NinadeL

Black Barbie is a significant topic in American culture. If you have an opinion or if Mattel's favorite toy is relevant to you in any way, it's good to see this documentary together with Tiny Shoulders. I am aware of the history of Barbie and Mattel, as well as of BLM; however, the intersection of these topics raised questions for me that I wanted to supplement through this documentary. Unfortunately, Lagueria Davis made a documentary that is more emotional than informational. She conducted interviews with key POC figures from Mattel's history, with current people addressing inclusion at Mattel, etc. The history of the doll itself is seemingly presented comprehensively, including a timeline with references to various significant events related to the production of dolls of dark complexion (both within and outside Mattel). Yet, no one explained to me why it's important to repaint the entire concept of Barbie to be black. Why isn't the whole rainbow inclusion enough, with countless dolls available featuring vitiligo, in wheelchairs, with prosthetic limbs or hearing aids, Afro-American, Latin American, freckled, blind, with Down syndrome, etc.? Certainly, the stereotypical image of a teen blonde who models and spends a lot of time at the beach is quite archaic today. But Barbie herself never exclusively lived in 1959 and evolved hand in hand with the development of American society. That's far more than any other toy line has ever done. The concept of Barbie's story stems from how other dolls gradually emerged and were attributed various roles. And POC have decided that it's necessary to change the meaning of "Barbie" from the name of a specific doll to some sort of portable universal title that can essentially denote anything. Dolls depicting adult and child figures, male and female, of all races and sizes - all are and will be Barbie. Barbie is obviously a state of mind, as evidenced by Mattel's strategy in recent years, labeling all its doll products as Barbie, even if they are just small boxes or accessory bags for Ken. Of course, no one wants children of any skin color, size, or potential disability to suffer from a lack of self-projection in the world of toys. But at the same time, I don't think today's world problems will be solved by families buying only black Barbies. Beauty lies in diversity. If children are to have any toys, let each one be different.

This is a genre within a genre. A courtroom drama between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. They met professionally during the filming of The Rum Diary (2011), were married from 2015-2017, and the rest is history. Depp's hardcore fans will never admit anything that could tarnish their image of him, their cult idol who has been with us for 4 decades. Heard has always been a small fish next to him, one of many of his partners, so no one expected that the potential breakup of their relationship could have such a bitter aftermath. But it happened, it's a separate topic, a whole series of documentaries are being made, books are coming out, and the tabloids have thoroughly enjoyed it, so I expect a feature film adaptation eventually. Because if Hollywood knows how to do anything, it's to exploit scandals to the core. It was like this 100 years ago in the Roscoe Arbuckle case, and nothing has changed.

Muhammad Ali (1942–2016) was the 16th heavyweight boxing world champion, but by his time, the original idea was already there, as Jack Dempsey first fulfilled it. The story of this champion is full of activism, racism, and politics. In his career, not even the black bomber Joe Louis was important anymore, but rather the endless strife to regain the title. Will Smith surpassed himself here, but considering the complexity of the whole life story, I must conclude that the resulting film is only a superficial work.

Rocky Marciano (1923-1969) was the son of Italian immigrants, shaped by the legendary boxing match between Louis and Schmeling in 1938. He became the 11th heavyweight boxing world champion shortly after defeating his childhood hero Louis and subsequently Joe Walcott. This film is great because it's not just about the classic formula of a poor kid becoming a champion; it tells the whole story of frustration from poverty, respect in a brutal sport where life was at stake even then, and most importantly, it portrays the fates of boxers who didn't fare well in their old age. Joe Louis had to step back after years of glory and returned to being just a poor black man; lightweight champion Lou Ambers also didn't end up well. Jon Favreau surprisingly delivers a great performance in the lead role. Moreover, thanks to him, it's confirmed how closely the stories of classic boxers and comic book superheroes resonate with each other.

The television biography of Jack Dempsey (1895-1983), the first World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, is as good as films like Ring of Passion about the fights between Schmeling and Louis, or the life story of Marion Davies in The Hearst and Davies Affair. These grand stories from pre-war popular culture were still vibrant then, setting the stage for cinematic retellings. Dempsey's story had it all. Raised by Mormons, he had a sports career, and married film actresses Estelle Taylor and Hannah Williams. He acted in movies, ran a restaurant, and wrote the memoir "Championship Fighting: Explosive Punching and Aggressive Defense, How to Fight Tough a DEMPSEY". Even during World War II, he didn't slack off. What more could you want? Treat Williams in the lead role? You got it.

The first three episodes of Armageddon were almost unbearable. The guest appearances of Ray Palmer from Legends of Tomorrow and Jefferson Pierce from Black Lightning had no energy. Fortunately, it all improved with the transition to the year 2031.

The Armageddon crossover began airing on November 16, 2021, a week after Supergirl concluded its sixth and final season on November 9, 2021, and Batwoman was then halfway through its final third season. It was very emotional to see Alex again and hear her talk about her marriage with Kelly (their wedding was the culmination of Supergirl). It was equally great to experience Ryan talking about her plans to adopt with Sophie (even though their relationship hadn't been confirmed in the main series at that time). At the same time, these were somewhat spoilers because this part of the event takes place in an alternate future in the year 2031. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful reunion with beloved characters against the backdrop of the classic battle between Flash and Reverse-Flash.

A dark conclusion to the most provocative cable show. Unfortunately, the creators used up all the attractions, including genre changes and a new location, in the last season. Here, they are left with only total depression to play with. Among the supporting actors, only the black widow Rose McGowan is worth mentioning.

Seemingly another ideal HBO drama. It features a great cast (especially Amy Adams), excellent direction by Jean-Marc Vallée, and a beautifully slow pace. Of course, it deals with the classic contrasts of the fictional American backwater town of Wind Gap in Missouri and the big world, which in this case is represented by Chicago. But at the same time, it's an adaptation of a debut, and Gillian Flynn isn't that great of an author. Several of her novels have been published in the part of the world where I live, including "Sharp Objects," but they are devoured only by the mass consumers of gray bestseller pulp. Thus, the result is fairly bland and unconvincing.

I'm not a fan of Britney Spears, but I appreciated the explanation of what was happening around her during COVID. Because no one outside the bubble of her audience had any idea that her first global career lasted only relatively briefly, a few years around the turn of the nineties and the millennium. Then, after a short marriage/motherhood, she had a mental breakdown and since then has lived under the guardianship of her own father... who, among other things, ensured she had a comeback, but at the cost of having no family life. Today, she's in her forties and has finally been able to catch her breath and live life her own way.