Ip Man: The Final Fight (2013)
In postwar Hong Kong, legendary Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man is
reluctantly called into action once more, when what begin as simple
challenges from rival kung fu styles soon draw him into the dark and
dangerous underworld of the Triads. Now, to defend life and honor, he
has no choice but to fight one last time ...
Director:
Herman Yau
Stars:
Anthony Wong Chau-Sang,
Gillian Chung,
Jordan Chan |
See full cast and crew » Rented from my local public library. Watched with my main squeeze. :)
I didn't know this was a part of a (kind of) series. It was long and the pacing was quite different from that of Hollywood flicks, but I liked it. When it got down to the 'final fight' I wondered 'is this really the final fight?!' because there were a few fight sequences so it was a little unclear. I really liked that women were active in the movie and the Wing Chun form of kung fu, but if you'll note, the martial art was actually started by a woman by the name of Wing Chun. (Believe me, after I watched this and the Bruce Lee documentary directly after, I looked up all sorts of info on Wing Chun and Ip Man and all of it! Believe it or not, I do kinda like kung fu, but probably because my dad actually watched martial arts movies). Anywho. There were cool fight sequences and the historical settings were pretty nice. Characters interesting. If you like martial arts, you may already know about Wing Chun because it was one of the styles Bruce Lee studied.
TRAILER:
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I Am Bruce Lee (2012)
Director:
Pete McCormack
Recommended by the DVD owner/my main squeeze ;)
After we watched Ip Man, I was told to watch the Bruce Lee documentary and I happily obliged. And ended up in tears at the end. Bruce Lee was an amazing character/person/martial artist and it's barely a surprise that he still remains such an icon in current pop culture. It was great to see all the celebrities/athletes/dancers/performers that knew him or were influenced by him as they spoke on Bruce's legacy. It was very cool to learn about this artist that was cut short before his time. He was so determined and powerful and philosophical and kickass. He had a great sense of humor and showed the amazing abilities of the human body. So, since I'm raving about him, you know the documentary did exactly what it set out to do... expand the Bruce Lee Admirer's club. ;) Like I said above, my dad watched a bit of martial arts (Chuck Norris included), so martial arts was on our tv every now and again. This was a great movie to put all the pieces together and, yes, I recommend it. :) It, in correlation with the previous movie, made me want to learn some martial arts so I too could kickass. :D When a movie inspires you, it's doing it's job. (side note: I'm not taking any martial arts, but one never knows....)
WATCH FULL MOVIE HERE:
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Monsters University (2013)
A look at the relationship between Mike and Sulley during their days at
Monsters University -- when they weren't necessarily the best of
friends.
Director:
Dan Scanlon
From Redbox. Watched with an awesome group of special needs youth/adults for Movie Night at their club. Volunteering is grand!
I really liked the first movie and thought this was a very well-done followup to the franchise. It was well thought out and tied pieces together so well, one assumes that the original movie was developed with this in mind. If not, fabulous job. Great cast of characters, stays true to the original film. Funny and cute and touching and good message for the kids.
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Tokyo Story (1953)
An old couple visit their children and grandchildren in the city; but the children have little time for them.
Director:
Yasujirô Ozu
Rented from my local library. Watched solo.
This was a long film and it was at first hard to figure out character relationships, but I enjoyed the film overall. It was true-to-life about how we can take for granted our parents and push them aside when they are older and need help. I liked the relationship between the parents quite a lot. They were very comfortable with each other and had great banter and understanding of each other. The film basically showed that people can get so caught up in their lives that they forget to take care of each other, they forget who or what is really important. It wasn't preachy, as one of the characters did tell another "that's just what happens". It's easy to think people should be more active with their elderly parents, but everyone has a life. The film helps you to look at your situation and contemplate what is right for you, I guess. It was also probably, at the time, quite the social commentary about a trend that was occurring with more frequency.
NEW YORK TIMES CLIP ABOUT THE FILM:
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CBGB (2013)
A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.
Writers:Stars:
From the collection of (and watched with) my main squeeze. :)
This was a great film about music history. The film was gritty enough and showed how one man was formative in so much of punk-rock music... even though he wanted to start a 'Country BlueGrass Blues' bar. It was great to see these bands unfold before our eyes, hear their iconic music, and learn more about punk rock. It was surprising to see where so many got their start, and who interacted with each other. (And it was a fun trip to the record store the next day I'll tell you that!) This is a fun learning movie that helps you realize just how much of a difference it makes if you are willing to take a risk. If you like punk-rock or music history, definitely check this out!
TRAILER:
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The Kings of Summer (2013)
Three teenage friends, in the ultimate act of independence, decide to
spend their summer building a house in the woods and living off the
land.
Director:
Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Stars:
Rented from my local library. Watched solo.
This movie is a pretty accurate look at what would happen if three teenage boys DID runaway (except the house was too well constructed... very much so). It was fun. The character of Biaggio was a little questionable... he was odd, we don't get a diagnosis, and it seems he was created for humor's sake. I can live with that though, I suppose. :) Even as an adult, the idea of retreating into the woods is quite appealing. The film also focused on a father/son relationship between the main character and his dad, as well as love lost. It was fun enough to watch. I'd probably watch it again actually. :) P.S. I liked seeing Alison Brie, Nick Offerman, and Megan Mullally
TRAILER:
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16 Wishes (2010)
Director:
Peter DeLuise (as Peter Deluise)
Writer:
Annie DeYoung
Stars:Annie DeYoung
Debby Ryan,
Jean-Luc Bilodeau,
Anna Mae Wills |
See full cast and crew »
Rented from library. Watched solo.
It was a pretty safe family movie. Cutesy and harmless. More or less predictable with a few 'different' moments (stemming from writer choices). It was a little hard to figure out at the beginning who the Celeste (fairy godmother-type) was. I wasn't sure whether she was malicious or not. If you'll note, the antagonist character is black, but you can see her white parents out of focus in the background. Hmmm. Yet another movie that could have had a bit more 'variety'. Hard to believe the younger brother was indeed younger.
Rented from library. Watched solo.
It was a pretty safe family movie. Cutesy and harmless. More or less predictable with a few 'different' moments (stemming from writer choices). It was a little hard to figure out at the beginning who the Celeste (fairy godmother-type) was. I wasn't sure whether she was malicious or not. If you'll note, the antagonist character is black, but you can see her white parents out of focus in the background. Hmmm. Yet another movie that could have had a bit more 'variety'. Hard to believe the younger brother was indeed younger.
TRAILER:
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You Don't Need Feet to Dance (2013)
Director:
Alan Govenar
Stars:
Sidiki Conde | See full cast and crew »
Rented from library. Watched solo.
I think it's a good idea to watch documentaries every once in a while, especially those that open your eyes to the struggles another person faces day in and day out. Sidiki lost use of his legs due to polio (at age 14?) yet still learned to be a drummer and dancer and came to New York. We get to see his vivacious personality come to life as he works with children (one of whom is bound to a wheelchair like Sidiki), make music with his band or on the street, and get around the city on his bike or wheelchair (or any mode of transportation really). It didn't leave me in tears as I thought it might, but maybe it was because Sidiki didn't feel sorry for himself but was living his life to the fullest extent he could, somehow even more vibrant than many people who aren't bound to a wheelchair. It was nice to spend time getting to know Sidiki through this film. Oh, I didn't cry at the end, but I definitely danced. :) (I would have liked an option for subtitles because the accent was a little strong at times. But then again I watch everything with subtitles!)
TRAILER:
Rented from library. Watched solo.
I was really pleased with this movie. It did a great job putting the Civil Rights Movement back in the forefront. It was good to hear all the stories about a struggle my generation takes for granted. And it was great to hear about someone who made sacrifices she felt compelled to do. We can only hope that we can be as brave and righteous as Joan and her contemporaries. It also happened that I watched this a few days before MLK Day. Couldn't have planned the timing better. Glad to have this reminder. I recommend this film for EVERYONE. Students and adults alike; we can't forget our nation's champions.
TRAILER:
Rented from library. Watched with a girlfriend.
This was a great film. Lots of great interviewees, including Viola Davis. This is a very important topic (and as above, great timing with the commemoration of MLK Day). Colorism is a very real issue that needs to be addressed. Most people know it's wrong to mistreat people of other 'races' but there exists a lot of turmoil within black communities and among individuals. To hear the stories elaborated, it's pretty evident that it needs to be addressed. This film is a great step in admitting the problem so that we can all do better at nurturing each other and ourselves. This movie lets you examine your own biases and imperfections, see through the back-handed compliments and understand that we have to do better. I highly recommend this hard-hitting film for EVERYONE.
WATCH FULL MOVIE (until someone takes this bootleg copy down!) I promise... you will be hooked in the first 30 seconds!:
WATCH TRAILER:
Rented from library. Watched solo.
I watched this the day before MLK Day. That's right... Three movies in a row that deal with Black History. My library rocks. Don't know how I ended up with all of them at once, but it made me happy when I realized that I got my own history/social justice lesson outside of the classroom. Honestly, the movie An Ordinary Hero (mentioned above) really helped me get setup up for this family-safe movie. I knew the history and importance of the events mentioned in this film and even knew what was coming next (thanks to the aforementioned movie). It was a little formulaic and easy to see what was coming, but that's acceptable in the family genre. I saw several runners and themes that were tied up nicely in the film. The placement of the family members on the couches at the beginning and the end of the film. Popcorn. Angel. Cute nice things that helped to give the film an extra roundness. And honestly, I'm happy to see a film about a black family. Hollywood is definitely missing out on so much talent when they make white films. It's kind of like the 'Whites Only' entrances we see in the film here. If that sounds extreme, it's because it's true. Ask yourself how many big Hollywood movies have main characters that are not white? Not white men? Yup, we still have a long way to go. (As a screenwriter, I hope to do my part to get more stories on screen...and less slave/maid roles!) If you could manage it, I would recommend watching this film and the two before it. This one more for a narrative to balance the two documentaries. All three are family friendly.
TRAILER:
VERY NICE FEATURETTE (Longer than the trailer... about 4 min or so):
Sidiki Conde | See full cast and crew »
Rented from library. Watched solo.
I think it's a good idea to watch documentaries every once in a while, especially those that open your eyes to the struggles another person faces day in and day out. Sidiki lost use of his legs due to polio (at age 14?) yet still learned to be a drummer and dancer and came to New York. We get to see his vivacious personality come to life as he works with children (one of whom is bound to a wheelchair like Sidiki), make music with his band or on the street, and get around the city on his bike or wheelchair (or any mode of transportation really). It didn't leave me in tears as I thought it might, but maybe it was because Sidiki didn't feel sorry for himself but was living his life to the fullest extent he could, somehow even more vibrant than many people who aren't bound to a wheelchair. It was nice to spend time getting to know Sidiki through this film. Oh, I didn't cry at the end, but I definitely danced. :) (I would have liked an option for subtitles because the accent was a little strong at times. But then again I watch everything with subtitles!)
TRAILER:
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An Ordinary Hero: The True Story of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland (2013)
Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, an unsung Civil Rights legend, grew up in the
segregationist South but turned against everything she knew for the
truth and paid a price few of us could scarcely imagine. She was
attacked, imprisoned, and hunted down for execution but never wavered in
her beliefs. "An Ordinary Hero" is the only complete retelling of
Joan's entire story with rarely seen images from the Civil Rights
Movement along with interviews from some of the most important people of
the Movement.
Director:
Loki Mulholland
Stars:
Luvaughn Brown,
Dion Diamond,
Eric Etheridge |
See full cast and crew » Rented from library. Watched solo.
I was really pleased with this movie. It did a great job putting the Civil Rights Movement back in the forefront. It was good to hear all the stories about a struggle my generation takes for granted. And it was great to hear about someone who made sacrifices she felt compelled to do. We can only hope that we can be as brave and righteous as Joan and her contemporaries. It also happened that I watched this a few days before MLK Day. Couldn't have planned the timing better. Glad to have this reminder. I recommend this film for EVERYONE. Students and adults alike; we can't forget our nation's champions.
TRAILER:
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Dark Girls (2011)
Documentary exploring the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin
color---particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black
American culture.
Rented from library. Watched with a girlfriend.
This was a great film. Lots of great interviewees, including Viola Davis. This is a very important topic (and as above, great timing with the commemoration of MLK Day). Colorism is a very real issue that needs to be addressed. Most people know it's wrong to mistreat people of other 'races' but there exists a lot of turmoil within black communities and among individuals. To hear the stories elaborated, it's pretty evident that it needs to be addressed. This film is a great step in admitting the problem so that we can all do better at nurturing each other and ourselves. This movie lets you examine your own biases and imperfections, see through the back-handed compliments and understand that we have to do better. I highly recommend this hard-hitting film for EVERYONE.
WATCH FULL MOVIE (until someone takes this bootleg copy down!) I promise... you will be hooked in the first 30 seconds!:
____________________________
The Watsons Go to Birmingham (2013)
The Watsons set out on a family road trip where their experiences give
them a newfound courage to stand up for what is right and helps them
grow stronger as a family in the process.
Stars:
Bryce Clyde Jenkins,
Harrison Knight,
Skai Jackson |
See full cast and crew » Rented from library. Watched solo.
I watched this the day before MLK Day. That's right... Three movies in a row that deal with Black History. My library rocks. Don't know how I ended up with all of them at once, but it made me happy when I realized that I got my own history/social justice lesson outside of the classroom. Honestly, the movie An Ordinary Hero (mentioned above) really helped me get setup up for this family-safe movie. I knew the history and importance of the events mentioned in this film and even knew what was coming next (thanks to the aforementioned movie). It was a little formulaic and easy to see what was coming, but that's acceptable in the family genre. I saw several runners and themes that were tied up nicely in the film. The placement of the family members on the couches at the beginning and the end of the film. Popcorn. Angel. Cute nice things that helped to give the film an extra roundness. And honestly, I'm happy to see a film about a black family. Hollywood is definitely missing out on so much talent when they make white films. It's kind of like the 'Whites Only' entrances we see in the film here. If that sounds extreme, it's because it's true. Ask yourself how many big Hollywood movies have main characters that are not white? Not white men? Yup, we still have a long way to go. (As a screenwriter, I hope to do my part to get more stories on screen...and less slave/maid roles!) If you could manage it, I would recommend watching this film and the two before it. This one more for a narrative to balance the two documentaries. All three are family friendly.
TRAILER:
_____________________________
So there you have it!
I also got to watched 10 episodes of a lectures series called Brainwave on behalf of the Rubin Museum of Art. I won't detail all of them, but I liked that they would set up two speakers to talk about different aspects of an idea. I'm not sure which year of the ongoing series was the one I got to watch, but I took notes on space, the universe, dreams, happiness and so much more. I consider it research for screenwriting.... take on tons of topics and let my mind soak it all up!
I also got to watched 10 episodes of a lectures series called Brainwave on behalf of the Rubin Museum of Art. I won't detail all of them, but I liked that they would set up two speakers to talk about different aspects of an idea. I'm not sure which year of the ongoing series was the one I got to watch, but I took notes on space, the universe, dreams, happiness and so much more. I consider it research for screenwriting.... take on tons of topics and let my mind soak it all up!
