Sunday, January 22, 2012

Eulogy

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Casino Jack and the United States of Money

  • This portrait of Washington super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, from his early years as a gung-ho member of the GOP political machine to his final reckoning as a disgraced, imprisoned pariah, confirms the adage that truth is indeed stranger than fiction.  A tale of international intrigue involving casinos, spies, sweatshops and mob-style killings, this is a story of the way money corrupts our polit
This portrait of Washington super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, from his early years as a gung-ho member of the GOP political machine to his final reckoning as a disgraced, imprisoned pariah, confirms the adage that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. A tale of international intrigue involving casinos, spies, sweatshops and mob-style killings, this is a story of the way money corrupts our political process. Oscar®-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney illuminates the way politicians' desperate need to get
elec! ted and the millions of dollars it costs may be undermining the basic principles of American democracy. Infuriating, yet undeniably eye-opening and entertaining, CASINO JACK is a saga of greed and corruption with a cynical villain audiences will love to hate.As he proved in Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney knows how to transform creative bookkeeping into compelling drama without dumbing things down. In his follow-up to Gonzo, a portrait of rabble-rouser Hunter S. Thompson, Gibney takes on disgraced GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff (Stanley Tucci provides his voice in readings). Gibney begins with the Mob-style murder of a one-time associate before backtracking to Abramoff's days as chairman of the College Republicans, where he rubbed shoulders with Karl Rove and Ralph Reed--and impressed Ronald Reagan. Even as a student, however, there were signs of trouble as he laundered money through charities, a pattern he would repeat thr! oughout the decades, always on the lookout for new loopholes. ! Gibney p roceeds through his dealings with the Contras, an Angolan dictator, Saipan sweatshops, and Indian casinos (the debacle in Angola led him to produce the right-wing shoot-'em-up Red Scorpion). Along the way, Abramoff ensnared lawmakers and government officials in his web as they traded political favors for campaign financing. As Bob Ney's chief of staff, Neil Volz, puts it, Abramoff "could talk a dog off a meat truck." When his house of cards finally came crashing down, Reed, Ney, Volz, Tom DeLay, and numerous others fell with him (all but Reed appear in the film). As in his other documentaries, Gibney juices the action with music cues that keep things lively, even if some of his choices are a little too on the nose, like Howlin' Wolf's "Back Door Man." --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Act of God

After.Life

The Devil's Miner Spanish Dvd Activity Packet

  • A perfect companion to The Devil's Miner DVD!
  • Increases vocabulary
  • ©2010. English with Spanish.
  • Reproducible. Beginning level.
In this classic book, Michael Taussig explores the social significance of the devil in the folklore of contemporary plantation workers and miners in South America. Grounding his analysis in Marxist theory, Taussig finds that the fetishization of evil, in the image of the devil, mediates the conflict between precapitalist and capitalist modes of objectifying the human condition. He links traditional narratives of the devil-pact, in which the soul is bartered for illusory or transitory power, with the way in which production in capitalist economies causes workers to become alienated from the commodities they produce. A new chapter for this anniversary edition features a discussion of Walter Benjamin and Georges Bataille that extends Taussig’s ! ideas about the devil-pact metaphor.
Directed by long-time collaborators Kief Davidson and Richard Ladkani, THE DEVIL'S MINER is a moving portrait of two brothers--14-year-old Basilio and 12-year-old Bernardino--who work deep inside the Cerro Rico silver mines of Bolivia. Through the children's eyes, we encounter the world of devout Catholic miners who sever their ties with God upon entering the mountain, where it is an ancient belief that the devil, as represented by statues constructed in the tunnels, determines the fate of all who work within the mines, which date back to the sixteenth century.

As we come to know the brothers, we learn their fears and hopes for their future, and occasionally glimpse their childlike souls peeking through their stoic faces. Raised without a father, Basilio must work to support their family and to go to school and study, so that he and his family can one day leave the mines. Working 24 hour shifts, eating cocoa leaves to ward off! hunger and drowsiness, Basilio then walks to the city to atte! nd a sch ool, where he is ostracized because he is a working miner. Yet, through it all, Basilio and his family retain a dignity and courage that is inspiring.

The filmmakers bring alive the depths of this mining community and the beauty of the many customs and traditions of the mining town filled with superstition. Each day as they enter the shafts, the Catholic miners bring offerings to carved statues called "Tio", the devil who determines the fate of all who work there. They stage large-scale rituals and sacrifices at the entrance to the mine, and carnivals where they parade through the streets. All of this is their effort to appease the "mountain that eats men alive" where millions of men have died in accidents and of disease and the life expectancy of workers is only 35-40 years old.

A prime example of how social issue films can make a difference, THE DEVIL'S MINER has brought attention to this situation and has encouraged educational and community programs in th! e US, Europe and Bolivia that are helping to get children out of the mines and into schools.Basilio Vargas is a veteran mine worker. He's been employed by La Cumbre silver mine for four years. It's one of hundreds in Bolivia's Cerro Rico, known locally as "the mountain that eats men." Basilio is 14. He's often joined by 12-year-old brother Bernardino. It isn't unusual for the boys to work 12-hour shifts--even double shifts of 24 hours. His father died when he was two and Basilio is the primary breadwinner (his younger sister even calls him "papa"). Outside the mine, Basilio is Catholic. Inside, however, he puts his faith in the Devil, AKA "Tio." Basilio, boss Saturnino, and the other miners believe Tio controls their fate. Basilio's dream is to earn enough money to get an education and to leave the mines for good. Directed by Kief Davidson and Richard Ladkani and narrated by the subject himself, The Devil's Miner doesn't look at child labor from several points of vie! w, but almost exclusively from that of the child. While it may! lack co ntext, the film brings Basilio's world--both above and below ground--into stark relief. He's a well-spoken guide. Basilio is also a realist who knows what will happen if he doesn't escape: he'll be dead by 40 from lung disease or a mine collapse, just like an estimated eight million Cerro Rico workers before him. As Saturnino says about his young charges, "It's an incredible sadness." He would know--Saturnino was once a kid just like Basilio. --Kathleen C. FennessyIn this classic book, Taussig explores the social significance of the devil in the folklore of contemporary plantation workers and miners in South America. A new chapter for this anniversary edition features a discussion of Walter Benjamin and Georges Bataille that extends some of the ideas discussed in the original text.In this classic book, Taussig explores the social significance of the devil in the folklore of contemporary plantation workers and miners in South America. A new chapter for this anniversary! edition features a discussion of Walter Benjamin and Georges Bataille that extends some of the ideas discussed in the original text.A historical romance by best-selling novelist Catrin Collier which is set during the Tonypandy riots of 1911 in South Wales. One look was enough. Amy Watkins and miner 'Big' Tom Kelly were in love. But can they keep their feelings secret or face the threat of death in a community torn apart by the miner's strike? Tonypandy, South Wales, 1911.A historical romance by best-selling novelist Catrin Collier which is set during the Tonypandy riots of 1911 in South Wales. One look was enough. Amy Watkins and miner 'Big' Tom Kelly were in love. But can they keep their feelings secret or face the threat of death in a community torn apart by the miner's strike? Tonypandy, South Wales, 1911.THE DEVILS MINER ACTIVITY PACKET A perfect companion to the video with 15 or more reproducible activities. Each activity supports vocabulary reinforcement, vocabulary usage, and cultural understanding. Reproducible, beginning level

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Art of Appreciation Gift Baskets Tea Time Gift Bag Tote

  • * It's hard to believe that this paper gift tote bag is not a real china tea cup, it' just that realistic!
  • * Beautifully detailed and charming, this gift bag comes complete with handles, delivering new tea time pleasures day after day with a sampling of fancy teas and matching gourmet go togethers and treats.
  • * Each gift is hand crafted with attention to detail and includes a personalized gift card to convey your best wishes.
  • * Open the tote to reveal premium Sisters Green Tea, English Tea, a trio of Ashby's Singles Herbal Teas, Mrs. Grace Lemon Tea Cookies, Cinnamon Butterfly Tea Cookies, Torani Chocolate Milano Biscotti, 2 Rock Candy Swizzle Sticks and a sampling of honey sticks to sweeten each cup in four different flavors, Clover Honey, Blackberry, Cinnamon and Peach.
Product Notes: This gift is presented in a gift bag tote that looks like a real tea cup. Th! e tote is very realistic looking, but is NOT a real tea cup.

It's hard to believe that this paper gift tote bag is not a real china tea cup, it's just that realistic! Beautifully detailed and charming, this gift bag comes complete with handles, delivering new tea time pleasures day after day with a sampling of fancy teas and matching gourmet go togethers and treats. Open the tote to reveal premium Sisters Green Tea, English Tea, a trio of Ashby's Singles Herbal Teas, Mrs. Grace Lemon Tea Cookies, Cinnamon Butterfly Tea Cookies, Torani Chocolate Milano Biscotti, 2 Rock Candy Swizzle Sticks and a sampling of honey sticks to sweeten each cup in four different flavors, Clover Honey, Blackberry, Cinnamon and Peach. Each gift tote arrangement is hand crafted with attention to detail, tied with pretty ribbon and includes a personalized gift message from you. Manufactured by Art of Appreciation Gift Baskets.

When will my gift ship.... When will my gift be! delivered? Please review the shipping rates and policies ! link loc ated on this page for VERY IMPORTANT information regarding the shipping and delivery times for your purchase.

Completed Gift Tote Arrangement: 10" high x 9" wide x 3.5" deep.
Empty Gift Tote: 5" high x 9" wide x 3.5" deep

Die Another Day (Widescreen Special Edition)

  • 2002 - Die Another Day - MGM - Special Edition
  • 2-Disc Collectible Set - Over 7 Hours of Bonus Features
  • Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Judi Dench
  • PG-13 - Widescreen - Best Collectible Release to Date
  • Collectible - New
When his top-secret mission is sabotaged, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) finds himself captured by theenemy, abandoned by MI6 and stripped of his 00-license. Determined to get revenge, Bond goes head-to-head with a sultry spy (OscarÂ(r) winner* Halle Berry), a frosty agent (Rosamund Pike) anda shadowy billionaire (Toby Stephens) whose business is diamonds but whose secret is a diabolical weapon that could bring the world to its knees! Bristling with excitement and bursting with explosivespecial effects, Die Another Day is an adrenaline-pumping thrill-ride with "stunts and non-stop action [that] will astonish you" (Jeffrey Lyons, WNBC-TV)! *2001: Actre! ss, Monster'sBallThe 20th James Bond adventure, Die Another Day succeeds on three important fronts: it avoids comparison to Austin Powers by keeping its cheesy humor in check, allows Halle Berry to be sexy and worthy of a spinoff franchise, and keeps pace with the technical wizardry that modern action films demand. Pierce Brosnan's got style and staying power as James Bond, now bearing little resemblance to Ian Fleming's original British super-spy, but able to hold his own at the box office. He's paired with American agent Jinx (Berry) in chasing a genetically altered North Korean villain (Rick Yune) armed with a satellite capable of destroying just about anything. John Cleese and Judi Dench reprise their recurring roles (as "Q" and "M," respectively); they're accompanied by weapons-laden sports cars, a hokey cameo by Madonna (who sings the techno-pulsed theme song), and enough double-entendres to keep Bond-philes adequately shaken and stirred. W! ith clever nods to 007's cinematic legacy, Die Another Day make s you welcome the familiar end-credits promise: James Bond will return. --Jeff Shannon

Forget Paris

  • The romantic life of NBA referee Billy Crystal is on the rebound when he falls for airline employee Debra Winger. Crystal also directs this transatlantic comedy slam dunk with top-notch supporting cast of comedy pros, including Joe Mantegna, Cathy Moriarty and William Hickey.Running Time: 103 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: PG-13 Age: 053939250121 UPC: 0
The romantic life of NBA referee Billy Crystal is on the rebound when he falls for airline employee Debra Winger. Crystal also directs this transatlantic comedy slam dunk with top-notch supporting cast of comedy pros, including Joe Mantegna, Cathy Moriarty and William Hickey.Billy Crystal plays Mickey, a basketball referee who has to accompany his estranged father's body to France, where the old man requested to be buried with the other members of his D-Day platoon. Unfortunately for Mickey, the airline loses his body. Fortu! nately for Mickey, this leads him to meet Ellen (Debra Winger), an airline executive who takes personal charge of the case and even joins him at the funeral. A whirlwind Paris romance leads to marriage, but that's when the complications begin... The story of Mickey and Ellen's marriage is recounted by their friends (played by Joe Mantegna, Cynthia Stevenson, Julie Kavner, Richard Masur, John Spencer, and Cathy Moriarty) as they wait for Mickey and Ellen to arrive at a dinner party. And of course these friends have their own stories, which are played out in witty shorthand as they bicker about who's going to tell the next part of the Mickey/Ellen saga. Forget Paris is uneven (unsurprisingly, Winger is stronger in the dramatic sections and Crystal in the comic parts, a schism that takes its toll on their chemistry), but its best parts hold up, even if the whole is shaky. Plus, the movie's theme (that romantic memories aren't what makes a marriage work, you have to live! in the present) is explored with conviction and tenderness. --Bret Fetzer

Monday, January 16, 2012

Cthulhu Dice

  • 2 or more player game
  • 5-10 minutes to play
  • Cthulhu madness
  • Quick to learn and play
  • Action packed dice game
Horrors! While out on a lovely boating jaunt with her sister Lorina and Charles Dodgson (otherwise known as Lewis Carroll), poor Alice finds herself caught up in the tentacles of madness. Inspired by the brilliant and haunting Dreamlands works of the pre-eminent author of horror-fantasy, H.P. Lovecraft, CTHULHU IN WONDERLAND: The Madness of Alice hurls the reader down the Zoog Hole and into Wonderland to experience the sanity-leeching terror of Cthulhu, Shoggoths, the Jabberwock, the demoniac Duchess, the tyrannical Queen in Crimson and the King in Yellow himself. Filled with macabre, sophisticated and antediluvian humor, CTHULHU IN WONDERLAND is certain to leave a permanent aethereal scar upon the reader's already frail and faltering psyche. (Disclaimer! : Publisher not responsible for death, dread metamorphosis, transmogrification, loss of sanity, permanent neural damage or horrific titillation. If you experience a trans-dimensional journey lasting longer than 4 hours, cease all bodily activity and go the emergency room immediately. Read at your own risk. Ingredients: Earth-Shattering Revelation 43.6%, Apocalyptic Waking Nightmare 33.1%, Things Man Was Not Meant to Know 23.3%. May contain trace amounts of morbid amusement and partially hydrogenated peanut oil.)Horrors! While out on a lovely boating jaunt with her sister Lorina and Charles Dodgson (otherwise known as Lewis Carroll), poor Alice finds herself caught up in the tentacles of madness. Inspired by the brilliant and haunting Dreamlands works of the pre-eminent author of horror-fantasy, H.P. Lovecraft, CTHULHU IN WONDERLAND: The Madness of Alice hurls the reader down the Zoog Hole and into Wonderland to experience the sanity-leeching terror of Cthulhu, Shoggoths, th! e Jabberwock, the demoniac Duchess, the tyrannical Queen in Cr! imson an d the King in Yellow himself. Filled with macabre, sophisticated and antediluvian humor, CTHULHU IN WONDERLAND is certain to leave a permanent aethereal scar upon the reader's already frail and faltering psyche. (Disclaimer: Publisher not responsible for death, dread metamorphosis, transmogrification, loss of sanity, permanent neural damage or horrific titillation. If you experience a trans-dimensional journey lasting longer than 4 hours, cease all bodily activity and go the emergency room immediately. Read at your own risk. Ingredients: Earth-Shattering Revelation 43.6%, Apocalyptic Waking Nightmare 33.1%, Things Man Was Not Meant to Know 23.3%. May contain trace amounts of morbid amusement and partially hydrogenated peanut oil.)Serving Cthulhu is fun . . . except for all those other cultists out to get you. So get them first! Cthulhu Dice lets you drive your rivals mad . . . very, very quickly. Players take turns rolling the big, beautiful, custom 12-sided die, embossed with tentacles, Elder Signs, and more. Destroy your opponents' sanity! Better yet, steal it. But watch out for Cthulhu - when he comes up, he takes sanity from everyone! 18 glass Sanity marbles are included. Lose all your marbles and you're mad. The last sane cultist wins . . . unless everyone goes mad together. Then Cthulhu wins!

POGO Hearts, Spades and More!

Alice in Wonderland

  • Size approx 14" from head to feet
  • officially licensed Disney plush doll

'Down,
down,
down.
Would the fall never come to an end!'

Since its publication in 1865, Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has delighted the world with a wildly imaginative and unforgettable journey, inspiring children of all ages to suspend disbelief and follow Alice into her fantasy worlds. This new gift edition presents Carroll's tale fully unabridged with a unique visual interpretation by renowned artist Camille Rose Garcia.

Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for a fantastical new adventure from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton. Inviting and magical, Alice In Wonderland is an imaginative new twist on one of the most beloved stories of all time. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a! journey to discover her true destiny. This Wonderland is a world beyond your imagination and unlike anything you ve seen before. The extraordinary characters you ve loved come to life richer and more colorful than ever. There s the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and more. A triumphant cinematic experience Alice In Wonderland is an incredible feast for your eyes, ears and heart that will captivate audiences of all sizes.Tim Burton was born to bring Alice in Wonderland to the big screen. Ironically, his version of the Victorian text plays more like The Wizard of Oz than a Lewis Carroll adaptation. On the day of her engagement party, the 19-year-old Alice (a nicely understated Mia Wasikowska) is lead by a white-gloved rabbit to an alternate reality that looks strangely familiar--she's been dreaming about it since she was 6 years old. Stranded in a hall of doors, sh! e sips from a potion that makes her shrink and nibbles on a ca! ke that makes her grow. Once she gets the balance right, she walks through the door that leads her to Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Matt Lucas), the Dormouse (Barbara Windsor), the Blue Caterpillar (Alan Rickman), and the Cheshire Cat (a delightful Stephen Fry), who inform her that only she can free them from the wrath of the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter channeling Bette Davis) by slaying the Jabberwocky. To pull off the feat, she teams up with the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp in glam-rock garb), rebel bloodhound Bayard (Timothy Spall), and Red's sweet sister, the White Queen (Anne Hathaway in goth-rock makeup). While Red welcomes Alice with open arms, she plans an execution for the hat-maker when he displeases her ("Off with his head!"). Drawing from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, Burton creates a candy-colored action-adventure tale with a feminist twist. If it drags towards the end, his 3-D extravaganza still offers a trippy good time with! a poignant aftertaste. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Stills from Alice in Wonderland

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Harvard Beats Yale 29-29

  • Harvard Stadium November 23, 1968. With Vietnam raging, Nixon in theWhite House, and issues from civil rights to women's lib dividing thecountry, Harvard and Yale, both teams undefeated for the first time since1909, meet for the annual climax of the Ivy League football season. On theblue-blooded Yale campus, gridiron fever has made local celebrities out of aYale team led by quarterback Brian Dowli
Based on the critically acclaimed documentary, Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 tells the story of the most famous college football game in history

Harvard Stadium, November 23, 1968: For the first time since 1909, the football teams of Harvard and Yale are undefeated as they meet for their final game. Yale, led by captain and quarterback Brian Dowling (later satirized as B.D. in classmate Garry TrudeauÂ’s Doonesbury comic strip) is heavily favored. The underdog team from Harvard includes! lineman Tommy Lee JonesÂâ€"Al GoreÂ’s roommate and future Hollywood star. What follows is widely regarded as among the best games of all time.

First came Rafferty’s documentary of the game, which Newsday called “A nail-biting sports story,” and Time Out New York deemed “close to perfect.” Now, in this compelling and unique new book, Rafferty intercuts photos of the game and Trudeau’s original drawings with the hilarious and suspenseful recollections of the fifty players to create a stunning account of one of the most famous games of all time.

Praise for the documentary Harvard Beats Yale 29-29

“Preposterously entertaining . . . A narrative that pulses with the artful, exciting beats of a thriller.” Ââ€"The New York Times

“Hugely enjoyable . . . a fascinating piece of social history.” Ââ€"NPRÂ’s Fresh AirAn incredible true story that unfolds like a ripping good yarn... W! ith an uproarious, impossible Hollywood ending (Andrew O Hehir! , Salon. com), Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 is filmmaker Kevin Rafferty s (The Atomic Cafe) acclaimed documentary depicting one of the most legendary games in the history of sports. Harvard Stadium November 23, 1968. With Vietnam raging, Nixon in the White House, and issues from civil rights to women's lib dividing the country, Harvard and Yale, both teams undefeated for the first time since 1909, meet for the annual climax of the Ivy League football season. On the blue-blooded Yale campus, gridiron fever has made local celebrities out of a Yale team led by quarterback Brian Dowling, who hadn t lost a game that he finished since the 7th grade, and who was the role model for Doonesbury s B.D. At civil unrest scarred Harvard, a melting pot team of working class players, antiwar activists, and a decorated Vietnam vet set aside their differences for the Big Game. Together, Yale and Harvard stage an unforgettable football contest that baffled even their own coaches. Using vintage game footage! and bracingly honest contemporary interviews with the players from both sides, including Harvard lineman and future Oscar® winner Tommy Lee Jones (No Country for Old Men), Rafferty crafts an alternately suspenseful, hilarious, and poignant portrait of American lives, American sports, and American ideals both tested on the playing field and transformed by turbulent times.

Special Features:
- Bonus Interviews (73 min.) Additional interview excerpts not included in the film, the players provide a deeper look at the season, the game, and its aftermath.
- Theatrical Trailer
!

Black Dynamite [Blu-ray]

  • Condition: New
  • Format: Blu-ray
  • AC-3; Color; Dolby; Subtitled; Widescreen
An all-star cast led by Michael Jai White is featured in this 1970's-style blaxploitation action fiilm about the legendary super crime fighter "Black Dynamite." The Man killed his brother, pumped heroin into local orphanages, and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black Dynamite was the one hero willing to fight The Man all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky HouseWhen drug dealers take out his kid brother, ex-CIA agent Black Dynamite (Spawn's Michael Jai White) makes like a karate-chopping dynamo to track them down. Armed with a .44 Magnum, a set of nunchucks, and a sexy 'stache, Big D starts out in the City of Angels, where ! his buddies Cream Corn (In Living Color's Tommy Davidson), a hustler, and Bullhorn (co-writer Byron Minns), a club owner, offer to lend a hand. The deeper Dynamite digs, the more endangered his life becomes as he uncovers a conspiracy to keep the black man down by flooding the streets with malt liquor and filling the country's orphanages with smack. Since the smooth operator has a way with the ladies, he also enlists Gloria (I Am Legend's Salli Richardson-Whitfield), a socially-conscious soul sister, to aid in his clean-up campaign. Director Scott Sanders and White, who co-wrote the script, collaborated on 1998's Thick as Thieves, and their chemistry shines through. If the supporting cast can be a little wooden, White gives Shaft's Richard Roundtree a run for the money with his cool-cat charisma. Set in 1972, Black Dynamite doesn't just act like a movie from the Superfly era, it looks and sounds like one, too, courtesy Adrian Younge! 's old-school funk score, Shawn Maurer's 16mm cinematography, ! a cartoo n credit sequence, and some carefully choreographed boom mic appearances. And dig those crazy cameos: Arsenio Hall as Tasty Freeze, Brian McKnight as Sweet Meat, and NBA veteran John Salley as Kotex. --Kathleen C. Fennessy



Stills from Black Dynamite (Click for larger image)











An all-star cast led by ! Michael Jai White is featured in this 1970's-style blaxploitat! ion acti on fiilm about the legendary super crime fighter "Black Dynamite." The Man killed his brother, pumped heroin into local orphanages, and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black Dynamite was the one hero willing to fight The Man all the way from the blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House.When drug dealers take out his kid brother, ex-CIA agent Black Dynamite (Spawn's Michael Jai White) makes like a karate-chopping dynamo to track them down. Armed with a .44 Magnum, a set of nunchucks, and a sexy 'stache, Big D starts out in the City of Angels, where his buddies Cream Corn (In Living Color's Tommy Davidson), a hustler, and Bullhorn (co-writer Byron Minns), a club owner, offer to lend a hand. The deeper Dynamite digs, the more endangered his life becomes as he uncovers a conspiracy to keep the black man down by flooding the streets with malt liquor and filling the country's orphanages with smack. Since the smooth op! erator has a way with the ladies, he also enlists Gloria (I Am Legend's Salli Richardson-Whitfield), a socially-conscious soul sister, to aid in his clean-up campaign. Director Scott Sanders and White, who co-wrote the script, collaborated on 1998's Thick as Thieves, and their chemistry shines through. If the supporting cast can be a little wooden, White gives Shaft's Richard Roundtree a run for the money with his cool-cat charisma. Set in 1972, Black Dynamite doesn't just act like a movie from the Superfly era, it looks and sounds like one, too, courtesy Adrian Younge's old-school funk score, Shawn Maurer's 16mm cinematography, a cartoon credit sequence, and some carefully choreographed boom mic appearances. And dig those crazy cameos: Arsenio Hall as Tasty Freeze, Brian McKnight as Sweet Meat, and NBA veteran John Salley as Kotex. --Kathleen C. Fennessy



Stills from Black Dynamite ! (Click for larger image)












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