I now know what it means to be Nubian

Nubia means the place of gold. And Nubians are an Egyptians race who have kept their bloodline pure by not marrying outsiders. They also have their own secret language that is not written and anyone that is an outsider is not allowed to be taught it.

Before the trip to Egypt, I had no idea of a Christian religion called Copt. Of course following the bombing of the Coptic Church in Alexandria a few days ago, I now know that such a religion exists and so much of its history and its origins are in Egypt.

Egypt and Egyptians touch a lot of the world’s history. Jesus, Mary and Joseph spent three years in Egypt, I saw a few days ago the place where they hid ( a church of St Sergius and St Bacchus in Cairo) when Herod(?) was killing all the first borns.

These are just miniscule pieces of information that one gathers traveling around Egypt. It is rich and I do not have the mental capacity to absorb (never mind relate) all the stories I’ve been told about this rich place. All I can do is connect the pieces of information to movies and books I’ve read. I try to connect some of Cairo to the African settings of the English Patient. And so on and so on.


I wish I could post some the pictures of my trip so far but the camera doesn’t have the connection. I and a cute couple from Pretoria did a trip to Abu Simbel. (80% of the tour party is from Durban and a little on the elderly side, but this is a story for another time). As an ignorant person of Egyptology, I felt a little that this trip was wasted on me. Abu Simbel is a temple that Ramses II built to show his might. It is one of the must sees next to the Pyramids. The temple’s entrance is flanked by four huge statues of Ramses II himself at various ages. To put it into scale, a hand of the statue is about as tall as an average sized person. A smile is about a meter long. These are huge statues and inside the temple itself are more statues and Egyptian ancient writing that a more enthusiastic amateur Egyptologist would go nuts for. I felt a little like someone who acquires a precious thing but has no idea how to begin to appreciate it.

On a more personal note, very little can be spoilt by a visit to Egypt, the place is awe inspiring, BUT being a woman travelling alone comes close. It is a Muslim country (80% Muslim, 10% Coptic) and women are covered up. I am not Muslim and I am travelling alone. This for some reason gives an impression to Egyptian men can try their luck. Ordering room service was an experience that I can laugh about now but was ready to put my kata-box skills to work a few days ago. And as open as I am to new experiences, invading my personal space and telling me I have a good body will not make me readily take my clothes off and want to get it on, I don’t care how good looking you are. And the men in Cairo are above average good looking. But Ninja please!

I love my country

I am this person. I am the kind of person that would go to the greatest places in the world and still long for the familiar surroundings that I call home, that I call South Africa. The familiar and friendly faces of the people of the south. I will romanticise of what a great country I live in and how unthreatening and welcoming we are to visitors and how other places around the world fail miserably at this. I am that person. I am a melancholic traveler. I am not proud of this and will try to change it.

First day in Egypt, in Cairo and I am amazed at how filthy this place is. I am shocked that the Sheraton would put their name to the Hotel I am staying at. I am horrified at the aggression of the people here and I can not wait to move out of Cairo and into hopefully more serene setting of Egypt.

Do not get me wrong, the Egypt and the Pyramids are awe-inspiring and beautiful and rich with history, probably the richest place on earth in terms of History? But one cannot help but be discouraged by some of the history, like that of the pyramids, these were built for vanity and ego's sake and not the greatness of someone else or to commemorate greatness but to make sure that I as a king am buried in a tomb that is bigger and better than the previous one.

Pictures (and a more thoughtful post hopefully) to follow tomorrow…

Just Wright

With: Queen Latifah as Leslie Wright, Common as Scott McNight, Paula Patton as Morgan, Pam Grier, Phylicia Rashad, James Pickens Jr
Directed by: Sanaa Hamri


Heartwarmer, your cries have been heard and they’ve been answered! Just Wright, the cute romantic flick that is Just Wright has been made.

Now we know the Queen has manic skills. She rocks! She rocked with Jimmy Fallon in Taxi, she kinda rocked in that holiday movie. She totally boulders! in this most satisfying romantic comedy that pulls all the rights strings and does not totally demonise or vilify black woman and their gorgeous black men.

It does not vilify the gold digger. It does not stereo type the over protective ball player’s mother. There are no cat fights and ho calling and bitch and skank. Just good fun with some refreshing incites that are Just Wright.

This can easily make it to the list below under best romantic flick and alternative romantic flick.

Now you know I had to be biased about this movie given the lead male charater, but I tried my damndest to not drool over the TV screen when Common was doing his sit ups with his shirt off. Can I just say, he is thee most beautiful man alive today? Can I? Can I? He is beautiful.

The scenes with the dad were one of my favorites.

I want to shout from the roof tops about how great this movie is, but since I live on a middle floor, I will resort to gushing over the keyboard.

Love love love this movie.

Four spoons!

It loses one spoon because I think the way they eventually get to kiss was not quite the right moment. Although I understand why there, I just think t should have happened at a less glamorous setting. No shiny ball gown and tuxedo. Just them on the couch watching Romancing the Stone!

Disclaimer: the lunar cycle may have something to do with this post.

Not the Golden Globes - recent film greats

Okay so clearly we did not see enough films in 2010 that would qualify for this so I suggest that we expand to 'recent film greats'.

Sci fi vs action differentiation - action takes place on earth with no aliens, sci fi takes place in outer space or on earth with aliens. If Super Man made it on to the list, we’d invent new definition ;)

Heartwarmer, please add more.

Here are some categories and nominations:

Best sci fi flick

Star Trek

War of the worlds

Knowing

Avatar

Moon – Sam Rockwell

Contact

Best traditional romantic flick

Chasing Amy

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Bend it like Beckam

Love Actually

Brokeback Mountain

The Notebook (just for you heartwarmer)

Spanglish

Best alternative romantic flick

Brokeback Mountain

A Single Man

Short Bus

Gray Matters

Best Drama – ugly cry

Revolutionary Road

Brokeback Mountain

Everybody’s Fine – surprisingly touching and yes I did the ugly cry for it

Angels in America

Best Comedy – pee in your pants funny

Funny People – Adam Sandler and Seth Rogan

Hot Fuzz – Simon Pegg ripping off Bad Boys

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

East is East

Kung fu Hustle

Accepting nominations for best puke inducing 'romcoms', I've tried that with my friend 'bromance', the call is coming from inside 'horror', and 'animated'.

WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO

I really know how to pick them huh.

So, here's another black movie. What is it about black movies (note: I love us) that they just fail to inspire.

I mean seriously. Tyler Perry. C'mon guy.

We need you to do better.

Thing is, I suppose, to some extent, on some level, he did have us all going. The story was as tight as tight can be which in the bigger universe of movies is tight-ish - but then he just lost it completely. Its like he just suddently lost his mind and decided he was just too tired to develop a decent enough ending. And all we are left with is sand in our eyes, ears, mouth...

Like seriously, WTF?


Okay, so you have these four married couples.

Janet Jackson, the doctor, with her hubby Malik Yoba. They have problems but never want to tell.

Jill Scott with her unemployed sheriff husband who goes all I AM MAN on her. But she should have known better. I mean that Soul Food movie wrote that part first. She should have known. You know the scene. Current husband/boyfriend can't seem to find a job so girlfriend/wife decides to intervene and calls on ex boyfriend/husband to make a few calls and get him a job. Current boyfriend/husband gets job, but its only a matter of time till he finds out the truth...and then ITS ON! Jill should have known better. AND TYLER SHOULD NOT HAVE REPEATED THIS SCENARIO!


Then there's the crazy couple. Even though her husband has cheated on her numerous times, she still finds it in her heart to forgive him. Even when he flirts with youngens in broad daylight, right in her view and her friends view - she forgives him, ghetto-ly - but forgives none the less.

Its like, what are you trying to teach us here Tyler? Huh? What is your point exactly! ARGH!


Couple number three is Tyler and his wife who fantasise about 'doing it' with some colleague of hers while she's doing her husband...imagine that...she imagines another man when doing her husband? She never really cheated I guess. Just dresses for him everyday when she goes to work. Puts on a little extra perfume, them sexy spaghetti straps...pencil skirt...whatever.

At first they all seem happy. And then all become mad at each other. And then all make up again. How do they make up, you ask. Well during Janet and Malik's fight - he ends up in an accident (later dies - boo hoo, a year later Janet finds herself another potential lover...eish) and Janet literally tells everybody...in exactly these worlds...well almost, "don't end up like me, make up'. And they all walk over to each other and just like that...they are all hugs and kisses and made up.

WHUT!

COME ON MAN!

BESIDES THE SUPER WEAK STORY DEVELOPMENT AT THAT POINT, I'm sick of these same ol' same ol' black stories man. I mean it was fun for a little while Tyler. That Diary of a Mad Black Woman was 'fun'. But come on. Can we move beyond this TYPE! Please.

2011 Golden Globe Nominations

Golden Globe Nominations are out, time to go back to the cinema, yay!

1. Best Motion Picture – Drama
A. Black Swan
B. The Fighter
C. Inception
D. The King’s Speech
E. The Social Network

2. Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture – Drama
A. Halle Berry Frankie And Alice
B. Nicole Kidman Rabbit Hole
C. Jennifer Lawrence Winter’s Bone
D. Natalie Portman Black Swan
E. Michelle Williams Blue Valentine

3. Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Drama

A. Jesse Eisenberg The Social Network
B. Colin Firth The King’s Speech
C. James Franco 127 Hours
D. Ryan Gosling Blue Valentine
E. Mark Wahlberg The Fighter

4. Best Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
A. Alice In Wonderland
B. Burlesque
C. The Kids Are All Right
D. Red
E. The Tourist

5. Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
A. Annette Bening The Kids Are All Right
B. Anne Hathaway Love And Other Drugs
C. Angelina Jolie The Tourist
D. Julianne Moore The Kids Are All Right
E. Emma Stone Easy A

6. Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture – Comedy Or Musical
A. Johnny Depp Alice In Wonderland
B. Johnny Depp The Tourist
C. Paul Giamatti Barney’s Version
D. Jake Gyllenhaal Love And Other Drugs
E. Kevin Spacey Casino Jack

7. Best Animated Feature Film
A. Despicable Me
B. How To Train Your Dragon
C. The Illusionist
D. Tangled
E. Toy Story 3

8. Best Foreign Language Film
A. Biutiful (Mexico/Spain)
B. The Concert (France)
C. The Edge (Russia)
D. I Am Love (Italy)
E. In A Better World (Denmark)

9. Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture
A. Amy Adams The Fighter
B. Helena Bonham Carter The King’s Speech
C. Mila Kunis Black Swan
D. Melissa Leo The Fighter
E. Jacki Weaver Animal Kingdom

10. Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Motion Picture
A. Christian Bale The Fighter
B. Michael Douglas Wall Street: Money Never
Sleeps
C. Andrew Garfield The Social Network
D. Jeremy Renner The Town
E. Geoffrey Rush The King’s Speech

11. Best Director – Motion Picture
A. Darren Aronofsky Black Swan
B. David Fincher The Social Network
C. Tom Hooper The King’s Speech
D. Christopher Nolan Inception
E. David O. Russell The Fighter

12. Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
A. Danny Boyle, 127 Hours
B. Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right
C. Christopher Nolan Inception
D. David Seidler The King’s Speech
E. Aaron Sorkin The Social Network

13. Best Original Score – Motion Picture
A. Alexandre Desplat The King’s Speech
B. Danny Elfman Alice In Wonderland
C. A.R. Rahman 127 Hours
D. Trent Reznor, The Social Network
E. Hans Zimmer Inception

14. Best Original Song – Motion Picture
A. “Bound To You” — Burlesque
Music By: Samuel Dixon
Lyrics By: Christina Aguilera, Sia Furler
B. “Coming Home” — Country Strong
Music & Lyrics By: Bob Dipiero, Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges
C. “I See The Light” — Tangled
Music By: Alan Menken
Lyrics By: Glenn Slater
D. “There’s A Place For Us” — Chronicles Of Narnia: The
Voyage Of The Dawn Treader
Music & Lyrics By: Carrie Underwood, David Hodges, Hillary Lindsey
E. “You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me” — Burlesque
Music & Lyrics By: Diane Warren

15. Best Television Series – Drama
A. Boardwalk Empire (Hbo)
B. Dexter (Showtime)
C. The Good Wife (Cbs)
D. Mad Men (Amc)
E. The Walking Dead (Amc)

16. Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series – Drama
A. Julianna Margulies The Good Wife
B. Elisabeth Moss Mad Men
C. Piper Perabo Covert Affairs
D. Katey Sagal Sons Of Anarchy
E. Kyra Sedgwick The Closer
17. Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Drama
A. Steve Buscemi Boardwalk Empire
B. Bryan Cranston Breaking Bad
C. Michael C. Hall Dexter
D. Jon Hamm Mad Men
E. Hugh Laurie House

18. Best Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
A. 30 Rock (Nbc)
B. The Big Bang Theory (Cbs)
C. The Big C (Showtime)
D. Glee (Fox)
E. Modern Family (Abc)
F. Nurse Jackie (Showtime)

19. Best Performance By An Actress In A Television Series –Comedy Or Musical
A. Toni Collette United States Of Tara
B. Edie Falco Nurse Jackie
C. Tina Fey 30 Rock
D. Laura Linney The Big C
E. Lea Michele Glee
20. Best Performance By An Actor In A Television Series – Comedy Or Musical
A. Alec Baldwin 30 Rock
B. Steve Carell The Office
C. Thomas Jane Hung
D. Matthew Morrison Glee
E. Jim Parsons The Big Bang Theory

21. Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
A. Carlos (Sundance Channel)
B. The Pacific (Hbo)
C. Pillars Of The Earth (Starz)
D. Temple Grandin (Hbo)
E. You Don’t Know Jack (Hbo)

22. Best Performance By An Actress In A Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
A. Hayley Atwell Pillars Of The Earth
B. Claire Danes Temple Grandin
C. Judi Dench Return To Cranford
D. Romola Garai Emma
E. Jennifer Love Hewitt The Client List

23. Best Performance By An Actor In A Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
A. Idris Elba Luther
B. Ian Mcshane Pillars Of The Earth
C. Al Pacino You Don’t Know Jack
D. Dennis Quaid The Special Relationship
E. Edgar Ramirez Carlos

24. Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role In A Series, Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
A. Hope Davis The Special Relationship
B. Jane Lynch Glee
C. Kelly Macdonald Boardwalk Empire
D. Julia Stiles Dexter
E. Sofia Vergara Modern Family

25. Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role In A Series, Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made For Television
A. Scott Caan Hawaii Five-O
B. Chris Colfer Glee
C. Chris Noth The Good Wife
D. Eric Stonestreet Modern Family
E. David Strathairn Temple Grandin


Source: HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION media relaese

THE KARATE KIDS

Well, we dragged ourselves to go see the Karate Kid - the one with Will and Jada Smith's baby boy. It was fun.


Growing up I guess the Karate Kid, with Mr Miyagi and Daniel Son was really probably one of my favourite movies. I remember feeling sick watching poor Daniel Son being beaten by those bad karate kids, and then having Mr Miyagi come to the rescue. Ah, the victory of it all just fills one up with all the hope in the world. That anything is possible. That you can overcome whatever hurdle, however impossible it seems.





In the 'new' karate kid, Dre Parker (Jaden Smith) and Mr Han (Jackie Chang) make just as good a team. I think the fact that Dre is much younger than Daniel Son also makes for a more romanticised or dreamy idea of 'the karate kid'. Which I think is perfect. Cause the Karate kid is suppose to be kind of like a super hero...so far fetched that it becomes idealistic or...I don't know, just something you can fantasise about being basically, however unrealistic it is. Being the impossible.

I thought this new Karate Kid would copy every single move from the origional karate kid, well...it does, but adds a little bit more spunk to it so that there are some really cool surprises.

I had fun with the movie (even though I really think it should have been a 'made for tv' kind). More so cause I'm taking some karate classes me-self. Me fancies me-self as a err...older karate girl-kid. hehehehe. Haaaa-yaaaaah!

Inception

So no. It is not The Matrix. It is not Dark City. It is not What Dreams May Come. It is not even the Sixth Sense. Although all these films do come to mind when watching Inception. You would think this was one mind blowing mind bender that pushes you to question stuff and have really interesting conversations afterward. It is not.

The only thing I heard from people who watched the movie was, yeah, it was really interesting you have to concentrate. I had the feeling that they did not really know what to make of the movie and did not want to dismiss it out right. Well people, imma say it, this movie was shite.

The fact that Leonardo DiCaprio was in this really works against it because this is not a performance driven movie but more of an idea driven movie.

What they try to do in the movie, to create an idea in ones’ subconscious through breaking into your dreams is kinda like what they try to do with the audience. As an audience member, much like a dreamer, I did not very much buy into the movie. I somehow believe that rather than our dreams creating our reality, our dreams are the filing cabinets or the post office for our reality. Breaking into someone’s dream to plant an idea seems to be as effective as trying to kill someone by waiting for them to die. You wanna mess with someone’s mind and subconscious, have a conversation with them.

And another thing, there is a question on whether we as people perceive reality the same, that my perception is totally different to the next person’s, how in hell if we struggle with this can we even begin to share and participate in one dream?

Back to Dicarprio, the dude just towered over his co actors, it was painful to watch. As brilliant as Ellen Page was in Juno, putting her up against Dicarprio was just plain bad casting. It was wrong. That role should have gone to some male actor who’d act a little insane. A little like Brad Pitt’s character in twelve monkeys? Hey that’s another movie that comes to mind.

What I liked about the movie, is that it connected all of us by identifying what we all have in common, that dreaded dream where we fall. We are all one in our terror there.

Watching Inception was for me like reading my horoscope, interesting, good positive ideas but no basis for me to believe any of it is true, even in a darkened theater where we are suppose to suspend what we know in order to escape.

Love the weight less scenes though.

Two spoons

Disclaimer/Confession: Inception was watched at bedtime, had to dope up with a can of redbull to make sure that I did not fall asleep. Staying up past one’s bedtime has been shown to skew one’s perception and experience of the world. I am cranky!

Social media mafia? it’s a big virtual playground…

Not exactly the e-mafia story, I will leave that to some other braver person to pen. This is more of a school playground social media story. Not sure if this scenario has been painted before (everything has been done before) but this is my take on it.

The online scene is similar to a school playground. You have your cool kids, your geeks, your bullies, your drug dealers lurking on the other side of the fence, your cool teachers who ‘get’ their students, and all other sorts, garths, loners, nose pickers, et cetera, et cetera!

Here is a bit of a segmentation:

The geeks: these are your actual, modern day cool kids actually. Reversal of fortune. The ones that were shunned and mocked for being too smart and being know-it-alls and got the snort beat out of them? Yeah them, they now rule the play ground. How else would you explain the popularity of the biggest geeks on twitter right now?

The cool kids: these are the ones that won’t even acknowledge the playground, they are out somewhere else frenching, doing afterschool jobs and smoking cigarettes. Not living through 140 characters at a time or begging for friendship to forgotten school acquaintances. These guys rock and everybody on the playground still want to be them.

The Bullies: These are the guys that give some of the kids on the playground a hard time. They are not the law but have knighted themselves as such. They piss on any good idea that is not their own and other kids follow them because they are afraid of being their next victim.

The dealers lurking on the other side of the fence: These are your corporates trying with all their corporate might to fit in with the kids but they are just too old and too obvious. The meek fall for their act and buy the wares they are peddling but everybody else knows that this is no place for a hawker. The children just wanna play!!!

The skanks: These are the whores of social media who follow anyone that has an account, accept friendships from total strangers, check in to every venue for whatever prize, post unflattering pics of their kin, have overly flattering cv’s on linked, etc, etc, etc. You know who you are! These are the guys who also hook up with the cool kids outside the bleachers because they would not want to miss out on real life as well.

The cool teachers: My favourites. These are your wise, older, sexy, hanging on by a thread personalities that parents can relate to. They help parents understand the dynamics of the play ground and all the skanks and the virtuous virgins fall in love with them. They

There are many many more cliques on the playground, which one would you be? And feel free to match actual social media personalities with the cliques above and the ones you come up with.

*Picture - Skins, the first group. one of the best and twisted series ever!

Hurt Locker

Hurt Locker - the budget that shamed Avatar

Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pierce, they have very brief but fatal appearances

“The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.”

So Hurt locker won best feature at this year’s Oscars, with a fraction of the Avatar budget and an ex wife of the Avatar maker directing. Did it deserve it?

Well, I always believe that the American psyche is a fickle one. Their collective guilt and continued conflicted presence in the countries they hope to liberate is enough to influence the influenceable Hollywood Foreign Press.

I also believe that less is more and a drama driven script (as opposed to special effects driven one) will always come out on top.

Hurt Locker has great suspense, great dramatic performances, but one gets the feeling that this is a made for American public eyes. Kinda like the war news reels they used to make during WWII to gain support of the American public. CNN, Aljazeera, Sky, BBC, you are tame, America needs sequential timeous neatly packed drama to start making sense of their boys being out there. Hurt Locker tells a story, which also, has no end.

War breeds war.

Hurt Locker deserved to beat Avatar, simply because Star Trek was not in the running for best Oscar flick.

Disclaimer: all references to americans are made with limited actual knowledge of americans, except their dismal showing at the 2010 world cup.