I grew up around a lot of Disney, and it played a bit of a role in my childhood. In the 80s, the Disney Channel was a pay channel, like HBO for kids, and it didn’t have commercials. My mom paid extra for it so that we could have programming to keep my sister and I occupied while she did stuff. And unlike Nickelodeon, Disney didn’t promote kids talking back or being rude to authority figures so it was a bit more parent-friendly.
The bloom was off the rose for Disney …

For a company that has helped shape generations of childhood memories, Disney sure has to spend a lot of time defending itself against all kinds of accusations. Sure, things in the Magic Kingdom may not be perfect, but the outlook it projects to children and adults alike is invaluable. For me, being exposed to Disney’s brand of magic did so much to shape the grownup I turned into. I’ve seen most of the animated movies multiple times, made two trips to the parks in Florida and still own a few …

Based on the folk tales Jack the Giant Killer and Jack and the Beanstalk
Story by: Darren Lemke, David Dobkin
Written by: Darren Lemke, Christopher McQuarrie, Dan Studney
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Starring: Nicholas Hault, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy
US Release Date: Friday, March 1, 2013
In Short: A guy called Jack slays giants.
Recommended: Yes and no.
[Jack hesitates while jumping from the beanstalk]
CRAWE: Wanna know a little trick? When I’m afraid I imagine a big piece of cake floating right in front of me.
JACK: Brilliant. Thanks.
CRAWE: Like a reward, …

Written by: Ian Goldberg, Adam Chambliss
Directed by: David Barrett
US Airdate: Sunday, March 17, 2013
ABC
In Short: Regina’s her name and revenge is her game, in both 1983 and the present day.
Recommended? Yes!
HENRY: You used to be heroes. What happened to you?
This was a fun episode that ended with a twist I totally did not see coming. But before that twist, about which more anon, we were treated to a graduate-level seminar courtesy of the distinguished Professor Regina Mills on why revenge is a dish best served cold – colder than snow.
Our …

Written by: Jane Espenson
Directed by: Ralph Hemecker
US Airdate: Sunday, March 10, 2013
ABC
In Short: Cora’s backstory is revealed, and Princess Eva’s death is avenged… but at what cost?
Recommended? Hell Yes!
CORA: I don’t like what that enchanted box is saying.
REGINA: It’s not an enchanted box. It’s a phone tap.
CORA: I don’t care.
– best dialogue in the entire episode.
Hurry! Somebody bring me a cold compress for my throbbing forehead and a soothing tisane to calm my jangled nerves. My heart is still racing. This was such a complex episode that I can’t possibly …

Written by: David H. Goodman and Daniel T. Thomsen
Directed by: Gwyneth Horder-Payton
US Airdate: Sunday, March 3, 2013
ABC
In Short: Both Snow and Regina are finally pushed just a little too far.
Recommended? Yes.
REGINA: Well, there you go. See where good gets you?
Well, well. The chickens have really come home to roost, haven’t they? The good people of Storybrooke have responded to Regina’s (Lana Parilla) attempts to reform herself with indifference at best, and more often with self-righteous skepticism. Emma (Jennifer Morrison) has taken Henry (Jared Gilmore) out of town without telling Regina …

Written by: Tommy Wirkola
Directed by: Tommy Wirkola
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen, Pihla Viitala
In Short: Hansel and Gretel live out their logical conclusion after the candy house incident.
Recommended: Yes – on DVD only.
HANSEL: One thing this job has taught me over the years: don’t eat the fucking candy.
Dear Hollywood,
Clearly, you have made it your mission to ensure that we can’t have nice things. Why can’t we have these things that are nice? Because you take movies with potential and then ruin them for me by destroying the only things …

Written by: Edward Kitsis & Adam Horowitz
Directed by: Dean White
US Airdate: Sunday, February 17, 2013
In Short: Scenery: It’s what’s for dinner, as fathers and sons are reunited, secrets are laid bare, and dastardly plots are hatched and executed.
Recommended: Heh. No.
AUGUST: I know you’re Baelfire.
– A very special message to Neal
This may not be the most popular opinion I’ve ever put forward, but “Manhattan” was a train wreck of near-epic proportions. Staring in disbelief, I couldn’t tear my eyes away, profoundly as I wished I could. A perfect storm of bad …

Written by Christine Boylan & Kalinda Vazquez
Directed by Guy Ferland
US Airdate: Sunday, February 10, 2013
In Short: Emma and Gold embark upon a journey, and Anton the Giant’s backstory, which we have all been breathlessly awaiting, is at long last revealed.
Recommended: Zzzzz.
ANTON: All you humans do is lie and cheat and kill, and I’m sick of it!
This is going to be a short review, because “Tiny” was a deeply underwhelming episode. To jump right in:
Emma and Gold leave Storybrooke to search for Gold’s lost son, Baelfire; young Henry tags along, but …

US Air Date: Sunday, January 20, 2013
Written by: Jane Espenson
Directed by: Milan Cheylov
In Short: The world comes to Storybrooke, triggering controversy among the residents and a cascade of memories in a drunken Dr. Whale.
Recommended:
VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN: Rumpelstiltskin says magic has a price. I think science does, too.
“In the Name of the Brother” picks up where “The Outsider” left off – Gold is holding a freaked-out Belle, Hook is writhing in pain on the ground, and the Outsider is unconscious and gravely injured in his car. Long story short, the entire crew …