Anticipated Movies

October is just a great month for movies this year, minus that Feel the Noise fiasco. Here are some movies that have already been released this month or will soon be out that I’m dying to see, ranked in the order of importance.

1. Across the Universe

This was actually released in September but I don’t care. When I first saw this trailer I wasn’t paying attention at all. I had no idea about the movie whatsoever but I happen to turn my head to the television screen and saw the most beautiful cinematography I’ve ever seen – at least thius year. It was the scene with Bono and the strawberries or whatever it way. I’m really not sure it just caught my eye. A few days later I was finally able to see the whole trailer with sound (the tube was on mute when I first saw it). I immediately fell in love. A whole movie inspired by Beatles songs? What? Of COURSE I was excited about that. I’m upset at the fact I still haven’t seen it yet and the indie theatre that’s close enough for me to walk to isn’t showing it for reason.
Plot Synopsis:
A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll, the film moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam.
The star-crossed lovers, Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with "Dr. Robert" (Bono) and "Mr. Kite" (Eddie Izzard) as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy -- against all odds -- to find their own way back to each other.
2. The Heartbreak Kid

I love Ben Stiller. He’s hilarious and kind of cute with with the salt & pepper look, but I digress. I love to laugh and his movies never fail to give me a lot of laughs.
Plot Synopsis:
After years of bachelorhood and ample pressure from his father, Doc, (Jerry Stiller) and best friend Mac (Rob Corddry), Eddie starts to wonder if he is being too picky about the women he meets. So when a chance encounter with an alluring blonde named Lila (Malin Akerman) leads to a sweet romance, Eddie impulsively proposes. But right after the wedding, as the newlyweds get to know each other on the drive down the California coast, Eddie begins to realize he's made a terrible mistake. Soon after reaching their exotic Mexican hideaway, he falls for the down-to-earth Miranda (Michelle Monaghan), who has no clue he's on his honeymoon. Now Eddie has to find a way to extricate himself from his days-old marriage without losing the girl of his dreams.

3. 30 Days of Night

Another graphic novel turned big screen movie. And yet another one that looks like it’s going to be AMAZING! I’m so excited about seeing this and not just for super cutie Josh Hartnet.
Plot Synopsis:
Producer Sam Raimi ("Spider-Man") brings audiences the terrifying thriller "30 Days of Night," set in the isolated town of Barrow, Alaska, in the extreme northern hemisphere, which is plunged into complete darkness annually for an entire month. When most of the inhabitants head south for the winter, a mysterious group of strangers appear: bloodthirsty vampires, ready to take advantage of the uninterrupted darkness to feed on the town's residents. As the night wears on, Barrow's Sheriff Eben (Josh Hartnett), his estranged wife Stella (Melissa George), and an ever-shrinking group of survivors must do anything they can to last until daylight.

4. The Comebacks

Ok I got tired of the movie spoof flicks after Scary Movie 2. It was funny the first time but they just got extra lame. Epic Movie anyone? The Comebacks, however, looks hilarious! I’m actually pretty excited about it.
Plot Synopsis:
Champ Fields is known as the unluckiest coach in the history of sports. After being forced into an early retirement, he's given one last shot at greatness. Unfortunately, Champ is hired to coach The Comebacks, a talentless, slightly deranged college football team with a laughable roster and an even worse record. Armed with questionable morals, and weak players, Champ sets out to bring this team of losers together and make the impossible happen, win a game.

5. Things We Lost in the Fire

If this isn’t going to be a tear-feast I don’t what to cry about it anymore. I got a little choked up on the trailer so I’m going to bawl when I see the movie. It looks like a movie Halle can win an award for without having to take her clothes off, at least if those Oscar people have any sense in their heads.
Plot Synopsis:
After an unspeakable tragedy, two people get a second chance at life in "Things We Lost in the Fire." When Audrey Burke (Halle Berry) loses her husband in an act of random violence, she forges an unlikely relationship with Jerry Sunborne (Benicio Del Toro), her husband's best friend from childhood. Jerry is a heroin user; his addiction has destroyed everything that was once important to him. As Audrey discovers that Jerry is the only person who can help her survive her loss, Jerry finds the strength to overcome his own problems.

6. Dan in Real Life

Steve Carell is just awesome in all senses of the word. I don’t know what else needs to be said besides his name. It looks like a cute comedy that everyone can love.
Plot Synopsis:
It all begins with widowed father and family advice columnist Dan Burns (Carell), who is still reeling from the heartache of loss and takes refuge by trying to maintain order with his three rebellious young girls, while dodging anything unexpected or outside the box. But when Dan heads to Rhode Island, his miffed daughters in tow, for the annual Fall weekend thrown by the large and boisterous Burns family, everything changes. Soon after his arrival, he runs into an alluring woman named Marie (Binoche) in a bookshop. For the first time in a very, very long time, Dan experiences real, live sparks -- only to have to douse them liberally when he discovers Marie is, in fact, the brand new girlfriend his brother Mitch (Cook) is about to proudly introduce to the family.

All movie synopsi come from http://www.movieweb.com

Coming Up:
My review of Why Did I Get Married

Soulja Boy - souljaboytellem.com

YUUUULLLLLEEEE!!! I’m sure this summer you’ve heard this mating call of the moronic kind all over your radio. Coined by 17 year old MySpace sensation, and I use sensation VERY loosely, Souljah Boy. Now I know that the banner above says “your ideal spot for all things GOOD” but I am a “journalist” of sorts and must be objective and unbiased on everything I review – good thing this is my blog and not a newspaper. If you are a Souljah Boy fan and you are easily offended – click the ‘X’ in the corner of your screen now.
Here’s my track by track run down of Souljah Boy’s debut album, souljahboytellem.com:

Intro – Just by the intro alone I could tell this CD was going to annoy me – highly. The CD starts with Souljah Boy & Mr. Collipark quoting, well poorly imitating children’s cartoon “Pinky & the Brain”. Then comes the inevitable shout outs.


Crank That (Souljah Boy) – And here is this summer’s hit smash. The fact that this song reached #1 one forces me to ask, “America, why? Are you feeling okay?” I will not lie, I fell victim to the undeniable catchiness of this monstrosity but I recovered quickly. And do people really not understand what he means when he says “Superman that hoe” or the more obvious “Supersoak that hoe”. Parents, I beg you, listen to your children’s music before you let them go around supersoaking some ho.


Sidekick – I call this the “Shameless Plug Song” because of all the unnecessary times the word ‘Sidekick is repeated through not only the horrendous chorus but all through the verses as well. I cringe at repetitive songs but this one almost gave me a tumor. The lyrics represent what most 17 year old guys talk about … nothing at all. This song is the standard “Look what I bought with all the money I have” type song. Aside from the materialistic lyrics, the beat just hits all the nerves in my body. The bass is pretty catchy, I will not lie, but then all the whistles and such just make me tear up. Then he decides to end the song with the most ignorant thing that I, as an English major, cannot grasp. Spell technology for me people … ‘K’ is not in there at all! So that pissed me off. And I just LOVE this line “But What U Won't Believe Is I Wrote This Song.” Yes, Soulja Boy – we can believe you wrote this. I believe it with all my heart.


Snap and Roll – Again with the annoying chorus. I wanted to stop the CD right here and just give up on the review but I have to suffer through it and do my job. This is another dance song that is nowhere near as catchy as Crank Dat. There really is nothing to say about this. It sounds like the same beat from the previous song just with some extra bells. Snap or Die? I think I rather die.


Bapes – The song that, I believe, got him initially noticed on MySpace by a major “fan base.” This is shameless plug number 2. Now I hated this song when I first heard it. Granted I tend to hate most songs my little sisters blast from our computer so there was a major biased at first when I first heard of Soulja Boy. After a summer of hearing this, I hate to admit it … I sort of like it. The repetitiveness doesn’t bother me so as in the last two songs because it’s actually sort of catchy. But then he gets to the whole “Start choosing, hoe” part and I got turned off a little.


Let Me Get Em – Yet another “dance” song. Poole Palace … acceptable dance for this day in age. Then pull your trigger finger? And we wonder why guns are so popular among young people. I’m sure when a “concerned” parent hears this song, they’ll go straight to the FCC and talk about the gun references and then Soulja Boy and his people will say “But we have a disclaimer in the song.” And the sad part is it’s true. Yes, in the beginning it is said very clearly, “This is a public service announcement, Shoot Out is a dance and is not intended to incite any violent behavior. Yule!” Ok so you know this song may pose the risk of young kids or idiot adults getting a little to wild at the club or school dance wherever it may be, then why put such a stupid song on the CD. What do you think you’re condoning? Water gun fights?


Donk – Sad part of this, I could see this being a hit single if he were to release it. Again
repetitive lyrics and reused drum machine beats. Simplistic song talking about a woman’s “Donk.” Don’t know what that is? Where have you been for the past what, decade or so? Short story even shorter, he wants to an ample girl shake her ass on the dance floor. Don’t you love what your 13 year old sibling or other family member is listening to?


Yahhh! – High school delusions of fame and major fame. Enough said. I dare not even repeat the elementary lyrics.


Pass It To Arab – If you were wondering who Arab, the guy he passed it to in Crank Dat, was, it’s Soulja Boy’s sidekick (and no not his Teknology). Yes, his dear friend from the 30/30 boyz gets a feature on the CD. I could tell it wasn’t just Soulja Boy rapping about his best friend because this new voice sound slightly less prepubescent. Again lyrics about nothing really … just gibberish disguised as the English language. It is catchier than the other songs though I will give it that. It’s like Bapes part 2.


Soulja Girl – Here’s is Soulja Boy’s second single and his attempt at a mid-tempo ballad. It was actually somewhat nice to have something in between all this adrenaline rushed music. This song was slightly more listenable than any of the others … but that does not change the fact that it sort of sucks. It’s a cute little song. I wonder if he really wanted to do this song or if it was a label decision because it’s not degrading women. Just doesn’t seem like it’s in his nature to be an “R&B thug”


Booty Meat – I wanted to skip this song when I read the title but damn my curiosity. There’s nothing to even review about this song. It’s disgusting. It’s the same subject as Donk such a lot more … vivid, I guess I’ll say.


She Thirsty – Uhh, can we say ego? Seriously, I don’t know why I even continue with this CD. It’s all talking about the exact same thing in every song. A girl who’s on his jock, who just won’t leave him alone because he looks oh so good and he’s got swag out this world. Get out of here!


Don’t Get Mad – The end of the madness and I can’t help but think this song is directed towards people like me. I’m not angry that children like you … I’m angry that he sucks but is getting money for it. I’m not one to down someone for doing what they love and having fun with it. In fact, I applaud Soulja Boy for being able to blindfold everyone and think that he’s putting out music. I understand every generation has there “IT” boy but though he’s catchy I don’t think he’s it – at least I hope not. And I end with “What you mad foe?” I mad foe many many reasons … and I think you’re one of them Soulja Boy.

I know it took me a while to post this review but I actually listen to each song over and over while writing the review to get the full essence. After the first three listens of this CD I was on idiocy overload. I really needed to sleep on this one and see if I was even going to go ahead and review it. I wrote a lot more than I expected but bad music will do that to you. He’s young and maybe with time he’ll get better but I really think his 15 minutes are up.

On the Brown Sugar Sunshine scale of 1 – 5, Soulja Boy gets the honor of being the first rating of 1, and that’s just for effort.

= Void of Nothingness

Grab A Listen:

Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)
Soulja Girl

Coming up:
Colbie Caillat's CoCo
Anticipated Movies

J. Holiday - Back of My 'Lac

Just the name of this CD screams classic R&B – doesn’t it?
[note the sarcasm]
Though I wasn’t thoroughly impressed by J. Holiday’s first major burst onto the scene with his single “Bed”, I could not deny he had an awesome voice compared to the mediocrity we call musical talent nowadays. I had to check out the CD and you know … still not all that impressed. Great vocals, banging beats but everything else just fell flat – mainly the attempt to be hood and sincerely sensual through amazingly cliché lyrics.
Here’s my track by track run down of J. Holiday’s debut album, Back of My ‘Lac:

Back of My ‘Lac – First off I LOVE the intro of he song. Cruising is my fav Smokey song. His vocals are polished and sound awesome, I can tap feet and bob my head to the beat but this is where I can unfortunately tell everything going to be incredibly repetitive. I was with him until the 10th time he repeated “Sitin In The Back Of My Lac Smokin My Dro Sippin My Yack” We get it J.

Ghetto – To any of you hardcore 90’s R&B heads this is very reminiscent of Christion's In the Ghetto(Do What Ya Gotta Do). Now, again he sounds good and I find myself bobbing to the music but his is where I got a bit confused. I love the message behind the song but it does seem a bit contradictory when he says, “and all we investing in is Hydro and liquor stores SS 4 doors and 24's”. Then he continues on about getting tired of the same thing we do as a people in the ghetto when in the song before he was in the back of his ‘lac smoking dro and sipping yak. But obvious hypocrisy aside I do love what the song is about and glad it isn’t glorifying the hood like so many urban artists seem to do for some stupid attempt at street cred.

Thug Commandments – And again totally straying from the subject matter of the previous song. Now don’t get me wrong I like this song too – it makes me laugh because I know people who live just like this. My problem is he was so tired of people smoking and drinking in the hood but his first two lines of the song are "Don't Choke On That Homeboy Blow It Out/Don't Sip On That Drink Pour A Little Out”. Hmmm? Are you condoning this lifestyle or do you want people to quit and get their priorities straight? Whatever. And again adding to the utter lyrical confusion in “Ghetto” he stated he’d never been a thug but the very next song is “Thug Commandments”. So you’re a thug but not really? Come on Mr. Holiday, help a sista out. Clarify some things for me please.

Bed – And the moment I’m sure you were all waiting for, J. Holiday’s explosive single. Now I will be the first to admit I hated the song upon my first listen but now it’s in constant rotation on my iPod. It’s a sexy little number and I will admit that his vocals does give a tiny chill when I hear this. There’s really not much to say about this song. No matter what he wants his mom to believe, there’s no denying what this song is really about. I love it.

Betcha Never Had - Probably my LEAST favorite track. He doesn’t sound as good as in other songs. And I really just don’t like it. Nice beat but again not my fav. It’s a really simplistic way of telling a girl he can screw her better than the other guy. Not cliché at all. [note the sarcasm]

Laa Laa - I take it back, this might be my least favorite song. Well, it comes at a close 2nd. The beat saves it. It’s a really chill, laid-back and so much more could have been done with it lyrically. I love the flow of it but again with the confusion of what he really want to stand for. It’s a song about smoking “drug paraphernalia”. Can you guess what it is? And after smoking he “puts it down” then they smoke again.

Come Here – Ok so maybe the CD just sucks for me after Bed. He sounds ok but for the most part this track is just filler. It looked nice on the track list.

Be With Me – J. Holiday’s first attempt at a single which failed – horribly. It’s a typical Darkchild production. Heavy on the drum machine with a few bells and chimes thrown in. Can’t say I’m surprised that it bombed.

Suffocate – Here’s Holiday’s new single. It’s a cute little song and a nice choice of follow up from Bed. I totally see the video for this. Basically, he needs his woman and can’t breathe without her which would lead to “suffocating”. It’s only logical right?

Fatal - I really like this song. It’s like Suffocate part 2 - almost. I really think this would be a better choice of single than Suffocate. It’s a nice little ballad that has his trying to make amends with the girl that he has done wrong.

Without You – Another Darkchild beat but despite it’s generic-ness (I do realize that’s not a word but it’s my review damnit) I actually like it. I really like it. It’s part of what I like to call the “Don’t leave me, Baby. I’m sorry. I really do love you” trifecta (Suffocate, Fatal, Without You)

Pimp in Me – I sort of hate this song. No. Yeah, I do. I hate this song. He sounds really good, in fact I love the way it sounds but as soon as he gets to the chorus, the song for me just died. If this is his attempt to woo a female and prove her importance, he must hang around a lot of strip clubs. Well, that would make sense since he literally compared her to a call girl. Come on now J. Holiday – where’s the sexy in that?

Thank You – Don’t let the title fool you. This is not a dedication song – unless it’s for the chick who wagged him off before he wrote this song. Again, a potentially awesome song, were it not for the somewhat sleazy lyrics.

Fallin’ – I ADORE this song. It’s my absolute favorite on the whole album. It might be because my girl Claudette Ortiz helped pen this one. It’s the most sincere sounding lost love song. This is a song that will stay on repeat in iTunes for me. The guitar break down towards the end is absolutely beautiful. This is what saved the CD for me. These producers are crafty. Leave the very best song at the end so that we forget all that filler and foolishness they tossed in earlier. Tricky-tricky you guys.

Overall, Back of My ‘Lac is not a horrible CD but it’s not amazing or anywhere near bringing back old school R&B like so many people claim.
On the Brown Sugar Sunshine scale of 1 – 5, J. Holiday gets a solid 3.

= Groovable

Grab A Listen:

Suffocate
Fallin'

And that was my first written music review. Questions, comments, concerns? I want to hear them so please leave a comment. Whether you liked it or you didn't.

Coming up:

My review of souljaboytellem.com - brace yourselves

Your Monthly

And it's not what you're thinking.

Every month will have a new poem posted. It will either be one of my favorites from famous authors, one that I've written and would like to share or one of yours. So if you would like you poem to be posted then just e-mail me. Just click on my profile and there ya go.

This month's poem is one of my absolute favorites. And see if you can guess why I decided to make this the first poem.

HARLEM SWEETIES
Langston Hughes

Have you dug the spill
Of Sugar Hill?
Cast your gims
On this sepia thrill:
Brown sugar lassie,
Caramel treat,
Honey-gold baby
Sweet enough to eat.
Peach-skinned girlie,
Coffee and cream,
Chocolate darling
Out of a dream.
Walnut tinted
Or cocoa brown,
Pomegranate-lipped
Pride of the town.
Rich cream-colored
To plum-tinted black,
Feminine sweetness
In Harlem's no lack.
Glow of the quince
To blush of the rose.
Persimmon bronze
To cinnamon toes.
Blackberry cordial,
Virginia Dare wine--
All those sweet colors
Flavor Harlem of mine!
Walnut or cocoa,
Let me repeat:
Caramel, brown sugar,
A chocolate treat.
Molasses taffy,
Coffee and cream,
Licorice, clove, cinnamon
To a honey-brown dream.
Ginger, wine-gold,
Persimmon, blackberry,
All through the spectrum
Harlem girls vary--
So if you want to know beauty's
Rainbow-sweet thrill,
Stroll down luscious,
Delicious, fine Sugar Hill.

Also part of the Monthlies are the Monthly Artists spotlight where I will help promote any unsigned artist and even director if you're amazing at YouTube cinematography. So just e-mail me your band's or any anyone who you think should be spotlighted and I'll be sure to check them out.
Also there will be a monthly poll and just look for that over on the side.

I might post a Monthly Mix where I compile a CD of just AWESOME music into one (it may even be your fav unsigned band) and put it up for you guys.

So hopefully next month will be filled with brand new stuff. But while you're waiting check out my reviews and give me your opions on them and how you felt about the item I review.

I MIGHT be looking for someone to hwlp with the movie reviews because as a college student it's kind of hard to have to shell out $10.00 for every movie that comes out. So if you LOVE movies and want to give your honest opinion of them (censor free) e-mail me and I'll get back to you.

Coming up:
My first music review.

My First Post

Hello and welcome to Brown Sugar Sunshine.

I’ve been putting off this blogging thing for a while now, afraid people wouldn’t come and it’d just be a waste of time but I figured if I’m going to start a magazine maybe I should have an idea of what it’ll be – sort of.

What the hell is up with the name of this site?

I knew you’d ask. Basically I was brainstorming names and everything was just so BLAH & cliché or 30 people and thier cousins were using it. So I look up and there is my DVD collection and right next to each is two of my favorite movies – Brown Sugar and Little Miss Sunshine (if you haven’t seen either, log off the internet and go buy or rent them NOW). I combined the name and little hippie inside of me said “Way cool, dude. Totally wicked name. Make love not war. Communism now!” and replied “Yeah, hippie dude. You’re right. Just don’t say the C word so loud. Electroshock is only a few communists away.”

BTW: I have a weird personality. I’m a slight hippie with a job minus the weed who occasionally leans toward violence. I have so many slashes in my personality you'd think I just came off the set of Nightmare on Elm Street.

Anywho, that is how the name came about. I think it’s cute if you disagree well honestly you can sort of fuck off or just pretend it's named something else. :D

This blog is not all about music. I wanted to find a way to combine my three loves.

Music, Movies and Literature.

There'll also be a splash of graphic/web design.

There is SO much more I want to say but I guess will condense this a little and say I hope you enjoy the site and expect a LOT out of this site. It really is your ideal spot for all things good.
[Totally cheesy, right? I love it!]

Coming up:

Your Monthly.