Change Your Image
G-Natural
Reviews
The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
a stunning and compelling thrill ride - better than original
First, I just have to get this off my chest -- was that REALLY Franka Potente? I thought for *** sure *** that was a different actress until I got home and looked it up here. I don't know if it was the hair or the different setting or what, but she just didn't look like the same girl to me.
Okay, anyway, having said that...
This movie kicked major booty. Matt Damon did a bang-up job as disillusioned ex-CIA operative Jason Bourne. And lets not make any bones about it - while there was decent acting all around, this movie is all about Bourne. His motivations, his passion, his anger, his frustration. And his undeniable penchant for squeezing out of tough situations with relentless abandon.
I won't play spoiler here, but I would say that Damon's Bourne has a lot in common with Denzel Washington's intense "Man on Fire" portrayal, in the sense that both men are driven by personal feelings into extreme circumstances.
The plot, while not necessarily as clandestine or cryptic as the first "Mission Impossible" film, could be a bit confusing if you're not paying attention. Of course, this film doesn't shove its exposition down your throat, which is a good thing. The conclusion, while not a typical shoot 'em up showdown, is emotionally fulfilling; it still leaves room for more to come in "The Bourne Ultimatum." Add to that some pretty cool fight scenes and a car chase that -- dare I say -- improves on "The French Connection," and you've got yourself a fine film.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
You may think you know what's coming; trust me, you don't.
Because the media hype over a movie can sometimes leave me with an extreme distaste for the film itself (Titanic comes to mind), two days ago I decided to lower my expectations of "The Matrix Reloaded."
What was I thinking?!!?
To say I was blown away would be an understatement. I was left speechless, babbling incoherently like a C-list talk show host going through heroin withdrawal. I simply could not believe how good that movie was.
Which is not to say that it was better than the first. I enjoyed it immensely, but I can't say that. The plot, action sequences, visual themes and overall style of the film was so fresh and new when "The Matrix" debuted in 1999, that you couldn't help but be blown away.
This time around, the whole Matrix motif is well established, so in that sense, it's not new. But as my girlfriend Holly put it, the first film set up the premise of the Matrix and established the overall story. In the second film, they really ran with it.
They run, kick, jump, dodge, morph and explode with it, too.
I loved seeing Zion. I loved the interaction with the other members of the resistance. I loved the fact that Morpheus is shown less as a solid foundation of wisdom and more like an eccentric captain bent on proving the
I'll leave the spoilers to others. Solid acting from Harry Lennix as Cmndr Locke, Morpheus' foil. Gloria Foster's oracle was, again, wonderful. Laurence Fishburne's Morpheus was, of course, Shakespearean as ever. And Neo and Trinity, well, my only complaint about the depiction of their relationship was the gratuitous love scene in the middle of the movie. Other than that, I thought the acting was solid.
Being the middle movie in a trilogy, it clearly doesn't resolve much. And that's okay. By that point in the film, your mind is so bent out of shape trying to process the stupendous special effects and action sequences while SIMULTANEOUSLY trying to follow the intense plot. Gotta remember, great CGI means NOTHING if there's no story. And BOY, is there story.
I have to be honest -- three quarters of the way through the movie, I thought I knew what to expect, but the last 25 minutes or so were nothing short of AMAZING. I'm still trying to sort it all out, but it's going to take another viewing [plus repeated walkthroughs of the video game -- another subject entirely].
Needless to say, I'm a fan of the movie. Go see it. Even if you see it as nothing but eye candy, you're guaranteed to be entertained. But if you're like me and you buy into the Matrix universe willingly and expectantly, this movie will knock your socks off.
Barbershop (2002)
silly at times, but all heart, baby
Here's the deal. Barbershop is a movie by, for, and about Black people... on the surface.
That being said, though, the themes explored in this movie are UNIVERSAL, and the overall vibe of this movie is uplifting enough, and FUNNY enough to rise above the so-so nature of the actual plot.
If you're reading this, I'm sure you know what the plot is about... it's about a barbershop, about one man (Ice Cube's character "Calvin") trying to save it after mistakenly selling it to a loan shark.
Now, I look for different things in different movies. If this was a cop/detective thriller, I would place a lot of value on the tightness of the plot, authenticity through details, etc. If it were a romantic comedy, I would rate the "chemistry" between the two leads. If it were a sports movie, I would rate how well the athletes were shot and/or choreographed in their sporting endeavors.
"Barbershop" had HUGE plot holes in it, most of the characters were cut out of cliches, and --- what's more --- ALL, not some, but ALL --- of the ATM-stealing scenes were tired, insipid, and unfunny. It was a lame attempt at "comic relief" in a movie that didn't need any. As a matter of fact, in my opinion those scenes only served to disjoint the mood of the film, since the crime of ATM-theft was treated seriously by the other characters in the other scenes of the movie, and even ended up [MINOR SPOILER] in a potentially violent resolution at the end, it only made the film more awkward. One minute, it's the sign of a downward spiral in the Black community; the next it's a scene from Home Alone 4: This Time The Idiots Are Black Guys.
HOWEVER --- I was willing to forgive all of those shortcomings because this film has SO MUCH HEART!! Maybe it connected especially well with me because, as a young Black man trying to make powermoves to benefit my family and general community, I've felt the temptation to trade my visions for easy cash. Maybe because I've been a fan of Cedric the Entertainer since his days of hosting BET's ComicView. Maybe it's because it's 1am and my defenses are down.
But I don't care who you are --- you GOTTA give it up for this movie! Once I got past the surface-level depictions (the cheating boyfriend, bumbling crooks, happy immigrant, ex-con thug, etc.) I saw REAL Black people, living through REAL situations. Eve's character was not a hoochie-mama; she was a real woman, with real hurt feelings. Sean Patrick Thomas as the "uppity" educated Black barber -- you could see some of his buried rage and indignity. Michael Ealy as Ricky, the ex-con... there was an almost moving monologue where he shows depth of insight and a clear, level-headed sense of morality.
But the biggest set of kudos have to go to Ice Cube for his portrayal of Calvin. Aside from small scene towards the beginning with his character leading a discussion on various sizes of derriere, Cube's Calvin was a true role model. Real, authentic, having guts and integrity, but also sensitive, caring man trying to take care of his family and live up to his father's legacy as a barber. The scenes with he and his pregnant wife were nothing short of special. I found it almost difficult to believe that this was the same guy who, ten years ago, recorded vicious gangsta rap and made his debut in the gang-warefare epic "Boyz in the Hood." If he spent the last ten years battling his demons, it seems he's put up a good fight.
While "Barbershop" isn't hysterical, it certainly has its genuine moments. There were a whole lot of things that I laughed at, not because they were jokes, but because the people in those situations rang true for me. And even when stuff wasn't particularly realistic, like when two characters were about to fight and suddenly music comes on and everything's better... I still went with it.
Yes, it was predictable. Yes, it was cartoonish at times. Yes, there was many things that didn't make a whole lot of sense when viewed through the lens of real life. No, that didn't matter as much to me.
And yes -- I will see it again.
Barbershop (2002)
silly at times, but all heart, baby
Here's the deal. Barbershop is a movie by, for, and about Black people... on the surface.
That being said, though, the themes explored in this movie are UNIVERSAL, and the overall vibe of this movie is uplifting enough, and FUNNY enough to rise above the so-so nature of the actual plot.
If you're reading this, I'm sure you know what the plot is about... it's about a barbershop, about one man (Ice Cube's character "Calvin") trying to save it after mistakenly selling it to a loan shark.
Now, I look for different things in different movies. If this was a cop/detective thriller, I would place a lot of value on the tightness of the plot, authenticity through details, etc. If it were a romantic comedy, I would rate the "chemistry" between the two leads. If it were a sports movie, I would rate how well the athletes were shot and/or choreographed in their sporting endeavors.
"Barbershop" had HUGE plot holes in it, most of the characters were cut out of cliches, and --- what's more --- ALL, not some, but ALL --- of the ATM-stealing scenes were tired, insipid, and unfunny. It was a lame attempt at "comic relief" in a movie that didn't need any. As a matter of fact, in my opinion those scenes only served to disjoint the mood of the film, since the crime of ATM-theft was treated seriously by the other characters in the other scenes of the movie, and even ended up [MINOR SPOILER] in a potentially violent resolution at the end, it only made the film more awkward. One minute, it's the sign of a downward spiral in the Black community; the next it's a scene from Home Alone 4: This Time The Idiots Are Black Guys.
HOWEVER --- I was willing to forgive all of those shortcomings because this film has SO MUCH HEART!! Maybe it connected especially well with me because, as a young Black man trying to make powermoves to benefit my family and general community, I've felt the temptation to trade my visions for easy cash. Maybe because I've been a fan of Cedric the Entertainer since his days of hosting BET's ComicView. Maybe it's because it's 1am and my defenses are down.
But I don't care who you are --- you GOTTA give it up for this movie! Once I got past the surface-level depictions (the cheating boyfriend, bumbling crooks, happy immigrant, ex-con thug, etc.) I saw REAL Black people, living through REAL situations. Eve's character was not a hoochie-mama; she was a real woman, with real hurt feelings. Sean Patrick Thomas as the "uppity" educated Black barber -- you could see some of his buried rage and indignity. Michael Ealy as Ricky, the ex-con... there was an almost moving monologue where he shows depth of insight and a clear, level-headed sense of morality.
But the biggest set of kudos have to go to Ice Cube for his portrayal of Calvin. Aside from small scene towards the beginning with his character leading a discussion on various sizes of derriere, Cube's Calvin was a true role model. Real, authentic, having guts and integrity, but also sensitive, caring man trying to take care of his family and live up to his father's legacy as a barber. The scenes with he and his pregnant wife were nothing short of special. I found it almost difficult to believe that this was the same guy who, ten years ago, recorded vicious gangsta rap and made his debut in the gang-warefare epic "Boyz in the Hood." If he spent the last ten years battling his demons, it seems he's put up a good fight.
While "Barbershop" isn't hysterical, it certainly has its genuine moments. There were a whole lot of things that I laughed at, not because they were jokes, but because the people in those situations rang true for me. And even when stuff wasn't particularly realistic, like when two characters were about to fight and suddenly music comes on and everything's better... I still went with it.
Yes, it was predictable. Yes, it was cartoonish at times. Yes, there was many things that didn't make a whole lot of sense when viewed through the lens of real life. No, that didn't matter as much to me.
And yes -- I will see it again.
The Original Kings of Comedy (2000)
good in spurts, somewhat unsatisfying overall
One thing that needs to be understood from the get-go:
This is a BLACK FILM. It was made by, and for, Black people.
This is not to say that White people cannot or will not enjoy the film, but the comedy in this movie revolves around Black culture and the condition of Black people in America.
I don't mean to harp on a point that may seem obvious, but the fact that this is advertised as "A Spike Lee joint" may be a bit deceiving since many of his films, though they may center around and star Black people, often contain timeless themes that are universal in scope and understanding.
Anyway... had to get that out of the way.
It kinda depends on how you look at this. There were many, MANY moments in the film that, looking back, were the highlight of my week. I mean, just drop-dead, laughing-so-hard-you're-losing-your-voice-and-you-can-barely-breathe funny. My personal favorite of the four comedians was Cedric the Entertainer. His was the most clean, and his laid back style is personally the most appealing to me. He has one bit about how folks start running without explanation... oooooowweeee... just thinking about it makes my sides hurt.
Steve Harvey came in at a close second. He's got more of a ranting style. It's funny. And surprisingly, although he also cusses a lot, sometimes that even enhances the humor because it's so absurdly inappropriate. At one point he's talking about the good ol' days of soul music, and he's like, "Listen to these godd@mn lyrics!"
DL Hughley and Bernie Mac, I didn't like as much. Both of them had a lot of sexual humor that I didn't find that funny. They both had their moments (especially Hughley) but neither one were especially hilarious. Hughley also spent a lot of time doing his trademark anti-heckler business, cracking on people in the crowd. Some of it was funny, but not very.
In general, if you are like me and not a fan of people using the F-word gratuitously, you might find this movie somewhat unsatisfying. Bernie Mac especially spent the last portion of his bit trying to explain his use of the F-word and at the same time trying to make it sound like it's a staple of Black culture. If a White comedian would have done that, I would have resented it. Because Bernie Mac is Black, and because there were apparently many people in the theater in which it was taped (and in the movie theater where I sat) for whom that bit seemed to resonate, I just had to sit there and feel slightly ashamed. It was the same feeling I had throughout 1/3rd of "Scary Movie."
I wouldn't (and didn't) spend full-price on it, but it was still a good time.
Shaft (2000)
So good, and yet still very flawed
If you've made it this far with the reviews, you already know the basics, so I won't waste your time. Here are my thoughts, in no particular order...
(*** some spoilers included ***, although I doubt by this point you haven't tread through dozens already)
Samuel Jackson? A natural pick, he is the biggest reason why the movies succeeds.
Dan Hedaya and the other Black guy (Ruben Santiago-Hudson? Not sure) seemed oddly cast as traitors. They were way too likeable. I knew they're gonna get it for messin' with Shaft, but I felt bad nonetheless.
Vanessa L. Williams was good. Tough, but feminine.
Amusing director's cameo.
I LIKE the fact that Shaft's sexual exploits were not depicted on-camera. With the L.D. remarks and other incidents of sexual innuendo, it's just not necessary to show any actual nudity. If I wanted soft-core porn, I would just turn on Showtime at midnight. And by the way, I do think that the `it's my duty to please that booty' line was out of place. Shaft is sexy, but he's not sleazy. That line seemed less Shaft and more Master P-meets-Dan Fielding-from-`Night Court.'
The racial polarization of this movie did get to me after a while. It's a little distressing that almost every character in this film was either racist, weak, or a combination of both. Being a progressive young Black man who likes to see objectivity and fairness in films, `Shaft' was disappointing in that regard. Especially when you think about how much police brutality is condemned in the Black community. for Shaft to go out and execute vicious bum-rush techniques with such flippance, it's unsettling. Some might even say hypocritical. Impressionable youngsters should not be watching this movie unless they have been trained to think critically. That's another reason why age-restrictions on R-rated movies need to be enforced.
That's part of the reason why it's so impressive that this movie is so much fun to watch. Despite a wealth of overused crime-story clichés and a horribly unsatisfying ending (can somebody say, `New Jack City'?), this movie succeeds on the strength of snappy dialogue (a little too much of the f-word, but still entertaining nonetheless), an abundance of charisma (Jeffrey Wright is wonderful), and a gritty, pulsating soundtrack.
And that's what makes this film a winner, in my opinion. Shaft is the consummate Black action hero. He shoots; he scores. What more do you need?