Monday, November 30, 2009

The Blind Side: An Endearing And Inspiring Life Story

A Thanksgiving legitimate box office smash, “The Blind Side” that give the vampire romance “Twilight Saga: New Moon” a run for its money, is a delightful, inspirational story of Baltimore Ravens tackle Michael Oher. The true story which also was based on the 2006 book “The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game” by Michael Lewis grossed a very strong $34,5 million in its opening weekend. It set the highest-grossing
WATCH MORE >>>

Sunday, November 29, 2009

In Praise Of Precious....

This is a repost of a guest blog I did on my blogging brother Rippa, aka Rip Dem Up's spot: "The Intersection Of Madness and Reality". Please check him out...he mixes things up over there on a daily basis. Warning--he may piss you off and he loves to do that! PS Thanks to my new followers for doing so, tho I haven't posted in a millennium--love you!



I haven't blogged in a long time--it's not that I haven't wanted to, or had writers block, but somehow I couldn't seem to make the effort. Rippa challenged me to write my thoughts regarding the movie Precious, and the hoopla surrounding it, after reading my heartfelt tweets/anger about the sad folks that started a website to recruit people not to see the film. I mean WTF??

Listen people. I am what you would call the hugest Black Cinema enthusiast. I am completely involved in it every day, whether directly or indirectly via the internet. And for the life of me I cannot understand this backlash on Precious on any level--especially because the bulk of it seems to come from folks who've never even bothered to see it.

I have a blog on Black Cinema, entitled Black Cinema At Large...and on it we have discussed quite often and many times over the problem with Black film today. Most of the common complaints that I have read on my blog are actually addressed and handled beautifully in this film. Want some examples? Here we go:

All we ever get to represent us on screen is either a Tyler Perry film or a Black man in a dress.

This one is easy. Though Tyler Perry executive produced this film, there is absolutely no whiff whatsoever of any Perryism, and only real women play the women, and even 99% of them weren't wearing dresses.


1) Why can't we have a film starring Black people that is just a story? 2) Why do we always have film that puts our pain on screen?

The themes in Precious are universal. There are far, far too many people in the world that are suffering because of poverty and ignorance, not just us. Incest, poverty, and violence are real, in every culture, and happen every single day. Are they never to be addressed on film? This story could happen to anyone, and director Lee Daniels keeps the scenes involving the incest and violence to a minimum, if only just to show the challenges Precious had to break away from. The very focal point of the story is Precious' journey toward enlightenment from darkness. Would it have been easier to view if Precious was light, or was thin, or had long hair? Be honest when you answer that.


1) We are so tired of rappers and singers instead of Black Hollywood actors getting all of the roles in Black film. 2) We never get to see any up and comers given a chance, we see the same actors over and over.

Okay, so Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey are in it. But guess what? Their parts are small, and they actually added some good performances to the story. Lee Daniels made sure that they earned their place in his film--they were not missteps. The main roles are played by someone who has never sang or rapped, Mo'nique, and by newcomer Gabby Sidibe. As I'm sure you've heard or saw by now, both of these actresses put their FOOT in it. Even Paula Patton, who I've never been particularly impressed with as an actress, did an amazing job as Precious' teacher. The students, all unknowns, were completely natural and believable.



When we get a decent Black film made, it never gets any hype or publicity and fades away. All we are left with is coonery.

Ummm...even if you haven't seen this film, you know that it has gotten publicity in a major way, along with tons of major accolades. It broke box office records in it's limited release, and has slowly been expanded it all major markets. This film causes us to actually think, which Americans are probably not used to when watching a movie, and is a Black film that is completely coon free as well--can most wrap their mind around that?


The music and soundtracks in Black film are so awful--what happened to the soundtracks we wanted to buy in the 70's (and 90's)?

When I worked for The Studio That Will Henceforth Remained Unnamed, I was always saying that the soundtrack is an essential tool in creating and effective and compelling film. Daniels seriously knows the value in it as well, and weaves throughout the story added layers of amazing narrative through music; Labelle, Mary J. Blige (produced by Raphael Saadiq), Mahalia Jackson, Queen Latifah; all strong and talented women that came from humble beginnings. And he didn't take the easy way out by filling it with Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey.


The Black Hollywood elite never use their money or clout to back Black films.

Oprah and Tyler Perry? Nuff said



The fact is, if you are paying attention at all, you would know that Precious isn't all about pain, or being ghetto, or fathers raping their daughters, or Black stereotypes. It is about Precious breaking through a foundation of generations of ignorance. Her mother has no value for anything but the basest human functions--food, sex, and TV. Her mind cannot expand beyond what is happening inside of her house, and can barely expand beyond her own animal instincts and thought. Precious lives in the peripheral vision of her mother's mind, only to be recognized when she is hungry, angry, or horny.

The sheer weight of the legacy Precious has to handle, not alone her real weight, make her life almost unbearable. The only difference between Precious and her mother is that Precious has a small ray of hope (though she has no reason to), that she desperately clings to like a life preserver, hoping that one day someone will pull on it and lift her up. She escapes her real life through daydreams and fantasies, until the real life and daydreams start to meld. Yes, tragedy does bring her to a place of enlightenment, but isn't that the case with everyone on this planet? Isn't that why we're here? Does anyone learn anything from having it easy all the time? If you know someone like that, I would be interested to hear about it.

The ignorance of parents passed on to their children is absolutely real. I have been blessed in this life to have two parents that both have their master's degrees, and I have had some very hard and severe challenges in my life with both of them and in life, even on that foundation. But doing some volunteer work in West Oakland (historically a poverty ridden area for a few decades) years ago brought my awareness to a new level....I had always taken for granted so many things that the youth in the community had no knowledge of---the level of ignorance was absolutely crushing....it made me very sad, and very reflective for quite some time. Most of the sadness came from knowing that most of these kids were good, and had so much potential, but it would never be realized because these kids would never be able to move beyond the tools their parents gave them, which was barely above survival level. Most of them had never even been to San Francisco, across the bridge and only 4 miles away.


Precious was able to break free, and the joy of this film is seeing her journey--how when she hears her teacher and her lover speak, she says that "they sound like a channel I don't watch" and instead of being intimidated, strives to be more like them. We see her in a fantastic scene--where the images and sounds surrounding her from all angles; Malcolm X, Shirley Chisholm, the race and civil rights struggle--are slowly but surely chipping away her blindness. Her sheer determination and inexplicable force of will propel her to a life outside of the one she inherited, and though her life does not end up being challenge free, she is a testament that our lives are what we make them to be, and we are the ones solely responsible. And if that is cause for protest, then I got nothin'.

On an added note, anyone who knows anything about producer/director Lee Daniels knows that he consistently and repeatedly steps out of the box. I actually started my blog because of his film "Shadowboxer", because of the unfairness I felt is received from the critics. From that film (with elements of stepmother, son incest), to the very excellent and underrated "The Woodsman" (with pedophilia) to "Monster's Ball" (interracial love and sex) to Precious, Daniels creates images and themes that stir up a myriad of emotions in folks--admiration, reflection, sadness, excitement, anger--everyone has their own interpretation.....and after all, isn't that what art's ultimately supposed to do? If you can't support the content of his films, just be glad that something creative is being done by and for Black people--the studios are watching your every move!

To all of the people who still hate this film, and continue to be vocal about it, I invite you all to marinate on all of the recent studio greenlit Black films coming to a theater near you: Why Did I Get Married 2, Big Mamma's House 3, and Beverly Hills Cop 4---carry on!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Ninja Assassin

R | 1 hr 39 mins | Action Movie
Ninja AssassinFear not the weapon but the hand that wields it.
Synopsis:
Raizo is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them...and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge. In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East. Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow, Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi, to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated. Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.

Director: James McTeigue
Starring: Rain, Naomie Harris, Ben Miles, Sho Kosugi, Rick Yune

Movie Trailer Ninja Assassin

Ninja Assassin [Blu-ray]  Buy DVD Ninja Assassin, Blu-ray and  Ninja Assassin: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Friday, November 27, 2009

The Angels Will Come Forth In Legion

The “Legion” story takes place after God loses faith in humanity. Using his legion of angels as the act of Biblical judgment, God's wrath descends on Earth to exterminate the world's population. Meanwhile, the archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) comes to stand between mankind and the Judgment Day. In a desperate, last-chance gambit, Michael leads a group of strangers, including
WATCH MORE >>>

Monday, November 23, 2009

New Moon’s Hallway of Achievement

In its first opening day, "Twilight" sequel "New Moon" set box office history with breaking all records for midnight runs, grossing a whopping $26 million as it debuted in 3,514 theaters at 12:01 am on Friday. The score easily beats the $22.2 million collected by "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" this summer. Even "The Dark Knight" which eventually
WATCH MORE >>>

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Twilight Saga New Moon: Tortured, Pained, Distant and Difficult Sequel

The first of Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series books was published four years ago, like a fast train it has now become a global phenomena every bit as huge as Harry Potter with just four novels and one smash hit movie. The success of “Twilight” caught Hollywood and the rest of the world by storm when the first adaptation arrived in theaters late last year. This year, the second film in the franchise, “New Moon” which
WATCH MORE >>>

The Men Who Stare at Goats

R | 1 hr 30 mins | Comedy, Adaptation Movie
The Men Who Stare at GoatsIn this quirky dark comedy inspired by a real life story you will hardly believe is actually true, astonishing revelations about a top-secret wing of the U.S. military come to light when a reporter encounters an enigmatic Special Forces operator on a mind-boggling mission.
Synopsis:
The story of a secret unit within the US Army called the First Earth Battalion, whose paranormal military ideas mutated over the decades to influence interrogation techniques at Guantanamo Bay.

Director: Grant Heslov
Starring: George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, Rebecca Mader, Terry Serpico

Movie Trailer The Men Who Stare at Goats

Thursday, November 19, 2009

14 Blades From The 14th Century Secret Service

Another upcoming film from the most sought after Kung Fu star in Chinese cinema today, Donnie Yen, is “14 Blades”. And it’s a mix of martial arts and espionage flick that quite sounds like a potential spectacle. The Chinese title for the film, “Jinyiwei”, means “The Brocaded Robe Guards” was a nickname to the Ming emperors' own version of the CIA. The organization was
WATCH MORE >>>

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Twilight Saga: New Moon

PG-13 | 2 hr 10 mins | Thriller, Romance, Adaptation, Sequel movie
The Twilight Saga: New MoonThe second installment of Stephenie Meyer's phenomenally successful "Twilight" series.
Synopsis:
The romance between mortal and vampire soars to a new level as Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) delves deeper into the mysteries of the supernatural world she yearns to become part of—only to find herself in greater peril than ever before. Following Bella’s ill-fated 18th birthday party, Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and his family abandon the town of Forks, Washington, in an effort to protect her from the dangers inherent in their world. As the heartbroken Bella sleepwalks through her senior year of high school, numb and alone, she discovers Edward’s image comes to her whenever she puts herself in jeopardy. Her desire to be with him at any cost leads her to take greater and greater risks. With the help of her childhood friend Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), Bella refurbishes an old motorbike to carry her on her adventures. Bella’s frozen heart is gradually thawed by her budding relationship with Jacob, a member of the mysterious Quileute tribe, who has a supernatural secret of his own. When a chance encounter brings Bella face to face with a former nemesis, only the intervention of a pack of supernaturally large wolves saves her from a grisly fate, and the encounter makes it frighteningly clear that Bella is still in grave danger. In a race against the clock, Bella learns the secret of the Quileutes and Edward’s true motivation for leaving her. She also faces the prospect of a potentially deadly reunion with her beloved that is a far cry from the one she’d hoped for. With more of the passion, action and suspense that made 'Twilight' a worldwide phenomenon, 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' is a spellbinding follow-up to the box office hit.

Director: Chris Weitz
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Ashley Greene,Jackson Rathbone, Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning

Movie Trailer The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Moviegoers Are Lining Up For The Disaster Tale "2012"

The apocalyptic-minded flick “2012” brings a tsunami of moviegoers to theaters across the world this weekend. Sony's pic directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow) has surpassed predictions by grossing an estimated $160 million at the foreign box office and an estimated $65 million domestically for a total haul of $225 million. Columbia,
WATCH MORE >>>

Saturday, November 14, 2009

2012

PG-13 | 2 hr 38 mins | Action, Thriller, Sci-fi Movie
2012Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments.

Synopsis:
A global cataclysm brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors.

Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover, Woody Harrelson

Movie Trailer 2012

2012: Spectacular Visual On The Border Of Realism

Having messed up several parts of the globe via extraterrestrial invasion, Japan based lizard monster and massive climate-changing storm, Roland Emmerich now ups the ante by demolishing the whole damn thing in a giant blaze of mayhem and calamity through the Mayan calendar prophecy. Emmerich's not pleased with just crushing the White House, but also adds in the
WATCH MORE >>>

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Another Chapter Of Bodyguards And Assassins Epic History

Historical epic movies have bombarded Chinese cinema today, as well as many action-period blockbusters which tried to please everyone. In addition to numerous released and upcoming titles is a film that will portray one chapter from the history of Dr. Sun Yat-sen who is popularly referred to as the Father of Modern China. Sun played a critical role in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the subsequent
WATCH MORE >>>

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

For My Mighty Bay Folkes....




Both fantastic and fun theaters....for more info, go to the site for the Oakland Underground Film Festival HERE

h/t yeah i said it

Monday, November 9, 2009

Some Secrets Take Us To Edge Of Darkness

Since Mel Gibson headlined "Signs" and "We Were Soldiers" in 2002, he choose to concentrated on his directing career, and subsequently "The Passion of the Christ" and "Apocalypto" came from his vision as a filmmaker. Now, his first film as a leading actor after seven years is a mystery thriller called “Edge of Darkness.” In the film, he is playing a cop investigating the murder of his daughter, which leads to unraveling a
WATCH MORE >>>

Saturday, November 7, 2009

A Christmas Carol

PG | 1 hr 36 mins | Adventure, Fantasy, Holiday, Adaptation, Remake Movie
A Christmas Carol"Disney's A Christmas Carol," a multi-sensory thrill ride re-envisioned by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Robert Zemeckis
Synopsis:
Ebenezer Scrooge begins the Christmas holiday with his usual miserly contempt, barking at his faithful clerk and his cheery nephew. But when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come take him on an eye-opening journey revealing truths Old Scrooge is reluctant to face, he must open his heart to undo years of ill will before it’s too late.

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn, Cary Elwes

Movie Trailer A Christmas Carol

Friday, November 6, 2009

A Matchless Kind Of Superhero Found In Jeon Woo Chi

Inspired by an anonymously written Chosun Dynasty novel, “Jeon Woo Chi” is a ‘Korean superhero flick’ that fused with local folklore and used Taoism and tradition as its narrative devices. The movie is highly anticipated not just because of buzzes that has been building about a Korean production that looks set to take on “Batman”, “Iron Man” and “Spider-Man” at their own game, but also because of
WATCH MORE >>>

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Another Bleak Future Within The Book Of Eli

Post-apocalyptic sceneries are becoming one of director’s favorites as their movie setting these days, though the idea of the end of the world certainly wasn’t new as it gained vitality in the West during the Cold War. The stories for these films are often taking place in an agrarian, non-technological future world, or a world where only scattered elements of technology remain. In the film, mankind itself hangs in the balance -- a reality which
WATCH MORE >>>

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Pandorum

R | 1 hr 48 mins | Action, Thriller, Sci-fi Movie
PandorumDennis Quaid ("Vantage Point," "The Express") and Ben Foster ("3:10 to Yuma," "Alpha Dog"), join Cam Gigandet ("Never Back Down," "Twilight"), Cung Le ("Tekken," "Fighting"), newcomer Antje Traue and director Christian Alvart ("Antibodies") to tell the terrifying story of two crew members stranded on a spacecraft who quickly realize they are not alone.

Synopsis:
Two astronauts awaken in a hyper-sleep chamber aboard a seemingly abandoned spacecraft. It’s pitch black, they are disoriented, and the only sound is a low rumble and creak from the belly of the spacecraft. They can't remember anything - who are they, what is their mission? The only way out of the chamber is a dark and narrow airshaft. Corporal Bower, the younger of the two, crawls inside, while the other, Lt. Payton, stays behind for guidance on a radio transmitter. As Bower ventures deeper and deeper into the ship, he begins to uncover a terrifying reality. Slowly the spacecraft's shocking and deadly secrets come unraveled, and the astronauts realize that the survival of mankind hinges on their actions.

Director: Christian Alvart
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue, Cung Le, Eddie Rouse, Andre Hennicke, Norman Reedus

Movie Trailer Pandorum

Contemporary Films That Were Born For Halloween

Every decade produces terrible horror movies and great horror movies and I think most universally recognized horror classics are from years ago. Such titles as “Halloween”, “Friday the 13th”, “Nightmare on Elm St”, “Carrie”, “The Exorcist”, and “Evil Dead”, are all antiques by today’s standards, but they were revolutionary at the time and heavily influenced modern horror. When it comes to the genre, the 2000s also have
WATCH MORE >>>
ROBERT-TSANI