Rate the last movie you saw

[Ohio]

I have a very good memory. I can remember really specific details in things like old locker combos, jersey numbers that friends war 20 years ago. I still remember the birthdays from like 15 of the 25 people in my 6th grade class.

That's nuts. Just curious, did having a memory like that help you in school?

 

[gourimoko]

Is this mostly due to the way it handled race relations, or am I oversimplifying things?

I actually didn't like the handling of race relations as in, between Whites and Blacks per se; I thought it was fairly outdated on that front... Although I did like the directness of the addressing of colonialism and the effects, fears, and repercussions. That to me is more geopolitical than racial (other than slavery, we're mostly talking about major European powers colonizing much of world, including Europe itself).

However, it was spot on in it's approach to intra-racial issues and concerns, topics within the Black community; and it's understanding of certain aspects of the matriarchal character of the Black family (Black women being very prominent in the film is very much like real life within the Black household).

But beyond that, the movie was just beautiful to look at, the score was perfect, the soundtrack was timely and well done. They took Black Panther, who is a middling superhero at best, IMHO; and turned him into one of the most liked Marvel characters in the MCU. The action scenes in the first and second act were phenomenal (I agree the third act's weren't the best); particularly M'Baku's fight with T'Challa and the fight in South Korea, particularly in the casino (holy shit)...

It was literally the perfect hybrid of an action/adventure flick.. And unbelievably this movie was almost two and a half hours.

Honestly, I was very skeptical of the hype; and I don't even like action films, but this movie was something else man... The scenes in the astral plane were also just, perfectly done -- and that acting was fantastic...

IMHO, this was the best Marvel film to date, ahead of Winter Soldier for me. I need to see it at home, out of the theater, and really evaluate it more to see just how highly I'd rank it alongside something like Nolan Batman series.

For me, it's better than Begins and Returns, that's for sure.

 

[gourimoko]

That's nuts. Just curious, did having a memory like that help you in school?

Having a good memory is really all American school is about... memorizing things in the short-term for a test, rather than learning, conceptually, why these abstract concepts or facts make sense and are useful and can be re-purposed.

 

[Ohio]

Having a good memory is really all American school is about... memorizing things in the short-term for a test, rather than learning, conceptually, why these abstract concepts or facts make sense and are useful and can be re-purposed.

Exactly, that's why I was curious if he was able to apply that memory in school.

 

[col63onel]

However, it was spot on in it's approach to intra-racial issues and concerns, topics within the Black community; and it's understanding of certain aspects of the matriarchal character of the Black family (Black women being very prominent in the film is very much like real life within the Black household).

This is probably why I really liked it but didn't love it. As an extremely white dude, I can sympathize with the issues brought up, but really can't empathize with them.

But beyond that, the movie was just beautiful to look at, the score was perfect, the soundtrack was timely and well done.

I did think some of the CGI, especially the mining facility, was a tad wonky at times. And I actually didn't like the score. But those are either nitpicks or extremely subjective.

 

[Los216]

That's nuts. Just curious, did having a memory like that help you in school?

Yes.

Having a good memory is really all American school is about... memorizing things in the short-term for a test, rather than learning, conceptually, why these abstract concepts or facts make sense and are useful and can be re-purposed.

Absolutely correct. I was up on game early. Made straight A's from 2nd grade all the way to 5th grade. Never thought it was as impressive as teachers and friends made it out to be. Soon after that I started seeing school for what it was.

 

[Los216]

In case you guys didn't know both actors that played young T'Chaka and young Forest Whitaker were their real life sons. I thought that was pretty cool.

 

[gourimoko]

This is probably why I really liked it but didn't love it. As an extremely white dude, I can sympathize with the issues brought up, but really can't empathize with them.

Totally understand where you're coming from. A close friend of mine, Chinese chick, she was of the same mind.

I did think some of the CGI, especially the mining facility, was a tad wonky at times. And I actually didn't like the score. But those are either nitpicks or extremely subjective.

The CGI in the mining facility was just not well done for a $200M picture; I'm not sure what happened there. I actually didn't particularly like that final battle -- it didn't have the same weight as either of T'Challa's challenges.. However, once the CGI action ends, the movie picks up and becomes brilliant again (this is what I meant in the other post about Marvel's formulaic structure almost getting in the way)...

However the score -- loved it. There are scenes in the film, particularly in the astral plane, when T'Challa meets his father, that are very reminiscent of something from Ryuichi Sakamoto .. they effortlessly blend that in with modern hip-hop vibe and beats and it's done seamlessly.

I thought it was very well done; a meshing between the traditional and the modern that one might think to be almost impossible ..

 

[kosis]

I loved Black Panther. But I have one beef.

For a movie so intent on shattering stereotypes and redefining what a successful film can be, the kidnapping scene in the beginning was bothersome to me. T'Challa and Nakia save the women from who I imagine are supposed to be Boko Haram types, and insinuate that the women were forced to wear head scarves, Islamic dress, etc... They then throw it off when freed, this supposed symbol of liberation.

Just seems like a corny "hijabs are bondage" cliche that Coogler threw in there for the hell of it. Maybe it wasn't intentional symbolism but the optics of it irked me.

 

[Los216]

I loved Black Panther. But I have one beef.

For a movie so intent on shattering stereotypes and redefining what a successful film can be, the kidnapping scene in the beginning was bothersome to me. T'Challa and Nakia save the women from who I imagine are supposed to be Boko Haram types, and insinuate that the women were forced to wear head scarves, Islamic dress, etc... They then throw it off when freed, this supposed symbol of liberation.

Just seems like a corny "hijabs are bondage" cliche that Coogler threw in there for the hell of it. Maybe it wasn't intentional symbolism but the optics of it irked me.

Are you familiar with the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign?

 

[Kyrie4MVP0202]

I loved Black Panther. But I have one beef.

For a movie so intent on shattering stereotypes and redefining what a successful film can be, the kidnapping scene in the beginning was bothersome to me. T'Challa and Nakia save the women from who I imagine are supposed to be Boko Haram types, and insinuate that the women were forced to wear head scarves, Islamic dress, etc... They then throw it off when freed, this supposed symbol of liberation.

Just seems like a corny "hijabs are bondage" cliche that Coogler threw in there for the hell of it. Maybe it wasn't intentional symbolism but the optics of it irked me.

Are you kidding me? Women are absolutely forced to wear hijabs in some Muslim communities and countries.

Please educate yourself.

Anyways I watched a documentary called Meru on Netflix and it’s probably the greatest doc I’ve seen of all time.

Mountain climbers try and tackle
a mountain in the Himalayas and they document the journey. Unbelievable what these guys do and just overall inspiring.

10/10

 

[Los216]

Have any of you guys seen The White helmets on Netflix? 10/10. Very moving documentary.

 

[kosis]

Are you familiar with the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign?

Of course I am. More than most. I've actually contributed to campaigns oversees related to helping victims of BH and similar groups. Campaigns in Bosnia too. What I'm talking about is more nuanced representation in film.

 

[Los216]

Of course I am. More than most. I've actually contributed to campaigns oversees related to helping victims of BH and similar groups. Campaigns in Bosnia too. What I'm talking about is more nuanced representation in film.

But having those kidnapped women in hijabs was a very accurate representation of what's actually going on. I think one of the reasons Coogler incorporated that into the movie is because he understood the impact that this film would have culturally especially with many African actors and actresses on the cast and he wanted to remind the viewers that we haven't forgotten about those girls.

 

[kosis]

Are you kidding me? Women are absolutely forced to wear hijabs in some Muslim communities and countries.

Please educate yourself.

Slow down, champ.

No one abhors women being forced to wear hijabs/veils/etc... more than I do. Most of the women in my family go uncovered, and some choose to wear head scarves. It should ALWAYS be a woman's personal choice.

My problem is that the only reference to it in the film was the symbolism of bondage. You may or may not know that over the last year there has been an uptick of clashing ideology on the subject... one side saying that women who choose to wear it are being tricked into doing so by men. Others choosing the modesty and how they feel.

Putting that scene in the film was great, but I had an issue with no counter balance. It would have been cool -from a smashing stereotypes angle- to have Islamic veils worn by choice. After all, millions of Africans choose to wear them.

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear about that, and I don't mean to derail the movie thread with Islamic politics. It was just something that rubbed me the wrong way.