Da 5 Blood Review: How A Fictional Story About The Past Is Now More Relevant Than Ever Before

Da 5 Blood Review: How A Fictional Story About The Past Is Now More Relevant Than Ever Before

Celebs

by | Jun 15, 2020 | Celebs, Featured

It’s amazing how a movie that was filmed a year and a half ago could release and have talking points that are now more relevant than ever.

The Netflix Movie Da 5 Bloods, puts a spotlight on the Black veteran experience of Black veterans in a way few filmmakers can and in doing so, successfully links a film nominally about the Vietnam War to today’s cultural battles.

In any Spike Lee joint you go into it knowing you’ll learn some black history through the course of the film that needs to be taught to all Americans. For example the story of Milton L. Olive III, the first African Americans to be awarded the Medal of Honor after sacrificing himself by jumping on a grenade to save squads life or Crispis Attucks the first man killed in the Boston Massacre.

Those history lessons coupled with real footage of the Civil Rights leaders and Sports figures of the time speaking about the inequality of Black Americans puts you in the state of mind of these soldiers. Also, it is very eerie that the same fight from 60 years ago is still being fought in the present time. As the pleas of Black Americans have shifted to demand for equity and that Black Lives Matter, this film is a motivator for the Movement to continue until change happens.

The movie itself tells the story of Black Vietnam veterans who refer to themselves as Da Bloods — Otis (Clarke Peters), Eddie (Norm Lewis), Melvin (Isiah Whitlock Jr.), Paul (Delroy Lindo) and the late Stormin’ Norman (Chadwick Boseman)—return to Vietnam to retrieve the remains of their fallen comrade Stormin’ Norman so they say.

As the audience is taken on a journey that spans across decades, these veterans have a secret. During a mission to secure the site of a crash CIA airplane and recover its cargo, a locker of gold bars intended as payment for the native inhabitants for their help fighting the Vietnam Cong.

Da Bloods decide to take the gold for themselves as repayment for the poor treatment of African Americans by the United States government throughout history. Using it to assist in the advancement of Black communities, so they buried the gold vowing to come back and retrieve it later.

Fast forward to the present day, Paul, Otis, Eddie, and Melvin meet up in Ho Chi Minh City however Da Bloods aren’t the only group looking for the gold.

Da 5 Bloods, is a highly recommended movie to watch not only for its entertainment value but the fact it could help other races at least gain a minimum understanding of what Black Americans are fighting for in today’s social climate.

Jun 15, 2020 No Comments
Lowkey Lost: Insecure Season Finale Review

Lowkey Lost: Insecure Season Finale Review

Featured

by | Jun 15, 2020 | Featured

It has been quite a roller coaster ride with Issa (Issa Rea) and friends, the season finale was no different. It left a lot to be desire as we are just left wanting more with a series of unanswered questions.

This episode starts with two bridges that I hope would be crossed by episodes end. The First bridge Lawrence (Jay Ellas) got the job in San Francisco so what does this mean for the rekindled flame between Issa and himself, will they try long-distance, break it off, or will Issa move to the Bay? The second bridge was with the unraveling of Molly (Yvonne Orji) and Andrew (Alexander Hodge), it been made apparently clear to all viewers that there was some friction in this relationship following the trip. Andrew on multiple times can be seen to hold his tongue whenever he tries to keep the peace but his patients have worn thin. It’s time for them to hash out what really going on.

Just before it hits the fan Molly answer a call from Kelli (Natasha Rothwell) and the episode go into its own rendition of “Looking for LaToya,” as the crew searches for Tiffany (Amanda Seales) this divergence from what was happening moments prior seemed to come out of nowhere but during a bus ride Issa and Molly were consoling Tiffany’s husband Derek (Wade Allain-Marcus) and for a second it was like the two were talking to one another.

Once Tiffany is found we come back to those two bridges, first Molloy and Andrew who look like they’re breaking up and then Issa and Lawrence (deep breath). So when Lawrence spoke with Condola (Christina Elmore) a few episodes ago it turns out she is pregnant, this was the bomb that no one saw coming unless you’ve seen it happen on a previous series Jay Elles acted on entitled “The Game,” to me, it’s a bit of a trope series use as a cliffhanger to get viewers to come back. This however puts the ball in Issa court will she continue to pursue a relationship with Lawrence or cut ties, I mean she does have Nathan (Kendrick Sampson) on the sidelines.

The final scene of the episode has Issa and Molly meeting in the same Ethiopian restaurant, Molly tried to “accidentally” bump into Issa. So will the finally become friends again or is this the conversation that puts an official end to their friendship?

I can say I’ve enjoyed this emotional season 4 of Insecure has put me on and next summer I’ll be right back on HBO at 7 pm PST to see what season 5 of “Insecure,” has in store. You can find the music from this latest episode with the help of the guys over at Tunefind. If you want to hear all the music played in season 4 the Spotify playlist is posted below:

Jun 15, 2020 No Comments
MTV Stands in Solidarity With The Black Live Matter Movement

MTV Stands in Solidarity With The Black Live Matter Movement

Featured

by | Jun 11, 2020 | Featured

MTV is just one of several companies that have chosen to stand on the right side of history. They have shown support in the fight against systemic racism and oppression of Black Americans. This week, MTV has cut tides with two of its reality show stars, Dee Nguyen ( MTV’s The Challenge) and Taylor Selfridge (Teen Mom OG).

Dee, recently made a joke on Twitter about the BLM Movements saying; “Idk why some of u think I’m anti BLM. I’ve been saying that since the day I lost my virginity.”

This tweet came in response after receiving criticism for continuing to post pictures of herself after posting a black square for #BlackoutTuesday and saying “people die every f––ing day.”

Two of her Black cast mates confronted her for these disturbing comments. She was also confronted for trying to create controversy/storyline to be invited to partake in the next season of the challenge. Her ploy has completely back fired.

In Taylor’s case, the reality star faced backlash over her history of racially insensitive tweets in 2012. These tweets have been addressed by Taylor in previous seasons of Teen Mom OG.

“At the time, because I was younger, I wasn’t thinking it was anything negative. I thought ‘Oh, this is funny’ or something like that, but it’s not,” she added “That’s my biggest mistake… I just had to grow up, honestly.”

Such an error in judgment has been forgiven or overlooked in the past, but in today’s climate this behavior can no longer be tolerated. MTV has a history of reality stars making racially charged comments, i.e. Camila Nakagawa calling Leroy a racist slur or when Emily Schromm decided to mock her African American ex-boyfriend Ty by dressing up in his clothes and covering her face in Nutella… aka blackface.

So, MTV is moving quickly to distance themselves from Dee and Taylor is an obvious decision to make from a PR standpoint, but will this continue to be the norm for anyone making incentive comments wether racial or homophobic? I hope MTV and all companies who’ve stated that “we strongly condemn systemic racism” keep that same energy in the future.

Jun 11, 2020 No Comments
Hoops Are Back: How the NBA’s Plan Works Logistically

Hoops Are Back: How the NBA’s Plan Works Logistically

Featured

by | Jun 4, 2020 | Featured, NBA

The plan to return basketball to its fans and crown a champion is in full swing. So will this be a success or a total flop, while I believe this plan works logistically and here’s how.

First what’s the plan? It includes 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams, eight regular-season games, a possible play-in tournament for the eighth seed, and playoffs. This will all take place at ESPN Wide World Of Sports complex on the Disney campus near Orlando, Florida.

So why will this work, well just think about it like this, millions of eyes will be tuning in to watch a sport that they’ve been deprived of for several months due to this pandemic. So with viewership comes advertising dollars this in no way will makeup for the loss of tickets sales but there is a profit to be made.

Also the format of have 22-teams in the same venue is similar to the tournaments we loss in the madness March. So the NBA could have games back-to-back staring as early as 10 am-10pm, the lower seed teams could play the early and late games and the higher seeded team could play during prime time (5pm-9pm).

It seems as if all games would be televised by ESPN, but if they could work something out with other networks like TNT and NBA TV fans could be gifted some of the industries best in-game commentators, studio analyst, sideline reporters, pre/post game host. I could see it now Shaq, Kenny, Chuck, Jalen Rose, and Paul Pierce alternating shifts as studio analyst while Ernie Johnson tries to control the madness.

It is up in the air on how this plan will be excited but the fact that the NBA will conclude with a champion by Oct. 31 is a good enough reason to tune-in.

Jun 4, 2020 No Comments
Hoops Are Back: NBA Board Of Governors Set To Ratify Return-To-Play Model This Thursday

Hoops Are Back: NBA Board Of Governors Set To Ratify Return-To-Play Model This Thursday

Featured

by | Jun 3, 2020 | Featured, NBA

Alas, the 83-day wait on the answer regarding basketball’s return this season looks like it’ll be at its end come Thursday morning, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that there indeed will be summer hoops and the crowning of a 2019-2020 NBA Champion Wednesday afternoon.

So, go ahead, un-shrug those shoulders, let go of that sigh of relief you’ve been holding in since March 11 – the day the league was suspended indefinitely due to concerns of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic – and get ready for next month’s return to the hardwood, set to tip-off on July 31.

Now, don’t expect a complete return of the full league – this isn’t like a premium subscription to some exclusive site. Instead, it’s more of like a subsidized, basic membership, one with a majority of the features to it but not the whole nine yards.

Weird analogy, but stay with me here:

Other than having all 30 teams come down to the official site at the Wide World of Sports Resort at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida, there will be 22 of the league’s 30 squads due to those 22 teams being close enough to contend for a playoff spot. A reshaping of what would be the normal NBA schedule will include 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams, eight regular-season games, a possible play-in tournament for the eighth seed, and playoffs.

Specifically, the top 16 teams in both the East and West will be joined by teams within six games of the final spot in their respective conferences. That includes the New Orleans Pelicans, the San Antonio Spurs, the Sacramento Kings, the Phoenix Suns, and Washington Wizards.

Now for this play-in tournament mentioned in NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s proposal:

Per Woj – “The play-in tournament will include the No. 8 and No. 9 teams – if the ninth seed finishes the regular season within four games of the eighth, sources said. In that case, the No. 8 seed enters a double-elimination tournament, and the No. 9 seed a single-elimination tournament, sources said.”

The kinks and details regarding player safety to reduce infection and transmission of the Coronavirus as much as possible are still being worked out, and though ratification is likely in tomorrow’s meeting between Silver and the NBA Board of Governors, it’s yet to be determined if that salient talking point will raise disagreement and anxiety in picking up where the season left off amongst voters.

This new (but hopefully temporary) way of life for the league will be overseen and governed by a set of safety protocols if Orlando is set to become a bubble city for the NBA. If you were wondering if players and coaches will be allowed to go out and enjoy the “The Most Magical Place in the World”, they can. Dining at outdoor restaurants and golfing at Disney’s massive resort will be allowed – with proper implications of Social Distancing of course.

Daily testing will be a prerequisite to keep this season afloat, and if a player were to test positive for COVID-19, they will be swiftly be removed from the team, quarantined, and treated separately from the team.

These protocols set in place to maintain safety will apply to employees of the Disney resort as well. ESPN’s Ramona Shelbourne reports that no staff will be allowed into players’ rooms, and hallways will be carefully managed to avoid crowding.

Though it may not be what we expect out of late-season and postseason basketball, we’re getting some form of ball thanks to the negotiations of factions like the National Basketball Player’s Association, NBA executives, and the help commissioner Silver.

We here at Sneaker Reporter are more than excited to offer you all some news about live hoops when the time comes not only as a means to keep you posted on how the rest of the season will go but really because we all needed some good news and a break from the influx of news regarding the virus and protests happening around the country and world right now.

Jun 3, 2020 No Comments