As you nestle into the fall season, plan to nestle into a theater chair, too – there are lots of good movies coming down the pike!

Here are some of the most anticipated fall flicks:

CONTAGION

The scariest movies are not always the slasher gore-fests. To me, the real horror is something realistic like a global pandemic caused by a fast-spreading lethal virus.

Release date: September 9^th

Starring: Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Lawrence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, Kate Winslet, Jude Law

Watch the movie trailer here.

MONEYBALL

You gotta love movies that are based on true stories. Brad Pitt plays an Oakland A’s manager who gets creative with baseball drafting on a budget.

Release date: September 23^rd

Starring: Brad Pitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill, Robin Wright

Click here for the official movie trailer.

FOOTLOOSE

Put on your dancing shoes and see the remake of the 1984 hit!

Release date: October 14^th

Starring: Julianne Hough, Kenny Wormald, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Miles Teller

Dance on over to the movie trailer here.

IN TIME

The multi-talented Timberlake puts on his actor’s hat in this action-thriller.

Release date: October 28^th

Starring: Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried

Hurry and watch the trailer, before your time runs out.

THE RUM DIARY

When I first saw the title linked with Johnny Depp, I immediately thought this was a tale about Captain Jack Sparrow’s love of the Caribbean cocktail. But those of you who’ve read the Hunter S. Thompson novel know better.

Release date: October 28^th

Starring: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard, Aaron Eckhart, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Jenkins

Click here to see the movie trailer.

TOWER HEIST

Eddie Murphy is baaaaack! He’s the center of some high-rise high jinks in this comedy-crime flick.

Release date: November 4^th

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Alan Alda, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Tea Leoni

Click here to unlock the safe and watch the trailer.

TWILIGHT SAGE: BREAKING DAWN, PART I

Whether you’re on Team Jacob or Team Edward, Twilight fans across the globe are counting down to Part I of the fourth and final novel.

Release date: November 18^th

Starring: Kristin Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Dakota Fanning

To get a glimpse of Bella walking down the aisle in the movie trailer, click here.

THE MUPPETS

The first Muppets theatrical release in 12 years, follow all your beloved characters as they reunite to save the Muppet Theater.

Release date: November 23^rd

Starring: Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Amy Adams, Jason Segel

While it’s not easy being green, it’s easy to watch the Muppets trailer. Click here.

With movie tickets on the rise, a premium for 3-D flicks, and strain-the-pocketbook concession prices, why not save some extra dough with a Plastic Jungle discounted movie gift card? Get 10% off Landmark Theatres, 11% off Fandango and 12% off Cinema De Lux!

What movie are YOU looking forward to seeing this fall?

With temperatures soaring, how do YOU make use of these long, hot summer days?

Last week’s heat wave scorched the Midwest and East Coast and while it seems to have broken, the forecast calls for the rest of the summer to be hot, hot, HOT.

The July heat wave affected nearly 200 million people and roasted folks from Texas to the Dakotas and all the way east to Maine. Not only was it extremely hot, but also dreadfully humid, with blazing temps continuing long after the sun went down.

Records were shattered faster than you could lick a melting ice cream cone. Nationwide, 1,966 daily high maximum temperature records have been broken or tied (through July 23). Check out some of these record highlights:

• Fort Smith, AR has set a new record for the greatest number of consecutive 100 F days, with 20 through July 24.

• Newark, NJ set a new all-time record high of 108 F on July 22, breaking the old record of 105 degrees, set on August 9, 2001.

• The high of 103 F in Boston on July 22 was the city’s hottest day in exactly 85 years.

So how do you literally beat the heat?

If a heat advisory or warning has been issued, follow these important guidelines:

Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. You want to reflect the sun’s UV rays, so steer clear of any dark fabrics.

Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. If you must get out for your daily jog or bike ride, go early. Your motto should be “Shun the Midday Sun.”

Wear Sunscreen! Be generous with the high SPF sunscreen and cover up with a big ‘ole hat and sunglasses.

Don’t let yourself get parched. Drink liquids constantly. If you’re thirsty, it’s too late. Avoid dehydration!

Your parked car is an oven. Never leave children or pets in the car.

Looking for something fun to do inside? Get out of the sticky heat and enjoy some of these air-conditioned activities. With Plastic Jungle’s discounted gift cards, the money you save can be spent on hand-held fans, spritzer bottles and extra popsicles!

Catch the latest flicks inside a cool movie theater! Here’s this week’s Top Box Office:

1. Captain  America: The First Avenger
2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
3. Friends With Benefits

And here are some highly-anticipated movies opening this weekend:

• Cowboys & Aliens
• Crazy, Stupid, Love.
• The Smurfs

Check out Plastic Jungle’s movie merchants for our latest deals on gift cards: AMC Theatres, Cinema De Lux, Landmark Theatres, Regal Cinema and Fandango. Or rent a movie from Blockbuster and enjoy it in the comfort of your air-conditioned home.

Got kiddos? Treat them to an outing at Build-A-Bear Workshop or Chuck E. Cheese’s. Your children will be occupied and you can enjoy a nice reprieve from the relentless sun.Or make a stop at GameStop. For their latest deals, including price drops, bonus offers and hot games under $20, click here.

For a limited time, Build-A-Bear Workshop is offering a free Smurf’s Locker Poster when you buy any Make-Your-Own Smurf.

Want to stay cool AND get a little R&R? Indulge in a spa treatment! Plastic Jungle currently offers Spa Finder gift cards at a 5% discount. Accepted at over 6,000 spas around the globe, they can be used for the spa treatment of your choice. Go ahead – you deserve it! And be sure to ask about local discounts in your area. I live in Reno, NV and both the Peppermill and Atlantis spas offer 15% off Monday-Thursday if you show your Nevada state drivers license.

References: http://www.weather.com/outlook/wxready/articles/id-68,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/heat-wave-2011-stunning-national-statistics/2011/07/24/gIQAJ1FcYI_blog.html

As a follow up to our previous post (We Want Your Gift Cards! 70+ New Merchants on Plastic Jungle)…

Thanks to all of our savvy shoppers’ feedback, we now accept an additional 164 merchants (see below), bringing our total list to more than 400 merchants.  This means you can exchange more of the gift cards you have tucked away in your sock drawers for cash (we pay up to 92% of the verified balance), or an Amazon.com gift card.

As always, Plastic Jungle provides FREE shipping for all gift card transactions. Find those hidden treasures and sell gift cards you are not planning to use so you can get extra cash for your summer vacation!

Are there other gift cards you would like to see on our list? Enter the brand in the comments field below, and we will do our best to add them to our list of accepted merchants.

Full list of recently added merchants

Plastic Jungle is now paying:

(note, prices can vary so please check the site for the most current offers)