It's Thanksgiving week, the holiday nestled between Halloween and Christmas, that is kind of acknowledged and then quickly moved on from. Just like in real life Thanksgiving action movies are few and far between. However, even though competition is minimal, there is one movie that deserves the crown as the best action Thanksgiving movie ever.
I'm talking about 2005's Four Brothers. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Andre 3000, Tyrese, and Garrett Hedlund. With Tajiri P. Henson, Sofia Vegara, Terrance Howard, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Josh Charles rounding out the supporting cast. The four stars play Brothers hell bent on investigating and avenging the murder of their adopted mom.
Set around the holidays, the film touches on three pillars that Thanksgiving stands on. Family, although they are not blood related they were raised together under the same roof by the same woman and ARE family. They bicker, argue, and play fight with one another as brothers do. Thankfulness, the four are all grateful for one another during the trying time.
Grief, those first holidays after losing someone close to you are tough. The Thanksgiving scene highlights how much each of them miss their mother and the warmth, comfort, and steadiness she bought to their lives.
The movie has an important message about brotherhood and family. It wouldnt be as beloved as it is, if not for the action scenes as well. For the record Chiwetel Ejiofor's Victor Sweet is still a effective but highly underrated villain.
He was ruthless, condescending, but had personality. I wish he was included more in the film. The there's the shootout at the family's house, that is heartwrenching and a damn good action scene.
The almost seven minute scene is thrilling, really has you concerned about the Brothers safety. And it shows how much they really care about one another. It really sets the tone for the rest of the movie and drives home that emotional stake for the brothers.
Some consider the film a cult classic, but I consider it a modern classic. And now that I've got the wheels spinning in your head, it's a Thanksgiving classic. So get some dessert of your choice on Turkey day (skip that pumpkin pie). Turn on the movie and enjoy the lessons the movie provides.
In the late 80’s to early 90’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was a powerhouse franchise you could not ignore. Cartoons, toys, cereal, video games, concerts Ninja Turtles were everywhere and consumed by nearly every child on the planet. March 30, 1990 the first film starring the turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hit the big screen worldwide. I was 4 years old when the film released and still remember going to Reisterstown Road Plaza Movie Theater to see the film. I also vividly remember the excitement I couldn’t contain looking on a big screen watching four turtles, that I had all the toys of walking, talking, fighting, and dropping a curse word here and there and having fun doing it. At that age all I wanted to be was a ninja turtle mainly Mickey, eat some pizza and at times some greens so I could turn green, and kick some foot clan butt just like they did.
Once the films box office run ended, it grossed over $135 million stateside and $201 million worldwide, making it the most successful independent film at that time which shows how popular the turtles were. Through the years I've watched the movie faithfully on cable, VHS, DVD, and later Netflix still quoting the movie and reliving the memories of wanting to be a ninja. As an adult every chance I get I watch the movie, and watching it now I know exactly why I enjoy it so much.
The ninja turtles’ franchise has produced 6 films, the original trilogy in the 90’s, an animated film in 2007, and two films in the mid-2010s. Out of the original trilogy during the time when the turtles were at the height of their popularity, the first film still reigns as king. The second film (which I love just as much) is much more juvenile and light hearted, borrowing its tone from the popular cartoon. The third movie went even further into light hearted territory with its plot and even more juvenile jokes. It has its flaws but its also not a horrible film, but that’s another story for another day.
The first film borrows most of its tone from the original comic book with its dark and grim atmosphere. The lighting, the set pieces, everything that surrounds the film is dark. Not sure if that was to be intune with the turtles operating from the shadows or not. Even the trailer for the film has a dark vibe to it, which years later all comic book films wanted to use in its tone. That’s why I think the first film is still the best turtles film ever because it appeals to many different audiences. Kids love the turtles with their color coded headbands and wisecracking jokes, but the dark brooding vibe and sense of real danger and consequences appeals to older teenagers and adults as well.
Some of the redeeming qualities and positive aspects of the film include. The fight scenes are hard-hitting, realistic, and has ramifications . Villian Shredder is portrayed as a real intimidating badass who is a serious threat, he displays his martial arts prowess at the end of the film manhandling the turtles by himself despite being outnumbered. The technology of the Turtles suits with their intricate designs and similiar yet distinct features (which to this day is still a marvel). Despite all that the most important aspect of the movie, is that it is about family. When the turtles father sewer rat Master Splinter is abducted, they have to look amongst each other and realize they are all they have. The Foot Clan criminal organization led by Shredder recruits young teenagers and young adults looking for a place to belong. The Shredder proclaims the organization as “family”, with the Shredder being they’re “father”. Manipulating and molding the young minds into being what he wants them to be while feeding their desire to be accepted.
A young teenager in the film and friend of April O’Neil Danny is a part of the organization, and joins them looking for a family as he doesn’t feel close with his father. I wish that could have been explored a little bit more in the film, but it wasn’t super essential to the film so I get it. At the end of the film, some members of the gang learn what you consider “family” may not always be best for you, and the turtles reunite with Master Splinter they also gain new family members in April and vigilante Casey Jones. In the process they learn family is not always blood related.
Maybe as an adult I’ve read too much into the film and the themes of the story. I truly believe the theme of family is what makes me continue to love the film so much. Even if you just love watching the movie and don’t care for the themes, on the 30th anniversary pop in the DVD, pull up Netflix and sit back and enjoy a film that is a bonafide classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Successful is defined by Webster dictionary as a adjective and means "resulting or terminating in success" or "gaining or having gained success."
Everyone wakes up everyday with the goal of being successful. Every working person is
hardworking and makes a goal of being successful in life and what they do. Some
people just want to be successful point blank period. However there are
different definitions and interpretations of successful. To some people a high
paying, demanding job, where they make a ton of money is successful. Other
people view success as having a good job, a job they love, or a job they can
tolerate that pays the bills and provides them comfort. Leaving them with time
to have a life.
There
lies the balance, the work life balance. While everyone will not be rich or
wealthy, how much is one willing to sacrifice to obtain the other? Though this
is not the case in all situations a lot of ultra successful people sacrifice
their personal lives. They miss out on family events, don’t take vacations, or
work while on vacation. Take no days off, work on their off day. Whatever they
feel needs to happen for the job to get done. A lot of ultra successful people often end up miserable because they lack relationships due to putting work first.
On
the other hand there are folks who want to do their 40 hours a week and call it
a day. Some people even prefer to work 32 hours a week to spend more time with
their family. They may not be rich and are just “making it”, but they are living
their life the way they want, are right there for every precious family moment.
They Love it and in the end they are happy.
Then
there are the small minority who have somehow made it all work. Highly successful
in their profession and a good family life. While working demanding long hours,
around the clock, they value the importance of personal time. So there lies a ?
is there a surefire way to have a good work/life balance, are there any
individuals wrong because they prefer one over the other. Is it as simple as
what the person in that position values in life? How do we truly define being successful?
In life relationships with people are often your backbone. You'll come across people in your life whether family or friends, that you have certain relationships or bonds with. Sometimes throughout life we often forget to maintain those relationships and keep in touch.
About a month ago I lost my stepfather, just a little backstory him and my mother were no longer together but we maintained a relationship and kept in touch over the years. A couple days before he passed I randomly thought to myself I hadn't talked to him in a while and needed to hit him up. After I thought about it I went on and did something else and kept saying "I'm going to call him." Well I didn't and never got the chance to before he unexpectedly passed.
Since then it really has been bothering me that I did not call him. Why didn't I call him? The day to day nuances of living life and kicking it down the road.
Everyday we as people get up go to work, take care of any responsibilities we may have, take care of our families and do it all over again. Often times that interferes with checking on people.
I'm here to suggest stop doing that. If you have friends you grew up with but life as adults have caused you to not keep in touch as much hit them up. Have a buddy that has a common hobby with you, hit them up when something occurs that reminds of you them. Come across a old picture of you and your friends looking crazy when y'all thought y'all looked cool. Hit them up with "look what I found". Realized you haven't talked to so and so in a while? Call them or send them a text saying "Thought about you hope all is well" or something to that effect.
Adulting is a busy lifestyle and keeping in touch with everyone you have or have maintained a relationship with in life can be difficult. I believe we as a society especially in this social media age sees a person make a post and assume they're doing fine or know their in a good place in their life. Other times we know so and so talks to them more often so I'll just ask them how they're doing. We have to stop doing that. Especially with the different lines of communication phone calls, text, instant messages, emails, facetime etc.
In life some people just naturally gravitate from one another sometimes for a reason, other times just the way life goes. That's OK situations like that it is what it is, but take it from me when you think of someone send them a text right then and there, can't do it at that exact time? Make a note in your phone to do it within the next half hour to a hour, just make a conscious effort to keep in touch as much as you can as soon as you can.
We’re heading into the second week of June and it's time for my June movies to check out. I’m a little late in getting this out but as they say better late than never.
So far this month “Captain Underpants” based on the children's book was released and I heard it was a very funny, engaging family movie with a good story. If you’re looking for a family film I would recommend that.
Released this past weekend was a reboot of the Mummy, what was suppose to jumpstart a planned Universal Monster Universe may have killed the project before it began. I was really looking forward to this movie and had plans to see if….but reading reviews I changed my mind at the last minute. I’ll wait until it comes on cable.
I would be remiss without mentioning “Wonder Woman”, if you have not seen it yet I highly recommend it. It was the best film of the DC movie universe released so far. Gal Gadot did a great job as Wonder Woman. The story made you care about the characters and didn't overstay it welcome. It also benefitted from not having to cram nods to the other films planned in the universe. While the nods are fun it can become cumbersome and forced which alot of the Marvel movies suffer from.
Releasing this week is the biopic of Tupac “All Eyez on me” a legend in the hip hop game this film is highly anticipated. With the backing of his estate and a actor who looks the part hopefully this film does Tupac's legacy right and is one if the better biopics released in recent years. I already have my plans to see it opening night.
Also dropping this week this time for families is “Cars 3”. I’ve never watched any of the Cars films to judge how the latest one may play. Pixar has a strong track record and Disney is the undisputed king of marketing to families and kids so it’ll probably be worth checking out.
For the females, releasing this week is “Rough Night” starring Zoe Kravitz, Kate Mckinnon, and Scarlett Johansson. This dark comedy is about a bachelorette party that takes a wrong turn. Its molded in the vain Bridesmaid so it has potential to be hilarious, we shall see.
Next up released next week is “Transformers: The Last Knight”. I think the less is said the better. The first two while flawed were mindless enjoyable fun, the third one dragged on and tried to be “smart”. The fourth one which was a “reboot” of sorts went far left and I really don't think anyone was asking for this one. With all that being said it’ll probably make alot of money to justify a sixth film.
“Baby Driver” coming out June 28th starring Jamie Foxx, Kevin Spacey, and Ansel Elgort. It’s a familiar story of someone in the crime business doing one last act to escape the business for good. Ansel Elgort is the star of this film as a getaway driver who listens to certain tunes when driving. We’ll see how the soundtrack helps the film.
Back to the family side of the spectrum “Despicable Me 3” comes out june 30th. The story sounds interesting villain Gru has to team with long lost twin brother against a common enemy. This is another franchise the kids love so it’ll probably be decent and make alot of money.
Last movie to think about checking out this month is “The House” with Amy Poehler and Will Ferrell. The duo are a couple who starts a illegal casino in their home to help pay for their daughter's college education. The basic story seems funny enough and relatable and both stars are very funny individuals by themselves. This film has potential to be highly funny like StepBrothers and Talladega Nights or it could be Get Hard the potential is there but it fails somewhere.
This are some films to check out in June some heavy hitters, some not sure about, and a dud. Check back next month for my July recommendations.
