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

YOU!

Score “Cool Mom and Dad” points this summer by taking your kiddos to see the highly-anticipated Cars sequel. (Cars 2 opens June 24th.) Join Lightning McQueen and his gang as they race in the World Grand Prix and meet several new friends (and enemies…Muahahahaha) throughout their international adventure.

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 discounted movie gift card? And don’t forget all the exciting Cars 2 paraphernalia – Plastic Jungle can help help you save money on that, too!

Here’s how:

Choose from three of our movie merchants and save up to 12%! Shop for nearly 200 gift cards from Cinema DeLux, Regal Cinema and Landmark Theatres. Amounts range from $25 to $240 – treat yourself or the whole neighborhood!

You can also buy movie tickets in advance with a Fandango gift card and save 11%!

After getting revved up from seeing the Cars 2 movie, avoid financial potholes and detours by using a discounted gift card from Plastic Jungle. Since Cars 2 was produced by Walt Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios, you can find a terrific selection of Cars 2 merchandise at the Disney Store. Plastic Jungle currently has Disney Store gift cards for 10% off!

Or shop for Cars 2 products at Target, Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond and Barnes & Noble.

When your tot has run out of gas, let him refuel his zzzzz’s with these cute pajamas from Target. Buy a Plastic Jungle Target gift card, and save 10%!

Not only can you BUY discounted gift cards from Plastic Jungle, don’t forget – you can also SELL your gift cards as well. Exchange your unused gift cards and earn up to 92% on an Amazon.com Gift Card to buy Cars 2 merchandise. They literally have thousands of products to choose from, including these two top-sellers:

And in addition to Cars 2, there are lots of other fun kid movies coming soon!

Transformers: Dark of the Moon - June 29th

The Zookeeper - July 8

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows – Part 2 – July 15

Winnie the Pooh - July 15

The Smurfs - July 29th

Captain America - July 22

So whether it’s racing alongside Lightning McQueen, helping the Transformers save the earth or waving your wand at He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Summer 2011 is bound to be full of adventure and entertainment at the cinema. And with Plastic Jungle, you can save $!

Go grab your big box of popcorn and enjoy the movie fantasy and savings reality.

The Academy Awards are this weekend! The Official Red Carpet coverage starts on ABC channels at 7 pm on the East Coast/4 pm on the West Coast, then the Academy Awards show starts at 8 pm EST/5 pm PST. For more information go to Oscar.com.

Here’s info to tune into the myriad pre-shows that dish on designers, celebrities, and movie stars:

• E! Online has red carpet coverage beginning at 6 pm EST/3 pm PST.
• The MTV Movies blog will have live online streaming from 6 pm to 8 pm EST.
• CNN’s Showbiz Tonight will have “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Camille Grammer as a fashion and celebrity commentator; their live coverage is at 7 pm EST, then wrap-up coverage is at 11 pm EST on HLN.
• For the real down-low and what they were wearing, E!’s Fashion Police, with Red Carpet veteran quick-wit Joan Rivers will likely air on Monday… can’t find a specific airdate, but look for it on E!

Here’s a quick link to the complete list of Academy Awards Nominees for your Oscar Pool. If you could cast your vote for the Oscars – how would you go? I pick The Social Network for the Best Picture win. Why? Because it’s the only Oscar-nominated movie to pass my litmus test: my brother saw it!

Get Discounts on Movie Tickets, Concessions, and DVD & Blu-Ray Discs

Getting to see the Oscar-nominated movies might get expensive. Discounted gift cards to theaters, media retailers, and restaurants take the sting out of what could be a pricey proposition. Here are some gift card ideas from Plastic Jungle based on what’s on sale right now (at time of writing) on the site.

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• Straight-up, purchase discounted gift cards to theaters or movie chains. Right now, cinema gift cards and theater gift cards on sale include:
• AMC Theatres Gift Cards |  Cinema De Lux Gift Cards |  Landmark Theatres Gift Cards |  Loew’s Theaters Gift Cards |  Regal Cinema Gift Cards (also good at United Artists Theatres and Edwards Cinemas )
• Choose Fandango Gift Cards for flexibility as to which theater or movie chain you can use them at, and Fandango Gift Cards are sold as eCODEs too so you can potentially use them the same day you buy them. Recipients must have Internet access to redeem Fandango Bucks; to see if you can use them locally, enter your zip code on the Fandango home page.
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• For movies that have left the theaters (or those foreign ones that may have never played near you but critics tell you not to miss), go for a media store gift card. Right now, Plastic Jungle has FYE Gift Cards (and eCODES) |  Hollywood Video Gift Cards |  Barnes & Noble Gift Cards |  Best Buy Gift Cards | Border’s Gift Cards (at a 14% discount, but use it fast!) | iTunes Gift Cards. Consider even Walmart Gift Cards and Target Gift Cards, where you can buy an inexpensive DVD player and watch movies on your lunch breaks!
• Get an Amazon.com Gift Card when you trade in one of your unused gift cards in exchange, here on Plastic Jungle!
• 
• Post-Movie Discussion: In “The King’s Speech”, didn’t Geoffery Rush just break your heart when the King berated him for having no credentials? How bizarre, on a scale of 1-10, did Natalie Portman seem to you in “The Black Swan”? Was Jesse Eisenberg’s character in “The Social Network” a mean guy, or just another motivated capitalist winning at any cost? The cup of coffee after the movie might be just as important as the movie itself. Get discounts on Starbuck’s Gift Cards | Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Gift Cards | Applebee’s Gift Cards | Cold Stone Creamery Gift Cards | The Cheesecake Factory Gift Cards.
  

  Mark Zuckerberg meets Jesse Eisenberg on Saturday Night Live

View the Video: Samberg, Zuckerberg and Eisenberg on SNL 2/19/11

Enjoy the movie fun this weekend! Let us know how your Oscar Picks came out, and who you thought didn’t win, but deserved it.

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)