Movie Ratings - An on-going list!

How I (Movie Critic: Benita Blocker) rate(s) movies:

***** (Five) stars = I would gladly see this film over again.  Excellent.  Good enough for my home library.
**** (Four) stars = Worth top dollar, a few scenes - I would love to see again but not the whole movie.
*** (Three) stars = Good movie, definitely worth a matinee price.
** (Two) stars = Okay, not bad, just not for me.
* (one) star = I took a nap through it; I felt like it was a waste of money.

Overall:  Any movie receiving at least 3 stars is a recommendation from me for you to go see the movie!

Movie List in alphabetical order:

2 Guns= **2
42= ****4
300: Rise of an Empire= ***3
About Last Night (2014)= ****4
Act of Valor= ****4
Addicted= ****4
After Earth= ***3
Alex Cross= ****4
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day= ***3
The Amazing Spider-man 2= ***3
America= ***3
American Hustle= ***3
Anchorman 2= *1
Ant-man= *****5
Argo= *****5
Avengers= *****5
Avengers: Age of Ultron= ****4
The Artist= ****4
Baggage Claim= ****4
Battle of the Year= ***3
Beasts of the Southern Wild= ****4
Belle= ****4
Best Man Holiday= ****4
Beyond the Lights= *****5
Big Hero 6= ****4
Black Nativity= ***3
Black or White= ***3
Blue Jasmine= ****4
The Bourne Legacy= ***3
Brick Mansions= ***3
Bridge of Spies= ****4
Brotherly Love= ****4
The Butler(2013)= ****4
The Call= ****4
The Campaign= ****4
Captain America: The Winter Soldier= ***3
Captain Phillips= ****4
Captive (2015)= ***3
Carrie (2013)= ***3
Cesar Chavez= ***3
Chef= ***3
Cinderella (2015)= ***3
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2= ***3
The Conjuring= ****4
The Counselor= ***3
The Croods= *****5
Cirque du Soleil 3D = **2
D'Jango Unchained= *****5
Dallas Buyers Club= ***3
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes= ****4
Dear White People= ***3
Despicable Me 2= ***3
Divergent= ***3
Divergent Series: Insurgent= ***3
Don Jon= ****4
Dope= ****4
Draft Day= ****4
Edge of Tomorrow= ***3
Elysium= ****4
The Equalizer (2014)= ****4
Ender's Game= ***3
Enough Said= ****4
Escape Plan=****4
Exodus: Gods and Kings= ***3
Expendables 1 and 2= ****4
Expendables 3= ***3
Everest (2015)= ***3
A Family that Preys= *****5
Fantastic Four (2015)= **2
Fast and Furious #6= *****5
Fifty Shades of Grey= ***3
Flight= ****4
Focus= ***3
Frankie and Alice= ***3
From the Rough= ***3
Frozen (2013)= *****5
Fruitvale Station= ***3
Furious 7= ****4
Get Hard = ***3
Get On Up= ***3
The Gift= ***3
GI Joe: Retaliation= ****4
God's Not Dead= ****4
Godzilla (2014) IMAX 3D= ***3
Good Deeds=**2
The Grand Budapest Hotel= ***3
Gravity IMAX/3D= ***3
Grown Ups 2= ****4
Guardians of the Galaxy 3D= ****4
A Haunted House= **2
Haunted House 2= **2
The Heat(2013)= ****4
Her= ***3
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies= ****4
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug= ****4
Home= ***3
How to Train Your Dragon 2= *****5
Hunger Games= ****4
Hunger Games: Catching Fire= ****4
Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Part I= ****4
Identity Thief= ***3
I, Frankenstein (2014) 3D= ****4
The Impossible= ****4
Inception= *****5
Inside Out= ****4
Interstellar= ****4
The Iron Lady= **2
Iron Man 3= ****4
JackAss Presents: Bad Grandpa= ****4
Jack Reacher= ***3
John Carter= ****4
John Wick= ***3
The Judge= ***3
Jurassic World 3D= ***3
Kevin Hart's Let Me Explain= ****4
Kingsman: The Secret Service= ****4
Labor Day= ****4
The Lego Movie= ***3
Life of Pi = ****4
Like Dandelion Dust= *****5
Lincoln(2012)= *****5
Looper= ****4
Lucy= ***3
Madagascar3/3D= *****5
Madea's Witness Protection= **2
Mad Max: Fury Road= ****4
Magic Mike= ***3
Magic Mike XXL= ****4
Maleficient= *****5
The Man in 3B= ***3
Man of Steel= ****4
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom= ***3
The Maze Runner= ***3
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials= ***3
Middle of Nowhere= ***3
Minions= **2
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation= ****4
Monsters University= ***3
A Most Wanted Man= ***3
Mud= ***3
Neighbors= ****4
No Good Deed= ****4
Non-stop= ***3
The November Man= ****4
Now You See Me= ***3
Olympus Has Fallen= ***3
The Other Woman= **2
Out of the Furnace= ***3
Oz The Great and Powerful 3D=***3
Pacific Rim IMAX/3D= ****4
Pain and Gain= ***3
Parker= ***3
Peeples= ***3
Penguins of Madagascar= **2
The Perfect Guy= ***3
Persecuted= ***3
Pitch Perfect= ****4
Pitch Perfect 2= *****5
Prisoners= ***3
The Purge: Anarchy= *****5
The Raid 2= *****5
Real Steel= *****5
Red 2= ****4
Repentance= ***3
Riddick (2013)= ***3
Ride Along= ***3
Run All Night= ***3
Runner Runner= ***3
Rush= ****4
Safe House= ***3
St. Vincent= ****4
San Andreas= ***3
Savages= ****4
Saving Mr. Banks= ****4
Selma= ****4
Side Effects= *****5
Silver Lining Playbook= **2
The Single Moms Club= ***3
Snitch= ***3
Spectre (2015)= ***3
Springbreakers= **2
Spy= ***3
Straight Outta Compton= ****4
Star Trek: Into Darkness= ****4
Step Up 4= *****5
Taken 3= ****4
Ted= ****4
Ted 2= **2
Terminator Genisys= ****4
Think Like A Man= *****5
Think Like A Man 2= ***3
Thor: The Dark World= ***3
Tomorrowland= ***3
Top Five= ***3
Transformers 4: Age of Extinction 3D= ***3
Trainwreck= ***3
Truth(2015)= ****4
Twelve Years A Slave= ****4
Tyler Perry's Temptation= ****4
Tyler Perry's A Madea's Christmas= ***3
The Walk IMAX 3D= ****4
War Room= ****4
The Wedding Ringer=  ****4
We're the Millers= ****4
White House Down= ****4
Wolf of Wall Street (2013)= ***3
Wolverine= ****4
Woman Thou Art Loosed on the Seventh Day = ****4
Woodlawn= ****4
The World's End= ***3
World War Z= ***3
X-men: Days of Future Past= ***3

Wearing two bras provides comfort and support!

Sometimes underwire bras pass the fit test in the store but after a few hours of wearing them, the underwire or the style becomes painful.  If the problem is the length of the underwire, then the obvious solution is to cut slits in the center and pull the underwire out!

The bad thing about removing the underwire is that you loose the support in the bra.  For example, in the red colored bra below, the left bra cup still has the underwire in it.  The right bra cup does not.  

 Without the underwire, the bra fits like a "tube" top or a workout bra.  There is no lift, and it is not flattering to the figure.  Well, the brown and white underwire bra pictured in the first picture fits great, but there was not enough material to cover my "DD" chest.  The bra literally would have me "flashing" someone, and the rim of the bra cup literally directly stimulated my nipples making them stay hard.  (Sorry for the graphic detail.)  Anyway, overstimulation of any body part can become painful.

So I had two "brand new" underwire bras that were both causing me pain for two different reasons but when I wore them together, I was in heaven.  How?

The red bra with the underwires removed  from both cups gave me full coverage and comfort, then the brown and white bra with underwire in tact gave me all of my lift and support.  The two bras worked well together - one without underwire and one with underwire.


The red bra is a Scarlette Modern size 38DD and the brown and white bra is a Sophie B size 38DD.

I would be happy to give future bra reviews if any bra manufacturers want to send me size 38DD to try out.

  

Sticker Shock: Light Bulbs are changing!

 Take a good look at these light bulbs.  They are not longer manufactured.  They are a model "A19" in which one (Nuon brand) has a horizontal circular filament inside and the other (GE) has a vertical filament inside.  After leaving the Target store in sticker shock after discovering that they only sell the "new" versions of the light bulbs for $25.00 for 4 bulbs, I stopped by Batteries Plus (Light Bulbs) in the Rosedale Shopping Center.

 This store still has a huge inventory of  "A19" model light bulbs in different wattage for $1.99 per pack of 4.  Definitely a big difference in price!

 I grew up only spending a "couple of dollars" for a pack of light bulbs versus $8.00 for one light bulb.  Forget making sure that you get your electricity bill made; now, families have to make sure that they can afford to buy the light bulbs in a crunch.  Wow!

If you want to stock up on the "Nuon" brand of light bulbs, Batteries Plus said that they have plenty in their warehouse!

Carolinas Healthcare System Board and Advisors

Disclaimer:  This is the latest list that I could reference from the Internet.

Governing Boards The governing body of Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) is the Board of Commissioners, a group of individuals who have demonstrated an interest in the health and welfare of the general public.  Carolinas HealthCare System also has a Board of Advisors, the members of which are appointed by the Chairman of the CHS Board of Commissioners.  The Board of Advisors meets in joint session with the Board of Commissioners.  Members of the Board of Commissioners and Board of Advisors are listed below. The Carolinas HealthCare System Board of Commissioners meets once per quarter to conduct business. The meetings are held in the Carolinas Dining Room at Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203. All meetings begin at 7:00 am. The 2013 schedule: March 12 June 11 September 10 December 10 Board of Commissioners Board of Advisors Ed Brown, Chair* Mac Everett, Vice Chair* William C. Cannon, Jr., Vice Chair* Malcolm E. Everett III, Vice Chair* Vicki S. Sutton, Vice Chair* Gracie P. Coleman, Secretary* Bishop George E. Battle, Jr.* Donnie R. Baucom Thomas M. Belk, Jr. Amy Woods Brinkley* James W. Cannon Michael R. Coltrane Rush S. Dickson III Willis Frank Dowd IV May Beverly Hemby Albert L. McAulay, Jr. Thomas C. Nelson William Niblock Laurence H. Polsky Edward K. Prewitt, Jr. Elizabeth G. Reigel Mike Rucker Felix S. Sabates, Jr. Donaldson G. Williams Ronald H. Wrenn *Executive Committee Marshall Carlson Hal Levinson Angelique R. Vincent Richard T. Williams Governing Boards

Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) is governed by a group of people who are dedicated to serving our community by providing the healthcare resources needed for our growing region. The Board of Commissioners and Advisors meets on a regular basis to review policies and procedures, as well as current and changing healthcare rules and regulations for our state and nation that impact how we provide these services. Below are the members of these committees. The Carolinas HealthCare System Board of Commissioners meets once per quarter to conduct business. The meetings are held in the Carolinas Dining Room at Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203. All meetings begin at 7:00 am. The 2012 schedule: March 13 June 12 September 11 December 11 Board of Commissioners Board of Advisors James E.S. Hynes, Chair* Edward J. Brown III, Vice Chair* William C. Cannon, Jr., Vice Chair* Malcolm E. Everett III, Vice Chair* Vicki S. Sutton, Vice Chair* G. Kennedy Thompson, Secretary* Bishop George E. Battle, Jr.* Thomas M. Belk, Jr. Amy Woods Brinkley* James W. Cannon Gracie P. Coleman Michael R. Coltrane Rush S. Dickson III Willis Frank Dowd IV May Beverly Hemby Thomas T. Long III, MD Albert L. McAulay, Jr. Thomas C. Nelson Laurence H. Polsky Edward K. Prewitt, Jr. Elizabeth G. Reigel Felix S. Sabates, Jr. Donaldson G. Williams Ronald H. Wrenn *Executive Committee Joseph Riddick Hendrick III Michael D. Rucker Angelique R. Vincent Richard T. Williams

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSAND ADVISOR

Shields: Prevent Underarm Stains

 These underarm shields are perfect for preserving the life of your expensive garments.

 For Extra Large size garments, there is no need to cut the cotton based shield.  Just peel off the backing and stick the "dress protector" into the underarm of the garment.

They are comfortable, and they do not get rid of your deodorant.  No more underarm stains!!!! Yay!

Glad Trash Bags with Febreze Fresh Vanilla Scent

These trash bags are like aromatherapy every time I take one out to line a trash can.  The fresh Vanilla scent is like a room fragrance that lingers for hours.  So far, these Glad Tall Kitchen Drawstring Bags with Febreze Fresh Vanilla Scent are my favorite trash bags . . .   I never thought trash bags would bring so much stress relief.  I  don't want to go back to plain trash bags again!

Corporate America: Modern Day Plantation

To:  Spike Lee 

The media is saying that you do not plan to see Quentin Tarantino's film "Django Unchained."  On the contrary,  you of all people should watch this film.  It reinforces the message that you were trying to send in the making of your "School Daze" movie.   People need to "wake up."  Sometimes our Black people need to see things from a "White" perspective to understand.  The point is:  as long as they get the message, then that is all that matters.  Please do not criticize the messenger.  Just watch the film with an open mind . . . respect the artistry.



To: the unemployed, the restless, and the openminded . . .

There are two movies that you need to see.  1) Beasts of the Southern Wild and 2) Django Unchained.

"Beast of the Southern Wild" will show you that all you need is food, shelter, and water.  You do not need a job. No.  You need to know how to fish, hunt, and farm.  You need to know how to build shelter. You need a water source.  No Louis Vuitton luggage.  No front load washing machine.  No artwork on the walls.

"Django Unchained"  will teach you about the plantation.  There are house slaves, field slaves, and free men.  Depending on the smoothness of your skin and the texture of your hair, you may qualify as a house slave.  Now, think about what I have said so far . . .  eventually, you may conclude . . . Corporate America is the modern day plantation.  Congress is fighting for job creation . . . plantation jobs.  The "house slaves" are already climbing the corporate ladder within limitations.  No one ever gets a higher position than the plantation owners.

So everyone is programmed to try to get skills to work in corporate America.  Imagine if you were in chains with no luggage.  Just the clothes on your back.  Now, imagine someone taking off your chains (unchained) -- you are freed.  What you are going to do?

Field slaves knew how to live off the land . . .  People need to stop looking for plantation jobs and find a way to get their "forty acres and a mule."

Get rid of these "homeowner associations" . . . they are not saving property values.  People need to learn how to be self sufficient.  They need to learn how to farm.  They need land.  They need to own their house and their land outright (no mortgages). The size of the shelter is irrelevant.

The elite live off their interest in the bank not their principal.  Their money saved within "savings accounts" makes them money without them having to work another day in their life.

Wake up everyone. The only people that you need to impress is your clientele and potential business partners . . . people that you are trying to sell something to.  Otherwise, you do not need a Range Rover, Bentley, Hummer, nor a Maybach.

As far as Charlotte, NC is concerned, the city is too small to have anyone to impress except your clients.  There are very few potential business partners here.  Visit a big city to see what the real definition of "foot traffic" looks like.


To:  President Obama  Can we get our "forty acres and a mule outright?"

From:  "Free wo-man" Benita Blocker