iLive 45-inch HD Soundbar Review

Disclosure: Complimentary product was received for review purposes

The iLive 45” HD Soundbar is the first soundbar I’ve owned and I’m very happy with it. The soundbar is 45” long with the detachable satellite speakers attached and 32” on its own. It comes with a subwoofer, a wall mount kit, remote control, power adapters for both the soundbar and the subwoofer, charging cables if you keep the satellite speakers detached, and an optical audio cable.Setup was very simple. I plugged in the soundbar and attached the two satellite speakers. Since my TV doesn’t have enough HDMI ports, I used the provided optical audio cable to connect the soundbar to the TV. I plugged the subwoofer into an outlet across the room. I turned everything on and was ready to test it out.

The soundbar was a huge upgrade over my TV speakers. The sound is full and the bass from the subwoofer is more than adequate. The remote lets you choose amongst music, movie, or dialog and they do make a difference in the listening experience. You can also choose amongst the different input options, control the volume, and adjust the bass and treble with the remote.

The Bluetooth is simple to connect with my phone and easy to switch between other sources if someone else wants to play their music. There is an auxiliary port on the soundbar if your music device isn’t Bluetooth capable and you need to connect the old school way.

I do have a few issues with the iLive 45” Sound Bar with Satellite Speakers & Wireless Subwoofer. First of all, the optical audio cable that comes with is only 3’ 4” long. I needed to buy a longer one to be able to run it from my wall mounted TV and through the wall to the soundbar. Secondly, although there are volume, bass, and treble controls on the remote, there’s no visual indication of their levels. You just need to press each up or down and listen to determine the desired level of each. These issues are not dealbreakers.

Overall, the iLive 45” HD Soundbar is a great sound system, especially for the price. It’s easy to setup, has enough features for the average user and, most importantly, it sounds great!

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A Dog's Journey Review

A Dog's Journey (Rated PG)
Some friendships transcend lifetimes. In A Dog’s Journey, the sequel to the heartwarming global hit A Dog’s Purpose, beloved dog Bailey finds his new destiny and forms an unbreakable bond that will lead him, and the people he loves, to places they never imagined.

Bailey (voiced again by Josh Gad) is living the good life on the Michigan farm of his “boy,” Ethan (Dennis Quaid) and Ethan’s wife Hannah (Marg Helgenberger). He even has a new playmate: Ethan and Hannah’s baby granddaughter, CJ. The problem is that CJ’s mom, Gloria (Betty Gilpin), decides to take CJ away. As Bailey’s soul prepares to leave this life for a new one, he makes a promise to Ethan to find CJ and protect her at any cost.

Thus begins Bailey’s adventure through multiple lives filled with love, friendship and devotion as he, CJ (Kathryn Prescott), and CJ’s best friend Trent (Henry Lau) experience joy and heartbreak, music and laughter, and few really good belly rubs.

Hawaii Dad Blog Review

The movie begins with Bailey living on a Michigan farm with Ethan and his wife, Hannah. Also living with them are their toddler granddaughter, CJ, and their daughter-in-law, the recently widowed, Gloria (Hannah's son died just before CJ was born). Gloria feels Ethan and Hannah see her as an unfit mother (she is one), and even accuses them of wanting to take CJ away from her to get the money from an insurance payout. Eventually, Gloria leaves for Chicago, taking CJ with her in a heartbreaking scene. Bailey is a source of comfort for the grieving couple until he needs to be put down due to a medical condition. Ethan holds the dog in his final moments and tells Bailey's that his purpose is to always look after CJ.

Throughout the remainder of the movie, Bailey's spirit moves in and out of the bodies of several dogs over their respective life spans. 

Each dog will seek out and find CJ as she grows and deals with an alcoholic and neglectful mother, an abusive boyfriend,and a case of stage fright which hampers her burgeoning music career.

Although there are several different "dog bodies," the spirit of Bailey is consistent and we, the viewer, know this because Bailey's thoughts are voiced by the same actor, Josh Gadd. He provides comedic relief by seeing situations as, I'd imagine, a dog would. Sometimes his commentary would balance out an intense scene, and other times it would show a dog's intuition, such as when he thinks that Gloria smells strong (because she's drunk) or when he senses that Hannah is upset (because she was losing her granddaughter).

A Dog's Journey is a sequel to A Dog's Purpose, but if you did not see the first movie, you will still enjoy the second one.

A Dog's Journey really knows how to pull at the heartstrings.  My son enjoyed the movie because of the cute dogs and poop jokes, but overall, it is a great family movie - perfect for dog-lovers and anyone who enjoys a heartwarming tale. 

I may look at dogs different now, as I wonder if my long gone Pomeranian is trying to find me...

Mahalo to the sponsor for the complimentary tickets.

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How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World Review

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Rated PG)

From DreamWorks Animation comes a surprising tale about growing up, finding the courage to face the unknown ... and how nothing can ever train you to let go. What began as an unlikely friendship between an adolescent Viking and a fearsome Night Fury dragon has become an epic adventure spanning their lives. Welcome to the most astonishing chapter of one of the most beloved animated franchises in film history: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.

Now chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of a female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they've known and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destines are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together—to the very ends of the Earth—to protect everything they've grown to treasure.

For How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, series director Dean DeBlois returns alongside the all-star cast. The film is produced by Brad Lewis (Ratatouille, ANTZ) and Bonnie Arnold (Toy Story, How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon 2).

Hawaii Dad Blog Review:

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World begins with what my youngest son said was his favorite scene: Hiccup and his friends, along with Toothless and the other dragons, sneak onto a dragon trapper ship to free several caged dragons. An exciting battle ensues, and the heroes are successful in releasing the trapped dragons.

However, they do not realize that they've left behind a white, female Night Fury. When the trappers tell the notorious dragon slayer, Grimmel the Grisly, about Hiccup and Toothless, he is shocked because he'd thought he had killed all of the Night Furies. He decides to use the female to lure Toothless to him.

Hiccup, now the chief of his village, is dealing with an overpopulation of dragons, as well as his insecurities of living up to his father in addition to the expectations that he and Astrid should get married. When he learns that Grimmel is now hunting Toothless, he makes the tough decision to abandon their homeland and search for The Hidden World that his father had once told him about - a place where dragons could live freely.

I was pleasantly surprised with How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. It was full of adventure, humor, and awesome animation and visuals.  Scenes between dragons were reflective of nature documentaries - compelling, intriguing, and so realistic. 

My kids enjoyed the movie, and overall it is a very entertaining, family-friendly film. 

If you plan to see How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, I'd suggest brushing up on the previous two installments first if you aren't a hard core fan. However, even if you go in as a relative newbie, this movie will still prove to be a funny, touching and visually stunning experience.  

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is in theaters now.

Mahalo to the sponsor for the screening tickets.

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Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Review

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (Rated PG-13) Synopsis:
Warner Bros. Pictures’ Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is the second of five all new adventures in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World™.

At the end of the first film, the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp) was captured by MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), with the help of Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But, making good on his threat, Grindelwald escaped custody and has set about gathering followers, most unsuspecting of his true agenda: to raise pure-blood wizards up to rule over all non-magical beings.

In an effort to thwart Grindelwald’s plans, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) enlists his former student Newt Scamander, who agrees to help, unaware of the dangers that lie ahead. Lines are drawn as love and loyalty are tested, even among the truest friends and family, in an increasingly divided Wizarding World.

Review:
The movie starts out with the escape of Grindelwald during his extradition back to Britain from his American cell. The powerful Grindelwald wants to rule over the no-maj population with his fellow wizards. To help him in this quest, he seeks out the young and gifted Credence, who has relocated to Paris in hopes of finding his real family. Magizoologist Newt Scamander reluctantly agrees to help stop Grindelwald by finding Credence first.

I felt the movie fell short in keeping the audience engaged.  Although my son did identify a few humorous parts in the movie, I felt somewhat disinterested in the main characters, and was wanting to see more of the secondary characters, Jacob and Queenie, who were very entertaining in the previous installment.

The actions scenes were visually stunning and the cinematography was good, however, the first installment simply had so much more to offer.  

Hard core Harry Potter fans may enjoy the movie, but if you are unfamiliar with the series at all, you may find the movie very difficult to understand or even enjoy.

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is now in theaters.  Get tickets here.

Mahalo to the sponsor for the screening tickets.

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Smallfoot Review

Smallfoot (Rated PG)
An animated adventure for all ages, with original music and an all-star cast, Smallfoot turns a myth upside down when a bright young yeti finds something he thought didn’t exist—a human.

News of this “smallfoot” throws the simple yeti community into an uproar over what else might be out there in the big world beyond their snowy village, in an all new story about friendship, courage and the joy of discovery.

Smallfoot stars Channing Tatum (The LEGO® Batman Movie, the Jump Street films) as the yeti, Migo, and James Corden (Trolls, The Emoji Movie) as the Smallfoot, Percy. Also starring are Zendaya (Spider-Man: Homecoming), Common (Selma), LeBron James (upcoming Space Jam 2), Danny DeVito (The Lorax, Oscar nominee for Erin Brockovich), Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), Yara Shahidi (TV’s Black-ish), Ely Henry (TV’s Justice League Action), and Jimmy Tatro (22 Jump Street).

Smallfoot is directed by Karey Kirkpatrick, Annie Award-winning director of Over the Hedge and Annie nominee for the screenplays for Chicken Run and James and the Giant Peach. The screenplay is by Kirkpatrick and Clare Sera, screen story by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra and Kirkpatrick, based on the book Yeti Tracks, by Sergio Pablos.

The film is produced by Bonne Radford (Curious George), Glenn Ficarra (Storks, This is Us,) and John Requa (Storks, This is Us). Serving as executive producers are Nicholas Stoller, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Jared Stern, Karey Kirkpatrick, Sergio Pablos, Courtenay Valenti, and Allison Abbate. The creative team includes editor Peter Ettinger, and composer Heitor Pereira. Animation is by Sony Pictures Imageworks.

Hawaii Dad Blog Review:

Smallfoot starts off by introducing us to a group of yetis who live atop a mountain above the clouds. Their leader, the Stonekeeper, orders them to follow the rules of the stones.  The yetis perform seemingly meaningless daily tasks, and are discouraged from asking any questions.  

One day, Migo, a young yeti rule-follower, crosses paths with a "Smallfoot," a pilot whose plane crashed near their village. When Migo tries to tell the other yetis what he saw, he is exiled from the village.

Migo joins up with a few others who have formed a secret group of yeti conspiracy theorists. They believe Migo and help him go below the clouds (where the stones have told them not to go) to find the Smallfoot and bring him back to prove he was telling the truth.

Smallfoot was quite funny. I especially liked the ode to the old Looney Toons cartoons.  My son liked the small yeti, Fleem, who had many of the funniest lines.

Aside from the laughs, Smallfoot also delivered a worthy message - don't be afraid to get to know others who are different from you, which is good advice in this day and age.

I thought the voice actors all did a great job, and I really enjoyed how the characters would break into song throughout the movie. I felt that it really added to the entertainment factor, and it also helped move the story along. 

Smallfoot is a great movie for families with young kids.

Mahalo to the sponsor for the screening tickets.

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Teen Titans GO! to the Movies Review

Teen Titans GO! to the Movies (Rated PG) Synopsis:
When the Teen Titans go to the big screen, they go big! Teen Titans GO! to the Movies finds our egocentric, wildly satirical Super Heroes in their first feature film extravaganza—a fresh, gleefully clever, kid-appropriately crass and tongue-in-cheek play on the superhero genre, complete with musical numbers.

It seems to the Teens that all the major superheroes out there are starring in their own movies—everyone but the Teen Titans, that is! But de facto leader Robin is determined to remedy the situation, and be seen as a star instead of a sidekick. If only they could get the hottest Hollywood film director to notice them. With a few madcap ideas and a song in their heart, the Teen Titans head to Tinsel Town, certain to pull off their dream. But when the group is radically misdirected by a seriously Super-Villain and his maniacal plan to take over the Earth, things really go awry. The team finds their friendship and their fighting spirit failing, putting the very fate of the Teen Titans themselves on the line!

Will Arnett (The LEGO® Batman Movie) and Kristen Bell (Frozen) lend their voices to the first-ever big-screen version of DC Entertainment and Cartoon Network’s animated TV show, which also stars Greg Cipes (TV’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) as Beast Boy, Scott Menville (TV’s Spider-Man) as Robin, Khary Payton (The Walking Dead) as Cyborg, Tara Strong (the My Little Pony franchise) as Raven, and Hynden Walch (TV’s Adventure Time with Finn & Jake) as Starfire, reprising their roles from the series.

Hawaii Dad Blog Review:
Teen Titans GO! to the Movies centers round the group's longing to be in a superhero movie like their fellow DC superheroes.  True to form, Robin becomes obsessed with breaking out of his sidekick role and breaking into the spotlight, even if it's at the expense of Cyborg, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Raven. He reaches out to the hot Hollywood director, Jade Wilson (Kristen Bell), to get her to give him his own movie. He also tries to develop an archenemy relationship with the villain, Slade (Will Arnett), in hopes that their rivalry will cause others to see him as a serious superhero.

Teen Titans GO! to the Movies had a good dose of the typical smart humor that I’ve always enjoyed on the TV series. The cheesy songs that fans are familiar with from the TV show are present in the movie as well. I thought it was cool how many stars, such as Nicholas Cage, Halsey, Patton Oswalt, and Jimmy Kimmel lent their voice to the movie. There’s also one very unexpected cameo that was a joy to see.

Teen Titans GO! to the Movies was a great movie.  Any Teen Titans GO! will find it enjoyable.  My son is a Teen Titans GO! fan himself, and he thoroughly enjoyed it.

GO! to the Movies and catch the Teen Titans on the big screen!

Mahalo to the sponsor for the screening tickets.

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Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation - Now in Theaters!

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (Rated PG) is now in theaters!

Synopsis:
In Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, join our favorite monster family as they embark on a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can take a summer vacation from providing everyone else’s vacation at the hotel. It’s smooth sailing for Drac’s Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare when Mavis realizes Drac has fallen for the mysterious captain of the ship, Ericka, who hides a dangerous secret that could destroy all of monsterkind.

Review:
In Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation,  Mavis plans a surprise cruise for the whole clan with the goal of providing a relaxing, family bonding getaway for her father, Drac.  Unbeknownst to Mavis, Dracula has been feeling lonely recently and has been longing to find love.

The cruise kicks off in the Bermuda Triangle where Drac gets his first glimpse of the human cruise ship captain, Ericka, and it's love-at-first-sight. Unfortunately for Drac, Ericka’s last name is Van Helsing, and she’s been raised by her great-grandfather to hate monsters, especially him, so she hatches a plan to destroy all the monsters on her ship.

Will Ericka succeed with her plan? Or will she instead realize that monsters are just like people and reciprocate Drac’s feelings?

Being that this is an animated movie geared toward kids, the plot is quite predictable.  

Although my sons laughed throughout the movie, overall I felt Summer vacation fell flat in terms of the liveliness and jokes compared with the first two installments of Hotel Transylvania.  

I did, however, enjoy a few scenes (those who grew up in the 80s will probably enjoy the same ones).

Although I was expecting more from Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, the animation was great, and little ones will enjoy it!

Mahalo to the sponsor for the screening tickets. 

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