Hawaiian begin again

Hey all,

Have you ever known a guy that was a real player. A guy who had a different occupation for each girl he dated and never an honest bone in his body? I have known guys like this, have been friends with guys like this, I am related to a guy like this. This next movie is about such a guy, who meets the perfect girl… in paradise… with one little catch, every time she sees him she never knows who the hell he is. Sounds perfect for your average player right?…..Settle in with some pineapple juice  and a fried spam and egg sandwich and let the fun begin!

50 First Dates

Director: Peter Segal

Rated: PG-13  – 2004

50 First Dates centers around a marine zoologist playboy named Henry Roth, played by Adam Sandler, who has a different story for every girl he dates. When the girls  leave at the end of their vacations, he moves on to the next one.  He soon bumps into Lucy Whitmore, a charming island inhabitant, played by Drew Barrymore. Lucy has a big problem, due to a head injury, she relives the same day perpetually, very similar to Groundhog Day, if you’ve seen it.  The plot revolves around Henry falling for Lucy and having to woo her daily to get her to fall in love with him. Of course, he needs to start over again the next day when she forgets him all over again. Thus is the core of  this fluffy, cute, date-movie.  There are some memorable characters, like Lucy’s steroid addicted, deluded brother, Doug, played to comic hilt by Sean Astin, and her always patient and lovable father, Marlin, played by Blake Clark. There are also some annoying additions to the cast, Rob Schneider (is he ever a good idea?), plays Ula, a disgusting caricature of hawaiian men who seems constantly surrounded by his bevy of adorable and talented children. A number of cameos abound, keep your eye out for Dan Akyroyd, and Mya Rudolph. This movie is light, mostly fun, fare. Drew Barrymore’s energy is much of what makes this a successful romantic comedy.  She and Adam Sandler have a good on-screen chemistry which began with The Wedding Singer and continues with this movie. Whenever director Peter Segal is involved, prepare for some broad, physical humor. Fortunately there is a good relationship to follow throughout the movie, in between pratfalls, cute children and animals. All in all, this is a pretty safe movie for the kids, (13 and over as suggested in the rating), There is a little language, some off-color humor and a few racial stereotypes with Polynesian people. I would have been happier to see at least one of the core characters as  hawaiian,  I mean, other than the Ula character, who, sadly was also played by a white guy. The Asians and Polynesians in the movie seemed to be used only as window dressing, and comic relief. (boo)

Overall this was a good movie for light viewing with lots of shiny, happy (white) people having fun.

Sista’s rating: C

40-year-old-fairytale

Once upon a time there was a man with aspergers syndrome. He lived in a land of stereotypes. Black stereotypes, Woman stereotypes, Asian stereotypes, Indian stereotypes. His friends were slackers and they swore… a lot. They were also very, very horny.  All of the women were silly, except one and that one was only 16 years old. She was the only voice of reason in all of the land. Sound backward to you? I thought so too. If, however, this sounds like a high falootin’ good ol’ time, then grab your delivery pizza and your domestic beer and lets settle in!
- Sista Cinema

40-Year-Old-Virgin

Director: Judd Apatow

Rated: R * The reviewed movie was unrated (with extra raunch) – 2005

Where do I begin. In a world of gourmet food and delightful, scintillating drinks there has to be… well… junk food. This movie is the “#2 with fries and a cola” of movies. A nasty, greasy, salty affair that you know is not good for you and that you will regret the next day, but it is oh so tasty when you’re in the middle of it.
40 Year Old Virgin is about a sweet, if rigidly compulsive, 40 year old loner named Andy Stitzer, played with earnestness by Steve Carell. Andy has, in his 40 years, received only one proposition of sex and that went so badly that the paramour in question told him to just give it up. For some reason he did. His co-workers find out he is still a virgin and vow to “get him some”.  In walks a beautiful, and yet age appropriate, single mother… hi-jinks ensue. Stereotypes aside (and there are many), crude humor aside (and there is much), there are some sweet tender moments that are plumbed in this movie. Judd Apatow seems to be great at assembling a cast of hopefuls, placing them in the most unrealistic of circumstances and somehow garnering emotional gold out of it. Catherine Keener, as the single mother Trish, always brings an integrity to her roles, no matter how ridiculous the plot (see Death to Smoochy), and Kat Dennings, who plays her wise cracking teen-aged daugher Marla, is seeking answers to her own questions about sex and whether or not to have it, in doing so she infuses reality and life to what may otherwise have been a run-of-the-mill relationship story with yet another single mother struggling with her kids.

Keep an eye out for Jonah Hill who should have had a bigger part than just the kid who wants to buy funky shoes, but, being Jonah, he stole the scene.
There are some good dialogues about sexual responsibility which almost seem out of place with all of the “do what I say, not what I do” morality going on in this movie.

40 Year Old Virgin is a bit uneven, at times having the simple moral message of an after school special and at others, the intellect worthy of a pre-adolescent peeking up girl’s skirts with a mirror on his shoe. But never would this movie be appropriate for anyone young enough not to get a real porno movie, and thus appreciate the differences between the two.
Silly harmless fun, but should you choose to watch it, put on your blinders and don’t get bent out of shape with the gay bashing, woman bashing, every-man-is-an-untrustworthy-horndog sensibilities.
The sometimes tasteless humor, explicit content and language more than earn the unrated and R rating. Keep this one away from anyone under 17, though it’s just their speed intellectually, they need to be watching better things until they have grown into their sensibilities. Until then grownups can see it for the junk food delight that it is.

I’m going to grab a shower.

Sista’s rating: C

Zombies!…or are they?

Hey all,

The next movie in my repertoire is: 28 Days Later. Grab a large Mountain Dew and some beef jerky and join me on the couch!

28 Days Later

Director: Danny Boyle

Rated: R – 2002

This movie is about a young man who wakes in a hospital in England, to find himself alone. There is nobody in the halls or even out on the streets to ask what happened…unless you include the rage-filled humanoid creatures that would inexplicably love to rip him to pieces.  His discovery of the events that occurred in the last 28 days is a thrilling, adrenalin rushed adventure. A very creative plot that moves in some rather predictable ways. That being said, I loved this movie! I often call it the thinking woman’s zombie movie. The women in this movie are intelligent, brave and likeable, which is both unexpected and refreshing, especially in an action/horror flick. Cillian Murphy does an excellent job shouldering the responsibilities as the lead in this movie, even with Naomi Harris as his back-up, threatening to steal every scene she graces. Imagine casting a smart, strong, black woman as the costar in an action flick, that kind of insight only seems to happens in European movies…Hollywood, sit up and take notice… please!  Danny Boyle deftly handles this apocalyptic tour de force with emotional depth and humor that are hallmarks in his other films: Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, Millions and Slumdog Millionaire. Mr. Boyle you have once again hit a home run, at least with me and anyone else who appreciates a taut, gripping, thriller!

**[spoiler alert] **There is a huge explosion that must not be missed! During filming, half of London was calling in to report that something had blown up!

This movie earns its R rating in subject matter and grisly violence. It is big on things that go bump in the night, so if you have any jumpy friends, don’t let them hold the popcorn. I loved the character as well as, plot development and watch this movie when I need to get my pulse jumping.

Sista’s rating: B+

Movie Lovers Unite!

Hi all,

This is Sista Cinema with  the first post to my blog. I will be endeavoring to take you through a world of Cinema with my own thoughts, insights, delights and disappointments, (as the case may be). Stick with me as we travel from the classics to present day movies, all from the prospective of a fabulous female, fairly young, friend of Dorothy!

So grab your movie pants (you know the ones) grab a snack and lets go!

 

4 Little Girls: An HBO Documentary

Director: Spike Lee

Unrated – 1998

This intriguing and heart breaking documentary chronicles the infamous Baptist Church bombing in Alabama on September 15th, 1963 in which four innocent lives were claimed. Spike Lee takes this event that galvinized the Civil Rights movement and delves into the lives of the 4 girls that were the center of this tragic happening: Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley and Addie Mae Collins. By interviewing their families as well as the other people who lived through it, Spike is able to bring you back years to the stifling atmosphere choked with paranoia and fear, yet somehow instil hope for a better future. The soundtrack by Terence Blanchard seems to be the unseen character breathing life into, what could have been, a maudelin re-hashing of an often told tragedy. This is a well paced documentary that does not get bogged down with technicalities about the event, but speaks from the hearts of those who were closely involved. It has some graphic images of the children, and should be viewed with caution by family members with young children. That being said, it is a wonderful catalyst for discussion about the Civil Rights Movement with young adult family members who may have a hard time understanding the reasons for changes in America’s Civil policies toward minorities.

I would highly recommend this movie for anyone who wants to step into history for a few hours and learn something. Don’t let Spike Lee’s name intimidate you, there will be no people floating down the sidewalks or spinning in circles, it is an intriguing story told in a concise and informative, yet very entertaining way.

Sista’s Rating: B+