Throughout the last 4 months, I've spent my time watching several black inspired movies which, if I'm allowed to be perfectly honest here, I probably wouldn't watch on an ordinary day. However, as I went through my Black Film class, I've gained a much better appreciation for those kind of movies, realizing that there's more to them than just being overly tragic or funny. Because, I've to come up with my own black film that hasn't been created by anyone but myself.
To start off, I would want the film to have somewhat of a coming of age story around it. My main character would be a young African American boy, growing up in the slums as he strives to achieve a particular goal that he's had for the longest time. Along the way, he goes through several trials, most of which bring him down both physical and mentally. Showing all of those things in the movie would bring emotional investment for the character, allowing the audience to feel for his plight. In the end, the character comes to a strong realization about himself, one that ultimately gives him the motivation in the end to achieve his goal.
One reason why I would want to see this particular movie is because it's interesting. Let me give you an example. Tyler Perry is a famous black director, but I really hate his movies. The reason for that is that I don't find them to be interesting. Movies can have their sad moments, but his movies tend to be sad all the times. Bring in some humor and maybe so actions. Movies are meant to be a form of entertainment for your viewers and you won't be able to grab your attention if you make it sad all the time.
Although Black films try their best to show that sadness and tell the viewers about all the struggles that they went through, I want to be different. I don't want to be too sad, but not to silly either. I want a serious story that can not only make the audience laugh, but also make them feel something in their heart as well. One of my favorite movies is 2012's "The Amazing Spider-Man" and the reason for that is because it has a good balance between the emotional, exciting, and sad moments. I think all good movies needs that particular balance in them and my black film is no exception.
Now, I can pretty much guess what all of you are saying. "Such a movie has already been done before?" Here's what I have to say to that; I don't really care. Let's face it, a lot movies usually copy the same thing that other movies show, with the only difference being in a different setting or new characters. It isn't original, but it doesn't really have to be. Movies are meant to entertain you and that's what I for this movie. As long as the characters are nice, the story is good, and the audience enjoys it, that's all I really care about. Anything else can go right out the window for all I care.
In the end, my black film would be a strong coming of age story with good characters, a strong story, and mixture of funny and sad moments. By bringing all of those things together, I truly believe that something amazing can be formed and I hope that you all feel the same way.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
A couple of months ago, I took the time to review Panther, one of my favorite black films. The film is basically a dramatization of the formation of the Black Panther Party of Self-Defense and it shows the trials and tribulations that the organization had to go through in the early 1960's. So, when I learned that Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song was a somewhat similar movie, I decided to watch it with a open mind and see what it had to offer. After doing so, I'm glad to say that the movie impressed me greatly, even though some of the scenes were somewhat graphic.
The premise of the movie revolves around a black man named Sweetback as he tries to avoid the police, after he beat down some officers after they attacked another black man. As the movie continues, you see all the things that Sweetback has to go through in order to avoid being caught, like switching clothes with a sympathetic white man or having sex with a female member of the Hells Angels. However, I think the thing people will like the most about this movie is the ending.
In the past, most African Americans were protrayed in a negative light and were usually shown being either captured or killed by the police in the end of movies. However, that isn't the case with this black film. Although Sweetback is indeed forced to run for his life, and is even forced out of the country, he doesn't die. Back in the 1970's, which was when this movie came out, that was very uncommon for black people, who either die for suspense or the amusement of others. I can't quite explain it, but I found that quite satisfying and I wished that there were more movies like that during that particular era.
In conclusion, I really like Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to see a very interesting movie. The only thing I have to say though is that should avoid watching it in the presence of viewers under the age of 13.
The premise of the movie revolves around a black man named Sweetback as he tries to avoid the police, after he beat down some officers after they attacked another black man. As the movie continues, you see all the things that Sweetback has to go through in order to avoid being caught, like switching clothes with a sympathetic white man or having sex with a female member of the Hells Angels. However, I think the thing people will like the most about this movie is the ending.
In the past, most African Americans were protrayed in a negative light and were usually shown being either captured or killed by the police in the end of movies. However, that isn't the case with this black film. Although Sweetback is indeed forced to run for his life, and is even forced out of the country, he doesn't die. Back in the 1970's, which was when this movie came out, that was very uncommon for black people, who either die for suspense or the amusement of others. I can't quite explain it, but I found that quite satisfying and I wished that there were more movies like that during that particular era.
In conclusion, I really like Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song and I would recommend it to anyone who would like to see a very interesting movie. The only thing I have to say though is that should avoid watching it in the presence of viewers under the age of 13.
When we were Kings
Throughout all the blogs that I've written, one of things that I've been constantly saying is that I don't like documentaries and that they should only be watched by those who don't know about the subject matter that it's discussing. Well, I'm happy to say that this one of those days in which I didn't know what it was about and I was quite pleased with the documentary film, When we were Kings. Not only was it very interesting, but it featured the fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, a confrontation that I've only been told about, not actually seen.
Personally, I think the main appeal to this film is the clips involving the fight between the two fighters. Although boxing isn't one of my favorite sports, I do watch it on occasion and most of the matches are very interesting to see. So, when the documentary switches in a out between the fight, although the momentum for both sides is interrupted slightly, it still gets you glued as you learn more about each fighter and how this match between them got to be so big.
One other thing that I like about When we were Kings is Ali's relationship with black people and how the residents of Zaire, the place where the fight took place, instantly came over to his side. Now, although I can't speak for him, I believe that one of the reasons why Ali refused to participate in the Vietnam War is because he believed it to be pointless. Back during those times a lot of people, mostly black people, were sent to their deaths in order to fight a battle that was completely wrong. Muhammad Ali knew that and that's why he refused to participate in it, despite costing him his heavyweight championship. So, when I learned that Ali won that match and regain his championship, it truly put a large smile on my face.
In the end, I really like When we were Kings and I strongly recommend it to those who know nothing about the fight between Ali and Foreman, especially to those who know knowing about the match or the things that led up to it. However, if you do know the fight, then you can go about your day as this film might bore you.
Personally, I think the main appeal to this film is the clips involving the fight between the two fighters. Although boxing isn't one of my favorite sports, I do watch it on occasion and most of the matches are very interesting to see. So, when the documentary switches in a out between the fight, although the momentum for both sides is interrupted slightly, it still gets you glued as you learn more about each fighter and how this match between them got to be so big.
One other thing that I like about When we were Kings is Ali's relationship with black people and how the residents of Zaire, the place where the fight took place, instantly came over to his side. Now, although I can't speak for him, I believe that one of the reasons why Ali refused to participate in the Vietnam War is because he believed it to be pointless. Back during those times a lot of people, mostly black people, were sent to their deaths in order to fight a battle that was completely wrong. Muhammad Ali knew that and that's why he refused to participate in it, despite costing him his heavyweight championship. So, when I learned that Ali won that match and regain his championship, it truly put a large smile on my face.
In the end, I really like When we were Kings and I strongly recommend it to those who know nothing about the fight between Ali and Foreman, especially to those who know knowing about the match or the things that led up to it. However, if you do know the fight, then you can go about your day as this film might bore you.
Dancing in September
Even as a little kid, I was always intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes of a TV show. I wanted to know how the actors really were, how were they like, and how much effort they go into making the show great. The same thing applies to the people who write the script, the camera men, and those were work on the set. So, when I watched Dancing in September, I was very pleased to see all of that, since the way everything was handled was very similar to how a company sets up a live television show. The process is a lot more difficult than it looks.
The film revolves around a young script writer named Tomasina, who hopes to create a positive show for the African American public, without falling into the typical stereotypes that sometimes accompanies them. At first, things seem to be looking well for her, but as time goes by and the show begins to lose ratings, she begins to follow the stereotypes that she didn't want to follow in order to improve things.
In my point of view, this movie tells us two things. The first that they stereotypes surrounding African Americans can sometimes be a poison, especially when it comes to film and TV shows. Because of the way they've been protrayed over the years, most people only see them in a certain way. So, when one person decides to change things up, it's sometimes natural to believe that most of the people will be turned away by it. It isn't a good thing, but then it's something that we can't seem to completely avoid.
The second thing is that Dancing in September tells us is that the television business isn't as easy as it appears to be. A lot people have to work to work several hours a day, without any rest, just to create the shows that we watch. Not only that, but most of the time, people don't even like them so the writers have to work even harder in order to make those particular fans happy. It isn't a easy line of work and people should only do it if they're truly willing to put in the work.
In the conclusion, I really liked Dancing in September and I would recommend it to anybody. Not only is it a good black film, but it's a good film in general.
The film revolves around a young script writer named Tomasina, who hopes to create a positive show for the African American public, without falling into the typical stereotypes that sometimes accompanies them. At first, things seem to be looking well for her, but as time goes by and the show begins to lose ratings, she begins to follow the stereotypes that she didn't want to follow in order to improve things.
In my point of view, this movie tells us two things. The first that they stereotypes surrounding African Americans can sometimes be a poison, especially when it comes to film and TV shows. Because of the way they've been protrayed over the years, most people only see them in a certain way. So, when one person decides to change things up, it's sometimes natural to believe that most of the people will be turned away by it. It isn't a good thing, but then it's something that we can't seem to completely avoid.
The second thing is that Dancing in September tells us is that the television business isn't as easy as it appears to be. A lot people have to work to work several hours a day, without any rest, just to create the shows that we watch. Not only that, but most of the time, people don't even like them so the writers have to work even harder in order to make those particular fans happy. It isn't a easy line of work and people should only do it if they're truly willing to put in the work.
In the conclusion, I really liked Dancing in September and I would recommend it to anybody. Not only is it a good black film, but it's a good film in general.
Classified X
I'm going to try and make this as quick as possible since I don't have that much to say about this film. As I already stated in previous reviews, I'm not a big fan of documentaries, especially of ones that tell you the same thing that other documentaries talk about. To me personally, it feels very repetitive and it really begins to get on my nerves. Now, that's not to say that subject isn't important, because it is. It's just that once I hear one documentary about one topic, I can pretty much guarantee that over 50% of what I heard will be said in another documentary of the same subject.
It's for that reason why I wasn't a pretty big fan of Classified X, which is a documentary by Mark Daniels that talks about the history of black people in cinema. Earlier, I did a review on the movie Ethic Notions which covered the same topics as this film, only with different people talking. No offense, but I'm not going to get anything different just because someone else is talking about it. In the end, I still get the same information. As a result, I don't have too much to say about Classified X and I only recommend it to those who don't know about the struggle black people went through when they were being protrayed in either TV or in plays.
It's for that reason why I wasn't a pretty big fan of Classified X, which is a documentary by Mark Daniels that talks about the history of black people in cinema. Earlier, I did a review on the movie Ethic Notions which covered the same topics as this film, only with different people talking. No offense, but I'm not going to get anything different just because someone else is talking about it. In the end, I still get the same information. As a result, I don't have too much to say about Classified X and I only recommend it to those who don't know about the struggle black people went through when they were being protrayed in either TV or in plays.
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Lackawanna Blues
About 2 weeks ago, a came across a movie called Lackawanna Blues and I decided to check it out and see how it was. At first, I figured that I was going to be a pretty basic black film that involves a young child trying to grow up his nanny, since his mother pretty much abandon him after he turned 7. For the most part, that is pretty much the entire premise of the movie. However, as you continue to watch it, you can see that there's much more to the movie than just that. In a lot of ways, Lackawanna Blues tells you from a first person perspective how some African Americans grew up.
The story is about a young boy name Ruben, who's promptly raised by his guardian Rachel after the separation of his parents. The two of them live in Rachel's boarding house, with a large number of other characters, some of home play a positive or negative part in each of their lives. As the movie continues, you see both characters grow up and how they become extremely close due to all the events that they go through.
The main reason why I liked this movie is because it's based on the true story of Ruben Santiago Jr and not some fictional piece. Although there are indeed some fictional stories that a lot of people can relate to, it's clear that you can relate to the tale more if it's true. Watching the real-life trials of an African/Hispanic child is really interesting, especially Ruben's because he was so young and yet he went through a lot. It allows you to appreciate what he went through and the people he met that helped forged him into the person he is now or, at the very least, the person he became at the start and end of the film.
In the end, I strongly recommend this film, especially to those who want to know how certain African Americans grew up. I can't make any promises, but I'm pretty sure that you'll come away with a much better appreciation for the problems that had to go through.
The story is about a young boy name Ruben, who's promptly raised by his guardian Rachel after the separation of his parents. The two of them live in Rachel's boarding house, with a large number of other characters, some of home play a positive or negative part in each of their lives. As the movie continues, you see both characters grow up and how they become extremely close due to all the events that they go through.
The main reason why I liked this movie is because it's based on the true story of Ruben Santiago Jr and not some fictional piece. Although there are indeed some fictional stories that a lot of people can relate to, it's clear that you can relate to the tale more if it's true. Watching the real-life trials of an African/Hispanic child is really interesting, especially Ruben's because he was so young and yet he went through a lot. It allows you to appreciate what he went through and the people he met that helped forged him into the person he is now or, at the very least, the person he became at the start and end of the film.
In the end, I strongly recommend this film, especially to those who want to know how certain African Americans grew up. I can't make any promises, but I'm pretty sure that you'll come away with a much better appreciation for the problems that had to go through.
Ethnic Notions
Earlier today I took the time to talk about a film called Wattstax and stated how much I liked it because it was a black documentary that had more of a first person reaction from the people. I also stated that having such a reaction was really important as something from someone who was actually there is more helpful than an expert who's, at best, assuming what happened. So, when I watched a black documentary called Ethnic Notions, I was kinda disappointed since it was basically just an ordinary documentary with experts talking and some clips.
Now, don't get me wrong, I liked the film since it informed me about how blacks were protrayed in film in the early 1900's. It's just that the chances are very high that you've seen something like this before in the past. It's nothing different so it feels like you can get the same information if you heard it from someone else. I don't like documentaries like that as it feels like I'm in grade school, even though I a Senior in college.
In the end, I recommend that you only watch this movie if you have no knowledge about how black people were shown on TV in the early 20th century. If you have, then this movie will mostly likely not give you anything that you already do not know.
Now, don't get me wrong, I liked the film since it informed me about how blacks were protrayed in film in the early 1900's. It's just that the chances are very high that you've seen something like this before in the past. It's nothing different so it feels like you can get the same information if you heard it from someone else. I don't like documentaries like that as it feels like I'm in grade school, even though I a Senior in college.
In the end, I recommend that you only watch this movie if you have no knowledge about how black people were shown on TV in the early 20th century. If you have, then this movie will mostly likely not give you anything that you already do not know.
Wattstax
As a screenwriting and television major, I've grown used to watching a wide variety of shows and movies that revolve around different subject matters. This is no exception to the movie Wattstax, which is a documentary about a music festival of the same name. When I first watched this movie, I was afraid that it was going to be similar to other documentaries involving African Americans and, in some ways, that is indeed the case. However, as you continue to watch it, you can see that Wattstax is a lot different and is worth the watch.
Unlike most documentaries, which usually involves interviews with a couple of experts that focus on a particular subject, Wattstax took the time to interview people who were simply standing around. They got a first person view on the subject, getting the peoples reactions and actual feelings about how the African American community is either improving or declining as a whole in the United States. I really liked that since I sometimes can't take what experts say all the time. In most cases, they'll just say one thing while hiding some important details. However, that's not the case when interviewing bystanders as they'll tell you what they really know and how they really feel.
Also, another thing I really enjoyed about the movie is the music festival that they cut away to. Although I didn't really appreciate the songs that were being played, mostly because I wasn't focusing on them, I did appreciate the reactions of the people. From what I could tell, a lot of them were having a really good time, sometimes running onto the field in order to join in the fun. I can't quite explain it, but seeing them all happy like that made me happy as well. In the end, I guess it proves that even during times in which African Americans still had a lot of problems to deal with in their community, they can still come together and have a goo time.
In conclusion, I found Wattstax to be a cool documentary that gives you a first person look on how the African American community actually feels. Sure, we can get experts to give us a logical and thought out speech about how things are, but there something about getting the truth from regular people that gives you a sense of satisfaction.
Unlike most documentaries, which usually involves interviews with a couple of experts that focus on a particular subject, Wattstax took the time to interview people who were simply standing around. They got a first person view on the subject, getting the peoples reactions and actual feelings about how the African American community is either improving or declining as a whole in the United States. I really liked that since I sometimes can't take what experts say all the time. In most cases, they'll just say one thing while hiding some important details. However, that's not the case when interviewing bystanders as they'll tell you what they really know and how they really feel.
Also, another thing I really enjoyed about the movie is the music festival that they cut away to. Although I didn't really appreciate the songs that were being played, mostly because I wasn't focusing on them, I did appreciate the reactions of the people. From what I could tell, a lot of them were having a really good time, sometimes running onto the field in order to join in the fun. I can't quite explain it, but seeing them all happy like that made me happy as well. In the end, I guess it proves that even during times in which African Americans still had a lot of problems to deal with in their community, they can still come together and have a goo time.
In conclusion, I found Wattstax to be a cool documentary that gives you a first person look on how the African American community actually feels. Sure, we can get experts to give us a logical and thought out speech about how things are, but there something about getting the truth from regular people that gives you a sense of satisfaction.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Moolaade (Magical Protection) Review
Sometimes, when I watch a movie, I end feeling somewhat confused by what I'm looking at. It's not that I don't understand the plot or the characters, I understand them plenty. It's just I feel confused by what's going on and I wonder how the people in the movie can make something so small feel so big. That's how I felt when I watched Moolaade and even I write this, I still feel confused by the movie.
The film revolves around a African woman named Colle, who's strongly against the custom of women having their genitals cut. In order to protect a group of little girls who are forced to have their genitals removes, Colle performs a Moolaade, or Magical Protection barrier in order to protect. When I saw that, I instantly asked myself why is she going through all the trouble of doing that. It's not that I'm for genital cutting, but why perform some ritual that the viewer knows is a scare tactic. People in the movie are seen walking through it so it should be obvious that it doesn't work. Maybe I'm just being critical, but I just found that to be really confusing and somewhat dumb.
Other than that, I really don't have much to say about the movie as a whole. I think it's worth a watch if your interested in the argument on whether or not women should have their genitals cut. All I recommend is that you prepare yourself for some scenes that you might not understand and that the movie itself is spoken in another language, which means you'll have to read the subtitles.
The film revolves around a African woman named Colle, who's strongly against the custom of women having their genitals cut. In order to protect a group of little girls who are forced to have their genitals removes, Colle performs a Moolaade, or Magical Protection barrier in order to protect. When I saw that, I instantly asked myself why is she going through all the trouble of doing that. It's not that I'm for genital cutting, but why perform some ritual that the viewer knows is a scare tactic. People in the movie are seen walking through it so it should be obvious that it doesn't work. Maybe I'm just being critical, but I just found that to be really confusing and somewhat dumb.
Other than that, I really don't have much to say about the movie as a whole. I think it's worth a watch if your interested in the argument on whether or not women should have their genitals cut. All I recommend is that you prepare yourself for some scenes that you might not understand and that the movie itself is spoken in another language, which means you'll have to read the subtitles.
Beasts of the Southern Wild Review
As I grew up, I quickly grew to accept the fact that not everyone is going to have the same opinion has me when it comes to things. This is especially true when it comes to video games and movies. Recently, I happened to watched a film called Beasts of the Southern Wild and at first, I didn't really like it that much. However, as I took the time to think about it, I came to realize just how good the movie was. The characters were unique and the problems that they were facing were very deep, mostly because it seemed like something like that could actually happen in real life. Still, despite that though, some reviewers of the film found the movie to be insulting, which ended up confusing me a little.
Beasts of the Southern Wild revolves around a young African American girl named Hushpuppy, who lives with her somewhat abusive father, Wink, in a Louisiana bayou called the Bathtub. One day, a powerful hurricane destroys most of their community, leaving only Hushpuppy, Wink, and a couple of other survivors alive as try to fend for themselves. From then on, the story shows how the young Hushpuppy matures as she tries to survive with her father and everyone else.
Although the premise of the movie is somewhat simple, it's actually very deep as it reminds the viewer of the tragic event that was Hurricane Katrina. To me personally, I kinda think that a similar incident might have happened in real life, in which people from a small community had to survive on their own after the hurricane took place. It's those realistic similarities and the imagery that the film shows which makes it really good. Despite that though, some reviewers weren't a big fan of the film and found it somewhat insulting. To those people, I say...whatever.
Personally, I don't give two cents about what others think about a movie. I find something bad, that's my business. Everyone has the right to their own opinion and to me, Beasts of the Southern Wild is a great movie and one that I think everyone should at least try to watch once. If you truly invest your time in the film, I'm positive that you'll find it to be very enjoyable. However, if you still happen to dislike it, then more power to you.
Beasts of the Southern Wild revolves around a young African American girl named Hushpuppy, who lives with her somewhat abusive father, Wink, in a Louisiana bayou called the Bathtub. One day, a powerful hurricane destroys most of their community, leaving only Hushpuppy, Wink, and a couple of other survivors alive as try to fend for themselves. From then on, the story shows how the young Hushpuppy matures as she tries to survive with her father and everyone else.
Although the premise of the movie is somewhat simple, it's actually very deep as it reminds the viewer of the tragic event that was Hurricane Katrina. To me personally, I kinda think that a similar incident might have happened in real life, in which people from a small community had to survive on their own after the hurricane took place. It's those realistic similarities and the imagery that the film shows which makes it really good. Despite that though, some reviewers weren't a big fan of the film and found it somewhat insulting. To those people, I say...whatever.
Personally, I don't give two cents about what others think about a movie. I find something bad, that's my business. Everyone has the right to their own opinion and to me, Beasts of the Southern Wild is a great movie and one that I think everyone should at least try to watch once. If you truly invest your time in the film, I'm positive that you'll find it to be very enjoyable. However, if you still happen to dislike it, then more power to you.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Panther movie review
When deciding on which movie I want to watch, a number of important factors appear inside my mind as I attempt to make my choice. Some of the factors involve the overall theme of the story, the quality, the characters, and even the setting. Eventually, after some thought, I decided that the next Black Film that I was going to review would be Panther, a dramatization of the founding of the Black Panther Party of Self Defense.
Originally, I first watched the movie several years ago for as an assignment for my high school Social Studies class. Back then, although I thought the movie was interesting, I didn't really think much of it. However, now that I'm much older and possess a greater insight on things, I realize now that Panther is a really intriguing film. I didn't really know much about the Black Panther party and this movie allowed me to discover what they were and why they ended up forming.
Another reason why I like this movie is because it's a kinda like a dramatization and a documentary mixed into one. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Judge, who happens to join the Black Panther party during it's beginnings in the 1960's. As the film goes on, you hear of voice over Judge as he explains some of the important events that either happened to the Black Panther party or the United States during that time in history. I really liked that since the movie allowed me to get the best of both a documentary and a regular movie.
In conclusion, Panther is a great black film that I think everyone who plans on studying African American history should watch at least once. It's not a perfect film, but then again no film is ever perfect. However, I really think it allows the viewer to understand what life was like for African Amercians back in the 1960's and what they did when they decided to fight back. In a lot of ways, some of the events that took place during this film are still taking place even now. Because of that, it will make think about if life for black people has actually gotten better, which I believe was the overall purpose of the film.
Originally, I first watched the movie several years ago for as an assignment for my high school Social Studies class. Back then, although I thought the movie was interesting, I didn't really think much of it. However, now that I'm much older and possess a greater insight on things, I realize now that Panther is a really intriguing film. I didn't really know much about the Black Panther party and this movie allowed me to discover what they were and why they ended up forming.
Another reason why I like this movie is because it's a kinda like a dramatization and a documentary mixed into one. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Judge, who happens to join the Black Panther party during it's beginnings in the 1960's. As the film goes on, you hear of voice over Judge as he explains some of the important events that either happened to the Black Panther party or the United States during that time in history. I really liked that since the movie allowed me to get the best of both a documentary and a regular movie.
In conclusion, Panther is a great black film that I think everyone who plans on studying African American history should watch at least once. It's not a perfect film, but then again no film is ever perfect. However, I really think it allows the viewer to understand what life was like for African Amercians back in the 1960's and what they did when they decided to fight back. In a lot of ways, some of the events that took place during this film are still taking place even now. Because of that, it will make think about if life for black people has actually gotten better, which I believe was the overall purpose of the film.
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Fruitvale Station review
My next movie review is called Fruitvale Station. It's a dramatization directed by Ryan Coogler and is based on the events leading to the death of Oscar Grant, a young man who was killed by a police officer at a local train station.
When I first watched this movie, my initial feelings about it was that it tends to exaggerate things in order to build tension. That annoyed me somewhat because what happened to Oscar Grant really happened and I don't like that movie add certain things that may or may not have happened in his life. Now, I'm not saying that the movie wasn't entertaining, but I think it would've been better if it was a documentary. If it was like that, then we could get a look at both sides of the argument. I don't like the fact that people consider one side completely right and another side to be completely wrong. In every situation, there's always a middle ground and that should be explored too.
However, as I continued to watch the movie, I began to like the aspect of it. You start to become sympathetic to both Oscar and the people that are around him while you wait for what eventually going to happen. By getting into the mind of these characters, you start to feel for them which, in the end, is what a movie is supposed to do. So, in that particular effect, the movie did its job well. It's just that, when it comes to something like Oscar Grant's death, I wished the producers could've done something different. If you like the movie the way it is, more power to you. I just think that if the movie was a documentary about the situation, it would've liked it a bit more.
In conclusion, I think that this movie is pretty good and should be watched if you want basic information about the situation involving Oscar Grant. However, if you want a more in depth look about it, I recommend that you either read a news article or watch something on the news about it.
When I first watched this movie, my initial feelings about it was that it tends to exaggerate things in order to build tension. That annoyed me somewhat because what happened to Oscar Grant really happened and I don't like that movie add certain things that may or may not have happened in his life. Now, I'm not saying that the movie wasn't entertaining, but I think it would've been better if it was a documentary. If it was like that, then we could get a look at both sides of the argument. I don't like the fact that people consider one side completely right and another side to be completely wrong. In every situation, there's always a middle ground and that should be explored too.
However, as I continued to watch the movie, I began to like the aspect of it. You start to become sympathetic to both Oscar and the people that are around him while you wait for what eventually going to happen. By getting into the mind of these characters, you start to feel for them which, in the end, is what a movie is supposed to do. So, in that particular effect, the movie did its job well. It's just that, when it comes to something like Oscar Grant's death, I wished the producers could've done something different. If you like the movie the way it is, more power to you. I just think that if the movie was a documentary about the situation, it would've liked it a bit more.
In conclusion, I think that this movie is pretty good and should be watched if you want basic information about the situation involving Oscar Grant. However, if you want a more in depth look about it, I recommend that you either read a news article or watch something on the news about it.
The Black Candle review
My next movie review revolves around a documentary called the Black Candle. For the most part, the documentary revolved around the Holiday of Kwanzaa, from how it was first created to how it became what it is today.
I found the film to very interesting in a lot of ways. Although it was cool to know all the meanings of Kwanzaa and what each of the days mean, it wasn't the thing that interest me the most. If I wanted to know all the things about the meaning of the holiday, I could simply read an article on the internet. What I liked the most is that everyone of the individuals that talked during the documentary had their own particular feelings on the matter. I liked that a lot since not everybody had the same feelings about Kwanzaa than everyone else. It allowed me to see the holiday from other people's point of view, which to me is extremely helpful.
Another thing that I liked about the Black Candle is that it taught me that not a lot people really know about Kwanzaa. Although they may know some of the things about the holiday, like how it's near Christmas, that's about all they know. I'll even admit that I don't much about it either, mostly because I don't celebrate the holiday. The documentary, in a way, opened my eyes to the fact that Kwanzaa, despite not being as well known or celebrated like the other holidays, is still very important and that everyone African American, at least needs to have a better understanding of it.
In conclusion, I think the Black Candle was a good documentary, one that should be watched during the holiday season. I can say for sure that if you do watch it, you'll understand what I've been trying to say here.
I found the film to very interesting in a lot of ways. Although it was cool to know all the meanings of Kwanzaa and what each of the days mean, it wasn't the thing that interest me the most. If I wanted to know all the things about the meaning of the holiday, I could simply read an article on the internet. What I liked the most is that everyone of the individuals that talked during the documentary had their own particular feelings on the matter. I liked that a lot since not everybody had the same feelings about Kwanzaa than everyone else. It allowed me to see the holiday from other people's point of view, which to me is extremely helpful.
Another thing that I liked about the Black Candle is that it taught me that not a lot people really know about Kwanzaa. Although they may know some of the things about the holiday, like how it's near Christmas, that's about all they know. I'll even admit that I don't much about it either, mostly because I don't celebrate the holiday. The documentary, in a way, opened my eyes to the fact that Kwanzaa, despite not being as well known or celebrated like the other holidays, is still very important and that everyone African American, at least needs to have a better understanding of it.
In conclusion, I think the Black Candle was a good documentary, one that should be watched during the holiday season. I can say for sure that if you do watch it, you'll understand what I've been trying to say here.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
What do I think a Black Film is
I believe that a Black Film is a type of movie that has a majority of African Americans playing different important parts of the movie. Now, that doesn't mean that people of different races, like white people, won't play key parts in the movies. I just believe that the film will center around African Americans and the problems that they face during the movie.
I believe that a Black Film is a type of movie that has a majority of African Americans playing different important parts of the movie. Now, that doesn't mean that people of different races, like white people, won't play key parts in the movies. I just believe that the film will center around African Americans and the problems that they face during the movie.
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