Anybody see this movie?

The message was good, the but the acting and storyline (speaking parts) was terrible...some of the performances was actually laughable, even though it wasn't meant to be

missfee said:

I will say that more time should have been put into the movie. It seemed rushed.
As a black male, watching it was disgusting. Why is it whenever a movie like this is made, there is maybe 1 positive male image? Her father was a part of her life from day one put of course he was yelling every scene. Meanwhile the black women are depicted as complete angelic victims who NEVER raise their voices nor do any wrong to men? I know I maybe getting myself into hot water here. BUT in the real world women do yell and argue.
The message is overall for young black females wonderful. Don't give up and you can make something happen for yourself. The acting though

I wanted 2 watch it, but didn't. That may have been a good choice .

DecaturStone said:

I didn't see the movie, but I totally understand what you saying.

Entertainment Weekly ripped the movie apart. Although it sounds SOOO bad that I may end up watching it for a laugh...

I actually loved the movie. My favorite part was when they showed a snippet from the real footage of American Idol when she sang "Summertime" a true classic song that she sang very well.

silverandgold said:

I mean respect her courage ALOT actually

I saw it lastnight and as a male, I must say that it was good movie. I really enjoyed it. She has been through alot and she seems to have risen from it and continues to do so. To the brother that asked if women yell and argue as much as men....I would say yes, but they also listen a lot better than we do. Fantasia's dad, loved her as well as his family. He was just frustrated. Frustrated about the way his family was living, frustrated that his wife was leaving him out of things....As a blackman, I can understand. In his own way, his yelling seemed to motivate her even more.

shorttrini said:

that's a good insight on it, I just wondered where her father was when her boyfriend had beat up on her....

missfee said:

That's a good question. I don't know how he really handled it. I know that if it were my daughter, there would be very little talking. Her father seems like he wanted to show his love, but either he did not know how to or the women around him, were just to proud to let him show it. They seemed to be a little bitter themselves about the men in their lives. Thank god, Fantasia, is begining to break that cycle of bitterness. That is something that will kill anybody.

Again I am proud of Fantasia for overcoming everything she did. Cause she was at the bottom and rose above. My only complaint is that I am supposed to believe her mother NEVER argued back? Kinda hard to digust, not being funny. Yes there are abusive (verbal is terrible as a fist) men out there. I would just like to see more balance in the way we are portrayed. Of course the Fantasia movie is not going solve all the worlds image problems.

She gives alot of hope to a lot of people. I have her CD and she is great as far I'm concerned. I think she can be another great soul woman. Given time to mature and grow. I look forward to seeing her growth in the future.

I watched a little bit....If Fantasia were more popular something tells me she would have that famous headline of "No, she can't act" hanging over her head. Good message, though and she strikes me as a very cool person (and I do like her as a singer, too).

DecaturStone said:

Isn't that LIFTIME's normal m.o.?


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

missfee said:

what did you think of the part where she puked on the table? I thought it was both gross and funny. Yeah the movie was a bit low budget but definitely entertaining. I'm happy it was a tv movie and not a Hollywood film that they would put in the theatres and they should probably do the same for Missy Elliott's movie whenever it comes out.
[Edited 8/21/06 12:25pm]

theAudience said:

That is correct

theAudience said:

That's actually a very fair point. I know I used to watch all those movies w/ "women rising above the odds" concepts and they did have a tendency to dwell of relationship dynamics where the males were indifferent, absent, or downright abusive. It was great tv for those moments of female pre-menstral psychosis when you hated the world and wanted to lose yourself in a bucket of chocolate ice cream

Ottensen said:

Actually, this is a dynamic seen not only on Lifetime but also in many church/gospel-type movie productions. "Rising above the odds" often is equated with "surviving men's abuse" in a lot of productions.

I'm glad other people lament that tired device. I'm not knocking women's real experiences. I just think balance is needed, in entertainment and real life.

All that said, I thought the movie was quite good in parts.

I got chills during the singing parts. That Fantasia can SANG....

ThreadBare said:

Let me asked a question. What is so bad about a movie or show that shows the character, "raising above the odds", as you all call it? I don't know about you but where I come from, there is always some adversity in the black family structure. There is always one parent who is so frustated that they are miss the entire concept of what good family structure is....As a child, you think it is normal. The movie showed this. It had the mother trying hard to keep the family focused while trying to not lose focus herself....It had a father who tried to teach them the other side of the coin. That, while it is okay to dream, hard work must be done in order to accomplish that dream. He was not the "Joe Jackson", type of dad. Yes, he was strict, but he was also very loving. I see a lot of her father in Fantasia. She gets his drive and determination. While having her mom's ability to dream. Lifetime, might not have the greatest movies, but some of them do show that you can overcome and reach your dreams.

shorttrini said:

I cannot speak for Threadbare (!), but I was adressing the Lifetime's programming demographic pointed out in The Audience's post before mine. And I was noting that a lot of the movies they've had generally show women in difficult situations without much support from the male influences surrounding them. Nothing more, nothing less.

I would love to see Fantasia's biopic though. Although I can't say that I relate to the concept that there is always adversity in the black family structure, I grew up in a two parent black family and CAN say I am very grateful for the example of love, hope, AND discipline I received from both my mom and dad...it definitely carries you through the worst of times...

DecaturStone said:

You guys are asking for balance on a Lifetime movie. This channel is all about the victimation of women. I can't stand Lifetime.

When my mother-in-law had breast cancer, she lived with us for several months. Lifetime was on 24/7, and I got a nauseating dose of these "films". All the Lifetime movies depict men as horrible abusers (with, maybe, one nice guy in the bunch, but he's completely ineffectual), and women as victims. Sure, the woman eventually decide they've had enough and fight back, but only after much melodrama has ensued. These movies are so formulaic, it's amazing. Hell, the vast majority of them feature either Vallerie Bertinelli or Tori Spelling.

Lifetime: Television for Women....Who Hate Men.

shorttrini said:

I absolutely see your point. What I rarely see in TV -- or even in the social message getting passed along in church -- is balance. Here's an example:

A few months ago, the junior liturgical dance team at my church performed a moving routine to Yolanda Adams' "This, Too, Shall Pass." Here's how the prologue, spoken by a girl about 13 or so, went (and was greeted by "amen" and applause):

"For every mother whose son is addicted to drugs, for every teenaged girl whose heart has been broken by some boy, for every daughter who can't tell her mom what her father has been doing to her" ... (and a fourth, general condition that was gender-neutral) ... "this, too, shall pass."

A lot of Lifetime programming has seemed, to me, to have that same lack of balance to stir up interest in its predominantly female audience.

The Fantasia movie had one character, the tall deliveryman who gave her flowers at the end, who seemed to be an OK guy. So, was her brother, for the most part. But, I was struck by Loretta Devine's grandmother/minister character constantly saying something negative about men.

Again, I've no problem with people staying true to their stories. I *do* have a problem with men constantly being scapegoated. Human nature, as a rule, is corrupt and self-seeking. Certain cultures (including some church cultures) make demonizing men an undeclared passtime. And, that hinders a real analysis of causes and solutions of family and social division, IMO.

Rhondab said:

I must say, a women that doesnt like Lifetime is sexy. Sorry i have nothing to add I was trying to watch the end of the Tigers game when the movie was on.

ThreadBare said:

well its a part of the psychosis.

Men are blamed because the woman are still hurting and bitter. No healing.

But if this is her story, then this is her reality.

Rhondab said:

, lady.

Exactly. If I get one more e-mail forward about how the black Christian man needs to show up perfect in order to save the race and be worthy of a good, peaceful, loving home...

ThreadBare said:

Well men aren't without their responsiblity as well but women need to take responsiblity for their own healing and move on. And we need to stop sending out those emails like you stated because they really just go from woman to woman and just keep the mess going.

Heal thyself. Victimization is a stage. You're not suppose to stop there.

Rhondab said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Indeed, indeed!

I saw the commercial for this, and couldn't believe she was doing an autobiographical Lifetime movie about herself. That's just tacky all the way across the board.

Tom said:

That was my first thought, too.

Then, I watched it.

It's not self-reverential or an ego trip. She doesn't come off rosy.

She just comes off determined. And, I can't think of the last time there was a biopic about someone like Fantasia, so it might be an inspiring vehicle for someone who looks up to her or identifies with her.

I hope so.