Change Your Image
ruthelisejohnson
Reviews
North & South (2004)
All I want for Christmas is...
Today, Dec. 22nd, is my birthday. My husband was "reminded" that I wanted the North and South DVD. He called me from Barnes and Noble and asked if I wanted the Civil War one or the Jane Austen one! I said certainly not the Civil War one, but Elizabeth Gaskell's version. So guess what I found waiting for me at home?! John Jakes' North and South deluxe DVD edition. My husband then claimed I said I didn't want the Jane Austen version. We proceeded to get in an argument - he stating that there was indeed a Jane Austen North and South. He had to go and call B&N himself to get the "right" answer. I guess the sales clerk had said that it was "Jane Austen-ish"!
So anyway, be very specific when making your lists. Now I have to wait until tomorrow to exchange it and begin indulging my addiction.
Mahogany (1975)
Coming of Age
This is a coming of age film. Black films of that era focused on topics that involved the very worst of the Black community. This was one of the first films of the 70's that championed self-improvement and empowerment.
Gordy successfully attempts to move beyond "Blackplotation" films of that time. In doing so, the film genre and the community it describes is what comes of age.
If you listen to the dialog Williams and Ross had as they walked through the shelled out community and then walked those same contrived, multi-million dollar Townhome/condo communities today you will have a much greater appreciation for this forward thinking, insightful film, Mahogany.