Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Netflix.
I am always on the lookout for family-friendly movies with a positive message. Therefore, I am excited about a new movie coming out on this Friday, March 26: A Week Away.
Synopsis
Troubled teen Will Hawkins (Kevin Quinn) has a choice to make – go to juvenile detention or attend a Christian summer camp. While at camp, and with the help of his music, new friends and love interest (Bailee Madison), he learns the healing powers of kindness, forgiveness, and faith can be found in the most unlikely of places.
As you can see from the trailer, this movie has a musical format. The upbeat and inspirational songs, along with the choreography, seem like they add a lot of energy to the storyline. It is exciting to see that the movie has “reimagined songs” from For King & Country, Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant.
As a Christian, I am interested to see how the movie portrays Christianity through the lens of a Christian summer camp setting. I personally know how powerful “a week away” can be for someone who is searching for answers to life’s questions. My hope is that watching this movie with my kids will open up some meaningful dialogue about the movie’s themes of kindness, forgiveness and faith. Be sure to be on the lookout for A Week Away on Netflix this Friday, March 26!
With movie theaters closed, we have been trying out different alternatives to have the movie-going experience here in Orange County.
The first one we did was a couple of weeks ago during Free Family Movie Night at The District at Tustin Legacy. Thy set up socially distant tables in the plaza in front of the movie theater and assign each household a different table. Tickets need to be reserved online. I signed us up for E.T., which would not have been my first choice of movie. However, the date just worked for us because it was the Thursday before the Fourth of July so D did not have work the next day. The movie started around 8:15, but we did not stay for the whole thing. (Although the kids had never seen this movie before, we have yet felt motivated to finish the movie on our own). Patrons are encouraged to pick up food at one of the nearby restaurants and dine while they watch the movie. n had soccer practice right before, and it was too late for us to wait to eat, so we just shared a couple of boba drinks as our movie snack.
There was a DJ playing music before the movie, and D was inspired to play the air flute.
Just last night we went to see Jurassic Park at a drive-in movie set up by Orange County Parks. They charged $10 per vehicle, and sold out three nights pretty quickly. I find that signing up as soon as you hear about something like this is best, because deliberation often leads to disappointment. None of us had ever been to a drive-in movie, so I thought it would be a fun thing to try out.
I really appreciated how they tried to make it an experience. The employees were quite enthusiastic, and they even had Jurassic Park jeeps lined up at the entrance. They also had the wonderful soundtrack playing as soon as you entered the parking lot.
We picked up dinner at Bunz, which was our first time. n declared the Western Bacon Cheeseburger (with onion rings) as the best he’s ever had! It was kind of fun to eat in the car.
We scored a primo spot in the center second row, mainly because we were one of the few sedans. They had SUVs and vans park in the back and to the side. I was worried about the sound situation since we did not have a reliable battery FM radio, and I did not want to keep our car engine running. However, the sound was just fine from where we were parked when we had the windows rolled down.
D and n started out watching the movie on lawn chairs in the front of our car, but came in when the mosquitoes started to bother them. Watching the movie from the back of a Mazda3 was not the most comfortable, but we had plenty of blankets and pillows to keep us cozy. The kids had never seen Jurassic Park, so it was a nice way to see it for the first time. It was a late night out for us (movie did not start until 8:30), but it made for a nice summer memory.
Disclosure: I received compensation in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
It is amazing how much some movie theaters have upgraded the movie-going experience. With more people opting to skip going to movie theaters and watching movies at home, movie theaters realize they need to improve in order to attract audiences. The Century Stadium 25 and XD Theatre in Orange, California has met that challenge!
Yesterday we went as a family to watch Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker during a morning showing. It started at 9:10 a.m.! The time was perfect for our early riser family. It was easy to purchase tickets online and reserve seats weeks ahead of time here. The Century Stadium Theatre is located in the Stadium Promenade just around the corner from the Honda Center.
We made a stop at the concession stand even though it was early in the day. I think movie popcorn tastes good any time of day, right?
The 25 auditoriums are furnished with Cinemark Luxury Loungers – electric-powered, plush, oversize recliners with footrests, cup holders, swivel trays and heat-controlled seats. I do not think there is a “bad” seat in the house!
The swivel trays came in handy to hold our snacks. No more trying to balance a bag of popcorn in your lap! The picture quality and sound were both quite impressive and we had a great time. This is the movie theater to go to in Orange County if you want the ultimate movie experience!
The Century Stadium 25 and XD theatre is located at 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange CA 92867 within the Stadium Promenade. For more information on showtimes, click here.
Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Movies can be a powerful tool to deliver important messages to large audiences. Therefore, I think it is exciting that faith-based movies are becoming more widely distributed and promoted. The Kendrick Brothers are largely responsible for this expansion. They wrote, directed and produced several recent faith-based movies, including War Room, Courageous, Fireproof and Facing the Giants. On August 23, a new Kendrick Brothers movie, Overcomer, will be in theaters throughout the United States.
SYNOPSIS
Life changes overnight for coach John Harrison when his high school basketball team’s state championship dreams are crushed under the weight of unexpected news. When the largest manufacturing plant in town suddenly shuts down and hundreds of families begin moving away, John must come to grips with the challenges facing his family and his team. Urged by the school’s principal to fill-in and coach a sport he doesn’t know or like, John is frustrated and questioning his worth … until he crosses paths with a student struggling with her own journey.
The inspiring family film stars Alex Kendrick, Priscilla Shirer, Shari Rigby, Cameron Arnett, and introduces Aryn Wright-Thompson. Opening nationwide on August 23, OVERCOMERdares to leave you filled with hope, inspired to dream, and asks the question: what do you allow to define you?
Overcomer is a movie that is designed to spark meaningful conversation between kids and their parents. The Overcomer website even has resources to facilitate such conversations, including a Parent Primer, Family Guide and Team Guide for coaches and small group leaders. Go here to see when and where Overcomer is playing near you.
Giveaway
Enter to win two Fandango codes to see Overcomer!
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. No Canadian winners please, Fandango does not reach to our Canadian friends.
