Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:00

Hey, I'm Reggie Ponder the Real Critic, and this is The Real Critics Network. I am here with my co-host Kathia Woods. Kathia, how are you? How are you?

Kathia Woods: 0:10

I'm good. A little tired, but I'm here. We're gonna work it out as we always do

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:14

that. That's all right. So what you working on right now?

Kathia Woods: 0:17

I'm going to Philadelphia to cover Ruth's picnic this weekend. That's what I'm working on.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:22

And the picnic gi gimme a, a little history on this picnic because it is a pretty well known picnic.

Kathia Woods: 0:30

It is a music festival started by the roots, specifically Quest Love and Black thought it's been going on for. A couple decades. And this year one of the things that they're adding is a food festival. So we, it should be interesting to see, how that component is, because, one of the people that is participating in that is country cooking. And country cooking is somebody that a lot of people have seen on the social, she cooks with her fanny pack and she's put in a lot of sugar and oh, a lot of sugar into the, yams, and I, listen, I'm not here to knock anybody's hustle, but I just, I, one day we, we should do a show on this. I would like us to start recommending black food that isn't necessarily killing us.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 1:25

I'm gonna have to bring Bobbi Ponder on the show because she is. The bad food police in my house. I, I just want to have a piece of candy. Just a piece of candy and she like, Uhuh daddy, you we, you are not gonna live alone with that piece of candy. So it's, so when we do that show, we will absolutely need to have Bobbi ponder there. I'm really happy that people are looking for ways to eat healthier. I, I am I do struggle just personally, I struggle with having to eat healthy all the time. So I want some candy and some potato tips there once a while, and I

Kathia Woods: 2:08

think that's fine. I think you and I have the same conversation probably your daughter has with my husband. I think there's nothing wrong with having things in moderation, right? I love gummy bears. I'm still going to eat my gummy bears, but I think where you lose somewhere along the line, especially in this country as somebody who has traveled and lived in other places and just like you have traveled, love black food and food that is high in cholesterol. And high in sugar and salt is often associated in this country, and it's not, and I don't want to say it like this, but take it with a grain of salt is we're free now. We can eat the bigger cuts of meat we can eat. More seafood. We can eat fresh vegetables and I know we have food, droughts and all these other things, but we, when we cook, we tend to still over season our food. There's a difference between seasoning and over seasoning, right? We don't need vegetables is supposed to have crunch. Like you vegetables, you broccoli ain't supposed to be silver cooked. It lis over. Same thing with your green beans. So I'm just like, there is a food education that we need to have. And I do think that when people do talk about somebody like country cooking, we get like people coming for her. But no, like that should be something on the menu that isn't killing us. And if you. Either there's two ways you can go. You can stand on business and be like, I don't care if this is the food I make and this is the food I like to make. And cook bet, say less or take it with a grain of salt and say, you know what? I do have some things on the menu that are like diabetes, high blood pressure. All of those things are legitimate concerns in our community. And I

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 4:01

agree. I agree, but I,

Kathia Woods: 4:03

my pushback. But again, you can, one piece of candy is not gonna put you in the hospital.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 4:09

Right. But

Kathia Woods: 4:10

I'll agree with you on that.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 4:11

But here's my pushback. The I took you to a couple of places when you were here in Chicago and those places, the food was not the best food. I only go to those places every once in a while. I don't go and

Kathia Woods: 4:26

that's why. We had, but I also wanna add, we had a good time. Like you showed me the Chicago experience, right? But we weren't like, we weren't out here trying to have. Do that for five days. And we weren't eating until we were bursting at the

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 4:46

a Absolutely. You actually stopped. There was some I was saying to you, you sure you don't want some of this? And you're like, nah, I'm good. You said Kevin, you just gonna have to take Kevin around. 'cause he'll just eat it all for us. But,

Kathia Woods: 4:56

and I do, and I don't eat a, here's the other part too, is right. I am, my daughter always gets on me 'cause I can do breakfast like a little cereal. And I love my toast with butter. I like my toast, really toast it. And I'm really, I'm a little bit of a bread snob. That's why when I was in France it was perfect. 'cause I love a good baguette, right? A fresh baguette. Oh my goodness. With a, and if they're hot, by the way, when they're hot, woo. Those to me. That's better than candy. Like I'll eat that over candy all day.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 5:26

You don't even need butter. On the baguette when they come out hot like that, they are so tasty and so delicious, and stop getting me mouth watering over here

Kathia Woods: 5:35

when I tell you the way, I was like, well, you know what? It's a 15 minute walk. I can walk with my baguette. It will all even out, and then I'm gonna do my walk back. That's

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 5:44

exactly what I did. I would get the bag. Walk. I mean, but be eating it as I'm walking down the street and I didn't feel guilty at all because all the Parisians were doing the same.

Kathia Woods: 5:58

So we're all, it'll be rude culturally for us not to do it. But what I, the point that I'm making exactly, but the point that I'm making is I'm also the type of person I like a good meal. Like when I'm a hungry, when I say a good meal, I mean I need like a pro, I like a protein, a veggie. And a starch. And I do. I'd rather us spend 20, $25 and have a sit down meal than go through some drive through place. But having said that, I think you and I are saying the same thing. There's nothing wrong. When you, when your diet is 90% of the time you're eating what they say. You're eating a rainbow. And I think you're even better 'cause you don't eat red meat. I like a good steak. Now I'm not there yet.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 6:40

I want a hamburger so bad. But Bobbi won't let me have it. But I do think I'm saying something a little bit different than you. A little bit and I wanna make sure that I get this point out. Yeah. Is. Restaurant that cooks nothing but fat. I'm okay with them cooking nothing but fat. What I'm not okay with, I think where you are, what I'm not okay with is that if those are the only restaurants in my neighborhood, I'm okay with you cooking what you cook, because I'm not coming there every day to get that. But there's gonna be a day when I want that and I'm, and if you can sustain your business. From people who occasionally come to your place. I'm okay with that. Now, would it be nice that if they made macaroni and cheese, that they could make a good vegan macaroni and cheese? It would be nice, but I don't wanna run your business for you. I will tell you that if you don't do it, if you don't have that good macaroni and cheese, this vegan, then I just have to get it from Bobbi Ponder. And in fact, I'm gonna get it from Bobbi Ponder anyway. 'cause she makes a really good. Macaroni and cheese and we

Kathia Woods: 7:48

too, Monday, we are gonna have that show because I feel like vegan food. Or vegetarian. Let's put vegetarian. 'cause I think we just lost a quarter of the people when we said vegan. I do, I think a Beyond Burger sometimes is really good. Like during Lent when I was like, I'm tired of having a fish sandwich or tuna fe, you know those of us that are Catholic, when we were kids after that, you didn't wanna smell anything Tuna fish because you had it for No

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 8:17

I, so I'm totally, so

Kathia Woods: 8:18

I'm like. A good Beyond Burger with a nice little bun. Some condiments is a nice alternative to eating

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 8:31

Tuna fish. I just had one just the other day. But did I ask you, you do know the Pope is from Chicago, right?

Kathia Woods: 8:37

Oh yes. Everybody from Chicago said he is and everybody also like you let it be known that he is a White Sox, not a Cubs fan, and told Cubs Nation, don't you try it. Thank

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 8:51

you. Thank you so much. So we gonna have to table and pun intended our food discussion and talk about this offline so we can see who we're gonna have to join our food discussion. 'cause we should have a couple of people and I think Bobbi will be a great person to join our food discussion. With that I do, before I get on what's on my mind, I always, I you. Always bother me and let me tell you why. Because your Brazilian, this is all you want to talk about. Always like, well, I was with my Brazilian people and I went to see my Brazil this and I'm rooting for my Brazil that well, your, I don't even know how to pronounce his name. One of your Brazilians just won. He's an 18-year-old. I'm watching tennis, I'm watching the French Open. He's an 18-year-old a French guy and he just beat Hubert Hurkacz in front of a packed crowd yesterday, and I saw him play. It is wow, Fonseca do you know this? Do you know him?

Kathia Woods: 9:54

I do not.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 9:56

So it's spelled JOAO, how you pronounce that?

Kathia Woods: 10:02

JO Hold on, let me spell it.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 10:03

JOAO. So I don't want to, I don't want to, I have to give you credit when your Brazilians are doing well. JJO, Jojo. JOAO.

Kathia Woods: 10:15

Okay, Jung. There we go.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 10:19

Fonseca He had a major win at the French Open. And so I just want to give you and your Brazilian this a little clap, clap, clap. There you go. All right. So I my, what's let's move to our first segment. My, what's on my mind is really about. I've been hearing about all of these particular sequels that are in the works. I don't know at what state they're in the works, but I have looked them up and there are a couple of them that make me go, huh? Things that make you go home. There's Hancock two this slated. There is I can't even believe that they got the number four. One of this one. They got Austin Powers four. We got Rush hour four, which Jackie Chan and I guess Chris Tucker are supposed to come back. I. I am just thinking to myself, oh, and then I'm just thinking to myself, do we need all of these sequels? Like we already saw Beverly Hills Cop, Axl f it wasn't bad. It was fine. I was happy to see him back, but he wasn't back. It wasn't like he was back. Even the movie that we're gonna talk about today a little later, which is Karate Kid Legends is a sequel. Is that. Do what is your thought on all these sequels?

Kathia Woods: 11:47

Well, we know what Hollywood is doing is not spending a lot of money on original ips. We know that sinners is a unique thing because of the director, right? We know that if they feel like they can do it for a reasonable budget and squeeze somebody out of it, then that's what they're gonna do. They're gonna, they're gonna go and do these remakes and some of these stars have not had a big hit, so they're gonna do it 'cause it gives them an opportunity to make money and stand in front of an audience. We are right now in a very unimaginative time. Hollywood. If you want original ideas, you want something different, you gotta go to the indie side of filmmaking. So that's what that is. It's easy. You can maybe only spend around $20 million and you know you're gonna get somebody stars that before you used to ask for like 10 mil. You can probably get 'em on the cheap. And I know this champagne problems for like five, four, and boom. If you make your money back, and you're good to go. That's where we're at.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 13:00

Well that's good. I'm gonna leave it at that. That's that. I think you said it really well. We'll see, and we'll keep our eye out for which ones of these sequels actually come to fruition. Let's move into our next segment, and it's really our movie segment, and before we talk about the movie that we both saw, you saw a movie, fountain of Youth, which I wanted to see and I'd really like to get your take on that.

Kathia Woods: 13:23

Well think of what is the movie with Nicholas Cage, where they went to try to steal the Declaration of Independence? Oh my goodness. Why can't I think of this right now? Anyways, it's national treasure. That is, it's knock off on that. Oh, really? And basically John Krinsky and Natalie Portman play a brother and sister, and their father was a treasure hunter. And John Krinsky is trying to find a fountain of youth for his client who's sick and believes that he can be cured for that. And Natalie Portman is the sister that is a museum curator and she doesn't believe in, necessarily, you know what John and her, their father was doing. So John lures her into this thing, right? And she, I. Reluctantly goes, but then buys Zen. The film also has La Alonso in it, who plays one of the crew of this, and he has previously worked with guy Richie. Gar. Richie is the director. It's just, it's a good movie for streaming. It's a fun film for streaming. That's where I think. It should be. And for people that like to have their entertainment life from the couch, it's fun. John Krinsky is a little goofy. Natalie Portman is playing this, straight lace girl, and they're off on this very crazy adventure.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 14:54

So I, I like I just genuinely John Kosky I think I like him. I like the projects generally that he puts out. And I think. He has a, an ability to be a different person in his acting career, and I like that. So what did you think about his performance here?

Kathia Woods: 15:18

I do, I think he knows who he is. He knows who he is. And I think that's really important because sometimes you have people, you're like, what are you doing? Yes. And I think he knows who he is. He knows he's I. The lovable dork. And I say that in a good way. And hence he picks projects where he gets to pick where he gets to flex his comedic bone. And then in Jack Ryan, you see him be like a sexy, intellectual nerd, so I think he understands who he is, and

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 15:54

then in the quiet place.

Kathia Woods: 15:58

Again, he's like, I am not trying to be James Bond.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 16:03

He's not but if you think about those, and when you think about those different roles, he does have range though.

Kathia Woods: 16:12

Yes, he does. And that's what I'm saying. But part of this also works 'cause he knows who he is and he is willing to lean into those roles, which I think is super important because a lot of people don't want to, A lot of people are like I'm not that person. And he also is very appreciative of his time in the office.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 16:34

So when you look at the chemistry in this particular movie, does it work because I know you said it's good for streaming. Is this like I should go check it out this weekend, or is this I do

Kathia Woods: 16:47

think, I think is, I think that the chemistry between him and Natalie as brother and sister and Natalie. Understanding because she comes from more of a dramatic background playing the girl that is she's a mom, she's getting out of this marriage and she's trying to do right by her kid. Whereas even her kid thinks her brother is cool. He goes on all these adventures and that she is a mom is dull. And she's a rule breaker. She's a rule maker. So I think it works. The movie doesn't work at all. Wouldn't work at all if the chemistry and the back and forth banter between them didn't come across.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 17:27

All right. And since you compared movies, I guess my last question will be, does it, I. How does it compare to National Treasure?

Kathia Woods: 17:35

I think it's, those are two different movies, whereas National Treasure is a lot of action, action, action, action. And you have Nicholas Cage who is leans into these conspiracies and is a history buff. Whereas the Fountain of Hugs is a make-believe, whereas the stuff that Nicholas Cage was trying to steal a national treasure. Actually, the declaration, him going to Philadelphia, which by the way, Philadelphia is a copy of the Declaration of Independence. A real one is at the Smithsonian. A is the first draft, right? Because remember we didn't have copy machine, so people had to rewrite to get document across. But nevertheless. He's going after these real artifacts and I think there was like this treasure hunt in real life. If you wanted to follow along some of these places and stuff, measure, I mentioned in the movie that you could do it. You were in Philadelphia, you were in dc, you were like in Boston. And I, I'm a history buff. So for me, I think that's a fun activity to do to be like, okay, this is what it is. This is where the movie took creative license and this is where the reality is. So I mom always for good little history, good history tour.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 18:49

So definitely should check it out. On Apple TV

Kathia Woods: 18:53

I. 100%.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 18:54

All righty. All right, with that we'll move into our second movie. And our second movie is a movie that I saw and a movie that I was interested in seeing. And that second movie is Karate Kid Legends. And I will tell you, I saw it last night. I saw it with Bobbi, so anytime I can go to the theater and watch the movie with one of my kids is always a fun to me. Always a fun time. But what this one is about is that Ali Fong, he's forced to move to New York because his mother has a new job. She's a doctor and she's going to New York. So they live in Beijing and have to move. So he leaves his uncle who is also his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han played by Jackie Chan, and that was hard enough. But now he has to make new friends in the country and in a city, in a big city that he ha he knows nothing about. He promised his mom that he won't get into any fights. He won't use the little kung fu that he has, but. He meets some renewed friends, one in Mia, and then her father Victor. And he's forced to help them out and he has to fight a little bit, and that leads him to fighting a lot of it. And that's what it's about. And the question is, does it work? I'm tell you. For me, this film worked and it worked on a number of levels for me. I think that fans of the Karate Kid will get to relive why this franchise is legendary. Is it? No I won't talk about the things that that I didn't like. I'll stay with the things I like. I think that the writers make sure to connect the. The Karate Kid lineage to this new installment. So you'll find several of our favorite characters, including Jackie Chen and Ralph Macio and the two are not just making some cameos. They're very critical to the plot here, and that part is very important. The other thing that I like is, I like the fact that they chose to use the Chinese language in addition to English, and they didn't just use it in Beijing. They also used it in New York, which showed the vibrancy and diversity of a city like New York, which I think is important. Now, that might just be a little point and people might not notice it, but I like it when the filmmakers can, the filmmakers are bold enough to say we are gonna still lean into the culture. So I like that. I also think that the friends that that Mia and her father. That he made in me and her father. It provides a believable reason for why Lee phone has to get back into fighting. It's reasonable. It works for me. And then finally, I think too, to the franchise, there's enough hand to hand or feet to feet or feet to mouth or head to mouth, whatever it is. Combat that makes you say, yeah. I get my fix of the action and the karate stuff along with some of the character things that happened in the movie. So for me, overall, this film works for me.

Kathia Woods: 21:59

I think if you go into it just leaning into the fun, you are gonna have a good time. That's what it is. I think too often, I think we have to remember summer movies' purpose is you are going to get one or two gems are gonna be a little bit more deep, but summer movies are meant to help you have a good time. That's what their purpose is. They're not here to be deep. They're not here to be the second coming of Jesus it. It is just a good time. And also this movie like. Covers the demographic. Why? I think Le and Stitch is a great, but it's a family movie that is more for younger kids. This will bring in your junior high kids who are like I don't know if I wanna see Le, I may be too old to see Le L and stitch this. You can get your grade school kids and your junior high kids. When I tell you the kids were cheering last night. When the fight scenes and when he was like starting to come back, it let me know everything I needed to know. This is gonna be a hit with that demographic. They are going to ask their parents to run, to take them to see this. And also we gotta remember there's a whole generation that never got to experience the original karate kick that knows these knows el least. Ralph Machos character through from Cobra Kai, so it's gonna tie in those different generation. I do think that the original karate kid generation may feel a little bit on the fence about it, but it's got, as a family film, it's doing what it needs to do.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 23:43

So as a one of the original karate kid generation people, I just thought they did a good job of connecting everything. Am I saying that this is the deepest, most fantastic. Oscar winning movie. I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying though that you can have a good time because you'll see those characters that you've known before and you know, I mean, you know what you're getting when you go to this movie. You know it. And they don't really deviate too much from the Karate Kid formula. Now, to some people that might be bad, but. I'm fine with it. I, the fighting for me in this, there was a Jackie Chan ish quality to the fighting where you use all of the environment to have your fight scenes. There's this one fight scene in the alley that that was Jackie Chan ish to me, and I wonder if that choreography actually came from Jackie Chan. I will tell you, when I left the movie. I felt like kicking something and I did try to do a kick or two and show Bobbi that I still had it, but I was reminded very quickly. Wait a minute, I was reminded very quickly that I'm not a kid. And then karate not well, no. So I had to put my legs back down. I am sore from trying to do a kick. 'cause I thought I could do a little something, something. I it was fun to me. Now are there some things. Wrong or maybe bothersome about this film? Yes. As with most of these films, the villain is exaggerated and there's no explanation as to really why he's so e, e, exaggerated. Yeah, he's a little jealous about his girlfriend, but that's not why. He's just over the top. He's over the top almost without reason. Just kicking other people, pushing referees, things that just don't make sense, but they do that to make you dislike that character. I I'm okay with that. Did it present a storyline about the Father Victor that kind of just got quickly snuffed out? I would've liked to have seen that play out a little bit more, but I think the way they did it made sense because Victor had some issues. Okay. And then what are some things in this film that you could telegraph that you knew that it was about to happen? I was whispering in Bobbi's ear saying, Hey Bobbi, you know, such and such is about to happen right now. Yes, but I think that all of that's okay for this type of movie. Maybe I'm saying what you just said in a different way is that you saying a summer movie is light, fair and fun and I'm saying it, it was all that my comment or my quote is that this is family, it's fun and it's food. So you get the family connection on the tree with all of the people who are in the film. You get the fun parts of the fighting and some of the jokey jokes that you see, and then you get the fu, which is the fighting, and you wanna see it. I think it's a good family movie to go and check out.

Kathia Woods: 26:47

I agree. Again it's I agree with you. It has some moments where you're like, Hmm, don't know. But she is. But it is a good, it's a good. It is doing what it needs to do and it's fun for the family.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 27:03

We're in agreement and I guess we can move on to our final segment for this show and that final segment is re is about, I always want to come back and talk about the box office. I just do, I like it when we let's

Kathia Woods: 27:16

talk about it. That's,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 27:17

I like it when we get to talk about the box office and when we look the last week, it seems like you and I fixated on this movie called lemme see, what did they call it? Oh, sinners. Sinners. That movie. See. It seems like we are fixated on this movie called Sinners, but it actually broke a rec another record because it is the highest grossing horror film r rated horror film 'cause it made, because it made a, another $10 million over the weekend at the box office. Now the reports have it that because of what was spent, it real and the deal that Ryan made, it needs to make 300 million to start to recoup his money. But for Ryan, it doesn't need to do that. 'cause Ryan is getting his money off the top. So right now, if we look at centers, at the box office, we I haven't looked at the numbers. I think it's 58 maybe.

Kathia Woods: 28:15

No, it is that's why we, I know just so everybody that's listening. And watching. I went to Box Office Mojo, which is powered by A MDB Pro. It has made $338,880,497.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 28:35

Oh, worldwide. So worldwide I, we

Kathia Woods: 28:37

count.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 28:39

I was talking about domestically, domestic it at 258. Mm-hmm. And, but that 80 million does help internationally. And I think there's some other places hopefully, that it can spread. So kudos to centers for doing really, really well at the box office. And then let's look at the other leaders in the box office and for the weekend. Which means that, some of those movies they started they're counting even, I think they even count Thursday. But for that Memorial Day weekend, Lilo and Stitch did $182 million,

Kathia Woods: 29:18

which again proves something that I think a lot of us are saying that family. Films that Disney is far from done. It. I just feel like the other life action had so much off the, it just had so many other issues going, and that's why it had the situation that it had.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 29:40

What was interesting to me though is that Mission Impossible. The final reckoning only did, didn't even do 80 million.

Kathia Woods: 29:52

Yeah, but he is a, this is where you have Tom doing the global press tour. It did more internationally. Yes. I mean, 127 million compared to almost 80 million domestically, because at the end of the day. Tom is a global superstar and a movie like that internationally is going to do well, and I don't, is it even released in China?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 30:19

Yeah. That'll be a good thing to look at and see where did it release internationally. And I have to, obviously we got the, yeah,

Kathia Woods: 30:26

hold on. Let's see. No, it has not been released in China. So China alone, like when we talk about terrorists and movies and all this other stuff, which is above my pay grade, we gotta remember that. Certain movies, certain action movies certain ips do really well in China. China has 1 billion people. So if one out of 20 people goes to see it that alone can make box office money. So that's why you, a lot of this conversation between these two countries affects industries across the board and the movie industry included,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 31:07

In, in, in such a major way. You're absolutely correct in terms of the impact. For China, but also when you look at China, Japan, and India I'm not sure if it's in, did it go to India yet?

Kathia Woods: 31:23

Let's look it up. Don't we love this is where the in No, it hasn't been in certain, it's, it has not, see, it hasn't opened up in Brazil. It hasn't opened up

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 31:40

it is gonna definitely make most of this money. Yeah,

Kathia Woods: 31:43

it's gonna do more. It has not rolled out in certain foreign markets yet.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 31:48

It will absolutely do most of this money internationally, I believe. But what I wanna see is if it and I'm gonna look this up real quick. If you look at Will it. Come on. Oh, okay. Ma. Will it do, is it on track to do better than dead reckoning?

Kathia Woods: 32:14

I don't think so. I think Dead reckoning. I think it's gonna do great numbers, but it's not gonna do better then?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 32:22

Yeah, because Dead Reckoning did a whopping $571 million. I just don't, I don't know. I don't see them getting that close. And in fact, domestically dead reckoning did 172 million.

Kathia Woods: 32:39

I don't think it is, but I think it's going to do. I think it's gonna, it's gonna make its money.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 32:48

Then looking at the final part of the, of the box office. Just looking at what else is out there. You know the winner this year so far? One of the winners this year so far. And that movie is doing so, so well, which is, minecraft movie.

Kathia Woods: 33:04

Yeah. Again, family movies always 'cause you can hit across demographics are always gonna do better than R-rated movies because you are the ones I think and this is why we've had, these conversations, when you talk about movies that are very adult oriented, have a lot of violence and sexuality, and it's not that people shouldn't make the movie those movies, everything is not gonna be for everybody. There's always going to be an audience. Yes, that's going to be enticed, right? But this is why when certain filmmakers get really nervous when their movie gets rated x. Or gets an R rating for extreme violence. If you want to be, you wanna be in this pg, pg 13 area to really appeal across the board. So I'm not surprised again, with Minecraft, you have this video game. Consumer who played the game. I talked about my daughter having played the game when she was younger, and that was the drive behind her wanting to see the movie, how much of the elements of the game, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. You and I didn't play the game, so we are going into this. You know what I mean? Some of it probably I do, some of us probably were sitting there going I was like, what? What's happening? But again, I'm not surprised by that. Do I think it was like, do I think some talent was wasted in that movie? 100%. Do I feel like Jason's mour was needed in that movie? No. I think this movie would've been fine without him and Jack Black would've did what he needed to do. Speaking

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 34:46

of Jason Mamoa, he's in some Apple TV series, right?

Kathia Woods: 34:51

Yeah he talks about, he, again, he leans back into Samoan culture where he talks about Hawaii and the origins. And I think, again, it's a effort for someone like him to bring back to the history of Hawaii and, amidst of a lot of political turmoil of gentrification and how life on the island is just incredibly, incredibly expensive for the locals.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 35:18

And what's the name of that series though?

Kathia Woods: 35:21

Hold on one second. We

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 35:22

I want I think I'm gonna, I think I'm gonna go watch this series because it seemed like it was something really interesting.

Kathia Woods: 35:31

It's called Chase Mumo, chief of War. It's epic historical drama, chief of War starring written executive produced by Jay Moed. It's the beautiful backdrop of the island of Hawaii. The nine episode series based on true event follows, warrior Kaja ca Kayna portrayed by Momo as Sea Trust unified the islands before Western colonization in the late 18 century. It's a form of indigenous perspective. It's a passion project for Momoa and Thomas Pa Sibert, who both are native Hawaiian heritage. So again, I think it's his commitment. I also think, I think he has a deal with Apple TV plus 'cause he had his other show, C everybody was blind, but they still all fighting cross country wars, which was crazy. But so I do think this is that kind of,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 36:27

oh, excellent. That's gonna be one. I'm I do want to check out with that we're really at the end of our show, but I do wanna talk to you about the things that we might talk about next week. There are a couple of movies on the docket. I've seen the Phoenician scheme, and I'm not gonna say anything about the movie, but have you seen it yet?

Kathia Woods: 36:47

I have not. Okay. I have seen ballerina,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 36:50

I have not seen ballerina, so I'll see that by next time that we get together. I'm totally looking forward to that. In fact, I just got through watching a few of the John f John Wick movies again, and I'm gonna tell you this, I. I liked when Halle was in the John Wick series, Halle Berry, but I forgot. I thought she did a really good job. I watched it again. I was like, girl, go ahead on with your bad self. And

Kathia Woods: 37:19

yeah, and I believe she deserved a film before Anna and I enjoyed ballerina,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 37:24

I really liked her in in, in in the movie and I had to say to myself, oh, she actually, she kicked some butt in this.

Kathia Woods: 37:33

Yeah. So I've been training and everything and

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 37:36

her and

Kathia Woods: 37:37

the dogs alone and how she has the dogs. Yeah.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 37:41

Yeah I liked it, so I watched it again just recently. Just so I could be up and ready for ballerina. There's the movie, dangerous Animals and the movie, the Life of Chuck. Have you seen either, either one of those?

Kathia Woods: 37:54

I have seen the Life of Chuck. Mm-hmm.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 37:55

But I haven't seen the Life of Chuck, so maybe I'll try to check that out for next week. Anyway. As usual. It's always fun to get to, to talk about some movies. It seems like we, we both we both are saying check out Karate, karate, kid Legends. It was. It's definitely a cute and fun movie, so check it out. It's a nice family film. I'm not telling you to go pay full price, you go get a matinee, you'll be good. It's, it is fun. It's a fun Is that our

Kathia Woods: 38:25

discount? You know, if you got it,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 38:28

it's a phone one to check out. Well, w with that Katia where can people find your stuff? And actually what's the latest thing you got that you wrote about that people can check out?

Kathia Woods: 38:38

Tomorrow, what's today's Thursday, right? So tomorrow you'll see my Fountain of Youth interviews. You see my interview with Craig Tarn and my Karate Kid Legends interviews all@thephiladelphiatribute.com, and I have some stuff going up on the YouTube channel on Cup of Soul Show.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 38:58

Who did you get to talk to with karate Kid Legends?

Kathia Woods: 39:02

Chucky Chen Ralph Macho and Ben Wong.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 39:05

Oh, you talked to them all? Mm-hmm. Oh, that is definitely worth checking out. I'm gonna need to go and see it and link it out somewhere so other people can check that out as well, because that's fantastic that, that's a great cool to be able to get to talk to all of them. Excellent. Fantastic. With that. That's what, how

Kathia Woods: 39:23

can people find you

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 39:24

stuff? Say that again.

Kathia Woods: 39:28

Now where can people find your stuff?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 39:30

Oh, of course. You could find my stuff@indigo.com. I just did an interview with this Chicago woman, these two Chicago women who did a documentary called Finding Your Laughter, and it's about out one of the women who father was. Suffering for from a Alzheimer and Alzheimer's. And she used that in her standup com comedic career. And in dealing with him to be able to deal with and. Pushed through. He eventually passed away, but it's the documentary's not out yet, but these two women are working on that documentary. And the pieces that I've seen of, firstly, it's an interesting concept to, to bring your pain to laughter. So that's always interesting. And so you can check that out@indigo.com. You can also check me out@bolo.org where I review movies. And this week I'll be talking a little bit more about the. Karate Kids legends and where else? A couple other places, but brother, be worker, brother. Be worker. So thanks for reminding me to say that. Well, we got two critics, two opinions, and one mission. And that's where dialogue engages, educates and entertains and sometimes it escalates. And this time we didn't even have, we didn't even have a stiff No, no escalation here.

Kathia Woods: 40:56

We, we always have friendly spiffs. We don't have, we don't

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 41:00

to with that, we'll see you guys next time.

Kathia Woods: 41:03

See you next time.