Ring the Bell DVD: Review/Giveaway

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

As a Christian parent, I know how hard it is to find good, clean movies for family movie night. I firmly believe that more Christian films need to be made, and I applaud those who are working to fill that need. 

Ring the Bell is rated PG, though I can't imagine why. There is absolutely nothing objectionable in this movie. (The girl wears a low-necked top and a little cleavage is visible, but it isn't too obvious.) You can watch this with your family without worrying about having to turn down the volume or skipping scenes. There is no bad language, no violence, no suggestive jokes, etc. 

Now, I must give my honest opinion: while I enjoyed parts of this film, and though I was moved by it, I didn't fall in love with it. The acting seemed forced, the jokes fell flat, everything was far too predictable, and there was too much diologue. I'm pretty sure that younger children will grow bored quickly. However, there were some genuinely touching moments in the film, and the overall message was very good, and one that we all need to hear. 

To recap:

What I liked:

• There was nothing offensive.
• The music was good.
• The message was fantastic.

What I disliked:

• The amateur feel of the film, especially the acting.
• It was too predicatable...too "perfect".
• There was very little action and far too much talking. 

Overall, I think this is a decent movie with a great message that could be watched by the entire family. 

About Ring the Bell:

Ring The Bell shares the story of a slick, big city sports agent Rob Decker who seems to have it all. But on his latest mission to sign a high school baseball superstar, Rob becomes stranded in a small town where the simplicity of life—and the faith of the people—stand in stark contrast to his own fast-paced, win-at-all-costs mindset. Torn between these two worlds, will Rob have the courage to let faith transform his life? This heartwarming story of redemption is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.

Ring The Bell features a host of well-known Christian music artists, such as Mark Hall along with his band Casting Crowns, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Matthew West, all who play a role in this inspirational drama. Several former and current Major League Baseball all-stars are also featured in the film: ESPN analysts John Kruk and Rick Sutcliffe (a former Cy Young Award winner), along with Ben Zobrist.

This family-friendly movie was produced by Mark Miller, Beach Street Records' founder and Casting Crowns’ producer. Miller, who is also the lead singer and founder of country music group Sawyer Brown, co-wrote the script with Thomas Weber and Weber directed the production. 

Ring the Bell is available on DVD for only $19.99 

DVD Special Features:


The Heart of "Ring the Bell"

Casting Crowns “The Well” Music Video


On Set with Casting Crowns

Famous Faces


A Very Special Movie


Ringing the Bell


The Artists and Music of "Ring The Bell"

Website:  http://ringthebellthemovie.com

Watch the Trailer: http://ringthebellthemovie.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RingTheBellTheMovie

You have an opportunity to win a DVD of  Ring the Bell! Just leave a comment below about your favorite family movie, and you will be entered. The winner will be announced on Friday, July 5th. 

Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach....

Congratulations, Vonnie Warden! 

I'll get your mailing info and you should receive your new book shortly. Enjoy!!!

I'm having serious issues with Blogger today. I have no idea why there are random words over this picture. Argh.

Have you ever wondered how the whale felt when he swallowed Jonah? Have you tried to imagine what it would be like to be a fish with a human in your stomach? Yeah, me neither. But, I must admit, this is a fresh, unique, hilarious way to read the story of Jonah. This book, "Hey God, I've Got Some Guy Named Jonah in My Stomach and I Think I'm Going to Throw Up, is written from the whale's perspective. 

My younger kids (8 and 5) loved this book. My son giggled nearly all the way through! I must admit, I enjoyed reading it to them as much as they enjoyed hearing it. It's not too long or too short, making it perfect for story time  and the text is as colorful as the illustrations. The author does a great job of keeping the book comical, lighthearted and interesting for the kiddos while also bringing in the truths of trusting and obeying God, and the consequences that come about because of disobedience  There is a Parent Connection in the back with a Bible verse, reading suggestions, and "think" and "do" sections. I found this very helpful and a great way to turn a hilarious read into something for my kids to think about. 

What I liked:

• The length of the book. 
• The humor.
• The manner in which serious subjects about trust and obedience were addressed. 
• The Parent Connection in the back. 
• In short, nearly everything. :)

What I disliked:

• I was afraid that the book would sound disrespectful or irreverent because of the way God was spoken to. While reading it I was a little uncomfortable with that, but not as much as I thought I would be. It was fine. 

You can read more about this book and pre-order it here.

One of my readers will win one of these great books! Just fill out the easy form below. (This is my first giveaway using Rafflecopter. If you have any issues, please let me know and I'll do my best to correct them.)

Thanks for entering! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless  I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

New Blog, New "Project"

Hi! Thanks for stopping by.

I blog about homeschooling, parenting, and "life stuff" in general at It's The Little Things. Here, however, I will dedicate my posts to reviews and giveaways of books and DVDs, as well as other items from time to time.

There have been many times when I wished I could hear a fellow Christian mom's take on a certain book or movie. There may be sites out there that do just that, but I haven't found them. (If you know of any, please point me in that direction!) It's not that I think I'm better than everyone else; I can't stand it when people have a holier-than-thou attitude. I just want to be careful what my family reads and watches and I figure that a lot of moms feel the same way.

As I said, I may review other items from time to time such as homeschool curriculum, household products...who knows!

So, if you're interested in hearing a conservative, homeschoolin' mama's two cents' worth, stick around! It's going to be fun!