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This was a hilarious movie of revenge and consequences. One thing we know for a fact is that there are a lot of women who have been cheated on, and there are a lot of women who have unknowingly been the other woman. As women, we're told not to blame the other woman for the affair, but instead the blame should be placed on the married man, because, after all, he knew what he was doing the entire time. "The Other Woman" is a lot of women's fantasy on film; a depiction of women getting together to get back at the cheating, lying man in their lives, who brought them heartache due to his selfishness and deceit. "The Other Woman" is cleverly written, has a lot of relatable humor and shows that out of the heartbreak that comes from cheating, not only can their be vindication, but a friendship can develop between women due to that unfortunate, yet common bond. Cameron Diaz was the funniest I think she's been since "There's Something About Mary" and "The Other Woman" if worth going to see if you want to laugh out loud. This is the best 'wife revenge' movie since the "First Wives Club". So if you liked "The First Wives Club", you will love "The Other Woman"!

I attended a screening of the film a week prior to it opening in theaters. Will Packer, Kevin Hart and Regina Hall came to the theater to get viewers reactions that evening. "About Last Night" is the funniest, most realistic romantic comedy I've seen. However, be mindful of having a mouth full of beverage or food because Kevin Hart is hilarious in this movie and Regina Hall compliments him very well with her comedic acting. Both actors coming off of the heels of other recent successful movies ("Best Man Holiday" for Hall and "Ride Along" for Hart) may make you assume that they gave their best performances already. But in my opinion, this was some of the best work I've seen from both actors. Michael Ealy is incredibly good to look at and a good actor as well, with a current TV show receiving good reviews and it's nice to see Joy Bryant on the big screen once again. Whether you're a couple or a single person, you will relate to these characters personally or know of someone in your life they remind you of. It doesn't matter what race you are either. Relationships and the emotions and issues that come with them are universal. I encourage you to see this movie and not just for Valentine's Day, but on any day.

The intensity of this story had me awestruck throughout the film, to the degree that I was unable to show any emotion as I watched a depiction of slavery that showed how those who had gained freedom or were born free were systematically and strategically kidnapped and forced back into it. This film showed a different side of injustice. Not only was I amazed at how black people were treated in that era under such circumstances, I was amazed and hurt at how black people treated each other. When some may have considered Solomon Northrop to be weak, he was truly courageous. He kept his mind more positive than a lot of people could under those circumstances. Although he did work as a slave, there was always a glimmer of the determination of a free man within him, destined to escape the life he was forced into. Northrop was always seeking an opportunity to gain assistance from those willing to listen and was cunning enough to adapt and protect himself when betrayed by those he trusted. This film was well written, well acted, thought provoking and historically relevant. Steve McQueen and Brad Pitt took a chance with this film and in my opinion it paid off well. If you're offended by the use of the n-word (ala Spike Lee), then you may want to stay home or see something else. Without the use of the word, it would be historically inaccurate. The film doesn't just show us injustices of our past, but they bring a perspective to the present and hope for the future. I would recommend this movie to be included in African American History classes in schools across the country. Doing so may show young black people that we have a history of being determined and that many people have lived worse than we could ever imagine in our modern times. If you didn't leave the theater touched or enlightened to treat each other better and at the same time honor those who came before us by appreciating the opportunities afforded to us, you should watch it again until you do. *Side note: the audience at the theater where I saw this film was predominantly white Americans, all of whom were in tears midway through the film. This film is for all Americans. When we know better, we can do better*

Although predictable for me, because this so resembles aspects of my personal dating life, it was fun to watch a romantic comedy with an ensemble cast. I know personally I could relate a great deal to the storyline and I'm sure many other women, and some men, can as well. Many of us have had similar experiences in life; always seeking to make others proud of us based on their criteria of how we should live, not being fulfilled in our lives because we feel we need a spouse to be happy, overlooking the person who has been there for us through thick and thin, sending ourselves on searches for the "right" one for us because we believe they must exist, even going backwards to try again with those who didn't deserve us the first time. It happens. All of it. And it all happens in Baggage Claim. In the end, being able to make a decision for your own life and waking up to the love in front of you is the moral of the story. Whether you like the movie or not, or like Paula Patton or not, sometimes movies are made to make us think, not just for us to criticize. David E. Talbert was making several points in Baggage Claim, all of which someone, somewhere can benefit from and leave the theater with a smile, knowing they are not alone in their dating dilemmas.

I attended a screening of "The Family" a week before it opened in theaters. From the very first scene I was blown away. I was expecting a dark comedy, but I was pleasantly surprised that "The Family" was full of action and vendetta. Michelle Pfeiffer was outstanding as the clever mother who didn't take too kindly to people talking behind her back or stealing from her. Robert DeNiro was stellar as the father trying to do what he needs to do to protect his family but in need of an outlet of his own to maintain his sense of purpose and self. Then there are the children. Clever, meticulous, observant children. High school isn't a picnic by any means but they handled themselves well. Tommy Lee Jones co-starred as the family's handler and he sure can drive a car. There are twists, turns, shoot outs, explosions, fights, strategic use of a tennis racket and homage paid to "Goodfellas". I really enjoyed "The Family" and I will see it again.

I went into Riddick with a completely open mind. Knowing that it has been nine years since this character was seen in a movie, I was first thankful that Vin Diesel (love, love, love him) was the person to reprise the role that introduced him to movie goers. I was also thankful it was a continuation of the story of Riddick and not a reboot/remake of one of the previous stories or even a prequel. Seeing Riddick go back to his "savage" ways was an action packed experience and even coarse in some scenes. Even in moments when the special effects and creatures (c'mon now, isn't that what we loved most about "Pitch Black"? Of course it needed to be done again after nine years) were what I considered to be a little overabundant, it was still fun. There were a few lines that the female character said that would've been more clever if said differently. But oh, well. Basically Riddick is a futuristic Man VS. Wild on a planet that is not Furya. Which to me is somewhat of an intentional pun. I'd give Riddick a nine, but I'm taking one point off for an overabundance of creatures and the unrealistic physics in one scene that made someone question the possibility of that situation actually ever being humanly possible. But it was still fun. Especially the brief glimpse of Vin Diesel's chiseled body in the nude. In fact, consider it a nine; I'm adding a point for that.

I rated this 9 out of 10 only because I know that every comedian can't make every person laugh because everyone has a different sense of humor and relates to different experiences. On my personal scale this movie was a 10. Kevin Hart booked two sold out shows at Madison Square Garden, which became the backdrop for the performance used in Let Me Explain. Kevin Hart is short and silly, but comes from a very relatable place if you're a parent, spouse, ex-spouse, man or woman. What he lacks in his height, he makes up for with her personality. His audience is diverse and the documentary portion of the film takes the time to show us that as well by highlighting some of his recent travels and sold out shows. Let Me Explain is Kevin Hart's response to some of the rumors that have been in blogs about him, his relationship with his father, his life and his divorce. You can't help but admire how transparently Hart discusses his experiences on stage. Like many great comedian's before him, Hart has discussions with his audience versus telling jokes. At one point, I found myself holding my hand over my mouth and tears were flowing from my eyes because I was laughing so hard. In fact, Hart made himself laugh during his performance. Hart has incredible comedic timing, but if you're laughing, which you will, you might miss something. So you may need to see it twice to catch what you missed the first time. I highly recommend this movie.

Once again Disney, Bruckheimer and Depp make for an excellent movie experience. When you watch a television show in black and white growing up, you don't always know what to expect as an adult to see it as a feature length film. I enjoyed this movie tremendously. The storytelling and writing was excellent. The fact that Lone Ranger isn't a "Disney character" meant that I had no other reference but the television show to go on. This is one you have to pay attention to. Don't get up in the middle to get a refill on your popcorn because you may very well miss part of the story. Depp plays an older tormented Tonto sharing his experiences meeting the Lone Ranger with a young boy who attends the local carnival. And so the story begins. The element of greed in American history and what it can influence people to do is closely examined throughout the film. Therefore you get entertainment and a lesson and it's cleverly written so that even young adults will get it. No need to explain how dad and granddad use to watch it in black and white back in the day. This is one of the better "reboots" of the summer.

In the tradition of movies that require the hero to save the President of the United States (and there have been many) White House Down is one movie that is top notch. Channing Tatum makes up for dying in the first five minutes of GI Joe by showing the audience that he has the ability to go through an entire action film without getting killed and while standing next to the very talented Jamie Foxx. Jamie Foxx is excellent as the 47th POTUS and his comedic timing helps him in this role. Foxx allows us to see POTUS as a relatable human being who has to make difficult decisions that citizens often have no knowledge of and that those around him disagree with. While Tatum is the dad/secret service agent with difficulties that make a bad day worse. From explosions to donuts on the White House lawn, the movie goes from good to better and finally ends on a high note for all of the heroes involved. If you like your action movies to be thought provoking with some government conspiracy and backstabbing thrown in, White House Down is a great choice. I highly recommend this movie and would gladly see it again.

I saw an advance screening of Man of Steel. I honestly wasn't extremely excited about this movie because I've been a fan of Superman my entire life and I've seen every rendition of his beginnings. And I was right not to be excited. Spoiler alert: If you are at least 35 years old, you've seen this movie before. It was called "Superman" and it starred Christopher Reeves and was released in 1978. Then you saw this movie again. It was called "Superman II" and it also starred Christopher Reeves and was released in 1980. You've also seen it on "Smallville" if you were a fan of that show. The difference with this film is the names in the credits are more star studded and Christopher Nolan has incorporated his dark imagination into how it looks. Much like Nolan did with the Batman franchise, he has made everything dark and dreary, which doesn't really help when it is viewed in 3D. Many of the scenes are also full of oddly shaped depictions of what Kryptonians would fly in, or on, which I assume Nolan incorporated because we wouldn't expect them or notice them. For example, the phallus shaped mechanisms used to transport Zod and his cohorts into the Phantom Zone looked a lot like what I keep in my bedroom nightstand for lonely nights. But I digress. On the upside, the action sequences were cool and full of CGI which was completely expected. Nolan and Snyder do action well. This was also a more violent depiction of the origin story with some unusual twists from the Superman myth we have grown to love. Obviously Nolan and Goyer were impatient and wanted Lois and Clark to meet and fall in love at first sight, with Lois having the full knowledge of who Clark was before he became her coworker at the Daily Planet. In Nolan's world, Lois will be playing dumb the entire time she works with Clark at the Daily Planet and Clark isn't trying to keep his identity a secret from her. That kind of takes some of the romanticism away from the original story we have grown to love. Not to mention, what was the hurry? Since it has already been said that Nolan will not be on board for the highly anticipated and long overdue "Justice League" movie expected to be released some time in my lifetime I hope, I couldn't help but wonder what was the entire point in redoing this particular story again. A classic is a classic for a reason. With so many other adventures Superman experienced battling other villains, Nolan and Goyer could have written something other than Superman versus Zod version 2013. I don't understand why DC chose to green light this film. I truly believe DC is grasping desperately for a huge box office hit so that they can feel better standing next to their rival, Marvel Comics, who has been whipping out movies like magicians pulling scarves out of their hats ever since they partnered with Disney. DC choosing to rewrite and reintroduce the same three DC Universe characters (Superman, Batman and Green Lantern) twice each (not counting the animated versions) in the last 35 years is just becoming redundant. The next Superman movie should be based on a different part of the series if DC wants a box office hit. True Superman fans know his origin, regardless of their age. Since Nolan and Goyer weren't even true to some of those details 100% (the age Clark first starting feeling his abilities was 13 but Nolan made him younger and Jonathan Kent died in a tornado in the film instead of from a heart attack), why not create something fresh instead of something recycled? I wouldn't see this movie in theaters if I had to pay for it. I definitely wouldn't pay the extra dollars to watch it in 3D. Man of Steel can definitely wait for Netflix. By the way, if you don't like my review because I didn't fall for the very clever marketing of Man of Steel which makes you believe it's going to be an awesome experience, don't message me debating with me about it. I'm entitled to my opinion and if you don't like my review, write your own review. I will not retract anything I've said to make an overly sensitive fan-boy feel better.

Quentin Tarantino brings forth a hero that you can't help but root for in Django Unchained. This film is full of dark humor, which is a staple in any Tarantino film. I was extremely proud of Jamie Foxx's portrayal of the lead character. Django is a man with a purpose. He has something to live for and something he's even willing to die for if necessary. That is what a hero is about. Rounding out a tremendously talented cast are also Kerry Washington, who portrays a damsel in distress, if you will, which is very different from other characters that we have seen her portray. An obvious favorite of Tarantino's, Samuel L. Jackson is cast to play a very controversial character and Leonardo DiCaprio is the necessary evil to Django's hero. If you're a fan of Quentin Tarantino, you will love the cleverly, well written ideologue, action and thought provoking imagery in Django that has become expected of a Tarantino movie. No one makes death on film as poetic as Tarantino does.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I stood in line for the advance screening of Fast and Furious 6 four days before it opened in theaters to the public. All I knew was that I was a fan of the franchise thus far and had high expectations. I am so pleased to say that the movie exceeded any of my existing expectations and did some things I didn't expect at all. Fight scenes, great stunt work, fast cars, high powered weapons, gorgeous men (and for the men, beautiful women). I suggest that you make sure that you have your drink, snacks and whatever else you need to enjoy the movie prior to it starting, because if you leave your seat, you will miss something. There is a thrill ride every minute in Fast and Furious 6. Action fans unite and go see this movie. Don't leave just because the end credits start rolling either.

I don't know about you, but there's also someone like one of these characters in my own family. I attended a special screening of Peeples before it was released in theaters. It is one of the funniest movies I think I have ever seen. But it wasn't funny in a slack stick way. It was clever and intelligent humor. The movie was so funny in fact, that I know that I may have missed something funny because I was still laughing at the last funny line said by one of the characters. I spoke briefly with others who attended the same screening and they were already planning when they would see it again and who they would take to see it with them. David Alan Grier was in rare form showing different degrees of a character that some wouldn't expect him to play. It was very pleasant to see Craig Robinson graduate from playing the "sidekick" to playing a leading role opposite actors who are as talented as the remainder of this all star cast.

I hadn't even read Steve Harvey's book, but knew from listening to him on radio that I already agreed with 99% of his views about relationships and "the games" men play if women allow them to. Going into the theater I knew some of it would be predictable as a result. This movie was a nice, shortened version of the book and hits the necessary points in a funny and entertaining way that will open the eyes of both women and men to how we perceive each other in relationships. Almost every type of dating scenario was represented, therefore regardless of age or race, movie goers have something to relate to. If movie goers go in with an open mind they may learn something about themselves or their potential mate. Kevin Hart was in rare form comically and there were heartfelt and realistic performances by the entire cast that I can definitely relate to or know someone (man or woman) who can. I recommend this movie for a first date, so you can find out what you're getting into early. *smile*