She Said: Based on the book of the same name, it tells the heart-pounding story to uncover the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. NY Times reporters Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) take on Weinstein and the Hollywood machine in a way that is jaw-dropping.
Elvis: Austin Butler transforms himself into Elvis Presley, adding new layers to the music icon.
Call Jane: Elizabeth Banks plays a housewife whose pregnancy is not going well in the days before Roe v. Wade. Denied an abortion by the local hospital, she finds an underground group and soon joins them in their mission to help women.
Hocus Pocus 2: After 29 years, the Sanderson sisters are back. It has enough of its predecessor while holding its own in the best way possible.
Mr. Malcolm’s List: Based on the book of the same name by Suzanne Allain, Mr. Malcolm is the most coveted bachelor in this Jane Austen-inspired narrative. In order to fend off marriageable young ladies and their match-making mamas, he creates a list of qualities that his wife should have. Little does he know that it will soon be moot.
Downton Abbey: A New Era: This second film in the franchise opens the door to new stories while closing old ones in perfect fashion.
Last weekend, fans of Hocus Pocus were finally rewarded for our patience. The long-awaited sequel, Hocus Pocus 2, was released on DisneyPlus. Nearly thirty years after the Sanderson sisters, Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) were vanquished, they are brought back again by a couple of teenagers.
This time it is Becca (Whitney Peak) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo) who light the black flame candle. The only way to stop the witches is with the help of their friend, Cassie (Lilia Buckingham), who has been spending all of her free time with her boyfriend. Working with the sister’s fanboy Gilbert (Sam Richardson), they know that Winifred, Mary, and Sarah must be stopped for good this time.
I could not help but smile during the film. The wait was worth it. It is as if the last 29 years have not existed. Midler, Najimy, and Parker slipped back into their roles as one would put on a beloved piece of clothing. The narrative is an organic continuation of the 1993 movie, taking the story in new directions in regard to the main characters.
The new characters also work well and are a nice extension of the original teenage protagonists. Becca, Izzy, and Cassie are an interesting mirror image of Winifred, Mary, and Sarah. For his part, Gilbert represents the myth of the witches that have grown within this world and within the fanbase.
It is a fun, exciting ride that takes the audience on a ride and ends in a manner that is lovely and unexpected.
The only thing that would have made it better would have been cameos from the original kid actors.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
Hocus Pocus 2 is available for streaming on DisneyPlus.
When Hocus Pocus premiered in 1993, critics didn’t have a high opinion of the film. Almost thirty years later, it has become a cult classic and a staple of the television schedule in the fall.
The teaser trailer for Hocus Pocus 2 was released this week. The story as we know it to be (as of now) is as follows: three young ladies light the black flame candle and bring the Sanderson sisters back to life. Winifred (Bette Midler), Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker), and Mary (Kathy Najimy) are once more eager to wreak havoc on the residents of Salem.
Though it is not clear if the original child actors (Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, and Thora Birch) will be returning, it looks (as of now) to be a perfect follow-up to one of my favorite childhood films.
Hocus Pocus 2 will be available for viewing on September 20, 2022, on DisneyPlus.
There is something about a movie from your childhood that no matter how old one gets, that movie brings you back to that point in your life.
With Halloween just around the corner, anything relating to witches is becoming popular, as it does every fall.
In 1993, Disney added to the lore of witches with Hocus Pocus.
In 1693 Salem Massachusetts, Winifred, Mary and Sarah Sanderson (Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker) are accused using dark magic and executed. The warn that they will return. Three hundred years later, Max (Omri Katz), a recent west coast transplant who is skeptical of the myth of the Sanderson sisters, is stupid enough to bring the witches back to life. Now it is up to Max, his sister Dani (Thora Birch), Max’s crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw) and an immortal cat to destroy the witches once and for all.
The child in me has fond memories of this movie. At the end of the day, it’s just an innocuous Disney movie (aren’t they all?) from the early 90’s that is fun to watch. I love the balance of the comedic and villainous elements that come out of three witches, especially Bette Midler.
With Halloween coming up quick, sometimes I don’t want to watch blood and gore. Sometimes I want to watch something that will make me laugh, without keeping me up at night.
Writergurlny 
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