We had hoped it wouldn’t come to be, but 2021 turned out to be more of the same from the previous year thanks to the pandemic. Lots of hunkering-down isolating or enjoying the great outdoors more often than usual. And once again, books played a big part in helping us all cope and maintain some kind of normalcy. Now more than ever, books in all their various formats will make a great gift this holiday season. This year saw a resurgence of Dune; illustrated versions of J.R.R. Tolkien works; memoirs from the world of rock and heavy metal; graphic novel collections; fun, pop-culture-themed cookbooks; stories from the imaginations of Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, and Grady Hendrix; continuing adventures from the Star Trek, Star Wars, and Marvel universes, and much more.

Check out our Holiday Gift Guide 2021 for Books, eBooks, and Audiobooks for our favorite holiday gift picks for the readers in your life.

A new destination attraction just opened in Battery Park in lower Manhattan. Pixar Putt is a Disney Pixar-inspired mini golf course located next to Pier A with views of the Statue of Liberty and The Freedom Tower on either side. The pop-up comes on the heels of Pixar’s latest film Luca, which premiered on Disney Plus earlier this Summer and was just released on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray. Celebrating the opening of Pixar Putt, Emma Berman, Giulia in Luca, was there to play a few holes and answer some of our questions.

Emma, who just turned 13, is making her big screen debut in Luca and instantly became a fan favorite, especially with my 10-year-old daughter. You can check out our full video interview below.

Jungle Cruise
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Writers: Michael Green, Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Édgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, Paul Giamatti
Distributor: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Rated PG-13 | 127 Minutes
Release Date: July 30, 2021

Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise attraction has been thrilling visitors since it first opened in 1955. The beloved ride, which simulates a riverboat expedition through Asia, Africa, and South America, expanded to Walt Disney World in 1971, Tokyo Disneyland in 1983, and Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005. Now, following in the tracks of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and Tomorrowland, the popular, pun-fueled ride is getting a big-budget film adaptation.

Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Spark of the Resistance

Hardcover | Kindle | Audiobook
Written by Justina Ireland
Narrated by Jessica Almasy
Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press | Listening Library
Release date: October 4, 2019

In the aftermath of their defeat at the hands of the First Order on Crait that has left them with enough crew to populate the Millennium Falcon and not much else, the Resistance is scrambling to re-group while simultaneously attempting to shore up their forces through recruitment. Journey to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – Spark of the Resistance highlights one such mission in which the crew of the Falcon receives a distress call from the planet Minfar. Despite orders to the contrary, they head out and are met by the Zixon, to whom they swear they will protect from the First Order who are also on the planet. Our heroes, however, must balance the importance of keeping their word and protecting the Zixon while also knowing that they are shirking direct orders.

For every major blockbuster film out there, you can be sure that the studio marketing team will have a set of character posters printed and ready for release.

For every major blockbuster film out there, you can be sure that the studio marketing team will have a set of character posters printed and ready for release. With Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker just a few more weeks away from hitting theaters, we will start to see more and more print and videos from the marketing campaign. Case in point, these new character posters which see familiar faces and some newer characters. Check them out below.