LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes - The Flash on DVD

If you are looking for a great alternative gift to Easter Eggs for the kids this Easter, then look no further than Warner Bros new direct to DVD animated film: LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes -The Flash.  This animated adventure features DC Comics' speedy superhero the Flash in a 75 minute adventure.

When the Joker attacks Metropolis, the Justice League unites to fight him and stop him. Meanwhile, Reverse-Flash manipulates the Speed Force to put the Flash into a time loop that forces him to relive the same day over and over again—with progressively disastrous results. The Flash must find a way to restore time to its original path and face his worst enemy before all is lost.

It’s up to Batman Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg and their new recruits: The Atom, Krypto the Super Dog and Ace the Bat Hound, to help The Flash to recover his powers, defeat his nemesis Reverse-Flash, save the universe and escape the time loop in an exciting finale!

With the classic LEGO Super Hero movie humour, this is a great film for keeping the kids entertained over the Easter holidays. It's a fun-filled, action packed adventure that LEGO Super Hero fans will really enjoy.  It was nice to find out more about The Flash and his story!

You can buy it from Amazon for just £7.

THE LEGO® MOVIE™ 4D A NEW ADVENTURE

There is a brand new 4D movie showing at the LEGOland Discovery Centre and we were one of the first to experience it when we visited LDC this weekend. "The LEGO® Movie™ 4D A New Adventure” reunites the characters from the original movie with a brand new plot and some amazing 4D effects.

The action-packed story starts when Emmet, Wyldstyle, Unikitty, Benny and MetalBeard receive a mysterious invitation leading them to a new theme park, Brick World, which bears a suspicious resemblance to LEGOLAND!  But all is not as it seems as the heroes find themselves in the middle of an evil secret plot masterminded by the scheming Risky Business (brother of Lord Business) who wants to use the gang for his own evil money-making, theme park managing ends.

The gang embark on a fast paced adventure featuring some very special theme park attractions such as Wyldstyle’s Super Cycle Mega Ride rollercoaster and Benny's rocket ship ride.   It’s up to Emmet and Wyldstyle, who enlist the help of the audience's Master Builder skills, to try and save the day and rescue their friends from Risky Business's dastardly plot.  

The 3D was really impressive and 4D elements such as wind, water, smoke, bubbles and special lighting effects bring the story to life, adding extra excitement to the film.

There are some great gags for the grown ups and lots of visual comedy and audience participation for the kids to enjoy. We loved the story and really enjoyed seeing Emmet and Wyldstyle in action again.

Admission to the 4D movie is included in the entrance ticket to LDC. For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk/manchester.

Unleash your inner Ninja with LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre this summer

From Saturday 1st to Monday 31st August, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre in Manchester will be transformed into the world of Ninjago as visitors embark on an epic adventure to celebrate the release of LEGO Ninjago Airjitzu!

Fans can immerse themselves in the Ninjago adventures by building their own LEGO® Ninjago Mask, taking part in the LEGO® Ninjago Laser Maze Challenge, and using their Ninja skills to build a LEGO® Ninjago Airjitzu flyer before ascending the magnificent ‘Fly-High-Tower’ to practice their fierce flying skills.

Visitors can also enjoy the Ninjago takeover at MINILAND, where they can take part in an exciting character hunt and even have the chance to meet ‘Kai’, the Red Fire Ninja, who will be at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre everyday throughout August at 11.00am, 1.00pm, 3.00pm and 5.00pm.

We've been invited down to join in the Airjitsu fun, which Freddy is so excited about! He watches Ninjago on Netflix so will love the chance to take part in all these fun activities!

For more information and to buy tickets visit: www.legolanddiscoverycentre.co.uk/manchester. 

Visiting Legoland Discovery Centre with a Merlin Annual Pass

We are big fans of the Merlin Annual Pass, which lets you get into thirty one fantastic UK attractions for 12 whole months. It's brilliant when you have a family that enjoys days out and exciting adventures together, allowing you to visit places such as Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chessington, Dungeons, Legoland, Madame Tussauds, Blackpool Tower and SeaLife Centres all for one price.   If you order a Merlin Annual Pass in their January Sale, prices start at just £99 per person (for a standard pass for a family of 3, 4 or 5). It's the cheapest price they will be all year, making it a great time to buy.

We were invited to review one of the Merlin attractions that you can visit using a Merlin Annual Pass and we chose to go to Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester.

Legoland Discovery Centre is a great indoor attraction located in Barton Square at the intu Trafford Centre, right next to the SeaLife Centre (another great Merlin attraction).  Its location makes it the perfect place for MAP holders to pop in for a quick play when out shopping in Manchester.

We arrived just after the centre opened and were greeted at the door and shown through to the desk. You can buy fabulous activity packs filled with puzzles and LEGO facts that can be worn around the neck using a lanyard for just £3, so we treated Freddy to one.  You can collect stamps throughout the attraction, which is something Freddy enjoyed doing and ensures you get to see everything.  Going early meant we didn't have to do much queuing or waiting for rides or shows, so it was a really good time for a visit.

Before entering the main part of the LDC, you go through the fun factory tour guided by Professor Brick who gets the kids involved with working the machines to produce their very own souvenir LEGO bricks that they get to keep.  Freddy loves audience participation and is always first up to join in, so he was very happy to help Professor Brick make the pretend machines work by turning, jumping and shouting at the equipment!

There are three rides at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre. Kingdom Quest Laser Ride lets you climb aboard a chariot in order to save the princess by shooting the trolls and skeletons with laser guns.  There is also the Forest Pursuit ride where kids can become rookie cops and chase the bad guys around a LEGO City landscape.  Merlin's Apprentice is a pedal operated flying ride which takes riders into the air helping Merlin to conjure his magic.  Freddy went on all three of the rides and loved them all.  They are aimed at younger children, but grown-ups get to enjoy the fun on the Kingdom Quest and on Merlin's Apprentice!

Miniland brings to life the sights of Manchester and surrounding areas such as the Lake District, Birmingham, Blackpool and Alton Towers, in miniature built using LEGO bricks.  With the models going through a cycle of time, you can see Miniland by night and day.  When everything is all lit up it looks really effective.  The detail of the models is wonderful and there are so many things to spot. We loved the model of Alton Towers with the fully working Oblivion ride.  It made us look forward to visiting Alton Towers again when it reopens in March (using our Merlin Annual Passes!)

Miniature versions of the Man Utd and Man City stadiums and Aintree Race Course let little hands get interactive with the models as they try to score a winning goal or come first in a horse race.

There is a 100 seat LEGO Studio 4D cinema at LDC showing The Legends of Chima.  The fabulous 3D film and special effects, such as wind and bubbles, made a really entertaining show featuring the animals of Chima as they embarked on an exciting adventure.  Freddy was chuckling throughout, especially when the skunk let off his stinky smell, emitting a green cloud of gas!

Throughout the day, there are workshops for budding model builders to try their hand at making a model, assisted by a member of staff.  Each child is given a bag of bits and given step by step guidance to create a model.

Freddy made a really cute gingerbread house, complete with a candy cane and a marshmallow tree. He was very proud of himself and really enjoyed the workshop. He got lots of types about LEGO construction and I was really impressed with how well he followed the instructions to create his lovely little model.

Freddy and Ian both really loved the LEGO Racers where you can build a vehicle and test drive it on the various tracks.  They raced against other kids' and timed their cars as they whizzed down the slopes.

Other attractions include the huge, multi-levelled soft play area, LEGO Construction.  It gives parents a chance to sit down on the sofas and relax with a cup of coffee from the cafe whilst the kids let off some steam.  Big boxes of LEGO allow children to immerse themselves in bricks and get creative building anything they want to.  We all enjoyed making our own creations from the multi-coloured bricks.

The LEGO Friends area lets kids enter Olivia's House where everything is pink and somewhat girlie. With flower shaped tables where you can play with pastel coloured bricks, a full size LEGO kitchen and a pretty funky karaoke machine to sing favourite songs, it's a cool place to hang out.  Perfect for children who like things a little more feminine. Freddy was happy to get up on stage to sing a rendition on Incy Wincy Spider, even though he wasn't that keen on the pinkness of the area! However, I think it is good to appeal to all tastes and think that the LEGO Friends range offers something a bit different to children who prefer flowers and butterflies to racing cars and construction.

The DUPLO area is perfect for toddlers and includes a set of giant bricks for them to build with.  All ages are catered for so well and anyone who is a fan of LEGO will have a great time!

There is also a Star Wars Miniland Model Display featuring scenes from Episode III Attack of the Clones, with some interactive bits with buttons to press and some spectacular creations to view.  A NinjaGo Laser Training Camp lets kids practice their Ninja skills by making their way through a series of laser beams, trying to not set off the alarm.  Crawling, jumping and stepping over the red beams of light proved a lot of fun for my little Ninja!

There are lots of full size models around the centre including a cool F1 racing car, Harry Potter and Buzz Lightyear.  It is amazing what can be built out of LEGO!!

The LEGO shop is a fabulous store filled with all things LEGO, from clothing to accessories to full building sets.  The children each made their own LEGO mini figure using the mix and match body parts and accessories, which they really enjoyed doing.  At 2 for £4 it's not too expensive either. Merlin Annual Pass holders get 20% off purchases, making it another great reason to have one!

We had a really lovely time at the Legoland Discovery Centre.  We spent approximately two and a half hours there and did everything we wanted to.  The centre has good facilities including a family restroom, baby changing, pushchair park and cafe, plus there is a lift between floors.  It is open from 10am - 7pm daily and prices start from just £9.95 (for online booking) with under 2's free.  Merlin Annual Pass holders can enjoy unlimited access all year round!

Find out more by visiting the website:  Legoland Discovery Centre Manchester 

You can find out more about a Merlin Annual Pass, which gives you access to a year of family fun and awesome days out by visiting:   www.merlinannualpass.co.uk. I love the freedom it gives us a family to enjoy unlimited days out without worrying about the cost.

The MERLIN ANNUAL PASS January SALE is now on, so be sure to grab a Merlin Annual Pass at the YEAR’S LOWEST PRICES – from just £99*.

To buy your Merlin Annual Pass click here.

*The Merlin Annual Pass is just £99 per person when you buy a family set of four passes.

Freddy's Christmas Wish List

"Christmas is coming, my festive joy gets stronger.

And Freddy's Christmas list gets longer and longer!

So many toys to go on Santa's sleigh,

Ready to deliver and unwrap on Christmas Day!

So what will Santa bring, to fill Fred's heart with joy?

And will he be lucky and get a must have toy?

A Golden Coin Maker to make choccie treats,

Foil wrapped and yummy for us all to eat.

Or maybe he'll get arty with a set of cool Blo-Pens,

Or the VTech KidiPet could become a virtual friend.

LEGO and Marvel are two awesome brands,

Put them together and he's building Spiderman!

A soft toy to hug and something new to snuggle,

To nurture and love, to squeeze and cuddle.

Teksta Kitty walks, meows, plays and purrs,

Just like a real pet (but without any fur!)
What toys will Freddy find this year under the tree?
Only Santa knows! We'll just have to wait and see!"

Debenhams Toys Wish List

Golden Coin Maker
debenhams.com

LEGO Super Heroes Marvel Comics Doc Ock Truck Heist 76015
debenhams.com

The Happy's Pets Sport
debenhams.com

BLO pens Activity Set Animals
debenhams.com

KidiPet Friends Puppy
debenhams.com

This is my entry into the Debenhams Christmas Wishlist competition.

LEGO vs Zombies - A Carcraft Challenge

Carcraft have set us the challenge to play out an exciting, high octane action scene featuring a LEGO vehicle.  So me and the kids set to work to make our own mini-movie with the car as the star!  We were sent a LEGO Monster Truck to play the lead role.

LEGO toys always inspire fun and action  as you build your own exciting adventures one brick at a time.  LEGO has definitely been a toy brand that we have loved across the years.  Another thing we love are zombies...so we decided to combine the two!  Here is our mini-movie "LEGO Vs ZOMBIES".

                                

LEGO Memories

LEGO has been a part of our family life ever since my son Joe was born in 1988.  No sooner was he born, I started his first Duplo collection.  The collection grew as I added trains, aeroplanes, trucks and farms.  I was always so excited when something new was brought out.

Over the years my collection of children increased alongside the LEGO collection.  As Joe moved on to LEGO Ninjas and castles, his little sisters became custodians of the Duplo collection.  Some girly Duplo was included as houses, mummies and prams and pink bricks joined the toybox.

Season tickets to Legoland Windsor allowed the kids to indulge their LEGO love further as we spent many a day at the park enjoying the rides and the attractions.

After Freddy was born, some 21 years after his eldest brother, the LEGO Duplo collection enjoyed its fifth owner.  As the Disney LEGO Duplo appeared in the shops I excitedly bought the entire Toy Story and Cars ranges.  This year I've got the Planes Duplo for under the Christmas tree! Kizzy is a fan of the LEGO Friends collection which is lovely. LEGO never fails to delight me as I buy it for my children.

The LEGO video games are massive hits in our house and the kids love playing as LEGO superheroes, Harry Potter or Indiana Jones!

This year my grandson Ted will be a year old and ready for his Nana to buy him his first Duplo.  A new generation of the McDonald family will be discovering the delights of the bricks that build adventures, for years and years to come.

Now we have the first LEGO movie coming to the cinema next year...another way to enjoy the famous LEGO brand.  I am excited?  You bet I am!!

           

LEGO Friends Dolphin Cruiser Review

We have been fans of LEGO forever!  Ever since my first son was born in 1988, we have loved the brand.  I love how LEGO allows children to be creative but also how the sets can build into a specific toy which increases the play value.  I am so pleased that the range has grown and developed over the years, appealing to a wider audience of children and catering to different ages and all their differing tastes.

LEGO Friends is a range of LEGO designed to appeal to young girls who love things that are feminine, who enjoy hanging out with their friends and having fun.  I think the 'girly' LEGO Friends range is a welcome addition to the brand as it can be enjoyed by children who may not like the traditional and often quite masculine image of LEGO.  The creativity and skills used are the same, but the theme has appeal to those who might prefer their toys that bit girlier.  I love the little characters who are more doll-like than the traditional LEGO men.  They suit the theme very well.

We were sent a LEGO Friends Dolphin Cruiser to try out, which is aimed at ages 7 - 12 years.  Kizzy, being a 10 year old girl, is in the target market for this toy and was very interested in building the cruiser, helped by big sister Ella who is 17 and has never grown out of her love of LEGO and 4 year old Freddy. The last LEGO they built together was the Spongebob Squarepants Krusty Krab set so this was very different!

This is quite a big set but I was very impressed to see that the parts were bagged up into five individual packs which each corresponded to a section of the full colour instruction booklets.  This made it much easier to tackle the building project, one step at a time.  The booklets were very easy to follow, showing you what bricks were needed and where they needed to be put.  There were 104 separate stages in constructing the model, each one being simple to follow, so it was never a daunting task.  The job was made easier by the inclusion of the LEGO tool which makes taking bits off less fiddly, so if you make a mistake you can quickly rectify it.

The model took about two hours to build in total.  I was impressed with how sturdy and solid the finished boat was.  The attention to detail is brilliant.  The boat features a captain's deck, a waterslide, kitchen, living room, bedroom with two beds, bathroom and sun deck.  Accessories include a jet-ski with water-skis, two dolphins and a bucket of fish to feed them, sonar, furniture including a corner sofa and sun loungers, various items of food and glasses, plus some hair styling items for the bathroom.  The roof of the boat lifts off so you can play with the rooms below deck, and it fits back on easily.  It's a very clever design.

The people can be mixed and matched, swapping the interchangeable hair and body parts.  The Dolphin Cruiser came with Mia, Maya and Andrew.

The LEGO Friends sets are all compatible so you can make a whole interconnected world and collect all the characters. The Dolphin Cruiser makes a great stand alone toy with lots of play value.  Although it is a girl-orientated design, the construction was no different to building any other LEGO toy and it did not patronise girls with the instructions.  It was a proper hardcore LEGO building experience!

Kizzy thinks the finished LEGO Friends Dolphin Cruiser will look good on a shelf in her bedroom (next to the Krusty Krab!)  However Freddy is intent on playing with all the little people, putting them to bed and making them use the toilet! She may have a fight on her hands.  Suffice it to say, the LEGO Friends Dolphin Cruiser did not disappoint.  It is a lovely addition to our LEGO collection.

This would make a perfect present for creative kids - and for those who like to plan ahead, there are only 130 days until Christmas!

It is available to purchase for £59.99.  You can find it along with the other sets in the range at the LEGO Friends website where you can buy them direct from their online LEGO shop.

Lego Lights Darth Vadar LED Torch Review

The battle against the dark side of the Force has raged throughout the Star Wars saga, but with this LED Torch you will be able to light your way through the darkness with ease.  The Force is definitely strong with this great gadget from Lego Lights.

This Lego Darth Vadar torch stands approximately 20cm tall and has a white LED light on each foot and has a removable light up red light sabre.  The posable arms and legs can be angled so the lights can be directed in any direction.  A button on Darth Vadar's chest turns on the lights in his feet and the light sabre has its own switch in the handle.  The attention to detail is excellent.

We were sent one to test out and Freddy absolutely loves it.  The removable light sabre is a great feature (he calls it his "power wand") and the posable legs make it easy to shine the lights wherever he wants them.  Looking under the sofa is a favourite game (goodness knows what he finds under there that is so interesting...but he loves it!)  The lights on his feet are quite bright with a good reach for exploring those mysterious dark areas.

This Lego Lights Darth Vadar Torch is a perfect present idea for any Star Wars fans, gadget geeks or kids aged 5+.   I love the design of this torch and I think the Lego Star Wars merchandise is absolute genius.  The torch is a good size and the lights are very effective.  It sits or stands and the red glowing light sabre could be used as a comfort light at night time for a child while they go to sleep (although it would need to be switched off manually.)  It will look great stood on a shelf in a bedroom.  It is good to have something that is fun, good-looking and practical all in one!

The torch is £19.99 RRP and available to purchase from Amazon and other stockists.  It requires 3 x AA batteries.

Our Opinion: An excellent torch for Star Wars fans of any age!  My husband loves it as much as my 3 year old. A brilliant gadget that is practical as well as really fun!

May the force be with you!!

Half Term Movie Fun From Warner Bros.

This half term was almost a bit of a disaster as I got really ill on the first weekend meaning that our short break to London was cancelled.  Thankfully, I had recovered enough by Tuesday to enjoy Halloween, but we did spend a lot more time stuck at home than we intended to.  Thank heavens for Warner Bros and their well timed delivery of kids' DVDs which went a long way to keeping the children entertained.

We received Tom and Jerry Tricks and Treats, a compilation of 22 classic cartoons on one DVD.  Tom and Jerry meet ghosts, werewolves, a mummy and witches galore as they continue their own longstanding rivalry.  The spooky theme is just right for little ones to enjoy, while grown-ups can indulge in the nostalgia.
Freddy was absolutely riveted to the screen.  He has developed quite a taste for retro cartoons!

Freddy watching Tom, Jerry and the Ghosts!

Scooby Doo and The Big Top is the eighteenth direct-to-DVD installment of adventures for Shaggy, Scooby and the gang.  During a trip to Atlantic City, they find themselves embroiled in a mystery as werewolves terrorize the performers and the audience of a circus.  Can the gang save the Greatest Show On Earth?  (Of course they did!!!)  Although this is a brand new film, it still holds true to the spirit of the original and we enjoyed watching the gang as they take on the roles of a clown, trapeze artist, human rocket, ringmaster and trick dog in Brancusi's Circus.

Ben 10 Destroy All Aliens is an all new CGI animated movie featuring the shape shifting 10 year old Ben Tennyson, the boy who fights evil aliens with the help of his Omnitrix which changes him into alien form.When an enemy comes looking for revenge and the Omnitrix malfunctions, he has to call upon the help of his Grandpa and cousin Gwen.  The action is really fast paced as the fate of the world hangs by a thread.  Ben's super powered alien adventures are really exciting with some mild peril thrown into the mix.  The CGI animation is really impressive. This DVD comes complete with a UV copy for watching on mobile devices which is great for keeping kids entertained on the go.

Lego Hero Factory Savage Planet is an adventure based on Lego's Hero Factory product line.  You are immersed into the world of Lego where the heroes do battle to defeat an evil Witch Doctor (who has a distinctly evil laugh).  This DVD was a bit too grown up for Freddy at the moment although he liked the Heroes'  animal upgrades to give them special animal powers.  I liked the idea of teamwork to save the day, which is how the Heroes save the world.  The animation is just so "Lego-y" (it's so clever, I love it) and I think this will definitely be a film that Freddy enjoys more and more as he gets into the more grown-up Lego products.

Thank you Warner Bros for entertaining my kids this half term with a great selection of children's films, all of which are available now from retailers such as Amazon.co.uk.

*STOP PRESS*

A new Lego movie is coming out in 2014 and Warner Brothers and LEGO are giving one child aged between 5 and 13 years old the chance to create a vehicle entirely from LEGO which will star in the film!

All you have to do is build a great vehicle – it can be anything from a train to a plane, to a car or space ship or boat – and then take a photo and upload it to the website www.lego-themovie.co.uk (see the website for further details).

Entries need to be in by 31st December 2012.

LEGO® Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes

Our Review Of Lego Batman 2 For The XBox 360

Batman and Robin return in LEGO® Batman™ 2: DC Super Heroes, the highly-anticipated sequel to the best-selling LEGO® videogame of all time, which to date has sold more than 11 million units worldwide.  This time the Dynamic Duo join forces with other famous DC super heroes including Superman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern to stop the notorious villains Lex Luthor and The Joker from destroying Gotham City.   Batman fans of all ages will enjoy a new and original story filled with classic LEGO videogame action and humour as players fight to put the bad guys back behind bars.

We were sent a copy of Lego Batman 2 for the XBox 360 to try out.  I was particularly excited about this as I had had a sneak peek of the game at the Warner Bros Blogger Event earlier in the year where it was demonstrated on a cinema sized screen.

The most exciting development in this title is that for the first time the characters can speak, allowing for plot progression using dialogue.  Favourite characters are beautifully portrayed in Lego form and you can get to play as some other iconic comic heroes such as Superman, who can even fly!

A whole host of vehicles such as the Batmobile and Batwing can be used in the game, and new suits and gadgets allow the characters to solve certain tasks along the way.  There are super powers to be discovered such as Superman's heat vision and superbreath, making this the most exciting Lego game to date!

Gameplay is solo or co-op which allows for some real family fun as players adopt the roles of the Dynamic Duo et al!  An amazing Gotham City hub can be fully explored which is absolutely breathtaking.  It includes all the famous landmarks such as Wayne Manor. You can the city and interact with the landscape collecting items and discovering mini-games.  Once you complete the game, free-play is unlocked and you can even get to fly over the city as Superman, which I witnessed at the Warner Bros. event.  The addition of the John Williams' Superman theme tune is nothing short of pure genius.

Ian and the kids have been playing Lego Batman 2 and are enjoying the challenge of solving puzzles and completing levels.  The co-op experience is always an enjoyable aspect of the Lego games which my family loves.  The game leads you through the levels quite nicely giving hints along the way making it great for novice gamers and younger players alike.  The use of the suits is an interesting way of solving certain problems.  Robin's Acrobat Suit helps him climb to inaccessible areas and the Invisibility Suit helps Batman to sneak past the security systems.

This game is pure entertainment.  Beautifully made with superb graphics, this game is a joy.  The soundtrack is very movie-like and the voice talents add an extra element of fun.  My family adored the Lego characters, The Joker being our favourite!  The familiar Lego gameplay of building things and bashing things and collecting things remains the same and is fondly carried out.  The humour is simply brilliant and includes a great deal of slapstick that the little ones giggled at.

There is so much to do in Lego Batman 2.  For instance there are 250 gold bricks to find (we have about 3!!)  Characters and items can be unlocked and levels replayed extending the longevity of this title. It really is fun for everyone, and equally fun to sit and watch being played which is a real bonus for those of us who don't get a go on the XBox very often! 

Lego Batman 2 is currently available to buy from GAME for £34.99.

Warner Bros Welcomes Bloggers

Batman, Ultra Violet and Blinkbox With Warner Bros!

Yesterday I ventured into the big smoke with my blogging buddies Lou and Helen to attend the Warner Bros Bloggers Event at their head office in Central London.  Upon arrival, we were greeted by a lifesize Batman and a six foot tall Happy Feet Mumbles penguin model.  My love of movies was instantly re-ignited!

We were given the opportunity to find out more about the latest technologies in film viewing including Ultra Violet, blinkbox, Rovi, Flixster, X Box Live and PSN.  We also had a sneaky peek of a brand new WB game due for release in Summer.  There was a plethora of knowledgeable young men eager to chat about their areas of specialism, plus a constant supply of food and drink.  I was set for a good couple of hours of being immersed in the Warner Bros. experience.

Here Inside the Wendy House, we love films.  I was really interested to discover the new ways to watch them, utilising games consoles, tablets, laptops, iphones and PCs.  The world of digital technology is opening up our viewing options allowing us to have movie experiences wherever, however and whenever we want them.  With options to stream or download films, this is the future of movie entertainment.

I was particularly impressed with blinkbox which is a simple and easy to use, non-subscription based service enabling you to pay for the things that you want to watch and view them instantly.  With a huge library of over 10,000 titles from all genres of movie and TV, blinkbox lets you watch movies on your Smart TV, games consoles (such as via XBox Live), PC or tablet.  New films become available on the same day as they are released on DVD making your choices totally up to date.  Films can be rented for 48 hours or purchased and remain on your account indefinitely. Excitingly, blinkbox has just become part of Tesco.  Anytime you buy a new DVD release  from Tesco and swipe your Clubcard, you will get a digital copy stored on your blinkbox account to watch anytime you like. I have made an account and am really impressed with the range of free films and shows available to watch and the special offer rentals which start at just 99p.  I've already watched Battle Royale  for free on my laptop!  I was very pleased to see the series of Alcatraz on blinkbox as I missed the first two episodes...I'll be catching up tomorrow!

Ultra Violet seems to be the next step in flexible film viewing.  Blu-Ray Triple Play Packs include a UV digital copy allowing you to watch your film on the go.  The movies are stored in a free online personal library so they can be viewed on laptops, tablets or smart phones, anytime, anywhere.  It adds another dimension to your choice when it comes to buying and watching films.  Warner Bros are at the forefront of this, being the first studio to launch Ultra Violet enabled titles last year.

The real appeal of having 'virtual' copies of films as well as the original discs, is the fact that I will no longer have to deal with the unholy combination of kids and DVDs.  I like my children having the independence of watching a film on their own terms, but hate the aftermath of sticky finger prints, scratches and lost discs.  Letting them choose from a virtual library online will keep my discs safe and sound.  Especially now when we are venturing into ugrading our collection to Blu-Ray and 3D Blu-Ray, the discs are more expensive and I'd hate to see them damaged by my over eager film buffs.  I wonder how long it will be before hard copies become obselete?

The highlight of the day for me was watching some of the yet to released game Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, being played by the supreme gamer Dan on a cinema size screen!  I know it's a bit geeky but I thought it was totally awesome!  We are big fans of the Lego videogame franchise having the Harry Potter, Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Batman titles.  I love the combination of humour, action, puzzles and animation that make up the games.  They are sheer genius.  The latest title takes the genre a step further with some amazing  new features.  The Dynamic Duo join forces with other DC super heroes to stop the notorious super villains from destroying Gotham City.  The new and original story sees players fighting to get the bad guys back behind bars.  The co-operative play is intuitive and entertaining, and the unlockable characters are a joy to behold!  I won't give away too much as it is all a bit hush hush at the moment...but this is definitely going to be on my wishlist this summer!

A range of Lego toys:  The Super Heroes DC Universe collection have just been released and include sets such as the Batcave and three buildable action figures.  Well worth checking out!  The Lego Joker was fantastic.

We were given a fantastic bundle of goodies to take home with us including some 3D Blu-Ray titles.  My husband has now got the excuse he has been waiting for to invest in a 55" 3D TV.  He has started Googling them already!   On our way out, me and Lou took a look at an amazing display of genuine Harry Potter props including the Nimbus 2000 and a Death Eater mask.  We got a bit over excited truth be told!  Unfortunately the tight security did not allow photos to be taken, but trust me when I say it was quite incredible.

I left the event, very excited about the future of film, gaming and their associated technologies...thank you Warner Bros!

Lego, Harry Potter and X Box ...a Winning Combination!

Following on from years 1-4 comes the next instalment of the Lego Harry Potter gaming experience.  Based on the final 3 books, players get to enjoy Harry's heroic adventures in the wizardry and Muggle worlds!  Available on all platforms, the game builds up to the ultimate battle between Harry and Voldermort.  With new challenges, over 200 characters to unlock, more magic and levels that include exploring Grimmauld Place, the Ministry of Magic and Godric's Hollow, this is the ultimate game for Harry Potter fans!  We were sent the XBox 360 version to try out.

My kids love Harry Potter, Lego and the XBox...so we were onto a winner from the outset!  They hadn't played the first game but it didn't matter.  From the first introductory film clip, they were mesmerised.  The storyline is very true to the films which delighted them as they played.

The levels are big and impressive looking with lots to explore and discover.  Your character can interact with the environment which is really pleasing and fun! The graphics are colourful and smooth and it looks great with massive attention to detail.  With collectibles, things to unlock and puzzles to solve, this is a game that will last for ages.  You can play as different characters, switching between them with a press of a button.  This allows you to complete different tasks.

Harry uses his wand to cast spells to solve problems with satisfying results.  It is magic!!  More spells are unlocked as play progresses.  There is some potion making and broomstick flying too.  This game captures all the fun of being a wizard!

The game is recommended for ages 7+ as it contains scenes of 'violence' and 'fear'.  The storyline does have some very dark elements but the gameplay is not at all scary and is handled lightly and with humour.  The death eaters are really quite sweet!  It is made to be fun and to appeal to younger children and adults alike, and there are lots of laughs along the way.  There is of course an element of battling involved as 'he who can't be named' inevitably meets Harry in their showdown!  But it isn't a violent game...after all, they are Lego characters!

Kizzy aged 9 found the levels challenging, but in a good way that adds to the longevity of the game.  Things need to be done in a certain order so that the gameplay progresses, but there are a lot of clues to point you in the right direction.  The satisfaction of completing each step was met with whoops of joy and cries of "I did it!!"!   She also loved exploring the landscape and making the characters do silly things like whizzing down a slide, flying through the London Eye or swimming in a pond!  She was thoroughly entertained by this visual treat.

Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 is available on all formats with prices starting from £17.99.  The XBox game currently costs £35.71 on Amazon.  It can be played by 1 or 2 players with a drop in/out co-op mode. We are extremely impressed with this game which appeals to Kizzy, her 15 year old sister and their 42 year old dad!  It's nice to have a game that the whole family can enjoy together and assist each other in working out puzzles.  This is definitely another great game in the Lego video game range!  A perfect present for playing over Christmas!