NOTORIOUS

Plot:

It was all a dream for Christopher "Biggie" Wallace as he was taken from the mean streets of Brooklyn to super stardom as one of the greatest lyricist to rap on the mic. Notorious chronicles the life of a young Christopher (Wallace) to the thugged out rapper that soon became the Notorious B.I.G. (Woolard). Finding out that the only way to stay out of jail and still make the type of money legally that he needs to take care of his family he hooks up with an ambitious producer Sean "Puffy" Combs (Luke), who together they take the rap music game by storm. His encounters with the various women in his life, mother Voletta (Bassett), Lil Kim (Naughton) and his wife Faith Evans (Smith). It also touches on the beef he had with Tupac (Mackie) that riled the East coast/West coast feud that led to the untimely deaths of both rappers.

Reel Talk:

I didn't really know what to expect going to the screening for this movie because I had question marks about the casting. But after seeing the movie some of the characters that I questioned sold me with their performances. Like Woolard portraying Biggie, he is obviously more attractive than the real Big, but his charming depiction wins you over and Luke as Puffy was a hugh question mark, but seeing his mannerism and dancing, he had Puff's swagger down packed. Naturi Naughton as Lil Kim was hot and Antonique Smith has a strong resemblance to the real Faith Evans. The ones that didn't make the cut were Angela Bassett as Big's mother (she was too Hollywood for this movie), Marc John Jeffries as Lil Cease and Anthony Mackie as Tupac, they could have gotten someone a little grittier. But overall the film is really entertaining, especially if your a Biggie fan or hip hop enthusiasts. Having the opportunity to see him perform live on several occasions, this film brought back a lot of memories. One of the key factors in this film is the soundtrack that is banging through out the movie. Its also good seeing Christopher Jordan Wallace portraying his dad as a young Biggie, this should have been a great honor for him.

Starring: Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Anthony Mackie, Naturi Naughton, Marc John Jefferies and Antonique Smith
Directed by:George Tillman Jr.
Rated: R

I give it 3 and a half eaten corn dogs

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler

PAUL BLART:MALL COP

Plot:

Paul Blart (James) is an overweight lonely single parent who pacifies his pity by over indulging with food. The only thing that matters to him is his daughter and his job as a mall security guard, which he's not even good at that but it's all he has that gives him a strong sense of authority. While breaking in rookie guard Veck (O'Donnell), Paul has a chance encounter with Amy (Mays) who works at one of the stores at the mall. He falls in love with her only to consistently do something outrageous to make her have second thoughts about being his friend. When the mall is taken over by a gang of acrobatic criminals that intend to rob some ATM machines through out the complex and take Amy and some other vendors hostage - Paul Blart becomes a mall cop to uphold justice and to save the woman he loves.

Reel Talk:

This was one cheesy movie! I felt some Ritz crackers needed to go with it. As talented a comedian as Kevin James is, even he could not save this movie. You may get a few laughs
within this movie but don't be expecting anything more. I'm not counting James out , just would like to see him in a better movie.

Starring: Kevin James, Keir O'Donnell, Jayma Mays,Raini Rodriguez, Peter Gerety and Jamal Mixon
Directed by: Steve Carr
Rated: PG

I give it 1 corn dog (and you don't get nothing to wash it down with).

By: Corndog - The Reel Hustler