Be it a conversation with someone, self-reflection, listening to your favorite artist, reading a new book, eating your favorite meal, or doing what ever it is you want to do right now. We should focus all of our energy on fueling our core. That's the path that I yearn for everyday and that's the purpose of this blog.
I posted briefly about the long awaited movie, "The Princess & The Frog". And as I was looking for pics of the princess I found the official trailer clip of the movie. I watched like 10 secs and stopped it, as I want to wait for the release of the movie. But, I thought someone might be interested...
//Another fun clip with scenes from the movie as well as the actors!!
Call me a 'big kid' or whatever but, I'm excited about this move. Shoot, I might have to buy the sheet set just because. Don't act like you don't kno!!
Click here if you want more video clips, there's tons on this site!!
Ok, since most of us are gettin' back into the habit, meaning school. Today's 'Monday Movie' had to be somethin' relevant. So, the 1988 movie School Daze was a perfect fit!! Of course Spike reigned the 80's & 90's w/ the movies [Spike Lee, that is] so you already know this was HIS film.
I love the college theme && how the real side was shown. The stereotypes between light-skin vs. dark-skin women, college parties, talent shows, having a significant other, sororities/fraternities, etc. I even love the [positive] messages thrown in there too!!
Check it out here:
[The TYPICAL: A talent show w/ "Gina from Martin". She will ALWAYS be that in my book. This clip also served as inspiration for Alica Keys' video "Teenage Love Affair" && don't you just love their of the time [80's] dresses?!]
[The FUNNY: A clip of Spike Lee aka: "1/2 Pint", lol, [Of couse he played in the film] && others gettin' played as they pledged a fraternity]
[The MESSAGE: "Wake UP!"...it's just dope how everyone woke up in the movie. YOU gotta "wake-up" too!]
When I think of princesses I don't think of hair weaves & long nails. Let's just say these two B.A.P.S. are far from the Disney princesses we are accustomed to. But, I can't even front this movie was funny. Who knew Halle Berry could pull this off? You might be wondering what B.A.P.S means, especially if you haven't seen the movie. Well to clear that up it simply means, 'Black American PrincesseS.' I guess B.A.P. didn't have that special ring to it, so the 's' on the end was necessary.
Check a movie clip below where Halle Berry's character, Nisi, shows what she's working w/ at a dance audition. What was up with the special effects & sounds she was making?! & then at the end I was rolling off her 'etiquette book' & how she flipped the pages w/ her longs nails. Oh, the contrast in that!!! Enjoy :)
ROFL @ the butler who thought they beggars & slammed the door in their faces. I gotta get this on DVD...so many memories!
Basketball movies tend to make some of the BEST movies so, I'm all over He Got Game. Even though this movie came out in '98, I never saw it in it's entirety until a few years ago. The film featured Denzel Washington & NBA star Ray Allen [current Boston Celtic & one of the best shooters in the game], who at the time played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
In short: The movie is about a son and his estranged father, who is incarcerated for accidently killing his wife. His son, Jesus [Ray Allen], grows to be a great basketball player, thanks to his father [Denzel] but, has hard feelings towards him for what he did in the past. The only way for his father to get out early is if he can get his son to sign with a local college and play ball there. [I won't tell the rest.] I also refuse to post many clips because Ray Allen is not the best actor in the world & anybody who watched this movie could vouch for that. Instead, here's the trailer. [It's crazy how some people refer to him as Jesus to this day.]
[It's pretty cool how they were able to get a lot of actual sports broadcasters and athletes for cameo roles.]
[Denzel & Ray "Jesus Shuttlesworth" on the court.]
[Ray & Rosario Dawson, who played his girlfriend in the film. [FYI: They got it in on this film!]]
Love & Basketball came out in 2000 & became everybody's favorite movie. It featured Sanaa Lathan, which to me was her break out role. Also, it was in this film that the ladies began to really notice Omar Epps (Besides, Higher Learning). The story line is so simple: Two high school sweet hearts that steer away from each other [in college] but, as they grow older they realize they truly love each other.
I remember I used to know every single line in this movie. My favorite part was when Que & Monica were riding home & she read that note from "Shawnee Easton w/ the big---" [you know the rest, if you saw it.]
Notable Quotables [From memory]:
"Who you going to the prom with, Spalding?" -Que
"If my momz found out I was kissing a honey like you, she'd beat the black off me." - Que
"She's not saying, 'I think you're a nice guy--, she's saying 'I want a bone!" - Monica
"Double or nothing." - Monica [2 this day, I still don't have a clue of what that means.]
Remember this song from the movie? [Roger & Zapp - "I Wanna Be Your Man"]
[I loved their relationship. Man, just this song brings back soo many memories. You can't front like you didn't want that kind of relationship. Minus, the [few] disputes they had of course.]
A lot of my favorite movies are from the 90's. Maybe, it's because I was a late 80's baby [shy a few days from '90]. Or maybe it's because some of the best of the best movies came out during that time period. [The 80's had some pretty dope movies too. Purple Rain/The Color Purple/Coming To America. Need I say more?]
So, it's not a surprise when I say Jada Pinkett-Smith [& Regina King, along w/ Angela Bassett] is one of my favorite actresses when it comes to the big screen. & it's not because she is who she is. The quality I admire most is that no matter which role she takes, be it Lyric from Jason's Lyric or her character, Niobe, from The Matrix sequels [although, I've only seen snippets.], she still manages to be herself. A piece of her exists in every character she plays, and I admire that.
1991: We all remember watching A Different World & her feisty character, Lena. She was what LL Cool J would describe as an 'Around The Way Girl'. [I remember when she almost burned down the whole dorm w/ her cooking. She was too funny.]
1994:A Low Down Dirty Shame came on today [Thanxs 2 Tv-One]. Remember, with Keenan Ivory Wayans? Her character was Peaches who was similar to Lena but, turned up a few notches. Jada's hair was short for the film [as it was for most of the 90's] & she wore these long nails that had ATTITUDE written all over them.Her character always wanted to be on the dangerous job w/ her partner, Shame but, because she was a female it didn't work out so much. You can believe Peaches wasn't havin' that!
1996: I also remember watching Set It Off which featured Jada, Queen Latifah, Vivica Foxx, & Kimberly Elise. That movie was THE movie. Even though robbing banks is clearly illegal, I love Stony [Jada]. She was the [most] sane one in the group and I felt her pain when her brother got shot for doing no wrong, && in the end when she moved away to start a new life. Every time I hear that song [Missing You], I get that same sad feeling. That movie was DEEP w/o a doubt.
Now, after starring in over 20 films, she still has IT. Not many African-American actresses IMO can bring what she brings. I'm not knocking Halle Berry or any other actress but, Jada is what they call the 'Real Deal'. Sure she has done a lot of films targeted to the black community [Menace To Society, The Nutty Professor, etc] but, she isn't afraid to switch it up. Having played a lesbian in The Women (2008) & starting her own rock band, Wicked Wisdom, It's safe to say Jada is in a league of her own.
After being shut down by Keenan Ivory Wayans when she requested she be put onto In Living Color, Jada told Entertainment Weekly in 1994, ''There was nothing else I could do, except maybe go to law school and pass the bar, so the courtroom would be my stage."
....Aren't you glad she didn't give up? I think she is where she needs to be.
I even love her marriage w/ Will. Name another couple in Hollywood as beautiful & enduring as them. That's the kind of love I want!
[Currently]: Jada has a main role on HawthoRNe [in which she also produces], which I make sure to watch every Tuesday night on TNT. She plays Christina Hawthorne, a chief Nursing Officer at a hospital. Don't let the white coat fool ya, it's still Jada.
One thing Jada does well is balance. She's happily married and a mother. [Anytime you're one of the two, I call that a success.] It's true that she hasn't been in many films lately but, with her new found love for producing, I believe that's all she needs at this point. As I've said before, no matter what role she plays, whether she's on screen or behind scenes, just as bold & flawless as ever, Jada shines through.
You know those two clowns, & you know them well. Craig & Smokey, need I say more?! You know all about 'Friday', a movie that every [black] person has seen atleast once in their life.[& if you're really good, you probably know what Craig & Smokey are saying in that scene/picture.] I grew up watching it & I can honestly say it does not get old. Even though the movie was shot to take place over the course of just ONE day, what it lacks for in calendar days, it definitely makes up in the comedy department.
Notable Quotes from "Friday" [If you've watched this movie enough, you'll know exactly what scene each quote came from & how the person said it.]
Mr. Jones [Craig's Dad]:"Every time I come in the kitchen, you in the kitchen. In the goddamn refrigerator. Eatin' up all the food. All the chitlins... All the pig's feet... All the collard greens... All the hog maws. I wanna eat them chitlins... I like pigs feet."
Smokey:"I got mind control over Deebo. When he say shut up - I be quiet. But when he leave, I be talking again."
Smokey:Older the berry, the sweeter the juice. Craig: Man, it's the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. Smokey:Yeah, well she blacker than a motherfucker too.
Red:"My pops told me to ask for my bike back... you know I wouldn't trip."
Reverend:What we call drugs at the 74th Street Baptist Church we call the sin of sin sins. Smokey:Well round here, between Normandy and Weston, we call this here a little twenty twen twen... Craig:Right... Smokey:Nigga...
Big Worm:"Playing with my money is like playing with my emotions, Smokey."
Craig:We ain't got no sugar. Smokey:No sugar? Damn. Y'all ain't never got two things that match. Either ya got Kool-aid, no sugar. Peanut butter, no jelly. Ham, no burger. Daaamn.
[Ok, here's a positive one with a MESSAGE!] Mr. Jones:"You win some, you lose some. But you live, you live to fight another day."
[Here is a clip from Friday w/ Craig, Smokey, Red && Deebo. I seriously laughed my behind off on this one. Check Red's face, Craig & Smokey's reaction, & how Red leaves the scene! Priceless.]
[Oh, and while we're reminiscing on Friday, here is one of the funniest clips from Next Friday w/ Day-Day talkin about Baby-D && having a hard a time trying to get dressed!]
Day-Day:"She sell dope, do hair, & babysit at the same house!"
1996, was a good year. Friday was an even better movie [Indeed.]
