A Quick Review of Fast & Furious 6 (featuring guest reviewer Brian Henderson)

Posted by Thomasena Farrar on May 24, 2013
Posted in: Mind on Movies. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 3 comments

Fast & Furious 6 (photo: Universal Studios)

Hey Family,

Today marks a MusicMoviesThoughts first!  For the first time in almost two years, I am turning over the quick review of a movie, in this instance Fast & Furious 6, to trusted movie fan and MMT follower Brian Henderson.  Brian has been a long time supporter and is a HUGE movie fan.  Since I could not make the screening, I asked him if he would share his thoughts (minus spoilers of course) and he kindly obliged.

Here is Brian’s synopsis of Fast & Furious 6:

“OMG!  First off, Fast & Furious 6 was so action-packed, I didn’t go to the bathroom!  It’s definitely a great movie; (the kind) when you don’t want to get up and miss anything.  I was so excited to see the whole crew (cast) back again.  The acting was awesome, and I really liked the intense connections that everybody seemed to have with each other; if they weren’t in a movie together you could still imagine them all hanging out.  

Tyrese was funnier to me this time around.  Ludicris had several funny parts, where Tyrese and him (joked) back and forth with each other.  The action scenes  were done perfectly and will have you on the edge of your seat.  Michelle Rodriguez had the best fight scene in this movie, and it was so amazing the audience jumped up and down.  Vin Diesel did a great job, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was excellent as usual.  My son, Taj, couldn’t keep still and neither could my friend (and long time MMT supporter) Carolee.  It almost felt like we were on a rollercoaster ride!

The film wasn’t too long, as some movies are, so I didn’t feel sleepy when I got home. We constantly talked and compared notes on the car ride home.  I definitely will go to see this movie again this weekend when it comes out. If you want an action-packed movie that will keep you jumping up and down ,and  have you screaming with excitement, go see this movie!  Two thumbs up!”

Well family, I think Brian gave a great synopsis of what to expect from Fast & Furious 6.  I will give the disclaimer that Brian is a fan of the series and I know he enjoys action films; so if you are more on the tame side of movie viewing, and constant action isn’t your thing, this may not be the film for you. But if you enjoy thrills and edge of your seat excitement, I think Brian has given you a great movie choice for this weekend. :)
Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson lead an all star-cast in Fast & Furious 6, which opens today 5/24/13 nationwide.  You can check out the trailer below and visit the official website for more info at www.thefastandthefurious.com.
A big thanks to Brian Henderson for sharing his vivid thoughts and excitement about this film!  I’m looking forward to MMT’s next guest review…will it be you?
Until next thought family, Thomasena

A Quick Review of PEEPLES

Posted by Thomasena Farrar on May 10, 2013
Posted in: Mind on Movies. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 4 comments

Peeples opens Friday May 10th (Photo: Lionsgate)

Hello Music Movie family!  Well it’s official, the success of Iron Man 3 last opening weekend has kicked in the door and ushered in the summer blockbuster season.  And I must admit, it is a very good film and well worth the penny to view in theaters.  But if you’re looking for a more comedic romp, or a fun date movie this weekend, I would highly recommend Tyler Perry presents PEEPLES, written and directed by Tina Gordon Chism (ATL, Drumline) and starring Craig Robinson (The Office, Hot Tub Time Machine), Kerry Washington (Scandal, A Thousand Words), and David Alan Grier (In Living Color, The Woodsman).

Robinson stars as lead character Wade Walker, an “average Joe” who decides to surprise his girlfriend Grace (Washington) and propose during a holiday weekend in the Hamptons with her affluent family.  Problems arise, mostly due to the tension that brews between Wade and his girlfriend’s father, played hilariously by David Alan Grier.  I must admit when I first saw the trailer for this movie, I thought it was going to be “Jumping The Broom meets Meet The Parents.”  The film, however, does stand on its own merit by bringing some new things, and laughs, to the table.  There were a few moments of cheese, especially the Moby Dick Day scene (you know I won’t spoil!), but I really did enjoy most of the movie overall.

I also enjoyed the chemistry between and the variety of the film’s cast, including Wade’s brother Chris (played by the very funny Malcolm Barrett) and the divine S. Epahtha Merkerson as family matriarch Daphne Peeples rocked!  Ms. Merkerson’s comedic timing was spot on, and she even belts out a tune.  There were also great cameos by legendary, veteran actors Melvin Van Peebles and Diahann Carrol.  And it was really cool to see former child star Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris, Let It Shine) as Grace’s younger, socially misfit brother Simon.

In short, I would give PEEPLES  a B- for great laughs, a fantastic cast, and an overall fun story. The movie opens today, May 10, nationwide.  You can get more information about the film and view the trailer at www.peeplesmovie.com.  Make sure to stop back by and share your thoughts if you go check it out!

Until next thought family, Thomasena

GIVEAWAY: Win passes to screen Fast & Furious 6 on Tuesday, May 21st (Philly, PA)

Posted by Thomasena Farrar on May 3, 2013
Posted in: Giveaways. Tagged: , , , , , . 3 comments

Fast & Furious 6 (photo: Universal Studios)

Music Movie family, I know we’ve had a lot of giveaways as of late; but hey, who in his or her right mind would complain about “too many” free movies?  That’s what I thought, certainly not anyone who follows this site! :)  With that being said, Music Movies Thoughts, in conjunction with Allied-THA, is giving away passes to screen Universal’s Fast & Furious 6 on Tuesday, May 21.  This highly anticipated sequel has an all-star cast that includes leads Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

For your chance to win, you must be a follower of this site and send an email to thinkmusicmovies@aol.com, with “FAST & FURIOUS 6″ in the subject line and your full name in the body of the text.   Anyone who follows me on Twitter, @ledfarr, has a double chance of winning!

You can read a synopsis of the movie below, and go to the official website at www.thefastandthefurious.com to view trailer and get additional info.  Winners will be announced by Sunday, May 19.

Good luck family, Thomasena

FAST & FURIOUS 6 Synopsis

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast of all-stars as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed races to its next continent in Fast & Furious 6. Reuniting for their most high-stakes adventure yet, fan favorites Jordana Brewster, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Elsa Pataky are joined by series newcomers Luke Evans and Gina Carano. 

Since Dom (Diesel) and Brian’s (Walker) Rio heist toppled a kingpin’s empire and left their crew with $100 million, our heroes have scattered across the globe. But their inability to return home and living forever on the lam have left their lives incomplete. 

Meanwhile, Hobbs (Johnson) has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whose mastermind (Evans) is aided by a ruthless second-in-command revealed to be the love Dom thought was dead, Letty (Rodriguez). The only way to stop the criminal outfit is to outmatch them at street level, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his élite team in London. Payment? Full pardons for all of them so they can return home and make their families whole again. 

Building on the worldwide blockbuster success of Fast Five and taking the action, stunts and narrative to even greater heights, Fast & Furious 6 sees director Justin Lin back behind the camera for the fourth time. He is supported by longtime producers Neal H. Moritz and Vin Diesel, who welcome producer Clayton Townsend back to the series. 

GIVEAWAY: screening passes for PEEPLES with Craig Robinson Q & A (Philly, PA)

Posted by Thomasena Farrar on April 23, 2013
Posted in: Giveaways. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a Comment

Peeples opens Friday May 10th (Photo: Lionsgate)

Hey Family, I’ve got a great opp for you this time!  Who’s been waiting for the new comedy PEEPLES by writer/director Tina Gordon Chism?  I enjoyed the trailer for this Tyler Perry presents production when I caught it in the theater, and am really excited to see it.  I’m even more excited that MusicMoviesThoughts has acquired passes from Allied-THA for the Wednesday, May 1 screening. The best part about this giveaway?  There will be a Q & A with star Craig Robinson following the screening.

For your chance to win an admit two pass, send your full name with the subject line PEEPLES to thinkmusicmovies@aol.com.  Blog followers will be given first preference, and chances are doubled if you also follow me on twitter @ledfarr.   All new blog subscribers will receive a confirmation email after they sign up (so make sure to click link and confirm!).  Winners will be notified by Sunday, April 28.

You can read the synopsis below and get additional information about the film at the official website www.peeplesmovie.com.  PEEPLES opens in theaters nationwide Friday, May 10.

Good luck everyone!

Thomasena

PEEPLES Synopsis

Sparks fly when Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) crashes the preppy Peeples annual reunion in the Hamptons to ask for their precious daughter Grace’s (Kerry Washington) hand in marriage. Wade might be a fish-out-of-water among this seemingly perfect East Coast clan, but he’s not about to let himself flounder. Instead, in a wild weekend of fun, dysfunction and hilarious surprises, Wade is about to discover there’s room for all kinds of Peeples in this family, no matter their differences. Writer and first-time director Tina Gordon Chism (writer of DRUMLINE) joins forces with Tyler Perry to present a laugh-out-loud look at the family ties that freak us out . . . but bind us together with love.

The Beauty of 42: A Quick Review

Posted by Thomasena Farrar on April 14, 2013
Posted in: Mind on Movies. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 8 comments

42 movie (2)

Hey there Music Movie family!  So, I’ve already hinted at how much I loved the movie 42, which opened Friday in theaters nationwide.   I was excited to screen it again last week for the second time with the giveaway winners, and I enjoyed it as much the second if not more than the first time.  42 chronicles the legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson’s journey of being the first African-American player in Major League Baseball, and the adversities and triumphs he faced while doing so.

Now the movie is not a complete depiction of the challenges faced by Mr. Robinson, nor could it possibly capture some of the more abhorrent behaviors of some and keep a family friendly PG-13 rating.  But by far, it is one of the most honest and fair-minded depictions of the impact Mr. Robinson’s entry to the majors had on our society as a whole.

Okay, so it is going to be very hard to tell you what I absolutely loved about this film, without giving spoilers, but I will try my best!  Let’s start with the powerful performance of newcomer and lead, Chadwick Boseman (The Kill Hole, Lincoln Heights).   His portrayal of Robinson was quiet thunder; and he made my older friend Ms. Bowmer (who is Madea tough ;) ) cry during one emotional scene when Jackie reacts to a racist response from a player on an opposing team (okay I did that without telling you what happened, yay me!).  And as I sit here at 12 am watching The Fugitive for the 2,575th time while typing this, I’d be remiss not to mention the great portrayal of Branch Rickey by veteran actor Harrison Ford (The Fugitive, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull).

But can I say I adore Nicole Beharie?  Beharie (American Violet, The Last Fall) was cast as Jackie’s wife Rachel, and her and Chadwick’s chemistry was fierce!  I love how the film depicted their relationship; and it also highlighted how important her support and character were to her husband’s journey.  And Nicole always brings a subtle radiance and strength to the characters she portrays, so what a perfect choice she was.  As a matter of fact, the Robinsons’ relationship is an area I would not have minded the 128 minute running time being expanded to include more of or elaborate.

Lastly, I loved how the movie displayed several characters struggles and their eventual growth to accept and respect Mr. Robinson.  There is a great scene between Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese, portrayed by Lucas Black (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Promised Land), where Pee Wee discusses his prejudices and how Jackie challenged his views.  I won’t spoil it by describing the scene in full, but when you see it you’ll know what I mean. ;)

In short, 42 is a testament to the character, talent and strength of an extraordinary man.  Jackie Robinson’s legacy continues on, as this Monday, April 15 will again commemorate Jackie Robinson Day, where all Major League Baseball players honor the day Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers by donning the number 42 on their uniforms.  The number 42 is the only number retired in Major League Baseball.

You can get additional information about the film and learn more about Jackie Robinson at www.42movie.warnerbros.com.  If you are a ministry leader or belong to a community organization, there is also a great website with resources available related to the film at www.42FAITH.com.

And if I may, I’d like to leave you with this quote: “A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives” – Jackie Robinson.

Until next thought family, Thomasena

GIVEAWAY: screening passes for OBLIVION starring Tom Cruise (Philly, PA)

Posted by Thomasena Farrar on April 9, 2013
Posted in: Giveaways. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment

Music Movie Lovers this is definitely the week for giveaways. :)  So, who’s been waiting to see that new Tom Cruise film Oblivion?  Alright, here is your chance to see it next Tuesday night, before the April 19 opening.  Just send an email, with your full name, to thinkmusicmovies@aol.com for a chance to win an admit two screening pass.  Make sure you’ve signed up to follow this blog, because that doubles your chances (and don’t forget to follow the instructions in the confirmation email).  Winners will be notified by Saturday, April 13.

You can check out a synopsis of “Oblivion” below, and get additional info at the official movie website http://www.oblivionmovie.com.

Good luck family, Thomasena

Oblivion synopsis:

Tom Cruise stars in Oblivion, an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the visionary director of TRON: Legacy and producers of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man’s confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind.
2077: Jack Harper (Cruise) serves as a security repairmen stationed on an evacuated Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying alien threat who still scavenges what’s left of our planet, Jack’s mission is almost complete. In a matter of two weeks, he will join the remaining survivors on a lunar colony far from the war-torn world he has long called home.  Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, Jack’s soaring existence is brought crashing down after he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Drawn to Jack through a connection that transcends logic, her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he thought he knew. With a reality that is shattered as he discovers shocking truths that connect him to Earth of the past, Jack will be pushed to a heroism he didn’t know he contained within. The fate of humanity now rests solely in the hands of a man who believed our world was soon to be lost forever.

GIVEAWAY: “The Sapphires” soundtrack

Posted by Thomasena Farrar on April 8, 2013
Posted in: Mind on Movies, Music Musings. Tagged: , , . Leave a Comment
courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment

courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment

What’s up family?  So, who took my advice and saw “The Sapphires?”  If you did, it’s about to pay off! ;)  I have several copies of the film’s soundtrack to giveaway to the lucky winners that can answer the following question (spoiler alert):  Which song did The Sapphires perform the night the camp came under enemy fire?

Think you know?  Email your response, with your full name and address, to thinkmusicmovies@aol.com. Winners will be selected and notified by Friday, April 12th.  For those who still haven’t seen the film, you can check out my posts from last month by scrolling down, or clicking the link March 2013 to the right.  You can also get additional info at http://thesapphires-movie.com/.

Good luck Music Movie lovers :) .

Until next thought, Thomasena