I CAN DO BAD ALL BY MYSELF

MOVIE REVIEW: Cadilac Records

So they say Beyonce gave an Oscar worthy performance. I don't know about all that, but I know her star power can bulldoze her way to the Oscars. Yes she was convincing as Etta but her vocals, while sharp and in tone, cannot match the soul and real emotion of the Icon.

Despite the 'one man show' that is Beyonce being the face of the film, it is actually about an ensemble. But there is no Jennifer Hudson and anyone else to steal her shine this time. The movie is about Chicago's celebrated Chess Records label, where in the 1950s the primordial country blues of the Mississippi Delta got plugged in and turned way up, eventually into rock and roll.

You would think a movie about Chess records would focus on Leonard and Phil Chess, the Polish-immigrant brothers who started the label in 1950. However, again because of the Beyonce machine (and the fact that she paid to get on as executive producer)the movie doesn't come together to tell a cohesive story. It gives a little shine to the characters of Muddy Waters, Little Walter (who was in Muddy's band), and Willie Dixon played by Cedric the Entertainer, who also provides unnecessary voice-over narrations.

The movie also gives a minute to explore Chuck Berry played by Mos Def, which if given time would have been the real dominator in this film. He rips the songs, he handles the character with care, and he steals the few scenes in the movie. Given the opportunity, he could have run away with the whole picture.

There was no development of the other characters and no mention of artists on the label like Bo Diddley who had way more of an impact than Etta james. Yet and still because of the apparent case of 'the woman with the check gets the advantage,' the movie leaves the door open for Beyonce's interpretation of Etta James to take the spotlight.

As a result, the movie comes off as a piece meal as oppose to a dynamic story of an ensemble. It was not bad but could have been much better.

MOVIE REVIEW: Eagle Eye

Great story yet scary if such a thing could actually happen. Great acting Great story Great action...Must see.

A

MOVIE REVIEW: Batman: The Dark Knight

Overall I enjoyed Nolan's interpretation of Batman because it's more realistic (as much as it can be anyway) as oppose to Burton's (with the exception of the Batman role..Michael Keaton was better). However my issues with Nolan's The Dark Knight were: 1) constant climax no time to make us connect with some of the characters; 2) too long ... I thought perhaps they could have left the last 30 minutes before the end for the next installment 3) missing explanation...like what happened between the joker and Harvey Dent to flip him...it's really not that self explanatory.

Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed Heath as the Joker. What a last performance. he stole every scene he was in. I thought it would be hard to not picture Jack in that role but I didn't compare them while watching the movie. And dare I say it, he trumps Jack....BY FAR. The costume was totally scary yet believable strangely (as believable as a batman film can be). Heath was great. RIP.

MOVIE REVIEW: Hancock

So If you know me you know I will not pay my or my man's money to go see a Will Smith film...that's what dvds are for. Therefore I can't give a true review. But after a few interviews and reading some reviews here's 8 items summarizing the movie:

1. They say it's about the first black superhero...so i guess the likes of green lantern and spawn never existed in the light of will smith. just like how silky weaves never existed before beyonce.

2. The hollywood promoted "first" black superhero just happens to be a criminal, alcoholic, angry, poop mouth, scrub...

3. The 'mind' behind the superhero, who cares for him and is actually the one who wants to save the planet...is not black. This is the man who makes hancock more 'acceptable'(transform him from a 50 cent type black to a ...will smith type black)

4. Hancock only maintains power by staying away from the blonde...did i mention she's his wife.

5. But the stereotype goes beyond him...turns out Hancock "master" and wife also have the powers..and was hancocks long lost love... but was a selfish bish and wanted a normal life instead of helping people so she suppressed her power and stayed with the master for an easier life..she just wanted to be a good house wife.

6. Instead of casting a black woman to show that Hancock moved on...a bird was casted as his companion...an actual bird

7. But don't fret..they casted negroes as the blacks and Latinos who hate Hancock because they are criminals....hence mike epps doing what he does best...playing the regular negro.

8. So to get this right, there's Iron man who is so smart he creates the anti war weapon...superman saves all through his power of flying...batman etc. and then there's Hancock.....

Thanks to Sohh for most of the inspiration

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR MOVIE FLOPPED: Love Guru

When you release in countless theaters, spend a lot of money on it to promote and hire justin timberfake to participate. Love Guru brought in $5,425,000 and came in at #4.

MOVIE REVIEW: Sex In The City

LUV'D IT. Instead of 'lets get carried away,' the movie quote should have been 'it's not logic...it's love.' After that, I truly missed my homegirls from the Tampa Bay Area. Nothing like uninhibited conversations and blunt reactions without the threat of hurting someone's feelings. Not to mention those ears to get through life's dissapointments.

I think the crew did justice to the series, the fans, and the characters.

FAVORITE SCENES:
1. Carrie gets out of the car to confront Big after he dissapoints
2. Carrie vogue photo shoot as the song 'click flash' played
3. Charlotte having to take a poop
4. Samantha's big belly and when she fliped on homeboy for not showing up for VDAY
5. Miranda tells Steve to get it over with while he was pizzling

FAVORITE PERFORMANCE:
Has and will always be Samantha. She makes the show.

WORST PERFORMANCE:
JHUD was horrible. Hell maybe Kelly Rowland would have done a better job. We were fooled into thinking this chick was oscar worthy. But when acting amongst worse wannabe actresses....she seemed talented at the time.

MOST OBVIOUS PRODUCT PLACEMENTS:
1. Louis Vitton
2. Iphone
3. Mercedes
4. Vitamin Water
5. Oscar De la Renta

QUOTABLES:
1. "Honey even if I were in jail, I wouldn't have that....situation" (samantha on miranda's waxing issues)
2. "I feel the same way as you feel about Botox. Painful and unnecessary." (samantha on carrie's marriage)
3. "Let's get it over and done with" (Miranda to Steve during sex)
4. "I curse the day you were born" (Charlotte's "harsh" words to Big)
5. "Ever thine. Ever mine. Ever ours." (Big to carrie....finally)

MOVIE REVIEW: Indiana Jones

Truthfully, I don't even remember seeing the previous ones but I thought it was descent. The beginning was a bit boring for my taste but I woke up right in time for all the action scenes. Now I get the hoopla about the Shia guy. He's pretty good looking. Looks like he will be taking over where Harrison will hopefully leave off soon; Cate Blanchett did nothing for me as a villian. She was just a pale nuisance on screen; and they could have updated the storyline a bit. I mean who is really checking for the Russians nowadays? Yes I know it was set in a different time but again...who's checking for the Russians nowadays? I'm just saying. The ending again...predictable.

If you're not a fan don't go see it, if you are a fan it's the same unrealistic, unimaginative, phony action it's always been...you'll enjoy it.