Comments for What Would Thembi Do?

Comment on Fresh Black Girls: T’Keyah Crystal Keymah by FERNANDO LUSAKA

FERNANDO LUSAKA — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 23:10:05 +0000

Eu sou seu fã e amo à sua pessoa

Comment on The Black Version: John Grin’s Christmas! by Matthew

Matthew — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:35:05 +0000

I have a copy of this taped on vhs, and then converted to DVD. The image and sound quality is terrible though because the tape was a bit deteriorated.

Comment on For Colored Girls: A Messy, Miserable Melodrama by ShonQuayShah

ShonQuayShah — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 21:08:27 +0000

i did not see the play – i was young when it was out in l.a. and my mother was too busy getting her “buppie” on at the time to take me or herself. but i did watch the pbs teleplay and i liked the movie much better. the things that happen in the film DO happen in real life and i took a positive note from it all. no matter what happens, when life knocks you down, get back up. period. point blank. it’s entertainment pure and simple.

Comment on Press and Props by Ericka

Ericka — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:04:32 +0000

well arent you filled with win.

Comment on For Colored Girls: A Messy, Miserable Melodrama by Annette

Annette — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:53:35 +0000

I am new to this blog, but I appreciate the author’s candor about this movie. I saw the orginal play when I was 12 years old in Chicago, and I was spellbound by the women and their stories. Something made me stay far away from this movie, as if I already knew that it would not be handled properly. I think Tyler and Oprah must have sat around talking about how great it would be to make this classic; the problem is, this play was a very emotional piece of theater that had to handled very carefully in order to understood by the masses. Some just would not get it. Even as a 12 year old I realised that. I ended up reading the book many times over my life and with every reading, I learn something different about myself. If this movie is Tyler Perry’s best up to this point, great. I think I will wait for Nexflix.

Comment on For Colored Girls: A Messy, Miserable Melodrama by invisiblewoman

invisiblewoman — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:22:09 +0000

dang, thembs….we said almost the exact same things, tho you were more eloquent (as usual).

“shange holy ghost” wish i hadda thought of that one! lol

Comment on For Colored Girls: A Messy, Miserable Melodrama by KhayWrites

KhayWrites — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:44:08 +0000

Great review and fair assesment of the film. I thought the movie was decent. The strength comes from the performances of the women.In regards to the down low/HIV plot line, in the new intro to the choreopoem, Shange says that she made the change (in addition to having Beau Willie be an Iraq vet) because she felt “it would be irresponsible not to address the pandemic” so she added the section “Positive”. But I wonder how much (if at all) the changes were influenced at all by Perry’s screenwriting.

Comment on For Colored Girls: A Messy, Miserable Melodrama by Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:15:57 +0000

I saw the film tonight and it was horrifying. The worst film I’ve ever seen in a theater. It was a joke to the point that we were laughing during parts that were supposed to be serious. It was all so poorly written, haphazardly directed and absurdly wrought. I think your review was kind to be perfectly honest. I can understand why some people might be able to stomach that trash but let’s call a spade a spade even if that spade is family. He’s a shitty filmmaker and outside of this one looking like a real movie it was a disaster. Why would anyone want to be a colored girl after seeing this morbid, heavy-handed piece of shit? He truly took a masterwork and mangled it and for that he deserves criticism. I have NOTHING against Tyler Perry. I want him to do better. But this time he failed. Phenomenally and audaciously. If you liked the film and sincerely thought it was “great,” well… There are plenty of our people that still enjoy and take pride in eating pig entrails as well, so what are you gonna do?

Comment on For Colored Girls: A Messy, Miserable Melodrama by Reginald Dorsey

Reginald Dorsey — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 19:15:37 +0000

This and Precious together make Harlem seem so bleak. They rival The Pianist’s Warsaw, quite honestly.

So, when I first saw it, I didn’t think it was that bad on black men.

Then I let it simmer. And I got kind of angry.

But now, I think I get it.

Yes, the movie is devoid of any joy.

Clearly, this is what Perry wanted it to be. I don’t think he did this by accident – it was done on purpose.

I think he was pandering to his perception of what black women want to see from a film about black women and men and love and conflict.

I get why there was no balance – men don’t look to these movies to see their struggles showcased, dealt with and focused on. That’s what Hip-Hop has been for for the last 25 years.

This movie, and others like itm is the black woman’s version (in the commodity-sense, not in terms of real truth) of the old misogynistic gangsta rap record from the 90′s, or a raunchy BET Uncut video from a few years ago.

Identical.

Comment on For Colored Girls: A Messy, Miserable Melodrama by missalecia

missalecia — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:00:31 +0000

Wow! Very interesting review. I am a 39-year old Colored girl and as a few of the comments stated, I’d never even heard of this classic poem “For Colored Girls” or the author. That’s disturbing. But be that as it may, I did see the film and felt it was pretty deep, definitely a tear jerker with emotional (and even depressing) content. I’m not so much concerned with TP. I can take him or leave him. I’m not a huge fan, nor am I a hater. He does what he does and that’s good for him. The one thing I did gain from this movie is the knowledge of the original which I can now go and get to judge for myself. Most books are better than the movie, just judging from past experiences. So thanks to the author for the review. I agree with some of your opinions but as stated, I have nothing to compare it to…..yet. Also, great comments, people!! so much passion. I love it. xo