Zero Dark thirty takes us through the 10 year journey of the team of men and women who strategically hunted down al-Qaeda. The character is high lighted as the woman who went beyond the call of duty to learn the inner-workings of the terrorist organization to find and kill Osama bin Laden. He is found and killed in May of 2011 by a 6 team NAVY S.E.A.L team. This movie is rated R and directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It has a running time of 157 mins.
With the help of his mentor, a slave-turned-bounty hunter sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner. There are some disturbing images, I do not think this is something children should watch. Slavery is no joke, but I will admit there are some scenes that are funny as crap. Django was directed the awesome Quentin Tarantino. Rated R probably because they use the “N” word over 100 times in this flick.
Great installment to the Lord of the Rings Saga! The story literally picks up at the beginning of the first Lord of the Rings and progress from there. We meet a young Bilbo Baggins and the other dwarfs that will make this one of the greatest tales you see come alive on the big screen. The director Peter Jackson does it again, this movie is a must see. It is a fantasy film and rated PG-13.
I have tried to get into the “Lord of the Rings” hype but I never quite understood what was really going on. Anyways, a friend of mine is a huge fan and once the trailers started running for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” she told me I had to go with her. Am I dreading this damn near 3 hour movie!!!!!? YES I AM… The good thing is, I love a good flick and as soon as I leave the theater I will be posting my take on “The Hobbit”. Hopefully, this makes everything else make since to me. As I understand this is a prequel.
I was very disappointed in the overall execution of this film. With a all-star line up of actors like Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Richard Jenkins and Ray Liotta you would have thought you were about to watch a master piece on the big screen. It was painfully hard to make it though the movie but I did. I will not put myself through that torture ever again. Do not go see it unless you have $9 bucks to waste. Well, on the bright side the last line of the movie was the best part right before the credits rolled I woke up because the rest of the movie was a snooze fest. “Killing Them Softly”, is directed by Andrew Dominik. Rated R with a running time of 1 hr 37 mins.
From the opening credit to the end you don’t know what to expect. The graphics were great and Adele sang the hell out of the title track song, “Sky Fall” I appreciated the movie and all the action packed scenes that came along with it. There is literally a jaw dropping moment at every twist and turn. Just when you think you have it figured out, you don’t! “Sky Fall” is directed by Sam Mendes and rated PG-13. 143 mins Check out the Sky Fall video below…
Twilight: Breaking Dawn is a must see! Im sad that its over but hopefully they will find a way to resurrect the saga and continue on. That digital baby was a mess. I felt every emotion as I watched! The perfect ending, I couldnt not have predicted a better ending if had wrote it myself. I didnt want to blink because I was scared I would miss something! Everyone came out on top…
“An 11-year-old boy gets a crash course in what it means to be a man when he spends a day with the uncle he idolizes in LUV, a poignant and gritty coming-of-age story featuring standout performances by Common, Danny Glover, Dennis Haysbert, Charles S. Dutton and newcomer Michael Rainey Jr. With his mother in rehab and his father out of the picture, young Woody Watson (Michael Rainey Jr.) lives with his grandmother (Lonette McKee) in suburban Baltimore and longs for his family to be reunited. His charismatic Uncle Vincent (Common) has recently returned home after eight years in prison, determined to straighten out his life by opening a high-end crab shack that will establish him as a solid citizen with a legitimate future. Soon Vincent finds himself pulled back into the violent world he is trying to escape- and Woody has to decide whether to follow his hero- or become his own man.”
Source: http://concreteloop.com/2012/09/movie-trailer-luv-starring-common-michael-rainey-jr
I will be front row and center… I love Bradley Cooper as an actor!
Filed under Drama, Movie Trailer of the Week, Romance
“This Time” is a short film written by Reagan Gomez-Preston and directed by Matthew A. Cherry. It stars Reagan Gomez, Michael Moss, Terri J. Vaugn, Barry Floyd and Sinorice Moss.
This Time deals with the realities that many people have to face when a loved one returns home from war and everything has changed.
Film Festival Official Selections: Rincon International Film Festival, Boston international Film Festival, GI Film Festival, San Fransico Black Film Festival, Martha Vineyard African American Film Festival, Roxbury Interational Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, Miami Short Film Festival.
This film is dedicated to the men and women who have given their lives to protect our country. And their family members with whom their memory lives on.
Director: Matthew Cherry
Written By: Reagan Gomez
Executive Producer: Liberty Madison, Sinorice Moss, Quetaya Scott
Producers: Enitan Bereola, , Portia Jenkins, Shauna Faith-Graham
Director Of Photography: Zubari Duniani
Edited By: Reginald Harrison
Production Company: Cherry Entertainment in association with Liberty Madison Productions and Supremacy Films
http://www.themoviethistime.com
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1612102
I saw this film back in 2010 when it came out and was blown away! I wanted to post and share, real life issues of the heart never get old. Leave your comments…
Green Mile star Michael Clarke Duncan has passed away at age 54, his fiancée said late on Monday afternoon, according to reports from The Associated Press.
The Chicago-born actor, best known for his role as the gentle giant accused of murder in 1999’s The Green Mile, was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack in July, although no cause of death was released at press time and it is unknown if Clark was still in hospital at the time of his passing.
Filed under Nori Moment, Other
Post your comments: Did you like the movie, did it live up to the hype?
Filed under Drama, Movie Trailer of the Week
I am a huge supporter of Tyler Perry! If he is in a movie, I’ve seen it. If he is the writer, producer, director, I’m with it! So when I heard that “Madea’s Witness Protection” was coming out I was stupid excited. The movie has a nice cast line-up. Eugene Levy plays George Needleman, the easy target executive that was promoted for no apparent reason but to take the fall on a ponzi scheme for the corporation. Denise Richards plays Kate Needleman, George’s wife who is your typical suburban wife. She was hyped about the promotion when he got it but now just wish they had a regular life and lived happily. They have two children together Cindy (Danielle Campbell) and Howie (Devon Leos). Howie is the over-weight, awkward, neglected son and Cindy is the snobby daughter with issues. Every time Cindy opens her mouth I cringe because I know she is about to say something that is going to make me want to punch her dead in her throat. (Her character was so disrespectful that I felt Madea’s pain with having that child in her house). When the ponzi scheme hits the fan the Malone mafia family is involved. This means whoever helps the district attorney on the case will be a sure target by the end of the court trials. Tyler Perry plays multiple characters of course and as Brian the district attorney on the case it is his duty to find a place for the family to hide out in witness protection for a few months until they fully investigate the case. At first Madea and Joe (Tyler Perry) are like hell no! When Brian starts talking dollar signs then she and Joe change their mind. Now, I know you think I have forgotten about someone but I have not.
We are introduced to Romeo Miller’s character Jake in one of the first scenes of the movie. From the movies trailer you already know that he tried to rob Madea! What did he try to do that for? Madea flipped him all over the car with her wild driving antics and in old school Madea fashion by the time she was done with him he was sweeping off her porch. (His acting in the movie was a bit extra for my taste, his movements looked practiced. I am used to his characters being smoother and laid back. I commend him for trying something new but ummmm next time keep it sexy. Take your shirt off and smile that beautiful smile. Yeah that last comment is a little sexist but you know it’s the truth). Jake and George both have been played in the ponzi scheme. Jake invests his father’s church mortgage money into the bogus company’s charity division. He thought he would help the church and prove to his father he was a better man. He was tricked out of over 100,000.oo dollars and he wants his money back. Jake has the most awkward and staged tussle with George at Brian’s office. (I just had to say that, bad acting by Romeo I presume). The Needleman family living with Madea is all kinds of funny. There are many moments of Madea checking the family and it wouldn’t be a Madea movie without her brother Joe cracking jokes at her. Joe has a lot more to say this film as he and George Needlemans mom, Hattie (Marla Gibbs) have a past that is a bit freaky and romantic at the same damn time.
I would have liked to see the Malone mob family show up at Madea’s house looking for George or something to shake things up a bit. I would have liked to see how Madea would’ve responded in the worst case scenario. It was over all a very entertaining evening at the movies and I would see the movie again. I left the theater feeling like the plot was incomplete and wanting more! Was that Tyler Perry’s intention… things that make you go hmmmm? “Madea’s Witness Protection”, is a Lions Gate film and directed by Tyler Perry, rated PG-13.
Filed under Comedy
The thing is when you have a gut feeling, you should always follow it! I should have gone to see, “TED” instead of “Magic Mike“. I hate to say that because I am a fan of Channing Tatum who played Magic Mike in the movie. I am a fan of Alex Pettyfer who won me over in “Beastly” and “I am Number Four” and well Matthew McConaughey is just lovable in all of his roles. Put them together in a movie about stripping and you would think it was every woman fantasy come true. In my opinion this movie was an epic failure of many proportions. Maybe because I am a fan of male reviews done correctly or maybe it’s because the only person that put on a show on stage was really Magic Mike. (Channing Tatum can really dance I enjoyed his solo performances).
Over all I walked away feeling like I didn’t get my money’s worth. This could very well be because when I see a male review I like when the dancers know real dance moves instead of body movements. It’s set in Tampa Fl where Mike meets Adam (Alex Pettyfer) on a roofing construction job. Adam once had promise as a football star but messed it up by hitting his coach. Now he’s sleeping on his sister’s couch trying to regain control of his life. After being fired from the construction job while checking the local night scene he sees Mike and asks to tag along. Mike sees potential in Adam and brings him to the strip club Xquisite. Adam meets the rest of the team of guys that get out on the stage and shake, grind and wiggle something for the women to throw their dollars at them and tuck money in their g-strings on the weekends. Adam is 19 years-old bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and eager to earn a few bucks. He is introduced to a life of quick cash, sex, drugs and money. To a kid with nothing going for himself it’s a life of luxury and the fastest way to get off his sisters couch. Mike has the most potential out of all the dancers because he has a plan. He makes odd one-of-a-kind furniture and for years he’s been trying to get his business off the ground. As life happens he doesn’t have good credit and the best way to make money other than odd side jobs he dances at the club. Dallas (Matthew McConaughey) is the club owner and he cuts Mike in on the door at the club and has told him that he will cut him in on ownership of the club when it relocates to Miami in the coming months.
Unbeknownst to Mike, Dallas has sold this dream to a few of the strippers at the club to get everyone excited about the big move. After hard partying, someone almost dying, crazy drug dealers and money took someone gets a wakeup call. Life is not about what you don’t have but what you are going to do with what you have! Mike is a good guy stuck in a bad situation. I did walk away from the movie with the moral of the story but I wouldn’t pay to see this movie again nor would I recommend this movie to anyone. I know harsh but true. I’m not going to lie there are some funny moments but not enough to make me feel like I received my money’s worth. This movie was blah! “Magic Mike” is a Warner Bros. film and directed by Steven Soderbergh, rated R.
The official trailer for the last installment has been released. Needless to say that the last few years I have spent my birthday weekend in the theater anticipating the satisfaction I will feel once I see the new Twilight movie! This will be the last year to live out the start of my birthday with a Twilight #Boom #Pow… Enjoy this first look!
Filed under Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Nori Moment
Director, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp are at it again with another whimsical movie that is all over the place. I have to say I had no expectations for this film but the bizarre and different that is to be expected. “Dark Shadows” was a soap opera in the 1960′s that could easily be deemed a tv classic that much of the new generation knows nothing about. Johnny Depp was obsessed with the show as a child and now we fast forward into the 21st century and in “Dark Shadows” the movie, Johnny Depp takes on the character of Barnabas Collins. The acting was amazing in the movie but the story line was sub par. We learn the history of the Collins family and how the manor was raised above the Collinsport town in Maine. Barnabas falls in love with Angelic Josette (Bella Heathcote) and despise and rejects the love of Angelique (Eva Green). Angelique is a wicked witch on a mission to get Barnabas and she chases off his love Angelic. Well actually she sends her to her death off a cliff. I was shocked at this part of the movie. Barnabas is cursed, wrapped in chains and cast into a coffin. After 190 years he is unburied and finds himself not in the present but in the 1970′s and meeting his family as the times have changed. Ironically enough he is the vampire from the 1700′s that finds himself out of place in the 197o’s. He returns to find his manor in despair and the family is broke. Elizabeth Collins (Michelle Pfeiffer), is in charge of the family’s fading fortunes; her teenage daughter, Carolyn (Chloe Grace Moretz); Elizabeth’s brother, Roger (Jonny Lee Miller); Rogers son, David (Gully McGrath), and a psychiatrist named Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter)that lives in the manner as well. This family is dysfunctional in every way and when they eat their meals together its a depressing mesh of time wasted. This is where the movie breaks off and the plot is lost. There is a lot of satire and sarcasm that is funny but detached from the main story line and the purpose of the characters role in the movie. Angelique’s company is bankrupting the Collins family on purpose of course and she still is relentless in her quest to get Barnabas to want her. A new romantic rivalry is born for Barnabas now and Angelic is caught in the same drama she encountered in the 1700′s. That’s life sometimes, a horrible circle of the same things happening over and over again no matter what century you find yourself in. If you are looking for the odd and funny and can relate to the 1970′s theme then you will dig it. I’m an 80′s baby and some of the references did not translate well. This is Johnny Depp and Director, Tim Burton’s eighth major motion film together. “Dark Shadows” is a Warner Bros film and directed by Tim Burton, rated PG-13.
I saw “Think Like A Man” twice. The first time I went to see this movie I went on a date. It was great I loved it. The second time I went to see it I was with my girls and I found myself to be a little more critical of scenes, set up and dialogue. Each time I enjoyed the movie but I will be honest with you I didn’t read the book. After seeing the movie I didn’t need to read the book because this is information that my mother already taught me. Now, sometimes we need a little push to do better in the dating department. The movie did highlight all of the stages of dating all the way to how to have a successful marriage. As a single woman I saw guys that I have dated before all up in the movie. The movie is set up like a sitcom. Steve Harvey interjects his advice from the book, “Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man”, at moments that correlate with each characters needs at the moment.
Each story-line has narration by Cedric (Kevin Hart). Cedric is the soon to be divorcee that’s trying to convince himself that he wants to hang out with strippers at the Ass Factory all day. We meet Zeke (Romany Malco) and Mya (Meagan Goode). They are the newly dating and Mya is trying to go against her nature of jumping in the sack quick with guys and getting dumped quick fast. Zeke is the ultimate sex machine, he says what the ladies like to hear and get the panties. There is Michael (Terrence J) and Candace (Regina Hall). Whelp, there is no other way to say it other than Candace is a successful baby mama and Michael is young and looking for love. Michael is your classic mama’s boy and everyone knows it. His mother is played by Jennifer Lewis and she is working her character as Loretta the over protective mother that does not want her baby to grow up and spread his wings without her joined to the hip. It is a star studded cast filled with titles of the characters that follow how they are living out their lives. Like Dominic (Michael Ealy) and Lauren (Taraji P. Henson). He is the dreamer and she is the career driven woman loves throwing her weight around. She has earned her position as a top COO and makes no apologies about it. It is a game of cat and mouse with them. Then the couple that almost has it all is Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara) and Kristen (Gabrielle Union). They have been together since college. She wants the whole package including marriage. He wants to live the college life forever. Jeremy likes that he has the girl that loves to play video games and smoke weed with him. Kristen wants Jeremy to live up to his full potential and last but not least the ever so funny Gary Owen as Bennett.
He is the happily married guy that has sane advice for his mislead friends but they write him off like he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Its a combination of the dating chaos that people encounter when dipping in and out of the dating pool. With a splash of driving the one you love crazy because you know which buttons to push to tick them off. If you are into romantic comedies and what-to-do and what-not-to-do when dating then this is the movie for you. “Think Like A Man” is a Screen Gems film and directed by Time Story, rated PG-13.
Filed under Comedy
One of the most anticipated movies of the year is here!
Filed under Movie Trailer of the Week
Fill in the blank: A couple should be engaged ____ and then get married. Explain why?
Filed under Action
It is everything that you would not expect in a horror film. Going into this movie I had people in my ear saying don’t do it. One friend said to me, “Do not waste your money on this movie”. This made me want to see the movie even more. Ok! I am sitting in my seat kind of slumped down cause I am gearing up to be scared. The previews is what have people all messed up about what they are about to watch. As soon as the movie started I was confused. You have these two guys in lab coats having a conversation and I’m thinking what does this have to do with a cabin. Once we get to the five friends headed to a borrowed cabin in the woods I realize this is going to be the complete opposite of what I think is about to happen. I felt like I was watching a train about to wreck but I couldn’t look away. My eyes were glued to the screen in absolute disbelief. There were so many moments that I doubled over in laughter. The best part of the movie is when the scary gas station attendant was on speaker phone. It wouldn’t be right if there wasn’t the eerie stop at the gas station before they enter the woods.
The five are chosen to be sacrificed to the gods that live under, “The cabin in the Woods”. It comes off like a competition between the nations of who can sacrifice their people to the gods that lay in wake to take over the earth. The five have to be sacrificed in a certain order and the scientists in the lab make sure of that by pushing a series of buttons and watching the monitors to make sure everything go just as planned. “The Cabin in the Woods” has a wide range cast. Dana (Kristen Connolly) is supposed to be the innocent virgin. Curt (Chris Hemsworth) is supposed to the alpha male jock. Holden (Jesse Williams) is the shy guy with good intentions. Jules (Anna Hutchison) is the classic harlot and Marty (Fran Kranz) is the quite smart weed head who gets the big picture. They make-up the five friends that carry the burden of the whole world on their shoulders. All they have to do is die! There are so many twist and turns that you will not see coming but I tell you the journey to the end of this 95 minute film is a crazy ride. The comic relief in this horror film is unmatched. You really get to see how people think and it’s a reflection of human nature and the will to survive no matter the outcome for others. Let me tell you these people are selfish and don’t want to die! The two scientists, Sitterson (Richard Jenkins) and Hadley (Bradley Whitfield) really keep you on your toes! If you haven’t saw “The Cabin in the Woods” watch it at your own risk.
Are you going to see this?
I’m at home one night and I decide to finally watch this movie that has been sitting on the dresser for two days. I rented the movie, “The Big Year” because I wanted to see something funny. I knew that this whole cast would deliver. I was not surprised that the hard worker with little to no accomplishments was Brad Harris played by Jack Black. The white haired funny man Steve Martin played Stu Preissler. Stu is the founder and CEO of a company that he no longer has the passion or enthusiasm to run because he is more than ready to be a retiree and a birder. If you do not know what a birder is, let me break it down for you.
A birder is a person that loves to watch and count how many species of birds they have seen and heard. Some birders take photos; some write journals to document their bird experiences and some even travel the world to view birds indigenous to certain parts of country. Which brings me to birder extraordinaire Kenny Bostick (Owen Wilson). Characters throughout the movie will sadistically refer to him as Bostick. Never did I think I would be interested in a movie about people who watch birds but I was all into the story. Brad, Stu and Bostick are all on a mission to have a big year. 
There is tradition behind the big year and how it came to be a past time that people enjoy but I’m not here to give you a history lesson. Just know that the person that see, and or document the most birds in a year will have a big year. Bostick holds the record as the number 1 birder because the year before he saw 700+ birds ( He did a big year, he planned to see as many birds as possible and he received many endorsement and the prestigious honor of being the number 1 birder. Anyone can do a big year but there can only be one winner.) No one wants the other person to know they are doing a big year because it creates more competition. As each characters bird watching numbers increase so does their lives obstacles.
Are you ready for the quick break down? Stu has a lovely wife Edith Preissler (JoBeth Willams) and he wants to retreat to a lovely cabin with her and bird. He wants to know life without a schedule and meetings just enjoy time with his wife but he is not quite sure he is 100% ready to step away to the unknown. He has coworkers that are begging him to stay and run the company. They call him constantly to advise on deals and find his notion of being a birder absurd and a waste of time. In the personal life of Brad he has nothing going for himself other than his full time job. He lives with his parents after a failed marriage and his mother supports his love as a birder but his father does not understand it and is not happy that his son has not advanced further in life. Brad has always wanted to do a big year but felt inadequate to follow through.(Brad has a little known gift, he can hear a bird and tell you the name of the species of bird a rare quality that people possess). Now, Bostick on the other hand is a dedicated birder. He will sacrifice any and everything he has to be the greatest birder. He is nervous that if he does not do another big year then someone will try to break his record. He fears not being the best at what he is good at. He loves being a birder more than anyone and as the plot unfolds you will understand that he makes sacrifices that most men are not willing to make. This is why his he is on his third marriage. His current wife Jessica (Rosamund Pike) is trying to work with him and his obsession with birding but the stress of not having a baby which is what she really desires may be too much for her.
Let’s talk about the birds! I have to say, “The Big Year” made me appreciate the life journey of a humming bird. Not only are Brad, Stu and Bostick on a mission so is the hummingbird that normally has to eat every 20 minutes. When they are preparing to migrate the hummingbird eats more than their body weight. This one hummingbird in particular is thrown off course by a storm, almost drown in the ocean but surprisingly endures it all to make it to her destination for a little while to go through it all again to make it back home. Just as we follow the lives of Stu, Brad and Bostick we follow the journey of this one amazing little humming bird. Everyone goes through obstacles in this movie even the birds.
I can’t begin to tell you how excited I was about birds by the time the movie was over. I can’t begin to tell you how the next day when I walked outside and saw a Robin how excited I was to know what kind of Robin it was. You just have to see for yourself! I enjoyed the happy moments that Stu shared with his family. I was thrilled when Brad’s father connected with him over what would seem so small but was so big for the both of them. I cheered for Brad when he got that much needed phone call from fellow birder Ellie (Rashida Jones). I was elated that Stu and Brad where able to get past a misunderstanding and complete their big year as a team. I felt the disappointment that Bostick wife Jessica felt when he made bad decisions. Winners make a lot of sacrifices to be great! What would you sacrifice? ”The Big Year” was an underrated big hit in my opinion. “The Big Year” was directed by David Frankel and was inspired by the book of the same name written by Mark Obmascik. A film by 20th Century Fox (Rated PG).
Filed under Comedy
I cant wait to see this! I already know it will be a twist and a spin in the plot that will be jaw dropping. I know this just from the preview! Enjoy. Let me know your feedback once you see it and I will post mine.
Filed under Horror, Movie Trailer of the Week, Suspense, Thriller
Filed under Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Movie Trailer of the Week
This weekend theaters were flooded with eager fans waiting to see the screen adaptation of “The Hunger Games“. My friend Kesha scored us some tickets on Saturday afternoon as it was six minutes away from the 5:00 o’clock showing being sold out on fandango.com. I was super excited since I have been waiting on this movie to come out since I saw the trailer for the movie back in January. We are there 30 minutes early because we want to get a good seat right in the middle of the theater so we have a good balance of the screen as the movie play. (As the pre-show movie trailers start Kesha ask me to get some popcorn and I was thinking if I miss the opening scene I’m going to be so mad at her ). Luckily, I walked back in as Lions Gate rolled across the screen and I made it back to my seat to get settled for the two and a half hour showing (wipes forehead).
I have to say the character Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) draws the audience in with her sincerity and will to survive and protect her little sister. Let me give you the back story. The government has the people under subjection by withholding food from them. Families are given more food if their children put their names in the drawing for “The Hunger Games”. The land and people have been divided into 12 districts. From each district two children are drawn randomly in a lottery to represent their district. The catch is only one person can win the hunger games or so that is how it has been for the last 73 hunger games. The movie takes place on the 74th annual event of the hunger games and it will be one of the most memorable of all the events. Apparently, at some point in the past the people tried to rise up against the government and the hunger games is a way the government shows that they are merciful to the people and care about them enough to allow a family to live better and have food for a year courtesy of the government.
(I hold my head in shame as I have not read the trilogy but I plan to so I was watching the movie in utter shock at how these people were being treated). The advantage that Katniss have over her other competitors is that she is neither arrogant nor weak. She is a survivor. When her mother fell apart years ago when her father died she had to make sure her little sister ate. She’s a hunter and her weapon is the bow and arrow. She will protect her little sister Primrose Everdeen (Willow Sheilds) at all cost. Primrose is such a vulnerable and fragile little girl. She is absolutely afraid of being selected for the hunger games. There is a connection with Katniss and another character that we do not see much of in the movie but know that we will see a lot of in the sequel. Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hensworth) is a close friend to Katniss. I’m sure the book gives back story to the nature of their relationship. I look forward to the development of their chemistry on the big screen. Gale unlike many others want be on the TV show the hunger games because he believes that he will win. He does not get his chance because another fellow name is drawn from the pool of children. Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) is the blond haired underdog male choose out of district 12.
The youngest of the Everdeen family Primrose was chosen to represent the females of district 12 but as she was making her way slowly to the stage her big sister Katniss came to her rescue and volunteered herself in the place of Primrose as tribute to district 12. No one had ever done that. At this point she became of interest to rich people of the world who also sponsor contestants in the games. The more sponsors the contestants have the better they have a chance of surviving. When Katniss and Peeta arrive on the train transporting them to the Capitol it is a far cry from the rubble and ashes that they live in. There are crystal chandeliers and food and sweets on the train car as far as they can see. The people of capitol city dress and act differently. The district people wore dull colors and the capitol people wore bright, vibrant, over the top attire and make-up! Imagine clowns gone wild. The team of people that will oversee the two weeks of training for Katniss and Peeta are: Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks), Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) and Cinna (Lenny Kravitz). Each has their way of looking out for the teens. Haymitch is their mentor, he is a little crass as first but later he opens up to them and really becomes an asset to the district 12 team. Cinna is the voice of reason at all times, he doesn’t say much but when he does talk he’s dropping pearls of wisdom. Effie is all about keeping up with appearances with the higher ups and other districts. I really get the vibe that Effie could care less about anyone but herself. The preparation of the hunger games is emotionally and physically intense, one move could be the difference between life and death. You are going to see a blood bath between kids that is quite disturbing and your going to see some genuinely heartfelt exchanges. The friendship between Rue (Amandla Stenberg) and Katniss is that of older and younger siblings. Katniss looks after Rue like she would her own sister Primrose.
In a lot of ways Rue and Primrose are similar. Rue and Primrose often have a look on their faces like sheep headed to 
the slaughter. Rue is from district 11 and is quite clever. She’s lovable and you will find yourself cheering her own during the hunger games. When it’s all said and done there is action, love (we will find out later if its real or not), drama, suspense and lots of questions. I’m interested to see if once you watch the movie in its entirety if you will have the same questions that I have? Out of the many questions that crossed my mind I will only ask you one. Could you survive, “The Hunger Games”? May the odds be ever in your favor, (in my Effie voice)? “The Hunger Games” was directed by Gary Ross and a Lions Gate film (Rated PG-13).
Footnote: “The Hunger Games” is based on the trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The movie grossed 155 million at the box office its opening weekend, contending with the likes of the Harry Potter and Batman series. kudos to everyone that made the movie a success. On another note there have been a lot of racial backlash to the casting of the characters as African Americans and to those bigots that got on facebook and twitter and showed their ignorance shame on you!
Did you know that a cupcake is a muffin with no icing? #NoriMoment #Thinkaboutit
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The question that you never want your significant partner to ask is, “what’s your number”? It is the elephant in the room that most people would lie about unless they are a virgin. In actuality because virginity is not celebrated as it should most virgins would shyly say, “no one”. If you have a low number you would proudly proclaim that number. If you’re a man, you’re probably going to brag about your partners and name their names if they are worth mentioning. Then you have those people who believe it’s not anyone else business and will take that sacred number to the grave.
The movie, “What’s Your Number” covers all the above. Ally Darling (Anna Faris) has been looking for love in all the wrong places. She meets a man, hope for the best, sleep with him and the relationships have never lasted. Ally is willing to be the girl that she thinks the guy is looking for. If he’s a vegan, she’s a vegan. If he’s a fat slob she’s a fat slob. One of the most comical moments in the film is when she tries to reconnect with Simon (Martin Freeman). He is an English fellow that she met at a tea shops some years back and because he was missing his home country and in need of something English Ally jumps right in. She pretends to be English and her accent is horrid. I laughed so hard at the unraveling of her interpretation of the English accent. By the end of their not by chance reunion she sounds like a Viking. All of this is the onset of her younger sister, Daisy Darling (Ari Graynor) preparing to marry her ex-high school sweet heart Eddie Vogel (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). Daisy and Eddie reconnect after seeing each other at their high school reunion. Ally is fired from her job in marketing (which she doesn’t really like anyways) and happens to read a magazine article on her train ride home that poses the question, what’s your number? Ally thinks she is clever at a gathering with her sister and their friends and ask everyone their sexual partner number. After all of the friends revealing their numbers she realizes that she has the highest number of sexual partners out of the bunch of ladies. The magazine article revealed that a woman with over 20 sexual partners is likely not to get married. Ally is at number 19 and is determined not to exceed 20. Lucky for her she meets her interesting neighbor from across the hall that unlike her doesn’t care about exceeding the quota of women he has conquered in the bedroom.
He’s the effortlessly sexy Colin Shea (Chris Evans) he’s running from one night stands and that awkward morning after conversation. He looks for help in his unsuspecting and witty new comrade Ally. She helps him avoid women by hiding out in her apartment and he in return will help her find her ex’s so that she does not exceed the number of 20 partners. The guys that Ally has dated in the past are not quite worth finding except for one in particular. Jake Adams (Dave Annable) he is everything that Ally is looking for on paper. He is quite handsome and from a wealthy family. He has had the best of the best and is not willing to compromise. (Oh and he thinks that he was Ally first and only lover). Jake and Ally were childhood friends and boyfriend and girlfriend in College. After college they went their separate ways and never had complete closure (hence the virginity misunderstanding).
Since Jake is such a high-profile person it took Colin to sometime to track him down. In the meantime, Colin and Ally are spending time together. Colin is spending so much time with her that he stops having his one night stands and focus on trying to get Ally to forget her number rule and ideology so that he can sleep with her. At first, it’s all fun and games until Colin finds himself falling for her. He even suspects that Ally wants to be with him until a little white lie grows into a big lie. Let’s just say Colin is no longer interested in giving Ally the number to call Jake and rekindle that old flame. Ally finds out and under protest Colin gives Ally Jake’s number. That is it then, there you have it. Ally gets the perfect guy (a millionaire that loves charity work) and they travel the world and make sweet love to each other. No! She does get Jake but ultimately after running off Colin she wants him back and she chases him down with much determination. She gets her guy even if he is number 20 and she’s on the cusp of possibly growing old alone because she chose the wrong type of guy again. That is a chance that Ally is willing to take. Life is all about choices, as Ally was looking for the best ex of her life she found someone even better. Colin was the man who could accept her flaws and all. I think by the time I finished watching this movie I had a six-pack I laughed so hard. If you are looking for a quirky comedy with a romantic twist this is the movie for you. Anna Farris and Chris Evans are naturally funny in their delivery of their lines. They had great chemistry on the big screen. “What’s Your Number” was directed by Mark Mylod and a 20th Century Fox film (Rated R).
Footnote: This movie is based on the book, 20 Time a Lady, by Karyn Bosnak.
Imagine a world where some people have less than a day to live everyday and you have to work to buy time. The saying in the movie that resonated on many occasions was, “for a few to be immortal, many must die”. As I watched, “In Time” I repeated that phrase to myself many times. I wanted to let this type of thinking marinate in my thoughts for a while because I think somewhere people would live like this. Justin Timberlake plays Will Salas, a young man living in the ghetto in a time zone where most people are working class citizens of the world that can barely pay their bills. Currency is not of any value to humans only time. I liked how everyone stops aging at 25 years old. Will Salas mother Rachael is played by actress Olivia Wilde and its her 50th birthday. She looks like she could be his sister or even his girlfriend but it works to add a different element to the film. (Hot people have hot children, right? Not necessarily but in this case of course they do.) Will and Rachael are barely making ends meet and need more time to pay off some loans that are late. Will, by way of a chance encounter meets a fellow that has too much time on his hands and is ready to die. I guess when you have lived 105 years and have over a 100 years left to live you get tired of living. Who wants to be immortal? Rich people that’s who; when you’re broke you’re not trying to live forever you’re trying to pay your rent and eat a good meal. Will intervene as the man is almost robbed by known local thug Fortis (Alex Pettyfer) and his band of thieves looking steal his time. His name is Henry Hamilton (Matt Bomer). Will and Henry have a conversation about life and those that have it. Will awake to find that Henry has trusted him with the greatest gift a person could give to another in this day and age and that is time. Will soon finds himself thrust into a new life and his past along with the time keepers chasing him. The world must have balance and this is in place with the richer getting richer and the poor killing themselves off or running out of time. It’s a baffling mystery to the police and the rich why Henry Hamilton would want to give away his life/time. The head time-keeper Raymond Leon (Cillian Murphy) is relentless in his quest to find Will Salas. Raymond interrupts a party being held at the mansion of Wills new-found friend time millionaire Phillippe Weis (Vincent Kartheiser). Phillippe daughter is intrigued with Will. He’s different and living life at a faster pace than most people from her time zone in New Greenwich (the richest time zone). Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried) is forced to live a very kept life and heavily guarded life because of her father. Since the rich can live forever they don’t want to take a chance on dying by a random act.
For example, driving a car or leaving their time zone and being or shot and killed for their time. They gamble time away leisurely. Will sets out to seek revenge on the rich that are not willing to share their time with people in the ghettos that really need it. He feels there is enough time for everyone and since talking to Henry Hamilton now knows that the poor are being taxed and their time taken so that the rich can live forever. When time cop Raymond accuses Will of murdering Henry for his time he takes Sylvia hostage because he knows that is the only thing that will keep him from running out of time since the cops confiscated his time. At first there is resistance from Olivia but as she spends more time with Will she understands he has a good heart and just want to help people. Now, here is where the story really unfolds. While on the run from the time cops Sylvia shoots Raymond to save Will life and Will gives some of his time to Raymond so he doesn’t die in the ghetto waiting on the time cops to get to him. Will and Sylvia steal his car and make the sound decision to rob the rich mainly her father Phillppe and give his time to the poor. They team up on this wild spree of robbing the time banks and giving the time away. In the meantime Raymond is still trying to kill them both at this point because he has worked his entire career making sure that people do not escape the ghetto like he did. He has spent 50 years as a time cop and refuse to allow these two barely over 25 years of age kids to him upset the balance of time. Talk about a turn of events. Will discover that he is a lot like his father and in the end just wants to everyone to live a life without watching their time tick away on their arms. Through out the movie Will and Sylvia give each other a smooch here and there it is quite cute. I was cheering on their tangled web of love or maybe I should say attraction.
In the end, time cop Raymond expired so easily as he was finally about to arrest Will and Sylvia. If it wasn’t for the quick thinking of Will, Sylvia would have died dramatically in his arms as did his mother. That was not the case they both walked away together looking like the sexy power couple they were meant to look like waving their massive guns. Neither of them believe in the concept, for a few to be immortal many must die. They set out to change the views of the rich as it pertained to the poor. If one must die then no one should have immortality. People were created to live and then when they were supposed to not because they ran out of time. Will and Sylvia continued their journey to take on the world, to rob the rich and pay the poor the only way they could, Bonnie and Clyde style. “In Time” was written and directed by Andrew Niccol a 20th Century Fox film (Rated PG-13).
When I heard that Tyler Perry was releasing another film and it was not starring Madea I said to myself, “self which day are you going to see this movie Friday, Saturday or Sunday”. I picked Sunday; it was a simple as that. (Side-note: don’t get me wrong I love seeing Madea crazy antics on the screen but I also like seeing Tyler Perry direct and create dramatic story-lines and plots). Now, did I feel like I knew what to expect when I walked into that cold theater with my mom, good friend and her family trailing behind me? Yes, I thought so but there were a few twist and turns that I didn’t see coming.
“Good Deeds” is the melodrama story of Wesley Deeds played by Tyler Perry. He is a wealthy man who has taken over his father’s empire by default because he is clearly the better choice over his out-of-control, can’t keep his mouth or temper, drunken younger brother played by Brian White. They are obviously night and day. Wesley has the ideal life of a man of his caliber he has a doting mother (Phylicia Rashad) and beautiful fiancée Natalie (Gabrielle Union). Not to say that his life wasn’t good enough already as the story develops he realizes that he is not happy with his life as it is. He is literally going through an everyday routine that has become so predictable that he has the same breakfast every morning and his fiancée Natalie mocks his uneventful regime. She questions if her life with Wesley is what she wants? Oh, but wait that’s not all. We have to get to why Wesley is a good man doing a good deed for a not so good woman. Okay, I shouldn’t say Lindsay (Thandie Newton) is not a good person but she definitely has her fair share of issues. Please allow me to give you the run down: husband killed in the war, single parent, dropped out of nursing school and is a cleaning woman that can’t pay her bills. I hope I didn’t miss anything.
If I was her I would be an angry black woman cursing people out over parking spaces to. She has this little girl who is quite adorable but really getting the ugly end of the stick because her mother can barely take care of her. I have to give it to Lindsay she was trying her best to be a good mother. This is how the story unfolds, Wesley ends up discovering that Lindsay is bringing her daughter to work because she can’t afford someone to watch her while she works at night. She leaves the little girl in a closet and well once Tyler, I mean Wesley finds the little girl he realizes this woman needs help. (I know it is not just me, I have a hard time separating Tyler Perry from his character Wesley because this seems like something Tyler Perry would have done in a real life scenario, back to movie). Wesley and Lindsay have this opposites attract kind of vibe because when he first extend his help to her she declines his help and he insists in a non-intrusive sort of way. Then Lindsay starts to like Mr. Deeds whom she treated very badly in the beginning and had no idea he was ‘the man’ that owned the building she was cleaning. Poor thing thought an old white man owned the company, ha that joke was on her. Wesley helps Lindsay to keep her little girl and get on her feet by giving her an apartment that the company rarely ever uses. Mean while his fiancée Natalie has no clue of how her man is being extraordinarily generous to a woman that he barely know and not to mention how beautiful Lindsay happens to be. No lie, the scene that was unexpected and a pleasant surprise was when Wesley sexed his fiancé in front of their open window. My mouth dropped wide open (remember I’m sitting next to my mom watching this, awkward). This was on the heel of his fiancée Natalie coming home to their condo after a night of partying with her friends. She wanted some spontaneous loving the night before and he rejected her and she went off on him for not ravishing her body because she was definitely throwing herself at him. I digress that relationship was uneventful and became null and void and let’s just say soon after Wesley made some other major adjustments in his life. Wesley wanted and tried in the beginning to please his mother, but in the end his dream was never to run his father’s company. Lindsay refused to be his rebound girl and walked away with a nice new life as well on her own terms (I’m not going to tell you if she got the man or not, go see the movie).
I think everyone was able to leave the theater satisfied with the outcome of the movie. Just think about it, what if you were given the opportunity of a life time start a new life and never look back would your take it? “Good Deeds” was written and directed by Tyler Perry a Lions Gate film (Rated PG-13).
I decided to watch this movie on my quest to indulge in films that are outside of my normal movie watching comfort zone. Don’t get me wrong when I saw the cast of this film I knew I would likely enjoy it but I wasn’t absolutely sure because of the setting. “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” main characters are Jude Law, fondly referred to as Joe the sky captain, and Gwyneth Paltrow as the gutsy newspaper reporter by the name of Polly Perkins. The movie starts out in New York City circa 1939. Soon the city is attacked by packs of robots that have set out to destroy all those that interfere with their mission to dig up the cities generators. The futuristic spin on a movie set in the 30′s was quite intriguing to me. Not to mention that it was shot digitally before the actors ever stepped on the set. (This film follows in the footsteps of Casshern, Immortal and Sin City all first shot on a digital backlot meshing the actors with surroundings that were computer generated).
The robots are being centrally controlled by the mad scientist Dr. Totenkopf. The mystery surrounds the other scientist that Totenkopf worked with on a top-secret project some 20 years earlier. In the midst of the world being invaded by strange robots collecting specimens from all over the globe I gathered that Joe and Polly share a past relationship. Apparently, as men do sometimes Joe was not exclusive with Polly and that resulted in her sabotaging his plane years before reuniting over this article that Polly is working on for a cover story in the paper. This ushers in the introduction of Angelina Jolie character air craft commander Frankie Cook. Frankie is the ex-flame of Joe and the woman who Polly suspects he cheated on her with while they were stationed working on another mission. As the movie progress the more I see how Joe and Polly are fighting their attraction for one another and how incredibly clumsy Polly seems to be. I found it quite comedic to watch. Let’s see now, I didn’t mention that Joe’s right hand man Dex played by Giovanni Ribisi is kidnapped by super villain Dr. Totenkopfs’ robots. Throughout the movie no one has laid eyes on Dr. Totenkopf in almost 20 years but he has an evil sidekick that shows up at the most inopportune moments alongside the robots. When Dex is kidnapped he leaves behind a map that gives Joe and Polly the Intel they need to find him and Dr. Totenkopf evil layer.
Commander Frankie creates the perfect under water diversion that allows Joe and Polly a chance to safely explore the island where they believe the missing scientist and Dex are being held hostage. Upon arrival on the island they encounter monstrous dinosaur type creatures and most of all discover that Dr. Tontenkopf has built an ark. He is loading the animals on the ark two by two. Yes! Basically the super villain mad scientist is trying to play god because he thinks the world is corrupt and needs to be destroyed. I had many questions by the time Joe and Polly finally got to the island. Like why haven’t I saw Dr. Totenkopf yet? Are Joe and Polly going to ever kiss? What is the deal with Polly and this camera she keeps carrying? Is this story really that important to The Chronicle (the newspaper that Polly writes for)? The film closed out with all of my questions being answered and a quirky yet questionable last scene before we see THE END fade in on the screen. “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorow” was written and directed by Kerry Conran; a Paramount Pictures film (Rated PG).
I knew when I saw the trailer for this movie I was going to watch it. I enjoy love stories that involve a twist. “The Vow” is not your typical love story. “The Vow” stars Channing Tatum as Leo and Rachel McAdams as Paige. Leo is a free-spirited music producer who has married the love of his life Paige. She comes from a Ivy league background that is the opposite of her life as a talented artist. She was raised in the suburbs but the city life of Chicago is beckoning her and for good reason. They face the test of love when they are struck by a truck at an intersection. The accident is quite tragic and I cringe at the thought of this type of accident occurring in real life (I will get to that part in just a minute). Paige slumbers in a induced coma and wakes up with no recollection of the last five years of her life. Thus the twist of fate for the couple and the challenges begin.
Oh! Did I mention that this movie was loosely based on the true story of Kim and Kritckitt Carpenter? Leo is the epitome of patience and he showcases a willingness to try when most men would have quit. Leo is not most men. He is in love with his soul mate and tries very hard to help Paige remember their life together before the accident. She helplessly has no memory of who he was or the love they shared. I will give her credit she tried her best at times to understand how this stranger to her could cherish her so much. He wanted her love unconditionally and didn’t want to take the risk of begetting her love in any other way. Leo endures his wife thinking she is supposed to be with another man and holding back her families dark secret all for the sake of love. I do not know a man who would have done that! Paige was stuck between a fine rock and a gorgeous hard place. I am referring to Leo and Jeremy (Scott Speedman) the ex-fiance that she thinks she’s still in-love with. I will tell you that it’s not the ideal ending of love lost and found again but of how true love cannot be bought or persuaded. There were so many times as I sat in that movie theater completely alone on a Tuesday night I thought, I can’t wait to experience a love like this! The sad part is most people will not experience true love because they are going to settle to soon. Some people are to stuck on themselves and involved with what other people think of them that most wouldn’t have gave half the effort that Leo did. Just think about it? The person that you have shared an emotional and physical connection with for the last five years of your life is basically not interested in nothing you have to offer anymore. Yes, that is a hard one. “The Vow” was directed by Michael Sucsy and a Screen Gems film (Rated PG-13).
France’s Cannes Film Festival says it has finally snagged Steven Spielberg to serve as president of the award jury this year.
Gilles Jacob, the festival’s president, recounted how he had been trying to get the award-winning director to head the jury for years — but the American was always working. Finally, this year, Spielberg got in touch.
“When this year I was told ’E.T., phone home,’ I understood and immediately replied: ’At last!’" Jacob said in a statement posted on the festival’s website Thursday.
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3 stars
After the combined silliness and violence of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, I was happily surprised by the restraint shown in this latest foray into fairytale England. It’s still silly and violent — Jack slays giants, after all — but sprays of blood have been minimized, and the story, after constructing its own logic, sticks to it.
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Django Unchained star Leonardo DiCaprio has apparently worn himself out with all that hammer-wielding, FBI-directing and party-throwing. Speaking to German magazine Bild, the actor has revealed his plans to take a break from acting.
"I am a bit drained," the actor told the magazine. "I'm now going to take a long, long break. I've done three films in two years and I'm just worn out."
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Many groaned over the length of Cloud Atlas, which sat at a solid running time of 169 minutes, but the film is being shortened in China — and that's not entirely good news.
The film premiered in China Monday night, at a length roughly 30 minutes shorter than its original. According to reports, Cloud Atlas was censored by Chinese authorities in adherence to rules of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television.
