Mom's Minute

Disclaimer:  The views expressed in the Ms. H movie review of Fifty Shades of Black is mine alone, and do not represent those of http://www.allgames.com.

 

Introduction to Ms. H Movie Review of Fifty Shades of Black Movie

 

Note: The movie Fifty Shades of Black is no longer appearing in the movie theaters in my area -- and good riddance. If I could take back the wasted time I spent watching this insulting, repulsive movie, I would gladly do so.

 

When I saw the opening scenes of the movie, Fifty Shades of Black, I had no idea what I was in for.  I was under the impression there would be some type of spoof or mild comparison between the original movie, Fifty Shades of Grey and this one. Using the word "mild" is a gross understatement.  The movie, Fifty Shades of Black went in so many different negative directions, most of them disparaging against African Americans, that I lost count and could hardly believe what I was seeing on the screen.

 

This movie has Marion Wayans, an African American actor as the headliner of the "story", if you can call an insulting movie about a race of people a "story." I can't use the word "star" because real "stars" in my book would not stoop so low as to be in a movie of the lowest calibre as one such as Fifty Shades of Black. It is no wonder that when Marion Wayans was asked about the movie on a game show he was appearing on, he described it as a "little movie I'm working on that will be out soon."  That's it?  No clip? No mention of the directors or other actors in the movie? No -  Just saying a little under his breath "a little movie I'm working on that will be out soon." After seeing the movie, Fifty Shades of Black in its totality -- I can see vividly why he did not make an effort to plug this awful movie. Yes -- the movie was that bad.

 

Stereotypes in Fifty Shades of Black Movie

 

Where do I begin? There were so many stereotypes, especially against African American women and African American men that I do not know where to start.  However, to be fair, there was a segment where they showed different women of various races reactions to certain adult actions that were happening in the movie. In my opinion, the portrayal of the African American woman toward these actions was shown as the worst of them all.

 

It did not help that Marion Wayans' mother was caucasian actor Jane Seymour who perpetually kept her purse near her whenever her adopted son (Marion Wayans) was around. The audience did not have to wonder why this was being done. She actually said out loud something to the effect that she can never be too careful when she is holding her purse around Marion Wayans!

 

It gets worse. There was dialogue that involved African American men so-called preference for caucasian women with Jane Seymour taking the time to name several well-known African American celebrities who chose to date or marry caucasian women.  

 

What really got under my skin (in a bad way) was when his mother, Jane Seymour said that she thought Marion Wayans could do much better than the African American female he was dating.  She then mentioned something about him getting an upgrade.  I was thinking that maybe she meant that he could have chosen someone who had a better job, higher career goals, etc.  Instead, she was referring to his girlfriend's race of African American.  I'm glad this was a rated M for Mature movie and that young African American girls did not have to watch the negative images placed upon African American women.

 

Of course there were other stereotypes and biases dealing with African American men as well. In fact, the whole movie seemed to be just a degrading compilation of African American stereotypes that did not sit well with me. In between the stereotype-casting, there was a storyline where they tried to follow the original movie, but it seemed to me the emphasis was to throw out as many stereotypes about African Americans as they could.

 

The movie did not stay true to the original that it was supposedly spoofing. I think if I had rights to the movie Fifty Shades of Grey, I would have sued for defamation based on using my movie to humiliate African Americans as well as this movie going against common decency. Yes -- there were also some adult images that I had to turn my head away from since they were so grotesque. Who said that once you become an adult, you have to be subjected to seeing images that should not be allowed to be shown on a movie screen?

 

Use of the "N" word in Fifty Shades of Black Movie

 

If movies were in the habit of refunding people's money because of inappropriate content within said movie, I would have not asked, but demanded the return of my movie admittance money. I would have at least requested to see another movie instead of this one. I stayed and watched the movie -- not because I wanted to, but to see just how far this movie would go to try to tear down the image of African Americans in a movie that was ironically for the most part starring African Americans.

 

Personally, as a general practice, I do not pay to see movies that glorifies the "N" word.  In fact, I do not watch them at all. For example, I have not seen the movie Django because I heard about the number of times this racial slur was used in the movie.  If someone had told me that Marion Wayans would say the "N" word even one time during the movie, I wouldn't have seen this movie. He said the "N" word not once, but many times during the movie. And ending the word with an "a" does not change the derogatory meaning of it.

 

If you know African American history, you would know that this is the name that was used when slave owners and others referred to slaves.  Fast forward to the future, and I hear this name being used, almost as if it is an honor to say it -- which by the way, it is not. To me, this word is a reminder how once and even in some places today, people who were human beings were denied the right to learn how to read, write and was literally sold as property. Caucasian men and women routinely called African Americans this name without a flinch of an eye during that time and sometimes even today -- if you let them get away with it.

 

Black Lives Matter Spoof on the Movie Fifty Shades of Black

 

I could not believe that Marion Wayans had the audacity to spoof such a serious topic as Black Lives Matter. He made fun of the endearing slogan Black Lives Matter and made it seem as if it was all a joke. I'm sure the African Americans who lost their lives because of actions of unscrupulous police and others as well as their friends and families would not think this is a laughing matter.  Marion Wayans should be ashamed of himself for making light of the fact that Black Lives Matter. I will say it like I mean it -- all jokes aside -- Black lives do matter.

 

As a Black man, I'm sure Marion Wayans has been profiled and treated as a second- class citizen sometimes when pulled over or confronted by the police or others. The people referenced in Black Lives Matter are no longer with us, and their memory should not be tarnished by their unfortunate predicaments being mirrored in such a ridiculous, racist movie as Fifty Shades of Black.

 

Rating for Fifty Shades of Black

 

If I could give the movie, Fifty Shades of Black a zero star, I would.  However, the lowest rating is 1 star, and the highest rating is 5 stars.   I would give the movie, Fifty Shades of Black a -1 star which is less than one.   My basis for such a low score is the preponderous of negativity towards African Americans, as well as the use of the "N' word in the movie and the overall inappropriateness of this movie.  I do not in any way, shape or form recommend that you see this movie and I strongly urge you not to buy this movie if it is ever released on DVD.

 

You may have noticed that I have not posted any pictures from the movie Fifty Shades of Black. The reason for this is I do not want you to get the idea that I support this movie in any way, shape or form. I'm also disppointed in all of the actors in this movie who worked in it and made it possible to be made.

 

You may say they made the movie for money? To what cost is respect and dignity for a people who have suffered much and still do in many ways. Respect and all that the word signifies does not come with a price tag!

 

Thanks goodness the majority of American people have spoken and the movie, Fifty Shades of Black is no longer in the movie theatres. The memory of me watching this movie is already erased from my mind.

  

Usually, I post a youtube video of the movie trailer for the movies I review.  However, since I do not recommend you see the movie Fifty Shades of Black, I will be posting a video from my recent trip to the Black Hisory Museum in Alexandria, VA that I visited during my travels.