and heartwarming storyline that is action-packed and manages to avoid the usual cliches. Sequels don’t always live up to the hype generated by the original installment, but if you have watched Planes, I assure you that Planes: Fire & Rescue is even better!

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we love Planes: Fire & Rescue!

getting (temporarily) tattooed before the show

getting (temporarily) tattooed before the show

enjoying toasted marshmallows

enjoying toasted marshmallows

getting our Instagram picture printed on the spot

getting our Instagram picture printed on the spot

Catch Planes: Fire & Rescue in cinemas now! You don’t want to miss this exciting family film! Visit the Planes: Fire & Rescue site for fun games and downloads!

One of My Favourite Things: The Sound of Music

Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start! When I was a little kid, I loved watching the film version of The Sound of Music. I knew most of the songs by heart and would sing them all the time. So it was such a treat to be able to watch The Sound of Music on stage last night. From the moment the show started, I was tempted to sing along with the songs (but refrained for the sake of those around me.)

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music tells the uplifting true story of Maria, the fun-loving governess who changes the lives of the widowed Captain von Trapp and his seven children by re-introducing them to music, culminating in the family’s flight across the Austrian mountains. The heartwarming story and the unforgettable songs make The Sound of Music the best loved musical of all time, delighting both young and old.

Six of the seven Von Trapp children are played by 18 Singapore kids picked from over 400 applicants. The children were energetic and adorable and it’s lovely to know that we have such talented little ones in Singapore. The scenes with the children were my favourite because they brought so much enthusiasm to their roles and there was obvious chemistry between them.

The Sound of Music The Sound of Music

I was especially moved by the scene where Captain von Trapp sang Edelweiss with such emotion to subtly declare his loyalty to Austria and say goodbye before escaping over the mountains with the entire Von Trapp family. To be honest, when I watched The Sound of Music as a child, the significance of the song, and the other scenes involving the union of Austria with Germany, completely escaped me.The Sound of Music The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is a must-watch and is a show the whole family can enjoy. Catch The Sound of Music at Grand Theatre, MBS from now until 10 August 2014 before they say ‘So Long, Farewell’!

TICKETING AND SHOW INFORMATION

SEASON: 11 July – 10 August 2014
PERFORMANCE TIMES: Tuesday – Friday 8pm; Saturday 2pm & 8pm; Sunday 12pm & 6pm
TICKET PRICE: From $65 (Excludes the booking fee of $3 per ticket)
THROUGH INTERNET: BASE Entertainment, Marina Bay Sands Ticketing or SISTIC
BY PHONE: 6688 8826
IN PERSON AT: Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 Lobby)

NoQ NoQ, Who’s There? Superheroes & Princesses!

Ok, that’s just a little joke of mine. When a friend told me about NoQ a couple of years back, I thought it was pronounced like ‘knock’ until he explained that it meant ‘no queue’. And that, of course, is the key selling point of NoQ Store. You can browse their wide selection from the comfort of your home and get your books delivered to you in 7-14 days. Delivery is free with a minimum order of $25.

These days, if I have time to read at all, I read e-books on my Kindle. But I do believe in buying lots of books for the kids or borrowing the books from the library when they can be found. We try to read to the kids every night and they are actually quite happy to read the same thing night after night and several times in one night! To ensure I’m not bored out of my mind reading the same book over and over, I buy many different books related to their current interests.

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For Anya, it’s all about Disney princesses, especially Elsa & Anna from Frozen. Adam is into superheroes like Superman and Batman. I like the Step Into Reading books because I can choose titles from the appropriate level to help Anya along in her reading journey. The paperbacks are only $4.19 each! Frozen: Big Snowman, Little Snowman is too easy for her but we love the illustrations; Frozen: A Tale of Two Sisters is more suitable.

I have a soft spot for Little Golden Books because they have been around forever and I used to read them as a child. They are also a very affordable $4.19 each and are attractively illustrated. Adam likes to flip through Frozen and his superheroes books.

The thing I like most about NoQ is their fantastic range: they have almost every book I want to buy and the prices are competitive. They also have discounts on various types of books ever so often. But the search function could be better. It’s not always possible to find the book I want by searching one of the key words and it takes a bit of trial and error to locate certain books. It’s still a very decent online bookstore though and I do appreciate the occasional sales.

Discount code for readers

From now until 31 July 2014, get 15% discount on all purchases at NoQ when you use the code DELPHINE at checkout.

Disney On Ice: Treasure Trove Ticket Giveaway!

We blogged about Disney On Ice: Treasure Trove fairly recently and we’re really excited about the show. To let you in on my little secret, I have a bit of a crush on Flynn Rider from Tangled because he’s such a handsome rogue, so I can’t wait to see him and the beautiful Rapunzel on the ice!

Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove takes you on an action-packed adventure with 50 of the most beloved Disney characters from all your favourite animated movies. The show will appeal to the kids, and also to parents (like myself!) who have grown up with some of the animated features like The Little Mermaid and Lion King. Best of all, it’s happening during the March school holidays!

Disney On Ice: Treasure Trove

Disney On Ice: Treasure Trove

Disney On Ice: Treasure Trove

There are a few Disney On Ice: Treasure Trove roadshows lined up, and you should definitely catch one if it’s in your neighbourhood!

Jem: 18 – 23 Feb
Forum: 28 Feb – 2 Mar
West Coast Plaza: 7 – 9 Mar
Square 2: 14 – 16 Mar

TICKETS! :)

Disney On Ice: Treasure Trove will be at Singapore Indoor Stadium from 19 – 23 March 2014 with tickets starting at just $20! Tickets can be purchased online, via the tickets hotline at 6333 5000, by visiting the Sports Hub Tickets Box Office, or at any Sports Hub ticket outlet at all SingPost locations.

GIVEAWAY! :)

Win a set of 4 tickets for Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove! These tickets are for the opening show on Wednesday, 19 March 2014, 7.30pm at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

To qualify, simply do the following by TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2014, 2359H (Singapore time):

1. Like the ‘In the Wee Hours’ Facebook page.
2. Like the ‘Disney On Ice Singapore’ Facebook page.
3. Leave a comment here with your email address telling me which Disney character(s) you are hoping to see in the show and why!

To learn more about Disney On Ice: Treasure Trove, visit their website and Facebook page. Get your tickets now! See you there! :)

RESULTS! :)

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Congrats to comment number 17: Pmbabe! You will be contacted shortly. There is another giveaway going on at Missus Tay for those who want to try their luck again!

Frozen: the COOLEST Show in Town!

Frozen

with some friends

with some friends

Anya wants to change her name to Elsa! She decided this after watching the preview of Frozen with my aunt last Tuesday while we were off celebrating our anniversary. Frozen is Disney’s latest animated movie and is based on Hans Christian Anderson’s ‘The Snow Queen’. Elsa is the Snow Queen and Anya thinks she’s the coolest. I haven’t seen Frozen yet but I really want to after watching the trailer and listening to Anya talk on and on about the show. She thinks the show is super funny, loves the songs and wants to watch the show again!

I can’t wait to go and watch Frozen when it’s released on 28 November. For a great review, as well as suggested activities that can be done in conjunction with the movie, hop on over to Princess Dana Diaries!