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Adaptive Marketing LLC® Offers a Look at Upcoming DVD Movie Releases

As the writers’ strike in Hollywood trudges on with no end in sight, television viewers have very few choices when it comes to new, scripted pieces. Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, an industry leader in membership programs, recognizes the pain that a slate of reality shows and repeats can impose on the viewing community and therefore wants to offer some short-term alternatives to the same-old, same-old.

With the Academy Awards® only a month or so away, many of the top movies of 2007 are starting to arrive in stores on DVD. Adaptive Marketing suggests that viewers take the time and opportunity that the writers’ strike has presented to catch up on as many potential Oscar® contenders — and other releases, of course — as possible, including:

February 5 releases

-- “Across the Universe,” a love story in the 1960s set to a soundtrack of Beatles cover songs; starring Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood

-- “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” featuring Academy Award® winners Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush join Academy Award® nominee Clive Owen in a thrilling tale of one woman's crusade to control her love, destroy her enemies and secure her position as a beloved icon of the western world

-- “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford,” a gripping western, starring Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck and Sam Rockwell, that brings the tale of Jesse James to life

February 12 releases

-- “Becoming Jane,” an unconventional biopic of Jane Austen (a hot entertainment choice these days) with star turns by Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters and James Cromwell

-- “Gone Baby Gone,” Ben Affleck’s directorial debut, starring Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris, which adapts a Dennis Lehane novel about the search for a missing child and received stellar reviews when it came out last fall

-- “Into the Wild,” an adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s best-selling book, a true story of one man’s decision to shun traditional life choices and opt for a vagabond life, culminating with a trek into Alaska’s untamed lands, directed by Sean Penn, starring Emile Hirsch, Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt, and with a soundtrack by Eddie Vedder

-- “In the Shadow of the Moon,” a documentary about the U.S. Apollo space missions, including interviews with the 10 surviving astronauts from the voyages to the moon between 1968 and 1972, along with the original film footage from NASA, much of which has never been seen by the public before

DVD releases dates are often subject to change, but sit-at-home movie fans might also want to keep an eye out for “Lust, Caution,” Ang Lee’s provocative tale about a plot to assassinate a devious secret agent (due out February 19); “Rendition,” a timely, smart political thriller about the effects of sending terror suspects to other countries to be interrogated (February 19); “Death at a Funeral,” a British-influenced drawing-room comedy (February 26); and “The Darjeeling Limited,” an offbeat comedy from Wes Anderson about three brothers looking for their reclusive mother (February 26).

Not all of the movies mentioned above will be honored with an Academy Award® nomination, much less the Oscar® itself, but movie lovers can certainly find a variety of films to keep them entertained during the Hollywood writers’ strike, reports Adaptive Marketing LLC^®.

Adaptive Marketing LLC® Says, “Have a Heart: Throw A Valentine’s Day Bash”

Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, an industry leader in membership and loyalty programs, believes that kids — just like many adults — look forward to Valentine’s Day. Not only does it offer a fun holiday in the middle of winter, but kids aren’t likely to turn down a chance to attend a party.

Although the actual history of Valentine’s Day often seems curious, some lore suggests that Saint Valentine himself sent the first “valentine” greeting. It seems that the warm-hearted soul fell in love with his jailor’s daughter — who pitied him and visited him regularly — after he was imprisoned for performing secret marriages. And just before his death, it is believed that he sent her a letter that closed with “From Your Valentine,” a signature saying that is still widely used today.

So who knows? Whatever romance happens to be in the February air, it could just be catching — even for kids. That’s why Adaptive Marketing LLC^® offers these handy ideas for making a kid’s Valentine’s Day party a big event:

-- Shuffle the deck. Make plans to have each child attending the party to send at least one card to every other party guest. Kids, just like many adults, may be prone to playing favorites. Spare everyone’s feelings, and make sure the card exchange is evenly distributed. There’ll be plenty of time for all the “he said/she said” games down the road.

-- Hang ’em high. What Valentine’s Day party would be complete without candy? If the party guests fall into the right age category (ages 4 and up, let’s say), why not fill up a piñata with candy hearts and other treats? For added fun, try blindfolding the kids, and then let them take a shot or two at busting the piñata open. Just make sure there is adult supervision, so things don’t get too out of hand.

-- No love’s labor lost. For older kids and teens, a Valentine’s Day dance cleverly disguised as “just another school event” could be a big hit. After all, if kids are at a social event where all that’s required is to simply “hang out and have fun,” that’s basically status quo for the social butterflies in the group; the shy ones are likely to have more fun too, especially if they think there’s no pressure to partner up and feel self-conscious.

-- Be my Valentine. Winter can be a lonely time. And how convenient that Valentine’s Day falls smack in the middle of it. So if party guests can handle it — even young kids — why not include a “Be My Valentine” secret ballot box of sorts? Relationships have started out under far more random circumstances. What’s to lose?

So this Valentine’s Day, why not try something new? A world of fun and easy-to-do party ideas awaits, courtesy of Adaptive Marketing LLC^®.