March 2007

Movie Title: Dreamgirls
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/10)
Year: 2006
Dreamgirls official site: http://www.dreamgirlsmovie.com/

Dreamgirls, the famous Broadway show started when I was only 1 and growing up in a small town in a Chinese community… I barely heard of the name being mentioned.

So when exactly did I hear about Dreamgirls? Hmm… it was when LB couldn’t stop showing his affection towards this show that caught me interested and wanting to find out more. Just as I did… I notice they really do carry big stars with them. And yes… musical, music + movie… what could be better than a perfect combo? So I guess I should enjoy it. But did I?

Dreamgirls, a movie set back in the early 1960s was pretty much adapted from a famous Broadway musical show with the same name. The movie started of with a trio African-American girl group known as The Dreamettes lead by Effie White (Jennifer Hudson) followed by Deena Jones (Beyoncé Knowles) and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) trying their luck at a local talent competition at the Detroit Theatre.

The girls were late for the show as Deena gotta sneak out from her house only after her grandmother went to bed. They were actually taken off the list since they were late. However it’s their lucky day when they bump into Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Curtis is a Cadillac dealer who is trying hard to be a someone in the music business. Hence, Curtis help get The Dremettes to perform.

The Dremettes blown the crowd with their performance. Trying to keep The Dremettes for his own use, he somewhat bet on a 50 that they won’t win the talent show. Indeed they didn’t and they were quickly disappointed with the fact that they didn’t win. Curtis then manage to catch up with the girl and strike them with a deal. Deena and Lorrell was jumping around happily when Curtis told them that he will be arranging them to be James “Thunder” Early (Eddie Murphy) backup singers.

Effie of course rejected the offer since she always is the lead and would do nothing but to sing lead. However, after being sweet-talked by Curtis, Effie changed her mind and the girls starts to follow Jimmy to tour around together with Jimmy’s manager, Marty (Danny Glover).

Thinking that Jimmy could do better than what he is doing and trying to get Jimmy appeal to a wider group of audience, Curtis proposed to Jimmy and Marty that they should sing something different. Marty totally rejected the idea and tries to walk out of it… however Jimmy didn’t see eye to eye with Marty. Jimmy and The Dreamettes soon start recording their first song with low budget.

It was a great tune and it proves that Curtis’s instinct about music was right. Within weeks, the song start to hit a wide audience. Just when the song was going famous, the song was credited to the other singer who was much more famous at that point of time. C.C (Keith Robinson), Effie’s brother was angry and frustrated when he noticed someone just practically “stole” their song.

Knowing how the industry runs, Curtis sold of all the Cadillacs and even gamble to double his money cause it’s the key ingredient to making Jimmy and The Dremettes famous. C.C then continue to write more great songs for them. While in the progress of making them famous, Effie has gotten head over heels over Curtis while Lorrell and Jimmy started an adulterous affair.

Curtis started his own recording label, Rainbow Records. By practicing payola, Curtis manage to get Jimmy and The Dremettes to the charts. On the other side, Marty noticed what Curtis is trying to do to Jimmy and tries to stop it. However Jimmy felt that Curtis is right and decided to follow his direction. This incident draws the line when Marty decides to walk out of Jimmy’s life.

Curtis manage to grab a chance for Jimmy and the girls to perform in the Apollo Theatre as it is never easy for an African-American to perform there. Jimmy’s act quickly pissed some of the audience off. However some of them were quickly addicted and wanted to see more of the Dremettes. Knowing he could not change Jimmy, Curtis puts his attention to The Dremettes.

Giving them a new look, expensive wig, beautiful cloths, he quickly transform them from The Dremettes to The Dreams. Effie got a shock of her life when her lead singer position was replaced by the beautiful and attractive Deena. What saddens her is when her brother, C.C agrees to Curtis decision as well.

Effie then agrees on the decision after being calmed down by C.C and Curtis saying things are just temporary. The girls was an instant hit when they start with their signature “Dreamgirls” song. From there onwards, they just grew and grew and grew.

When Deena gets most of the limelight and with Curtis getting close to Deena, Effie starts to feel betrayed. She does not kindly that she is now the backup singer and started to act wild and walk out on the group. When Effie failed to turn up on rehearsals for The Dreams Las Vegas New Year’s debut, Curtis then decides to replace Effie with Michelle Morris (Sharon Leal).

Effie then showed up on the day of the show, where the girls was having their final rehearsal. Effie then noticed she was replaced. She started blaming on Deena and the fight just got real big that it dragged in people like Lorrell, C.C and just everyone. At the end of the argument, Effie finally notice she is now without her girl friends, her man walked out of her life not knowing she is pregnant, her brother walks out on her as well.

The show then jump to the early 1970s where The Dreams continue to bloom. Effie on the other hand was broke and staying in a small home with her 8 years old daughter, Magic (Mariah I. Wilson). On the other side, Deena and Curtis got married and they moved to Los Angeles. Under Curtis, Rainbow Records prosper as well taking in more and more singers. Rainbow Records even try to expand in to the film industry.

Curtis is all out to make Deena the lead in this new version of Cleopatra. Unknown to Curtis, Deena have no interest in taking up the role, instead she secretly meets out other producers trying to take up other roles.

Concentrating on Deena, Curtis has no interest at all in revitalizing Jimmy’s career. It was clearly shown and felt when he just rejects Lorrell and Jimmy’s duet without even listening much to it. Feeling down about his life, career and love life, Jimmy turns to drugs.

Out of a sudden, one will notice eventually C.C and Michelle is now a couple. C.C still tries to make an effort to contact and send money to Effie, which of course the stubborn Effie refused. Knowing that she can’t continue her life like that, Effie turns to Marty for help.

Knowing some people around, Marty tries to help Effie out. Effie failed Marty out with her selfish and “think she’s all that” attitude. In frustration, Marty told Effie this is her last chance which somehow woke Effie from her sweet dreams and face reality.

Rainbow Records held a ten anniversary show featuring the stars under the recording label. Right before Jimmy’s performance, he and Lorrell was in some arguments when Jimmy’s wife insisted to come watch the show. It somehow become clear to Lorrell that no matter how much they love each other, they both can’t and won’t have a normal relationship. As she tries to talk to Jimmy, he gave an excuse that he have a show to run and walk out of the discussion.

In the middle of Jimmy’s performance, the soulful performer dropped his pants in the middle of the show. The angry Curtis then fires Jimmy from the recording label. To add salt to the wound, Lorrell decides to leave Jimmy at the same time. Just days later after the incident, Jimmy was found dead due to drug overdose.

Frustrated over Curtis actions of changing the beat and taking the soul out of his creations, C.C decides to leave Rainbow Records. C.C then went back to Detroit and search for Effie trying to apologize to her. When she finally does, C.C wrote a song for Effie to sing and it turn out to be a popular hit.

Using his old tricks, Curtis buy out the radio DJ and make them play Deena and The Dreams version of Effie’s song but in a more disco and upbeat tune. When C.C and Effie know what happened, they were angry and frustrated.

Deena fights back when Curtis tries to control her life. She went through Curtis’ drawers only to notice what he has done to Effie’s album and information about Curtis’ payola scheme. She then calls up Effie to apologize and told Effie the truth. The next day, C.C, Effie and Marty walked in to Rainbow Records together with a lawyer.

When they presented evidence to Curtis’ illegal actions, Curtis work out a deal where Rainbow Records will fund a new label for C.C., which will allow Effie’s record national distribution. While they were working out the deal, Effie and Deena met up where Effie told Deena, Magic is Curtis’ daughter.

Later, Curtis confronted Deena only to find out she is actually tired of being controlled by him and decides to leave. Inspired by Effie’s comeback, Deena decides to leave Curtis’ even when he tries to blackmail her saying she would be nothing without him.

As a result of all the drama and arguments, Deena and The Dreams decides to walk on separate ways and gave a farewell performance. At the ending of the concert, Effie was introduced to everyone else as part of the original The Dreams member. Instead of Deena being the lead, Effie took up the lead singer position singing their signature song “Dreamgirls”.

As much as I like the set up and the glittery bling bling costumes, I somewhat find a lot of sections and plots in the show undeveloped. Things happen was just ina blink of an eye… or probably portrayed as “by the way” these things happened. Lots of filling in the gaps things happened. Not to mention the relationships within the people and circle is complicated and the director just makes it more complicated by leaving out the blanks. Out of a sudden Effie was with Curtis.. out of a sudden Curtis is with Deena without even showing how things bloom. Then out of a sudden Lorrell rejected Jimmy… when out of a sudden they both have and adulterous affair and was madly in love. Out of a sudden C.C is with Michelle.

The musical… ah… it was great however I find some was overly exaggerated especially the part when Effie was being thrown out of the group. I somewhat think it was too overly done and she is trying too hard to prove she is someone who can sing. Not to mention the whole dragging on thing got me so annoyed that I just wish to stand up in the middle of the cinema and say “STOP IT”.

Casting and singing wise, Beyoncé will be Beyoncé. She is a superstar singer so what can go wrong? furthermore to that, her being part of the Destiny Child… well… is it that hard for her to take up the role? Yes, she did a great job and all but why I wasn’t surprised? I somewhat think she never did breakthrough despite how she claims that this is the first time she felt she is an actress. I didn’t agree to what she claims.. since she is doing what she is doing practically every single day… which is sing sing sing and sing.

Jennifer Hudson seems to be the main focus and limelight after she won the best supporting actress role. Well… I think she did well, and her gaining 20 pounds for the role is proven to be worthy. However, I think she over do herself in many ways in the movie. Making me felt.. she is good… but annoying and I just have this feeling of not wanting to see more of her anymore.

I don’t know, overall.. I still think this is pretty much a over-hyped movie which will practically died out if it wasn’t for the famous people and big budget.

Movie Title: Rocky Balboa
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/10)
Year: 2006
Rocky Balboa official site: http://www.rocky.com/

Now talk about being nostalgic. Talk about a new Rocky movie after 16 years. Not to mention the first rocky was produced years before I was born.

After disappearing from the screen from some time, Sylvester Stallone is back… looking way older than the last time I see him in Driven. When he still have smooth face. Somewhat, somehow… I wonder if it’s the make up in this movie or is he really getting that old. I mean yes, he is aging but it’s like only 4 years. I guess the changes are sorta drastic for me.

After 30 years from the original Rocky, Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) is back. At his 60’s age, Rocky now owns a small restaurant at Philadelphia. His life was kind of like a routine. What’s worst is when his wife Adrian (Talia Shire) passed away a few years back. His life seems so empty and boring.

Intimidated and constantly felt over-shadowed by his father’s popularity, Rocky Jr. (Milo Ventimiglia) tries his very best to avoid / not to be seen with his father. Rocky starts to wonder if he did anything wrong to make things seems so awkward.

On Adrian’s anniversary, Rocky pull along Paulie (Burt Young) to go walk around and goes back to places where he first met Adrian, their dating place, her old house. Lots of past clips and memories arise. As he walks around, he ends up at a bar where Marie (Geraldine Hughes) is working. Rocky used to walk Marie home when she was young.

While catching up with Marie, a young girl walks up to Rocky and asked him to buy them some beer. When refused, she started insulting Rocky. The insult never stops even when Rocky tries to send Marie home. At one point, Rocky just couldn’t take it anymore and walked up to the group of youngsters.

Marie then introduce her son, Steps (James Francis Kelly III) to Rocky. Rocky was somehow surprised that Steps is actually mixed. Rocky then invited Marie and Steps to dine at his restaurant which they actually did turn up.

Being an ever famous boxer, Rocky would always tells his boxing stories to his customers. Somethings which they like to listen to while dining at his restaurant. When one of his staff is due to deliver a baby, Rocky quickly persuade Marie to work for him. Wondering why Rocky treat her so good, she refused Rocky’s request at first. She later on agreed when Rocky manage to convince her that he is just being him and just trying to help as a friend and nothing else.

Opposite of Rocky, Mason Dixon (Antonio Traver) is the current famous and top boxer. His undefeated record put him from a love to hate position. Everyone thinks he wins to easily. Easy knock-outs, no competitor and everyone is just angry as boxing seems to lost it’s spark.

Everything turns exciting when a computer generated match between Rocky and Mason is being aired. Everyone got curious who would actually be better. When the results sided on Rocky, Mason was furious. His managers on the other hand look at this as an opportunity to grab more money out of it. While Rocky was just plain curious about his own capabilities and got him thinking to be a boxer again.

Now… you can hear the Rocky tune.. you can see him run the stairs.. sounds familiar? Well.. yeah it happens on all Rocky movies. A trademark sorta thing. Rocky accepted the challenge against Mason. Rocky Jr. was angry when he heard that Rocky accepted the challenge. He went up to Rocky and demanded him to stop it. However, after listening to Rocky’s words.. not only did he support his decision, he quit his job cause he thinks it doesn’t suit him but he also accompany Rocky through his difficult training times. With the upbeat music, the not overly done training and keep it realistic exercise finally gives the movie a little uplift.

The fight of the century finally arrive. With Spider Rico (Pedro Lovell) blessing Rocky and the funny part comes is when Paulie chose a Frank Sinatra song to play as a background song when Rocky is walking out. When the bell rings, Mason and Rocky starts fighting. A punch here and there… and there… and here. Ouch! Lots of blood… saliva flying everywhere.

Okay… I wouldn’t wanna spoil it all for everyone… but somehow the ending was rather… how do I put it in words. It sorts of put me in the “Duh… that’s it?” position. I thought the ending could be stronger and more emotional but it didn’t show.

It is an interesting movie but the paste was rather slow and it makes it really hard for me to concentrate. I could understand how they would wanna bring the clips, touch the heart, bring some emotions in but it was just a little too much. The peak of the movie was when the training starts to the competition… which I somehow feel it wasn’t enough to attract or bring audiences to another level.

I felt it could have been better despite it being a legendary movie. But well, at least it is way better than what it’s trailer portray.