Archives for September 2024

Agatha All Along Exceeded All My Expectations. It Is Filled With Suspense, Mystery, Dark Comedy, And Fantasy

In Agatha All Along, the infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth Teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Her interest is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull together a desperate coven, and set off down, down, down The Road.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Emma O. comments, “Marvel’s Agatha All Along has me bewitched!  This show exceeded my expectations. It continues Agatha’s story after the events of WandaVision and is filled with suspense, mystery, dark comedy, and fantasy.” See her full review below.

Agatha All Along: Season 1

Emma O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Marvel’s Agatha All Along has me bewitched!  This series continues Agatha’s story after the events of WandaVision and is filled with suspense, mystery, dark comedy, and fantasy. 

The story begins three years after Wanda has taken Agatha’s (Kathryn Hahn) powers. She has no powers and no recollection of who she is.  Under a spell, she believes she is a detective in a small town solving a murder. With the help of a goth Teen (Joe Locke), the spell is broken.  She must form a coven and travel the witch’s road to regain her powers.

This show exceeded my expectations. It magically casts a coven of witches with great chemistry – Sasheer Zamata (Jennifer Kale), Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn), Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone), Mrs Hart (Debra Jo Rupp).  The coven is hesitant to trust Agatha; her reputation precedes her. The witch’s road challenges the fears of each witch on their journey to release a curse and help Agatha regain her powers.  The witch’s road offers five houses with a trial at each. Each house is themed and focuses on a weakness or fear of a specific witch.  The trials bring chaos, suspense and self-doubt.  Through this adversity, each witch faces their own fears, and the coven forms a bond strengthening their resolve as they continue their journey. Everything about this series is fabulous.  The scenes are elaborate and transition into dark, fantasy-creating, spell-binding effects. From living rooms and basements, from the witch’s road of glowing forests, all of the set designs and lighting bring this Marvel series to life.  The costumes are elaborate and reflect the theme of each house. Special effects, combined with music, make each scene suspenseful. Agatha’s character is self-centered, yet conflicted.  We see her as evil and yet cannot help but love her.

The show’s message is about teamwork and how trust and respect are proven through one’s consistent actions.  Viewers should be aware this contains witch horror, suspenseful scenes, partial nudity, foul language and other adult content.

Agatha All Along: Season 1 gets 5 out of 5 stars and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. The series streams on Disney + beginning Sep 18, 2024.

Trailer:

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy * Reimagines The Star Wars Galaxy Like Never Before

A nerf-herder discovers an artifact that twists the Star Wars universe, swapping the roles of heroes and villains. He embarks on an adventure to restore order and emerge as the savior who reassembles the fractured galaxy.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Kennedy P. comments, “Legends aren’t made, they are built!  I love LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy.  This four-piece animated special reimagines the Star Wars galaxy like never before.  It is funny and the cast is outstanding… This show is filled with heart, laughter, and the important message of believing in yourself.” See her full review below.

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy
Kennedy P., KIDS FIRST!  Film Critic, age 10

Legends aren’t made, they are built!  I love LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy.  This four-piece animated special reimagines the Star Wars galaxy like never before.  It is funny and the cast is outstanding.

In LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, the entire Star Wars galaxy gets completely mixed up when an ordinary nerf-herder, Sig Greebling (Gaten Matarazzo), unearths a powerful artifact called the Cornerstone from a hidden Jedi temple. He finds himself thrust into adventure in a new, wild and twisted version of the galaxy where good guys are bad, bad guys are good, and the fate of all depends on Sig becoming the hero who can put all the pieces back together. 

LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy is full of comedy, action and incredible animation.  This show is filled with heart, laughter, and the important message of believing in yourself.  It is a family friendly special and for fans of LEGO or Star Wars this is a must watch. I could not take my eyes off the screen.  The animation and visuals are stunning – I love when the light sabers light up and the flying sequences are awesome.  They could not have picked a better cast to voice these characters.  It features the vocal work of Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Gaten Matarazzo (Sig Greebling), Bobby Moynihan (Jedi Bob), Tony Revolori (Dev Greebling), Marsai Martin (Yesi Scala), Michael Cusack (Servo), and Ahmed Best (Darth Jar Jar). The writing is so smart and funny. I think this movie will create a whole new generation of LEGO and Star Wars fans because it has something for everyone. 

This film teaches you to believe in yourself and to embrace teamwork.

I give LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults.  You can watch LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy on Disney+ beginning September 13, 2024 on Disney +.

Why New Parents Are Embracing Audio Haptic Technology For Better Sleep

Out of everything that a new parent can register for and services that they can book online, sleep is one of those elusive wishes that can be hard to come by in the first few months of a newborn’s life. An emerging field that’s changing how we approach rest and recovery is an audio-haptic system, tailored for sound therapy. In simple terms, this is a new technology that uses targeted, sensory-driven experiences to improve quality of sleep. With audio haptics, what you hear transforms into a physical sensation you can actually feel, syncing your body and mind for a deeper, more restorative sleep.

Soothing Vibrations Are Not Just for Bassinets

Soothing vibrations in baby bouncer seats and bassinets are not new and many parents swear by them.  This is a bit different in that it is an upgrade to the white noise machine you might already use. According to Sleep Doctor, 52% of surveyed adults say they rely on background noise to sleep. While this technology was initially developed to amplify movie and TV experiences, more parents are discovering its potential to ease tension and promote better rest during those precious moments when both parent and child can sleep.

From Phone Vibrations to Sleep Salvation

Remember when your phone started buzzing every time you tapped the screen, making it feel like you were pressing a real button? That was haptics in its early days. Audio-haptic technology has come a long way since then. Today, it’s about improving how we feel, both mentally and physically, by tapping into our body’s natural responses. Haptic wellness devices are using vibrations to relax us, reduce stress, and even help us fall asleep faster. For sleep-deprived parents, this could be a total game-changer.

Tech-Infused Comfort as a Sleep Upgrade

For sleep-deprived parents, every minute of rest feels like winning the lottery. Companies like GoodVibeSleep are taking it to the next level. Their latest mattress and adjustable base bundle is designed to gives new parents the ultimate sleep experience, with built-in speakers and subwoofers that turn your bed into a surround-sound cocoon of relaxation.

But it’s not just about the tech. The mattress is made from eco-friendly, hybrid memory foam, so it’s soft, supportive, and guilt-free. After a long day of chasing kids and putting out fires (literally or figuratively), you can wind down with three different massage settings to melt away muscle tension. Need even more? The base has preset positions like Zero Gravity and Anti-Snore to boost circulation or keep things quiet for a change. Plus, you can personalize the vibe with RGB lighting to match your mood.

Haptics Are Transforming Stress Relief and Sleep for Exhausted Parents

For sleep-deprived parents, managing stress and catching a break seem like pipe dreams. But haptic technology is changing the game, offering a new way to relax that goes beyond the usual breathing exercises or bubble baths. By sending subtle, rhythmic vibrations to the body, haptics directly communicates with the nervous system, helping to calm stress responses on a physical level. These vibrations stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system—your body’s chill-out switch—which can lower cortisol (a.k.a. the stress hormone) and promote emotional balance. More and more parents are turning to these devices to ease anxiety and get some much-needed calm, all through the power of touch.

And when it comes to sleep—every parent’s holy grail—haptics is proving to be a serious game-changer. Stress and overstimulation are notorious for disrupting sleep, but gentle vibrations can help the body unwind, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Instead of popping melatonin or scrolling through a million sleep apps, haptics taps into your body’s natural ability to relax.

Books of the Week of September 16th

Such a fun book for little ones! BEDTIME BLITZ by Matthew Van Fleet
Paula Wiseman Books | September 3, 2024 | 9781665958295 | Ages 2+

From #1 New York Times bestselling creator Matt Van Fleet comes an antic-filled novelty book starring a humorous bast of animals getting ready for bed! BEDTIME BLITZis sale September 3rd, 2024 from Paula Wiseman Books.

It’s getting late, the sun’s almost set, and it’s time for bed! A group of frantic animal friends rush through their bedtime routine: taking a bath, putting on their pajamas, brushing their teeth, reading a story, and then finally putting their heads on the pillow and saying goodnight.

BEDTIME BLITZ features five pull tabs and a lift the flap to make this an interactive storytime experience for young readers. Energetic text, cute animals, and bedtime shenanigans make this the perfect read over and over and over again!

Matthew Van Fleet’s innovative books have been introducing children to basic concepts for more than twenty years. His uniquely designed board books invite toddlers to touch, press, pull, lift, and even sniff as they explore colors, shapes, numbers, letters, opposites, and more. His New York Times bestselling titles include CatHeadsAlphabet, and Moo, as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Tails and Dog. His books have sold more than eight million copies and have been translated around the world. He lives with his family in New York. Visit him online at VanFleetBooks.com.

 the first book in a new action packed and exciting middle-grade series by New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award winner, James Ponti 

 Siblings Alex and Zoe Sherlock take their last name as inspiration when choosing a summer job. After all, starting a detective agency has to be better than babysitting (boring), lawn mowing (sweaty), or cleaning out the attic (boring and sweaty). Their friends Lina, an avid bookworm, and Yadi, an aspiring cinematographer, join the enterprise, and Alex and Zoe’s retired reporter grandfather offers up his sweet aquamarine Cadillac convertible and storage unit full of cold cases.

The group’s first target is the long-lost treasure supposedly hidden near their hometown Miami. Their investigation into the local doings of famed gangster Al Capone leads them to a remote island in the middle of the Everglades where they find alarming evidence hinting at corporate corruption.

Together with Grandpa’s know-how and the kids’ intelligence—plus some really slick gadgets—can the Sherlock Society root out the conspiracy?

Middle-school-age readers will love this mystery! It is engaging and is also educational and simply fun to read!

About the Author: James Ponti is the New York Times bestselling author of four middle grade book series: The Sherlock Society following a group of young detectives; City Spies, about an unlikely squad of five kids from around the world who form an elite MI6 Spy Team; the Edgar Award–winning Framed! series, about a pair of tweens who solve mysteries in Washington, DC; and the Dead City trilogy, about a secret society that polices the undead living beneath Manhattan. His books have appeared on more than fifteen different state award lists, and he is the founder of a writers group known as the Renegades of Middle Grade. James is also an Emmy–nominated television writer and producer who has worked for many networks including Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, History, and Spike TV, as well as NBC Sports. He lives with his family in Orlando, Florida.

New York Times bestselling author of the Storm Runner series J.C. Cervantes’s biggest middle grade novel yet!

 In the novel, Esmerelda Santos is a rare bruja, born with Chaos magic in her veins. She and her family are direct descendants of one of the four original witches—a mysterious legend about the night magic was born in San Bosco. But since the death of her mother, Esme is more concerned about healing their father’s spiraling grief.

When Esme finds a heart spell in a forbidden grimorio, she thinks it could be the answer to making her dad whole again. But before she can try, she and her best friend, Tiago, discover that their families and all the town’s witches have vanished—along with their magic, which keeps San Bosco alive. The only way to save them and the town is to find an original witch—impossible, since no one has actually ever seen one.

With a witch hunter on their tail, Esme and Tiago journey to a banished realm where forbidden magic runs wild. Here the two must embrace their powers and confront the legend’s terrible truths…or risk losing their families and their magic forever.

Delivering all the action, adventure, and heart that middle grade fantasy readers love, THE DAGGERS OF IRE takes the reader on a journey to a fantastical realm filled with magical threats and a search for the original witches. At the heart of the story lies the theme of how, sometimes not only do kids have the power to face what adults refuse to see, but they’re forced to solve problems adults have ignored.

Inspired by the myths her grandmother would share and the lack of Mayan and Aztec stories at her school library growing up, Cervantes decided to write a new mythology: “THE DAGGERS OF IRE took me on a journey, one that got me thinking about colonization and the stories that were destroyed, the same ones that were the lifeblood of many cultures,” Cervantes explains. “I imagined what a new mythology might look like, one that answered the question: where did magic come from? A different sort of origin tale. I wanted to tell a story that celebrated brujería and its Latine roots, one that offered a new perspective beyond the Euro-centric that I’ve always known.”

A great read for the upcoming Halloween holiday!

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature. Info and cover images also were provided.

The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana Art Exhibit Now Open at the Old Orange County Courthouse

Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento and OC Parks Director Pam Passow cut the ribbon for The Chicano Collection exhibition. Joining them are – (from left to right, front row) OC Parks Commissioner Ray Diaz, Santa Ana City Councilmember Johnathon Ryan Hernandez, Santa Ana Unified School District President Carolyn Torres , Tustin City Councilmember Rebecca “Beckie” Gomez, Anaheim Union High School District Trustee Jessica Guerrero, Santa Ana City Councilmember Benjamin Vasquez, (from left to right, second row) Rancho Santiago Community College District Student Trustee Ricardo Alcaraz, Tustin Unified School District President Allyson Muñiz Damikolas, Rancho Santiago Community College Trustee David Crockett, Santa Ana City Councilmember Jessie Lopez, Tustin Unified School District Vice President Jonathan Stone, Orange Unified School District Trustee Kris Erickson, Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee Zeke Hernandez, Orange Unified School District Trustee Stephen Glass.

Chicano history and culture intersect at The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana art exhibit. Now open to the public at the Old Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana (211 W. Santa Ana Blvd.), the collection features images depicting urban life and the Chicano experience between 1969 and 2001. 

The exhibition consists of limited-edition digital reproductions, known as giclées, of original paintings from 26 prominent Chicano artists from the private collection of actor and comedian, Cheech Marin. Marin’s collection now serves as the foundation of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture of the Riverside Art Museum, which opened in June 2022.

The prints were created through a national art project led by Marin with the late Richard S. Duardo of Modern Multiples Fine Art Editions and Melissa Richardson Banks of CauseConnect. In addition to the giclées, a 25-minute documentary about Chicano art and linocut portraits of each artist created by Artemio Rodriguez are on display. The exhibit will be at the Courthouse exhibit gallery through the end of the year.

“Preserving the cultural heritage within our diverse and historic communities is so important, including depictions of the story and struggle of Mexican Americans and Latinos in the Southwest. I wanted to help bring this exhibit here, since many of our residents do not have the opportunity to visit the museum in Riverside and because Orange County has played a vital role in the Chicano movement. I am very proud to have this incredible art experience available for residents and visitors at the historic Old Orange County Courthouse,” said Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento. “We join the community in celebrating Chicano Heritage Month by hosting The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana exhibition.”

The Chicano Movement has been shaped by notable leaders and activists such as Cesar Chavez, Dolores Huerta and more for several decades. Marin has been captivated by artistic expressions of the Chicano culture and has amassed his own renowned private collection over the last 40 years. The Chicano Collection was produced to advance Chicano art as a recognized school of American art, increase public accessibility to this work in cities nationwide and help audiences understand and appreciate the richness of the culture.

Admission to The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana exhibit is free and open to view at the Old Orange County Courthouse gallery Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning August 8. Metered parking is available at the onsite lot and surrounding street parking.

For information about The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana art exhibit or the Old Orange County Courthouse, please visit https://www.ocparks.com/historic-sites/old-orange-county-courthouse.

Credit: OC Parks.

Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Raises Awareness During Rail Safety Month in September

The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® service, is proud to announce initiatives in collaboration with California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL), a non-profit entity that works year-round to promote rail safety, and the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. Launching this September to coincide with Rail Safety Month, this multi-faceted strategy for enhanced rail safety education and awareness includes communications through streaming, television, digital radio, and focused geofencing.

Through this initiative, CAOL has assisted the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency distribute rail safety advertisements displayed on internet-connected televisions and streaming platforms for individuals residing within counties where railroad incidents are the most prevalent. This initiative also provides geofenced safety messaging distributed through mobile devices in such incident-laden geographical hotspots using display advertisements, in-app advertisements, and cell phone notifications. Additional steps under development for the program will involve signage installation along high-risk areas of the rail corridor and outreach to unhoused individuals in close proximity to the tracks.

In addition, a public education safety event in collaboration with the Angels will occur on September 4, 2024 and will take place at Angel Stadium, prior to the Angels’ home game. Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® will host a booth featuring rail safety experts from CAOL, who will provide attendees with valuable tips for staying safe around railroad tracks. Per the Federal Railroad Administration Public Safety Data, California leads the nation in trespassing and grade crossing fatalities. The Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner®’s Southern California route spans the LOSSAN corridor through major cities, making it crucial for the public to be aware of rail safety practices.

The Pacific Surfliner has also teamed up with the Los Angeles Angels to promote rail safety with a radio spot encouraging fans to follow safety rules and practices when near train tracks. This message will be broadcast throughout the month of September on Angels Radio AM 830 to reach a wide audience and reinforce the importance of rail safety.

“Rail Safety Month is a valuable time to communicate the importance of rail safety around the tracks in an effort to reduce trespasser incidents,” said Bryan MacDonald, Chair of the LOSSAN Agency Board of Directors. “We are proud to partner with California Operation Lifesaver and the Los Angeles Angels to aid with the urgent need to educate Californians on how to keep themselves, friends, and families safe near tracks and crossings.”

As practicing rail safety is a team effort, Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® encourages the public to follow simple safety rules whenever around train tracks, including:

  • Never walk on or along train tracks; it’s illegal, trespassing, and highly dangerous. 
  • Cross train tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings and obey all warning signs and signals.
  • Stay alert around tracks. Don’t do anything that would prevent you from hearing an approaching train, such as listening to headphones or talking on the phone.
  • When boarding, remember to stay behind the marked safety line on the station platform and use handholds as you board. 
  • Report suspicious items, persons, or activity immediately to the Amtrak Police Department by approaching a uniformed officer, calling (800) 331-0008, sending a text to APD11 (27311), or by calling 911.

For more information on Rail Safety Month:
Pacific Surfliner: https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/rail-safety/

California Operation Lifesaver: https://caoperationlifesaver.com/rail-safety-month/  

Credit: Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner®

 IF Debuts On Digital And 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray With 40+ Minutes Of Bonus Content

Credit: PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Starring Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, and John Krasinski, IF is a heartwarming and hilarious tale about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends, known as IFs. She embarks on a magical journey to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids, before they disappear. An adventure you’ll need to believe to see, IF is perfect for the whole family. Written and directed by John Krasinski, the film also features a stellar voice cast including Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Steve Carell. IF is rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.

Fans who purchase the film on Digital*, 4K Ultra HD, or Blu-ray will have access to over 40 minutes of behind-the-scenes bonus content to explore the whimsical world of imaginary friends.  See how each IF came to life, hear how filmmakers made the imaginary feel real, go on location in New York from Brooklyn Heights to Coney Island, and don’t miss the hysterical gag reel!

Bonus content is detailed below:

  • The Imagination Behind IF—Hear from writer and director John Krasinski plus the cast and crew as they dive deeper into the process of bringing their imagination to life on screen.
  • Imagining Imaginary Friends— Take a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of each imaginary friend.
  • Giving IFs a Voice— Meet the all-star cast responsible for voicing each character. Hear from Steve Carrell, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and more!
  • Blending The Real and the Imaginary Join John Krasinski as he incorporates a practical filmmaking approach to make the imaginary feel real.
  • Tina Turner Forever!— Experience the reimagining of the iconic 80s Tina Turner music video as John Krasinski recreates this legendary sequence with the IFs.
  • The Imaginative World of IF— From Brooklyn Heights to Coney Island, go behind-the-scenes with the cast and crew and experience the magic of New York City like never before.
  • Gag Reel— You won’t have to imagine the hilarious antics on set once you check out this gag reel!
  • Learn to Draw Blue from IF— Learn to draw the loveable and cuddly “Blue” in this fun, interactive tutorial.

This is a really engaging, fun family film! I highly recommend it!

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of the film to facilitate this post. Info and images were also provided.

Succession: The Complete Series

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment will be newly releasing Succession: The Complete Series on Blu-ray.  Get ready to binge on all 39 episodes from HBO’s Emmy® award-winning original series, along with all the previously released special features. The brilliant high-stakes drama following the Roy Family and their quest for power is available now.

Succession stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, Alan Ruck, Matthew Macfadyen, Nicholas Braun, J. Smith-Cameron, Peter Friedman, David Rasche, and Fisher Stevens.

The series was created by Jesse Armstrong; executive produced by Jesse Armstrong, Adam McKay, Frank Rich, Kevin Messick, Jane Tranter, Mark Mylod, Tony Roche, Scott Ferguson, Jon Brown, Lucy Prebble, Will Tracy, and Will Ferrell. Jesse Armstrong served as showrunner.

Succession earned an impressive 75 Emmy® nominations and 19 wins over its four-season run.  The series achieved a remarkable streak, being nominated for Outstanding Drama Series throughout all four seasons and securing the Emmy® win three times (2020, 2022, 2023). In its fourth and final season, Succession dominated the Emmy® field with 27 nominations and secured six wins, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor, and Outstanding Lead Actress. The season also set a new record for Golden Globe TV award nominations with nine total and winning four, including Best Television Series (Drama) — its third win in that category.  Further adding to its accolades, Succession was honored at the 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

SYNOPSIS:

Power, politics, money…it’s all in the family in this provocative, satirical series about a highly dysfunctional dynasty. When the aging patriarch of one of the world’s largest media conglomerates considers retirement, his family members position themselves for a takeover. But tensions rise as corporate battles threaten to turn into a family civil war in this sharp, scathing, binge-worthy series.

Pricing and series information:

Succession: The Complete Series

Includes all 39 episodes from all four seasons, plus over 20 bonus features including Inside the Episode featurettes, Character Recaps, Cast and Crew Interviews and more!

PRODUCT                           

Blu-ray                                  

Audio: English SDH

Subtitles: English

Running Time: 2,340 minutes

Rated: TV-MA

Credit: Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment

Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment (WBDHE) distributes the award-winning movies, television, animation, and digital content produced by Warner Bros. Discovery to the homes and screens of millions through physical Blu-ray Disc™ and DVD retail sales and digital transactions on major streaming, video-on-demand cable, satellite, digital, and mobile channels.  WBDHE is part of Warner Bros. Discovery Content Sales, one of the world’s largest distributors of entertainment programming.