When a new and unique character comes along, it can fire up the imagination of the audience. But, by the time the audience gets to the third or fourth outing with this character, it becomes a question of when to move on.
Though the shine is a bit faded from the previous two movies, it still sits comfortably within the world that the audience expects. Beyonce, as usual, excels in the part of Foxxy Cleopatra while giving proper due to the blaxploitation subgenre of the era.
Don’t blame “female tendencies” for your losses. I don’t follow the Knicks, but if the team’s record this season is appalling, it has nothing to do with “female tendencies”.
The term “female tendencies” sounds like the 19th century than the 20th century.
If nothing else, we have babies. I am thoroughly convinced if men were biologically able to carry and bear a child, this world would turn upside down. I challenge you (if you are ever to read this post) to even consider that fact before blaming your team’s losses on something that has nothing to do with the shitty way that the team has been playing.
Sincerely
A Woman
P.S. I suggest you listen to Beyonce, if you don’t already. You might learn a thing or two.
One of the major problems we have in our culture, especially when it comes to women, is the idea that we have to be a certain size. Any woman who does not fit into the minuscule sizes prescribed by Hollywood, Madison Avenue or the fashion industry is essentially told that she is wrong for not fitting into their vision of how a woman should look.
Lizzo is one of the newest and hottest stars in the music industry at the moment. She is also not a size 2.
Recently, she has been the recipient of criticism because of her size. Television personality and trainer Jillian Michaels (known for TheBiggest Loser) publicly berated the singer for her size.
Granted, there are valid health risks when someone is overweight.
However, the idea that someone who is thin is healthy and someone who is overweight is not healthy is a fallacy. But my main problem with her criticism is that if Lizzo was the same size as Beyonce or Taylor Swift, no one would say anything about her size.
But because Lizzo looks more like the average American woman than 99% of Hollywood, she is called out for her weight. The problem with this criticism is that it sends the wrong message to women, especially young women. Eating disorders affect too many women who embrace the idea that they have to be a certain size to be loved or to be successful.
I understand that Michaels was not speaking out of malice, but out of concern. But I wish that she and others would realize that not every woman is meant to be a size 2 and a healthy body comes in all sizes.
Twenty five years ago, The Lion King hit theaters. To say that it was a hit was an understatement. It is a masterpiece that to this day is loved, treasured and referenced.
Yesterday, the reboot was released. Directed by Jon Favreau, the new film follows the narrative of it’s animated predecessor. Simba (voiced by Donald Glover as an adult and JD McCrary as a child) is the son and heir to Pride Rock. His parents, Mufasa (James Earl Jones, the only holdover from the original film) and Sarabi (Afre Woodard) are King and Queen, respectively.
As a young cub, as many young are, Simba is energetic, curious and doesn’t exactly follow his parent’s instructions. Unfortunately, he gets his best friend Nala (voiced by Beyonce as an adult and Shahadi Wright Joseph as a child) in trouble as well.
Neither knows that Simba’s Uncle Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor) has a chip on shoulder. Scar’s plan to remove all obstacles to the throne nearly succeeds as Simba runs from fear and shame. He is befriended by Timon (Billy Eichner) and Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), a couple of misfits who only know freedom and a boundary-less life.
Then Simba is reminded of who he is. Can he step and be King or will he continue to run from his past?
If I had to rank all of the live action reboots that Disney has released over the past few years, this film would easily rank as #1. Favreau and his creative team had a herculean task on their hands: create a new film while showing deference to the 1994 animated film.
In my opinion, they succeeded. I felt a chill down my back as the opening number started. The animation, if it can be described as that, looked more like a documentary on the National Geographic channel than a film with a fictional narrative. I loved the cast, who, like the creative team, were able to put their own spin on their characters while showing deference to the actors who lent their voices to the 1994 film.
If I had to choose my favorite things about this film, I would choose two. The first is Nala and Sarabi. In the 1994 film, Sarabi is a glorified background character. In this film, Sarabi is more prominent and not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. Nala is the power behind the throne and a warrior in her own right.
The second is Timon and Pumbaa. These characters bring a lightness and a comedic element to a narrative is full of psychological symbolism and heavy with the ideas of fate and responsibility.
It’s no secret that the world has changed. Especially for women. Generations of hard work and perseverance have opened doors and created cracks in the glass ceiling that will only grow larger.
But for every accomplishment that is mind-blowing, we are reminded that we still have not achieved true equality.
Last week was the MTV VMAs. Joining Beyonce and Jay Z was their four-year old daughter, Blue Ivy.
Some women felt compelled to use social media to bash this child for not being “pretty enough”.
Are they kidding? This child is adorable. What is sad is that these comments reveal not only the dark side of the internet, but also the fact that women still feel the need to judge their fellow female and verbally mock her for her physical appearance. To attack another adult is one thing, but to attack a child? That is beyond low.
In her 2002 song, Sister Blister, singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette called out women who feel compelled to act like these women did.
And then we get to Brock Turner. He should have spent the next six years in jail as was recommended by the prosecutor during his trial. He served a paltry three months. His early release sends two very scary messages: class and race privileges still exist in this country and women are still considered to be property to be used among other things for the sexual pleasure of men. While Brock Turner may be able to return to his life as if the rape never happened, the woman he raped will never be able to escape her past.
Today is the 4th of July, America’s Independence Day.
On this day many of us will be at the beach, perfecting our barbecue recipes and watching the fireworks.
We have a lot to be grateful for.
While millions around the world struggle for the most basic of human rights, Americans wake up every day with the knowledge that they have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Today we honor the countless members of our armed forces, who over the past 240 years, have given everything, including their lives, for the freedoms that we take for granted.
Writergurlny 