BlogHer - drama - Comments

Thank You For Writing Both Sides

JennaHatfield — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:26:03 -0600

I've been struggling with whether or not I should shell out the cash and see this in the theater. I do believe, thanks to your review(s), I'm going to wait to watch this at home. The issues are big and in my face and are most likely best viewed where I can cry and yell in the privacy of my own home.

Thank you, truly, for taking off your professional hat and sharing the true grit of this film. I *will* see this movie. Just not in the theater.

@FireMom from Stop, Drop and Blog and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land

I Hope Stories Like This Can Help People

Megan Smith — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:10:47 -0600

Hi Candelaria,

I hope stories like this really can help people give voice to their own pain and help them find a way to heal it. Also, if they open up a world to people who don't realize this exists and who may have the power to help, that too is a good thing.

It's just that after leaving that movie theatre, I couldn't think straight about any of those things.

Regarding my feelings about black men, I hesitated even writing what I did because I knew what I was implying when I wrote it and how unfair that was. But I was such a boiling mass of emotion I needed a way to express it.

I absolutely understand the biases I bring to the table but I felt for that instant someone, anyone had to lash out for the Precious's of the world.

Believe me, I really do know there are wonderful, kind, supportive black men who though they may be as you say be, "poor, black and urban," struggle every day to keep their families safe and cared for.

Unfortunately there aren't enough of them in our communities and the ones that are there are almost never lauded for their struggles. That too is a terrible, terrible shame.

Thanks so much for your thoughts.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

I Hear you so clearly on this!

Candelaria Silva — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:52:00 -0600

I've been thinking about whether I'll go see Precious or not.

The hoopa surrounding the movie and the book before it, remind me of The Color Purple when it came out and For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide...by Ntozake Shange. While I know women who have experienced abuse at the hands of their mothers, fathers and step-fathers and mothers, and I was severaly abused by my grandmother, etc.,, it is not a story that I necessarily want to broadcast and havne't written about.

I'm not sure whether seeing brutality heals people. It may make you feel better that you're not alone in what you've experienced. I tend to be a person who sorts for the good in life and I know that for me, replaying my own abuse over and over wasn't good.

Lots of people are more attracted to big, dramatic, traumatic, angry, violent, etc., stories than ones that are uplifting. Filmmakers can make things more potent with their visual images. I don't know that if I were an actress, I'd want to give life to something so vile.

As for hating Black men after seeing the film - if only for a moment - I will say that my current husband and my son and lots of men I know are peaceful, respectful, positive, and decent people who would not and have not violated women. I have a friend whose daughter was violated by her stepfather (something she found out in the past couple of years). the friend has been divorced from this man for years. Her two sons (one of whom is his biologically) are wonderful, upstanding men who treat women with the upmost respect. One of them has full-custody of a daughter he had with a woman who was a neglectful parent. So, I think we have to remember that while there inevitably stories about children who've suffered this sort of abuse, there are children in our community who are loved and treasured even when there parents are financially poor, black and urban. There doesn't seem to be much room for films from this angle.

Anyhow - thanks for sharing from your gut.

http://blog.candelarisilva.com

Good and plenty!

It Takes A Lot To Confuse Me

Megan Smith — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:45:41 -0500

I mean, really, I eat shows like "Lost" for breakfast and still come back for more, so it takes a lot to confuse me.

But as you said, if I cared more, I might be more interested in figuring out what the heck is going on.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

I Wouldn't Even Mind The Stuff for 14-year-old Boys...

Megan Smith — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:43:08 -0500

I wouldn't even mind the stuff they throw in to please the 14-year-old boys out there, if they just gave me more to hang my viewing hat on.

Like you, I'm giving it a couple more weeks.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

So confused...

debra roby — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:22:49 -0500

So Ballard was kicked out of the FBI (because of his attack on the DollHouse?) and is now working FOR them as Echo's handler? Couldn't we have had an episode that worked through all that? Becuase I didn't believe it.

All the flashes of Echo's past characters popping up is just too confusing. Can we take them maybe one at a time? Give us perspective as to when we saw them last? Give us a reason to care? Or worry?

It's too convoluted and at the same time too boring for me to care much longer. Which is sad, because in general I think I like Whedon. But DollHouse isn't a place I want to be.

Debra A Stitch In Time Weight for Deb

I was expecting the first episode to be a lot better...

Catherine Morgan — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:03:57 -0500

I was dissapointed with the first episode of the new season, it's beginning to feel like they only made the show for male viewers. But I will give it a few more episodes before I stop watching.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

I Agree About The "Flat" Moments

Megan Smith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:21:48 -0500

I agree with you about the "flat" moments. They should have been more powerful and as I said in my own "House" post, I think some of that had to do with the comical nature of the supporting characters.

And though I understand a "broken" House is more compelling than a House who's off his meds and on the mend, I like when the show changes up the formula and gives us more of the facets of House's personality. As you say, the conflict is where all the action is.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

I Liked The Change-up

Megan Smith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:06:21 -0500

I liked that the show did a bit of a change-up and I actually liked that it felt like a stand alone TV movie. I just wanted that movie to be better.

My feeling is, there's plenty of time for House to play off the regulars during the rest of the season.

Though I did love Wilson's cameo.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

Good Point About The Meds

Megan Smith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:01:56 -0500

Kate, you make a good point about the meds. The devil's in the details.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

I Went Back and Forth About Andre

Megan Smith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:56:21 -0500

Hi Cynthia,

I went back and forth a bit about Andre, and while I agree Dr. Nolan was authentic, I wanted just a tad more dramatic license in a couple of the scenes between he and House.

Maybe I'm was just spoiling for one of those patented Frank Pembleton, "Homicide: Life on the Street's" interrogations. Take that, Dr. House!

And thanks for calling me a "great critic." You made my day.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

Glad to Hear From Another "House" Fan

Megan Smith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:38:01 -0500

It's always great to hear from another "House" fan and I'm on my way to read your post now.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

Loved the Mayfield Building

Megan Smith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:33:49 -0500

I loved the Mayfield building. Straight out of a gothic novel with all those beautifully padded cells. Though I guess the cells were on an LA soundstage.

And who's to say that one of a kind chairs can't be used in a mental institution? Crazy patients need fine seating just as much as the rest of us do.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

Funky Pacing

Megan Smith — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:20:57 -0500

The pacing was kind of funky, but I think part of that was because the supporting characters weren't holding up their end.

And I heard the Dollar Store had that spackle on sale last week.

Megan
BlogHer Contributing Editor, TV/Online Video

My Personal Entertainment Blog: Megan's Minute

My Review Blog: Meg's Rad Reviews

Twitter:@MeganSmith

Funny the med stuff made me crazy

aftercancer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:01:52 -0500

I have to say, the pacing didn't bother me it was the silliness about cheeking medication and no one checking. I know it's something small but this show is usually smarter and I have high expectations of it.

Kate

I blog at http://www.aftercancernowwhat.com