Variety Reviews

When watching A Week Away on Netflix, I was not sure on what to expect. Growing up with musicals, I was sure that I would like it, and Netflix didn't disappoint!

        Quite honestly it was TikTok from the star Bailee Madison that brought the movie to my attention and so I sat down to watch it when it debuted on Netflix and enjoyed it!

        This movie follows a Church Camp of teenagers who spend a week away from home. Using covers from Gospel classics and new hits to tell a very wholesome story.

        I'm usually picky when it comes to Gospel music, I love listening to it yes, but most times it's just the same traditional hymns, which are great don't get me wrong, but I love hearing new things. Music that tells something rather than just singing praise which yes, we should do, but do we just wake up and sing praise and think everything is all right in the world?

        There's so much going on and telling that story is what makes music great in my book. Songs like, You Say by Lauren Daigle, God Only Knows by Kings and Country, Why God by Austin French and many more hold that sense of reality that grabs my attention. Though two of those songs were not used in this movie they were just what popped into my head.

        A Week Away brings an inspiring tale of finding a family and friendship. An amazing and Talented cast including Bailee Madison, who I have watched grow up on screens and she has grown to be an amazing young woman!

        A Week Away is a must watch for all Music and Gospel lovers! A great family movie and great morals!

It's no secret that the Live Action remakes of Disney classics or just Disney Characters has not been viewed in the greatest in the slightest. I mean, it's to be expected when watching something you grew up with. One holds a sense of protection for it. Just like family, if someone toys with them, you'll act in ways that is unbecoming.

        When working with a character like Cruella, there is a certain gray area. I mean, how do you bring to life on of the cruelest villains in Disney history without the story that made her a villain.

        Disney's Cruella, somehow managed to bring a certain hero-esque personality to Cruella. Giving her a backstory and making her just a bit relatable in a way. 

        Much like Angelina Jolie's flawless performance of Maleficent, Emma Stone brings just the same amount of conviction and determination to do a character justice. It's kind of creepy just how amazing Emma Stone is at portraying such a character. In my opinion an Oscar Worthy performance. She brought Cruella's sinister behavior and attitude to life way better than I even saw with Glenn Close and the animated adaptation of the character.

        Unlike Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Jungle Book, Aladdin, and Mulan; Cruella was a story that hasn't been done before. Other than the character there is no sense of remake in the movie. Amazing amount of originality and nothing really to compare it to. Which probably made doing the movie just a little bit easier. Not having that thought of doing it justice like the original, which puts an awful amount of weight on someone and tends to toy with one's performance.

        Though I did enjoy so far, all the remakes, because in ways they added nice details to the stories that was nice to see, I must admit that I love the Solo Villain stories just a little bit more. The writers, cast and crew have filled the grey areas of such characters with great storylines and the fact that both have gotten and getting a sequel, as a sequel to Cruella has been confirmed is even more amazing!

        I look forward to seeing what else Emma Stone brings to the role.

Warner Bros track record with the new DC movies has been anything, but sufficient. Their control seems to be killing a franchise before it really has a chance to begin. I'm having a difficult time understanding why, when the same studios have done great shows and movies before, but now a couple good ones and a couple flops, more than there honestly should.

        With the first Suicide Squad, it received a lot of heat with just the trailer, especially with the Joker. A lot of people critiqued it harshly, and that's why I don't base my opinions solely on the trailers, because trailers give you the wrong idea at times. Toying with your thoughts and doesn't let you give a potentially great movie a chance. That's why I watch only one trailer and that's it. When it's a two-parter, I won't even watch the trailer for it.

        With, when the first Suicide Squad movie came out, I enjoyed it, but I was disappointed. The Joker was advertised just a bit too much when only in the overall movie for 10 minutes.

        When they announced the sequel, I was really hoping it would fix what was broken, but unfortunately, I was left even more disappointed. The story was just very messy and disorganized.

        There were some potentially good scenes, but like a Harley Quinn scene it was ruined with an unnecessary addition. It was just a boring movie until the end.

        In my honest opinion it felt like James Gunn was trying to make it a cross between Deadpool and Guardians of the Galaxy and it just doesn't work with the DC Formula. I'd rather watch the first movie over this one.

        Of course, I encourage everyone to make their own opinions, but I'm glad it was put on HBO Max for a month, and I didn't go to the theaters for it.

For thirteen years, The Good Witch has been a yearly Halloween tradition for my family, but don't let the name fool you. The Good Witch isn't exactly a witch. Just an unusual keen gift of charm and a wise soul brings to life a town that seemed set on everyone acting and doing the same.

Back in 2008, Catherine Bell brought Cassie Nightingale to life in Hallmark's The Good Witch. Charming her way into a close-minded town and into the homes of thousands. Each year we received a new tale of Cassie and the charming town of Middleton. The Good Witch was so popular that it was granted a television show to take place after the seven movie run.

Renamed to simply Good Witch, we got a whole new Cassie after suffering a tragedy so powerful that it even brought even Cassie down. Showing that even she is as human as the rest of us. 

The Good Witch franchise will go on to be one of my favorite franchises even long after the final episode which sadly aired this year. I'm not sure how to manage without a new Good Witch tale at least once a year if not more, but all good things must eventually come to an end.

I will always recommend The Good Witch to anyone who loves Hallmark and family tales, because it is an amazing storyline. A beautiful tale so masterfully done!

When the sequel to ICarly was announced, I was overjoyed! It's always amazing seeing shows you loved growing up return with a continuation!

        Even more exciting knowing that at least most of the original cast is to return for it! Now sadly as you know if you followed the progression of the revival or watched the first season that just ended that the new show is missing Sam and Gibby. Jeanette McCurdy has retired from acting and has moved on to other things like a podcast and more, but as Carly herself, Miranda Cosgrove says the door is always open if she wants to at least make a guest appearance somewhere down the line as the show continues.

        But without her the show has introduced some new characters, and not only Carly is back, but we also get to see the return of Freddie and her brother Spencer, and the show has taken a more mature grown up stance, "This is still ICarly, but it's grown up a bit!" A line from the show speaks the truth as it has put in some grown up humor, and more! 

        It is so refreshing seeing the writers keep the original fan base in mind as they bring us the revival!

        Now with, with the first season having ended, and we currently wait for the second, I still currently love the original show more, but this sequel is slowly growing on me, and I can't wait for season 2!

        The ICarly sequel can be found on Paramount+ with the other classic Nickelodeon shows a lot of us grew up on like the original ICarly, Victorious, Zoey 101, Drake & Josh and more!

Titans has certainly made its enemies the now 3 seasons run of the show so far. It's not for everyone.

        This live action remake of Teen Titans follows a group of characters, the usual Nightwing, Robin, Starfire, Raven and Beastboy and a few other characters.

        As someone who has watched it since the beginning, I can understand people's hate, but I can't agree with it. Especially after the CW's Crisis on Infinite Earths, you learn to respect the differences and many ways to tell a story.

        Titans has that level of darkness that I do love seeing in a DC related project and has that amazing action scenes and moments where you just want to ring the writers a new one.

        Certainly, is an interesting take on the children now adults for some of the DC Universe and love seeing what is next each week when a season premieres! I'm very excited for the live action adaptation for Raven as she is one of my favorite characters and so far, the actress is not disappointing! I can't wait to see what's next from her character.

        Starfire is a new take and a new adjustment of her character but so far, she is doing a great job!

        This show has amazing story tellers, the only issue I have is that I feel like season 3 is moving just a little too fast through the story. I feel like they can slow it down just a bit and keep us guessing. I mean, I know for those that read the comics know the answers, but it still would be great to see the team members to keep guessing as to what is happening and who is causing it!

        But overall, I do love the progression of the show!