Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Community: Study Break Mini Episode #2



Don't look me in the face!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

*Official Video Remix* Antonio Dodson Wakes Up To Find Intruder In Her Bed

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Does Marvel know what they are doing with Black Panther?

Marvel will be moving Black Panther over to the Daredevil title at issue #513. This is pretty sad since Black Panther once headlined his own title, at least two times. Unfortunately the powers that be believe that Black Panther can’t headline his own book. A lot of times the character gets marginalized to the “proverbial” ghetto and now he will be going to the literal ghetto.

This is different than when Priest had Black Panther trolling around the ghetto for the first few issues of his run. Especially when I hear the new writer saying things like this:
The other aspect of "Black Panther: The Man Without Fear" that Liss finds intriguing is the chance to drop T'Challa, the former king of the fictional African nation known as Wakanda, into the middle of the crime ridden wasteland that the Kitchen has become post "Shadowland." "We're taking somebody who has always been royalty - his father was a king and he's been a powered superhero and a monarch for a large portion of his life. We're stripping all of that away from him. He has no powers. He has no Wakandan tech. This series is about somebody trying to figure out what he's made of and who he is. He's coming to this environment, which is so dangerous and troubled, to test himself," Liss explained. "That's what I really loved about this project. It was an opportunity to rethink a long established and iconic character in very interesting way. -Liss Sends T'Challa to Hell's Kitchen-
Now, I don’t want to go entitled fanboy or anything, but this pretty much says that this writer does not know the history of the panther. Tchalla knows who he is. He lost his father at a young age, he was thrust into the spotlight of Wakandan politics as a child and built to be the leader of an unconquerable African nation. This was at a time when all of Africa was being carved out to britan, France, Spain and whomever else wanted to roll through with rifles. So from this we can gather that he isn’t some spoiled monarch, but instead a man born of steel and fire. He is a warrior whose people come to him every few years and deride him for leaving them behind. And what does he do? He takes their rituals head on and shows them why he is their leader.
What I am saying is, Black Panther isn’t Batman. Running through the ghettos busting the heads of gangsters is small time to a man who spend his youth at the table with world leaders. This is a guy that has embassies, and an army, and a Panther God at his back. Why would he even CARE about what Tony Soprano is doing thousands of miles away from his birthplace.

To me it is lazy story telling. Don’t get me started on the idea of Wakanda being bankrupt. You can’t be sitting on all that intellectual property and technology and be bankrupt. Their children’s toys should be worth enough to the world stage to make them an economic entity. They could sell versions 3 or 4 of the kimoyo card and make Apple crap their pants.

On the one hand Marvel wants us to support their character, and follow him through his adventures. On the other hand they want us to forget their character’s history in favor of something that might be a cool story. The only problem is Priest wrote this story as Black Panther (vol. 3) #50 when Kasper Cole shows up. Only Tchalla didnt take on the gangs himself, he used Kasper to do it, to redeem himself.

I will say I appreciate that they haven't let T'Challa languish. They keep trotting him out in different versions and ways. I think they keep missing the essence of character. Marvel tends to like destroying their heroes for the sake of story. I hope they know what they are doing with T'Challa, but I have a feeling that they don't.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Kanye West - Power (Split-Screen Cover)



Pretty talented young guy.

Kanye West - Power (Split-Screen Cover)



Pretty talented young guy.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Janelle Monae - Cold War



This is pretty interesting, it seems this is a pretty personal song to her. I would not have known that.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

my wife said she had a good time out for her birthday. thanks to those that made it out for making it special.

Saturday, June 26, 2010

ice cream cake is a bad idea for bar hopping.

Friday, June 25, 2010

no matter what I will always prefer my hot dogs off a charcol grill.
That baby was yelling at my wife like she had smacked him in the mouth in front of the po-lice.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Janelle Monae: "Many Moons" Official Short Film (HD)



an amazing video from the incomparable Janelle Monae!

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's day to the dad's out there, and to all the single parents as well, parenthood is a tough gig, but you all handle it well. :)

Joel McHale @ Chicago Theater - Donald Glover 'n Danny Pudi : La Biblioteca



Because these three guys are hilarious

Fallout New Vegas Debut Trailer [HD]



about 6 months of my life are probably already dedicated to this game,
and to my dissertation of course...
maybe I should get that second thing out of the way before I even buy the game.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Surprised the wife with tickets to Dreamgirls at the Arnoff.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Calling it a night, get some good "no kid" sleep. You childless masses don't know how good you have it to get that every night. VALUE IT!

Monday, June 14, 2010

MORTAL KOMBAT



This looks pretty Awesome.
I would have to say that I am going to watch this film...

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

JAYCEN WISE & THE EYE OF THE STORM (Motion Comic)


My man URAEUS dropped this awesome motion comic for his Jaycen Wise project.
check it out!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Time Sink: NBC's Undercover


I'm a fan of action shows. I was just thinking about how I miss Burn Notice in between seasons, and how cool Human Target was this first season. My biggest complaint about Burn Notice is that sometimes it is more Magnum P.I. than it is Bourne Identity.



Fortunately J.J. Abrahams is also a man who loves a good action TV. After Alias faltered in the end J.J. was able to convince NBC to let him make another spy show, which I ain't mad about. So here it is, from today's upfronts, The show is called The Undercovers and it stars Boris Kodjoe (from Soul Food, Madea’s Family Reunion) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (?) as Steven and Samantha Bloom, a married pair of CIA agents. Below are some clips and the trailer







I personally can't wait to see the show.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Just Michael Jai White Being Awesome





I've liked Michael Jai White for years. he is a decent actor, and a phenomenal martial artist. Here he talks with Kimbo Slice about throwing a punch.



If you are looking for a good movie to watch on a Friday night I suggest you check out white in the amazing action flick Blood and Bone.








And I would be remiss if I didn't point you in the direction of the best film of last year, Black Dynamite







Buy them both today,

Friday, April 30, 2010

F U Flowers!

Lupe Fiasco - I'm Beamin



Really Looking forward to the New Lupe Fiasco Album.
Lupe is truly an amazing talent that I don't think the "rap game" is ready for, but like Gnarles Barkley, Mos Def, Res, etc, I am really glad he is making music.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

T-Pain and the Know Nothing Know-It-Alls



I agree that most people should educate themselves about issues. The fact that T-Pain can't vote at all means that he is affected by the laws that govern the society even if he doesn't feel they trickle down to his life. Like it or not the things politicians do affect our day to day in a lot of ways.

I mean, Obama changed the way my credit card bills look, how is that for affecting my life...

Sunday, April 18, 2010

How to deal with friends who were bitten by zombies.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Janelle Monet - Tight Rope -



I;ve known about Janelle Monet for some time. I still bump her "letting go" single even though I never found the album it goes with. For the last few year she has been on some next level ish, and this video is just proof of what brilliance can emerge when someone just lets themselves escape the shackles of conformity while engaging the spirits of all that has come before.

While that Lady Gaga and Beyonce abomination might get more spins and airtime I can't help thinking what a wonderful and unique world it would be if this was mainstream.
I mean, she's got some moves, and the message is subversively beautiful and mired in a cultural experience.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Awesome facts about Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear Weapons
Via: Online Schools

Monday, April 5, 2010

Boondocks Season 3 trailer



Controversial as the show may be, in the wake of the Chappelle show I can't say there is another show on TV like it.

Check out the new trailer, it looks pretty sweet.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Treme

Something tragic happened this week, David Mills, a guy I didn't know before yesterday, died of a brain aneyrism. Everything I have learned about this guy informs me that he was pretty awesome, and that the world is sorry to have lost this brilliant fellow. He was a writer who wrote for the Wire, NYPD Blue, helped fashion NBC's failed show Kingpin. His loss is sad, and senseless and reminds you how short our little lives are.

Rest in Peace you brilliant man. To learn more about David Mills you can find his blog here: The Undercover Black Man Blog. He speaks about the making of his new show Treme, and other pop culture things like music and television. He has a very good article on writing TV with themes and how that affects the subtext, character and depth of the viewing/writing experience.





The loss of David Mills reminded me of a little gem I had forgotten about. The Creators of The Wire aka the best show ever produced by American Television, have gotten together to produce a new drama called Treme. Where the Wire was about the futility of the individual versus the institution. Treme seems to be about how the individual survives in the the wake of disaster. It follows several musicians who live in New Orleans in the wake of hurricane Katrina.



Featuring Some alums from the Wire, including Wendell Pierce aka. the Bunk, and Clark Peters, aka Lester the F'n man Freeman, and The Corner alum Khandi Alexander. The cast looks stellar and with David Simon at the helm I know it is going to be an amazing piece of television.



I can't wait for it to hit televisions screens.



I found three trailers, posted them here. (Facebook users have to click through the link to the blog to check it out.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The Expendables

The 80's baby in my loves the idea of this movie.
I don't know if it will be good, but I do know it will be kick ass!


Seriously, some if someone had told me that Stallone, Statham, Lundgren, Bruce Willis and Jet Li were going to go kicking butt and taking names in the same film???
that is a guaranteed theater ticket.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

New Edition, "If it isn't Love"


I am totally getting this routine down to bust out at parties.
Put that on paper and take it to the bank.

Props to my man Rumond aka EBlack for putting this one in my head.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Scott Pilgrim Vs.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World



This looks interesting, and by interesting I mean full of "WIN!"
Oh Michael Cera, why can you do no wrong?

Monday, March 22, 2010

Because I Can't Wait for the new Season!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Lego Gundam



I am a big fan of Legos, so when someone does something amazing with Legos I take notice. This person put together an articulate Gundam robot that transforms.

So I have to respect that.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Film-a-matic: The book of Eli


The Book of Eli is a pretty solid film. To distill the plot, Denzel Washington is the aforementioned Eli, who is working his way across the post apocalyptic USA to deliver a book. The movie makes a bit of an effort to hide the name and designation of the book in question, so I won't sully the effort by mentioning it outright here. The conflict of the story begins when Eli passes through a small dusty town and gathers the attention of the self appointed town leader Carnegie, played by Gary Oldman. Oldman is great in his role as the ambitious Carnegie, who wants the book to help him in his megalomania. The grittiness of the environment causes me to recall my time playing the"Fallout" video games. The landscape is a little less civilized than Children of Men, but the movie does appear to use some of the visuals and themes of that film. Quite a few films have been set in a post world war nuclear meltdown apocalypse. Thematically the film might also remind you of Will Smith's I am Legend except, there are no zombies, or vampires or whatever, just old fashion human greed, need and survival instinct. The Hughes Brothers, who broke into film with Menace to Society, use pretty stark visuals, with a lot of shots that make you think of comic book movies, like their previous venture From Hell, and Watchmen. It is no surprise that the script for Eli was drawn as a comic to help sell the project.

                Mila Kunis is in the film as a young girl named Solaris. Her character teeters between being a damsel in distress and a capable companion to Eli. She doesn't always look like she fits in the dreary landscape. Where Denzel looks ragged and chapped she looks like that girl from that 70's show slumming it through the desert. The film never lets us know what her age should be, which is a little weird since she's kind of sexualized and fawned over. From the moment she joins our stoic hero my brain began to notice the parallels to Leon the Professional, which also features Gary Oldman, and a young Natalie Portman in a role similar to Kunis here. V for Vendetta, also staring Portman, also comes to mind as a movie that plays with the tropes of a hardened mysterious killer that brings a young girl into his care.




Eli is a more Christian film than those I just mentioned, but I don’t want that to be a deterrent to any Atheists. Harry Potter films appear to take magic seriously enough in its world but I don’t believe it is trying to convert anyone to become a wizard. The Matrix wasn’t trying to convert anyone to follow Neo as a religion. Eli isn’t really preaching despite its reliance on faith and the quotation of religious scripture. The movie, to me anyway, is actually about a character that has faith and follows that faith on a path while trying to preserve what it considers important elements of a culture. Carnegie is a man who also has a belief, and he follows that belief. The film avoids being preachy by not hammering home any changes in Kunis at the end. I am not sure if that is a missed opportunity for her character. To say more would spoil some of the ending. Denzel does do a Denzel in this movie, all the way to the end. He’s fun to watch because he’s Denzel, and the film relies on his charisma to fill in some of the elements of the character. There is a turn at the end that I had a problem with, because I feel it is a little too heavy handed. Otherwise the movie is pretty enjoyable. Denzel gets down with that blade, which was what sold me on the trailer. It is a pretty good movie for a weekend thrill. I'd give it three stars.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

How I feel in my skin some days

I saw this funny or Die sketch and I laughed out loud, because it is absurd, and smart and really how I feel some days. Blair Underwood plays himself, as a black hiker, which apparently is like spotting a unicorn.


Monday, January 4, 2010

Mos Def ft. Talib Kweli "History"

A video by the mighty Mos Def featuring his BlackStar costar Talib Kweli. Track by the undeniable J Dilla.



Off Mos Def's album, the Ecstatic, which you can buy on Amazon by clicking here. http://amzn.com/B002B445ZY