Reviews Revisited February 2013-2018 1/2 - Magic, bears, sausages and Batman..

We've reviewed tons of items, activities, movies, games, toys and foodstuffs over the past few years. Some things stand the test of time and prove themselves worthy of another mention. I've gone through my February posts from 2013 to 2018 and chosen a few of our favourites. I've split each month into two halves, this is everything we really liked from the first half of February...

February 2014 saw us film our most popular ever You Tube video. It's really pretty dire and not at all professional. His Dad still slept a lot after his Meningitis, but my 5 year old was desperate to show off his magic tricks, so I filmed him. The magic set was designed for age 8+, but I put the video on You Tube anyway. Some of the comments really do give you an insight into the less intelligent members of the public... Here is Drumond Park's Gross Magic....

The LEGO Batman Movie is available now on DVD and Blu-Ray

We loved The LEGO Batman Movie, that tongue-in-cheek humour and dry wit is hilarious, and the kids laugh for more obvious reasons. A great mix of lightweight storyline and pathos which leaves everyone in a good buddy mood.

We first saw The LEGO Batman Movie in London and then we were given a digital download code to 'buy and keep' so that we could watch it again. I can honestly say I enjoyed it almost as much the second time.

Spring Scholastic Book Club - our favourite books for age 7-8+

Scholastic release a new Book Club catalogue every 2 or 3 months, and my 7 and 8 year old boys were given their choice to review from the latest edition for World Book Day. They chose Dog Man Unleashed, Batman's Guide To Being Cool and Sherlock Holmes and the Disappearing Diamond.

Character World LEGO Batman Movie Bedding Review

LEGO Batman is the star of the show at the moment and couldn't be more popular in our house. All-round good guy and action hero who mainly wears black, he's cooler than cool. Character World have just launched a whole host of LEGO Batman Movie goodies and have sent my boys some for their bedroom...

We've been sent The LEGO Batman Movie Towelling Poncho, Fleece Blanket and Single Duvet Set.

LEGO Movie Clips, Printables, Games and Activities!

You may have noticed that LEGO movies are everywhere at the moment,The LEGO Batman Movie has just hit the cinemas, and The LEGO Ninjago Movie trailer is whetting our appetite for the next one! Half term is around the corner, so I've gathered together some of the best LEGO Movie activities that are around at the moment....

The Lego Batman Movie

We reviewed The LEGO Batman Movie and loved it. Here's the LEGO Batman Cribs short, our favourite of the LEGO Batman trailer videos - there are loads more on their You Tube channel.

There is a great LEGO Batman Movie website, with loads of free stuff for kids. A good place to start is with the SigFig Creator. Make a mini version of yourself - go random or even create your own supervillain... We have a complaint - where's the curly hair!!

The LEGO Batman Movie Review

Last Saturday we got up ridiculously early to catch the train down to London, for a special screening of the LEGO Batman movie courtesy of Warner Brothers. It was something we were incredibly excited about, and it really didn't disappoint...

We were tempted to take lots of LEGO Batmen with us, but remembering what happened to the rear end of our LEGO Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, we decided it better to choose one, and it was Tartan Batman who got a day out. I've already posted about the whole LEGO Batman trip to London, this is our review of the movie itself.

We went as fans, we loved The LEGO Movie, and Batman is a particular favourite of our 6 year old. None of us were disappointed.

A day in London with the LEGO Batman Movie and Tartan Batman.

On Saturday we went to all the way to London to go to the cinema. It was a very early start, and a long way to go for a movie, but when you consider that we'd been invited by Warner Bros to a preview screening of the LEGO Batman movie in Leicester Square, it was well worth the effort...

We were up at 4.45am - and out of the house by 5.20am to catch our train...it wasn't the best part of the day, they lied.

Air Hogs Batman v Superman Radio Control 1 to 24 Scale Batmobile Review (age 8+)

Our latest review for Spin Master toys is the Air Hogs official movie replica Batman v Superman Radio Control Batmobile. A 1:24 scale model with a brushed metal effect body on a sturdy chassis, the vehicle has a nippy and responsive driving and linkage steering system.

The Batmobile and charger take a hefty 6 x AA batteries, but we've found power lasts for ages, it's happy with rechargeable batteries, and we haven't had to change them yet despite quite considerable play over the last fortnight.

I love the packaging on this, it was really minimal and mainly taped cardboard and plastic 1/4 turn locking bolts. It takes seconds to remove your Batmobile from the box.

Star Wars Itty Bitty's from Hallmark Review

We love the Itty Bitty's. Collectible plush figures depicting movie, TV and comic book heroes and villains, they stand around 4inch (10cm) tall and are on sale in Gold Crown branches of Hallmark for a mere £6 each. Suitable for children of all ages, they make a great alternative Easter gift, and there really is an Itty Bitty to suit everyone.

Two of the new ranges of Itty Bitty's in the UK for Spring 2016 are Star Wars, and Superheroes, we already had an advance look at Superman and Batman, now we've been sent 6 of the new Star Wars Itty Bitty's to review - Rey, Yoda, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, a Stormtrooper and R2-D2.

DC Kids Batman Unlimited Amazon £100 Voucher Giveaway

Batman has always been a favourite of mine, and my 5 year old has loved him since the first time he clenched his little chubby fingers around a Batman LEGO Minifigure. He's been popular with most of my children, so over the years we've amassed quite a collection of Batman toys, videos, books and LEGO.

Minifigures from the Jokerland LEGO set

Batman and Robin and their villainous adversaries have even helped my younger children to learn to read!

DC Super Friends Early Readers Books

Super Hero yourself and win an amazing basket of toys from Warner Bros. and DC Kids

We love Super Heroes in our house, and Batman is a long time favourite. The man who always works in black, or very dark grey is definitely one of the best despite having a serious lack of actual super powers.... Today I am promoting a giveaway on behalf of Warner Bros and DC Kids where you can win a whole basket of toys including Batman and his Batmobile!

DC Kids have recently launched a brilliant game on their website called Super Hero Me! Create your own ultimate super hero. You choose how they look, what powers they have and the all important name! That's mine above - Commander Cobra.... she can climb walls, and probably regularly does....below is my son's character Silver Defender - he has elasticity.....

Itty Bitty's From Hallmark - TV, comic book and movie stars plush collectibles

This October sees the UK launch by Hallmark of Itty Bitty's. I'm not usually a soft toy lover, but I'll make an exception for these because frankly they're ace. Little plush comic book, TV and movie stars with beans in their base so that they stand up without help. Retailing at £6 each, they'll be an incredibly popular stocking-filler this Christmas...

LEGO DC Comics SuperHeroes Jokerland Review set 76035

The LEGO DC Super Heroes Jokerland set is one of the most playable sets we've ever owned. Tons of fun to build, and as each part does so much the level of interest from my kids as we built was immense. It's the first ever time I've had to send them out of the room because they drove me bats! I couldn't build it quicker than they were taking it away to play with it....

Jokerland is a set recommended for age 8+ set with 1037 pieces which go together to form the Batmobile and all of the renamed fairground attractions. There are 8 fabulous minifigures in this set with lovely accessories.

For the SuperHeroes we have Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire and Batman...

For the bad guys we have The Joker, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn and The Penguin....

Batman LEGO Batboat Harbour Pursuit Giveaway

I have a giveaway for you today that I really like, and I hope you like it too. How would you like to win the LEGO Superheroes set 76034 The Batboat Harbour Pursuit? Recommended for builders aged 6+, this is a set which I think is great for playing with, and makes a lovely shelf model for the collector.

I'm always more than happy to share my love of LEGO, so being asked by House Of Fraser if I wanted to give away a prize from their Construction Toys And Building Blocks range was an easy thing to accept.

Sprukits Halo Master Chief Level 3 Poseable Figural Model Giveaway

SpruKits model kits are pretty awesome, we love them, and I think you can tell from the reviews just how much they've taken over our house this last week or so. Poseable Figural Model kits which need no tools, no cutting, no glue or paint, and give fabulous results that look great and are brilliant to play around with.

We've built 2 of the Level 1 SpruKits model kits -  Original Comic The Joker and the New 52 Batman....

SpruKits - Poseable Figure Model Kits Review - Batman and The Joker

SpruKits from Bandai are brand new to the UK. Poseable figural model kits featuring characters from DC Comics, Pokemon, LBX and Halo, SpruKits are available in 3 sizes with 3 levels of difficulty - enough to keep anyone from age 8 to adult entertained. And they really have, I'm smitten.

Frankly the packaging was exciting enough! And as I opened the box, it only got better....

Yep, these are a craft project for ages 8+ that requires absolutely NO TOOLS - although you may wish to tidy up the edges and bits of sprue. I haven't for any of the models so that you can see what they're like straight out of the box.

A Super DC Super Hero Day!

Last weekend we took part in a Guinness World Record attempt to have the most people ever dressed as DC Super Heroes worldwide at the same time. When I was invited I thought it would be a good thing for my 2 little boys, I actually had no idea what a huge breath of fresh air it would be for us all!

As it turns out, dressing up as a Superhero DOES give you special powers. It makes you smile. I don't know if it's because you look awesome, if it's because you are someone else, or if it's because everyone else views you as someone else, but it has true magic.

Batman LEGO DUPLO Giveaway - The Batcave Adventure

Regular readers will remember that I was part of the jury team for the How Do You Play? competition organised by LEGO DUPLO earlier in the year. As a thank you they gave me some Batman LEGO DUPLO to give away, and I kept back one set so that I could give it away this Christmas.

Best suited to children aged 2-5, the Batcave Adventure set 10545 has 59 large pieces which can be put together in a multitude of ways to create your very own batcave.

LEGO DUPLO Batcave Adventure set 10545 Review

We review LEGO sets quite regularly, but this is something very different - a DUPLO review! My 2 youngest boys are at the upper age limit for DUPLO now, as they're 4 1/2 and almost 6, and when DUPLO asked if they could send me the Batcave Adventure set 10545 I wasn't going to say 'no'. They love Batman, and I knew we'd get a lot of play out of this set.