Nigeria's Voodoo Culture

"Curses only have power when you believe in them”

One of the things that has been floating around since my dad died are rumors that someone killed him with Nigerian voodoo. So I’ve had relatives tell me to watch what I eat and be careful what I tell people about my wherabouts and just general weirdness. The really sad thing is, I’m so used to stuff like this, it’s not weird to me.

Side note: I’ve been watching Practical Magic a lot lately. It's one of my favorites (Nicole Kidman's face!!!!!) I love this movie so much and since I’ve seen it so many times, I don’t really have to focus that much on it to enjoy it.  

One of my favorite quotes is  "Curses only have power when you believe in them”. 

Don't ask me why. I don't know why.

 

So I wonder, does o juju (voodoo) only have power when someone believes in it?

What do you guys think?

Movies To Stop Airing On Africa Magic Channels

So I read this article today. Africa Magic and other African channels have been given till May to stop airing movies.

Hmm. This sounds temporary. I hope it is. Because In the three months that I've been here I have seen Africa Magic airing everywhere from the doctor's office to fast food restaurants. If that channel isn't allowed to air Nollywood movies anymore, does the Film, Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN) really think people will flock to theaters and buy the movies on DVD?

We live in a world where even Hollywood movies are being released on demand before or as they hit theaters (Last Night is a great example). And watching a movie in the states is not nearly as difficult as watching a movie in Nigeria, where the theater is .more than two hours away (unless you live on the island), the traffic to get there is a nightmare and the ticket is overpriced compared to the standard of living of most citizens. Not to mention the fact that a lot of people don't use DVD players here as much (cable is cheaper than constantly buying new films and TV series).

I'm just saying this may not be the smartest move for the Nollywood film industry.

Getting Old Sucks

Allmoviephoto.com

 

In a time of absolute desperation, I did something I never thought I’d be able to again: I watched “The Notebook”. It was on my sister’s old laptop that my parents now own. I don’t really know how it happened; it was late, I was desperate. I was in the middle of f-cking nowhere (the village) and I didn’t have any books or films with me, okay?

Now please don’t take this as a diss to the film. There is nothing wrong with the film. I absolutely love Rachel McAdams and think Ryan Gosling is lovely in everything, I just didn’t love “The Notebook” the way others did. Do you remember all those gifs that were made during the height of its popularity? It was the most annoying shit ever.

BUT

I found myself tearing up during the movie when the older Noah talks about all of his health issues, calling it “a general wearing down of the body”. Spending time with my parents has brought that line home for me. They’re getting old. They get tired so easily now, they forget things. These are two very active people who enjoy constantly being on the go who have now been halted by the aging process. That’s what’s so heartbreaking about it. Their bodies are betraying them and it’s so unfair. Getting old is unfair.

Revisiting The Wedding Planner

Guess what was on Universal Channel on Valentine’s Day and again a few days later? “The Wedding Planner”! Did you know Jennifer Lopez was the first woman to have the number 1 movie and the number 1 album in America at the same time? If you ask me, the album wasn’t bad (if you like that sort of thing). The movie, on the other hand, was shit. Plain and simple. I re-watched it for the first time in years and I couldn’t believe how bad it was. I couldn’t believe Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey starred in it.

Was it always this bad or has my taste gotten better with age?

Something you should know about me: I’m not the biggest romantic comedy fan. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll watch it on TBS on a Saturday when I’m deep-conditioning my hair. But I will never pay to see a romantic comedy in a theater because I can’t justify sitting an hour and a half through a movie I haven’t seen before when I know how it’s going to end. Am I alone in this?

I get that I’m a minority when it comes to rom-coms. People are happy watching the same story over and over. For instance, Yemi loves romantic comedies; the more formulaic they are, the better. She has also seen every movie that has been adapted from a Nicholas Sparks book.
 
What does a romantic comedy need to not make you want to gag? For me it has to be funny as hell and not in a Katherine Heigl movie kind of way.

What about you guys?

The Movie “Bachelorette” Is Not Funny, Just Mean.

So The Sundance Film Festival happened this past week. I read Entertainment Weekly and Laineygossip.com to get an idea of which films people are buzzing about. I’ve been looking forward to “Bachelorette” for a while now so I was kind of surprised to read that people aren’t feeling it at all. Is it not funny? How could it not be funny? This is a film that stars Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher and Lizzie Caplan, all solid, funny actresses in my opinion.

It turns out people are saying the film is less funny and more mean.

What does that even mean?

I don’t know but according to Lainey (in my head we're on a first name basis), it was so mean-spirited it made L.A. people uncomfortable.

I guess that's saying something?

Joseph Gordon Levitt's Hotness and Revisiting Inception

I re-watched “Inception” recently. I’ll get to that later. Right now, I want to gush about how I was hit in the face with how hot Joseph Gordon-Levitt is in that movie. And in life. Have you seen this video? 

As a hardcore Leonardo DiCaprio fangirl, I am shocked all over again at how little he does for me in that movie. The first time I watched “Inception”, he didn’t even register.

Anyway, I loved the film as much as I did the first time. Goosebumps love, the kind of love you have when you’re thankful you got to watch something truly spectacular. I can’t understand why “Inception” wasn’t more popular and the only conclusion I was able to come up with is that people are so used to shit, they’re taste buds are all fucked up. It’s like they’re desensitized to good movies.

Either way, I can’t wait for Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Rises”.

Revisiting Four Weddings and a Funeral

Do you have a film that you watch when you’re just having one of those shittier than usual days? I have about eight. “Eurotrip” is on that list as well as “Groundhog’s Day” and “Hot Tub Time Machine”.  I left all of my movies at home because I wanted to “focus on my writing". 

I hate myself for doing that. 

Luckily, my sister left hundreds of her films behind and in that collection was another film on my list: “Four Weddings and a Funeral”.

I love this movie so much. I can’t even begin to explain. If you’ve never seen it, watch it! If you have seen it, watch it again! It’s a perfect film, a romantic comedy without the insult to your intelligence. It’s a testament to how hot Hugh Grant once was. It’s a reminder that we Americans have yet to pull a film like this off.

The Hunger Games Trailer Is Here And It's F*cking Awesome.

Hiiiiiiiii.


What's up everyone? Everything kosher? I'm so thrilled to be done with a project that was taking way more time than I expected. I'm so relieved that I have time to tweet and blog and all that stuff with my free time again.  I'm psyched. It's that kind of day.


So I'm late with this because if you care at all, you've already seen this about a dozen times (I'm being modest with the number). With that said, did the Hunger Games trailer blow your mind? Because it blew my mind.


I've spent months worrying about Hollywood bigwigs ruining a fantastic trilogy. First the casting made me all types of confused and then that anemic teaser trailer came out and I was like "aw shit, they don't have footage to show because the movie probably SUCKS". I'm happy to say I was wrong. I don't know about you guys but I am so excited about this movie!


Well done Hollywood bigwigs. Well done.

Check out the trailer. I'm not afraid to admit that I've gotten choked up at 2:10 every time so far.

Today in Frivolity: Movie News

• So the hot guy who played the twins in The Social Network (two for the price of one), Armie Hammer, is going to play the prince in this new Snow White film. You know, the one Julia Roberts is going to rock in as the bitch queen.
  I think casting Armie Hammer was a great idea; even if the movie sucks, viewers will have something pretty to look at.
  Anyway, this rumor about Kristen Stewart playing Snow White is persistent as hell. If she takes this role, she will have no right to complain about her celebrity status ever again. You don't sign on to star in a blockbuster fantasy film TWICE without knowing what you're getting into.
  
  
• So according to People.com, Angelina Jolie is definitely going to play Cleopatra in the remake. I love Angelina Jolie. I have big love for her. She's talented, she's hot, she seems nice enough. And I'm sure she's going to kill it as Cleopatra. But couldn't they have looked for an actress with a little more melanin? Cleopatra was mixed, right? I would have loved to see Paula Patton play the Egyptian queen. It's not like roles are thrown at ethnic looking actresses.
  Oh well.
  
  
• Amy Adams will play Lois Lane in the Superman remake. Were you guys expecting that? I wasn't. Me likey. When I think Lois Lane, I see Rachel McAdams. But Amy Adams is a fantastic actress so yay!
  
  
• So guess what? After Christopher Nolan's third and final installment of his Batman films,"The Dark Knight Rises", is released in theaters, Warner Brother's is going to "reboot the franchise".
  Another remake? Yup!
  Originality is having the worst year ever! I don't think Hollywood studios know what original stories look like at this point.
  
  
• Speaking of original stories, I just saw the trailer for Midnight in Paris. I think it looks good! Check it out:
  
  
  
  What do you guys think? Would you see it in the theaters?
  

Fall 2010: My Reality

Charlane McGregor: Why don't you get a job at the Burgerrama? They'll hire you! My Lord, I saw on the TV - they had this little retarded boy working the register.

Lelaina: Because I'm not retarded, Mom. I was the valedictorian of my University!

Wes McGregor: Well you dont have to put that on your application.

With summer slowly fading away, I have been forced to retire my Summer2010Penny Lane Hippie Chic Bohemian African Princess look. Inspired by Liv Tyler in Stealing Beauty and Kate Hudson in Almost Famous, I spent my summer in sundresses and cowboy boots.

It's been fun but I happily look to another favorite movie for my next sartorial obsession.
Reality Bites.


I <3 Janeane Garofalo. And I worshiped Vickie. She was like Bettie Page meets Daria.


And here is Wynona Ryder's Laney, making a pair of jeans and a t-shirt cool as hell with her round sunnies.

Isn’t she just everything people?

Have you watched Reality Bites? No? Netflix it. Netflix it right now.

It won't change your life but it's a fun way to spend 2 hours.

You're welcome.

I love everything about the movie (great soundtrack). It's odd how a film that came out in 1994 is relevant today. How many people graduate from college with dreams of changing the world find themselves unemployed and discontent?


All serious reflection aside,Vickie and Laney had some awesome outfits!

It was so 90s without trying too hard to be 90s. The female characters weren't dressed to the nines in every scene but even dressed down, they both had awesome accessories.

I'm going to be needing that long floral dress Wynona. And Janeane, just pass the chunky forest green platforms, the Big Bird yellow stockings and cute as hell 50s house dress like now.

What/ Who/ Where are you looking at/to for Fall 2010 Fashion inspiration?

Jen v.s. Jen: Battle of the Romantic Comedies

They have a lot in common these two and I'm not talking about their personal lives. Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez are both sort of queens of romantic comedies.

Baaaad romantic comedies.

Just my opinion...

They both have movies about artificial insemination coming to a theater near you. I'm sure they are just THRILLED about that.

So, if you had to choose, which one would you see?

It's been a long time since I've paid to watch a romantic comedy. They just don't make them like they used to. A person can only take so much cheese and most of the time, the onscreen chemistry between the love interests is not believable at all.

But if I absolutely had to choose between the two Jens, I think I would go with Jennifer Aniston's film. Jason Bateman is consistently funny even when the movie stinks.

Aniston's The Switch should be in theaters by August 20th.

Lopez's The Back-up Plan is in theaters on April 23rd.