#Jason Katz

[mediamatinees]

Disney and Pixar's "Coco" Got Away With Sneaking a Murder Mystery Into a Family Drama and I'm Here For It!

Content Warning: not much since this is a family movie, but there is murder so viewer discretion is advised. Spoilers for Coco ahead! Some people would travel far and wide to live their dreams. But, most of them wouldn’t consider running around the Land of the Dead to do it . . . Miguel Rivera belongs to possibly the only family in Mexico that hates music. Forbidden to play or even be around…

[addictivecontradiction]

Coco, 2017

[adamwatchesmovies]

Coco (2017)

A surprising number of animated films deal with death but few with the sensitivity and spirit of Pixar’s Coco. Culturally rich, visually inspired and filled emotion, even if you’ve never celebrated the Day of the Dead, it’s a soulful, thoroughly entertaining adventure.

Aspiring musician Miguel (voiced by Anthony Gonzalez) is forbidden from following his passion by generations of family tradition enforced by his grandmother (Renée Victor). After stealing the guitar of Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), the most beloved singer/guitarist in Mexican history, Miguel is transported to the realm of the dead. To return to the living, he must receive his ancestors's blessing.

Immediately, you’ll notice the care poured into the film’s visuals. I know Pixar always does a great job animating their films, that it feels like it’s a given at this point but this Coco blows away your expectations. The realm of the dead explodes with colours. Every building, every lamp, window and location has been designed to give this place a unique look. For instance, the way buildings look from certain angles create the repeating image of skulls. You see so many that when Miguel is brought to a world where the dead literally walk around and speak to him, you’re non-plussed. Think about that. In this film, we see a character die on-screen. Most of the people Miguel interacts with are dead but it never feels frightening or traumatic.

Coco has the full gamut of human emotions packed into its 105-minute running time. It's even more impressive when considering many watching probably won't know anything about the “rules” of this afterlife. Don't worry, whether you're familiar with Mexican culture and the Day of the Dead or not, the exposition is woven so organically and efficiently it never draws attention to itself but answers all your questions.

I wouldn’t consider Coco a musical but music plays a big role in it. Certain lyrics introduced early on return to suddenly have a different meaning or to reinforce the emotion in a scene. The script is carefully-written, with not one moment wasted. You’re dazzled by the visuals and on repeat viewings, you can wrestle your attention away from the backgrounds and animation to focus on the characters and their journey. This is also where I have some criticisms for the film. The story’s great, the characters unique, memorable and well-developed. The ending, however, feels a bit familiar, particularly if you’ve seen some of Pixar’s other projects. The only other flaw is related to Miguel’s family in the world of the living. They can feel needlessly mean, particularly his grandmother, who only ever acts nice towards him after being cruel or bossy. I’m certain many will recognize their family in Miguel’s. I applaud the film’s choice to make a distinct movie that firmly commits to the culture it's celebrating but this may create a gap between the film and some viewers at points.

Films like Coco are rousing arguments for more diversity in Hollywood. We’ve never seen a production like this one before - not even in 2014’s The Book of Life. Let’s hope the future brings us more opportunities to discover new people, new cultures and stories. This is proof it pays off. (Theatrical version on the Big Screen, November 1, 2019)

[p0is0ngirlx]

so, this happened yesterday🖤 everyone who knows me, knows that hocus pocus is my favorite movie in the whole world. i never ever imagined i would be able to meet max, allison & the voice actor for binx..my number one comfort character as a kid, & the reason my cat has the name that she has. i remember sleeping every night with my black cat plushie held close to me that i had named binx..& my mom always telling me that when i was really little i would run around yelling that max from hocus pocus was my “boyfriend”. little did i know, years down the road he would be calling me “the goth winifred sanderson”🤣 being a 90s girl, & a girl who breathes halloween..this movie just has it all for me. it will forever bring me a comfort i cannot explain. meeting them was a total dream. i’ll forever & ever remember this day. 💜🕸️🐈‍⬛🧪🎃

[nero-neptune]

EERIE, INDIANA 1.18 “Reality Takes a Holiday”

“Toto, I don’t think we’re in Indiana anymore!”

[curtvilescomic]

Jason Voorhees rule 63 cosplay by Liz Katz

[xadee]

Liz Katz

[trnsocial]

Remember That Show? Ep. 23: Eerie, Indiana

Adam and Will take a trip to Eerie, Indiana to explore the strange happenings in this unique early 90’s TV series that would not die. Plus discussions of local supernatural lore, bizarre celebrity rumors, teen television stars who never hit the big time and more. It’s spooky and kooky so listen now! This episode is sponsored by halloweencostumes.com and you can get 20% off 1 item now by clicking…

[geekygirlexperience]

I did my first press conference for the Geeky Waffle last weekend at Dragon Con with Hocus Pocus' Jason Marsden, Vinessa Shaw, and Omri Katz! Also, I want Vinessa's coin podcast because it was fascinating! Give it a watch, like, and comment!

[kenpiercemedia]

Announcing The 32nd Gotham Independent Film Awards Winners

Last night the winners for the 32nd Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards were handed out and I’m happy to start your Tuesday morning with this information if you are a follower of any kind of independent film. I have to admit that I stick to my main big screen Marvel Studios and Warner Brothers stuff for the most part and only get to the theater for those types of releases and I should look more…

[theflixdiary]

Hocus Pocus (1993) directed by Kenny Ortega

genre: fantasy, comedy age rating: 10+ duration: 1h 36m country: United States language : English screenplay : David Kirschner, Mick Garris, Neil Cuthbert

cast: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Omri Katz, Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, Sean Murray, Jason Marsden, Doug Jones

plot summary: after accidentally resurrecting the Sanderson Sisters—three eccentric witches executed in the 17th century—teenager Max Dennison (Omri Katz) teams up with his little sister Dani (Thora Birch), his crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw), and a cursed talking cat named Binx to stop the witches from achieving their dark mission on Halloween night.

I get it—Hocus Pocus is a Halloween staple, and I was ready to dive into that supposed spooky magic. but if I’m being real, it was more like a “fun distraction” than a truly bewitching experience. it’s definitely loaded with Halloween vibes—there’s autumn leaves everywhere, a super spooky cemetery, and a whole lot of wild costumes. but for me, it was a case of “style over substance.” the story’s a bit thin, and the campy feel sometimes goes a bit too far without giving much depth to hook me in. now, let’s talk about the Sanderson Sisters, because Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are clearly having a blast in these roles. they’re so over-the-top in the best way, bringing major sass, big energy, and a whole lot of campy charm. but there are times when it feels like they’re trying just a bit too hard to be funny. I can’t help but wonder if they could’ve toned it down just a touch to let some of the genuinely spooky moments shine through. as for the kids—Max, Dani, and Allison—they’re cute and all, but a bit bland if I’m being honest. they don’t really have that spark or chemistry that makes me root for them, and I felt like I was just watching them go through the Halloween motions. the standout? Binx the Cat, hands down. with his tragic backstory and loyal personality, he’s the one who really brings the heart to the story. the bittersweet twist in Binx’s journey was the only thing that actually got me a little choked up. funny enough, Hocus Pocus was apparently supposed to be a straight-up horror flick before it got turned into this quirky family film, and you can kind of feel those odd bits sneaking through. there’s this layer of adult innuendo that seems kind of out of place for a PG movie—like, who was that meant for? it adds an oddly uneven tone that keeps it from feeling like a pure kids’ movie. so yeah, Hocus Pocus is a cute, slightly chaotic Halloween movie that’s fun to have on as background noise, and it’s got that nostalgic vibe that people love. but if I’m honest, it doesn’t offer much beyond that. it's more about the Halloween vibes and less about the plot, which isn’t a bad thing, but it does make it feel a bit shallow.

poster & stills credit: IMDb poster edited with canva

[catschimericalcreations]

Did you know:

You can learn more about this Eerie Indiana inspired two-headed pig plush made from repurposed Beanie Babies here: https://catschimericalcreations.dreamwidth.org/38081.html

Like what I do? Please consider supporting me here: https://ko-fi.com/catschimericalcreations

El Gordo the Eerie Indiana Two-Headed Sow of the Yucatan by Cat's Chimerical Creations

[addictivecontradiction]

Coco, 2017

[hyper-pixels]

How to Grow Up

A guide on how to grow up. It was originally posted by @/friendliness but half the links were broken. So I took what links weren't broken and added other links and more things to know.

This is USA based resources

Personal

Reasons to Stay Alive – A Tumblr post of 116 reasons to stay alive by @/friendliness.

How to Get Better At Asking for Help – Website is Harvard Business Review. The article is “5 Ways to Get Better At Asking for Help” by Wayne Baker.

What to do if you Can’t Afford Therapy – Website is Psych Central and the article is by Steven Rowe.

How to Quit Smoking – “The 22 Best Ways to Quit Smoking” by Debra L. Gordon and David L. Katz M.D. from the Healthy Digest.

How to Legally Change your Name – Website is Forbes.

Wanna Learn Something New? – A Tumblr post made by @/hamletthedane with various new things to try from language learning to ballet.

Free Harvard Courses – Harvard University’s free online courses.

Getting a New Computer? – A quick and dirty comprehensive guide by WIRED on what to look for.

How to Sew – Website is Autodesk Indestructibles. The article is “How to Sew” by Jessyratfink. Having a small sewing kit (that you can pick up from nearly any craft store) is super handy and has saved my life and clothes.

What to Look For in Clothes A YouTube video by Alyssa Beltempo titled “How to Identify High Quality vs. Poor Quality Clothing | Slow Fashion”. Here’s a WikiHow [x] if a YouTube video isn’t your style.

Dealing with Executive Dysfunction – A Tumblr post made by @/compassionatereminders. It's a list to more links on how to deal with executive dysfunction.

Another List Like this One – A Tumblr post made by a now deactivated account. It's a list much like this one.

Home

What’s a mortgage? – Website is realtor.com and the page is called “What is a Mortgage? Home Loan Basics Explained” by Cathie Ericson.

First Apartment Checklist – A checklist PDF. Here’s another link to a Tumblr checklist [x] 

What to Ask Landlords Before Renting? – “25 Questions To Ask a Landlord When Renting a Home” by Morgen Henderson.

What’s Renter’s Insurance? – Website is Forbes Advisor. The article is by Jason Metz and titled “How to Get Renters Insurance”.

Plant Care – A master list of how to care for plants made by @/difficults

Job

Time Management – Website is Entrepenuer and has 10 time management tips. One I personally recommend is keeping a physical calendar book on hand. I keep mine in my bag with a designated pen.

Finding the right job – Website is The Muse and it has 13 free career assessment tests.

Make a resume – Website is Resume Now. Many hirers look at your name, the middle of the page (where your experience list is) and skim the rest.

Job Interview Tips – Website is Linkedin. The article is titled “10 Job Interview Tips to Land The Career of Your Dreams” by Caren Merrick.

How to Write a Cover Letter – Website is The Writing Center. University of Winsconsin, Madison. It’s titled “Writing Cover Letters” and I can’t find the author.

Money

Couponing! – Website is Coupon Database :: Southern Savers. It has a list of mobile apps for coupons to places.

Call 211 for Help – the website leads to 211.org. It's anonymous and can help you get connected to food programs, paying bills and things like doctor appointments. Here’s a Tumblr post about it [x] by @/poessionisamyth

Groceries! – This is a Tumblr meme post, but scrolling through tags/reblogs/replies and there’s plenty of good tips. The post is by @/charlotten

What To Do if You Can’t Pay Your Bills – Website is Nolo. The article is “When You Can’t Pay Your Bills: Thiings To Know” that was updated by Amy Loftsgordon. 

Are You Paying Too Much for Your Phone Bill? – An article by Beht Beverman titled “How Much is Too Much to Pay for a Cell Phone Bill?”.

54 Ways to Save Money – Website is America Saves.

How to Do Taxes – Website is Wiki-How.

The 70/20/10 Method – Website is Business Insider. The Article is “A Beginners Guide to the 70-20–10 Budgeting Method” by Paul Kim.

Side Hustle Ideas – Website is Forbes. “30 Side Hustle Ideas To Make Extra Money In 2024” by Krista Fabregas.

Emergency

Your Rights When a Cop Pulls you Over – Website is Business Insider. Cops are allowed to lie to you, and they will, so be careful.

Hotline List – The website is DoSomething.org. Depression/Suicide, domestic abuse, child abuse and runaway/homeless/and at-risk youth hotlines.

What to Keep in Your Car – Website is MentalFloss. I live in a snowy area that gets blizzards and bad ice. I keep blankets, water and other aids in my car as well as a knife and road flare. I also own a self jumping car battery and it has saved my ass more than once. Heimlich Maneuver – A one minute video by the Mayo Clinic.

The Heimlich Maneuver on Yourself – A one minute video by The List Show TV.

What to Keep in Your Wallet – Website is PureWow. The article is by Rachel Bowie. Keep your drivers license, medical insurance card, and an emergency contact in your card. If you have a pet home alone make sure that you have a card detailing this. Free printable one here [x]

Traveling

Packing List – Website is Smarter Travel.

Traveling with Little to No Money – Website is Nomadic Matt.

How to Pack a Suitcase – Website is Real Simple. The article is by Thersa O’Rourke.

How to Apply for a Passport – Website is WikkiHow.

Making a Travel Budget – Website is Travel Made Simple. “How to Make a Travel Budget” by Ali Garland

[twin-fantasies]

Car Seat Headrest - Something Soon

Starring: Will Toledo, Seth Daldby, Andrew Katz, Ethan Ives ✦ Directed by: Jason Reid ✦ Running Time: 4:24 ✦ Release Date: September 1st, 2015

[nero-neptune]

EERIE, INDIANA 1.17 “Zombies in P.J.s”

“Marshall, you're overreacting! Nothing's going on here but a little harmless capitalism!”