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lwilliamson-6
Reviews
Gang of Roses (2003)
Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!!!!
I have to honestly say that this was probably the worst film that I have ever seen in my entire life. I really don't know what was on the producer's, director's, or writer's minds while this piece of garbage was being created.
The setting centers on five gunslinging, outlaw women (four black, one Asian) in the Old West. This fatuous movie instantly loses all credibility on viewing because of, in addition to lousy acting and a lame story line, its gross historically inaccurate nature. Who ever heard of black outlaw women in the Old West? Did black women really wear hair weaves and extensions during the 1800s? Were idioms like, "get with him" and 'Why you gotta be all that?" used 150 years ago? Yeah, I know it's Hollywood and films are not 100% realistic, but COME ON!
I find it interesting, as well as completely understandable, that every IMDb-user comment pertaining to this movie contends that it is terrible. On the basis of Gang of Roses and Civil Brand, movies that are throwbacks to the Blackexpioltation era, it looks as if Lisa Raye is the Pam Grier of the new millennium.
Civil Brand (2002)
I 've Seen Better
Actually, I thought this B-film was somewhat of a throwback to the Black expolitation era of the 70s with Lisa Raye as a modern-day Pam Grier. The setting takes place in a female prison with disenchanted convicts feeling "exploited" or enslaved by an opportunistic warden who uses their labor to produce clothes for merchants. However, when you consider the fact that prisoners are wrongdoers who are in jail to pay their debt to society, it's rather hard to sympathize with their "plight" in this film.
The warden and captain of the guards are the bad guys of the movie, but their demeanors are too iniquitous. So much so that the film becomes predictable and you know what will inevitably happen.
The casting could have been better. Mos Def portrays a law student who works as a part-time corrections guard in the prison. However, his dense mentality makes this portrayal very unconvincing.
Perhaps the best part of the movie--at least for guys--are the scenes in which voluptuous Lisa Raye and N'Bushe Wright appear barely clothed in the "hole." In spite of anything else, it's enough entertainment to merit the movie's viewing! To any of the ladies out there who are reading this, yeah, I know what you're thinking. But c'mon, you'd get your jollies too if you were to see LL Cool J in a movie bearing his best!
Annapolis (2006)
A Plebe and a Great White Hope
Upon viewing the title and previews of this film, one could reasonably conclude that "Annapolis" would be an intense drama depicting the lives of midshipmen at the historically prestigious U.S. Naval Academy. However, this disappointing film, directed by Justin Lin, is nothing more than a lame remake of Taylor Hackford's "An Officer And A Gentleman" with overtones of "Rocky I-III".
The movie centers on Jake Haurd (played by James Franco), a young man who, after another applicant decides to withdraw, gains acceptance to the Annapolis Naval Academy. Like Zach Mayo, the character portrayed by Richard Gere in "An Officer And A Gentleman", Huard is a disillusioned loner, largely stemming from the death of his Mom during his youth, who has aspirations of becoming a naval officer. Also, like Mayo, and largely due to the less-than encouraging support from a pessimistic father, Huard wrestles with insecurities about about his chances of success in achieving this endeavor. Huard, again like Mayo, confronts his greatest challenge to his dream of being an officer during the initial stage of training when he is introduced to a hard-nosed and at times demonic Black marine drill instructor.
Midshipman Lt. Cole, played by Tyrese Gibson, is a marine who has worked through the ranks to become a commanding officer at the academy and is the bad guy of the film. While his performance doesn't rival that of Lou Gosset's Oscar-winning performance as Master Sergeant Gunnery Foley from "An Officer And An A Gentleman", he is somewhat effective in delivering the stereotypical Hollywood persona of the gung-ho and sadistic Marine instructor. While eating chow in the mess hall, and upon hearing an incorrect answer given by Huard regarding a naval procedure, Cole orders everyone at the table to dump their food on the table immediately. He is also true to the Hollywood military tradition of sadism by making the plebes to do push-ups and up-downs in the middle of heavy rain showers.
However, the most unfortunate victim of Cole's evil intent is Vance (Huarte's buddy and nicknamed "Twins"), a pudgy AmericanAmerican plebe from Mississippi. Nance's character is a combination of officer candidates Seegar and Worley from "officer and a gent" and, like the former, his greatest challenge during training is to get his body over a course obstacle. He does (like Seegar) eventually become successful in "going over the top", only to find out however, and by the callous Cole, that his time is insufficient. Although he misses the satisfactory time of completion by just several seconds, he is subsequently expelled from the academy. Despondent over the failure, as well as previous failures and his inability to appease his parents' expectations, "Twins" attempts suicide by jumping from his dormitory window. While he does(unlike Worley)survive his suicide attempt, Huarte, in keeping with the Mayo-Foley parallel, faults Cole for making his buddy suicidal and the two decide that fisticuffs is the only way to resolve their differences.
This sets the stage for the film's climax, "The Brigages", in which both Huarte and Cole square off in the academy's boxing tournament It is also where Lin shifts the direction of the film to the theme of Rocky. The Brigades, for all practical purposes, is an amateur boxing tournament. However, Lin portrays the showdown between Cole and Haurte as more of a WBA World Heavyweight title event. Both fighters, donned in Everlast boxing gear, fight to a filled-to capacity arena. The only thing missing form this scenario is the presence of Don "Only in America " King lurking in the background wearing a tuxedo. In Rocky Balboa fashion, Haurte enters the ring to jeers and cheers of the predominately white audience to dispel the evil, bad black guy (a la' Apollo Creed/Clubber Lang). However, while Cole, like Creed in Rocky I, wins a narrow (and maybe questionable) decision over Huarte, the latter wins the respect of the crowd and his peers by almost pummeling Cole into submission.
The final scene of the movie reverts back to and please forgive the redundancy "An Officer and A Gentleman", where the plebes, including Huarte, toss their white caps in the air in celebration of completing their first year. However, given that the plebe year is just the first year of a four-year program, the equivalent of the freshman year at a conventional college, it is somewhat difficult to understand how this meager accomplishment could warrant a formal congratulatory ceremony or would be cause for celebration.
Aside from its plagiarist elements, perhaps the most disappointing aspect of "Annapolis" is that the film provides the viewer with minimal insight or feel of the innards of the U.S. Naval Academy, and places far too great an emphasis on the institution's boxing rituals. Many of the fight scenes are poorly photographed and ludicrously unrealistic and, similar to Huard's romance with a naval instructor, pathetically predictable.
The bottom line is that if you want see a strong melodrama about the trails and tribulations of a young man's aspirations to become a naval officer, see the original movie (the title I am sure you know by now). However, if you have the chance to see "Annapolis", you would be well advised to pass on the opportunity.