BLACK NATIVITY (2013) – My rating: 9/10

Not only is this a feel good movie, it sends a powerful message of forgiveness and redemption.  IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD!  Having lived in Harlem the first 13 years of my life, I can attest to a village that didn’t allow children on the streets during school hours or back talk to adults or any type of disrespect to elders.  Most parents disciplined their children and didn’t try to be their friends.  Church was a way of life and teenage pregnancies were not celebrated.  Black Nativity stars Jennifer Hudson as Naima, Forrest Whitaker as Reverend Cornell Cobbs, Angela Bassett as Aretha Cobbs, Mary J. Blige as the Angel, Tyrese Gibson as Loot and Jacob Latimore as Langston.  I had no idea what to expect but boy was I pleasantly pleased.  If you’re human, emotions will arise and hallelujahs will be shouted.  A mother and son facing eviction is challenged to deal with their past in order to move forward in a positive way.  Naima, a single mom, sends her only child, during the Christmas holidays, from from Maryland to Harlem, NY to live with grandparents he doesn’t know.  Having mixed emotions about leaving his mom, Langston makes decisions based on his current circumstances. The music is outstanding, the singing superb and the acting by such a stellar cast, fantastic.  While this film is a shoe in for Christians, I think everyone will agree, Black navitivy is good for anyone’s soul.  I for one, have made plans to purchase this one for my library of exceptional movies.

THE LONE SURVIVOR (2013) – My rating 9/10

Some movies make you laugh, some make you cry and others just bring out all of your emotions.  The Lone Survivor made me incredibly sad.  On one level, I felt anger towards my fellow Americans for not treating our war veterans and heroes with the honor, respect and admiration they deserve.  On another level, I felt grief and sadness to the point of sobbing right there in the movie theater.  This movie is being compared to Saving Private Ryan and that’s a reasonable comparison given the extreme graphic exploitation of the soldiers as they were engaged in battle.  The Lone Survivor is a significant true story of a mission, “Operation Red Wings”, gone bad in June of 2005.  4 Navy Seals were ambushed  south of Sawtalo Sar in Afghanistan. Their mission was to take down one of the Taliban’s most notorious leaders, Ahmad Shah.   Mark Wahlberg played Hospital Corpsman First Class Marcus Luttrell,   and Taylor Kitch played Navy Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, the team leader.   The Lone Survivor is a “Should See” movie for all adults.  There are profound messages in the story — See it any way you can, DVD or the big screen, it’s worth both your time and money.

[The LONE SURVIVOR is nominated for Achievement in Sound Editing and Achievement in Sound Mixing]

THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY (2013) – My rating: 9/10

One of the best comedies of 2013.  Actually this film goes beyond just a comedy — it has drama and can also be described as melancholy, so get out the old hanky.  These fabulous hunks of men (Morris Chestnut, Taye Diggs, Eddie Cibrian, Terrence Howard and Harold Perrineau) are eye popping icons and a shear delight to watch.  The women (Monica Calhoune, Melissa De Sousa, Regina Hall, Nia Long and Sanaa Lathan) are ‘bootielicous’ and smart.  It was a thrill to see a black comedy that is not full of buffoonery or drugs or crime related.  The characters were educated and successful at their respective positions.  They lived a middle and upper class life style and spoke the real  Queens English quite well.  The story more than held my interest and brought out many emotions plus it was funny.

I was thoroughly entertained and highly recommend that you see ” The Best Man Holiday”.

BEINGS (1998) – My rating: 8/10

A Movie for Children!
I read the first comments on this movie and thought they were too harsh. This is obviously a children’s movie that sends a pretty powerful message. A town of frightened folks stay head-strong in their beliefs because they are afraid. It’s a fairy-tale, so that means anything goes because it’s all made up. The special effects were better than most for its time. Compared to the computer generated movies I’ve seen in 2001, this is every bit as good. The plot is about a father who is dieing, his kids, who believe in the fairy legend that could save him, and a wife who doesn’t believe in anything. It’s interesting to see the family come together in an effort to save dad and teach the town a lesson. I think you’ll be entertained and some emotions will definitely get stirred about.