"I like this. I like the music and singing." That's the official trailer review for the 2014 reimagining of ANNIE, as viewed at Rock Father HQ by four year-old Addie this morning. Maybe it's not a huge stretch of the imagination, but I'm a musical fan. THE MUSIC MAN, GUYS AND DOLLS, WHITE CHRISTMAS (I'd actually be up for appearing in remakes of any of those), and with films like FROZEN being so hot right now, maybe a new generation is catching the bug. This Christmas, a new version of ANNIE arrives on the big screen from Columbia Pictures, and I've got the trailer below...

I graduated high school in 1994. That was also the year that I joined my first official band (a power trio called Odlid! - wanna hear?), and as someone in the Facebook group for our forthcoming 20-year High School Reunion recently pointed out - a little movie with Ben Stiller, Ethan Hawke and Winona Rider also came out that year... REALITY BITES (the 20th Anniversary Blu-ray comes out in April).  Two decades later, it's arguable what's been more memorable: the movie, or the hit single it's soundtrack spawned, "Stay (I Missed You)" by LISA LOEB and NINE STORIES.

Before it even made it's debut back in 2012 (and before I became one of the PBS KIDS VIP Bloggers), I was excited about DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD. Continuing the legacy of Fred Rogers, and set within the familiar Neighborhood of Make Believe, the adventures of Daniel and his friends fast became one of the most-watched programs here at Rock Father HQ. With perfectly-sized episodes, each with a valuable lesson for preschoolers, and some of the best music you'll find in children's programming, the show is a hit on several levels, and though I've said this before, I feel I need to say it again: I don't think that there's another show that my kids watch that makes me feel good in the way that DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD does.

Originally released back in 2011 as CAPTAIN THUNDER or "El Capitán Trueno y el Santo Grial," PRINCE KILLIAN and THE HOLY GRAIL is the Americanized title for the DVD release of this film, based on the Spanish comic book series, El Capitán Trueno.  Slated for an April 29, 2014 bow via Shout! Factory, details on this 12th Century "swords and sorcery" tale can be found below, along with the announcement trailer...

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month? It sure is, and to celebrate, the National Restaurant Association hit THE ROCK FATHER with news that its first-of-its-kind Kids LiveWell initiative has grown to 42,000 restaurant locations nationwide. The voluntary program, which provides a growing selection of healthful children’s menu choices in every state, now counts more than 145 restaurant brands as participants, including new national companies Cosi, Jamba Juice and Rainforest Café, as well as Ovation Brands’ Country Buffet, HomeTown Buffet and Old Country Buffet, among other regional chains and independent restaurants.

"I don't think I've ever been on a film where it feels like the public has made it their own. It really feels like it's their movie now," said Producer Peter Del Vecho about the whirlwind success and public embrace of Disney's FROZEN. This was in mid-February, just three weeks prior to the 86th Academy Awards, a ceremony during which FROZEN would be crowned "Best Animated Feature," and take home the Oscar for "Best Original Song" (for "Let It Go") on the very same day that the film would cross the $1 Billion mark at the global box office - a stunning set of accomplishments for a film that was just released theatrically a mere four months ago, and just five years ago, was shelved.

On April 4, 2014, the next chapter of the MARVEL Cinematic Universe will unfold in theaters everywhere, when CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLIDER hits the big screen. This week, the third TV spot began airing, and a new activity pack has been released as a FREE DOWNLOAD. Want some coloring sheets featuring Captain America, Nick Fury and the Black Widow? Download them as a printable PDF via this link, and check out the new spot below...

If you've been to see a family movie in the theater lately, chances are, you've seen a teaser for THE BOXTROLLS, the latest film "from the hands that brought you" CORALINE and PARANORMAN. Based on the book, HERE BE MONSTERS! by Alan Snow, THE BOXTROLLS is set for release on September 26, 2014 via Focus Features, and was directed by Anthony Staachi and Graham Annable, featuring a voice cast that includes Ben Kingsley, Toni Collette, Elle Fanning, Isaac Hempstead-Wright, Jared Harris, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Richard Ayoade and Tracy Morgan. Check out the newly-released third teaser trailer below, this featuring the music of CEE LO GREEN.

I have a strange confession to make. Although I've casually seen some episodes of CHUGGINGTON with my little ones over the past few years through it's airings on Disney Junior, until last month, I thought that "Chuggington" was the lead character... the bright, red engine that often represents the show throughout media and merchandising.

While I try to review all materials objectively, it's impossible for me to avoid noting that THOR has traditionally been my least favorite member of THE AVENGERS' A-list tier. Despite the excellent job that Chris Hemsworth has done in portraying the character in numerous films as a part of the MARVEL Cinematic Universe, the 80s kid in me still can't shake two things that helped shape my flesh-and-blood idea of the Mighty God of Thunder: 1988's made-for-TV THE INCREDIBLE HULK RETURNS (featuring what may have been the first "legit" live-action Thor), and 1987's ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING (which had a whole Thor subplot). That said, Hemsworth's version of THOR has made me warm up a bit toward the character, and that made me eager to check out his latest big-screen adventure, THOR: THE DARK WORLD.

On October 14, 2014, Warner Bros. Games will release BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT (Pre-order: Amazon | GameStop), the finale to their Arkham Trilogy. While the game was just officially announced today and details are scarce, the Next Gen-only title will arrive for PC, XBOX One, and PLAYSTATION 4. I guess this means I finally need to get an XBOX One (I'm still on the XBOX 360), as this game looks fantastic. The Rocksteady crew have certainly taken some of that Christopher Nolan-influence and run with it, and their driveable BATMOBILE is one mean ride. See the trailer, "Father to Son," below, right here on THE ROCK FATHER...

Just a short while ago on THE TONIGHT SHOW, Jimmy Fallon & The Roots were joined by Idina Menzel to perform the Academy Award-winning song "Let It Go" from Disney's FROZEN... on classroom instruments. The complete song, done in a manner far more loose and entertaining than the Oscars version (and without John Travolta being an idiot), can be heard below...

When it comes to new releases, there's definitely an increase when you hit the beginning of March - as that two month post-Christmas lull is broken and the new titles really start flowing. It's like a switch has been flipped, and this first Tuesday of March 2014 is no exception. While there's no really BIG family title hitting the streets this week, there's some really cool reissues like AN AMERICAN TAIL and HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS. PBS KIDS fans will find new releases from familiar characters like SID THE SCIENCE KID and THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!, while Nickelodeon has a new DORA THE EXPLORER title, and some classic MR. PEABODY AND SHERMAN arrive. Check out some highlights for what's new this week below, right here on THE ROCK FATHER:

March is a month where there's a lot of interesting things going on. Mardi Gras and Saint Patrick's Day, Girl Scouts Day, I am in Control Day (yes, it's real), Be Nasty Day (also real), and even Middle Name Pride Day (that one, too) all stake a claim here in March. There's also several month-long celebrations like Music in Our Schools Month... and a little bit of mayhem that closes out the calendar with a heavy dose of basketball and brackets. In that spirit, another celebration - March FROZEN FOOD Month - is bringing you #FrozenChefMadness, in partnership with Life of Dad and their Sweet Sixteen Brand Ambassadors (THE ROCK FATHER being one of them). Together, we're gonna hit the hardwood (well, technically, it's laminate here) to share with you some Easy Home Meals that you can make quick and easy. And, if YOU think you have a winning recipe, you'll have a chance to win an $800 Visa Gift Card or other great prizes!

As a kid that grew up with Hasbro's TRANSFORMERS and was there in 1984 when it all began, I don't recall Bumblebee being a big deal. Back then, he was a HERBIE-like Volkswagen Beetle - one of the smallest Autobots of the bunch, and although a fun toy, it was characters like Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and Jetfire that really grabbed me. Fast-forward thirty years, and Bumblebee is big deal - a fan-favorite for a whole new generation of kids (and some grownups, too) who dig the lighthearted "scout" 'bot in his current form - that of a Chevrolet Camaro (in the live-action films), or the similarly-designed, though completely fictional, "Urbana 500" as he appeared in the recent series, TRANSFORMERS PRIME.

Rock Father vs. Rock Father - For the past nine weeks, James Zahn and Tom George (read the kick-off story here) have been engaged in the early stage of a year-long journey to not only lose weight, but get fit. These two Work-at-Home Dads had let time and their jobs take their toll on their personal well-being. For each week of the journey, we'll find out how their efforts are paying off. This afternoon, Sunday, March 2, 2014, both men did their weigh-in... and these are the results.