Minority Movie Report - Aisha

This evening is one of the biggest movie nights of the year. The 82nd Annual Academy awards are here to tell us, the lowly masses, who's who for the films of 2009.

There are live feeds coming from www.oscar.com if you are like me and have forgone cable.

I can't say that I have always agreed with the selections that come out on top at the Oscars on any given year, but it is always fun to speculate isn't it? With that in mind, I chose some of the most popular categories and made some predictions on my own. In all honesty, I have not seen even half of the movies nominated, so this is just a guessing game of fun. Here are my selections for 2009:

Leading Actor: Morgan Freeman - Invictus

Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz - Inglorious Basterds

Leading Actress: Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

Supporting Actress: Mo'nique - Precious

Animated Feature: Up

Visual Affects: Avatar

Directing: Inglorious Basterds

Original Screenplay: Inglorious Basterds

Adapted Screenplay: Precious

Best picture: Inglorious Basterds

You may notice I have a bit of a bias on my choices. What can I say, I loved Inglorious Basterds!

If you are ready to make some (better informed?) selections of your own, go to www.oscar.com and click the option to download your own ballot!

Signing out,

Aisha
Minority Movie Report

Sin Nombre (Without Name) follows El Casper (Edgar Flores), a runaway gang member and Sayra (Paulina Gaitan), a young woman, as they make their way through Central America towards the U.S. Border. It is pure chance that brings them together, however it is determination, mainly on Sayra's part, that keeps them together through their journey and attempt at escape.

I understand the comparisons that have been made to City of God, but by no means would I say this is a copy. Sin Nombre is still a movie in its own. While there are some scenes that are harder to watch than others, I found it still manages to avoid crossing the line. I kept thinking that one of those scenes that makes you cringe from the inside would come up. But it never did. Instead of having one image seared into my mind, I keep the whole movie.

Aside from the story itself, the landscape and cinematography are a treat for the eyes. The Director, Cary Fukunagra, spent time on the trains as well as with gangsters in order to get the look of the movie and use of dialogue as accurate as possible. The fact that this movie has won several awards including those won at the Sundance Film Festival comes as no surprise.

There is only so much that can be said without giving the movie away. I hate to ruin the plot at all so go rent the movie now and see for yourself! A last note for those of you who would normally shy away: It is worth the subtitles.

Signing out,

Aisha
Minority Movie Report

I know I might be one of the last people on the planet to see Avatar, but hey I am a patient woman. There has just been too much hype and continuously sold out shows (The 6:30 PM Imax showing was sold out when I checked at 8:30 this morning). I didn't want to be in that mess for a movie that looked to me like a new age Fern Gully.

I think we have all heard the comparisons to Pocahontas, and Dances with Wolves already so I am not really going to go on about that (Vince probably will). Yes, this overall idea has been put out there before, but never in this fashion. I felt like a child again. I was on the edge of my seat, grinning like a fool.

The story was not that amazing, but I wasn't just watching a story. I was watching art. The colours, the lights, the textures all in 3D! Everything looked so real as if it were done with make up and not CGI. I wanted to leave this earth and live on Pandora too, but then I remembered those things don't really have toilets so I have resolved to stay here. The creatures shown were amazing. The interactions with man/manlike creatures, beast and other lifeforms was new and fun to imagine if only it were possible! The creatures themselves outside of the natives of Pandora were beautiful hybrids of animals and earthly creatures that once roamed the earth.

And there was the hippy element. We are all one with Mother Nature, and here on Earth we are wasting away the truly beautiful aspects of Nature. I know there are many who wished they could live in a world like Pandora, and honestly, I think we already do. That area of our planet is getting smaller and smaller, but it is out there. It may not glow in the dark, but we have those waterfalls, the lush green foliage, and even giant trees. Most of us are just too removed from nature to know it. Unfortunately, I don't think that part of the movie will resonate with many. There are so many distractions and other themes on racism, war, and capitalism that one doesn't really have to think about everything we have here on Earth just waiting for some preservation.

I did have one favourite quote in the movie where the antagonist states "We will fight terror with terror." I am someone who can not get the concept of war (especially when my country participates in war, but does not believe in capital punishment). I was happy that this quote was placed so well that it wasn't overbearing, but more of a subtle poke at our current events. I wasn't alone either, as I was joined by the rest of the theatre in a low key chuckle.

Whatever the message of the movie is supposed to be doesn't really matter in my opinion. This movie can be interpreted in many ways, and it will all just depend on the audience watching it. If you have not seen it yet, that is amazing, but you should go do so now. The Imax 3D experience was absolutely mind blowing and I may do it again. Yes it is worth my money, and my time.

Signing out,

Aisha
Minority Movie Report

I should be studying, but studying is for suckers isn't it? Let's hope so.

Another form of procrastination I use quite often goes by the name of Facebook. (If you haven't become a fan of our fan page please do so now!) I noticed one of my girlies was getting all gushy about Valentine's day. Not the day itself, but the movie. By the title, I was thinking it must be a straight forward chick flick. Guy wants girl, enter conflict, guy does some stuff, gets girl, the end. Upon seeing the trailer, I am left feeling a little optimistic about this movie. Yes, it is still going to be more chick flick than anything else, but its a little deeper. This movie gives me a "Love Actually" kind of feeling, and is it ever star studded.

Aside from the fact that its directed by the same director as Pretty Woman (the trailer mentions that a few times), it does have Julia roberts in there somewhere, Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Eric Dane, Queen Latifa and a handful of others that my fingers are too lazy to list here. I have to admit, this list alone has sealed the deal. I will be seeing this movie, but not likely on Valentine's day.

Check out the trailer on the official website and come back to leave your comments:

http://www.valentinesdaymovie.com/

Signing out,

Aisha
Minority Movie Report

A Christmas Carol is just in time for christmas. This is a movie that gives life to the Charles Dickens classic novel from 1843, however, as most of us know, it is not the first time this novel has been made into a movie. I can not say that I loved it, but at the same time I can not say that I find many christmas or other holiday themed movies that appealing. With that in mind, I don't think it was a bad movie at all. It really was entertaining but like Mr. Scrooge, it was before the end of his tours with Christmas past present and future, that I got bored.

The film's main voice is Jim Carrey. I say main voice, not only because it is a voice over, but also because he plays several characters. Jim Carrey is Scrooge at every age presented in the movie as well as all of the christmas ghosts. There are some times where Jim Carrey is just too much, but I enjoyed his presence in this movie. I actually preferred his work as all of his characters other than scrooge, but then again, maybe I just don't like that grumpy old bugger.

I would like to say one thing though. Please do not take young children to this movie. Its heartwarming, yes. Great morals, yes. But there are a few parts that just seem a little too dark for the little ones to bear. I don't think that I can spoil this movie for anyone who hasn't been living under a rock their whole lives, but I will still refrain from giving any details. This may be a reflection of some sort of dark nature within myself but the darkest parts of this movie were the most intriguing. I might have fallen in love with the Ghost of Christmas Present, but only for a day...

Is this movie worth watching in the theatres? As someone who went there, I found it worth it because I saw it in 3-D and everything is more fun with 3-D. If it were not for that, I would wait for the DVD.