Win Human Planet on DVD *3 winners*

Human Planet is a BBC/Discovery Channel co-production that focuses solely on human behavior. Since premiering in the UK, the series has received overwhelming critical acclaim. It focuses on people and the relationship they have with nature. The DVD includes 80 stories that shows our ability to adapt and live in every corner of the world.

These 80 stories are part of six episodes that are contained on three DVDs. Each episode focuses on a particular habitat and shows how its people have created amazing solutions in the face of adversity. The regions that are included in this DVD journey are oceans, desserts, arctic, jungles, mountains, grasslands, rivers, and cities. There are also extras included that a set of ten behind the scenes bonus features and (exclusive to Blu-ray) a further making of feature called Zanskare that showcases the lives of a group of people who live at the edge of the Himalayas.

This is a truly amazing DVD series.  The footage is spectacular and gives you a chance to see places that you will probably never see.  You see how the people live, their families and children, how they dress and what challenges they face that are fairly unique to their area.

If you have BBC/Discovery Channel, you may have seen this already. However, you still want to pick up the DVD because exclusive to the DVD and Blu-ray is the episode on cities and the extra features. The DVD release date is 4/26/2011 and you can own it on Blu-ray as well.  reCheck out the official site.  Check out the trailer above.  Connect with WB on Facebook & Twitter for all the latest movies.

Three of my lucky readers are going to win their very own DVD set of Human Planet.  Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & visit the sponsor’s site.  Leave a comment telling me what you learned there.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1 daily

Win a 3 DVD Set of Human Planet from WB @scentednights #giveaway #win @wb_home_ent http://tinyurl.com/6eadxwf

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Follow the sponsor on Twitter +2
4. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
5. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
6. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

7. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

8. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

9. Subscribe to my blog. +1

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/17/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.

Win a copy of Unplanned on DVD

Abby Johnson was raised in a Christian home with pro-life beliefs. She went to church twice a week and was part of a close, loving home. She went off to college at Texas A&M after high school and enjoyed freedom much like any other college freshman would enjoy. She met someone and got pregnant. Feeling lost, she simply accepted his recommendation that she get an abortion.

She remembers back over the feeling of emptiness and uncertainty that she had during and after the abortion. She remembers her boyfriend's casual acceptance of it and the fact that they never discussed it again. Back at college, she again got pregnant and because her relationship with the baby's father was ending, she chose another abortion. A little while later, at college she came across a Planned Parenthood volunteer table where they were seeking volunteers to help at a local office. She was drawn to the hot pink colors and the dream of helping women who needed help.

This is her story. It's her story of volunteering at Planned Parenthood and what she saw there. It's the story of her success as she rose through the corporation to become a clinic director. It's the story of her awakening as she began to realize that some of what Planned Parenthood was doing wasn't to help women. Like any other corporation, the bottom line was a profit.

She shares with the viewer how she felt when she was informed that Planned Parenthood was going to be doing late term abortions. For those that don't know, these abortions are surgical and are done later in a woman's pregnancy and are much more controversial. I won't get into the details. Honestly, when I watched that section on the DVD, I was in tears. Suffice it to say that Abby Johnson shared with viewers the fact that what she was told as director to pass onto women considering a late term abortion & what she actually saw on the fetal monitor during a late term abortion are not nearly the same. This was the turning point for Abby Johnson and it was at this point that she knew she could not continue to work for Planned Parenthood.

Unplanned is a truly an amazing movie. You'll see how she struggled with her own choices and find out why she made the choice she did. I think every teenager should watch this movie before becoming sexually active and I think every woman considering an abortion should watch this.

Connect with Abby Johnson on Facebook to keep up with the latest news. Check out the trailer. Check out the Unite for LIFE webcast and sign up to participate if you like.  The Unite for LIFE webcast is a free webcast featuring Abby Johnson that will benefit pregnancy care organizations. You can sign up to participate on May 17 at 8:00 p.m. (in all time zones) at www.uniteforlifewebcast.org. Unplanned the book and the DVD will be available for purchase as a package deal and 33% of each purchase will go to crisis pregnancy centers like CareNet, the National Institute of Family & Life Advocates, and Heartbeat International.

One of my readers will win a gift certificate for their own DVD of Unplanned.  Here's what you can do for a chance to win:

To enter you must follow my blog & leave a comment telling me why you would like to win.

For extra entries:

1. Follow me on Twitter @scentednights & tweet about the contest. +1

Win the DVD Unplanned @scentednights #giveaway #win http://tinyurl.com/3c77dpn

2. Be my friend on Facebook & post this contest on your wall. +1

3. Like the sponsor on Facebook.  Please tell them I sent you (optional)! +2
4. Blog about this giveaway on your blog AND leave a link back to my site. +5
5. Leave a comment on a non-contest post on this blog. +1

6. Put my button or text link on your blog side bar. +1

7. Enter another of my current contests. +1 for each contest

8. Subscribe to my blog. +1

Remember, to please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.  You must be 18+ years old & live in the USA. The last day to enter is 5/9/2011.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this product.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Please note that  I am not responsible for sponsors that do not fulfill their prizes. I have represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner I will contact the sponsor regarding your prize(s). The sponsors, in most cases, are shipping their items to you directly. I will make every effort to assist you obtaining your prize but ultimately I am not responsible if they do not fulfill your prize win.

DVD Review: Gas Hole

I don't know about you but the last time I filled my gas tank up, I nearly had a coronary. If you're like some Americans, you may thank that the gas prices are going up, up, up because gasoline is in short supply. Gas Hole is an eye opening documentary that will explain the real reasons gas prices are climbing higher and higher each day.

Gas Hole examines the effects of the ongoing crises in the Middle East along with the tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan as it notes that oil prices are on the rise again after a short lull. These factors are tied to the coalition-led attack on Libya as well.

Gas Hole is narrated by Peter Gallagner (Covert Affairs, Californication) and features Joshua Jackson (Fringe). The movie gives a historic look at the oil prices and oil companies since the days of John D Rockefeller. It takes a look at how the oil companies have controlled the market by buying up patents, buying out the competition, and manipulating the supply and demand of oil.

The documentary also takes a look at our continued reliance on foreign oil as well as a variety of other alternative fuel options. The hosts discuss how the oil companies have stopped technology that would allow us to get a thousand miles per gallon from our cars. It also offers information on bureaucratic roadblocks that the government has placed to stop these alternative fuels from being developed.

The documentary shows a wide range of opinions from officials at the US Department of Energy, Democrat and Republican Congressional members, alternative fuel producers, alternative fuel consumers, professors of economics and psychology and more.

This movie is an eye opening look at what the real reason is that the oil prices are skyrocketing. It really has nothing to do with the weather, the Middle East or the amount of oil available. I had no idea that the government and the oil companies were tied so closely together. Gas Hole is written in a very easy to understand way and shows real excerpts from Congressional meetings to back up what it's saying. I recommend everyone watches this movie. Oil prices are going to continue to go up and we need to understand why.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Article first published as DVD Review: Gas Hole on Blogcritics.

Shaun the Sheep: The Big Chase available on April 19!

There's nothing that attracted my son when he was young more than a car. Even better than a car, a super fast, shiny car! Actually, I'm fairly certain thats still the case.

Well with Shaun the Sheep: The Big Chase arriving on DVD April 19, you can enjoy all the hilarious antics and adventures from Lionsgate and HIT Entertainment. From big races to big chases, bikes and boats and everything in between, your favorite friend Shaun the Sheep shares some of his favorite adventures.

There are seven episodes on this Shaun the Sheep DVD.  On "The Big Chase", Timmy drives off on The Farmer's new quad bike and Shaun, Bitzer and the flock give chase.  Can they rescue Timmy before The Farmer finds out?

On "Bitzer from the Black Lagoon", Bitzer falls into a muddy pond while trying to retrieve his ball. When Shaun sees a big, blobby, shambling thing squelching across the field, he's convinced they are being attacked by a swamp monster.

During "Zebra Ducks of the Serengeti", two hapless ducks that are covered in soot are mistaken for a pair of rare African Zebra Ducks. Seeing a way to make money, The Farmer transforms Shaun's field into an exotic duck sanctuary which he opens to the public.  Shaun wants his field back and goes about exposing the fraud.

Bitzer thinks that The Farmer is planning on replacing him on "Bitzer's Basic Training" and he decides to get in shape with Shaun's help.  Unfortunately, he goes completely over the top with his training and starts running the farm with military precision.

On "The Magpie", a magpie has nested in the big tree and is causing chaos by stealing everything around the farm.  the magpie's nest soon begins to fill up with treasure and Shaun has to come up with a brilliant plan to outwit the bird.

On "The Boat", The Farmer gets Bitzer to help him renovate an old boat, but as soon as his back is turned, the sheep and pigs turn the refurbishment into a swashbuckling game of pirates.

On "Hide & Squeak", a cute mouse appears in the farmhouse and terrorizes The Farmer. Pidsley the cat is ordered to dispose of the rodent.  When the mouse takes refuge in Shaun's fleece, the flock persuades him to protect their new found friend from the pitiless cat.

DVD bonus features include the Mini Making of Shaun video and Timmy's Tune #1. This DVD has a total of 45 minutes of play time.  What a great way to welcome spring!

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

DVD Review: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ~ Have you seen this ship?

Fox Home Entertainment is placing Dawn Treader ship standees in 3,000 supermarkets nationwide. These displays, which occupy approximately 3 feet by 8 feet of floor space, are quite impressive little replicas of the Dawn Treader ship, and will be accompanied by the DVD and items such as Coca-Cola and Little Debbie.
Mary Daily, executive VP of marketing for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment says that ”there are over six million shoppers a day that will see the Dawn Treader ship as they enter their local grocery store."  Variety informs us that the displays will be set up at the entrances of stores owned by Kroger, Safeway, SuperValu, Giant Eagle and H-E-B.

The books and  movies from Chronicles of Narnia are some of my kid's most favorite stories. Narnia:  Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the latest movie and was available on DVD and Blu-ray starting April 8th. I was really hoping that we'd see some of these ships in our stores but we haven't so far.  Have you seen them in your area?

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third story in the Chronicles of Narnia series. Lucy and Edmund meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea on The Dawn Treader. Along the way they meet up with dragons and dwarfs and loads of adventure. This movie is amazing. It's full of excitement and the fantasy portion of the story will definitely attract anyone who enjoys stories of magical adventures.  The Christian allegory in the story is subtle but definitely there and I love being able to encourage my kids to watch a fantasy story without worry that there will be inappropriate references. This is a great movie that's suitable for the whole family.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

DVD Review: The Big Uneasy

The Big Uneasy is a film all about Hurricane Katrina, the disaster that hit New Orleans, Louisiana in 2005. The Big Uneasy is directed by comic personality, Harry Shearer and contains guest spotlights from John Goodman. Harry Shearer is probably best known for the voice over work he does for the program The Simpsons.

The Big Uneasy is about more than the horrific damage that occurred during Hurricane Katrina. It's about the reason for the damage that occurred during Hurricane Katrina and its about what the media didn't report about Hurricane Katrina.

Harry Shearer feels that the Hurricane Katrina could have been prevented or minimized if it wasn't for man-made errors and poor judgment. He feels that the media was fed incorrect information which was then reported and led to many of the common misconceptions about Hurricane Katrina like the fact that it primarily affected poor black people.

The documentary interviews many of the investigators who had a part in determining the cause of the widespread damage. He also connects with a whistle blower from the Army Corps of Engineers who shares some of the flawed engineering that went into the design of the levee in New Orleans. He also brings to light that some of the same flawed methods that went into the construction of the original levee are going into the construction of the new levee that is supposed to protect the new New Orleans.

The segments hosted by John Goodman take a look at some of the common questions that people outside of New Orleans seem to have about Hurricane Katrina and the people who live in New Orleans. A few questions addressed are: Why would people choose the live below sea level? Why is it important to rebuild New Orleans?

There is a lot of video footage from the disaster including some that was shot by citizen's themselves and hasn't been seen before. It's also loaded with computer imagery that shows you what happened inside the levee itself during the disaster. The interview with the whistle blower was extremely informative and really brought a lot of information to light about why this happened. There are also several great comparisons to previous hurricanes in New Orleans like Hurricane Betsy in 1965.

If you're looking for a different perspective on Hurricane Katrina than the one seen in the media, you really need to check out this documentary.  It's well done and informative and the clips by John Goodman are both funny and a great match for Harry Shearer's style.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Article first published as DVD Review: The Big Uneasy on Blogcritics.

DVD Review: The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide

The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide is available on March 29th from Athena. Host Adam Hart-Davis explores how technology shapes our understanding of the universe in this six episode collection available to US audiences for the first time. Adam Hart-Davis holds a doctoral degree from York University and has presented many television and radio documentaries and written more than two dozen books on popular science.

Episode one discusses life in the cosmos and takes a look at the possibility of there being intelligent life on another plant or another solar system. It looks at how large the universe is and discusses whether or not it would be possible for us to communicate with other alien life forms if they did exist. It also examines the possible composition of these alien life forms.

Episode two takes a look at the Large Hadron Collider that is built underneath Geneva, Switzerland. It takes a look at whether or not it offers clues about the big bang theory. Scientists also discuss the possible origin of the planets and what stardust might be made of. It discusses the risk factor involved in the Large Hadron Collider and the possibility that it might actually induce the end of the planet.

Episode three takes a look at other worlds in an effort to better understand the moon and other bodies inside our own solar system. This episode introduces the viewer to the Hubble Space Telescope and how it has helped us to better understand the universe and all it contains.


Episode four discusses space exploration. It takes a look at the astronauts training in the Utah dessert for a possible mission to mars. We also learn how scientsts keep track of a deep space probe. Engineers discuss how they are testing new ways to escape the earth and how space exploration plays a part in that.

Episode five is titled the violent universe and looks at the violent explosions that happen in space both near our solar system and farther away. It looks at the cause and effect of the explosions, gamma ray bursts and solar flares.

The final episode looks at other worlds and the continued search for a planet similar to Earth. It explains how new technology allows us to better understand the moon and other planets inside of our solar system. Discussion involves water found on other planets and whether or not they are geologically alive.

This set contains two DVDs and a total of 169 minutes of programming. Each episode is about 25-30 minutes long. Bonus features include a 12 page viewer's guide with the life cycle of a star and articles on the European Space Agency, the Large Hadron Collider, communicating with aliens and the search for Earth like planets. Also include is a gallery of Apollo astronauts and discussion questions along with a time line of space exploration milestones.

This DVD set is loaded with tons of information. While the host does try to make it light hearted and fun, it's still some pretty heavy material. I like that each episode is broken down into fairly small segments so that it's easier to absorb. It would also work well being incorporated into a home school unit for an older child. I would think it would be a bit too complicated for a younger child to follow along with. The photographs are fantastic especially in the episode on the violent universe (5). The enclosed viewer's guide with the life cycle of stars was very informative and went a long way to explain some of the basic information you'll need to understand how the universe works.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this DVD.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

Article first published as DVD Review: The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide on Blogcritics.