James' World 2

“Tyler Perry’s A Madea Family Funeral” is a comedy written, directed, and produced by Tyler Perry. It is the eleventh and final installment of the Madea film series. The movie follows a joyous family reunion that becomes a hilarious nightmare when Madea and the crew travel to backwoods Georgia, where they find themselves unexpectedly planning a funeral that might unveil some ugly family secrets. In my opinion, this is the worse movie Tyler Perry has ever made. I was actually sorry I went to see it.

Right from the onset of “A Madea Family Funeral”, the jokes started flying, the problem is the jokes were not that funny. I felt the plot was downright ridiculous and unrealistic, plus Mabel “Madea” Simmons (Tyler Perry), used old theatrics e.g., using his male voice and asides that worked well in the Madea plays, to deliver hilarious lines but didn’t work on the…

I am still shaking my head over America voting Donald Trump in as President of the United States. Didn’t all the people see and hear the same bigoted, impossible promises I did? Now he’s appointing the worst possible cabinet to help him with his personal agenda.

NOW, America is shaken, concerned and afraid but it’s too late. Or is it?  When Trump’s run for president first began, everyone said Donald Trump would never make it to the primaries. There were 17 candidates running in the Republican Party and Donald Trump was given more media coverage than any other candidate in the history of a presidential run. Every day we were bombarded with Donald Trump’s name, something he commented on constantly. Once he won the primaries, things got worse. Trump became more outlandish and we began to see a pattern. We also discovered Trump is mentally unstable. Anyone with any sense…

Shoplifters is a Japanese drama directed, written and edited by Hirokazu Kore-edawho also  wrote the screenplay contemplating what makes a family, and inspired by reports on poverty and shoplifting in Japan. Shoplifters took me to a world in Japan that I wouldn’t have otherwise experienced. I am so grateful to have seen this movie. Shoplifters was a new experience for me coupled with love and tenderness and a cliché, “everything is not always as it seems”.

Opening in Tokyo, Japan, Shoplifters focuses on the Shibata family who lives in poverty and consist of Osamu Shibata (Lily Franky), a day laborer who had to leave his job after severely twisting his ankle; his wife Lin Nobuyo Shibata (Sakura Ando), who works for an industrial laundry service, Aki Shibata (Mayu Matsuoka), who works at a hostess club; a young boy named Shota Shibara (Kairi Jō), and Hatsue  /…

“What Men Want” is a fantasy comedy directed by Adam Shankman and is loosely based on the 2000 film, “What Women Want” in reverse gender. The plot follows a woman who, after drinking a potent concoction given by a shaman, gains the ability to hear men’s inner thoughts. While this is not a new concept, the movie is surprisingly funny.

Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) is an executive sports agent working for Summit Worldwide Management, which is mostly male-dominated. She’s been over-looked for partner several times but believes today is the day. She and her gay assistant Brandon (Josh Brener), who wants to be a sports rep, are gearing up toward a celebration, believing she is going to make partner. Ali is passed over once again, which makes her fighting mad. Ali’s boss, Nick (Brian Bosworth), acknowledges that Ali is a hard worker but he says she just doesn’t…

Incredibles 2 is categorized as a computer-animated superhero film, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Written and directed by Brad Bird and is a sequel to The Incredibles (2004) and the second full-length installment of the franchise. The story follows the Parr family as they try to restore public’s trust in superheroes while balancing their family life, only to combat a new foe who seeks to turn the populace against all superheroes. I don’t think this sequel measures up to it’s original but still a fun family movie.

The Incredibles, which consist of  Bob Parr / Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), who is the father of the family and possesses super strength and limited invulnerability; Helen Parr / Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), who is the mother of the family and has the ability to stretch her body into many shapes and forms;

RBG is a documentary directed and produced by Betsy West and Julie Cohen, focusing on the life and career of Supreme Court of the United States Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  RBG chronicles the career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, which spans several decades, and how she developed a legal legacy while becoming a pop culture icon. The film is a biographical depiction of Ginsburg from her birth, her college education and subsequent career as a law professor, her appointment to the federal judiciary by President Jimmy Carter, and eventual appointment to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton.  The film also chronicles Ginsburg’s status as a pop culture icon, starting with the publication of Notorious R.B.G.: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, written by Shana Knizhnik and Irin Carmon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the second female justice after Sandra Day…

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a western anthology written, directed, and produced by the Coen brothers.  When you hear Coen Brothers, you know you’re in for a wild ride.  The Ballad of Buster Scruggs lives up to the legend of these brothers, as it tells the tale of six short stories that appear to have no rhyme or reason. I liked some of the stories, some were just too pointless and crazy for me.

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” – Buster Scruggs (Tim Blake Nelson), is a cheerful singing cowboy who arrives at an isolated cantina full of outlaws where he exchanges insults with another patron before effortlessly shooting everyone as they reach for their guns. This first story is as bazaar as they come. The series of events will have you laughing and may leave you somewhat confused, however, I like this title the best.

“Near Algodones”

Mary Queen of Scots is a historical drama directed by Josie Rourke and written by Beau Willimon, based on John Guy’s biography, Queen of Scots: The True Life of Mary Stuart. This film is a period piece and takes place in the 1500s chronicling the 1569 conflict between Mary of Scotland and Elizabeth of England. It could be considered a tragedy based on a true story but historically incorrect which caused some adverse reviews from critics. However it’s a worth while film that I have mixed feelings about.

In 1561, nineteen-year-old Mary (Saoirse Ronan), Catholic Queen of Scotland, returns to her home country from France following the death of her husband, Francis II of France, to take up her throne. She is received by her half brother, the Earl of Moray (James McArdle). In neighboring England, her cousin, twenty-eight-year-old Elizabeth (Margot Robbie) is the Protestant Queen of England…

Christopher Robin is a fantasy comedy-drama directed by Marc Forster and written by Alex Ross Perry, Tom McCarthy, and Allison Schroeder, from a story by Greg Brooker and Mark Steven Johnson. The film is inspired by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard’s book Winnie-the-Pooh and is a live-action/CGI adaptation of the Disney franchise of the same name. The story follows an adult Christopher Robin as he has lost his sense of imagination, only to be reunited with his old stuffed bear friend, Winnie-the-Pooh and friends. I wasn’t thrilled with this film but found it cute as far as stories for children go. I also found the visual and special effects to be excellent! A working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.

A young Christopher Robin (Orton O’Brien – young / Ewan McGregor – grown up) is leaving…

The Wife is a drama directed by Björn Runge and written by Jane Anderson, based on the novel of the same name by Meg Wolitzer. The film follows a seasoned woman who questions her life choices as she travels to Stockholm with her husband, who is set to receive a prestigious Literary award. Extremely well acted with an interesting resolution to the story. I particularly liked the performances as well as the story.

The Wife opens in the year 1958 when a young Joan Archer (Annie Starke) meets Joseph Castleman (Harry Lloyd), a handsome young married professor at a women-only college. Although he is an accomplished, yet unpublished writer, Joan is awed by Joseph’s forceful personality and his advice, “a writer must write”. Joan also meets a published alumna author named Elaine Mozell (Elizabeth McGovern),whose cynical views on opportunities for female writers disheartens her. Two years later…