AVATAR PHENOMENON

AVATAR (not to be confused with Avatar: The Last Airbender), is worthy of the DVD collection.  The film's Director James Cameron managed to hint historical references reminiscent of John Smith, Pocohontas, Native American suffrage and Anglo-Saxon imperialism while incorporating the importance of protecting the enviroment and humanity in this heartwarming & aesthetically pleasing movie. 

Since landing at the box office mid in December, Avatar grossed an incredible $75.6 million in roughly two weeks.  Currently, the film is a hair away from being the highest grossing film of all time racking in a ridiculous $1.4 billion in sales.

The audience is treated to an optional 3-D version available in IMAX theaters.  Avatar offers an entertaining cast of old favorites and notable talent including Girlfight star Michelle Rodriguez as Trudy the pilot, and a surprise galatic reunion with Sci-Fi heroine Sigourney Weaver (Dr. Grace Augustine).  Actor Sam Worthington plays the free-spirited (Jake Sully),  actress Zoe Saldana as (Princess Neytiri) including CCH Pounder as her mother Moat, Laz Alonso as the warrior Tsu'tey, Giovanni Ribisi parades around as the jerk [lol] along with an overzealous GI Joe character, courtesy of actor Stephen Lang.  Since landing at the box office in mid December, Avatar grossed an incredible $75.6 million in roughly two weeks.  Currently, the film is a hair away from being the highest grossing film of all time racking in an ridiculous $1.4 billion in sales.

@Rt Depictz Life...

Actress Zoe Saldana brings Princess Neytiri to life in this emotionally charged scene.

On the other hand... did watching AVATAR make you wanna "off" yourself?  Gosh, I hope not!  Well, according to CNN Entertainment post "Audiences experience 'Avatar' blues" by Josh Piazza, the film literally left some audience members blue with depression and suffering separation anxiety: 

On the fan forum site "Avatar Forums," a topic thread entitled "Ways to cope with the depression of the dream of Pandora being intangible," has received more than 1,000 posts from people experiencing depression and fans trying to help them cope. The topic became so popular last month that forum administrator Philippe Baghdassarian had to create a second thread so people could continue to post their confused feelings about the movie.  -Josh Piazza, CNN Entertainment

Furthermore, how could one ignore the historical implications throughout this film?  You'd have to be dimmer than Paris Hilton "and junk".  Arguably, it's those very innuendos coupled with blue hues & delusions of granduer in pseudo heaven Pandora that pushed some viewers to the edge -- and I don't mean just their seats.   In the begining I was curious, amazed in the middle, and pissed off towards the end.  How dare he double-cross Neytiri like that?  I wanted to kick Jake's paraplegic ass!  Then I got over it.  Finally, as the credits rolled I felt nostaligic, touched, and admittedly a bit disillusioned by the film's blaringly obvious, socially conscience overtone.  I found myself reflecting on stuff like the destructive nature of mankind, and our incessant greed. Still... I was a far cry from wanting to curl up in my seat and die.  Yes, we shed a few tears but by all means Cameron, the cast, and crew worked hard to convey a story that would rub people the right way.  


My unsolicited advice to anyone with a case of AVATAR blues is to take those negative feelings and recycle them.  Yeah, I know it sounds corny but like the Nav'i humble yourself and strive each day to simply be a better person.  Love yourself by receiving the age old lessons in the story such as following your heart, being honest, compassionate and honorable.  If you haven't already, maybe now's the time to go green but whatever you do, don't stay in a funk!  Besides, there is an actual place infinitely better than Pandora and you don't have to get matrixed in thru machine wires or click your heels three times.  Overall, AVATAR is a socially conscious film meant to touch the hearts of man but by no means to be taken gravely. Surely, such reaction is the consequence from a small percentage of viewers. Nonetheless, the AVATAR phenomenon leaves an unprecedented mark; drawing curiosity, fans, and driving ticket sales, but more importantly rekindling hearts & minds to what is truly important in life -- priceless.   

'TIS THE SEASON...

Oscar®  winning R&B singer Jennifer Hudson set the mood in her first ever holiday music special.  Fellow Chicagoan, Oprah Winfrey hosted the "I'll Be Home for Christmas" special which featured Hudson traveling back home to the windy city and giving America an intimate tour into her post celebrity life. Musical selections include "Silent Night", "The Christmas Song", as well as duets with Grammy Award®  winner Michael Bublé.  As usual her voice was soulful, bold & beautiful.  Oprah, did not miss a beat either with the all tinsel, citylights, and panoramic shots of Chicago. 
 Jennifer Hudson  personifies strong, black women everywhere; and yes, we simply adore her for that!
Still, Hudson's well-known genuiness, humility and inner strength (especially, in light of her recent family tradegy) punctuated the undertone of the show.  Simply, reminding us all of the importance of family, to count our blessings, and never loose ourselves by forgetting who we are and where we came from. "I'll Be Home for Christmas" made for a heartwarming and soulful holiday special.

Did you miss it?  Enjoy the entire special online @ Hulu.com.

THE WEAVE

Skittle Scalp Quick Weave... 

This pic reminds me of a chat I had with a friend yesterday over the phone.  Homegirl was running around town doing some last minute Christmas shopping when suddenly, she saw a certain pair of shoes she wanted to buy for her brother...

BFF:  "Girl, I'm getting him these shoes... they're ugly as hell!"

ME:  "They're ugly? Wtf? So, why are are you getting him those?

BFF: "No, honey. I mean they're so unique... they're ugly!"
ME:   .... o_O

Well, in that case [in terms]... this hairdo is definitely ugly. The epitome of ghetto fabulous too; over-the-top, colorful, bold and unique.  Wonder if this pic was taken at a hairshow. Do you like it? 

BELIEVE IT OR NOT...RIPLEY'S GOT NOTHING ON THIS

By some dumb luck chance I came across this avant-garde information via an everyday conversation turned into anything but small talk-you know, the stuff conspiracy theories are made of. Well, unannounced to me [likewise most average Dick & Jane] supossedly we're up for some sort of alien invasion by an ancient civilization kept secret by the likes of the ever elusive Illuminati! And we're not talking your typical "little green men".  Lol!  Yeah? Well, I know this sounds more flamboyant than Peter Pan on skates but eh, you know what they say - truth is stranger than fiction.  Learn the ancient story behind the Anunnaki  people of Nibiru and what non-conformist, British born scientist Zecharia Sitchin has to say about it all.

FOR MORE VISIT THE X-FILES

THE HOLOCAUST REVISITED

photo taken by
Cheryl Williams aka Cheri Gionne

Over the course of my fall semester class I wrote an expressive opinion paper with “The Diary of Anne Frank” as my chosen subject material; it tells the story of an adolescent girl dramatically involved in the events of the Jewish Holocaust. While reading through this book & researching my topic I found myself increasingly intrigued by the medieval-like tragedy. In light of another U.S. History assignment, I was compelled to revisit this event at The Virginia Holocaust Museum (VHM). Hence, the sequel essay...

The VHM is located on 2000 East Cary Street Richmond, Virginia; where it stands facing yet another historic site, the James River. I along with two friends walked the ramp leading into the black, iron-railed entrance of the museum. The wind was brisk and unforgiving; our every footstep echoed a hollowed thud as the soles of our feet met with the cold metal. Whether the architectural deliberations of a clever builder, or my own sometimes over-active imagination; a vague sense of anxiety and drudgery swept over me. Once inside, the front desk personnel directed us to an area where all museum patrons are to watch a 15-minute video. The film showed several Holocaust survivors depicting their own firsthand accounts of Nazi Germany. One woman spoke of witnessing a pile of corpses as tall as three stories high! Mainly, the video was made up of informative interview sessions than explicit graphical depictions. I appreciated this “weaning” of the audience sort of speak. The “big guns” are displayed within the actual tour itself.

Once the film was complete, we were offered the option to begin the self-guided tour accompanied by audio commentary thru headset or simply with a booklet. We opted for audio… which by the way is exceptionally clear surround sound. It seemed as though the narrator’s voice were coming from speakers throughout the gallery itself rather than a pair of small earphones. At any rate throughout the tour, you’ll notice the center of the museum’s bourbon colored floor is lined with a black, pseudo railroad track. Our first stop took us to Dachau, a concentration camp where blocks were packed of Jewish prisoners. Next stop introduced us to the Thalhimer family & their Hyde Farmland in Burkeville, Virginia where you’ll find a chicken coop and piano. Hyde Farmland was considered a safe haven for Jewish immigrants. Meanwhile, my heart sank at the site of horrific crematories. Yet, warmed by still animations of day-to-day Jewish life – the young housewife stands admiring her dining room set, or the mother & son sharing sweet bread as she reads him a book by the phonograph. Each display artfully told its story while never ceasing to tug at your heart & conscience. Not to mention, pictures were plentiful throughout the tour. Whether taken by some photographer or a family photo, each picture seemed to capture either one of two blaring contradictions of human existence – life & vitality or death & despair. Admittedly, it wasn’t long before these displays began to morph into one big picture – the face of fascism. At times I felt strong feelings as anger, disgust, and even downright pity. However, I left the Virginia Holocaust Museum with an even better understanding of the Holocaust and a deeper respect for its victims than before I had arrived. Overall, the museum fulfilled its purpose in pulling its patrons into the past, slowly but surely concerning us with the joys and sorrows of the Jewish people of that time, all while educating us on the details of that historic event. I would definitely recommend one taking the time out to experience Richmond’s Virginia Holocaust Museum. It opens the heart and mind.


• ALL PHOTOS taken by 
Cheryl Williams aka Cherie Gionne:

MUSICAL REMINDERS

X'd my Mind =
Ever had a song or TV jingle suddenly go all auto-play on you in your head? 

You could be in the middle of vacuuming, styling your hair, at work, driving, grocery shopping, lip-locking, staring into space, whatever.  We've all got a mental jukebox you know. Some songs we could karaoke at the drop of a hat, some we can only humm and garble out the hook, or those tunes we've completely forgotten about until something or someone jogs our musical memory bank...

In retrospect, that "la da dee dow wow" (as it sounds) from the song "Gypsy Woman" on Crystal Water's 1991 album Surprise, never left my sub consciousness nor did the actual message of the song.   At any rate, something jarred its autoplay today.  Perhaps, it's the current state of our union coupled with my own sense of urgency within my personal life/career?  Naw... Maybe something I saw.  Who knows what moved the needle on this one, but I was pleased to have remembered it. 

"Gypsy Woman's catchy and [to some] annoyingly redundant hook, nagged folks on the serious issue of homelessness."

Gypsy Woman is an awfully good song (literally) and has thus taken its fair share of praise and criticism; hence, the In Living Color  parody of the song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTykohWAPRg). <---hysterically funny by the way... but on a serious note, "Gypsy Woman" is House music and repetitious hooks come along with the territory.  Also, for the record the "Gypsy Woman" track has been mixed & sampled countless times and still gets airplay to this day in clubs featuring House/Techno/B-More Sound, etc.  Besides, less was more in this case.  I venture to say the infamous hook's droll-drum, drag effect spoke to the state of the homeless woman and her quirky routine behavior inspite of her of desperate situation.  That's just my take on it but like Lavar Burton said, "Don't take my word for it."  Honestly, this is the only song I like from Miss Waters besides "100% Pure Love".  Overall, her music is quirky and falls under the catagory of those things we either love or hate.  Still, for all my fellow "Gypsy Woman" fans out there here's a socially conscious blast from the past...

ROSA by Cheri Gionne 2009

I SWEAR. I KNEW. I DOUBTED. I REPENTED. I SENT IT AWAY AND BEGGED FOR IT BACK – GRACE ON A WING, A CHANCE TO SING THE SONG VICTORY. I CHASE THE RAINBOW AT THE OTHER END OF GREY SKIES TO SING & MOVE WITH THE CARELESS WIND, BUILD MY TEMPLE UP, STRONG ENOUGH TO GET DOWN & DESTROY THE BLACK PETALS OF ROSA.  HE WILL BRING FORTH MY RIGHTEOUS MIND ON A PRAYER. ONLY IT SEES THE WAY OUT OF NO WAY, SPACE & TIME.