MOVIE REVIEW: “Avatar” Is Worth Seeing January 15, 2010

With mixed reviews from journalists and moviegoers alike, James Cameron’s epic “Avatar” has already made over a billion dollars worldwide after only being released a few short weeks ago. For many, the movie is so wonderful and filled with so many concepts that folks are seeing it over and over again.  The detractors complain that the movie criticizes everything from the United States and its military, Christianity, and big corporations. Some even say that the movie is not original and that it’s reminiscent of “Dances With Wolves” with blue people and that it’s another “great white hope” trying to save the natives. Well, I say that the movie is all that and more and that it’s a fascinating ride through an extraordinary world.

“Avatar” is the basic story of the mean old Americans going to a planet called Pandora to steal one of their natural resources.  Marine-like soldiers inhabit the planet and one of the soldiers (Sam Worthington) is sent (through an avatar) to infiltrate the nice blue natives and wham – he‘s supposed to get ’em.  As luck would have it, he falls in love with the main beautiful blue lady (Zoë Saldana) and turns on the Americans.

Simple enough, but it’s not that simple.  The film is filled with so many messages that it’s hard to ignore.  The messages include global warming issues, corporations stealing natural resources, loving nature and earth, how religions can take many forms and loving other people from different backgrounds based on content of their character.

As for the movie being representative of Native Americans, I found that the blue people incorporated several ethnicities.  While they rode horses and used bow and arrows, they also wore African hairstyles and African inspired jewelry.  Most of the blue people are played by people of color – which I think was James Cameron’s point – in the film he is dealing with how indigenous people all over the world have been damaged by and invaded by outsiders.

In response to the great-white hope saving the natives criticism, I have to admit that I was concerned about that as I was watching the movie.  However, as I continued to think about it, I realized that everyone worked together to save Pandora.  The white guy stands out because-well-he was white.  Besides, maybe Cameron is making a statement about white guilt in regard to colonialism and how in some cases it has not been good for the world.  Hmmm, food for thought!!

Meanwhile, I need to see the movie again to take it all in again.  Pandora rules! James Cameron rules! I want to be a blue person!

MOVIE REVIEW/COMMENTARY: The Princess and the Frog January 15, 2010

The new film The Princess and the Frog is a mixed bag.  While the film is hailed as Disney’s first animated feature starring a black princess, unfortunately, she is a frog throughout most of it.

Set in 1920s New Orleans during jazz’s heyday, the movie stars Tony-Award winning Anika Noni Rose as Tiana.  Tiana’s parents are hardworking people – her mother is a seamstress/housekeeper, while her father works double/triple shifts at odd jobs trying to make ends meet. He also makes a mean pot of gumbo and teaches Tiana how to cook as well.  It is Tiana’s love of  cooking that makes her set her sights on one day opening up a swanky, jazz playing Creole cuisine eatery.  As she grows older, she works as a waitress and serves up her cooking to the locals, while saving money for her dreams.

Now, that isn’t the bad part, which pays homage to the hardworking African American black folks from my hometown.

We run into problems when a vain prince comes to the Big Easy, makes a deal with a voodoo priest, who turns him into a frog.  Then when Tiana jumps in the picture she is turned into a frog as well – and the two of course fall madly in love – as frogs. Hmmm?

I ask why when we have our first starring animated black princess, does she have to remain a frog for much of the movie?  It would have been great to have more interaction with Tiana and her parents, played by Oprah Winfrey and Terrence Howard respectively, spreading their wisdom.

And while 1920s New Orleans is nicely represented, why do we have to keep going backwards to make a point. There was even word that Tiana, voiced wonderfully by Rose, was supposed be a slave at first.  Listen -   I know that our past is important but enough is enough.  We are saturated with depictions of life back in the day – can we move forward please.  Why couldn’t we have a modern day black princess?  Why, why, why? Why not?

Needless to say, I still have to give props to Disney for their live-action television mid 90s remake of Cinderella – it starred singer Brandy Norwood in the title character and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother.  It was a great story. I even got the film on tape and played it for my daughter, who now always remembers Cinderella as a brown princess with long flowing braids.

MINI MOVIE REVIEW: Is “Cadillac Records” Worth The Ride? October 15, 2009

An up-and-coming producer challenged me to watch the entire 2008 movie “Cadillac Records.”  The film, the young producer absolutely loves, is about the famed record label Chess Records, which was instrumental in making artists such as Etta James, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, and Howlin’ Wolf famous. The challenge came after I told him that I caught the last few minutes of the film recently on cable and I didn’t like what I saw – Beyonce as Etta James doing a painful goodbye song to the label’s co-founder Leonard Chess, played by the  Oscar-winning Adrien Brody.  I thought Beyonce was overacting and that she didn’t do the song justice.  The young producer told me that I was not being fair and that I should go back to review the whole film.  Well, I did! While it’s not the best bio film I’ve seen, as usual Jeffrey Wright, who should have a few Oscars by now, really embodies Muddy Waters.  Additionally, Eamonn Walker howls as Howlin’ Wolf, while Columbus Short does Little Walter proud. But, I’m sticking to my Beyonce assessment.  What do you think?  Send me an email!

MINI MOVIE REVIEW: Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself September 25, 2009

Tyler Perry’s latest film, “I Can Do Bad All By Myself,” is a mixed bag. After three kids break into Madea’s home, she sets out to find their next of kin. Enter Taraji P. Henson as a drunken, affair-having nightclub singer, who reluctantly takes in the kids, who turn out to be her niece and two nephews, after tragedy strikes their guardian/grandmother (also Taraji’s mom). Meanwhile, Adam Rodriguez (from “CSI: Miami” fame) plays a handyman from Columbia, who needs a place to stay. And, with the help of church elders (Marvin Winans and Gladys Knight), Rodriguez’s character finds himself living with Taraji and the kids. How convenient! If  only love was that easy to find. Like so many of Perry’s films, there are way too many stories going on and not enough focus on the main plot and ONE subplot. In this film, we jump from one scene to the next, that may or not be related, and then we get a rushed ending that does not compute. Overacting by Taraji is also a letdown. We know she can act, but she needs to tone it down. Additionally, long solo singing performances by Marvin Winans, Gladys Knight and Mary J. Blige (who plays a bartender where Taraji works) also slows things down. The only bright spot in this film is that of the young actress, Hope Olaide Wilson, who plays the 16-year-old niece. She is definitely a talent to be reckoned with.

MINI MOVIE REVIEW: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian June 30, 2009

The idea of replacing his classic museum exhibit friends with computerized replicas sets Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) into action in ”Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.” This sequel to the 2006 film “Night at the Museum,” also features an evil Pharaoh character, who continues to threaten the exhibits’ ability to come to life by trying to destroy a magical tablet. In addition to Teddy Roosevelt ( Robin Williams), Jedediah (Owen Wilson), and the playful T-Rex returning, also in the mix is Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), who has a role in saving the day. Though not as fun as the original, the sequel is worth seeing for the animation. While some Native American groups are taking issue with the depiction of General Custer in the film, and even toys that can be found in kids’ meal at a major fast-food chain, the film is light enough for the whole family to enjoy.

MINI MOVIE REVIEW: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen June 30, 2009

BOOM BOOM POW! Explosion after explosion with autobots and their enemies sums up the new, two-plus hours “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” movie. Does it really matter what the plot is with Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox? Not Really. It’s just a mindless movie made for teenage boys. And how about the controversy with the so-called stereotypical, hip-hop talking, gold-toothed twins? Well, where’s the stereotype? Did you see this past Sunday’s BET Awards? Enough said!!!

MINI MOVIE REVIEW: The Proposal June 20, 2009

One of our favorite romantic-comedy stars, Sandra Bullock, is back in “The Proposal.” Bullock stars as an uptight, super-bitchy Manhattan book editor, who is about to be deported (she plays a Canadian). In order to stop being thrown out the country, Bullock’s character forces her unsuspecting assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to announce that they are engaged. He agrees but several conditions have to be met to seal the deal – such as visiting his family in Alaska and convincing them that they are a real couple. While I love Bullock, this movie is quite predictable, too talky, and loooonnnnng. Indeed, Betty White lights up the screen as the assistant’s grandmother, but she can’t save this boring excuse for a romantic-comedy. Take a pass on this one!

MINI MOVIE REVIEW: Drag Me To Hell June 20, 2009

“Drag Me To Hell” is one laugh-out-loud ride at the theater. I’m not sure if it was meant to be funny, but I had a great time laughing, screaming, and hiding my face as I awaited the next scene. Starring Alison Lohman, the film is about a mousy loan officer, who picks the wrong person to deny a mortgage payment extension in order to get a promotion. The wronged person, played scarily funny and convincingly by Lorna Raver, places a curse on the loan officer. Once the loan officer realizes that she’s doomed, interesting visits to mediums to rid her of the curse prompt even funnier scenes. If you want a good and scary laugh, then this is definitely the movie for you. Oh, and the ending is to die for!

 

 

 

MINI MOVIE REVIEW: Terminator Salvation May 27, 2009

The new movie “Terminator Salvation” picks up where it left off from the 2003 film “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” – the machines have taken over the earth (or have they?), and a band of human resisters, led by John Connor (Christian Bale), try to stop them, or is it too late?  Though the movie can be confusing in the beginning, it eventually picks up with some nice drama and action, especially when part-cyborg/part-human character Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) meets Connor and he discovers that Marcus may be the key to saving the human race.  Bale is wonderful and strong in the role as John Connor, while Worthington meets him at every beat.  Other highlights include, Moon Bloodgood as a kick-ass, tough-as-nails, looking-for-love-resister, action sequences that won’t stop, and great sound that might give you an earache.  The lowlights, rapper Common is wasted in his role, and there’s a cute little black girl in the film, who doesn’t speak.  I must warn you that this film is a hard PG-13 rating, so, no little tykes.

MOVIE REVIEW: I’m Through With White Girls… May 13, 2009

A couple of months ago I was scanning my free On Demand cable offerings when I came across the movie, “I’m Through With White Girls (The Inevitable Undoing of Jay Brooks).”  I reacted angrily to the title and refused to have any part of such a movie.  I went through my head what I would have to sit through if I watched it like harsh attacks on black women and our so-called attitude, attacks on blacks in general, and really bad one-dimensional views of black-on-black relationships.  In short, I really did not want to see this movie and go through the motions, so, I moved on.

Weeks later I went to a book club meeting, which eventually delved into relationships and I mentioned this movie.  One lady in attendance at the meeting told me that the movie was not that bad and that I should give it a try.  Well, I was not sold immediately.  However, I eventually decided to forego my emotions and watched it anyway – boy, was I in for a pleasant surprise.  While the movie will not move mountains, it presents a fresh take on the controversial topic.

Based in Los Angeles, Jay Brooks (Anthony Montgomery) is a 30-year-old graphic artist/novelist, who has had a series of bad (or perceived bad) relationships with white women.  He is convinced that he cannot compete with black men because of his occupation, chain-smoking, lack of a car in the big city, and so on.  However, Jay decides after breaking up with his last white girlfriend that he should start Operation Brown Sugar – dating black women.

Of course, we go through the dating maze of black women, who chide him about his foibles, until he finally meets the quirky yet charming black writer, Catherine Williamson (Lia Johnson).  Unlike a lot of Jay characters we’ve seen on the small screen and large, he was not totally void of black consciousness.  He knew about black history and spoke about it intelligently.  And, Catherine was not a snooty, know-it all unlikable black woman.  She was earthy, intelligent, realistic, and a joy to watch.

Jay, Catherine and many of the other cast of characters that we meet (such as Johnny Brown, who played Bookman on “Good Times” and Alaina Reed Hall from “227” and “Sesame Street”) add a down-home feel that is not contrived.  This film will just make you want to jump inside the screen and join in on the fun.  Yeah, I know that sounds corny but hey!

So, if you want to be entertained, and not with the usual fare, check out the movie.