21

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino card games in our country and much of its appeal comes from the fact that it’s purely a game of skill. While a little bit of luck is involved, the allure for card counting has dated back for quite some time. Players looking for an upper hand employ intricate tactics to cash in and in the latest film 21, an in-depth look at this process is given center stage and done so quite well.

Loosely based on a true story (in real life all the kids were Asian), 21 is centered around the brightest minds in the country and how they used card counting to take Vegas for millions. Now, while card counting is not illegal, the stakes are still extremely high. Keeping the count is daunting in and of itself and staying one step ahead is a must. In laments terms, it’s pretty much a “high risk, low reward” business but the payoff can only be measured in wealth. Quite a bit of money can be accumulated if done to perfection but luck has a funny way of running out. I guess it all comes down to the luck of the draw and according to an old adage, the cards never lie.

Now, I’m not much of a card player but one thing I do know is that it doesn’t come off so well on screen. Watching people play cards is like watching paint dry but other than that minuscule detail, I really enjoyed the movie for what it was. Honestly, I expected a little bit more but I was pretty satisfied with what I got. Not to take anything away from their performances but the actors were on point with their roles and it felt believable. All in all, I’d say the movie was solid all around but could’ve been better. Still, you can’t win ‘em all but this hand will do if played the right way. Unfortunately, seeing that I don’t care too much for cards, I could care less but to each its own I suppose.

Rating: 2 ½ inkblots out of 5

T.I. Pleads Guilty To Federal Weapons Charges

Well, it's official. Rapper T.I. pleaded guilty yesterday to three federal weapons charges that included possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of machine guns and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. T.I. formally accepted responsibility for these charges and by the terms of his plea agreement, he will now serve one year in prison and be required to complete 1500 hours of community service.

All in all, the punishment came off minimal compared to what it could've been but word on the street is that Tip may have snitched. I'm not sure what to believe, nor do I care, but I still don't understand how/why this all came about. T.I. is the epitome of success and for his career to be marred by this is just sad. It just goes to show that some people can leave the hood alone and some can't.

Hold your head though, Tip. We still love you but for heaven's sake, look at what you have in front of you and think next time. Don't throw away what all you've accomplished over some dumb shit. You're the closest thing we have to a living legend in the south so do your time and when you come home, kill the game like never before.

Remy Ma Found Guilty On Four Charges

Maybe it's just me but isn't it ironic that on the same day that T.I. plead guilty and will face jail time, fellow rapper Remy Ma was found guilty for a shooting that took place July of last year. Although both incidents are unrelated, it's alarming because Hip-Hop is clearly under attack. Serving jail time is no joke and as much as people try to say it strengthens their credibilty as rappers , all that shit is just nonsense to me. Who in their right mind wants to go to jail?

Anyway, Remy Ma was found guilty yesterday and will be convicted of two counts of first-degree assault, attempted coercion, and criminal possession of a weapon. Initially, a charge of attempted murder was attached but investigators later determined the firearm fired accidentally and the count was later reduced. Still, when sentenced, Remy Ma now faces up to 25 years behind bars but for her sake, I hope she's able to come out with a much lighter bid. I'm not her biggest fan but if all this was over $3000 disappearing from her purse, then I guess she got what she deserves.

On the bright side of things, Lil' Kim got a TV show before going to jail so maybe BET, VH1, or some other network will put up money to create a show in the same likeness. Only time will tell and unfortunately for Remy Ma, time is of the essense.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand [Video Game Preview]

[Click image for larger view]

Far be it from me to question 50 Cent, but being one of the many that played his last video game, 50 Cent: Bulletproof,...I'm scratching my head, wondering why 50 is planning to release a sequel this fall. While the graphics were top notch, that was pretty much all the game had going for it. The gameplay was awful and the shooting mechanics were hard to control. All in all, the game was a headache and a waste of money if you opted to buy before renting. Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky.

Fast forwarding, 50 Cent is prime to release the follow up this fall and it is entitled 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand. While I'm sure that fans of his will be anxious to play it, I'm boycotting this game well ahead of time. I refuse to fall for this again so until I hear otherwise, I'm leaving this one alone. On an interesting note, however, I came across something while reading up on this topic and that was that Young Buck is NOT in the game. The only "playable" characters [subject to change] are Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, DJ Whoo Kid, and 50 himself. If that doesn't add fuel to the speculation that Young Buck is trying to sever ties to G-Unit then I don't know what will. Anyway, read below for the plot summary of the game, if you're interested, but 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand will hit the PS3 and Xbox 360 this fall.

"50 Cent and G-unit are putting on a show somewhere in the middle east. The crowd is pleased, but the promoter refuses to pay 50 and G-unit. 50 is not going to leave without his money, so he hassles and threatens the promoter. The promoter does not give them money, but a very valuable diamond encrusted skull. 50 and G-unit are about to leave the country when they are ambushed and the skull is taken away from them. The game then continues with 50 trying to get what's rightfully his and find out who ambushed him and why."

-Plot courtesy of Wikipedia

Another Slice of Angel Cake

Just because I love Angel Lola Luv...

[Click image for larger view]

[Click image for larger view]

[Click image for larger view]

[Click image for larger view]

Hooters Turns 25

Apparantly, Hooters turns 25 this year and who better than Playboy to celebrate? It seems kind of ironic in a sense but I'm just gonna leave it at that. God, I love this country...

[Click image for larger view]

Mariah Carey Promo Pic From E=MC²

[Click image for larger view]

I'm not feeling her "Touch My Body" song but, still, I've always been a fan of Mariah. I love almost everthing she does (even Glitter) so I'm anxious to cop her new album E=MC². Anyway, here's a promo pic from the new album and by the way, be on the lookout for her new single "Migrate" featuring T-Pain.

Trina Feat. Keyshia Cole: I Got A Thang For You [Video]

Trina's new album, Still Da Baddest, drops this tuesday but I'm not expecting much from it. Trina's been the same since day one to me and has lacked a real growth, project to project. Anyway, here's her latest video and it features Keyshia Cole. Check it out.

Trina - I Got A Thang For You (ft. Keyshia Cole) Video
Uploaded by ThatGrapeJuice

Lupe Fiasco/Chris Brown Impromptu Freestyle

Check out this video of Lupe Fiasco and Chris Brown freestylin at an after show at some school, I believe. Anyway, it's pretty dope so check it out.

Keyshia Cole: Heaven Sent [Video]

Keyshia always looks great in her videos and this new one is no exception. I don't really like the song too much but if you turn the volume all the way down and just watch the video...I've found that the song becomes that much better.

Keyshia Cole - Heaven Sent
Uploaded by okamanori

Day26

There’s a disconcerting trend for those who formally make the band but for Day26, it’s clear that there out to prove otherwise. Following in the footsteps of Danity Kane, Day26 is the latest creation of Hip-Hop mogul P. Diddy and the product of yet another installment of the seemingly unending Making The Band series. You would think that after the failure of O-Town and Da Band that such a show would become irrelevant but leave it to TV execs to milk a franchise for what it’s worth. Danity Kane’s unexpected success broke the mold and set an unprecedented standard so it was only fitting that Diddy, himself, would want to recapture that moment. Whether or not this venture will deem as successful remains to be seen but nevertheless, Day26 is upon us and the end result is definitely something left to be desired.

I wouldn’t go as far to say this album is a disappointment because I’m not a fan of these guys in the least bit. Do I think they can sing? No, not particularly well but if given time and the right direction then the potential is definitely there. Still, that doesn’t make up for the fact that the whole intent of this project is to get people to buy into this group but, is it me or do groups not last as long anymore? I give these guys one more CD after this before the itch of going solo starts to dismantle them but you never know, I could be wrong. Hopefully I’m not but only time will tell.

As far as the album is concerned, I’d say it was mediocre at best. The lead single “Got Me Going” was a brilliant choice because of it’s upbeat, dance vibe but Bad Boy has always been consistent when it comes to making hits. Now, I’m not certifying that this will be a huge record but what I will say is that it makes for a good introduction of Day26 to the world. My personal opinion, however, is that they could’ve gone with something more simple considering we, as “fans”, watch the show and have seen/heard the recording process. It wouldn’t of been much of a surprise is all I’m saying but sometimes simplicity can be overkill. From that standpoint I could understand but records like “Co Star”, “Are We In This Together”, and “Since You’ve Been Gone” are just as smooth and mellow enough to serve the same purpose as “Got Me Going”.

Mostly thanks in part to Bryan Michael Cox, I must say that the album is really well written though. Accordingly, love is the universal theme, as is with all R&B projects, but it’s not syrupy or overdone. Vocally, each member of the group is given their due shine but nothing about this CD really stands out. All in all, a solid debut but if given more than the allotted time, it kind of makes you wonder what if? Unfortunately, I guess we’ll never know. Until then, better luck tomorrow guys.

Rating: 5.5 headphones out of 10

Gnarls Barkley: The Odd Couple

It’s no secret that the combination of Danger Mouse and Cee-lo makes for a peculiar pairing but when it comes to their music as Gnarls Barkley, the result is unlike anything we’ve ever heard before. Their debut album, St. Elsewhere, was a beautiful piece of strange, elongated by the fact that nobody really expected much from it. Hoping to capitalize on all the praise and accolades that album received, the dynamic duo returns with their follow up, appropriately titled The Odd Couple, and, in the process, proves that this was more than mere luck.

Picking up where things left off, The Odd Couple plays “outside the box” in the same vain as St. Elsewhere. While not as fluid, however, it is more complete and comes off a little more well-rounded. I enjoyed the first album quite a bit but Odd Couple is the perfect mixture of solid production from Danger Mouse and quality vocals supplied by Cee-Lo. Proof of that can be heard on the eerie “Would Be Killer” or the somewhat somber “Who’s Gonna Save Me Soul”. Both tracks are remarkably well made but, overall, I would say that the album exceeds all expectations. Most sophomore LP’s fall short of an impressive debut but Gnarls Barkley’s imperative reluctance to go commercial is the driving force behind that. Immediate success overwhelms some people so it’s good to see that all this praise from critics hasn’t gone to their heads. Lord knows it would mine, but good thing these guys are well grounded.

As far as concepts on this album, it’s pretty much an expansion on the aforementioned of St. Elsewhere. Cee-lo, vocally, vibes with each track and what can I say? I just can’t say enough about how good the production value here is. Danger Mouse is a maestro behind the boards and it’s amazing how he’s able to orchestrate this ubiquitous symphony, sort of like an opera. Plain and simple, Gnarls Barkley may be an alternative sound but the more people that tune in, the more mainstream that sound will become. Quality music is hard to find these days and in a industry where everything is overly saturated, a group like Gnarls Barkley is, literally, a diamond in the rough. Regardless of how odd they may be.

Rating: 7.5 headphones out of 10

Flo Rida: Mail On Sunday

If having the #1 ring tone in the country equaled success, then newcomer Flo Rida would be well ahead of the curve. His infectious lead single “Low” has been burning up the charts and has set a milestone for the most digital download sales since Fergie’s “Fergalicious”. Now, with all the hype and buzz surrounding his project, Flo Rida steps to the forefront with his debut album Mail On Sunday and hopes that all this magic going on down in Florida will rub off on him.

At first listen, Mail On Sunday will appeal to all ears but from a critical standpoint, it’s not very good. Not that it’s a bad thing, but Flo Rida is far from being crowned the best lyricist. Subject matter is stagnant throughout this 14-track opus but if you suspend reality and let the record play, it would be hard-pressed not to enjoy the ride. Tracks like the Timbaland produced “Elevator” and “Priceless” featuring Birdman bang heavy but, overall, the album is tailor made for the car. Production is top notch here and being that Flo Rida has such a unique flow, his style of rapping has to fit perfectly or it just won’t work. Luckily, Flo Rida took the time to match his style with the right beats and the album plays nicely, considering this is Flo Rida’s first time out.

Not that it’s a big deal, but not too many people can hang with the likes of a Lil’ Wayne. Flo Rida, however, manages to hold his own on “American Superstar” but it’s tracks like the will.i.am produced “In The Ayer” and the comical “Still Missin” that sum up what Mail On Sunday is all about. Basically, Flo Rida excels at making music for people to dance to and if you enjoy good music that requires little thought behind it, then this is the album for you. Chalk it up…here’s another win for Florida.

Rating: 6.5 headphones out of 10

Nicki Minaj Tribute to Lil' Kim

Click image for larger view

I'm sure any real fan of Hip-Hop will recognize this classic pose of Lil' Kim from her debut album Hardcore, but newcomer Nicki Minaj is out to make a name for herself. It's nice to see female MC's show love to those who paved the way, but as much as Nicki Minaj is talented...half the population doesn't even know who she is.

F.Y.I., she's an artist co-signed by Lil' Wayne so look out for her because she really does have talent...among other things, as well. Her new mixtape is available now so if you're interested, check out her MySpace for more info.

Lil' Wayne: The Drought is Over Pt. 5 Mixtape

TRACK LIST
01. Carter III Is Coming (Grand Closing)
02. I
03. Walk It Off
04. Open Shop
05. Done It
06. Introducing Milli
07. Milli
08. Damn I’m Cold (Feat. Bun B.)
09. I’m A Dog Ya (Freestyle)
10. Stunt When I See You
11. We Hustle
12. I Got My
13. Lick The Rapper
14. Certified
15. Girls All Around
16. Single Again
17. Drought Is Finally Over
BONUS TRACKS
18. Too Clean (Feat. Lil’ Chuckie)
19. Nike Boots (Feat. Wale) (Official Remix)
Purchase @ mixtrap.com

Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns

Hate it or love it but Tyler Perry has become a staple for African-American filmmaking. While his movies are not well received by critics, his appeal to the urban community is unparallel. Still, people of all races generally love what this guy does and with the release of his latest film-to-play adaptation Meet The Browns, Tyler Perry hopes to not only continue along this string of success but strengthen his presence as a key figure in today’s movie making.

I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest fan of Tyler Perry but I did enjoy his last two films, Why Did I Get Married? and Daddy’s Little Girls. Both were well written, if I must say so myself, but Meet The Browns came off a little too formulaic for my tastes. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the film and I thought it was well made but there’s only so much that can be done with this kind of story.

Now, recycling is not a bad thing but give me a pen, a pad, and five moments…and I could write you a Tyler Perry play equally as good. All his projects revert back to the same principles and until I see him branch out and try something different, my only question would be why haven’t you done this sooner? It’s obvious that this guy is one hell of a writer and from that perspective I respect his prowess/ability but complacency could be his downfall. Far be it from me to criticize but that’s just my personal opinion.

As far as Meet The Browns, as a whole, is concerned, the movie will surely be a success. Tyler Perry’s films have proven to be very profitable at the box office so I’m sure fans of his will come out and support him. Regardless, I give this film my seal of approval but slightly. Aside from the subtle play on emotion that Tyler Perry tends to evoke in his work and his reluctance to switch up his style, this movie is pretty good. I’d say average at best but, still, I would be perfectly fine not meeting the Browns then if I had.

Rating: 2 ½ inkblots out of 5

Lupe Fiasco Feat. Nikki Jean: Hip Hop Saved My Life [Video]

I don't care what anybody says...Lupe Fiasco is a lyrical genius. This song right here is one of the best off his new album The Cool and the video is on point too. Anyway, check it out and let me know what you think.

Lauren London Jewel Magazine Cover

ATL is one of my favorite movies and Lauren London is one of the reasons why. Here she is gracing the cover of the latest issue of Jewel magazine.

Houston, We Have A Problem

Maybe it's just me but am I the only one not impressed by this 22-game winning streak of the Houston Rockets? It's not that I don't realize how hard it is to win 22 straight games but is this really that big a deal? Last I checked, the Rockets haven't advanced past the first round in a while and until Tracy McGrady proves he can do otherwise, then all this would be for nothing.

As I write this, the Rockets are trying for win # 23 against the Boston Celtics but my personal opinion says that Boston will find a way to win the game. Regardless, it should make for a good watch but, basically, the whole purpose of this rant is to vent my disdain for people glorifying this winning streak. Houston is good, undoubtedly so, but they have to do it in the playoffs for things to be legit. Plain and simple.

Lil' Wayne Feat. Static Major: Lollipop [Video]

I guess with a video finally being released, this means that we are closer and closer to Tha' Carter 3. I'm not really feeling this song too much but I'm sure it'll grow on me the more I listen to it. It's different that's for sure but anyway, here's the video for "Lollipop" and it features the late Static Major. R.I.P.

Lil Wayne ft. Static Major - Lollipop
Uploaded by EroSennine

10,000 B.C.

I’ve only been out of school for four years now but from what I can remember, history never seemed that boring. Maybe it’s because I haven’t retained much since graduating but if history was anything like the recently released, 10,000 B.C., then God help us all.

It’s not that this is a bad movie because I truly believe that there is no such a thing. I mean, nobody intends to set out to make a bad film but 10,000 B.C. is somewhat perplexing because it has all the potential to be good, if not great. Blame it on last year’s Apocalypto, but it’s no secret that writers and studio execs are clearly trying to milk whatever’s left of that franchise. Doing so may be at the expense of art, or cinematography I should say, but where do you draw the line? Even though people may respond to flashy, CGI special effects, if a movie has no substance to it then aren’t we selling ourselves short? I say yes. That being said, what the hell were the writers of 10,000 B.C. thinking? Unfortunately, we may never know.

So what’s it all about? To be honest, I can’t really answer that question because I’m still stuck on the fact that I wasted $7 bucks to see this weak excuse for a movie. However, from what I could gather, the basic idea was centered around a young hunter and the love he shared for this girl. While not original, the story came off dry and hard to follow if the movie didn’t grab you right away. I swear there were times I had to keep myself from falling asleep but for every frame of long, drawn-out dialogue, the action scenes made up for at least a margin of that admission fee.

And did I mention there was a saber tooth? If this film doesn’t deserve an Oscar, then I don’t know what does. All jokes aside, don’t waste your money. 10,000 B.C. is nothing more than a weak attempt at being an “art film” so even though the trailer makes this film look good, it’s really not. Things aren’t always what they appear to be and if I can save someone from making the same mistake that I did, then I think this is well worth it.

Rating: 0 ½ inkblots out of 5

Snoop Dogg: Ego Trippin'

You would think that for a rapper on his ninth album, not much would have to change. Consistency is obviously not an issue and neither is longevity. Creativity, however, seems like a lost art these days so upon listening to the new album from Snoop Dogg, Ego Trippin’, I applaud Snoop for not being afraid to switch up from what he’s been accustomed to.

By now, I’m sure you’ve all heard the lead single “Sensual Seduction” and it’s funny that we as critics can condemn a rapper for not writing his own lyrics; yet love this song and it wasn’t even wrote by Snoop. In the grand scheme of things, it makes no difference to me. Music is music and as long as it’s something that I can enjoy then I could care less who wrote it. To be honest, I’m not even sure why me and so many others are drawn to this song but there’s just something about Snoop that makes it come off so smooth. No other rapper/singer could’ve pulled it off as well, save for T-Pain and his vocoder, but T-pain on everything is starting to get annoying.

Anyway, Ego Trippin’ is solid all around but not anything spectacular. Fans of Snoop may even be turned off a bit but, like I said, I think it’s good when a rapper can find a new way to express himself creatively. This album serves more as a venue for Snoop to be more personal, if anything, and the growth of Snoop Dogg as not only an artist, but a man, is daunting as each track feels authentic. Not to take anything away from being artistic, but Snoop really took his time with this and you could tell. Whether or not his fans will respond to this new sound is the question but it will be money well spent for those who decide to purchase this CD.

Rating: 6.0 headphones out of 10

Rick Ro$$: Trilla

Depending on your definition of success, Rick Ross has definitely paid his dues. His introduction to the rap game, aptly titled Port of Miami, was a breath of fresh air to an otherwise stale state of Hip-Hop, but many questioned whether or not he could recapture that same magic he had with his certified, street anthem “Hustlin”. Needless to say, not only does Rick Ross capture that same vibe but, in the process, delivers a timeless piece of work, encompassed as Trilla.

Production wise, the album is on point and much of the credit can be attributed to The J.U.S.T.I.C.E League. Joints like “Maybach Music” featuring Jay-Z and “Luxury Tax” featuring Lil’ Wayne, Young Jeezy, and Trick Daddy come off heavy on the synthesizers, but the meshing of great production and quality sound is what makes these songs stand out. My personal favorite is a track called “This Is The Life” featuring Trey Songz but each and every track is equally good in their own way.

Subject matter has always been a knock on Rick Ross and with Trilla, he does absolutely nothing to alleviate that stigma. To be honest. I didn’t even notice nor did I even care. I knew going in that Rick Ross was not the most lyrical so instead of criticizing his lack of versatility, I took this album for what it is. Most sophomore LP’s suck but Rick Ross should be proud. Trilla exceeds all expectations for what a follow up to Port of Miami should be so my hat’s off to the boss, Rick Ross.

Rating: 7.5 headphones out of 10

G-Unit XXL Magazine Cover

Well, it seems like XXL can't go too long without having someone from G-Unit on the cover and this is proof. I swear, G-Unit has to be on the payroll because I can think of other people who deserve more shine right about now. Lupe Fiasco's one but that's just my opinion. Anyway, here is the latest cover of XXL and it features, yet again, the members of G-Unit. Here's better luck to next month.

Maria Kanellis ♥'s Playboy

Is it me or does WWE Diva and Playboy seem to go hand in hand? I'm not complaining but Maria doesn't even look that good. I could understand Layla, Milena, or somebody of that nature but it seems like all Playboy goes for are the anorexic ones. Anyway, here's the latest cover of Playboy featuring WWE Diva Maria Kanellis and for those that are intersted, the issue went on sale this week.

Fat Joe: The Elephant in the Room

Let’s face it. Fat Joe is here to stay. Record label or no record label. Terror Squad or no Terror Squad. One thing’s for sure…this self-proclaimed “Elephant in the Room” will not be ignored and with his new album, Fat Joe sets out to prove just why.

Not wasting any time, Fat Joe goes hard out the gate on the Street Runner produced “The Fugitive” but unfortunately, there’s a dramatic drop off after that. Don’t get me wrong, noticeable cuts like “K.A.R. (Kill All Rats)” and the Lil’ Wayne assisted “The Crackhouse” stand out, but it’s not enough to save Fat Joe from what he’s been trying to escape from.

It’s obvious that his blatent attempt at crossover appeal and commercial success is what fuels Joey Crack these days but, it seems like he tries too hard. The lead single, “I Won’t Tell”, is a worthy exception, however, and backed by the smooth vocals of J. Holiday, the track works well for both. Whether or not this will translate into more album sales than his previous effort (Me, Myself, and I) remains to be seen but this is far from placing him in the upper echelon of rap’s elite. Elephant in the Room is sub-par at best and save for great production, the only thing that can’t be ignored is the fact that Fat Joe has one hell of an (alleged) ghostwriter. As much as I’m disappointed, I’m not surprised. A friend once said that potential can only go so far. Sadly, he was right.

Rating: 4.0 headphones out of 10

Semi-Pro

Will Ferrell has become an enigma, of sorts, in that people seem to generally love what he does as an actor. His offbeat, yet freestyle, approach to comedy has won over a lot of people and following his unforgettable role as Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights, expectations for his new film, Semi-Pro, are somewhat high.

Truth be told, Semi-Pro is far from anything close to Talladega Nights but, still, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. It’s not so much that I expected more from this film but to me, everything seemed kind of recycled. Not to mention, unlike most Will Ferrell movies that are laugh out loud funny, I found this only to be marginally comical. Far be it from me to say what’s funny but the only thing I laughed hard about, was a line from Andre 3000. To those who have seen the movie then you’re well aware of what I’m talking about. To those who haven’t, well, what can I say? It’s the price you pay for missing out.

Then again, like I said, you’re not missing much. Story wise, Ferrell isn’t given much to work with but what little plot that entails revolves around his character’s (Jackie Moon) attempt to take his Flint Tropics to the NBA. From there, it’s a race to finish in the top 4. Throw in a few small laughs here and there and what you have is a lackadaisical attempt at comedy called Semi-Pro. I hate to be blunt but this is a disappointment even by Will Ferrell’s standards.

In my opinion, the R-rating for this film killed it’s success from the jump. A PG-13 would’ve netted more than what it grossed in it’s opening weekend but that’s a moot point now. Regardless, fans of Ferrelle will still see this movie and be pleased yet some will feel the same way that I do. Not to take anything from Ferrell, he’s still great at this sort of thing but all I’m saying is that Semi-Pro will not be one of his defining moments. Rather, a late, uncontested shot in a game already decided.

Rating: 2 ½ inkblots out of 5

Vantage Point

The concept of point of view is rather complex when you think about it. Aside from the fact that everybody has one, it makes things difficult in the event that something catastrophic happens. So many sides to a story can cloud the silver lining and in the latest thriller from Sony Pictures, Vantage Point sets out to prove just that.

First off, if you don’t like movies that replay events over and over then this isn’t the movie for you. 8 points of view was not just a tag line and, quite frankly, all the rewinding in this film was almost annoying to a point. Yet and still, I understood why it was essential to the story but I’m still scratching my head, trying to figure out this convoluted plot.

Basically, all these points of view are trying to unlock the mystery behind an attempt to assassinate the president. While seemingly successful, each point of view explores a different side to the story and by the time things are revealed as they actually happened, the hope is that it will all make sense. Does it? Well, kind of but you have to suspend reality for it to. I mean, I’m all for “over the top action” movies (i.e. Live Free or Die Hard, The Bourne Series) but nowadays, it all seems too formulaic to me. Car chases are an absolute must for films like these but how they avoid injuring hundreds of people, as they would in real life, is beyond me.

Overall, Vantage Point is solid in it’s attempt to be a psychological thriller but it’s more of a popcorn movie. It’s nothing to take serious but it’s intricate in that, terrorrism is a chain of command. It takes so many things to go right and so many people strategically to pull something off, but depending on which side you’re on…the vantage point won’t be the same.

Rating: 3 inkblots out of 5

Pharoahe Monch: Desire [Video]

Is it me or does Pharoahe Monch not get enough recognition? Whatever it is, I'm really feeling this song and I actually like the video as well. Anyway, check it out.

Tocarra KING Magazine Cover

This is definitely better than last month's Danity Kane cover. Besides, if ever there was such a thing as perfection...you know what...words just aren't enough

Janet Jackson VIBE Magazine Cover

I don't care much for her new album, but Janet still looks good for her age. Wouldn't you agree? Anyway, here's Janet gracing the latest cover of VIBE.