A Wale inspired Movie Dialogue Game #atozchallenge

“I need something to hold, fuck that passive aggression and when I’m back from off the road, don’t ask me no questions please...girl, let me get them ooh, ahhs, then I gotta catch my plane. Say you miss me and you wishing for some private time, girl how can we get that way”

“That Way” by Wale (also featuring Jeremih and Rick Ross) is one of the most entertaining rap songs that I’ve been listening to for a few months now. I don't know what this song is about or if it is even supposed to have a meaning or inspiration behind it at all. Based on the lyrics and music video, my take on the tune is that it chronicles traveling, sex and cheating.

There aren't many movies that come to mind at the moment that encompasses all three of these subjects, except for maybe "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" starring Larenz Tate and Halle Berry. I can, however, think of another movie that Larenz Tate also headlines -- "Love Jones" that has that whole "Whenever Wherever Whatever" by Maxwell feel to it and just so happens to sorta touch on traveling, sex and cheating within its storyline but still suggests a happy ending.

Nina: How do we do this?

Darius: I don't know.

Nina: I live in New York!

Darius: I don't care.

Nina: As usual, your timing couldn't be worse. You always want what you want when you want it. Why does everything have to be so damn urgent with you?

Darius: Let me tell you something, this right here, at this very moment, is all that matters to me. I love you. That's urgent like a motherfucker.

What does this "Love Jones" dialogue have to do with anything, you ask? Well at the time of this writing, I wrote most of it from memory and despite owning a VHS copy of "Love Jones" (currently collecting dust in my apartment), I haven't watched this movie in at least one year. So, while I may not be entirely accurate with what Nina and Darius said to each other in this particular movie scene, I'm pretty sure that I've come damn close to it. Could YOU do the same? Better yet, challenge guests at your next dinner party to try this quick and easy party game that can be setup with little to no fuss, for fun.

Are you familiar with that Fox TV show called “Don't Forget the Lyrics?” Well, let's play a game of Don't Forget the Movie Lines. Finish the dialogue from the following movies that contain some form of sex, traveling or cheating:

Sex: Bruce Willis in "Perfect Strangers" - Show me a beautiful woman and I'll show you....
Answer:  ______________________________

Traveling: Tom Cruise in “Top Gun” - I feel the need....
Answer: ______________________________

Cheating: Kate Winslet in “Titanic” - I’d rather be his....
Answer: ______________________________

Also, I favor Maxwell's "Whenever Wherever Whatever" song moreso than Wale's track but Maxwell didn't make the cut for today’s post because he was already highlighted in an earlier A to Z Challenge post of mine -- for Letter M: Matrimony & Wedding Movie Party Games.

Can YOU finish any of the Sex/Traveling/Cheating movie lines featured in today's post?

V is for Movie Villains - A Wordless Wednesday Rewind #atozchallenge

“All this talk of getting old, it’s getting me down my love...like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown, this time I’m coming down. And I hope you’re thinkin’ of me, as you lay down on your side. Now the drugs don’t work, they just make you worse, but I know I’ll see your face again. “

“The Drugs Don’t Work” by The Verve is one of my favorite songs from this group, despite the fact that it can be pretty depressing to play. Since this has been a cloudy day for me, I’m taking a step back from writing medium to long posts for the A to Z Challenge. Needless to say, today’s V topic has nothing to do with my chosen playlist song. So after taking a page from Jenn at Wine-n-Chat’s book of blog posting today, here is a photo featuring my favorite movie villain, in honor of Wordless Wednesdays. Can YOU guess who it is?

Now, answer me this...
Who is YOUR favorite movie Villain?

Unpretty and an Unlikely Film Book Therapy Session #tuesday #atozchallenge #april #atoz

“You can buy your hair if it won’t grow, you can fix your nose if you say so, you can buy all the makeup that M.A.C. can make but if you can’t look inside you, find out who am I too, be in a position to make me feel so damn unpretty. I’ll make you feel unpretty too.”

“Unpretty” by TLC is a nice song that I’ve enjoyed listening to on many occasions because its filled with self-esteem boosting messages -- their music video is also especially killer! If you have a weight or beauty complex, a birthmark that you’d like to get rid of, a tattoo that you wish you never got on your body or some other personal issue that makes you think or feel like you’re not good enough, then this tune is worth at least one play on your iPod, XM radio, Pandora radio, home stereo system or wherever you get your music fix.

The song reminds me of that feeling of wanting to change something about yourself so badly that you’re willing to do almost anything if it means you’ll be more attractive, taller, lighter, thinner, darker, smarter, faster, funnier, and the list goes on. It’s like the schoolgirl named Bonnie, played by Neve Campbell, in the fantasy horror film “The Craft.” Bonnie struggles with insecurities because she had severe scarring on her back. She turned to witchcraft to make these scars disappear, which they did, thanks to a beauty spell.

Since real life is rarely, if ever, like the movies, most of us do not have the resources to whip out a magic wand or spell and rid ourselves of any and all flaws that plague our mental or emotional well being.

We’re not witches like Bonnie and her friends in “The Craft” and we don’t Hogwarts professors to teach us fancy tricks for creating illusions of the mind. What we do have, however, is the ability to change our thinking from negative to positive with regards to how we feel about ourselves. Positive thinking includes nurturing all of the good about yourself that you can rather than feeding into viewpoints that don’t help you be the best YOU.

If you feel fat, for example, then do things that bring attention to other aspects of your body such as your hair or feet. In one of my favorite filmmaking books, authors Camille Landau and Tiare White says "Only wear (and only buy) clothes that make you feel sexy" in their chapter titled ‘Hype, for Cheap’ and "Don’t wear anything that makes you feel uncomfortable” in the chapter titled ‘It’s a Sad Dog Who Can’t Wag Its Own Tail.’

While the authors’ suggestions may have nothing technically to do with the filmmaking (or writing, singing, painting, etc.) process, they surely come in handy when you’re preparing for pitch sessions with people who are in a position to take your project to the next level or if you ever have to do a press interview for your screenplay (or book, sculpture, stage play, song, etc.) in front of dozens of people.

It’s much easier to focus on what’s really important if you’re not too busy trying to adjust the weird undergarments that the Bloomingdale's sales associate sold to you for 50% off and a promise that you’ll learn to like it and eventually own the look.

Have you ever felt Unpretty or like you wanted to be someone else?

Are you comfortable in the skin/body you’re in?

What makes YOU feel sexy?

What do YOU find sexy in other people?

I also chose the song “Can U Handle It” by Usher as an Honorable Mention for today’s ‘Letter U’ in the A to Z Challenge, because I listen to it more often than “Unpretty” and the artist’s name starts with a ‘U,’ and it’s a very sexy song!