Bored at Lunch?: Watch Kenyan Sci Fi Short Film "Pumzi"

Don't be bored at lunch. Watch 20-min Kenyan sci-fi film Pumzi by filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu

Monica's Movie Review: X-Men Days of Future Past: Thrilling, Action Filled, Emotional, Drama Packed, Fabulous Effects

 

By  Monica Peters

For those of you who are X-Men fans or newbies to the series, the latest release X-Men: Days of Future Past won’t disappoint. It’s not only a great action film--but a great film period topped with superior performances.  It is storytelling at its best and director Bryan Singer did a phenomenal job at executing a very complex storyline flawlessly that’s easily understandable to the movie goer.  You will definitely be gripped by some of the X-Men character’s personal backgrounds as the film will dig deep into their past lives including drug addiction issues. The film easily rivals X-Men 2 which is hailed as a popular favorite amongst hardcore fans of the series.

Quick synopsis:  Kitty (Ellen Page) sends Wolverine (Hugh Jackman), via his conscious, back in time to the 70’s with a mission of altering past historic world events to change what we know as the present day world with a mutant twist.  Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) is a critical component for the mission to be accomplished successfully. While time traveling in the past Wolverine recruits Charles Xavier (James McAvoy), the hilarious scene stealing QuickSilver (Evan Peters), Beast (Nicholas Hoult) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) to convince Raven aka Mystique to alter her past actions to change world history.  The recruiting process hits a few snags as Wolverine has to reacquaint his fellow XMen  with him and convince them that he was sent from the future.

Days of Future Past satisfies many unanswered questions from the previous series where the storylines lacked continuity. You'll get a kick out of James Brown quotes and a Sanford & Son snippet.  You will also be emotionally conflicted as to what your perception of a villain and a hero are as the lines become blurred.

 I'll stop before this review turns into a serious movie spoiler. If you haven't seen any of the prior films in the series, no worries you can follow along with no problem as the movies ties up many loose ends.

Everything you think this movie is, it isn’t.  Get ready for one heck of a ride.  This may be one of the best action films of 2014.

PG-13, 113 minutes.

 ....Monica Peters

Tech & Travel Break: Documentary "BB King: The Life of Riley" Opens in Theaters Nationwide May 21

.... Narrated by Morgan Freeman featuring Bono, Santana, Eric Clapton and more. 

Trailer (l) & 80's footage of BB and Bono rockin'out. (r)

*I do not own or claim copyright to any of this footage.

Movie Review: "Notorious"... Surprisingly Good.

"Ms. Wallace conceived Biggie with a married man. One of many interesting facts that came out in the film."

By Monica Peters

I must admit that I had concerns about being potentially disappointed with the film “Notorious” starring Angela Bassett, Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Naturi Naughton, Antonique Smith and Anthony Mackie. However, the film does not disappoint. The entire cast brought home the spirit of the real life characters. To my surprise, the film also had depth.

Hollywood newcomer, Jamal Woolard hits the mark playing Notorious BIG, aka Biggie on screen. He is very natural and more importantly believable in this role. He is one to watch in Hollywood. Biggie’s relationship with his mother, Voletta Wallace played by Angela Basset provides much depth to the film as it portrays his life from early childhood to his tragic murder eleven years ago in Los Angeles. Many may not know that Ms. Wallace conceived Biggie with a married man. One of many interesting facts that came out in the film. The “mash potato” scene is a turning point in Biggie’s life where Ms. Wallace throws away what she thinks is mash potatoes from under his bed. Biggie raids the kitchen trash can to recover “the potatoes.” Ms. Wallace then realizes that her son is in an illegal profession and throws him out onto the streets.

Naturi Naughton, who plays Lil’ Kim, provided much spice in the highly anticipated film. Naughton does an excellent job in showing the vulnerable and insecure side of rapper Lil’ Kim. Initially she and Biggie had a great relationship where he pursued her romantically in their early days in Bed Stuy. He was her lover, protector and had a solid devotion to her as an artist when he discovered that she also had talent that could make her a superstar. Things soon began to get rocky when he married singer Faith Evans out the clear blue. He still kept his commitment to Lil’ Kim as his artist and continued their affair. Naughton’s racy role keeps the moviegoer intrigued with her and Biggie’s volatile off/on relationship. I was actually surprised that the film gave Lil’ Kim’s character depth given the rocky history between the raunchy female rapper and the slain rapper’s mother in real life. The recording studio scene where Lil’ Kim and Biggie have an explosive argument after his surprise nuptials to Evans, played by Antonique Smith, is classic. It is in this scene where you begin to remember that Lil Kim in real life often talked about Biggie’s physical abuse towards her. The dialogue in this scene is also classic. Let’s just say Biggie puts Lil’ Kim in her place about where she stands with him.

Actress Antonique Smith has a striking resemblance to singer Faith Evans. She brings home the prize so to speak portraying Evans on screen. Her character finds out soon enough that marrying a man after only 3 weeks of dating is not a good idea--especially since Biggie never stopped his cheating ways (the singer claims in her new book that she and Biggie courted for a few months, but the film’s depiction disputes that). She does have a physical confrontation with a random groupie who she finds in bed with Biggie. However, the only thing that was grossly missing in this film is that it does not depict her rocky relationship with Lil’Kim and does not address how she felt when she found out in real life that Biggie was having an affair with Kim. *Faith Evans and Lil’ Kim had a much publicized physical confrontation in real life.

Derek Luke to my surprise did a good job in making his portrayal of music mogul Diddy believable. His on stage persona of Diddy in the film does provide for some comedic moments though, especially the dancing. Anyone who came to the advance screening as a “Doubting Thomas” if Luke could capture the larger than life personality of Diddy were soon converted to believers.

As far as Anthony Mackie’s portrayal as Biggie’s rival, slain rapper Tupac Shakur; let’s just say he tried his best. That’s not a diss, but Shakur’s complex persona would be hard for any actor to personify.

Towards the end of the film as the rapper receives constant death threats due to his ongoing feud with Shakur, he begins to put his life in perspective. He tries to mend the fences with Faith (also the mother of his son Christopher Wallace Jr), Lil’ Kim and Jan, the mother of his first child from his teenage years by becoming a better father and more involved in their lives. But by then it’s too late.

A touching point of the film that will bring tears to your eyes: Biggie’s son, Christopher Wallace Jr., plays the role of his father in his childhood years in the film. You don’t find this out until the end of the film. It doesn’t get any better than that.

LISTEN BELOW: Monica's Exclusive Interview with James McBride, "Miracle at St. Anna" Hitting Theaters September 26!

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BELOW: James McBride, best selling author of the novel "Miracle at St. Anna," talks with Monica Peters Medina about the highly anticipated film hitting theaters on Sept 26, what it was like working with Spike Lee, the Clint Eastwood "controversy" and a whole lot more. Listen and enjoy. More importantly go support the film this Friday. Opening weekend box office numbers are crucial in the movie business. Let's show Hollywood we mean business by making "Miracle at St. Anna" #1 at the box office. LISTEN TO THE TWO PART INTERVIEW BELOW (14 minutes total listening time). (Photo: Spike Lee (l) and James McBride (r) credit: daylife.com).



NOTE: To view entire blog page of TheGritsnCheeseDish![TM], click "home" at the bottom of the post or click here.

Coming Wed 9/24 to the GNC Dish!: Miracle at St. Anna Interview w/ Screenplay writer and Best-Selling Author James McBride

Best-selling author, James McBride, will talk to Monica Peters Medina about Spike Lee's new film "Miracle at St. Anna" based on his best selling novel. James talks about the making of the film and a whole lot more. An interview not to be missed. Right here on TheGritsnCheeseDish![TM]

HANCOCK Movie Review: Good Film… Sequel Should be in Order

By Monica Peters Medina

Starring: Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Charlize Theron

Directed by Peter Berg

I attended the advanced private screening of Hancock tonight (Monday June 23). I know what you’re thinking: Will Smith in another science fiction movie— another “Men in Black” type deal. But, Big Willie has outdone himself with another summer blockbuster hit in the new action pack humorous superhero flick, “Hancock.” This is not a typical science fiction movie. The film has a solid plot that will leave moviegoers anticipating a Hancock sequel. Will Smith’s character “Hancock” is not your average superhero flaunting his arrogant care-free attitude with a bottle of liquor as his constant companion of choice to ease his pain of loneliness. He is a recluse who lives in isolation in the hills wondering about his past and why he has no family. Hancock doesn’t even have a clue as to how he inherited his powers. His character is timeless and ageless and adapts to whatever era or century that he exists. The movie starts with non-stop action and laughs as Hancock is the unofficial hero of Los Angeles that comes to save the day and stop potential tragedies and crimes in progress—much to the chagrin of the Los Angeles police department who often look bad and inadequate. His reckless but well intentioned heroics costs the city millions of dollars as the collateral property damage Hancock often leaves behind is enormous. Hancock’s mysterious presence is met with bittersweet reaction as folks either love him or hate him. The fact that Hancock refuses to talk to the press and prefers to hang out in bars doesn’t help.

However, this is only a portion of the story line. The film takes unexpected twists and turns which pushes it into the realm of a bona-fide science fiction film with credibility. Hancock’s chance meeting with business executive Ray Embrey played by Jasonn Bateman unknowingly sets him on the path to discovering his past and origin of his powers. Hancock accidentally finds his soul mate–literally through his chance meeting with Ray and that is where things get VERY interesting. Besides revamping Hancock’s public image and convincing him to do some time in prison for some of his misdeeds, Ray saves Hancock’s life in more ways than one. Ray’s wife played by Charlize Theron is less than thrilled by Hancock’s presence in her husband’s life. Let’s just say you never know where your true soul mate is hiding or even if they are standing right in front of you! I’ll stop here because you’ll be too mad if I give away the film.

Let’s just say a well anticipated Hancock sequel is in order.

"Trekky” Tyler Perry can’t talk about it!

By Monica Peters Medina

Tyler Perry will be starring in the new Star Trek movie hitting theaters spring of 2009. Rumor has it he has to stay tight lipped about the film. It will be the first film that Tyler will star in that he has not directed or written.

Right now Tyler is directing and filming his new movie “The Family That Preys” starring Oscar winner Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard and Sanaa Lathan.