Tag / Movies

by Nadiya

Burt Reynolds: 1936 – 2018

Side Note:  Before I started writing this post, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” started playing from my Apple Music playlist.  All things considered, I feel like that song perfectly conveyed my feelings concerning the legend I’m dedicating this acclamation to.

Usually when I write a tribute about a celebrity that’s passed on, I start with a story about the first time I was introduced to that particular person.  However, this article can’t start off that way.  The reason being is because I honestly can’t remember the first time I saw Burt Reynolds or heard of him.  He was always just there.  Burt was always in the news, or on the TV, or in a movie while I was growing up, and he remained a constant in my life as I transitioned into young adulthood.

Burt Reynolds - Explosion (Alt)

I remember all the headlines about his and Loni Anderson’s divorce like it was yesterday.  One of my favorite episodes of The Golden Girls centered around the ladies getting a chance to Burt Reynolds, and the shenanigans they get into behind the meet and greet.  When I was a little girl, I watched All Dogs Go To Heaven a million times (Burt voiced Charlie, the dog that forsaked heaven to get another chance at life).  I finally watched Smokey and the Bandit last year (don’t judge me), and I loved every minute of it…not to mention the fact I learned that once upon a time Coors couldn’t be sold east of the Mississippi River, and if it was found past that point, it was considered contraband.  Every time I see a case of Coors in Wal-Mart now, the first thing I think of is the Bandit and the Snowman, rushing the beer back to Atlanta for the Burdette brothers.

Burt Reynolds - Smokey and the Bandit 2 (Alt)

Even though I hated Boogie Nights as a teenager—I appreciate it a lot more now that I’m grown—I always thought that Burt’s role was the best thing about it.  I have to say that one of my favorite performances of his was as Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard remake.  I know y’all are wondering why I haven’t mentioned the original film.  To be honest, I tried watching the 1974 version a few years back, but I couldn’t quite get into it.  I loved the remake, though (once again, don’t judge me).  The Longest Yard remains my second favorite Adam Sandler movie, and Burt Reynolds is a big reason why.  The role of the weathered, yet dedicated and compassionate coach fit Burt perfectly.  Sadly enough, I didn’t see Burt too much after he starred in the Adam Sandler vehicle.  About a year or so ago, I was curious to see what he had been up to, so I looked up his filmography on Wikipedia.  It turns out Burtwas still working, mostly on slightly smaller-scale films.  Despite having to deal with heart issues and overcoming an addiction to painkillers after being injured, he worked until the very end.

Burt was an extremely handsome, funny and talented man that brought lots of joy to me, my friends and family throughout the years.  Plus, he was bold enough to do this (WARNING:  NSFW):

Burt Reynolds Naked (Alt)

He’ll be sorely missed.  See you later, Bandit.

Burton Leon Reynolds, Jr.:  February 11, 1936 – September 6, 2018

—Written by Nadiya

by Nadiya

Dwayne Johnson Will FINALLY Play King Kamehameha!

Back when I first fell in love with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, I remember he always spoke of completing an acting project near and dear to his heart.  That project was playing the role of King Kamehameha, the Hawaiian monarch that united all the islands together in order to fortify themselves against their enemies.  Whenever Rock mentioned the King Kamehameha film, he would let it be known that bringing the movie to life was one of his greatest dreams, and not only would he do whatever it took to bring the dream to fruition, but he would make sure that when the project was released in the next few years, everything would fall perfectly into place.

That was in 2004.

Rock - Wow (Alt)

Although multiple reports claim that Sony bought the rights to the film back in 2002 (others say it was Columbia Pictures), there’s online articles floating around that state the delay in production was due to Rock’s Samoan/African-American heritage.  Quiet as is kept, when I was training for my Hawaiian cruise ship job with the now-defunct NCL America line in 2007 (yeah, honey; I’ve had day jobs everywhere), one of the Hawaiian elders mentioned that production for the Kamehameha project was postponed because Rock didn’t properly ask their permission to play the beloved leader, not because of his race.  After seeing personally how much Rock was revered in Hawaii (Honolulu especially), and how the seriously the Hawaiian elders valued their culture, I believe the latter story.

Well, a decade and some change later, Rock must’ve been on his P’s and Q’s and came to the elders correct, because now his long-awaited King Kamehameha project, which is now officially known as The King, is effectively a go!  According to The Hollywood Reporter, director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future trilogy, Forrest Gump) will take the reins and screenwriter Randall Wallace (Braveheart, The Man in the Iron Mask) will be in charge of writing the film.

King Kamehameha Instagram Post

The Hollywood Reporter also stated that while in Hawaii last year, Rock, Wallace and his ex-wife/business partner Dany Garcia were personally blessed during a ceremony for the film by a Hawaiian priest known as a Kahu (which further strengthens my theory about the Hawaiian elders).

I personally can’t wait to see this movie, and I’m so happy that’s it’s finally coming to life.  Congrats to you, Rock!

Rock Claps 2 (Alt)

—Written by Nadiya

So what do you think about Rock taking on the role of King Kamehameha?  Have you been waiting for him to start the project since the early to mid 2000’s like me, or is this the first time you’ve heard of it?  Is it a role Rock was born to play, or does his multi-racial ethnicity cause concern?  Do you believe the movie was postponed because Rock didn’t give the Hawaiian elders the proper respect by asking permission to shoot the film?  Give me your thoughts in the comments section!

by Nadiya

April 2018: One Damn Crazy Month!

Hey, y’all!  Another month in 2018 has come and gone (man, this year is flying by!).  This past April was so crazy, I didn’t really have a chance to report on everything that went on, considering that a lot of things were happening back to back.  With that being said, I decided to create an “April in review” post to revisit some of the previous month’s biggest events.  Let’s get this party started!

Black Panther Surpasses Titanic as the Third Biggest Box Office Smash

Black Panther (Alt)

Black Panther was one of the most anticipated movies of 2018 (not to mention one of the best), and the box office numbers reflected that.  When the film was released this  February, it made $370.5 M globally.  By April, the movie grossed $1.3 billion, surpassing Titanic as the third highest grossing film in North America, behind Star Wars:  The Force Awakens and Avatar.  The movie’s success was well deserved.  For those of y’all that haven’t seen Black Panther yet, you’re definitely missing out (plus, it’s best to watch Black Panther before you see Avengers:  Infinity War, considering there’s a connection between the two films, of course).  The movie will be released Blu-Ray/DVD on May 8th.  Go out and buy that bad boy!

Cardi B Drops Invasion of Privacy and Reveals Her Pregnancy All While Breaking Beyoncé’s Record!

Cardi B 2 (Alt)

Speaking of topping records, I have to mention Cardi B’s accomplishments in April.  From the time this year started, most people wanted two things confirmed:  the date Cardi would release her full-length album and whether or not she was pregnant.  All Cardi’s fans got their wish.  On April 5, 2018, Cardi released her debut album, Invasion of Privacy, which received mostly critical acclaim from critics and audiences.  I enjoyed the album immensely myself (yeah, I’m warming up to new school Hip Hop).  Two days after the album release, Cardi finally settled the rumors about her being pregnant by showing her big belly during her live performance of “Be Careful” on SNL.  If all that wasn’t enough, Cardi soon shattered Beyoncé’s record of having the most songs featured on the Billboard Top 100 chart simultaneously.  Good ‘head, Cardi, and congrats on the new baby!

J. Cole Releases His KOD Album

J. Cole

On April 20, 2018, J. Cole released his long-awaited album, KOD (short for “Kids on Drugs,” “King Overdosed” and/or “Kill Our Demons”).  KOD debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart after earning 397,000 units, making this album his fifth consecutive No. 1 debut.  So far, I’ve listened to the tracks “ATM,” “Kevin’s Heart,” and “1985 (Intro to “The Fall Off”)”, and I’m lovin’ them.  I heard a small portion of J. Cole’s work before, but this is the first time I really listened to his music, and I’m impressed.  J. Cole, thanks for making some bangers to add to my Apple Music collection!

Kendrick Lamar Won a Pulitzer Prize for DAMN.!

Kendrick Lamar

Out of everyone listed in this post, Kendrick Lamar had to be the person that had the best month (and/or possibly the best year) ever.  On April 16, 2018, Kendrick won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album DAMN.  Beforehand, only jazz and classical albums won the coveted award.  I have to say, I couldn’t be prouder of Kendrick.  Earning a Pulitzer was a great win for him and Hip Hop.  Of course, certain folks had to bring up Grammy night—again—and how he was robbed of the Album of the Year award, and that the Grammys ain’t shit, etc.  Look, the Pulitzer is a lot more prestigious than the Album of the Year Grammy anyway.  The jury takes their job with the awarding the Pulitzer so seriously, that there’s even been a few years that they didn’t grant the award to anyone.  So, kudos to Kendrick and the folks still butthurt over Grammy night can shut the hell up forever.

Bill Cosby Was Found Guilty of Sexual Assault

Jury Finds Bill Cosby Guilty In Retrial

This has to be the saddest piece of news that occurred last month.  On April 24, 2018, Bill Cosby was found guilty on all three counts of sexual misconduct and may face up to 10 years in prison.  I honestly didn’t believe Bill would even be indicted, given the history of powerful men usually escaping any type of jail time in criminal cases.  Camille Cosby, Bill’s wife, recently came forward and accused the district attorney’s office of committing “mob justice,” and likened Bill’s trial to that of Emmett Till.  I wouldn’t go quite that far, Mrs. Cosby.

I still find it hard to believe that Bill Cosby even committed these crimes.  I’m not saying he’s innocent; too many women have come forward, all different races and ages, all echoing pretty much the same stories, much like Harvey Weinstein’s case.  I find it hard to believe because this was the same Bill Cosby I grew up on.  The same Bill Cosby that created Fat Albert and A Different World.  The same Bill Cosby I used to watch every Thursday night on The Cosby Show and each afternoon on Nickelodeon doing his Picture Pages segment.  The same Bill Cosby I saw on Jell-O commercials.  The same Bill Cosby that donated millions to HBCU’s.  It’s the same Bill Cosby that spoke at my late grandmother’s 50th anniversary of her college graduation.  It’s a shame that a man that built up a 50+ year legacy destroyed it all in the most shameful manner possible.

—Written by Nadiya

EDIT:  Black Panther will be released digitally on May 8th, and on Blu-Ray/DVD on May 15th.  Either way, go purchase a copy!

What do you think the biggest moment of April 2018 was?  What do you think about the moments I listed?  Were they eventful, or ho-hum?  Let me know in the comments section!

by Nadiya

‘Infinity War’ Spoilers! (Out of Context)

Hey, y’all!  I know I just posted my Avengers:  Infinity War review just yesterday, but I realize some of you out there may be curious about all the big events that happened in the film.  For all of you that want the fine details of the movie, I decided to make this post feature the major spoilers in the film.  I decided to tell you guys the important plot points using one of my favorite methods:  GIFs.  Enjoy!

 

 

***WARNING:  The following GIFs contain important spoilers for Avengers:  Infinity War.  If you haven’t seen the film yet, you may not want to see the pictures.  YOU’VE BEEN WARNED.***

 

 

Naruto - Choking (Alt)

Flying Doughnut (Alt)

Squidsworth - I Hate Everyone (Alt)

Needles in Face (Alt)

Thumper (Alt)

Hans Falling (Alt)

Tyrion - A Small Man Can Cast a Large Shadow (Alt)

Forging Metal (Alt)

World War Z (Alt)

Ashes to Ashes 2 (Alt)

Cecily Strong - Huh (Alt)

Hope you learned somethin’!  (You can thank Twitter for the idea.  😂😂)

—Written (and GIFs posted) by Nadiya

by Nadiya

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Was an Experience…

Wow.  Just wow.

I took the chance to see Avengers:  Infinity War last night (Apr. 28, 2018), not really knowing what to expect.  I heard the ending was crazy (which it was); when I viewed Avengers:  Age of Ultron nearly three years ago I remember walking out of the theatre a bit disappointed, and over the years, I’ve learned that having so many great characters and/or actors in one film can be hit or miss.  Last night I left the movie theatre with my mind blown…in a good way.

Just a quick synopsis:  Thanos—the purple bad guy that the MCU’s been teasing us with for the past six years—finally does something and decides to rule the universe with the help of the Infinity Gauntlet and all six of the Infinity Stones.  It’s up to The Avengers to stop him, but to the chagrin of humanity, they’re scattered across the universe and not exactly on speaking terms (Tony and Steve).  Thankfully, they gain a little help from their friends:  The Guardians of the Galaxy, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange (yes, those Beatles puns were intentional).  The stakes have never been higher.

Thanos (Alt)

I know what you’re thinking:  “We already know that much about the movie from the trailers and TV commercials!”  Well, that’s all I’m able to tell you without spoiling the film.  I’ll just speak on the other factors of Infinity War I enjoyed without getting deep into the plot.  First of all, this is one of the darkest movies in the MCU, and I liked that they decided to take The Avengers series to the next level the way they did.  Once again, I can’t speak too much on the subject without revealing major plot points, but trust me…the darker tone is well worth the price of admission.

All the actors did a great job, and the film was very well written as well as brilliantly handled.  I never got the feeling of there being too many cooks (The Expendables), or that the characters were all fighting for screen time (Age of Ultron).  Without broadcasting too much of the storyline, the characters were basically grouped off in different areas for the duration of the movie.  Steve, Bucky, T’Challa and the rest of Team Cap from Captain America:  Civil War (including Bruce, Vision, and Rhodey this go around) were mostly in Wakanda.  Thor, Rocket, and Groot took a trip to Nidavellir.  The remaining Guardians travel to Knowhere and later meet up with Doctor Strange, Tony and Spider-Man in Titan.  It never felt as if one character had too much focus or not enough.  Each player had equal time in the spotlight.  One thing I really like about the Russo Brothers is that they know how to handle an ensemble cast, as they more than proved when they took the helm of Civil War back in 2016.

Infinity War (Alt)

I have to echo many movie reviewers’ take on Thanos; I like the fact that he’s a fleshed out villain—much like Loki and Erik Killmonger—and he’s more than just an evildoer wrecking havoc for the sake of evil.  It’s revealed that he actually has a heart and feels genuine love…or at least his version of it.  Thanos is also a formidable opponent—as we all figured—but he turns out to commit deeds that are even worse than what we imagined, for a purpose we never would have thought possible.  The Avengers definitely have their work cut out for them.

Thor - Who the Hell are You Guys (Alt)

What I really loved about Infinity War was how the movie portrayed my baby Thor. When it comes to the Avengers movies, sometimes it feels that my sweetie is a bit underutilized, at least in my opinion.  Even though the first Avengers film still stands firm as my favorite out of the MCU, Thor didn’t really have a chance to shine, which in some respects is understandable, since he had to share the screen with his other teammates.  However, in Infinity War, Thor doesn’t hold back a damn thing, and he comes for Thanos with a vengeance, showing that he truly is mighty.  Thor is so badass in this film, that there’s a key scene where he appears in all his glory, and I kid you not, everyone in the theatre applauded.  I love that man.

Now onto the things I didn’t care for, which are small and minuscule.  Wanda’s (Scarlett Witch) accent kept changing from American to slightly Northern European.  She had a  thick Russian-esque accent in Age of Ultron and Civil War.  Pick one, boo.  Another small thing is that sometimes the transition from scene to scene would be a bit jarring, especially if it would say, switch from Earth to a completely atypical planet, but once again, that wasn’t really a biggie.  As I said before, the scenes clashed just a tiny bit, but the difference wasn’t completely overwhelming.  Oh yeah, and I didn’t like Black Widow with blonde hair.  Just sayin’.  Still ain’t feelin’ Thor’s haircut, but I’m over it.  Other than that, the movie was excellent.

In conclusion, if you haven’t seen Avengers:  Infinity War, get off your badonkadonk and go see it.  It’s worth the price of admission.  Don’t be cheap.  😛😛

Star Lord and Iron Man - It Sucks (Alt).gif

—Written by Nadiya

Have you seen Avengers:  Infinity War?  What did you think about it?  Was it the best film in the MCU, the worst, or did you like it, but not much as some of the other movies in the Marvel Universe?  Who was your favorite character?  Who was your least favorite character?  Did you think Thanos made a great villain or was he just…meh?  Let me know in the comments section!

 

by Nadiya

Interesting Movies in January? Wow!

January Calendar

Hey, y’all!  2018 is here, and although the month of January has sucked for me so far (strep throat, money issues, my mom having the flu for nearly a month and my dog running off; y’all didn’t come to hear me whine, so I’ll hush), it appears to be really exciting in the world of entertainment, especially in the film industry.  Now, usually January is the month for films that are absolutely horrid, but this year, I haven’t heard any extremely bad reviews for any of the films that were released—some of them have been considered fair or just okay at worst, but not extremely bad—and I’m pretty interested in quite of few of them myself.   Here’s a small list of some of the movies that have come out this month—or were released last month and still in the theatres—that I’d love to see.

Proud Mary

Proud Mary

No, this is not based on the classic Ike and Tina Turner song (and yes, I know that Creedence Clearwater Revival made the song first…I love that version too, BTW).  Proud Mary showcases Ms. Taraji P. Henson as the bad ass eponymous hitwoman that makes Cookie Lyon look like Mother Teresa.  However, Mary isn’t completely heartless.  She crosses paths with a young boy that’s impacted by one of her hits and takes him under her wing, much to the chagrin of her boss.  The second I saw the trailer for this film last year, I knew I had to see it.  It was full of action and it looked like tons of fun.  I loved seeing Taraji kickin’ ass and takin’ names!

12 Strong

12 Strong (Alt)

12 Strong is a vehicle that tells the story of CIA operatives and paramilitary men sent to Afghanistan immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks.  When these men arrive in the country, they’re sent out to fight the Taliban on horseback, aided by an Afghan warlord.  I have to admit, I’m not the biggest fan of military films, but I’ve seen some great ones in my lifetime, and this film may very well be another one.  Plus, this film has Chris Hemsworth in it.  That’s more than enough to motivate me to spend some money.  Not only that, but YouTube reviewer Chris Stuckmann gave the movie a pretty decent review (I told y’all, most of the movies released so far have gotten decent reviews), which convinces me a bit more that the film is worth checking out.

Den of Thieves

Den of Thieves (Alt)

Den of Thieves is about a group of—you guessed it, thieves—coming together to rob a bank and the elite group of policemen from the LA Sheriff’s Department that’s coming to take them down.  I’ve always loved movies about crafty thieves, which is ironic considering that I can’t stand people that steal in real life.  There’s something else about this movie that piquing my interest as well.  While I was listening to The DL Hughley Show, Aleebo the Bootleg Warrior did a review of Den of Thieves, stating that the movie leaves you unsure who to root for, the cops or the crooks, seeing as the cops are just as unscrupulous as the robbers are.  Yes, I realize that the Aleebo segement is mainly a spoof, but I must admit, if the movie really does go that route, it’s well worth two hours of my time.  Last but not least, that fine ass O’Shea Jackson, Jr. is in it!  Not only is he easy on the eye, but his last two films (Straight Outta Compton and Ingrid Goes West) have proven him to be a very good actor.  Can’t wait to see this one.

Star Wars:  The Last Jedi

The Last Jedi (Alt)

As I said before, there’s some movies that were released in December that are still in the theatres that I still want to see, and Star Wars:  The Last Jedi is one of those films, despite the mixed reviews.  For those of y’all that’ve been living under a rock, The Last Jedi continues Rey and Finn’s story from the previous film, The Force Awakens.  This go around, Rey trains to be a Jedi from the one and only Luke Skywalker and faces off against whiny ass Kylo Ren once more.  I don’t really have to explain why this movie is on the list, do I?  It’s from the Star Wars series, I’m a nerd, and this was one of Carrie Fisher’s last roles, not to mention her last appearance as General (Princess) Leia.  Need I say more?

—Written by Nadiya

Although I really want to, I can’t see any of these films at the moment, because I’m broke as hell!  So, with that being said, what films do y’all wanna see this month?  Do any of the movies I listed seem interesting to you?  Are there any other films you’d like to see?  Let me know in the comments section!

by Nadiya

The WTF? Moments of 2017 – Part 3

Ice Cube - WTF 3

This WTF Ice Cube pic was meant to be ironic.

Okay, y’all.  Here’s the last installment of the WTF moments of 2017 (and most of the good moments are in this post)!  Enjoy!

Jay-Z Releases 4:44…and Promptly Gets Stung By the Beyhive

444 (Alt)

On June 30, 2017, Jay-Z released his critically acclaimed 4:44 album.  I’ve heard most of the tracks on the album, and I can say with all honesty that it’s pure fire.  As I stated earlier, the album was praised by critics and fans alike and has received numerous accolades, including at least three Grammy nominations.  However, there were some people that didn’t appreciate the album so much…the Beyhive.

As some of y’all may remember, I reviewed Beyoncé’s Lemonade album last year.  When it came down to the subject of infidelity on the record, I stated that there was a 50/50 chance that was Bey was speaking on happened in real life, or it could be just a topic she wanted to explore.  Well, when Jigga released 4:44, he confirmed on the title track, and the songs “Kill Jay-Z” and “Family Feud” that everything Beyoncé spoke about in Lemonade was true.  He really did cheat on her.  Some have even considered 4:44 to be a companion piece to Lemonade.  That really pissed the Beyhive off.  The minute they learned that Jigga was unfaithful to Beyoncé for the majority of their relationship (apparently he didn’t stop cheating on her until Blue Ivy was born), they went in.  For nearly the entire afternoon on June 30th, the Beyhive dragged Jigga by the lips.  It was damn brutal.

They even started analyzing Beyoncé’s old tracks and stating that they were symbolic of all the pain she was going through (“Ring the Alarm” was one of the ones they mentioned if I remember correctly).  One Beyhive member even mentioned the song “All I Could Do Was Cry” as being representative of Beyoncé’s anguish.  I wanted to tell her that “All I Could Do Was Cry” was actually an Etta James cover Bey did for the film Cadillac Records, but my better judgment kicked in, and I left the subject alone (another fellow Beyhive member corrected her later).  The dust settled by the next day, and today, everyone’s psyched about the release of Jigga’s “Family Feud” video, namely because Bey and Blue Ivy are featured in it.

Lisa Bloom Is Everywhere!

Lisa Bloom (Alt)

If there was one person that had a good doggone year this year, it was Lisa Bloom.  Before 2017, I didn’t know much about Lisa.  I had only really heard about her famous mother, Gloria Allred (who’s also an attorney).  That all changed this year, Lord knows.  She represented damn near everyone:  Kathy Griffin, Quantasia Sharpton (one of Usher’s accusers; see Part 2 to learn more about her), Melissa Meeks (Jeremy Meeks’s aka “Felon Bae’s” ex-wife), Montia Sabbag (the woman caught with Kevin Hart), Blac Chyna and even Harvey Weinstein, who she later dropped as a client.  Good Lord!  Can’t say this lady isn’t makin’ her money!

The New Edition Story

the-new-edition-story-video-soul-2

Here’s another good WTF moment for 2017.  My very first post for the year (and for the longest time, the only post I had) was about how much I loved The New Edition Story.  I figured the movie would be good when I first heard about it, but when I actually watched it, I was blown away.  Viewing this miniseries the first of the year and noting how it gave BET its prestige back, let me know that 2017 was certainly starting off on the right foot (at least in respect to entertainment), aside from all the Chris Brown/Soulja Boy drama (that’s explained in Part 1).  Y’all can read my review for my in-depth analysis, but I’ll say that if you haven’t seen this film, or you’re one of the young millennials that don’t really know much about New Edition, you definitely wanna check this gem out.

Note:  I found out after writing my review for The New Edition Story that the altercation the boys had with Kurtis Blow was fabricated for entertainment purposes.  Sorry, Kurt!

Get Out Is One of the Biggest Blockbusters of the Year

Get Out (Alt)

The night I went to see Get Out, I decided to make a mother-daughter day of it, and let’s just say that everything went wrong…horribly wrong.  By the time we got to the theatre, I was physically and emotionally drained.  Then the film started, and my mood lifted.  Get Out was one of the most thought-provoking horror-comedy/thrillers I’ve ever seen, and I knew that all the hype the movie was getting was well deserved.

I was interested in seeing this film from the get go.  I remember my former editor tasking us to write a review about the teaser trailer circa Dec. 2016, but apparently, he was told to inform us “not to mention race in the review.”  After viewing the trailer, that request seemed asinine then, and it seems even more asinine now.  The entire movie revolves around race, with wealthy, yet aging white people having their consciousness placed in young black people because they buy into stereotypes of us being faster, stronger and more virile.  The theme struck a chord with a lot of people, black and white alike, and became a blockbuster film, as well as the most talked about movie of 2017, arguably.

What was even more shocking is that the film was directed and written by Jordan Peele, who we never even figured would make a movie this deep, given his strictly comedic background.  The easter eggs and symbolism in Get Out has been discussed so much, that Jordan even made a video breaking down the fan theories.  Not only that, but the film has made its way into the pop culture lexicon.  “The sunken place” is now the go-to phrase whenever describing the space some black folks seem to be in whenever they disrespect the culture.  I was so glad to see this movie get the love it deserves.  If you haven’t seen Get Out yet, you must’ve been sittin’ under a rock.  Get out and see it.  **Bad pun**

The World Welcomes Sir and Rumi Carter, Queen Beyoncé’s Twins

Beyonce's Baby Bump (Alt)

 

Before Jigga got drug by his lips for admittedly disrespecting his wife for years on end, the Beyhive rejoiced circa Feb. 2017 when Beyonce first announced that she was pregnant again, this time with twins.  Needless to say, when the now legendary Instagram post with Bey’s baby bump was first uploaded, the whole internet went ape.  For the next few months, all anyone could talk about was Beyoncé’s twins.  Would they be two girls, two boys or a girl and a boy?  If they were two girls, did that mean that they would team up with Blue and become a new generation of Destiny’s Child?  What would be the twins’ names?  On and on it went.  Then, sometime in June, Beyoncé had her babies.

Sir and Rumi with Beyonce (Alt)

The internet started going even more ape, begging to see photos of the twins and to learn their names.  Some of them even fawned over the fact that Bey had the twins in June, making them Geminis.  A few weeks later, Queen Bey posted her second legendary photo of herself and the babies and made their names public:  Sir and Rumi.  Personally, I would’ve gone another route, but these are Beyoncé’s kids; she can name them whatever she wants to.  Of course, whenever the media gets a glimpse of the babies, to this very day, everyone loses their shit.  That’s fine, though.  Bey seems happy and it looks like she and Jigga have worked things out, making their family stronger than ever.  Congrats to Beyoncé.

 

Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo Movement

Harvey Weinstein and Me Too

For decades, Harvey Weinstein was considered one of the top film producers in the movie industry.  Weinstein was once the co-owner of the now-defunct Miramax Films and the current owner of The Weinstein Company, and he worked with industry legends such as Quentin Tarantino, Peter Jackson, and Robert Rodriguez.  However, Weinstein’s good name and prestige became irreparably damaged circa fall 2017.  Around that time, A-list actresses such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Asia Argento, Rose McGowan, and Ashley Judd alleged that they had all suffered some type of sexual harassment and/or assault from Weinstein.  Despite being a well-respected producer, rumors about Weinstein’s proclivities towards sexual misconduct had been going around Hollywood for years, but they were written off as just baseless lies or bad jokes.  When the victimized women came forward, people began to see the truth in the what they were saying, and Weinstein’s misdeeds became public knowledge in a major way.

Over time, nearly 82 women stated that Weinstein had either raped or sexually harassed them.  There was even an audio tape released of Weinstein aggressively coaxing Italian model Ambra Gutierrez to come to his hotel room.  After the women told their stories, the floodgates opened.  More victims, men and women, shed light on their own sexual assaults, but their own stories weren’t against Harvey Weinstein…they were against other big players in Hollywood.  Names of alleged rapists/sexual harassers have included Dustin Hoffman, Richard Dreyfuss, Charlie Sheen, Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Brett Ratner, Jeremy Piven, and Ben Affleck, just to name a few.  Other men outside of Hollywood were also accused of sexual assault such as Tavis Smiley, Warren Sapp, Charlie Rose, Russell Simmons and Matt Lauer.  The victims vary in gender and race, and they have ranged from Angelina Jolie to Terry Crews.  Corey Feldman, who’s been calling out Hollywood’s pedophilia for years and has admitted to being a victim himself, has recently decided to make a film exposing other industry people that have molested and raped young children.  Ironically enough, the interview Corey had about his upcoming film (which was the very one I linked) was with none other than Matt Lauer.

These admissions of being victimized have given power to the #MeToo movement, a crusade first started by Tarana Burke in 2006.  After Alyssa Milano encouraged other victims to say the phrase on Twitter, the campaign grew in size and reputation.  The silence breakers in the #MeToo movement were voted Time magazine’s 2017 Person of the Year.  More victims have made their stories public, no longer afraid of the ramifications of speaking up about the abuse they’ve endured.

Donald Trump Is Sworn In As the 45th President of the United States

Donald Trump (Alt)

Need I say more?

—Written by Nadiya

Okay, y’all.  That was the last part of my WTF series!  What did you consider the biggest WTF moment of 2017; good or bad?  Did you agree with any of the things I mentioned?  Would you add anything else?  Let me know in the comments section!