American Born Chinese (2023): Season 1 – Review
American Born Chinese is ambitious and nuanced in its Asian American representation, yet there are parts that feel watered down or changed by its Disney overlords.
Young Adult
In the Young Adult tag, you’ll find coming-of-age stories and productions featuring those in their late teens through twenties getting their lives together.
Once Upon A One More Time (2023) – Musical Review
“Once Upon A… One More Time” is a feminist musical set to the music of Britney Spears that may feel like it is preaching to the choir and needs more oomph in its ensemble numbers.
The Little Mermaid (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)
“The Little Mermaid” thankfully takes enough from the Broadway musical and further creative license from the Hans Christian Anderson story to make an entertaining, though serviceable, film.
Primo (2023) – Season 1 Review (with Spoilers)
“Primo” will ruffle your hair and give you a big bear hug in this warm and rewarding comedy.
On Our Way (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)
While at times slow-moving, the love story between Rosemary and Henry will make you swoon, just as much as Michael Richardson plays up a tortured soul type.
City On Fire: Character Guide
A character guide for Apple TV+’s “City On Fire,” with character descriptions, quotes, names of actors, and more.
Swarm (2023): Season 1 – Review
Swarm centers around a quirky super-fan has an extreme obsession with the fictional pop star, Queen Ni’Jah, which leads her down a rocky path of self-discovery and murder.
Big Boss (2023) – Movie Review and Summary (with Spoilers)
Keke Palmer’s “Big Boss” certainly had the potential to be something notable, but the music interrupts what brings the film value.
Bees and Honey (2023) – Play Review
“Bees & Honey” feels like a modernized 90s sitcom, like “Martin,” but with modern themes and heartening drama.
Pretty Stoned (2023) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
In the pursuit of the next “Half Baked” or “How High,” MTV presents its latest attempt to make a classic in “Pretty Stoned.”
The Mandalorian (2023) – Season 3 Review
Mando, Grogu, and Bo-Katan work to unite the varied Mandalorian factions under a growing threat from Moff Gideon.
Polite Society (2023) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
“Polite Society” has all the workings of a sleeper hit thanks to its blend of action, comedy, and injection of culture to make it stand out.
School Spirits (2023) Season 1 Review/Spoilers
Overall, the first season of School Spirits is a fine watch, but needs more intrigue and fun to live up to its title and make a memorable impact.
Beautiful Disaster (2023) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
While”Beautiful Disaster” may appear like another strange, bad boy with potential story, it is far better than the movies you’d want to quickly compare it to.
School Spirits: Season 1, Episode 8 “Madison’s Body” (Season Finale) – Review/Spoilers
Questions get answered, answers get questions, and everyone gets to be a detective in the shocking School Spirits finale!
Hunger (2023) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
“Hunger” might be a wonderful lesson about the cooking industry, but it doesn’t tap as deeply into its underdog story as it could have.
School Spirits: Season 1, Episode 7 “Séance Anything” Review/Spoilers
School Spirits is finally balancing its laughs, tears, and mystery in a season highlight.
The Mandalorian Season 3/ Episode 6 – Chapter 22 “Guns for Hire”
Jack Black, Lizzo, and Christopher Lloyd are the welcome guest stars in this whimisical and farcical episode where Mando, Grogu, and Bo-Katan travel to the outer rim planet of Plazir-15 to recruite renegade Mandalorians to return to the original fold.
Servant: Season 4 – Summary/ Review (with Spoilers)
While the final season of “Servant” began with so much promise, unfortunately, it ends in disappointment like so many productions attached to M. Night Shyamalan lately.
The Mandalorian: Season 3/Episode 5 “The Pirate” – Recap/ Review (with Spoilers)
Pirate King Gorian Shard invades the small city of Nevarro with Greef Karga and it’s citizens having no choice but to run to the outskirts hoping for a rescue.
School Spirits: Season 1, Episode 6 – “Grave the Last Dance” Review/Spoilers
Jealous teens, dead ends, and music montages make up an underwhelming School Spirits.
Perfect Addiction (2023) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
While the narration may feel unnecessary, and many fights don’t pack a punch, Kiana Madeira keeps you locked in.
Wildflower (2023) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
“Wildflower” brings us one of the most touching stories about families needing to learn to trust they did enough and their kin can make it on their own.
A Good Person (2023) – Review/ Summary
While sometimes the cursing feels like an unnecessary crutch to heighten the drama, “A Good Person” will pull on your heartstrings and make it clear why Florence Pugh is considered a top talent.
School Spirits: Season 1/Episode 5 “The Twilight End Zone” Review
A special maternal connection between Maddie and Wally make a poignant episode of School Spirits.
Shazam! The Fury of the Gods (2023) – Movie Review
Shazam! Fury of the Gods returns as a sequel with the super hero family battling a wicked trio of twisted sisters complete with a dragon and monsters wreaking havoc on Philadelphia.
School Spirits: Season 1/Episode 4 Recap “Ghoul Intentions”
Secrets come out and teams come together in a revealing School Spirits episode.
School Spirits: Season 1, Episodes 1-3 “My So-Called Death/The Fault of Our Scars/Dead and Confused” – Recap/ Review
In the School Spirits premiere, Maddie is dead, and mystery lurks in every school hallway as she tries to discover what happened to her while balancing time between the living and the dead.
Chang Can Dunk (2023) – Movie Review/ Summary
Chang Can Dunk is an impressive debut by Jingyi Shao that shakes up the familiar underdog sports story.
Lonely Castle in the Mirror (2023) – Review/ Summary
With themes of bullying, death, assault, and more, “Lonely Castle in the Mirro” is an immensely emotional experience.
The Magic Flute (2023) – Review/ Summary
“The Magic Flute” is the kind of movie adaptation that will make you wonder, if the film is this good, would seeing it live be just the same or better?
Suzume (2023) – Review/ Summary
Makoto Shinkai continues his streak of visually stunning and emotionally impactful anime with “Suzume.”
“Conversations After Sex” at the Irish Arts Center (2023) – Review/ Summary
“Conversations After Sex” may do itself a disservice by not naming its character or having different men play the lead’s lover, but it still delivers in many ways.
The Coast Starlight (2023) – Review/ Summary
Taking place barely over a day, “The Coast Starlight” is packed with a series of what-if conversations that leave you longing for connection.
Under His Influence (2023) – Review/ Summary
In this “Did he or didn’t he” film, a social media influencer falls for a young man who may have killed his teacher, but the evidence is slim against him.
Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey (2023) – Review/ Summary
“Winnie The Pooh: Blood and Honey” feels like a throwback to when slasher movies began, and the goal was to freak out the audience with intense visuals.
Somebody I Used To Know (2023) – Review/ Summary
“Somebody I Used To Know” may have a wonderful “Community” reunion and unexpected friendship worth investing in, but it doesn’t offer much beyond that.
The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window (2023) – Review/ Summary
While it sometimes feels like it says too much to make things more complicated than they need be, as time goes on, you realize avoiding simplicity is the point.
Joy Ride (2023) – New Movie Coming Soon
From the writers of “Family Guy,” “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Raya and the Last Dragon” comes a new comedy adventure set in Asia.