The Superbowl is over and the halftime show had no incident. No real surprise there. I still cannot understand the massive uproar over the halftime show that Ms. Janet Jackson did. It is even less understandable when you consider the amount of cleavage shown on television in regular programs and television commercials. If anyone want to speak about provocative images affecting the minds of the youth how can you not discuss music videos, especially those of rap/hip hop and rock. Of course the money generated, and the cultural specifics involved obviates anything that would prevent them from being banned or modified.
But in this year’s Superbowl there was nothing remotely sensual. Old men just don’t hit the mark, or do they ladies? For myself, watching the game in a local bar, every guy noticed that the band seemed bored and ready to collapse at the end of the show. They just didn’t seem capable of putting the same kind of energy and life into their songs as they did 10-15 yrs ago. Of course doing the same songs, and ageing, have to have some negative effect at some point. I wondered about the 2 extra guitarists, why were they there? Anyone know why they were needed?
Moving forward, I was reminded how skewed our legal system is. It is even more exaggerated when an entertainer of some renown is involved. Case in point is Mr. Tom Sizemore, who was sentenced to 3 years probation for drug use. Now perhaps, if an individual was convicted for the offense the first time, and was never in trouble before, they would get probation. Being white in this example is a HUGE benefit towards getting probation and no jail time based on my experience watching those I grew up with in the Bronx. It isn’t an option on a second offense, nor if the offender has failed to lead a crime free life. Mr. Sizemore is a great actor, but violating a probation in July and October, trying to rig a drug detection test, and awaiting an appeal on a domestic violence charge you were convicted on is not following the straight and narrow to me. I wouldn’t get the same leniency from the courts, by the odds I’ve seen, probably even on a first offense. That includes the fact that I have a positive, productive standing in the community, good job and never had any problems beyond a ticket. Being a Black/African American Hispanic in this example is bad. An example needs to be made and a line drawn in the sand, because far too many entertainers think they have a free pass. And I tired of hearing the woes of entertainers, like Mr. Robert Downey Jr., who consistently pop up in court because they lack the self-discipline to take advantage of a get-out-of-jail pass (or receive jail times that cross so close to the minimums required by law as to be moot).
Speaking of the law, Freedomland looks to be promising. Starring Mr. Samuel Jackson, this movie is yet another transcription of a solid book into a movie. As I mentioned in my post, Beaming entertainment, directors to you, “...writers employed now have run out of ideas. Or that the executives that greenlight movies assume that the lowest common denominator in America dropped a few points...” I will not shy away from that statement. But perhaps the books are of a better quality this year than in years past. Besides Freedomland, the DaVinci Code and Casino Royale look to be interesting movies. I realize that technically Royale is a remake, but the David Niven film was taken in a different context, a very humorous slant, than this new version that seeks to be closer to the original feeling of the book.
I strongly believe that Mr. Samuel Jackson picks his movies well and his performances have been equally strong. The subject of this movie, blaming potentially innocent Black African Americans as a scapegoat, hidden motives involving a former drug addict, the life of a child, police officers that are both good and bad, all add up to strong potential elements in a good movie. It would be nice to see quality movies return, and I would like that this may be one indication that they are.
Of course there is the other side to the coin, which is the enduring blight of horrendous movies, many remakes or ‘revisionings’ (I try never to see anything with the word revisioned included in any part of the title or description as I prefer to keep my IQ where it is). I am directly referring to the Pink Panther movie that was just released. For anyone who has seen the original, I continue to recommend the original as the only choice. Every critic I read has agreed with my thoughts from Jan 17, 2006 on this movie. The fact that it is the top of the box office only tells you how bad the choices are right now (possibly excepting Curious George, but I haven’t seen that yet, and Underworld Evolution which I like). The fact that a well known comedian, a very popular support (Jean Reno and Kevin Kline) crew and a singer (to get some diversity and draw viewers that would not normally see this film) can only generate $20 million for an opening weekend is disappointing. But the studios knew that, thus it appears in February instead of April or September. [Ms Beyonce Knowles does have some skill in acting, much as I have some skill in speaking Russian. I would not want to translate a public address of any sort; but I won’t starve or freeze if someone dropped me back in Moscow tomorrow. I rate her acting as the same thing. And any advertiser will tell you that she does bring a young, rap hip hop, predominantly Black African American audience to the movies she is in.] Again I suggest not seeing this movie but renting the original. It costs less and you will have a better time.
[I can’t help myself here. Can the Black/African American community please stop give kids stupid names. I hate the neo-African, pro-Black, sounds like one word is spelled insanely differently, fad that has grasped the community. I mean what does Beyonce mean? Is it supposed to be a play on the theme of beyond? Is it a play on the Turkish word for chieftain? Does it mean that the parents were on a drug and screwed up the name (like Dweezil Zappa may have been. Rock star kids still tend to have the worst names in my opinion but that’s a profession and not a race/community). I honestly do wonder that when I hear some of these names, famous or not. Michael means one like God, it is one of the oldest names in the world, predates Christianity and is found in some form in virtually every culture in the world at any time. But this is just my pet peeve.]
This is what I think, what do you think?
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