Category Archive: Family Fun

Halloween Zero or Hero? It’s All About the Candy

Halloween Candy

We know you’ve gone to a lot of trouble getting ready for Halloween. It takes a bit of effort to scout out the perfect Halloween costumes for you and your family, assembling your best Halloween looks from head to toe.  You are almost ready to go–it’s the final countdown to what could arguably be the most exciting holiday of the year!  You definitely don’t want to blow it now.  What we are saying here dear friends, is that at some point, it really comes down to the candy.  What you are handing out to the trick or treaters in your neighborhood does matter–and yes, you will be judged.  What does your Halloween candy say about you?

Fun Size Candy Bars:  You are a Halloween traditionalist and you are into the whole Halloween gig.  These little candy bars are pretty standard Halloween fare and you can’t really go wrong with buying these for your neighborhood Halloween revelers.  Since most of these treats are chocolate based you will be scoring some major points with the entire group of mommy’s who may be sneaking some of the goodies for themselves.  (C’mon…don’t we all do this?)

Sugar Blast:  These are not necessarily going to be any adult’s favorites, but these are the ones that year after year score some major points with the kids.  This group of super sugary treats includes Starburst, Skittles, Twizzlers, Nerds, Sour Patch Kids,  Pop Rocks and gummy anything.  If you are looking to impress your neighborhood trick or treaters with no chocolate temptation calling out to you, these candies are sure-fire winners.

Full Size Candy:  You Halloween overachiever you!  With a treat basket filled with full size candy bars, the word on the street is going to get out fast.  If you don’t mind having lots of repeat customers, a line at your door, and your doorbell ringing all night long, these treats are for you.  Be aware that the other neighborhood parents may think you are just showing off.

Homemade Treats:  Don’t waste your time unless these are for a private party at your house.  Nobody lets their kids eat homemade treats anymore and more likely than not, they are going to get thrown out.

Lollipops:  Usually the only thing that is left at the store on the day of Halloween, this treat will scream, “I waited until the last minute!”  These are never a Halloween favorite and when the treat bag is almost empty sometime in late November, you are likely to find it filled with a variety of Dum Dum suckers that will eventually find their way into the trash as well.

Apples or other healthy snacks:  You might as well just turn out the lights and not participate.  No one wants to get these in their trick or treat bags.  Besides, haven’t you heard the urban legends of the real sicko’s that put razor blades in apples?  Apples, raisins or any fruit item are likely to get thrown out by scrupulous mommies anyway.

Pixy Sticks, Junior Mints, Sugar Daddy’s and Wax Lips:  These “retro” candies are not only popular with the kids, but they are a great way to help you re-live your childhood memories as well.  It’s not like you see these favorites in your grocery store everyday, but at Halloween it’s a great time to bring back some of these old and very groovy candies from the past!

Pencils, Toothbrushes, Coupons:  Oh please!  Are you trying to be the ultimate Halloween killjoy?  Save your passive preaching for another day and let the kids have fun on Halloween without the hidden agenda thrown into their treat bags. Boring!

The candy that’s found in your Halloween treat bowl speaks volumes.  You may actually want to put some thought into this before the big night and think about what you are communicating to all those costumed up kids that are coming to your door shouting “TRICK OR TREAT!”  Make sure at your house, it’s a definite “Treat”. 

The Best Movie One-Liner’s Ever (Some Fabulous Costume Ideas Too!)

Terminator Costume Masks

Terminator Costume Masks

From the earliest days of silent films to the more modern film masterpieces that today thrill audiences everywhere, movies have definitely become a huge part of the cultural fabric of American society.  Many movies are so infamous that they are known by one simple line from the script–these catchphrases have become a huge part of American vernacular with multiple meanings as well as associations.  As you get ready to get into your favorite movie character this Halloween, keep some of these more infamous movie lines (and the characters that go with them) in mind!  Here’s a list of some of our faves:

I’ll Be Back.  (The Terminator)-Today you can put on your best tough guy imitation and use this line to say you are soon returning, with an “attitude” of course!

Frankly, My Dear, I don’t give a damn.  (Gone With The Wind)-In today’s terms, this phrase is a very useful way to show complete indifference after you’ve “had it up to here”…particularly effective spewed right before heading into the man cave.

The Name is Bond, James Bond.  (James Bond Franchise)  Just feeling sexy and you know it? This phrase can be pretty funny if timed just right.  If you take it too seriously, however, you might fall flat on your noggin’ and just look like an idiot.

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates. (Forest Gump)-This phrase means basically that you never know what life is going to throw at you–some of life’s surprises are good, others not so much.

Houston, We Have a Problem.  (Apollo 13)- A universal phrase that now means, “Uh-oh, we’ve got big trouble…!!”  You’ve said it, I’ve said it, okay–we’ve all said it.

May the Force be with you.  (Star Wars) -This is sort of a sci-fi-ish way of expressing a similar sentiment to “May God be with you”.

Show Me the Money!  (Jerry Maguire)-Exactly what it says, essentially “put your money where your mouth is” or let the “money do the talking!”  This is useful in so many fiscally oriented situations!

I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.  (The Godfather) Hmmm, sort of a threat guised in false sincerity, but we definitely get the point.

Toto, I’ve got a feeling were not in Kansas anymore.  (The Wizard of Oz)  This essentially states that something big is going down that is really out of the norm.

If you build it, they will come.  (Field of Dreams)  Basically it means the same thing as believe in yourself and trust your instincts; good things will happen.

Why so serious?  (The Dark Knight)  The Joker’s infamous line is still useful in situations that may require a little release valve for lots of built-up tension.

Go ahead, make my day.  (Sudden Impact)  Still being used today, this infamous line almost taunts as it challenges.

Here’s Johnny! (The Shining) Obviously this infamous line was originally swiped from the Johnny Carson show, but Jack Nicholson’s version is now useful for any surprise entrance.

Elementary, my dear Watson.  (Sherlock Holmes)  Nowadays, this is the same thing as saying “this is going to be really easy!” 

They’re Here! (Poltergeist)  Getting the willies or the heebie jeebies?  Are the hairs on the back of your neck, standing straight up?  This famous line pretty much says it all. 

Yo Adrian! (Rocky) A very Philadelphia, boxer-style greeting that most anyone gets warm and fuzzy over. 

Shop our huge collection of movie character costumes for lots of fun and exciting character choices for the most Hollywood inspired Halloween costume ever.  You might even consider learning a little bit of the lingo–some of these one-liner’s seem likely to live on forever!

Making Monsters: Zombie Photo Booth

This customized prop was created by Distortions Unlimited exclusively for Halloween Express.

For over 30 years Halloween Express has built its reputation on offering the largest selection of Halloween merchandise available anywhere.   And the 2012 Halloween season is no exception.  Halloween Express retail stores around the country are again carrying more costumes, more styles, more Halloween decorations and in more sizes than anyone, anywhere.

 

In addition, for the 2012 Halloween season Halloween Express has added a one-of-a-kind attraction to entertain the kids, big and small.  It’s called ‘The Zombie Photo Booth‘ and will be featured this Sunday, September 30, 2012 at 8pm eastern on The Travel Channel’s hit series called, Making Monsters.

 

 

This customized prop was created by Distortions Unlimited exclusively for Halloween Express.   You can see the Zombie Photo Booth in action by visiting your local Halloween Express retail store.  The photo booth includes room for two people to have their picture taken as if they were in a real life zombie apocalypse.   The zombie photo booth provide entertainment for both children and adults.  Just be sure to practice your best frightened and surprised expressions beforehand to make the picture authentic so you can create an ideal photo to share on your Facebook page.   The zombie photo booth is a must see attraction this Halloween season and is only available at Halloween Express — where America shops for Halloween.


Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania!

Hotel Transylvania is the perfect place for monsters to go to just be monsters without any interference or having to deal with the human world whatsoever.

Hotel Transylvania is the perfect place for monsters to go to just be monsters without any interference or having to deal with the human world whatsoever.

If you were thinking that just because summer is officially now over that everything in the movie theater is going to be boo-ring, well you would be horrifically wrong.  Just in time to put you into the mood for Halloween and all the creatures that go with it, an animated monster movie is set to hit the theatres.  This film looks like great family entertainment and is perfect for all age groups!

Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania.  It’s a lovely and quite schwanky place, hidden away from the human world by its owner, Count Dracula, of course.  Hotel Transylvania is the perfect place for monsters to go to just be monsters without any interference or having to deal with the human world whatsoever.  Tucked away nicely in a place where humans don’t go, the Hotel Transylvania has quickly become the favorite tourist destination of frightful beings everywhere.

Count Dracula is quite astute at running his 5-fang resort and does so without a hitch.  Planning a big event is a no brainer for the clever and enigmatic Count as well, and he does so easily, inviting all the big name monsters to his resort to celebrate his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday.  All the monster heavy hitters are going to be there–Frankenstein, his wife The Mummy, a pack of Werewolves, The Invisible Man and many more.  This should be the monster mash of all monster mashes and still the Count is taking it all in stride…that is, until something happens that makes his blood, quite simply, run cold.

With the Hotel Transylvania absolutely brimming with big time monsters doing their thing, someone clearly uninvited happens to wander into the place and in the process creates sort of a ruckus.  It’s a human!  To make matters even worse, this human that has accidentally stumbled on the Hotel Transylvania is a very radi-cool teenage boy that pretty much instantaneously becomes entranced with the Count’s lovely daughter, Mavis.  Uh-oh…now some serious trouble breweth.

The Count, by his own admission, is likely the most over-protective father in all of monsterville.  Seeing his daughter take a fancy to a human is his own worst nightmare.  Watch the Count and his groovy ghoulie monster friends enter into some pretty silly shenanigans as they deal with this vigilant monster dad’s worst-case scenario.  Hotel Transylvania features the voices of Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kevin James, Fran Drescher and David Spade.  This film has some pretty hilarious versions of all your favorite monster characters–just in time for the final countdown into Halloween!  Don’t miss Hotel Transylvania, in theatres September 28!

Top 10 Favorite Boys of Summer Movies

Top 10 Favorite Boys of Summer Movies

The Dad and Grad celebrations are over.  As the weather turns balmy, now our thoughts can turn to some of the other boys we have on our minds!  This summer there are some pretty amazing male characters that are worth getting to know, and they are easily found inside a movie theatre near you!  We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 favorite boys of summer that are absolutely going to put some extra sizzle into your long and heat-filled days.  These exciting characters (and the movies they hail from) should definitely be made part of your hot weather fun!

The Avengers:  These comic book boys are rapidly heating up theatres everywhere at turbo speed.  With a cast of superheroes like Thor, The Hulk, Captain America, The Black Widow, Iron Man, Hawkeye, and Nick Fury; you surely have a perfect recipe for action packed excitement as well as fun. Plus, the costumes these guys are wearing are going to be some of the all time favorites we’ll see this coming Halloween season. But for now,  everybody is talking about this film and with good reason; you don’t want to miss this one!

Dark Shadows:  One of the quirkiest and most befuddled Vampire characters to ever show up on the silver screen, nobody can do Barnabas Collins like Johnny Depp can.  Mr. Depp has completely re-invented the character of the vampire yet again, this time for the complete hilarious fun of moviegoers.  Barnabus is destined to be a 2012 Halloween costume favorite and is an entertaining movie to boot.

The Dictator:  This is one of those movies that only Sacha Baron Cohen could ever think to do.  The film showcases the shenanigans of a semi-heroic dictator who lovingly ensures that his beloved country will never see the likes of democracy.  If The Dictator gets his way, his country will continue to fall under his tender, sorta loving and oppressive rule.

Men In Black III:  If you loved them the first two times, you are likely to love them again in round three.  Men in Black III will bring back your favorite characters from the original Men in Black films. In this latest chapter, the guys must resort to time travel; going back to the 1960’s in order to stop an alien from assassinating one of their own.

Rock of Ages:  Even if you didn’t live through the 1980’s, the legendary lifestyle of 1980’s rock stars makes this film relive many people’s ultimate fantasy. Small town girl meets small town boy, and their larger than life dreams are pursued with vigor.  We all want to be a rock star at one point or another; Rock of Ages is just a movie made about making that all happen.

Prometheus:  The much awaited science fiction horror thriller by Ridley-Scott Thomas has been called the prequel to Alien.  A team of explorers head into the deepest darkest corners of the universe, while looking for the origins of mankind.  Once there, a terrifying discovery is made and the fate of humankind rests upon their ability to battle against it.

That’s My Boy:  Adam Sandler has done it again when he created Donny, a misfortunate as well as supremely infantile guy who fathered a child during his youth.  Donny immaturely raised Todd until he turned 18, but was separated from him for many years during Todd’s young adulthood.  Donny resurfaces into his son’s life in the days before Todd is about to be married, creating a type of havoc and humor that only Adam Sandler can.

The Amazing Spiderman:  A newly cast Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) finds a clue that leads him to discover why his parents may have disappeared while he was growing up.  The trail of discovery leads him straight into a head to head confrontation with his father’s former partner, Dr. Curt Connors.  Spidey fan or not, this summer blockbuster is not to be missed.

Ted:  Mark Wahlberg stars in this tale of a man and his come-to-life Teddy Bear.   A bit of an impasse is reached when John must eventually choose between his girlfriend and his now living, wish come true, foul-mouthed, very irreverent and tasteless teddy. 

The Dark Knight:  The long awaited latest release in the series of Batman films arrives in theatres July 20.  A new terrorist, Bane, is creating all sorts of problems for Gotham City’s finest, who are quickly losing control.  Batman must now come out, resurfacing once again in order assist Gotham’s law-keepers in protecting his beloved city by hopefully keeping this new bad boy at bay.

The boys of summer.  Characters coming to life this summer in a theatre near you!

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