“Soul” Review

January 5, 2021Danii Gold

Soul may just seem like an animated Disney Pixar movie but it’s more than just that. It touches on your personality and purpose in life, along with finding your spark.

Joe Gardner is a jazz teacher at a school and initially you’ll think that the movie is about music–hence soul. But it’s about your actual soul. He believes his purpose is to play music but after almost dying and living his dream, he wonders what his true niche is. While he is in “The Great Before” which is like a holding place to determine if he deserves to be back on earth, he has to mentor a soul named 22 who needs help finding her spark. She needs an “earth pass” in order to actually live life on earth. She’s had some of the best mentors and nothing appeased her, until she lived a day in a life on earth in Joe Gardner’s shoes by accident.

While 22 is on earth, she appreciates the simple things like eating a sucker while getting a hair cut and walking and touching nature. Since these are things Joe is used to, he tells 22 that those things don’t count as a spark. While she wants to stay on earth to truly figure out her spark, she has to return to the The Great Beyond with Joe so he could have his life back. She somehow received an earth pass but since she didn’t “find” out what her spark was, she gave her pass to Joe so he could have his life back.

He gives his pass to her in exchange for his own life and that good deed earned him a pass to get his life back and live out his dream of playing with a notable jazz player.

Soul (2020) directed by Pete Docter • Reviews, film + cast • Letterboxd — letterboxd.com

This movie has so many lessons:

Don’t knock someone’s spark or niche just because it seems nonrelevant, simple or boring to you
Sometimes your spark find you
The things that you’ve always wanted aren’t what they seem to be once you’re living it
The simple things make life what it is

Let’s not forget to mention that Joe was played Jamie Foxx, his mother was played by Phylicia Rashad, notable jazz player Dorothea Williams was played by THEE Angela Bassett, and soul 22 was played by Tina Fey. Talk about some heavy hitters!!

What did you think of the Disney Pixar movie?

Have You Seen Beyonce’s “Spirit” Video??

July 19, 2019August 23, 2019Danii Gold

Okay look…I’m not part of the Beehive and I’m not a big Beyonce fan. I love her music and I’m a supporter but this “Spirit” video for The Lion King movie tho… whew chile!! It’s an uplifting, inspirational song that she sings her heart out on. It’s in reference to Simba becoming King. Lyrics such as “watch the heavens open” is a referencing to when Simba was born and Mufasa was lifting him up in the sky and the light came shining down on him.

The African rooted choreography and even the clothing in the video was beautiful. The song was played at the best time of the movie, when Simba was heading back to Pride Rock to take his place as king. Check out my Lion King Review <—- here.

I love how Beyonce goes back to her roots, OUR ROOTS, when she is involved in a project, such as her Homecoming documentary on Netflix. She involved the HBCU culture into her Coachella performance, which is black AF! Even though she never got the chance to attend a HBCU due to her career, she made sure to recognize it. With The Lion King, even though it’s animated, it takes place in Africa and Beyonce showcases the dances and somewhat the attire. Leave it up to Beyonce to “woo” us.

Check out the video below!

Toy Story 4 Review

June 24, 2019July 26, 2019Danii Gold

If you’re a fan of the previous Toy Storys, Tom Hank, Tim Allen and childhood humor, then you’ll love this movie. Originally, I thought the movie was going to be trash because it was about a spork BUT I thought wrong.

Spoiler/Synopis:

The movie is about Woody’s new kid, Bonnie. She makes a spork in class on her first day of kindergarten and deems it as her favorite “toy.” Forky is his name and he doesn’t understand the concept of being a toy, but instead being trash, since that’s how he was created. In the midst of a road trip, him and Woody get lost from Bonnie and just when they find her, they go into an antique shop, where they find Bo Peep’s lamp. Woody thinks he can find her in there but instead he finds Gabby Gabby, the “villian” of the movie. She wants Woody’s speaker box because hers is old, and if hers is newer and fresh then a little girl would want to take her home. Woody wasn’t originally down with that swapping so he tried to escape from her and he does but Forky gets left behind. While Woody is trying to think of a plan to get back Forky, and keep up with where Bonnie is, he finds Bo Peep. She’s out exploring the world, being an independent woman and importantly not tied to a child. She helps Woody rescue Forky and also opens his eyes to the world and that there’s so much to see outside of a kid’s bedroom. The movie ends with Woody rescuing Forky and making it back to Bonnie in time before she heads home. Woody decides to stay with Bo and leave Buzz, Jessie and and the whole squad.

What The Movie Captured

For starters, Woody isn’t the head huncho in charge anymore. He had to take the back seat on being the sheriff in Bonnie’s room. Another doll is in charge and Woody also isn’t the favorite anymore, which is out of the ordinary. The movie also captured Woody really going out of his way to make Forky feel welcomed as a toy and explaining to him his worth as Bonnie’s favorite new toy.

Sidebar: Each movie has a villain or antagonizer, for example; Sid was crazy creeper kid in the original Toy Story, Stinky Pete was the sneaky one in Toy Story 2, Lotso in Toy 3 and now Gabby Gabby in this movie.

I like how the writers captured Bo being independent and not following behind Woody. Her character hit a full 360 from being quiet nurturing Bo, to being exploring-the-world-not-attached-to-any-child Bo Peep.

Image result for toy story 4 — indiewire.com

The comedy that the movie brought was awesome! Jordan Peele and Keegan Key playing Bunny and Ducky and doing their typical chemistry comedy. Keanu Reeves playing Duke Caboom. Forky just being new to life and not having a clue was adorably funny and Buzz Lightyear getting in touch with his inner thoughts but really it’s the programmed catch phrases on his body.

Image result for toy story 4 ducky and bunny — hollywoodreporter.con

What I would’ve liked, especially with this being the so-called last movie, is for Woody to find Andy. Andy could have a family now, Woody could make an appearance in his life, creep him out a bit by talking, show him some love, then go back to exploring the world with Bo.

Overall, I loved the movies, even thought I didn’t think I would and it brought out my inner childhood.

Have you seen the movie? If so, how did you like it?

Danii Gold out!

Aladdin Review

May 29, 2019July 20, 2019Danii Gold

If you’re a 90’s baby like myself, then you truly loved and enjoyed Disney movies, one in particular Aladdin. During that time, Princess Jasmine was the closest thing to a Disney brown skin princess besides Pocahontas, which was nice to see, me being a woman of color. This movie would make you feel like a kid again.

The intro starts off pretty similar to the original movie, except Disney added the genie, played by Will Smith, telling the story of Aladdin in the beginning. Genie also was telling the story to his two children which will be a significance at the end of the film. Of course the real life action movie couldn’t be an exact replicate of the original but that’s what made it so great! The fact that the story line was still in tact plus Disney showcased the Arabian culture with their clothing and dancing style which was good because it’s nice to see the lifestyle of other cultures.

Image result for aladdin 2019 culture — fastcompany.com

Image result for aladdin 2019 dance — youtube.com

Disney addressed women’s right in a sense. When Jafar wanted to take over and be the Sultan, Jasmine brought up the fact that she could be the Sultan. Of course the idea was shot down but towards the end of the film she got the respect she deserved as the female Sultan.

Will Smith is dope! Of course that is obvious but I had to say it. He didn’t try to be like Robin but instead, he acted like his normal goofy self. Will is usually a great big ball of in energy, especially when his character as Fresh Prince. He played a sentimental role and honestly, the film wouldn’t have been comedic or as relevant without him.

The actor and actress who played Aladdin and Jasmine perfected A Whole New World. Them singing the song brought back so many childhood memories. Besides that song, all the other songs were brought to life and were sang to perfection. Will Smith even threw his own twang and beat boxing to the songs.

Image result for aladdin 2019 whole new world — etcanada.com

Of course the creation of the movie wouldn’t be visually appeasing without CGI (computer-generated imagery), from the genie’s appearance, to Abu’s appearance, to EVERYTHING else in between. God bless CGI because it truly made the cartoon film come to life.

As a whole, the film was dope! I do wish that the characters were more brown skin but they weren’t too far off. The music was on point and so was the culture depiction. I tried not to give too many spoilers so others can still go see the movie and still read this beforehand.

I encourage everyone to go see the movie, especially if you were a 90’s baby. I give them movie 5 stars!

Danii Gold out!