It's Hammer-Time! - Thor

2 1/2 Popcorn Kernels out of 5

SEE TRAILER HERE

As a fan of comic books, Thor is pretty good - it creates a visual marvel (despite more CGI effects than should be permitted); but as an overall movie masterpiece (where the standard has been set by the Xmen, Spiderman, and Iron Man franchises) it falls a grade below. 


This movie seems to be just a quick vehicle as a lead-in to the Avengers movie that is soon to come out; and if you didn't know - the Avengers are a league of superheroes that come together (sanctioned by Nick Fury (Samuel l. Jackson) of S.H.I.E.L.D.) to fight a global threat. This league includes Captian America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk...and others as the FIRST Avengers. I wont get too much into that - considering the movie wont be onscreen until 2012; but this story of Thor feels put together with cosmic dust and spit if you ask me...and here's why...

Father Son Moment

Odin (Anthony Hopkins) is the king of Asgard, and he is in the decision of deciding which of his sons will be his next successor; they are, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) handsome but a handful, and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) smart but cunning. He chooses Thor, but as the ceromony begins, there is a attempted theft in the castle. They are currently at peace  from another race on another planet, called the Frost Giants, who's planet is well...pretty darn cold. Back in the day, the warriors of Asgard stole their source of power, known as a Casket of Ancient Winters (a small box-looking thing), and kept it from them so they would not use it to conquer the Nine Realms (which Earth is a part of). Well, they decided to sneak back into Asgard to claim back the Casket - but this attempt fails. If someone took the source of my power, well I would want it back too, dontcha think?


Whew...you with me so far? Good. Well, Thor...being Thor - the hot headed spoiled little brat that he is, from living the good life with his father, and from hanging out with his crowd of friends, who all have different powers bequithed upon them (Thor gets a powerful hammer that does all kinds of damage and stuff), well he is angry because Odin decides to investigate this thieft and hold off on choosing a successor. This does not make Thor happy, and he decides to take his anger out on the Frost Giants by visiting their planet (along with his friends), and wiping out the whole race of them. Unfortunately, he starts to make a mess of things, so Odin has to intervene...saving the day, but now the Frost Giants have declared war - this causes Odin to become very angry at Thor (what's a father to do). He banishes Thor to Earth without his Hammer...and there he meets storm-chaser Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), her assistant Darcy (Kat Dennings), and their founder Dr. Erik Selvig, as Thor shoots from the heavens to Earth. Of course S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil (Clark Gregg) also notices the disruption in the Earth's atmosphere (caused when Odin tosses the Hammer to Earth -  only to be lifted by Thor when he has learned his lesson), and goes on alert to find the source.


With me so far...well, Loki assumes the throne when his father becomes ill from all this worry and excitement, and plans to keep Thor on Earth no matter what, although Thor's little playmates want him back...

Remaining Lo-Ki

Okay, you can get the jist of the rest of the story. Thor flounces the tourist population of this small town with his golden skin and fluid pecks, while Jane (are they all called Jane), at first tries to ignore him but of course who could resist those Norse Gods? We then have battle scenes that are so dipped in special effects, that they should just be called Special Sauce, cause everyone bounces back as beautiful as ever...until the final battle of Brother against Brother.


I have to give kudos to the one black character in this film...the gatekeeper of worlds Heimdall (Idris Elba), who despite a limited role (and one of obvious servitude), did a good job of acting as we sense his struggle between loyalty (saving Thor) and duty (obeying Loki), for he guards Thors gateway back home. Loki also was a very intriguing character who I wanted to see more of in the film...he was one of those smart villians that used words more than brawn to get his deeds across; very Shakesperian - but instead of choosing wit to battle Thor, he chooses more etheral methods - yet on every other character in the movie he outwitted the situation with a sort of panache.


Now, I did like this movie as an escapism. It is fun to see my comic heroes as a child on the big screen, no matter the taste of the movie. But we have to like them a little to begin with, and Thor is just not likeable. Iron Man's Tony Stark was a "B!&@*" too, but he was a "B" to other industry-type "B's", and didn't just cause mayhem cause he was bored. Tony also listened to those around him when getting advice. Thor the movie is enjoyable, but it won't be remembered the next day, cause not much happens, the other characters are all forgettable, and the love interest is really...well...really...he only met one gal in a sea of thousands. Surely there are other Asgard women (a township we never see), who are wayyyyyy hotter I'm sure! 


This movie will be great to complete your collection of Avenger movies. Just as the use of Thor's Hammer may only be used to drive a nail through wood, this movie is only an excuse to get inside and soak up some air conditioning. (also...wait until the movie credits are over to see the start of something AVENGER-ous).

The Color of Money - Jumping The Broom

3 out of 5 Popcorn Kernels

 SEE TRAILER HERE

The tradition of jumping the broom dates back to the time of Black slavery, when the union of marriage wasn't recognized within that group - it was both symbolic as well as set the duties of the wife as homekeeper; where the broom was usually set in the doorway of their new residence. In the movie Jumping The Broom - the tradition is brushed aside slightly in light of the union and exploration of social classes among African Americans.

This type of movie was also explored in both Madea's Happy Family as well as Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom (the latter much better than the former) - and many of the themes are seen in both, but Jumping The Broom I believe explores them in many more diverse ways, thus making this a very enjoyable movie which for some (non-African Americans) may border on average viewing.

Mr. Right...on the Beach

The Premise: Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton of Precious fame), after an ephifany-date with a hunk, realises she wants more than just the average one-night-stand, and asks God to bring along Mr. Right - and she quickly gets her wish (I'm still waiting for that winning lottery ticket however), in Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso). They date, and soon marriage is brought up, but both come from different sides of the track; Sabrina from a wealthy family, and Jason from a more modest one - and they have yet to have their families introduced, so before the wedding (days actually), they do this where the cerimony will talke place: at Jason's parents place at Martha's Vineyard.


The parents make this movie. Mrs Watson (Angela Bassett), and Mrs Taylor (Loretta Devine) are such opposites and so immersed in their characters, that although it borders on over-the-top performances, they both bounce off each other with the ease of a trapeze artist. The rest of the cast provides the many interlinking stories involving romance and relationships involving both the social classes, family, loyalty, and to a smaller aspect of child rearing and family secrets. We also have a new take on age and love which I liked. The characters are smart and assertive, and not dumed down in the sterotypes that plague movies of the African American nature.


I was really impressed with the diversity of the cast, but T.D. Jake's movies seem to have this, without throwing morality lessons in the mix as Tyler Perry movies do (although T.D. could use an acting class more). This could have been a simple Lifetime movie, but seeing it on the big screen with a mostly African American cast is refreshing in the light of so few of them being on screen to begin with. The subltle implications of the meaning of Jumping The Broom is brought up by Mrs. Taylor, who's family has passed down this old tradition - and is rejected by the more progressive Mrs. Watson who although having a family which owned slaves, wants nothing to do with the traditions of those her ancestors most likely rejected as their servants.

Couch Potatoes

What I was suprised at was at how bubbly Sabrina is in trying to bring the peace among families. It would have become annoying, but she shows her angry side when it comes to her views and later when her family ties are threatened. On some level, the situations in this movie appears to be written for a much younger cast, but the roster of African American actors in their 20's isn't very long. I would like to see her in something more dramatic where she is the star - she has a very appealing presence along with her beauty; reminded me slightly of a young Halle Berry.


Overall, this is a great date/single movie, where the story is very straight-forward, the acting good, the look of it very beautiful, and the cast...in a word...colorful.