On my radar

Wishing they would have just called these Die Hard 1,2,3,4,and 5. lol 

Four-Review

Sigh
I figured this film was a Wendell Pierce can't go wrong type of thing. I read the description and said to myself I hope they don't go there.Yes they did they went there and I used my free ticket to see this film. That same day I discovered and independent film I've been wanting to watch the  "An Oversimplification of her Beauty" played but I missed it. Anyway, "Breaking Night" screened before "Four" so I am happy I got to see that.

I don't know if this film is supposed to be provocative or what. I even wonder if maybe I just didn't get it. I haven't seen the play from which it is based. The lady(not quite a friend but it wasn't a date) I attended the film with left mid-way through but I stayed hoping to see what the point was of the film. The ending didn't even give me clarity.  I mean I left feeling like this is one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The acting was solid and that's the only good remark I have.

This get's no stars from me.

Currently

I want this camera.
I have been selling bone marrow and body parts to save for it. =)

What else have I seen

The Lorax, Where the wild things are, started watching Drive on Netflix. I want to see Man with the iron fists maybe tomorrow. Later!

Flight-Review

Flight- featuring Denzel Washington is about a pilot who remarkably lands/crashes a falling plane eliminating causalities. Investigations begin concerning what caused the crash and the pilot (Denzel) is under scrutiny when it is discovered he may have been under the influence at the time of the crash.

The film is good. Denzel is good. Seeing the plane crash is great on the big screen. There are times when the dialogue seemed so odd and then there are other times when it works so well. The film starts telling two stories. The other story is about a female junkie that Denzel meets later in the film. I don't know if they brought her in just as a love interest or to make the lead character change. If it is the latter I'm not sure that was done. I think he changed more from internal forces. The film also stars Don Cheadle as Denzel's lawyer. Much love for Don great job by him too. John Goodman is quirky and under used.

This film has a lot more heart and charisma compared to one of his other action films cough cough Unstoppable cough cough.

Spoiler: One of my favorite lines from the film was "How we say down in Georgia all day long"

4 1/2 Stars The ending makes it not a 5.

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

I love the penguins. 




In part 3 of the series we find our animal pals still trying to find a way back to New York. They get with the Penguins and wind up crashing in France. They hop a circus train and plan to join this circus once they discover that the circus may to go to New York if they are good enough. Before they leave France they make an enemy a crazy Animal Control lady who wants to add a lion's head to her wall. The adventure continues as the crew learns more about the circus, tries to avoid the crazy lady, and get back to NYC.

The film is cute. I don't remember much from the second film. They introduced some new characters in this film. These characters are all part of the circus they join. There is a sea lion with an Italian accent who is very charming.  My son got into the film so that is a good thing. I'm gonna give it 3 stars for just average family fun.

AFRO CIRCUS AFRO CIRCUS Polka dot Polka dot

Breaking Night-Review

As night gives way to morning, GIRL breaks free. Becoming WOMAN - IMDB
Yolonda Ross' wrote and directed this short film. I posted the poster a few months ago. I got to watch the film at the NOFF this year. It was cute and sweet. The soundtrack has stuck with me well after seeing it. It's not like one of those short films that may spark many a discussion. It just tells a story in a pretty way. Check it out if you can.

Wow no post since August

I've been busy. Finally, found a stable place to stay and a job. Did the film project in August. Took an exam a few days ago. Volunteered at the New Orleans Film Festival and now, I'm sort of back to normal. There have been a few films that I checked out from the library but couldn't finish. Like Hugo and Ballast. Gonna post a review of a film in a few minutes.

48 Hour Film Project Film

Sparkle 2012 review

Sparkle in a theater near you. Honestly, I only wanted to watch this film to see Whitney's performance. I didn't watch the original before seeing this one. The original came on BET the next day so I watched it then(that review is coming up next).

The film is about 3 sisters who form a singing group once convinced by a music manager that they have something special. The oldest sister is the wild one played by Carmen Ejogo.  Tika Sumpter plays the sister that doesn't want to sing but does it for the money. Jordin Sparks plays the sister that writes the music and falls in love with their manager. They have an overbearing God-fearing mother who doesn't want them to sing because of her past as a singer.

I chose this picture because it was my favorite look from their montage.  The acting was cool. Carmen Ejogo was the stand out performance.  The music is very catchy. At one point I felt like I was waiting for this film to pick up. There was never an exciting moment for me.  I'm not sure if a remake can be done that will be better than the original.  I think they should have gone ahead and brought it into 2012 instead of keeping it a period piece. In the end they made a different film. The thrill of these types of films is gone. The one final song that is supposed to have the audience in the theater shouting for joy and clapping is just getting lame. Although, after this one I was impressed with Jordin Sparks singing she has def. grown.  BTW the way if you were hoping for a lot of Cee-lo fun he is only in about 5 minutes of the movie.

Breaking Night Poster

Yolonda Ross from Treme and Antwone Fisher has a new short film that will premiere at the New Orleans Film Festival (it was also shot in NOLA). I want to see it, do you? Check out the poster below...

Oldboy remake

I'm think of putting a banner on this blog asking Spike Lee to hire me to be on this production. I just want to say I worked with Spike once. I'm not sure how I feel about this remake. The original Korean film was one of the first Korean films I've ever seen. I think their sort of dark humor and their own definition of horror will be hard to recapture. I think these will be two totally different films for sure.

Beasts of the Southern Wild-review

I put up an ad on craigslist for someone to go with me to this one. I met up with this very nice lady around my age. It was great to have someone to go with and talk to about the film.

I really thought I wouldn't be able to see this film until I googled movie show times and saw it was playing here. It makes sense since they had the premiere here but I'm so used to the city not getting some indy films.

Beasts of the Southern Wild- The film was good. It made me cry. I love hearing the New Orleans accent throughout. I like films that are more of a metaphor than biographical pieces. This story is about Katrina but it tells it's own story too which is how it wins. The fathers acting stood out to me way more than the daughters but she was good too (especially for raw talent).  There are parts of it I felt that weren't necessary. I would have been fine with believing that their home was this way just because they live on that side of the levee. There is another part about the creatures coming that I think they merely hinted at and in ways made the threat of them not seem so relevant or even pertinent. Plus, there are so many story elements that just make me ponder what he was trying to say. It does play the deep role. This has to make your list of best films you've seen this year. It is a good story and good stories have been missing in action in this decade of remakes.

next review should be of Hugo I started it and may finish tonight. 48 hour film project this weekend. I'm ready to miss out on sleep.

New Movies

I have not been able to make it to the movies. I'm going to try to watch a netflix,snagfilms, or hulu movie tonight. If you have any suggestions drop me a line.

Glory at Sea

There is a lot of buzz going around about the film "Beasts of the Southern Wild" which I have yet to see. However, when I saw the trailer I said this reminds me of a short film I watched. Two and two together same guy. So if you are like me and waiting to be able to see the feature film here's a little bit of what the director has to offer. Some of my local industry buddies are in his short film.  You will enjoy it.