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Dreamgirls (Two-Disc Showstopper Edition) (2006) - DVD - Musical
The two-disc edition of Dreamgirls includes videos, documentaries and other behind-the-scenes features. Diehard fans will love the almost two-hour "Building the Dream" documentary, which goes into loving detail about how the film got to be made. But it's the shorter segments that really capture the viewer's attention. The two auditions included in the set are a contrast in style. Pop singer Beyonce Knowles sells herself in full hair, makeup and costume; that she is a tad pitchy at times is almost beside the point. Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose's audition is a tour de force; singing strong and with conviction and passion, Rose is fully in character regardless of the fact that she isn't dressed for the role. Oddly enough, the audition tape of Jennifer Hudson, who won an Academy Award for her breakthrough role as Effie, is nowhere to be seen. Sure, we all know what a powerhouse she is today. But it would've been nice to see what the filmmakers saw in her back then, when her competition included her American Idol castmate (and that season's winner) Fantasia Barrino. Hudson's performance of "Effie, Sing My Song"--which was not seen in the theatrical release--is included in this set, as are 12 extended musical numbers. Another nice touch is the inclusion of a dance rehearsal choreographed by Fatima Robinson (who has worked with the Backstreet Boys, Mary J. Blige, and Michael Jackson). Watching the rudimentary piece (with stand-ins subbing for the stars) come together gives the viewer appreciation for the intricate work that goes into each 3-minute musical number in the 130-minute film. Also included are a sequence of enhanced story boards, a look at how the film's editor went about editing the picture, and a look at how the costumes played a part in the film. --Jae-Ha Kim
Dreamgirls (Widescreen Edition) (2006) - DVD - Musical
The spirit of Motown runs through the long-awaited film adaption of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, which centers around a young female singing trio who burst upon the music scene in the '60s, complete with bouffant hairdos, glitzy gowns, and a soul sound new to the white-bread American music charts. Sound familiar? You aren't the first one to draw comparisons to the meteoric rise of the Supremes, and despite any protests to the contrary, this is most definitely a thinly veiled reinterpretation of that success story. The Dreamettes--statuesque Deena (Beyonce Knowles), daffy Lorell (Anika Noni Rose) and brassy Effie (Jennifer Hudson)--are a girl group making the talent-show rounds when they're discovered by car salesman and aspiring music manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Sensing greatness (as well as a new marketing opportunity) Curtis signs the Dreamettes as backup singers for R&B star James "Thunder" Early (Eddie Murphy). But when Early's mercurial ways and singing style don't mesh with primarily white audiences, Curtis moves the newly-renamed Dreams to center stage--with Deena as lead singer in place of Effie. And that's not the only arena in which Effie is replaced, as Curtis abandons their love affair for a relationship with star-in-the-making Deena.
Men Cry in the Dark (2003) - DVD
The future has never looked better for Derrick Reed. Bachelorhood is great, he has a group of guys he can really call friends, and he's the publisher of a magazine that he named after his philosophy of life, Happily Single. Little does Derrick know that appearing on Atlanta's hottest radio station morning talk show will send him on a whirl-wind ride, which will eventually take him to the heart of a woman who will change his life forever. He finds the perfect woman and the perfect reason to stop womanizing and make a commitment. This mystery woman is about to have a lasting impact on Derrick's life by changing the way he thinks and feels about women and relationships.
Friends & Lovers (2005) - DVD
What happens when friends cross the line and become lovers? Lies fly, emotions erupt, and the stage is set for a totally uncensored, hilarious, and outrageously entertaining adventure in seduction, betrayal, heartbreak, revenge, and oh-so-sweet true love. Shelby Daniels and her best friend Debra Mitchell have just gotten off the sex-before-marriage merry-go-round with men. Each has gone looking for love, found love, lost love, and at this point, sworn off men forever-- until Debra meets Leonard DuBois, an aspiring stand-up comedian who tries to laugh his way into her heart. But the laughter stops when he is forced to confront some hurdles of his own. Debra has devoted her mind, body, heart and soul to God, so if he wants to ride with her, he'll have to produce the ring. In the meantime, feisty, nosy, attitude-packing flight attendant Shelby keeps intervening in Debra's business. Needing someone to run interference and get rid of Shelby, Leonard calls on his best buddy, Tyrel, a sexy and charming computer software designer unable to design the perfect woman. On the rebound, Shelby keeps her heart locked away, but when Tyrel finds the key, the attraction is instant and so are the consequences. Their relationship moves at warp speed, leaving Shelby confronting a decision that could turn her whole life around and break both of their hearts. As a result, friendships fall by the wayside, jealousy come into play, and sisterhood is torn apart. It takes tragedy on a grand scale to reunite lovers destined for each other and teach both couples that friendship is perhaps the most valuable gift they've been given in this hilarious tale of friendship, love, and faith that speaks directly to the heart. Based on the best-selling novel by Eric Jerome Dickey (EJD).
David E. Talbert's The Fabric of a Man (2005) - Stage Play - Musical - DVD
The Fabric of a Man is a jewel in the Talbert crown of romantic musical stage plays. It's the story of Dominique Majors (Tammy Townsend), an up-and-coming fashion designer in love with Blair Godfrey (Clifton Powell), a self-centered stockbroker who wishes she'd focus less on her career and more on him. One night Dominique stumbles into an old-school dry cleaner, where she meets Joshua King (Darren DeWitt Henson), a good-looking young tailor who takes interest in more than just her dry cleaning. Torn between the comfort of finance and the potential of new romance, Dominique is forced to decide which fabric of which man best suits her. It's your front row ticket to inspirational theatre at its best! Urban Works Entertainment proudly welcomes David E. Talbert's The Fabric of a Man into the prestigious Soul Theater Series!
The Maintenance Man (2004) - DVD
As an expensive male escort, Malcolm Tremell (Darius McCrary, Family Matters) seems to have it all - fancy cars, an abundance of cash and an endless supply of gorgeous women who pay him for sex! Yet as the years pass, he longs for more as he dreams of a career in music and a family. When he meets a beautiful dancer, he believes his prayers may have been answered. Yet can he change his entire life for one woman ... does he dare to risk heartbreak? From the best selling novel by Michael Baisden, The Maintenance Man also stars Billy Dee Williams(Lady Sings the Blues, Undercover Brother) and BET's Comic view host Arnez J.
Madea's Family Reunion (Full Screen Edition) (2006) - DVD
Tyler Perry, impresario of the gospel theater circuit, brings his gun-toting granny-drag persona Madea back to the big screen in Madea's Family Reunion , a sequel to the surprise hit Diary of a Mad Black Woman . In addition to being saddled with an unruly foster teen (Keke Palmer, The Wool Cap ), Madea has two troubled nieces: Lisa (Rochelle Aytes, White Chicks ), who's engaged to an abusive and controlling investment banker (Blair Underwood, Something New ); and Vanessa (Lisa Arrindell Anderson, The Second Chance ), who can't open herself to the affection of a bus driver/artist (Boris Kodjoe, The Gospel ) because of childhood abuse. Wreaking havoc on both of their lives is their mother Victoria (Lynn Whitfield, Eve's Bayou , in delirious wicked witch mode). Like Madea's previous outing, Madea's Family Reunion may induce mental whiplash--the movie zips from a discussion of flatulence to a jazz-backed poetry reading to domestic violence (Underwood, perhaps eager to leave his bland good-guy image behind, is genuinely scary), or from an act of horrific revenge to a staggeringly gaudy wedding. Though schizophrenic and morally questionable (beating an adult women is clearly wrong, but whipping a child with a belt in the name of tough love is apparently good), the movie is definitely unpredictable and never dull. Also featuring Cicely Tyson ( Because of Winn-Dixie ) and the poet Maya Angelou. --Bret Fetzer
Tyler Perry's Daddy's Little Girls (Widescreen Edition) (2007) - DVD
A mechanic (Elba) enlists the help of a successful-but-lonely attorney (Union) while trying to wrest custody of his three daughters from his treacherous ex-wife and her larcenous boy friend. Along the way, the working relationship between the blue collar dad and his uptown attorney grows into something more. This is a simple, touching story of two people trying to overcome their different backgrounds to find love, a down-on-his-luck man struggling to protect his children from abuse and neglect, and a community looking to purge itself from the criminals terrorizing their neighborhood.
Paul Mooney: Know Your History - Jesus Is Black and So Was Cleopatra (2007) DVD - Comedy
Few comedians can stir up controversy like the legendary Paul Mooney -- writer for Richard Pryor, creator of In Living Color's Homey the Clown and featured guest on Chappelle's Show. With his characteristic brutal honesty, Mooney passionately and hysterically charges into the electrified currents of racial tension. In this magnificent standup performance at Hollywood's Laugh Factory, Mooney earns a standing ovation with his relentless no-holds-barred observations on black history, stereotypes and prejudices, living in White America, celebrity divas and much, much more!
A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994) DVD - Comedy
Here's the action-packed hit that's armed with explosive entertainment and dangerously funny comedy! Writer, director, and star Keenen Ivory Wayans (TV's IN LIVING COLOR) is Shame, a down-on-his-luck ex-cop turned private investigator. He's hired by drug enforcement officials to track down his seductive former girlfriend -- and $20 million in stolen drug money! With his trusty sidekick Peaches (sexy Jada Pinkett Smith -- JASON'S LYRIC, MENACE II SOCIETY), Shame aims to make a buck and clear his name in what becomes his wildest and most dangerous assignment ever! Fast and fun, A LOW DOWN DIRTY SHAME is loaded with laughs and ready for action!

Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored (1996) - DVD - Drama
 A narrator tells the story of his childhood years in a tightly knit Afro-American community in the deep south under racial segregation. This film relates the story of a tightly connected Afro-American community informally called Colored Town where the inhabitants live and depend on each other in a world where racist oppression is everywhere, as told by a boy called Cliff who spent his childhood there. Despite this, we see the life of the community in all its joys and sorrows, of those that live there while others decide to leave for a better life north. For those remaining, things come to a serious situation when one prominent businessman is being muscled out by a white competitor using racist intimidation. In response, the community must make the decision of whether to submit meekly like they always have, or finally fight for their rights.
Ray (2004) - DVD - Drama
Nominated for 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Ray stars Oscar winner Jamie Foxx as the one-of-a-kind innovator of soul who overcame impossible odds to become a music legend. It's the triumphant and remarkable story of one of America's true musical geniuses, Ray Charles. "Ray is electrifying," hails Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. Witness the incredible true story of a musician who fought harder and went further than anyone could imagine.
Hebrew or the So-Called Negro? (2007) - DVD - Documentary
Shalom Shalom, The purpose of this DVD is to educate, alert, and motivate the children of Yah to see and perceive, to hear and understand, and understand and then apply His most powerful and redeeming word. I have put together a tremendous amount of information that will challenge and hopefully motivate you to seek the Almighty Yah so that He can transform you into whom you really are in Him. My friends, we are living in the last days of mankind as we know it. This land we call America is in the eye of the hurricane for it is also the creator of the storm. The soul of the so-called Negro lays buried in the grave of ignorance and void of the truth of Yah's word. We have embraced a world that has embraced demons and the doctrines of Devils. This DVD will show with all evidence that the so called Negros are the lost children of Israel proclaimed in the bible. Shalom -Yahya Bandele - A.K.A. Mark E. Copeland.
Passin' It On - The Black Panthers' Search for Justice (1993) - DVD - DocuDrama
A gritty and soulful classic film, PASSIN' IT ON is the story of one man in search of justice who is wronged by the nation with which he is at odds. Part indictment, part redemption tale, the film offers startling insight into the role of the Black Panther Party in a social revolution, and the New York Police Department and the FBI's devious targeting of one of the organization's most fervent leaders--Dhoruba Bin Wahad (born Richard Moore). Emerging from the Bronx ghettoes and a life of petty crime, Dhoruba dived headfirst into the Black Power movement, serving breakfast to school children with one hand while wielding a gun with the other. Amid a national program of FBI-led oppression against the Panthers, Dhoruba was framed on the flimsy evidence of the wounding and grotesque disfigurement of two police officers and sent to prison. After trials and mistrials, incarceration and eventual acquittal 19 years later, a still-impassioned Dhoruba, his attorneys, and other Panthers finally tell this incredible tale of race, revolution, and redemption. "A visually compelling film that speaks of a movement, not only a man" (NPR), PASSIN' IT ON bristles with poetry and the exhilarating recollections of a true American political prisoner. DVD Features: Follow-up Interview with Dhoruba Bin Wahad in Ghana; Interview with Author & Activist Kathleen Cleaver; Filmmaker Interviews; Former Black Panther Jamal Joseph Interview; Filmmaker Biographies; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection.

Black Picket Fence (2002) - DVD - Documentary
Plot Synopsis: Black Picket Fence is director's Sergio Goes' poignant portrait of the bleak realities of life in the public housing projects of Brooklyn's East New York, one of the inner city's most dangerous and violent neighborhoods. Culled from nearly two years of filming, the documentary's candid interviews, lyric moments of grim beauty, and powerful verite footage takes us beyond the usual stereotypes of the rap world and into the life of Tislam Milliner, a struggling rapper who's ambitious to make it out of the "hood". At the age of 25, Tiz is considered a survivor. Through intimate vignettes of the Milliner family, Tiz's close-knit crew, his pregnant girlfriend, his overzealous manager, and his mentor, the legendary Kool G Rap, Tiz's hopes and the quiet despair of his "book of life filled with pain" gradually emerge. Tiz's best friend Mel is a veteran of the "drug game" and has spent some part of every year in prison since he was twelve. Now, he's out. But with little hope of breaking the game's vicious cycle of money, dark deeds and long spells of incarceration, Mel's life represents everything Tiz is trying to escape. Real escape, however, may be a goal beyond possibility. And with the birth of Tiz's son, it becomes unavoidably evident that Tiz's fate and his hopes for success involve far more than just his own happiness. The whole crew has come to depend on his realizing it.

Black Indians: An American Story (2000) - DVD
Black Indians: An American Story brings to light a forgotten part of America's past- the cultural and racial fusion of Native and African Americans. Narrated by James Earl Jones, produced and directed by the award-winning Native American production company Rich-Heape Films, this presentation explores what brought the two groups together, what drove them apart and the challenges they face today.

By  Black Indian Princess "Black Indian Princess" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
I purchased this DVD and I have to say that I watched it 10 Times!!!! :-) I am so happy that my elders are starting to speak up and out so those who are "lost" or brainwashed will start to wake up and question what we call "U.S. History." Personally, TRUE U.S. History consists of those who made this country what it is today. Native, African & European American influences.

I also wished they would have focused on Southeastern US Indians. For instance, Virginia; North & South Carolina, Georgia, etc. Our roots are very deep in this region of the U.S.

I too have a blended "American" identity. I consider myself a Black Indian. In today's society, I've learned that "we" are forced to choose by Black America, Native America and White America. I refuse to choose.

Now, I know that I have "extended family" (members of Black America and Native America) who will get upset if I choose Black over my Native American Heritage and vice versa. It's sad that "we" have to choose and are not accepted as Black Indians.

Overall, I do highly recommend this DVD for those who truly care about TRUE "U.S. History" and those who want to find out more regarding their blended heritage.
500 Years Later (2005) -DVD
Crime, drugs, HIV/AIDS, poor education, inferiority complex, low expectation, poverty, corruption, poor health, and underdevelopment plagues people of African descent globally - Why? 500 years later from the onset of Slavery and subsequent Colonialism, Africans are still struggling for basic freedom-Why? Filmed in five continents, and over twenty countries, 500 Years Later engages the authentic retrospective voice, told from the African vantage-point of those whom history has sought to silence by examining the collective atrocities that uprooted Africans from their culture and homeland. 500 Years Later is a timeless compelling journey, infused with the spirit and music of liberation that chronicles the struggle of a people who have fought and continue to fight for the most essential human right - freedom.
Coming to America (1988) - DVD
Half of the characters in this 1988 John Landis potboiler seem to be played either by Eddie Murphy or costar Arsenio Hall, swaddled in elaborate Rick Baker makeup appliances that render them unrecognizable but also weirdly immobile. As a pampered African prince who journeys incognito to Queens, New York, to find a bride who will love him just for himself, Murphy manages to look smug and naive at the same time. There are enjoyable sequences of Murphy's Prince Akeem applying his lordly manner to his new job in a fast-food emporium, and falling for the boss's spirited daughter (Shari Headley), who teaches him how to party down, American style. But the fish-out-water premise is never fully exploited. Star spotters will have a field day locating Cuba Gooding Jr., Donna Summer, Louie Anderson, Vondie Curtis Hall, E.R. 's Eriq La Salle, and Samuel L. Jackson in their minuscule supporting roles. --David Chute
Brown Sugar (2002) - DVD - Romance
One of 2002's most underrated films, Brown Sugar offers more than you'd expect from a conventional romantic comedy. The love story between Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) is the least interesting part of the movie; the costars have delightful chemistry, but their hookup is a given. What's refreshing is the way the story draws a parallel between Dre and Sidney's longtime friendship (they meet as kids in a 1984 flashback) and the evolution of hip-hop music from urban roots to dubious mainstream acceptance. Dre's a disillusioned producer at pop-fueled Millennium Records, married to a beauty (Nicole Ari Parker) who cheats while embracing her coveted status quo. Editor of an influential music magazine, Sidney's tentatively engaged to a basketball star (Boris Kodjoe), but these loves are obstacles, and Dre and Sidney are meant for each other. In bringing them together, Brown Sugar allows for human mistakes, intelligent solutions, and the kind of three-dimensional behavior that romantic comedies typically don't provide. --Jeff Shannon

Waiting to Exhale (1995) - DVD - Comedy, MeloDrama
Based on a novel by Terry McMillan, this weepy melodrama about four African American women and the men who wronged them became an instant cultural phenomenon when it was released back in 1995. It's easy to see why Exhale struck a nerve: the movie boasts an attractive cast of African American actresses and personalities, including Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, and Lela Rochon. Unfortunately, though, Exhale sags under the weight of its soapy, crisis of the week plotting and relentlessly cheery "you go, girl!" optimism. And African American men, cast here as insensitive lovers and pigheaded materialists, get the very short end of the feminist stick. Perhaps moviegoers were simply responding to the brilliant soundtrack by R&B superstar Babyface, who provided the movie's only real groove. --Ethan Brown

Product Description: Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett star in this funny and touching film about four women who find strength through their rare and special relationship. Savannah, Bernadine, Robin and Gloria are all searching for the Real Thing: true love. Bernadine thought she had it, until her husband left her for another woman. Savannah and Robin are successful in business but their love lives are bankrupt. And divorcee Gloria is getting back in the game by flirting with her new, very eligible neighbor. Based on Terry McMillan's best-selling novel, and featuring the #1 smash hit "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)," "Waiting to Exhale" is the film you and your friends have been waiting for! Original score by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
The Pursuit of Happyness (Widescreen Edition) (2006) - DVD
A heartwarming film that demonstrates how good, hard-working people can become homeless almost overnight, Pursuit of Happyness is a tour-de-force showcase for Will Smith, who convincingly portrays a down-and-out dad trying to better his family's life. Smith, who usually is cast in effortlessly boyish roles ( Men in Black, Independence Day ), is wonderful in the film--even in the scenes that shamelessly tug at viewers' heartstrings. Based on the true-life story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman forced at times to shelter his young son (played by Smith's adorable look-alike offspring Jaden Smith) in a men's room, there is little suspense to the film in terms of Chris' outcome. (His story and eventual success a successful and wealthy Chicago businessman was well-publicized on the newsmagazine show 20/20 .) And let's face it, Hollywood's not too keen on making feel-good movies with unhappy endings. The beauty (and suspense, to a certain extent) of this film is in the way the story is told. Though he is constantly rushing around to get to appointments and pick up his child, things do not happen quickly for Chris. When he accepts an internship with a prestigious stock brokerage firm, there's a catch: The position is unpaid, suitable more for trust-fund children than single parents with no other source of income. In many scenes, the viewer panics along with Chris, wondering how he's going to feed his child. While Smith and his son, Jaden, share many tender moments together, Thandie Newton has the thankless role of playing Chris' shrill wife, who deserts her family early in the film. It's not a particularly challenging part for the talented actress, and her departure doesn't impact the storyline much at all. As for the movie's misspelled title, it's inspired from a scene in the film. (Seeing a mural drawn by the children at a daycare center, Chris points out to the proprietor that "happiness" is spelled incorrectly. She notes that it doesn't matter how the word is written--just that the kids have it.) With Pursuit of Happyness , Smith has come out of his safety zone and, in turn, ends up playing his most heroic role to date. -- Jae-Ha Kim
Norbit (Widescreen Edition) (2007) - DVD
Eddie Murphy stars and stars in this very broad and raucous comedy that finds the Oscar-nominated Dreamgirls actor revisiting the multiple-character shtick that worked so well for him in Coming to America and The Nutty Professor . The latter's makeup-effects artist, Rick Baker, once again transforms Murphy into a variety of grotesques and caricatures, including the hugely fat, monstrous Rasputia, the Asian Mr. Wong, and the timorous Norbit, a nervous orphan raised by Wong and married to Rasputia. The latter, a member of a construction family with a plan to turn Wong's orphanage into a strip club, is a relentlessly narcissistic shrew who puts the screws on Norbit at every turn, especially when he rediscovers his love for an old friend, Kate (Thandie Newton). Kate's wish to buy and maintain the orphanage herself is secretly compromised by her fiancé (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who is in cahoots with Rasputia's family and using Norbit to further their agenda.

Extraordinarily silly, frequently crude and mean-spirited to an extreme, Norbit is far more sour than The Nutty Professor . But there are moments of inspiration, especially a wedding interrupted by wannabe pimps who launch a profane gospel groove, and a dog that talks to Norbit while he is semi-conscious. For the most part, though, Norbit impresses as a technical marvel utilizing careful shot design and skillful editing. Murphy participates in several remarkable, three-character scenes in which he happens to be all three characters, and those moments move so briskly it's easy to forget one is looking at a comic stunt. --Tom Keogh
Sistas 'N the City (Animated) (2003) - DVD
My curiosity got the better of me, and I purchased this DVD. I'm so happy I did!!! This DVD is great. This is a colorized, flavorized, and animated version of another show I'm sure I don't have to name. The 4 Sista's are Tamika, Mercedes, Jordan and Athena. These ladies are doing their thing Chicago. Even though the segments are short, they pack punch, and you can relate. Tamika is the career driven sista dating a mamas boy. Mercedes feels the only thing a black man can do for her is show her where the white man are. Law Clerk Jordan feels men are from mars and women are stuck on earth. Athena is going to do what it takes to get her music career off the ground. Even if it means she does not recognize herself in the mirror.

The various topics range from; mammas boy, man issues, career issues, hair issues, family drama, and friendship. I had so much fun watching this DVD, I laughed during each episode. Despite all the problems these ladies go through, they are there for each other through the thick and thin.

DVD extras you will get a roundtable discussion with the creator Tina Andrews, and three of her friends. You get an interview with Tina Andrews, and another one with musician, and the voice behind Athena Medusa. Actress Dawnn Lewis is the voice behind Tamika.

You will find yourself humming Medusa's song long after you watch the DVD. "Don't hate me for being all that, Don't be mad because I'm running this. I'm one bad Sista."

I have to echo the sentiments of the previous reviewers. The segments are too short. You get barely 5 min for each episode. The short segments are the only reason I'm not giving this DVD a 5 rating. Even though this is animated, this DVD is NOT FOR CHILDREN. I hope they consider bringing out another DVD, I would most definitely purchase it. This is a DVD you should consider buying for yourself, and some for your sister friends and female members of your family. You won't be disappointed.
Cornbread, Earl & Me (1975) - DVD
He had all the right moves to put the ball away...until the cops put him away for good. UCLA All-American and NBA Rookie Of The Year Keith Wilkes and Academy AwardÂ(r)* and Golden Globe** nominee Laurence Fishburne III give spectacular debut performances in this "touching...sensitive and gripping movie" (Cue) that's "guaranteed to take your emotions for a reckless ride" (L.A. Herald-Examiner)! Step into the court with Cornbread, Earl And Me...you'll be glad you did. Wilkes is "Cornbread," a promising high school basketballer who has what it takes to shoot himself right out of the ghetto...until two cops mistake him for a rapist and gun him down in cold blood. But when the police attempt to cover up their mistake, strong-arming the community into silence with threats of jail time and violence, it's up to Cornbread's 11-year-old brother Wilford (Fishburne) and his pal Earl (Tierre Turner) to find the courage to speak the truth and clear Cornbread's name. *1993: Supporting Actor, What's Love Got to Do With It **1995: Actor, "The Tuskegee Airmen"
L I V E    C O N C E R T S

Wattstax (30th Anniversary Special Edition) (1972) - DVD
They called Wattstax the "black Woodstock," but there are many differences between that seminal hippie event and the 1972 concert documented in this 30th-anniversary special-edition reissue. Woodstock was all about peace, love, and music. Wattstax, held three years later in Los Angeles, had those elements as well; but as this 103-minute film reminds us, it was a more socio-politically charged event, with its emphasis on black pride and the simple opportunity for African Americans to assert that, in opening speaker Jesse Jackson's words, "I am somebody." There's also a good deal less music in this film than in the Woodstock movie. As the title suggests, a host of great Stax Records artists (including Rufus and Carla Thomas, the Bar-Kays, the Staple Singers, Albert King, and show closer Isaac Hayes) performed, but much of Wattstax doesn't even take place inside the L.A. Coliseum, where the concert was held, but rather in the churches and shops and on the streets of Watts itself (music fans would be better off checking out the Wattstax double CD). Wattstax , in fact, is much less a music movie than a chronicle of black life seven years after the Watts race riots, as well as what comedian Richard Pryor (who delivers several hilarious but scathing bits) calls "a soulful expression of the black experience." --Sam Graham

Product Description
On August 20, 1972, more than 100,000 people attended what came to be known as "The Black Woodstock." Wattstax - The Special Edition is the 30th anniversary release of the film that documented that historic event and includes the once-lost original ending featuring Isaac Hayes' performances of "Theme From Shaft" and "Soulsville."

Live at Wembley (1989) - LIVE - DVD
What a wonderful singer we've just lost. This video is priceless. His renditions of A House is Not a Home and Superstar on this concert DVD can only be outdone by the man himself. Not only is Luther's voice velvety smooth but I guarantee that no one can ad lib a song like he does. He could sing happy birthday and stretch it to last 30 minutes. There are great singers who can sing what's written on the page but they can't give you anything more than that (i.e. Whitney Houston). But it's all those little extras that Luther puts into a song that made it special. Ladies and gents, I kid you not, when he sings Superstar it is truly mesmorizing. You actually feel exhausted when he finishes the song because it's packed with so much emotion. But while he sings it all you can do is sit there like you've been hypnotized, hanging on every note, and waiting for and wanting of it more even though you know he's done with it. Luther has always prided himself on being a story teller. There's no talent required to write lyrics that ask us to get undressed and jump in the sack with someone. But a poet can find so many creative ways to express emotion and that's what holds your attention. It's the story of love being told. Not just songs about jumping on someone's bones. That's what brings out the feeling of love we have for one another. This is, today, a rare art. Whatever shall we do without Luther? There will never come another I'm afraid. No one can compare to him and that's the heartbreaking thing of it all. I hope he now sings in the midst of the angels.

...And now another has taken flight, to leave this world of hateful plight. And when I close my eyes to be kissed, I'll think of your music and how you'll be missed... Rest well!

There will never be another Luther. You should treat yourself to this DVD before they become too hard to find.

Casino Lights '99 (2001) - DVD
Casino Lights '99 is a live concert performance featuring renowned contemporary jazz musicians Bob James, George Duke, Rick Braun, Boney James, Kirk Whalum, Larry Carlton, Fourplay, Kenny Garrett, Kevin Mahogany, Mark Turner, and Gabriela Anders. Shot in 1999 at the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, Casino Lights '99 showcases each artist's mastery of the art form spanning genres form traditional to the contemporary repertoire.

A complete track listing for the Casino Lights '99 DVD includes:
Mind Games - Bob James Trio
Old Folks - Mark Turner
Wayne's Thang - Kenny Garrett Quartet
Cold Duck Time - Larry Carlton
Soweto - Kirk Whalum
Yesterday I Had The Blues - Kevin Mahogany
Always There - Rick Braun, Larry Carlton, Kenny Garrett, Boney James & Kirk Whalum
All Night Long - Boney James
Notorious - Rick Braun
Fire of Love - Gabriela Anders
Brazilian Love Affair - George Duke
Four - Fourplay
Westchester Lady - Fourplay, Rick Braun, Boney James & Kirk Whalum
Watermelon Man - Fourplay, Rick Braun, Boney James & Kirk Whalum

Tina Turner - One Last Time: Live in Concert (2001) - DVD
Shot at Wembley Stadium during Tina's "Twenty Four Seven Millennium Tour 2000," Tina Turner's usual powerful performance makes this, her final stadium tour, an event never to be forgotten. Blasting out hit after hit from her amazing four-decade career, Tina proves herself once again to be... simply the best. Though Tina will give her famous dancing shoes a rest, this title will still stand as a repeatable, collectable performance experience to her millions of fans. 120 minutes.
E X E R C I S E - W O R K O U T - D A N C E  F I T N E S S
Dance Fitness for Beginners with MaDonna Grimes: Urban Street Heat (2004) - DVD
Award-winning choreographer, MaDonna Grimes, is renowned for her innovative dance moves. She has a master's degree in dance performance and choreography, and has appeared in many fitness and fashion magazines.

Who knew getting a full-body, cardio workout could be so much fun! Urban Street Heat is more like a dance party than an aerobics class. You'll have a great time performing this program, which combines attitude, street style, and easy-to-follow dance steps. The Hip Hop freestyle routines, designed for women and men, are bursting with style and energy. You'll learn some fresh new moves that will really spice up your workout. MaDonna breaks down all the steps, and combines them into one dynamic routine that you can take to the clubs.
Dance Fitness for Beginners with MaDonna Grimes: African Beat - Latin Heat (2004) - DVD
Award-winning choreographer, MaDonna Grimes, is renowned for her innovative dance moves. She has a master's degree in dance performance and choreography, and has appeared in many fitness and fashion magazines.

Elevate your heart rate in this high-energy workout that moves and grooves. African Beat – Latin Heat is like having a dance party in your living room! MaDonna Grimes makes sure you never stop moving in this exciting Dance Fitness for Beginners program.

Challenge your muscles and your spirit when you turn up the heat with this full-body, cardio workout. MaDonna keeps you burning calories as you dance, move your arms, and swing your hips to a mix of Latin and African rhythms. Designed for women and men, this program combines Latin dance steps with hip, urban moves.

Program Features: - Dance moves you can take to the clubs - Fun routines challenge every muscle - Tones entire body - Shed unwanted pounds and burn fat

Donna Richardson: 3-Day Rotation 2000 (1999) - VHS
You get three different workouts in this video. Each is 20 exercise-packed minutes long, so if you're short on time, do just one of them. They all come complete with warm-up, workout, and cool-down, but are very different. "Circuit Toning" is a muscle-endurance workout using light weights while continuing to move quickly enough to keep your heart rate up for aerobic conditioning and calorie burning. Sometimes you're doing two moves at once--squats and triceps, for example; other times you concentrate on one muscle group. (You use only one set of weights, so your large muscles won't feel these as much as the small muscles.) Instructor Donna Richardson also includes some innovative standing lower-body exercises. "Kick and Jab" gives you a taste of the popular kickbox aerobics with high-energy rounds of kickboxing alternating with punching and kicking. It's helpful if you've already taken some box-aerobics classes, because Richardson moves quickly into complicated combinations. The "Dance Party" segment is a low-impact, funk-aerobics workout, with a Latin flair and plenty of dance moves, attitude, and what Richardson calls "flavor." Donna Richardson is an energetic, motivating instructor who cues well, moves well, looks great, and knows her stuff. --Joan Price
30 Days to Thinner Thighs (1998) - VHS
I'm Donna Richardson. You can have sleek, toned abs and arms in just 30 days! I've made it achievable by combining calorie-burning aerobics with some of my favorite exercises, especially effective for really targeting your arms and midsection. Together they'll boost metabolism, increase muscle tone and endurance - AND define your arms and abs! I enjoyed creating this new program: the aerobics are fun, and they're so easy to follow, you'll do them again and again. This, by the way, is the key to success. The upper body toning program I've designed includes specific exercises, not only for your arms, but for your shoulders, back, and chest. The concentrated ab work is unique because the exercises are performed in positions that help isolate your abdominal so you can really focus on your midsection. You'll finish with a full body stretch, yoga style. For best results in thirty days, use this tape three to four days a week. For all levels, three to eight pound dumbbells and a chair or other sturdy support are recommended.
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Mad Hot Ballroom (2005) - DVD - Dance
If the delightful spectacle of preteen kids dancing the foxtrot and the merengue isn't enough to lure you in, add the pressure of a dance competition and the triumph of troubled kids finding self-respect through discipline--if Mad Hot Ballroom were a Hollywood movie, it would be too corny for words. Instead, it's an engrossing documentary about a wildly successful after-school program in New York City. Mad Hot Ballroom follows a handful of kids in three different schools from the beginning of their dance classes to the night of the inter-school dance finals. Regrettably, the movie fails to pursue the dancers themselves; a few scenes provide glimpses of some smart, articulate kids with vivid personalities and compelling emotions, but the filmmakers make a minimal effort to draw the kids out or explore their lives outside of the classes. Watching the kids develop as dancers is still gripping and the final competition will have you on the edge of your seat, but it could have been all the more so. Though certainly worthy and genuinely heartwarming, you can't help but feel that Mad Hot Ballroom lost an opportunity for something truly dazzling. --Bret Fetzer

From The New Yorker
Marilyn Agrelo's documentary follows three competing groups of fifth graders as they learn the music and the steps of swing, the rumba, the tango, and other ballroom dances. A picture of New York kid culture (Dominican students from Washington Heights, upscale kids from Tribeca, Italians and Asians from Bensonhurst), the film focuses not only on the buoyant work of the contestants but also on their dedicated teachers. Agrelo's filmmaking provides telling glimpses of the students' home lives, and she avoids any cloying sentiment. What she captures is a moving, joyous childhood escapade. -Bruce Diones
Copyright © 2006 The New Yorker
Rize (2004) - DVD - Dance
Reveals a groundbreaking dance phenomenon that's exploding on the streets of South Central, Los Angeles. Taking advantage of unprecedented access, this documentary film bring to first light a revolutionary form of artistic expression borne from oppression. The aggressive and visually stunning dance modernizes moves indigenous to African tribal rituals and features mind-blowing, athletic movement sped up to impossible speeds. We meet Tommy Johnson (Tommy the Clown), who first created the style as a response to the 1992 Rodney King riots and named it Clowning, as well as the kids who developed the movement into what they now call Krumping. The kids use dance as an alternative to gangs and hustling: they form their own troupe and paint their faces like warriors, meeting to outperform rival gangs of dancers or just to hone their skills. For the dancers, Krumping becomes a way of life--and, because it's authentic expression (in complete opposition to the bling-bling hip-hop culture), the dance becomes a vital part of who they are.
You Got Served (Special Edition) (2004) - DVD - Dance
You Got Served has one simple priority, and if you're into the latest hip-hop dance moves, you'll get served an enjoyable 93-minute diversion. For anyone else, however, all bets are off, since this wretchedly plotted film was written by director Christopher B. Stokes as a crassly commercial vehicle for B2K, the teen group that Stokes managed while making cheap-ass movies like this one. There's a tissue-thin romantic subplot, but mostly it's about the MTV-styled showdown between B2K (as Orange County white boys) and their black L.A. competitors, including members of the hip-hop group IMx. Their aggressive moves are undeniably impressive (in other words, don't try this at home unless you know a good chiropractor), but Stokes would've been better off making a straight documentary, thus avoiding all the nonsense that You Got Served delivers between its abundance of choppily edited dance scenes. --Jeff Shannon
Stomp the Yard (Widescreen Edition) (2007) - DVD - Dance
At its core, Stomp the Yard is a romantic drama disguised as a dance film. Or is it the other way around? DJ (Columbus Short) is a troubled teen from Los Angeles who gets a chance for a better life when he is admitted into Atlanta's privileged Truth University. Just when he thought he had escaped a life of gangs, DJ finds himself in the middle of a "war" between two upper-crust fraternities where stepping (a popular dance form) is their weapon of choice. When DJ realizes the coed he falls for is the girlfriend of the school's champion stepper, he joins the rival fraternity to try to show her--and himself--that he's as good as anyone else there. Stomp the Yard is not an original film. Add some drums and you've got Drumline . Change some of the characters around and you've got Save the Last Dance . What sets the movie apart is the stepping. The precision involved at this level is impressively complicated and Short--a dancer and choreographer--is beautifully expressive both as an actor and a dancer. Sure the plot is predictable and hokey at times. But Short and Meagan Good (as his crush April) have wonderful chemistry together, and the supporting cast--including Harry J. Lennix as DJ's no-nonsense uncle--are delightful to watch. -- Jae-Ha Kim
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