Benjamin Button!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button……I loved it but it was really long!

I think the writers were very thorough with developing the characters. I felt like I really knew these people because the film followed the lives of the characters so closely. I agree with Phil Boogie that this movie was the best one that was released that year.

Maybe I’m just not an avid reader because I’ve never seen or read anything like this. Randy Bandit brought up examples of books that had the same reversed age character. That writing didn’t reach everyone because I never knew about it. I think that this movie brought that written character to real life.

I think that Benjamin Button was able to forgive his father so easily because he didn’t have a hard life. All though he grew up in an old people’s home it seemed that he enjoyed his life. And beyond that he had a laid back personality and I don’t remember him being upset in any of the scenes.

I also agree that Taraji Henson deserves the award for her performance in this film

You're a rapper....and an actor!?

I’m mostly against rappers (and singers) acting. It just doesn’t feel natural to me. I can appreciate their hustle and wanting to have more things on their resume. But normally it turns out bad. The worst movie that I can think of that casts a rapper (other than Soul Plane) is the movie “Bones” that Snoop Dogg starred in that BET used to play constantly. In the movie “This Christmas” I felt that Chris Brown’s character was made specifically for a star that could bring in some extra revenue. His lines were short and each time that he had “camera shine,” it was some sort of comic relief. And not to mention that the character himself was a singer!

I feel that Will Smith is an actor who raps and not a rapper that acts. Maybe when he first started starring in movies he was a better rapper than actor but now his talents have changed. Call me crazy but I also think that Beyonce does a good job in the roles that she is chosen for. (I’m a little biased I mentioned that I was Bey Fanatic!) I think that the roles she accepts fit her because they usually require some singing and she is naturally blessed in that area. Her next character in the movie “Obsessed” will not be like the characters she’s played before.

Some rappers do a good job as actors and actresses in movies. I think that Queen Latifah was very convincing as a lesbian criminal in the movie “Set it Off” and the show “Living Single” used to be one of my favorite shows to watch. I almost forgot that Ludacris was a rapper and not an actor in the movie “Crash” because his performance was solid.

I almost forgot Jamie Foxx. His talents are equal. He is an extremely talented actor and also a very good music artist. I think that the movie “Ray” was one of the best autobiography type films and his show still makes me laugh. I also listen to his music even though Randy Bandit and Phill Boogie called it “ig’nant!”

We do love ignorance!

I can’t stand when I sing ignorant songs!! It’s the worst feeling when I catch myself and I’m so glad that I’m not the only one who does this. I try to make myself feel better by saying it’s just the beat….it’s catchy. And the ignorant music is all around me….in the car, on TV, in the student center, facebook pages…EVERYWHERE!

I am a little biased…. “Diva” is not ignorant! It might be because I’m one of Beyonce’s top ten fans (that’s my girl!) but I think that “Diva” is a solid record! I don’t know if I appreciate the criticism that you all are throwing her way! But it’s okay.

I think that Soulja Boy Tell em has put out the most ignorant songs in his short career span than anyone else. All of his records are terrible! Starting with “Crank That” he has gone on to make other ignorant songs like “Soulja Girl,” “Donk,” “Yah,” “Gucci Bandana,” and “Bird Walk.” Now he is gracing the world with “Turn My Swag On” [I feel embarrassed to even remember the titles of these horrible songs!] I have to admit that I know a lot of the words to these songs but its only because the radio loves Soulja Boy!!!

What amazes me is that young children know every word to Soulja Boy’s songs. During my spring break, I traveled to Atlanta with a seven year old and three year old, both boys. During the drive down there the 7 year old listened to “Turn My Swag On” at least 100 times, it was sickening because he knew every word!! The three year old told me not to call him by his real name but to call him Soulja Boy! He told me to call his grandfather Rick Ross, his uncle Young Jeezy and his brother Gucci Mane! He is three!! Why does he know this? God bless the children….and the ignorant music makers! And leave Bey alone!!

Response to Arlen Escarpeta's Interview

I have not seen the new Friday the 13th movie yet but I plan on seeing it this weekend. I have to be in the right state of mind to see horror movies. But I do love reading interviews, it’s the evidence for star struck people that celebrities are regular people too. And I love it!

This actor, Arlen Escarpeta has pets!! Even though I personally think that tarantulas are horrific! I would never have a spider for a pet because they are really creepy to me. I have a Yorkshire terrier. We have had him for fifteen years now. He is like a brother to me….we love him. Probably as much as Arlen loves spiders.

I was surprised that Arlen’s favorite movie would be in black and white. I can’t really get into black and white films because I’m always wondering what color things really were when they shot the scene.

Arlen would like to play a lawyer as his next role. He says that because they are multidimensional and misunderstood. I agree with him because you never know if they are good or bad guys. Some lawyers in movies are “good guys” like the character Gabrielle Union played in Tyler Perry’s movie “Daddy’s Little Girls.” She did a favor for a friend to help him receive custody of his daughters. In another recent Tyler Perry movie “Madea Goes to Jail,” there is a bad lawyer and a good lawyer. The woman was a bad lawyer because she added charges to a file in order for someone to receive more jail time. The guy is a good lawyer because he reviewed the case and protested for the person with extended jail time.

But back to Arlen, I can relate to the top played music in his iPod. I love listening to Kanye West and some Jay Z. Lil Wayne is cool too. I would probably replace the other two with Beyonce because that is just how much I listen to her.

"Head of State" Response

I’ve only seen bits and pieces of “Head of State” at a time; I’ve never set down and watched the entire movie through. But from the parts that I’ve seen I can definitely appreciate it. I do think it was funny. But I’ve researched the movie, I think it is amazing that Chris Rock wrote, directed, and starred in the movie. I wasn’t used to seeing Chris Rock in a character like this.

I do believe that this movie has a parallel with President Obama’s (wow…I think that the first time I’ve actually typed his formal title) campaign. But the Obama support is MADNESS! I have seen Obama paraphernalia everywhere….beyond gas stations. I’ve seen Obama wear in dollar stores and even mainstream stores like Macy’s.

The parallel between this movie and the Obama campaign is the connection to hip-hop. In “Head of State” Rock wore “street clothes” and listened to rap music. In the real world, Obama actually listens to hip-hop. I think that it is an amazing thing. It says to the world that everyone who listens to hip-hop music is not a gangster or a killer…..they can be the chief executive of the United States!

I didn’t realize the three word slogans that Rock and Obama both used until Randy Bandit pointed it out. I think that’s interesting and it makes me wonder if Obama intentionally paralleled his campaign with the movie or if it was just a coincidence. I also wonder if the people who were involved with the movie and the viewers ever really thought that a black man would become a president, or did they only think it was a comedy…..

Regardless of the answer, I think that Obama was the right candidate for the office. And because of his accomplishments, the punchline can never be that a black man is playing the role of president in any movie or tv show…it’s a beautiful thing.

Response to Soul Music is Dead

I do agree that soul music is dead. But I think that today’s artists are creating a new form of music, I’m not sure what it’s called. The listeners of today’s music are probably going to feel the same way when they have children and their children listen to a different form of music. That is what happens…time passes and things change! Music is a trend so I feel like it is supposed to change with the time. Soul music fit the time frame that it was in. It’s now 2009 and the things that were important then have changed and artists need to talk about things in their music that deal with current issues. It doesn’t necessarily mean that “soul music” is actually better than the music that is out now. It’s all opinion. I like some old school soul songs and I also like today’s music. “Soul music” is so big because it is classic. But one day this music will be classics and people my age will be saying that our genre is dead just as Phil Boogie and Randy Bandit are saying.
Well-written songs from the soul era are still played today and I think that songs that are made in recent years will also be played as long as it has wide range. I do believe that artists today are packaged but it’s like Phil Boogie said BUSINESS follows show…and bills have to be paid. And we can’t totally blame the artist because they do have stylists and public relations people who are working with them to make them these big show packages. But all in all I think the artist is giving the public exactly what it wants them to give it. If the world continue to supports the artist and buy the “package” that they portray then it would only make sense that they continue to do it.

Response to Lauryn Hill

I think that the Lauryn Hill blog was very interesting. Phil Boogie and Randy Bandit both had very good points. I’m really leaning towards Mr. Bandit when he says that Lauryn Hill’s songs are overly emotional. I have always felt that way about her music. Her songs always have good meaning but no matter what the subject, I guess it’s just her tone and voice, but it always made me feel sad. “Killing me softly” and “Nothing even matters” were two of the most touching Lauryn Hill. But I agree with Phil Boogie too because I think she deserves all the “props” that she gets for the Miseducation album because it was a cd that a lot of people could listen to fully. I think that Randy was expected too much from Lauryn with her album but she did need to be a little commercial, it is about making money.

Don’t worry Phil Boogie, I agree with you….Lil Momma can rap. I appreciate her for being herself. I definitely think that she is an original person. I think that she would dress “in rainbow” colors even without a stylist trying to create her look. But, I don’t think she is as serious an MC as Lauryn Hill or MC Lyte because her music is kind of corny. But Lil Mommas music is good for young listeners or people that want to hear rap music with not a lot of vulgar language.

I think it is hilarious when rappers try to sing the hooks on their own songs, especially Lil Wayne. He has got to know that he sounds crazy singing but people (including me) are going to continue listening to him, just because he is little Wayne. And T-Pain will never EVER stop using the auto-tone machine so I hope no one is waiting for that day.