#Howard Jackson

[polyphanes]

On Poimandrēs

The classical Hermetic literature (the Corpus Hermeticum, the Asclepius, the Stobaean Hermetic Fragments, etc.) generally take one of several formats: a monologue-type musing or speech (e.g. CH III or CH VII), a letter from a teacher to a student or between students sharing their wisdom (e.g. CH XIV or CH XVI), or a dialogue between a teacher and student (e.g. CH I or CH IV).  By far the most…

[abs0luteb4stard]

W A T C H I N G

ERNIE HUDSON in one of his first roles!

8 years later he'd be in Ghostbusters!

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Human Tornado (1976)

Dolemite is back and he’s… better than before? worse than before? Hard to say. One thing’s for sure, The Human Tornado is not a good movie but it sure is fun to watch. With great quotable lines, cartoon characters for villains, a self-deprecating sense of humour and plenty of technical flubs for you to poke fun at, it’s continuously enjoyable and always in new ways.

After Dolemite (Rudy Ray Moore) is caught in bed with the racist sheriff’s wife, he is framed for her murder. On the run with his friends, they head to California to meet Queen Bee (Lady Reed), a succesful club/brother owner. The local mob boss, Joe Cavaletti (Herb Graham) isn’t too happy about his diminishing profits and has kidnapped two of her girls. Dolemite and his impossible charm & virility is just what she needs to find out where they’re held.

You might consider this a better film than “Dolemite” because the script is better organized than its predecessor's. Moore’s trademark rhyming standup is still here, but instead of the plot coming to a screeching halt in a parking lot so he can impress people who just happen to be there, we get a scene setting up his newfound success as a comedian before the plot kicks off. His patented expressions and speech mannerisms are peppered throughout as ways for him to express his disdain for others (you rat-soup eatin’ mother f#cker!) or his surprise (b*tch, are you for real?!) writing them down does not do them justice. His delivery is hilarious. Something must be said about the film being perfectly aware of what it is. On one occasion, Moore/Dolemite breaks the fourth wall and re-plays one of the film’s “better” stunts to prove to us that he really did do that jump. The racist Sheriff on his tail is so racist and so over-the-top he might as well be an R-rated Yosemite Sam. It’s hard not to laugh at him or at the scene where we learn why Dolemite is called The Human Tornado.

Everything that made Dolemite a bad, but enjoyable picture is here too. The fight choreography is awful. Kicks and punches obviously miss by a mile and scenes are clearly sped up to make them seem more dynamic. Anyone with eyes can tell Moore could never, ever defeat the enemies the way he does in this film - martial arts training or not. As for the writing, "amateurish" is a generous term. When Dolemite and his buddies get to California, the film wastes time by having them wander from one place to another, looking for Queen Bee. It’s almost as if the clubs they visit are only there because they helped pay for this shoddy production. It makes you wonder how much of what you see was made “bad” on purpose, which makes it delightful. There's a psychedelic sex scene during the second half whose setup is ludicrous. I’ve seen more realistic scenarios in XXX-rated films. You think it’s just a gag but the follow-up is trying to be artsy in such a weird way it kind of makes you want to see the whole thing again, just to determine how you should feel about it.

There’s A LOT of nudity throughout, which might make some viewers uncomfortable. I say if you can’t be good, be sleazy. It makes up for the lack of over-the-top and shoddily-created gore I usually like to see at this level of filmmaking. Some of the intentional gags get tiresome pretty quick, however. Dolemite doing fake screams while revving himself up for a brawl is smile-worthy - at best - the first time around. Whenever he does it again afterward, you start reaching for the tomatoes.

I must also speak to you of another scene, one of my favourites because it unintentionally sends the wrong message. Dolemite and his (mostly useless) buddies are hitchhicking to California. They realize no one in America will stop their car to pick up this many Black men at once. It’s a harsh truth. So what do they do? All of them but one hide in the bushes and when a car stops, they pull out a gun, hold the driver hostage and force their way in the car. Guys! THIS is the reason why people don’t stop their cars to pick up Black hitchhickers!

With stereotypes aplenty, too many bare breasts to count, action scenes that’ll have you howling, a ridiculous plot and genuine enthusiasm from people who really wanted to make the best, most entertaining film they could, The Human Tornado is a great movie to sit down and watch at with friends. It’s what Moore would’ve wanted and he probably wouldn't even mind that you're laughing at the film, rather than with it. (April 9, 2021)

[badgaymovies]

International House (1933)

International House by #AEdwardSutherland starring #GeorgeBurns and #WCFields, "a zippy, hilarious comedy bursting with peppy, delightful performances",

A. EDWARD SUTHERLAND Bil’s rating (out of 5): BBB.5 USA, 1933. Paramount Pictures. Screenplay by Francis Martin, Walter DeLeon, from a story by Neil Brant, Louis E. Heifetz. Cinematography by Ernest Haller. Produced by Emanuel Cohen. Music by Howard Jackson, John Leipold, Ralph Rainger. Costume Design by Travis Banton. Stuart Erwin can’t get a train out of Shanghai to his destination of Wu Hu,…

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

[henricavyll]

I want all assets on them now. I need her to write the next chapter.

ARGYLLE (2024) dir. Matthew Vaughn

[thegoosiestlucy]

argylle is very fun and very musically unhinged and very camp and you should all go see it in cinemas

[scaryrabbit]

ARGYLLE (2024) Dir: Matthew Vaughn

[must-be-mr-boggins]

Imagine Bilbo and Thorin fighting Azog together…! The true Power Couple™️ of Middle Earth, honestly.

[nkp1981]

Get To Know The Characters In "Argylle":

Press on the pic to get the full size

[disneytva]

Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

📚 August 1, 2023

Illustrated by New York Times best-selling artist Bea Jackson, this poignant story speaks to Lunella Lafayette's insecurities about her hair as School Picture Day approaches. Sure, Lunella may be a genius Super Hero (Moon Girl), but when someone makes unkind comments about her hair, she questions whether she needs to change it for School Picture Day. She is, after all, still a 13-year-old girl. Ultimately, Lunella figures out the hairstyle that makes her feel like her best self for her school picture, but not before struggling with what that means for her. Readers will explore and relate to themes of self-kindness, patience, identity, and acceptance in this charming and funny story.

[blastofsports]

The Fab Five was the 1991 University of Michigan men's basketball team recruiting class that many consider one of the greatest recruiting classes of all time. The class consisted of Detroit natives Chris Webber (#4) and Jalen Rose (#5), Chicago native Juwan Howard (#25), and two recruits from Texas: Plano's Jimmy King (#24) and Austin's Ray Jackson (#21). The Fab Five were the first team in NCAA history to compete in the championship game with all-freshman starters.

[avaetin]

Alabaster: Nico, we need to talk. (takes off his glasses)

Nico: Ah. You’re pulling a Claymore.

Alabaster: A what?

Claymore: (enters the room) Alabaster, we need to talk. (takes off his glasses)

Nico: See!

[rockclimbinglover12107]

So true, and so sad.

[blackinperiodfilms]

SHIRLEY | Official Trailer | Netflix

Regina King stars as Shirley Chisholm in SHIRLEY--the story of the first Black congresswoman and her trailblazing run for president of the United States. Directed by John Ridley and co-starring, Lance Reddick, Lucas Hedges, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Christina Jackson, Dorian Crossmond Missick, Amirah Vann, with André Holland and Terrence Howard, the film chronicles Chisholm's audacious, boundary-breaking 1972 presidential campaign.

[whiteoakoak]

Anyone but you gives 90s romcom 💝