A Worthy Movie

I am in the process of cancelling my Netflix because school has started [Last semester]. I have like only 3 movies left on my queue then I am DONE until the summer.

Last night, I watched Transamerica and can I say that it was a good movie and I see why it received all the attention that it did. I mean, Felicity Huffman [Of Desperate Housewives fame] really outdid herself. Truth be told, I am always wary of some of the movies that are nominated for Oscars. Take a look at Million Dollar Baby. Don't get me wrong, it was a good movie. Worthy of all the hype and accolades? I think not. But it was a good movie. Maybe just OK.

So when I put Transamerica on my queue, it was more to satisfy my curiosity and can I just say that by the time I lay my head down to sleep, I was more that satisfied. Suffice to say, it is not for everyone [I could have done without the whole son kissing his transsexual dad thing] but the acting and the emotion and the story behind it is worth the 1 hour and 43 minutes I spent watching it.

I give it an 8 out of 10

Sidebar
I am saddened by the death of Sidney Sheldon. Rest in Peace oh genius. I am currently reading his biography [?autobiography?] which is very captivating by the way. Did you know he dropped out of Northwestern during the depression???

DreamGirls

There is no amount of coaxing that can make me watch the above named movie. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against musicals. Quite the contrary, I am a fan of Sound of Music, Chicago, Hair Spray et al. I just wish I watched Dreamgirls on Broadway and not as an over the top done movie [ I have seen some clips on Youtube].

I am constantly amused at how they are using Beyoncé to market the movie...... but she is not getting any slack from people. Most, if not all people say her acting is horrendous.... which doesnt surprise me. One word: Goldmember. Case closed.

GO JHUD!

I have nothing against Beyoncé. I just think she is too much and everywhere. Its like they are forcing her down our throats. ENOUGH ALREADY!

Nightmares!!!

To whoever it is who left a comment on some blog.. it might even have been this one and mentioned that Carandiru was a good movie...... This is an Ode to you. Thank you, for telling me, because I quickly added it to my netflix queue. Thank you, because for 2 hours and 25 minutes last night, I was engrossed.

However, I have to mention that I could not sleep. As soon as I closed my eyes, I had visions of blood and of goriness [is this a word]...... I woke up in sweats! HE!


But, but, but. ....... this did not take away from the awesomeness of this movie.,..... which is based on a true story by the way. If you like foreign movies [like me].... please please please..... watch this movie!

I give it a 4.9 out of 5 [Just because nothing is perfect]!!!!

Have you listened to this album? Final Straw

Because I think that there are so many great albums out there, some of which I will never get to listen, I decided to poll my friends.

Here are some of the albums that they suggested for "classic albums":

RanB/Soul/Neo-Soul/Pop[?]

• Marvin Gaye-What's Going on
• Michael Jackson - Thriller
• Prince - Purple Rain
• Whitney Houston - Greatest Hits
• Maxwell - Urban Suite
  

Soundtracks

• Waiting to Exhale
• Jason's Lyrics - I added this one because I think that soundtrack was pure FIYAH!

Rap and Hip-Hop

• Tupac-Makaveli
• Jay-Z- Blue Print
• Fugees-The Score
• Dr. Dre - The Chronic
• Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
• Nas - Illmatic
  

Reggae/Ragga et al

• UB40- Labor of Love
• Snow - 12 Inches of Snow [I would like to thank my pals again, for this album. I am so loving it]
• Bob Marley - Legend

Kenyan/African

• Ukoo Fulani - Dandora Burning
• Yvonne Chaka Chaka - Princess of Africa

As I said before, there are thousands and thousands of albums out there.
You have your picks and maybe you disagree with mine. Thats the nature that is life.
However, you can visit the Rolling Stone website for their list of 500 Greatest Albums. I think whoever did the list was a tad bit too generous in awarding the Beatles so many [Four albums in the top 10] but who am I to say anything?

Stalling

I know I have been stalling the last segment of "Have you listened to this album" but its because there are so many albums... Im getting confused.

So anyway, I was listening to 12 Inches of Snow - YES....that Snow... That album is not bad. I cant even deny. The previous Ciiku would have lengad that album but the new me, was open to whatever. And I was pleasantly surprised. First, I like the title of the album...... 12 inches of snow. There are so many ways to read that statement. I just love the double entendre

But that brings me to what I wanted to discuss today: SAMPLING!

Sometimes when I find out that a song was sampled, it loses its value to me. Especially when it is so blatant. Take True by Spandau Ballet. This song was sampled by PM Dawn in their song "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss of you" and I love this song. Lloyd came along with the song You and HATED IT!

Whats my point? Yesterday while listening to Snow's album, the first song, Runway, [This link is for the video for the song] was sampled by Necessary Noize. I don't know the name of the song but its the one where the lyrics go something like "what me have to do to keep Nazizi from rhyming?" "Me don't know". Whoever knows what I am talking about, please tell me which song it is.

Anyway, What does sampling do to you?

GO COLTS

Tender Moments

So I watched Pursuit of Happyness last night. And I really need to read the book coz seriously... sometimes I think movies are abit over the top. Especially since this movie was supposed to be based/inspired on a true story.

Second, ofcourse I had to go to IMDB to read what people said, and ofcourse, there were some who were quick to bash the movie, saying that its moral was that the more money you had the happier you were.

Ofcourse, imbeciles like these ones, cant really be helped. They overlooked the relationship he had with his son, the LACK of a relationship with his wife and mother of his children, how much he had to go through for six months, not making any money, $ 21 in his account. I mean seriously people... the movie was rich! I give it a 7/10

And don't forget........DONT GIVE UP!

Intermission

Fret not, I will be back with more albums sometime. Not sure when!

However, I just want to say that I watched "The English Patient" last night. It was just sooo emotional. I did not cry as I had hoped to but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I can see why some people did not enjoy this movie [Refer to Seinfeld Episode 151]

Which reminds me:
Naveen Andrews is 100% Grade A Prime Hunk!



Source of pic

And someone told me this weekend that V for Vendetta was not a good movie. I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!

I even should punish myself for not putting it on my list of best movies of 2006.

Interlude

Before I finish my "Have you listened to this album" segment, I would like to direct you all to Nappy Diatribe, to read what he says about "Hip Hop is Dead" - Nas's new album and the journalists who review them. Very interesting read! Especially for>d®

Have you listened to this album? Part 3

• Boyz II Men - Evolution - The only boyband that ever made sense. Nuff said!
  

• Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - I read somewhere [probably over at Nappy Diatribe]that we gave to much props to Lauryn way too early and then thats why we never heard from her after this album. But what can I say, this album was way to awesome to be ignored.
  

• Tracy Chapman - Tracy Chapman - If you forward even one song in this CD, you are a liar and the truth is not in you!

• India Arie - Voyage to India - Motown Records sleep on this woman. There is no amount of words to describe her talent

Honorable Mentions:

• Alicia Keys - The Diary of Alicia Keys
• Jon B - Bonafide
  

Have you listened to this album? part 2

I have come to the realization that I need to make this a four parter and so I will.
I also think I need to stop doing commentary unless it absolutely necessary.
Again, let me mention that I am talking about CDs that you can play from beginning to end without forwarding even one song [Me anyway]

• Necessary Noize - Self Titled First Album [Could not find the album cover for the life of me.] Loved this CD. When I first listened to it, I think I played it continuously for 2 weeks.
• Necessary Noize - Kenyan Boy, Kenyan Gal - Nothing short of amazing. However, all this "if I die" songs need to end.
• E-Sir - Nimefika - Embodiment of a classic
• Damien Marley - Welcome to Jamrock - Best album I listened to last year. Still on heavy rotation in my cd player.

Sidebar

I watched What's Eating Gilbert Grape last night. Solid Movie. It again makes me realize that Leonardo DiCaprio is truly talented!

Have you listened to this album? Part 1

Before I begin this post, can I please put down my disclaimers?

1. This is my opinion
2. I have not listened to all the albums ever made
3. Your opinions are welcome ofcourse
4. I probably will get tired in the middle and not put all the albums that ought to be on here.

Recently, there are few albums that can be listened to from start to finish. I have come to treasure albums that are awesome [Listen to each and every song]. With this post, I pay an Ode to these albums. After a while, I see myself tiring from writing this post so.. yeah.. you have been warned!

• Pink - Cant take me home

This was when Pink was classified as R&B or Pop before she went all Rock. Now, don't get me wrong, I like her rock but this CD is just amazing. One of my favorite songs ever sang [Stop Falling] is on this album.

• Heather Headley - This is who I am
  

Man! oh! Man! Where do I begin with this one? First, one of my wedding songs is in this album [If it wasn't for your love]Second, this song can take you to a calm place. A nice place. A relaxing album. Loves it!

• Joe - All that I am
  

Before I even begin to talk about this album, let me just say that I miss old Joe. Pure RanB Joe. All this nonsense about adding rap to his music needs to stop {End of rant}
This CD is amazing. I have been known to listen to it continuously for one whole day [depending on my mood]

• Sade - The Best of Sade
  

I don't even need to explain the genius that is Sade, do I?

To
Be
Continued

D-A-M-N!!!!

Source of Pic

Two Movies

Pic Source

I can say without a doubt that Leonardo Di Caprio is one of the most prolific and simply one of the best actors in Hollywood in this day and time.

Before anyone starts preaching to me about child soldiers and workers and the effect of Blood Diamonds in Sierra Leone, please note that in this here post, I am discussing the movie and not the moral/issue behind it. Thankyou!


Back to Di Caprio........... He is really brilliant. I say this having just watched Blood Diamond this past weekend. Granted, his attempt at an Afrikaans accent was a tad bit not-so-good but the acting my peoples! That acting was ON POINT!

Djimon Hounsou??? ..... "I AM HIS FATHER, HE IS MY SON".... Damn! I had goosebumps.

OK the movie was a tad bit gory but seriously...... It was a good movie.. I cant even deny, especially since I had sworn to not watch it. [In my defense, Im just tired of this whole Africa-is-in-trouble-lets-make-a-movie-about-it-and-milk-it-for-what-its-worth mentality].
On Saturday as I was in the mall and passed by some "diamond" stores... I started shouting, BLOOD DIAMONDS. Suffice to say, people thought I was mad!
I like when he said "You Americans like to talk about your feelings" coz really, people like to talk about their feelings and sometimes I wish they would just SHUT UP!
:)



Pic Source

I watched Motorcycle Diaries. It was ok.

I don't know.. I think I watched it with high expectations since there was a lot of hupla when the movie came out. After spending almost two hours watching it... I felt cheated.

Goodness Gracious

Source of Pic: Wikimedia

When I watched Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I thought they could not get any more ridiculous than that. Oh! Brother! I watched Monty Python's The Meaning of Life last night and realized that these people can be concluded to be clinically insane. LOL!

Seriously.... this movie is just ridiculous, nonsensical, crude, gross[the gluttonous man and the live organ donation scenes]. Sometimes you get lost and forget that you are supposed to be watching a movie that attempts to explain "The Meaning of Life." I especially like the scene where he [Cleese] is teaching the boys about sex. Its just too much.

Read more about the movie here
and here

2007

Ah yes, the new year is here.

For me, this means that there are more movies to be watched and reviewed, more books to be read. All in all, I am optimistic about this year and the future.

For all those who are asking, I did stop blogging at Life and its General Nonsense but this blog will remain alive!!

I know I was supposed to write something about Happy Feet but the energy eludes me. Watch it though. Its not the genius that is Shrek but it had its moment and the soundtrack was HOT FIRE! I cant even deny! I want that sound track.

In the literary world, I finished reading "The Secret Life of Bees". It was just awesome. Im currently reading "Knee Deep in Wonder" to be followed by Atlas Shrugged. Always busy is me!

Oh yeah... I watched Mommie Dearest. Totally NOT believable.