https://www.change.org/p/disney-channel-bring-back-the-old-disney-channel

“And you’re watching Disney Channel!”

By Jaclyn and Marcella

Ahh, the good old days. You’re a kid watching TV in your bedroom and your favorite star comes on the screen and traces the Mickey ears. If you’re like us, and Disney channel was an important part of your childhood, then you will get all the nostalgic feels from this list of Disney Channel shows that aired in the late 90’s/ early 2000’s. As 90’s kids, these shows were our all time favorites and bring back so many happy memories. We challenge you to get through this list without singing the theme songs in your head-good luck!

Lizze Mcguire

This family fun comedy show stars Hilary Duff as Lizzie, a teenage girl who navigates adolescence with her best friends Miranda and Gordo. Lizzie’s thoughts are expressed through a hilarious animated cartoon version of herself. This alter ego is comical and sarcastic and makes Lizzie all the more relatable. So many important issues that teenagers go through in life are portrayed throughout the show, along with many heartwarming moments.

Let’s not forget about the Lizzie McGuire movie. Hey now, hey now this is what dreams are made of! This is still one of our favorite Disney channel original movies. We love watching Lizzie have an unforgettable adventure in Rome as she gains a new confidence in herself and lives her best life. Of course, one of our favorite parts is the long awaited kiss between Lizzie and Gordo at the end of the movie.

We are so excited for the reboot coming to Disney Plus and to see all of our favorites again, including Lizzie, her family, and Gordo. There isn’t an official date yet, but we can’t wait to see these guys back on our screens again!

Even Stevens

This is another fun comedy show that follows the shenanigans of brother Luis, played by Shia LaBeouf, and his perfectionist sister Ren, Christy Carlson Romano. The two clash throughout the show and it’s hilarious to watch as Luis gets himself into all sorts of trouble. The whole dynamic of the Stevens family is so much fun to watch.

Similar to the Lizzie McGuire Movie, Even Stevens also has its own film. This movie has a very survivor type feel to it as the family is tricked into a free island vacation only to find out that they are on a reality television show, so crazy!

That’s So Raven

Oh snap! To this day when I think of psychics I think of sitting in my room watching That’s So Raven and trying my hardest to have psychic visions of my own. Unfortunately, no matter how many times I made the faces she made and focused, it never worked. This show was always a wild ride as Raven, along with her friends Chealsea and Eddie, scrambled to prevent her visions from coming true and causing all sorts of chaos.

Phil of the Future

Main character Phil, played by Ricky Ullman, and his family are time travelers from the year 2121 that get stranded in the year 2004, the year when the show premiered. It’s so cool to see how they navigate life as people from the future, all while trying to make sure no one finds out. I remember being so jealous of all the futuristic technology that they used on the show and wondering how long it would be until we had that in our time period. Ricky is going through high school and learning everything about growing up, only it’s even more fun because he’s living in what is considered the past to him.

Hannah Montana

Hannah Montana is a special one for us because the year it ended was our senior year of high school, so it felt like a part of our childhood ended at the same time as the show, which was emotional. Once this show ended is when we felt as though Disney Channel began to really change. We still love going back and rewatching as Miley Stewart balances life as a normal girl and pop star Hannah Montana. This show deals with friendship, family, growing up, and all the challenges that come with being a celebrity trying to have a normal life. There are also lots of amazing guest stars including The Jonas Brothers! One of our favorite episodes (shocking, I know!)

We can’t forget the iconic Hannah Montana Movie! Miley really struggles with the balance of being both herself and Hannah in this one, but with the help of her family and friends, she overcomes this. We still laugh at the fact that the whole town agreed to keep it on the down low that they wouldn’t tell anyone she was Hannah. The important thing is that Miley goes back to her roots and learns the importance of family.

Suite Life of Zack and Cody

Are we the only ones who wished we lived in a hotel after watching The Suite Life of Zack and Cody? Set place in the Tipton hotel, twin brothers Zack and Cody live there with their mother. Not only are Zack and Cody fun characters, but the other residents and workers in the hotel make the show what it is. Mr. Moseby, Esteban, Maddie, and London to name a few. There are so many hilarious dynamics on the show, like Mr. Moseby chasing around Zack and Cody as they wreak havoc, and London and Maddie who are basically opposites.

Wizards of Waverly Place

 As big fans of Selena Gomez, we loved Wizards of Waverly Place. This follows a magical family as Alex Russo goes through adolescents. With a hit movie following the success of the series, the Russo family is one that kids everyone related to and loved. This family centered show brought some hilarious laugh out loud moments. The catchy theme song was also a hit which kick-started Selena Gomez and her music career. This is a fun one to go back to if you’re in the mood for some magic and laughs.

JONAS

What Jonas Brothers fan didn’t watch JONAS? As die hard Jonas Brother fans, we can remember being SO excited when we heard that they were getting their own television show and we would get to watch them weekly and constantly on our tv screens. Having starred in their own hit original movie, Camp Rock, there was no surprise that a television show was in the works for Joe, Kevin, and Nick. The show follows three brothers trying to live a normal life while balancing the famous rockstar life and all the different shenanigans they get up to with their friends Macy and Stella. It also features the Jonas Brothers real life little brother, Frankie Jonas. It’s hilarious and ridiculous which is what makes it so good. Filled with new music and small short Jonas Brothers music videos, this was a Jonas Brothers fan’s dream come true.

Shortly following the success from season one, season two took a bit of a serious turn, with more romance and drama that led to an amazing album which became known as Jonas LA. Although the Jonas Brothers themselves have voiced their regret of the show, the show itself led to some hilarious memories and some fun hit songs that fans still ask them to perform live; such as Pizza Girl, LA Baby, and Scandaniva.

All of these shows are memorable, and are still fun to go back and rewatch. They’re heartwarming, hilarious, family centered, and fun for all ages. Whether you’re just discovering them with Disney Plus or you grew up on them like we did, these shows are sure to go down as Disney Channel classics.

Top Darcy and Elizabeth Moments

“You have bewitched  me body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you”

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pride-and-prejudice-2005

By: Jaclyn

Recently the 2005 adaptation, Pride and Prejudice hit Netflix, I finally watched it and Oh my God! It’s my new favorite movie ever, I’ve already rewatched it multiple times and I’m officially obsessed. I literally can’t get enough of it! There is SO MUCH to fall in love with like the story, the costumes, the setting, the time period, the characters and of course- Mr.Darcy! I finally understand the hype and I wish I had taken the time to watch the full movie sooner but I’m beyond excited now!

As a historical romance lover, I knew eventually I had to go to where it all started and it’s so interesting to see all the little details that built the foundation for the genre we know now. The groveling, the broody and grumpy hero, the bold and strong heroine, enemies to lovers, and all societal issues that come within this time period. There is a reason it’s a well loved classic. I’m so excited to finally be venturing into Jane Austen’s world and begin the process of watching and reading everything, especially since she was one of the first who started it all!

If you’ve never seen it, you definitely need too! Don’t be intimated, just let the story tell itself and you might be surprised how quickly you fall into it. I fell head over heels for Mr.Darcy and his romance with Elizabeth, that I was swooning, pausing the screen to stare at Darcy and kicking my blankets in giddiness. Here are some of my favorite scenes! (All the spoilers!)

The Meeting

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The satisfaction when Elizabeth told Darcy off in the most proper and classy way! I cheered! Initially, these two don’t really hit it off. She mentions dancing in which he says no and then later she overhears him say how she’s “barely tolerable”. Later on, in the most subtle way she repeats what he says, letting him realize she heard him. His stunned face was perfect and hilarious- especially as she smirks to him and walks away with her chin held high! In the very beginning when Darcy walks into the room, the camera shows them glancing at each other and then quickly glancing away. Then for him to show his grumpiness, Elizabeth is taken aback but she bounces right back yet still remains classy and she says her parting words to him. This also shows the audience how headstrong Elizabeth is, she sticks up for herself no matter what!

The Hand Flex

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Ahhhh!! I can’t even tell you how many times and I rewatched this. At the time period, touching skin to skin wasn’t something that was really done in these circumstances, it wasn’t considered proper which is one of the reasons Elizabeth turns to look at him after she feels his hand in hers. A hand hold was considered to be such an intimate and romantic gesture. It also speaks volumes that she had already said her goodbyes to him and he reached out to help her into the carriage even though he wasn’t directly next to her. This is the first time these two touch and the SPARKS that come just from this small moment. There is complete magic in these subtle touches and the directing makes sure that the magic is translated to the audience. This hand gesture helped build anticipation throughout the rest of the film and created such excitement. I never thought I would swoon from a hand hold and hand flex.

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The way Darcy tries to flex it out and shake it off shows how much touching her hand affected him. Looking back after rewatching many times, the symbolism and camera focus on Darcy’s hands represent how eventually in the future, he’ll have Elizabeth’s hands in marriage-but that’s the future. At this point he’s trying to shake her away from him and get the feelings out of him. The clench says it all. He still feels her on his hand even after he already let her go, almost like the feel her hand is burning him. He tries to ignore it and the way she stares after him is just breathtaking. It should have been nothing, but it wasn’t and this is just the beginning!

The Dance

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Before she dances with Darcy, Elizabeth dances with Mr.Collins, giving the audience a deeper look into the huge contrast between the dances. First, she is surprised he asked her dance and even more surprised she said yes. This also shows the difference from the beginning of the movie when he says no and she tells him that dancing encourages affection, so in an effort to gain her affection, he dances with her later on. When the first dance and he touches her hand, there is a moment when he bites his lip because he’s trying so hard to resist her. Their dance is filled with tension and banter, then spirals into something deeper.

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Then there’s the moment the rest of the room disappears and it’s just them. This was such an AMAZING directing choice. It amplifies the intensity and fully shows how drawn these two are to each other no matter how hard they try not to be. It almost makes it become more of a sexual and burning tension. Darcy has so much pride, he doesn’t want to be in love with her but by this point, it’s clear he already is! The tension and love in the way he looks at her just kills me. Elizabeth feels so much attraction to him but she doesn’t like the person he is. She feels he’s cold and judgmental especially after what Wickham told her. When the room disappears it’s a visual representation that at that specific moment in time, nothing anybody says matters. It’s just the two of them and this electricity that follows them.

The First Proposal

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My heart pounds and aches at the scene in the best way. Just everything about it,  even the rain (which is such a contrast to the end of the movie, I can cry) This is the moment when the tension fully explodes and everything comes bursting out. Right after Elizabeth finds out some frustrating news, she runs outside in the rain just to be followed by a desperate Darcy.

He gives her this speech about how he’s tried not to feel the way he does but he asks for her hand in marriage anyway. She fires back at him reason after reason and Darcy just sinks himself into a deeper hole. This is considered one of the best and worst proposals because he really does say all the wrong things and such terrible things, but the desperation and longing underneath is tangible. The added rain and thunder after he says these things as they fight helps the audience feel the escalated tension. He’s taken aback by her words and she’s taken aback by his and the hurt is so clear but with the beginning confession hanging in the air, it sets this entire confrontation up perfectly. The confession is so sudden as if he couldn’t contain it anymore and then once the fight has melted, the anguish intensifies as he leans in closer.

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The way they look at each other’s lips as if ready to end the tension, and Darcy’s whispered “please” before he continues after a long pause and apologizes for taking up her time and walks away leaving her gasping and stunned. I can’t stress enough how much I wanted to shake my tv screen. They were so close!! But they weren’t ready, things needed to happen before they came together but wow was this such an amazing and powerful scene and from here on there is a different amount of awareness between them that runs the course of the rest of the movie and it’s magnificent to watch.

The Letter

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The letter that Darcy writes to Elizabeth is when everything completely comes clean. After the storm passes from that first proposal, Darcy leaves a letter explaining everything and apologizing. He isn’t good with talking as we’ve seen, so he writes it for her to communicate in the best way he can. Words on paper can be rewritten and fully thought through as opposed to speaking which can lead to things a person doesn’t mean to say. One of the really interesting moments from this scene is how it starts with Elizabeth looking at her reflection. She has to face her feelings and all of the terrible things that were said. The time passing from day to night shows how long she’s thought about it all and all the time she’s taken to face it. While she’s reading his letter, it flashes to him leaving and it’s heartbreaking. She’s realizing she loves him as he’s riding away. The camera work, the transition, music, the colors everything is so incredibly well done in this scene and brings so much more weight to the entire piece.

The Smiles

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This moment is so unbelievably adorable and sweet. After the fight, the letter, and everything that happened, Elizabeth and Darcy meet again by chance. It’s important to note the huge difference in Darcy after all of it. There is such a clear air between them. It’s truly as if they’re being around each other for the first time. I feel that during their time away from each other they had time to really think about what happened. Darcy understood how closed off he was even from his expressions which is why Elizabeth was so easy to get the wrong impression from him so he’s trying to be a better man. This is the first time we see them smile at each other and it was well worth the wait! It’s such a breathtaking and swoon worthy scene. We also get to finally see him with his sister, and there is definitely a more comfortable approach from his sister’s presence which lets Elizabeth really see a different side of him. It’s very cute how much he cares about his sister and how easy going that relationship is. We find out about how much Darcy talked about Elizabeth in their time of absence and Darcy is so bashful, it’s so cute! But Elizabeth teases him and the two fall into an effortless sort of banter. It’s very sweet and it’s clear that the feelings they share for each other have grown in their time apart.

Bewitched

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THE SCREAMS WHEN DARCY CAME! The tension, the music, the fog, the way he just stalks toward Elizabeth with so much purpose. I love the music during this scene and I love the visual representation of their emotions shown in the fog. Instead of getting a horse or a carriage, he walks through the mud to get to her. Powerful and wealthy Mr.Darcy doesn’t care about any of that; it means just getting to her is what is important. He remembers how she mentions how fond she is of walking. This is something super small but represents a lot in of itself. his scene itself is when I realized this movie has “bewitched” me.

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During the first proposal that became a giant fight, there was rain washing away some of the tension as Darcy’s feelings became exposed and the thunder symbolizes the harsh and tremendous magnitude of the fight itself. Then in this scene, the air is clear. The fog is going away which represents all the rest of their doubts and all the words people said. It’s just them. It’s the break of a new day, the sun rising as they meet each other ready to start their life together and move on. There’s a brightness too, especially when they come together, Elizabeth grabs his hands and they lean their foreheads together. The sun shining in between symbolizes the power they both feel towards one another and the peaceful feeling they each have.

https://www.silverpetticoatreview.com/2015/11/11/pride-and-prejudice-2005-a-10th-anniversary-review/

I can go on forever about how Darcy’s speech was my favorite speech ever. It’s so heartfelt, raw, and beautifully articulated. Everything that he did was for it at this point. He fixed the relationship with Jane and Bingley, helping Lydia not ruin the Bennett family. He did it all because he loves her and he showed it to her in the way he knew how. It’s so heartwarming to see and that is what makes it an amazing moment. The second half of the movie is essentially Darcy groveling for Elizabeth because he loves her so much and can’t bear to hurt her or be away from her any longer.

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It’s so beautiful and so powerful. This right here is the reason why Darcy is GOALS. He speaks so eloquently and would do anything and everything he could for Elizabeth. His first proposal he expected a yes because that’s that was done, this time he knows her better than that. He knows that she has a mind of her own and he accepts that. By telling her “one word will silence me forever” it gives Elizabeth the power to think for herself and make her own decision. What she says won’t make a difference, he just needs her to know his feelings haven’t changed. This was something rare for the time because women themselves didn’t have the power that they should have. Elizabeth was truly a modernized woman in a different time which is one of the reasons why this story is so timeless. It makes it even deeper when you consider that she was created during this time and not in our modern world. Darcy letting her have that, means a lot to her and you can see it in her face as she listens to him.

I love how he says the word “love” three times. He’s so choked up and emotional, he needs to get it all about but you can see from that subtle shift how much that love has consumed him. The way his eye flutters when he says it, just everything! It’s beautiful to watch!

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When she takes his hands and then tells him your hands are cold, it represents how at the end of the day it was the outside interpretation of him that was cold, not the inside of the man himself. She grabs them and kisses them as if to warm him because she can warm them and take the despair and judgment away. Also her literally taking his hand meaning she accepts his hand in marriage. The prospect of touching hands at this time was also a romantic gesture so that itself speaks volumes.

Some could mention how there isn’t a full on kiss in this scene, but I feel like that’s okay and means more that there wasn’t. It’s not about the physical passion, it’s more about the passion within their mind and the connection they both feel in their hearts. It’s raw, breathtaking and left me completely speechless.

Mrs.Darcy

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I feel like this moment speaks for itself. It was so highly anticipated and though I wish it was longer, it was so beautiful and extremely satisfying to see them finally together and happy! The constant kisses as he calls her Mrs.Darcy, ahh my heart was on the floor! It’s so perfect and intimate. It’s one of my favorites because we get to see them finally be together after everything. We know they ended up living happily ever after and are beyond happy. The perfect way to end the movie!

What’s your favorite part of Pride and Prejudice(2005)?

Have you ever sat in the theater anxiously awaiting a new film that’s based off your favorite book, only to be completely disappointed? Book to movie adaptations can be tricky. There’s so many moments that fans want to see on the big screen, but constricted time to show it all. Most of the time, movies that flop as adaptations don’t have the author involved. Their goal isn’t to stay true to the story the author wrote, but to typically appeal to a certain audience. It’s sad when you expect to see your favorite play out on the big screen and it doesn’t even come close. It’s a good thing that no matter what, you always have the books!

Vampire Academy

The Vampire Academy is an amazing book series by Richelle Mead that follows Rose, a badass Dhamphir guardian at St Vladimir’s Academy, a school for vampires. Her best friend Lissa is royalty and a Morai, meaning she must be protected from the Strigoi, the undead, evil vampires. It is Rose’s duty to protect her, but of course that doesn’t come easy in such a dangerous world. This is one of our all time favorite series, so we were thrilled when they announced they were making a movie. Unfortunately, the film was a huge joke. Immediately when watching you can tell that they tried to appeal to a young audience, it was corny and the dialogue was so cringe. The whole thing was a complete mess from start to finish. We did like the actress that played Rose and thought she was a good actress, however the lines they gave her didn’t even come close to how whitty and badass she is in the books. The rest of the acting was pretty bad and we honestly wish they never tried to make this into a movie to begin with. A world as vast and complex as this deserves a television show on a network that would do it justice. Jaclyn’s sister Anamaria fell asleep before we were even halfway through. Yup, that bad.

Percy Jackson

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is one of our all time favorite series, next to Harry Potter and The Mortal Instruments. If you’ve never heard of it, it follows Percy, a 12 year old demigod, who finds out about his true parentage and makes his way to Camp Half Blood, a camp for demigods who need protection from the monsters. Percy Jackson has a similar feel of Harry Potter in the sense that you watch him grow up as you read. So back when The Lightning Thief, the first book, was announced it was being made into a movie, we had hope. We were optimistic, but nervous. Unfortunately, the people in charge of creating this movie didn’t care about book fans. They told author Rick Riordan that children don’t read and decided to gear it towards a teenage audience. This was a huge mistake on their part. It’s crazy to think that someone can tell an author who has a best selling series that kids don’t read. Somehow they were able to make a second movie, which was pretty accurate to how the first one went. Don’t get me wrong, these movies might be enjoyable to someone who has never read the series, but for book fans it was a huge let down.

On a happier note, Percy Jackson is being adapted into a show on Disney Plus! We are so excited for this because Rick is on board and we have faith it is in the right hands. We can’t wait for it to finally get the adaptation it deserves!

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

This is a painful one to discuss. So back in 2013, City of Bones, the first of the series was turned into a movie. This series is another one that has an incredible, but complex world. Basically there are shadowhunters, who hunt the demons. They get these powers to do so through runes, tattoos that are drawn on their bodies with something called a stele. They fight the darkness and keep the world safe from the monsters. The series is about Clary, a girl who discovers this world after her mom is taken. She meets shadowhunter Jace and his siblings and begins to learn about her mom’s past and who she really is. The series is so brilliantly written and so well thought out. The movie wasn’t on the level of Vampire Academy bad, but it still wasn’t great. We actually thought the casting of the movie was good, but there were still some things they changed that didn’t really work and there were cheesy moments. Unsurprisingly, they did not get a second movie.

Then came the television show adaption, which we were super excited for because with a world as big as the one Cassie Clare created, a show is a better option. The casting was so good for the television show and we thought they were all amazing people. We had the opportunity of meeting several of the cast during the promo for the show and at New York Comic Con. We thought they put together an amazing cast. The show started off good, but it soon went off track too much. Don’t get me wrong, some change is good in an adaptation. However, they began to change really important plot lines and it just became unenjoyable. At this point, I have lost all trust in getting a faithful adaptation for this series and will stick to the books!

Divergent Series

The Divergent movie adaptations are an example of starting off really good, then losing momentum as the movies went on. Personally, the last book in the series was a let down so we were kind of hoping the movies would go a different route for the conclusion of Tris’s story. The first movie was a solid adaptation, yes it could have been stronger, but it wasn’t horrible. We loved Shailene Woodley as Tris and Theo James made an awesome Four. If you haven’t heard of the series, it is about a dystopian society that is split into five factions, each one highlighting a certain virtue. Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Tris grew up in the abnegation faction, however when she must choose which faction to devote the rest of her life to, she chooses dauntless. She must undergo dangerous trials that will test her endurance all while learning secrets of this “perfect” society she lives in. When the second movie adaptation, Insurgent, was released was when the movies began to go down hill. They strayed from the overall plot lines and made it more confusing than it needed to be. The Allegiant part one film was a similar situation and did so bad that they didn’t even make a part two. Yikes.

Although this article may seem to be more negative than positive, this just goes to show that books are usually better than their adaptations. It’s very difficult to take a series that so many fans love and turn it into something that is worthy of the story. If you have never read these incredible series before, we highly recommend you pick them up. Yes the films could have been so much better, but the most important thing is that the books never change and they will always be there to revisit!