BLACK PANTHER EARNS $1 BILLION WORLDWIDE (“YOU ARE A KING”)

“BLACK PANTHER” EARNS $1 BILLION WORLDWIDE:

I’VE SEEN IT IN THEATERS & IT’S AN AMAZING FILM.

WILL THERE BE A SEQUEL??

“YOU ARE A KING”.

“YOU ARE A GOOD MAN”.

“IT IS HARD FOR A GOOD MAN TO BE KING”.


Sources: Marvel Comics, Disney Studios, Entertainment Weekly, Youtube


**** Black Panther claws past $1 billion at worldwide box office


Black Panther has reached a milestone only four other Marvel Studios titles have achieved so far. The film, starring Chadwick Boseman as newly crowned King T’Challa, has joined the $1 billion club at the global box office — all in just 26 days in theaters.

The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Iron Man 3, and Captain America: Civil War are the other films within the Marvel Cinematic Universe to unlock this achievement. Black Panther is now the 33rd film, the 16th Walt Disney film, and the fifth Marvel Studios film to gross $1 billion.

By Saturday morning, the film grossed $521 million domestically and is expected to surpass Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight ($535 million) as the second highest-grossing superhero film of all time in the U.S. by the end of the weekend.

Internationally, Black Panther will cross $500 million this weekend, after it hit Chinese theaters on March 9 with an estimated opening of $22 million.

With all this success, the story of T’Challa, the Dora Milaje, and the highly advanced nation of Wakanda seems destined for a sequel. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige told EW there’s “nothing specific to reveal” at this time, “other than to say we absolutely will do that.”

“One of the favorite pastimes at Marvel Studios is sitting around on a Part One and talking and dreaming about what we would do in a Part Two,” he continued. “There have been plenty of those conversations as we were putting together the first Black Panther. We have ideas and a pretty solid direction on where we want to head with the second one.”

Directed by Ryan Coogler, Black Panther saw T’Challa assuming the Wakandan throne as Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) emerged from the shadows to challenge him. The film has become a cultural phenomenon, boosted by a cast that includes Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman, Angela Bassett, Letitia Wright, Daniel Kaluuya, Forest Whitaker, and Winston Duke.

“As Panther has so loudly declared, [representation] can only help you, can only help you tell unique stories, can only help you do things in a new, and unique, and fresh, and exciting way,” Feige said. “If you do that, audiences will notice it, and appreciate it, and support it.”

MUHAMMAD ALI vs FOREMAN (ACTUAL FIGHT FOOTAGE vs THE WILL SMITH FILM)

MUHAMMAD ALI vs GEORGE FOREMAN (ACTUAL FIGHT FOOTAGE):

ALI WAS INDEED THE GREATEST BOXER TO EVER LIVE.

January 17, 1942 - June 3, 2016

Rest In Peace My Brother.

Sources: Youtube, NY Times

NINA SIMONE'S DAUGHTER FEELS BAD FOR ZOE SALDANA, DOESN'T ENDORSE BIOPIC OF HER MOTHER

NINA SIMONE'S DAUGHTER FEELS BAD FOR ZOE SALDANA, BUT DOES NOT ENDORSE BIOPIC:

LISA SIMONE KELLY CARES ABOUT INTEGRITY & TRUTH NOT JUST MONEY.

Sources: TIME, YouTube

**** Nina Simone’s Daughter Is ‘Not Upset’ at Zoe Saldana Over Biopic Role

"I really didn’t feel much of anything except for poor Zoe"

Remarks by Lisa Simone Kelly

Actress Zoe Saldana doesn’t deserve the sharp backlash she has received for her portrayal of legendary singer Nina Simone, the daughter of the late jazz great said Thursday.

Lisa Simone Kelly, the singer’s only child, told TIME she was unaware that the verified Twitter account representing her mother’s estate had slammed the actress after she tweeted a quote attributed to Simone. “Please take Nina’s name out your mouth. For the rest of your life,” the tweet directed to Saldana said.

It’s unclear who runs the late singer’s Twitter account. 

Her family said they had hired family friend Aaron Overfield to manage the official website and Facebook page years ago. Overfield did not return requests for comment.

The star — who dons dark makeup to play the late jazz and blues singer in the upcoming biopic, Nina — has come under fire since being cast for the role over a black actress with darker skin that would more closely resemble Simone’s. 

But most of the criticism is misdirected, Simone’s daughter told TIME in a rare interview Thursday. “It’s unfortunate that Zoe Saldana is being attacked so viciously when she is someone who is part of a larger picture,” said Simone Kelly, 53, who is also an actress and singer.

 “It’s clear she brought her best to this project, but unfortunately she’s being attacked when she’s not responsible for any of the writing or the lies.”

Outrage over the casting and storyline should be steered towards the film’s director, Cynthia Mort, Simone Kelly said. 

The daughter has disavowed the movie for at least a decade and said the family was not consulted during its production. 

Nina focuses on Simone’s personal relationship with her manager Clifton Henderson, played by David Oyelowo. 

The cinematic version of the story falsely depicts the iconic singer, her family said. It’s about the “the name you know” but “the story you don’t,” according to the biopic’s trailer, which was released Wednesday.

“The movie is about a relationship between my mother and Clifton which never took place. They never had an amorous relationship,” Simone Kelly said, adding that Henderson was a gay man. 

“The project has been tainted from the very beginning. Clearly, it is not the truth about my mother’s life and everyone now knows that. This is not how you want your loved ones remembered.”

Watching the trailer didn’t stir much emotion for Simone Kelly, who has been vocal against its production since 2006. “I really didn’t feel much of anything except for poor Zoe,” she said. Simone Kelly’s husband, Rob Kelly, said it was difficult to watch the clip, which begins with a scene in which Saldana is strapped to a hospital bed after fighting doctors. 

“Everything from the first scene when she’s strapped to a gurney is a lie,” Kelly, 49, said. “We’re both very passionate about her legacy being told the right way. What she actually accomplished is not common, and most people don’t know that.”

RLJ Entertainment, which is the distributor for Nina, didn’t comment on the storyline but defended Saldana in a statement to TIME on Thursday. “Zoe Saldana delivers an exceptional and mesmerizing tribute to Nina Simone. 

She gave her heart and soul to the role and displayed her extraordinary talent,” said Robert Johnson, the company’s founder and CEO. “The most important thing is that creativity or quality of performance should never be judged on the basis of color, or ethnicity, or physical likeness.”

While the family is “not upset with Zoe,” Simone Kelly said she didn’t think the actress was the “proper choice, appearance-wise.” “There are many superb actresses of color who could more adequately represent my mother and could bring her to the screen with the proper script, the proper team and a sense of wanting to bring the truth of my mother’s journey to the masses,” she said. “And Nina, in my opinion, doesn’t do any of that.”

Nina Simone died in her home in France in 2003 at the age of 70 after devoting a lifetime to being a civil rights activist. 

Her daughter said she’s more at peace with the controversial film after the release of the authorized documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone?

 The film, directed by Liz Garbus, received a 2016 Oscar nomination and accurately depicts the life of the prominent recording artist, according to the family.

“I’m no longer bothered by it because the truth is already out there,” said Simone Kelly, who is releasing her second musical album in France next week. “I don’t have to justify, define or educate anybody about my mother anymore. It’s a wonderful feeling. I’m free in a way that I have never been before.”

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated RLJ Entertainment’s relationship to Nina. It is the film’s distributor.

Gone With The Wind & The 2016 Election (Raise The Wage!)

‪#‎RaiseTheWage‬

"GONE WITH THE WIND" & THE 2016 ELECTION:

SLAVERY & LOW WAGES IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT & LOW WAGES = SLAVERY.

DEMOCRATS MUST ELIMINATE THIS CONTRIBUTION TO POVERTY.

On a late Friday night I chose to watch "Gone With The Wind" on television.

I'm a BLACK Woman, whose native home is Brooklyn, NY however I currently reside in the deep South and I'm watching a film which celebrates SLAVERY.

The BLACK Actors in "Gone With The Wind" were often highly Criticized for appearing in this film.

But when those BLACK Actors were questioned as to why they chose to appear in "Gone With The Wind", they quickly responded:
"I would rather play a Maid and earn $700.00 a week, instead of working as a Maid and only earn $7.00 a week."

***FYI: I'm referring to 1930's Wages.

Many 21st century GOP Supporters still long for those days when the CONFEDERACY ruled not only the South, but also the Federal Government.

You see this explains why many WHITE, Southern Republican lawmakers still see absolutely NOTHING wrong with passing Legislation to continue AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT in Southern states.

Longing for those days when the CONFEDERACY ruled the South and Federal Government also explains why many WHITE, Southern Republican lawmakers still see absolutely NOTHING wrong with passing Legislation to continue Paying Workers in those regions extremely LOW WAGES.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT and LOW WAGES = SLAVERY.

AT -WILL EMPLOYMENT gives Employers in Southern states the LEGAL Authority to Terminate Employees at will without Cause.

LOW WAGES gives Employers in Southern states the LEGAL Authority to Force Employees to work like a dog for Pennies.

Of course the Majority of the Workers in Southern states employed as AT-WILL EMPLOYEES are BLACK and LATINO citizens.
Of course the Majority of the Workers in Southern states earning LOW WAGES are BLACK and LATINO citizens.

The "Good Ole' South" is what many WHITE, Southern Republican lawmakers & Republican Voters aim for when they pass Legislation or go to the Polls on Election day.

The 2016 U.S. Presidential Election is fast approaching us.

I suggest DEMOCRATS put on their climbing gear and be steadfastly Determined to eliminate all or most Barriers to pulling People up out of POVERTY in the United States.

Let's start with combating Legislation which allows AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT and LOW WAGES.

#RaiseTheWage

It's Time To RAISE THE WAGE in the United States!

It's Time For INCOME EQUALITY in the United States!

Sources: Warner Bros; Youtube

JUANITA MOORE, Star Of Classic Film "Imitation Of Life" Is Dead At 99.....R.I.P.

#JuanitaMoore

BLACK Actress JUANITA MOORE, Star of the classic film "Imitation of Life" died January 1, 2014 at the age of 99.

October 19, 1922 - January 1, 2014

R.I.P.

"JUANITA MOORE'S MINI-BIO"

African American actress Juanita Moore entered films in the early 1950s, a time in which few black people were given an opportunity to act in major studio films.

Fortunately Moore's roles began improving as Hollywood developed a social consciousness toward the end of the decade.

In 1959 she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Imitation of Life (1959), a glossy updating of a once controversial Fannie Hurst novel about racism. Within the next decade Hollywood underwent several sociological upheavals, and Juanita was one of the beneficiaries.

She became a fixture in black-oriented films of the 1960s and 1970s, appearing in such films as Uptight (1968), Thomasine & Bushrod (1974) and Abby (1974).

She also appeared in Walt Disney Pictures' The Kid (2000), and has been in a total of more than 30 films.

Sources: imdb, Youtube