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Flash Movie Review: Shooting Stars
I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO be a long day, but I needed the continuing education credits to renew my fitness certification. When I signed up, I could not believe we had to be ready to start at 7:30am. The end was set at 5pm, with forty-five minutes for lunch. The schedule started with a lecture, followed by a workshop, then another lecture before the lunchbreak. Gratefully, we were to have another lecture after lunch because I am not one who can eat and immediately afterwards exert myself physically. Trust me, it would not be a pretty sight. My hope was for the class to end early. When I walked into the hotel’s conference ballroom, I looked for an empty chair. As I was walking down the aisle, I heard my name being called out. Turning towards the sound I looked out and saw a friend of mine was waving me over to them. We taught at the same fitness center; but ironically, did not see much of each other during working hours because I taught night classes, and she did day ones. However, we still formed a bond because we started at the same time and hit it off immediately. Whenever we had a staff meeting, we would get together, just the two of us, before or after to catch up with one another. I was grateful and happy she was at this event. IT IS FUNNY HOW I WAS dreading the day, spending it cooped up in a hotel conference ballroom because now the time was flying by as the two of us kept each other company. During the workouts when the facilitator asked us to pair up, the two of us would do it together. Each of us had an easiness with the other, where nothing ever felt uncomfortable; even the “hands on” portions where we would either support a portion of the other’s body/limb or correct a position/alignment of muscle joints. Before I knew it, the lunch break arrived and the two of us found a secluded corner of the lobby where we could sit and eat in peace. With us talking and laughing the lunch break only seemed like it was a couple of minutes before we were due back in class. The lecture portion gave me the time to sit and digest my lunch; so, I was prepared for the final workout which was tough. We made it through to the end and hugged each other before we left. It was great seeing and participating with her; it made the day feel fun for me. And that is the reason I can see why the four friends in this biographical drama did not want to go it alone when it came to basketball. CHILDHOOD FRIENDS KNEW BY STICKING TOGETHER they could accomplish more on the court than if they went it alone. The truth was in the results. With newcomer Marquis Mookie Cook as LeBron James, Wood Harris (Creed franchise, Empire-TV) as Coach Dru Joyce II, Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding, Scream VI) as Keith Dambrot, Caleb McLaughlin (Concrete Cowboy, Stranger Things-TV) as Lil Dru Joyce III and Natalie Paul (Either Side of Midnight, The Prophecy-TV) as Gloria James; this story based on true events surprised me because I did not know LeBron’s history. I found the script was fun and the basketball playing scenes were exciting. Whether the events shown were true or not, I did not know; but my interest was kept throughout the movie. With that being said, there was not much variance in the drama, nor was there anything different compared to other films in this genre. I do not consider myself a basketball fan; however, I know how the game is played and have seen a few. This was an easy, nothing out of the ordinary sports film that wound up providing me with a back story to a man I have only seen snippets of on television.
2 ¼ stars
Flash Movie Review: Creed III
I FELT SAD FOR MY FRIEND because she was upset about the way her friend had acted. All I could do was listen, though my friend knew I had a low opinion of her friend. My run-in with her was at the theater where a small group of us went to see a play. At the end when the play was done, people came up to thank me for arranging the outing and getting the tickets. Everyone thanked me except my friend’s friend; all she said to me was the seats were not very good. Right there I decided the less contact I had with her, the better. But now my friend was telling me what happened that caused her feelings to get hurt. She and her friend were at a store that had an eclectic mix of merchandise. On a table sat a set of coasters with images of penguins on them that her friend picked up. My friend has collected various objects with penguins for years; from plates to scarves to pens to salt and pepper shakers. Anyone who knows her, knows she loves penguins. Her friend had to have known. When my friend mentioned she had never seen penguin coasters and thought they would make a wonderful addition to her collection, her friend said she was going to buy them as a housewarming gift for her niece. My friend’s feelings were hurt. Granted she could have said something directly to her, but my friend chose not to say a word. I WOULD NOT CONSIDER HER FRIEND’S actions malicious, maybe unthoughtful. However, any type of dent or break in a trusted friendship hurts on some level. I had a friend who I had known for several years. We met in college during freshman year and stayed friends all through school and after graduation, where we wound up working in the same city. One day he called me up and said he was in financial trouble and desperately needed funds to pay his bills. He asked if he could borrow money and would pay it out each month back to me. I knew he had a decent paying job, so I loaned him the funds. For the first few months I would get a monthly check from him without having to ask for it. I think it was the fourth or fifth payment that was late because he had been out of town on vacation. I found that news unsettling; he couldn’t pay his bills, but he could go on vacation? For the next couple of months, I would have to call to get him to send me a check. As time went on it got harder and harder to get a hold of him. Pretty soon, I stopped hearing from him all together and worse, when I finally went to his apartment his name was no longer on the directory. That was tough for me, but not as tough compared to what took place with the two friends in this dramatic, sports film. AFTER A LONG PRISON SENTENCE, A childhood friend reappears looking to pickup where he left off before prison: to get a chance to box for a world championship. His methods would conflict with the world champion. With Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther franchise, Just Mercy) as Adonis Creed, Tessa Thompson (Passing, Sylvie’s Love) as Bianca Creed, Jonathon Majors (Devotion, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania) as Damian Anderson, Wood Harris (Remember the Titans, Empire-TV) as Tony ‘Little Duke’ Burton and Phylicia Rashad (Black Box, A Fall From Grace) as Mary-Anne Creed; this latest installment of the franchise was the first that did not include Sylvester Stallone. I mean no disrespect, but it was fine because of the wonderful acting skills of the main actors. Michael directed this picture and overall he did a good job, though there were a few missteps along the way in my opinion. I would have preferred seeing more scenes with Jonathan because I think he is an excellent actor. Having him and Michael together made for some emotional scenes. There was a level of predictability to the story, but the intensity of several scenes helped keep the interest high. Overall, this was a well done film, but keep in mind there are several scenes with violence and blood.
3 stars
moviejoltz 