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Reviews
Two Distant Strangers (2020)
Y'all Mad About My Reality
Phenomenal, captivating, thought provoking short film. Very disturbed by those that are calling the lived experiences of their fellow humans political. I can't imagine invalidating the lives of others because you can't relate, or introspective thinking makes you uncomfortable.
I love the conversations the protagonist has with the antagonist. The protagonist clearly explains the issues that so many people observe, but you're mad. Of course the ending was polarizing, because that is true to life. You can do everything correct and still get punished.
Great cinematography, acting, editing...everything about this movie was top tier.
Lady in the Lake: Innocence leaves when you discover cruelty. First in others, then in yourself (2024)
Lady in the Blue Dress
This episode picks up steam. Maddie's backstory was a bit murky, but now it makes more sense. She is emotionally tethered to a horribly abusive man in an environment where she has no rights. The parallels to 2024 are soul crushing, as many women are in this predicament today, regardless of race.
Cleo is in a life threatening situation (Maddie may be as well). Reggie placed Cleo in undue harm by sending her on that run, and now her already complex world is completely uprooted. Dora and Reggie's toxic relationship is indicative of so many I've seen. Reggie, and most of the men in this show, are selfish, narcissistic misogynists. Sometimes fiction eerily mirrors reality.
While I can see why some can see this as a male bashing story, people should be more concerned with the veracity of the stories. Eager to see what is coming in the remaining episodes.
Supacell (2024)
Excellent Show!
Excellent sci-fi show. Based in London, this show provides a new perspective on the superhuman genre from a minority perspective, and I love it. This show doesn't shy away from some difficult topics such as classism and colorism with action, drama and comedy.
I can't recall the last time I saw so many beautiful, unambiguously black women shown in all of their feminine beauty without being simplified to some ratchet caricatures. The entire cast is engaging and stellar.
Glad to see Netflix showcasing new stories that speak to an international audience. Great storytelling and cinematography. Definitely deserving of a watch.
Madame Web (2024)
Why All the Hate
I like the movie. It's compelling due to the interwoven sci-fi aspect that carries the narrative. While I wish some of the beats were further fleshed out, it's not as bad as some of the other reviewers have claimed. A good rating for this movie would be around 6.5, so I gave it a 9 to outweigh the overwhelming amount of negative dissertations.
Frankly, I think the downvoting is a mix of misogyny, hate against Sony and abysmal disdain for anything that promotes diversity and inclusion. How dare Sony make a superhero movie with real life issues and implications? I'm always for representation in all genres.
Butterfly in the Sky (2022)
Nostalgic Gem
Reading Rainbow was integral to my youth and setting me on a path of critical thinking. The producers of this classic, educational show for children made reading books as interesting as watching a Saturday morning cartoon.
I looked forward to watching this show at school during a daily carve out in the morning or afternoon. Levar and his young guests were awe inspiring. The diverse and eclectic mix of students and book topics made all fell welcome. Reading Rainbow, the Scholastic Book Fair and Pizza Hut Book-it were my juvenile, beloved Trinity.
As a part of the local PBS broadcasting, Reading Rainbow touched the hearts of children everywhere, sharing stories of which many may have never been exposed. Thank you for unlocking a piece of my childhood!
Atlas (2024)
Great Sci-fi flick
This is an engaging sci-fi flick with an all star cast. Really can't get much better than this, especially on Netflix. I would have definitely paid to see this at the theater.
Jennifer Lopez does a great job as the main protagonist, and Simu Liu is exceptional as the antagonist. Props to the supporting cast, as Sterling Brown, Mark String and Lana Parilla consistently bring their best.
Smith's voice actor is witty and hilarious as well. Great story about the effects of human hubris, and not understanding the impact of developing and unleashing sentient beings. Great cinematography and sound design as well. Great movie!
The Josephine Baker Story (1991)
Beautiful Biography of Strength
This movie had an enormous impact on my youth. I was 12 and full of awe at how Josephine, via the impeccable Lynn Whitfield, was able to captivate her audience with her eyes to the extent that you didn't even notice her nudity. Ms. Whitfield displayed an immense talent, tapping into her acting and dancing skill set with bravado.
Watching this story of a forgotten, influential African American during an unforgiving time to carry this label, especially as a woman, was mesmerizing to my impressionable young self. People cannot understand the power in seeing remarkable people that look like you represented in media.
The cast, cinematography, costume design, etc is absolutely exquisite. I enjoyed this movie at 44 just as much as I did at 12. Thank you to all involved in making this masterpiece.
Queen Bees (2021)
Too Cute!
A cute movie with some of my favorite actresses. Ellen Burstyn, Loretta Devine, et. Al did a wonderful job in this cute little movie. I truly don't understand all of the negative reviews. These are honest portrayals of getting older, and I've met many of the characters depicted in this movie in my real life. Women don't stop being sexual, sensual or maternal because they're older. They also don't have all of the answers are always make the best decisions because they're fallible.
I enjoyed this movie to the fullest. It taught me much about how to continue to move on with optimism in even the most precarious situations. Highly approve!
The Brothers Sun (2024)
Great Start!!
This show is off to a great start! Interesting story of one family living two extremely different lives. The older brother seems to have taken on the family business while the other is living a somewhat typical life.
As usual Michelle Yeoh is a gem, and the two young men that play her sons carry a great deal of charisma in diametrically opposite ways. The story is engaging from the very beginning, and never has a dull moment. Looking forward to enjoying this show. The fight scenes are choreographed well.
I love learning about other cultures, and appreciate Netflix's inclusion of more diverse stories easily accessible and represented on television.
The One (2001)
Excellent multiverse movie
I'm shocked this movie has such a poor rating (5.9 at the time of review). This was an excellent multiverse, action packed movie. Jet Li was both charming and frightening in his dual roles as the antagonist and protagonist of the movie. The multiverse was dynamically presented, and the Highlander plot was pretty cool.
The movie is stacked with a stellar cast. Delroy Lindo is a chameleon that can bring any character to life, while Jason Statham was perfect for his role. The CGI was good, and the cinematography was excellent. The movie also had a good score. Overall, from start to finish the movie was great.
Glass Onion (2022)
Excellent Sequel
So, I'm writing this review solely for one reason: to bring attention to how well Janelle Monae managed dual duty as Andi and Helen. How the movie revolves around this actress' death (TWICE!!) and there isn't a single mention of her in most of these reviews is quite frankly atrocious. Yes, Daniel Craig knocked it out the park as Benoit. The entire supporting cast was excellent, although some of you only seem to know Kate Hudson, Dave Batista and Edward Norton. Heck even Ethan Hawke (blink and you miss him) and Joseph Gordon-Lovett, who we NEVER SEE, gets more fan service than Tony Award winning Leslie Odom, Jr. In conclusion, enthralling and fun sequel with a wonderful concept and execution.
Physical: Don't Try This at Home (2022)
Weird Perseverance
Actually cried on this episode. Cried out of joy and pain. I resonated with all of the characters: their strengths and weaknesses. They're all just trying to be true to themselves, flaws and all. I'm sad that John is not able to express his true self, including failures, infidelity, doubts about his faith, regrets and denied attempts at repentance and apologies to his wife. His stoicism is not sustainable. I'm happy that Danny is finally on board and sees Sheila. He accepts her infidelity and admits his own failures. What a wonderful episode, but I'm concerned what the future holds for Greta and Sheila.
Unprisoned: How to Be a Main Bitch (2023)
Promising Show
Wow, this show is really good! It's taken the format of a 30 minute sitcom like Everybody Hates Chris or Grownish, given it an R rating and a lot of black girl magic with some trauma thrown in for realism. The vignettes where Baby Paige takes center stage are wonderful, and the soundtrack?!?!?
The interactions between Paige and her father are very realistic, and the wisdom that he slowly imparts on her changes the way she views life and the decisions that she makes, and has made. While she is very smart, her upbringing has tainted her present. Who can't relate to that? Kerry Washington shines in the protagonist role, and the rest of cast is stellar.
Imawa no Kuni no Arisu: Episode 7 (2022)
This Episode Did It's Job
Wow! This episode was PAINFUL TO WATCH!!! So many beloved characters get taken brutally out of the game in the matter of a couple of minutes is mind blowing. These characters have withstood some very intense situations, so to see them go out like this, in an alley, is like watching the end of Avengers Endgame; it's completely unexpected that they ALL go out so quickly in one fight with ONE ANTAGONIST. I had a visceral reaction to this episode, as I screamed at the TV, cried, got angry and couldn't even focus on the last part of the episode. I did NOT want to watch episode 8. My anger towards Arisu and his aerosol cans?!?! ARGH, this was an excellent episode of television that I won't soon forget.
Call Me Miss Cleo (2022)
Capital Theft at It's Finest
Engaging documentary regarding an iconic Black woman that was skewered in the public arena. Heartbreaking to hear of her humble, tumultuous beginning that inconclusively led to her poor handling of affairs later in Seattle and beyond. The Miss Cleo commercials couldn't be avoided in the 1990s and early aughts, as she was an engaging being. Fallout from the scheming duo that devised the Miss Cleo brand seem to have buried the person, while leaving the business moguls unscathed. Miss Cleo, her patrons and the company employees were all used and mistreated. Glad to see that this documentary illuminates this cautionary tale for anyone with a tremendous, personal talent that can be abused.
Alice (2022)
Keke and this movie deserve a Better rating
Strong and immersive movie enlivened by a beautiful, yet heart-wrenching performance by KeKe Palmer. The slaver is brutal in his treatment of the slaves, and the coerced relations is disgusting to see on stage, regardless of the knowledge that enslaved black women were relentless tortured, defiled and otherwise considered property. Similar sentiments can be seen today.
The ratings given before me are abysmally low without a a commentary as to how the rating was chosen. This is an engrossing, terrifying movie, full of mistrust, abuse of power, life altering lies, and the will of the oppressed to leave for a world that doesn't force their subjugation.
Monsters: The Bogeyman (2022)
Episode is Necessary
Very frustrated with reviewers downvoting any episodes that discuss the racial component to Dahmer's murders. Most of his victims were people of color, especially once he moved to Madison. He frequented and lived in a diverse area where the police downplayed any screams of foul play. This Netflix production would be disingenuous in its retelling of these actual events without drawing attention to this very real component of these stories. This depiction is very accurate. So many whitewashed, revisionist depictions have already been created. You all will have to get used to shows being accurately correct as far as racial themes are concerned.
Undone: Rectify (2022)
Beautiful Episode!
Oh my, I didn't expect such a poignant show! It does a great job of showing the impact of generational trauma. Beautiful message of self forgiveness and moving forward in a healthy way. I wasn't sure where the show would go with the second season, but this episode was definitely a memorable experience.
Alma's mother has been in a self inflicted depression, which seems to be a running theme. Alma's grandmother seems to have gone down this same path. In addition, Alma and her father share a pernicious desire to change the past, particularly when the past shouldn't be changed. Their veracious choices are detrimental to their physical beings, while bringing much needed closure to many in the family. Bittersweet, beautiful episode.
Nothing But Trouble (1991)
Nostalgic Cult Classic
Surprised at the appallingly low rating!?! This movie was a mainstay in my movie watching rotation as a pre-teen. From Dan Aykroyd in disturbing prosthetics to the disgusting twins, I absolutely loved (and still love) this movie. Demi was beautiful in her progressively soiled, timeless outfit, and Chevy was as wacky as ever. Too it off with Digital Underground and this movie was everything I never knew I needed. Shout out to Bobo and L'il Debil!!
Evil: D Is for Doll (2021)
Good mix of supernatural and realism
Intrigued by the show and how it has grown in scope of addressed topics. For those that say the show has become 'too woke', we have a black priest in training, a woman doctor, and a former practicer of Islam in the main roles. If these topics never came up, THAT would be disingenuous. Great writing that leads me to something the actor that played the producer of the cop procedural show: people want to claim they support BLM in their personal lives, but scoff at the idea of BLM in their TV shows.
Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993)
Love This Movie!!!
Where do I begin? Lauryn Hill, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Tonya Blount, Sheryl Lee Ralph (I wish she sang!!!), and Kathy Najimy. Wonderful cast that played well off each other. Absolutely beautiful harmonies and arrangements. The story was so simple and relatable. The kids were the epitome of 'fresh' at the time, and I was the target demographic for this gem of a movie.
As a choir kid, this movie reminds me of all the state competitions I attended; how it was so exciting, yet nerve-wracking to be from an inner city school competing with polished, much larger suburban choirs. It hurts my heart to see this movie's rating, as it is a cherished work of nostalgia.
This movie is a joy to watch for all generations, and it even has a few nuggets of wisdom.
King Richard (2021)
Good Biopic
While a lot of credit goes to the formidable as always Will Smith, the supporting cast should be commended as well, particularly Aunjanue Ellis. She is a force to be reckoned with, often displaying a quiet strength and resolve that is all too familiar for strong supporting women. Glad most of the 'characters' are portrayed as 3 dimensional personalities.
Gukyeongi (2021)
Female live action DeathNote?
I loved the cat and mouse interplay between the inspector and K. Very good show reminiscent of DeathNote and HBO's Miss Sherlock, except the inspector is a distrustful sloth, more like Dr. House. The supporting cast are also terrific, and I have a soft spot for the seemingly mute Santa. The show evolves into something very different from the first episode. Very good progression, and looking forward to a second season.
Timewasters (2017)
Time Travel from a New Perspective
Love the idea and execution of this show! I'm finding British shows are light years ahead of American shows when displaying grounded comedy from a Black perspective. While the cast is Black, the comedy is relatable to a diverse audience. Pleasantly surprised colorism is not present.
Time travel is not traditionally considered for Black characters, as one character muses that Black people don't have a desirable prior decade to want to visit. Overall, a light-hearted, witty comedy that I immensely enjoyed.
Don't Let Go (2019)
Intriguing Movie
I was throughly impressed with the acting, direction, and screenplay.