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, Kaia. How are you? I hope all is well.

Kathia Woods: 0:09

I am, I am. Count down to the birthday and just trying to stay still for a little bit. What day is your birthday? The 15th. We're gonna be double nickel.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:20

Girl. Well, we let's see. We'll have a birthday edition. Everything we talk about is gonna be you need to make the the agenda for the next one birthday edition and be like whatever you wanna talk about is what we gonna talk about. Oh,

Kathia Woods: 0:33

I appreciate you.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 0:34

That, that's gonna, that's gonna be real, really good. Let's move to our first segment,'cause I got a number of things that I want to talk about in what's on my mind. The first thing I want to talk about is I saw your post on. Thanking one of your collaborators or a person who was helping you, allowing you to collaborate with them and just talking about how the black women are coming through. And so I just thought that was a fantastic, and I'd like for you just to expound on that for a sec.

Kathia Woods: 1:07

We all have our positives and our negatives in this industry and I think, we talk about the negatives, but we also gotta talk about the positives. And one of them is Tanya Pendleton, who I met at TIFF Ali enough, and we were both in the Philadelphia area and asked me to contribute to her show. On Word. And that show has been on for two years and we've been rocking for two years, and she gave me an opportunity to, to raise my brand. And I think it's important that we do make, public grandiose statues for. Black women that have looked out for us. You know what I mean? Especially in this climate where people are very comfortable getting on the mic and talking crazy about black women, and I just am really appreciative of her friendship and, just the community and it's just, just wanted to say thank you to her publicly and, for letting me and exposing me to her audience.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 2:04

I, I love that. I know, my friend Bonnie Deshaun, and when talking about just people allowing you to be on their platform, Bonnie is on jam 98, which is a online station, and I get to chop it up with her. Every week as well. You're right the sisters they're coming through and they're doing their thing. So I'm really glad that you mentioned that. Thanks for that. The next thing that's on my mind is I really wanna talk to you about, I think somebody went to a festival, a concert where and before we even talk about that, you get on my last nerve. I'm absolute last nerve because you're in all the spaces that I want to be and I know that it, you're not supposed to be envious, but man, can I go to the Roots Festival too?

Kathia Woods: 2:53

This year was given a little bit Burning Man the first day. And I am not a girl if you know I am a girl's girl. I do not like mud. Mm-hmm. That's why I'd be looking at Coachella and I'd be like, mm, I didn't know about that. That don't look like I need to be there. Or definitely Burning man. I was like, what? I in the middle nowhere, like, no. You, those of you that saw, I can, you know, my anxiety, why my anxiety was up, but. It is just, for those that are not from Philadelphia, are not aware, the Roots picnic was started by the roots in 2008. They wanted to have a festival that had kind of like the atmosphere of a family reunion that had you know, good things. Where I had all the components where you have music, where you have good food and people can come together and you can sit and have your drinks and everything. It used to be for those of you that are from the Philadelphia area, are familiar with the Philadelphia used to be on a waterfront. I. Right off of Delaware af, Columbus af, whatever you wanna call it. I still call it Delaware af'cause don't nobody know what Columbus is, which is right by the water. Think the other side of the naval yard. And it was like a concrete jungle and then you couldn't spread it out as much. And then I wanna say three years ago, three years ago, it moved to the Man, man is an amphitheater in West Philadelphia. And that is where it was had and that's where they have, so you have bigger grass fields and then they can set up multiple stages and you can kind of spread it out more. So this year, because again, global warming is real and there were a lot of there was a lot of rain. So think grass, so it got a little muddy, right? So there's a general emission entrance. So people usually start like doors open at one, people come. Normal world, people hit the stage at two. But because it was unsafe, because of the rain, it got muddy. And they don't want people slipping and sliding and I certainly was not gonna be out there like that. They couldn't get into the venue. But the problem was they were stuck. So even if you have VIP silver, VIP gold, and people paid a mint, it was 1400, 7 99 for silver. And like 200 and some for general admission, you are like stuck to go in, and you can't veer off. So these people were stuck for several hours before they were able to go in and you know, social media, what you, what social media is people got on social media and let it be known that they are not messing with the roots crew. But I think where the failure was, is the failure to communicate. They should have said something in the app once they noticed and looked at the weather that it was going to be raining. Let's push this thing back until three. Also, there should have been a conversation about the people that did get stuck in line about getting the medical attention. Water. You have enough sponsor, you could get, got somebody a little granola bar, a little bit of water. And then also, whether it's porta potties or something so people can go to the bathroom. You know what I mean?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 6:10

Yeah.

Kathia Woods: 6:11

So I think that was where the failure to communicate, I've said this before, I love the roots picnic. I think there are a lot of positives about the roots picnic, but one of the problems is you hire a PR company that is out of New York that doesn't understand how Philadelphia works, that doesn't hire Philadelphia people to include, to help them understand how to navigate. Which is 52nd and Parkside 50th and Parkside, which is West Philly. Then you get lost in translation because if Philadelphia's a different city than New York. And also it is people expect. A certain level because the roots are from Philadelphia and because they do love the roots. And I think that unfortunately they allow social media to take over the narrative. So after some, many, many, many videos, they finally gave a statement, apologized and everything. But I do think going forward you need to communicate better. We have social media, we have. The apps, we have various different ways. The website to communicate with people. So there's, and also getting it out to the local news and radio stations to say, Hey, beloved, we not starting this thing until three o'clock. But the upside is all the acts went on. All the acts went on, including Maxwell, who stepped in for DeAngelo. DeAngelo pulled out, Maxwell jumped in and it did happen. It was muddy, I'm not gonna lie. I.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 7:45

So you know my

Kathia Woods: 7:45

question, but I was like a statue. I was like, woo. And then somebody, I said, please don't put hands on me because if I fall in this mud, we gonna fight. Right.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 7:55

My question,'cause we do have to move on to our next stuff, is how was the music? Was it good? The music

Kathia Woods: 8:01

was great and I love, here's the upside, let's talk about the upside. We got to see some of our oldest are goodies. Now I'm gonna give this, let Reggie's gonna be really happy right now. There was an old house music, rich Medina had Crystal Waters and C. C Pennington on the stage. First of all, crystal Waters is 60 plus. Crystal Waters. Looks freaking amazing. Amazing. She looks amazing. Was up there dancing and everything, right? Shout out to, to them. Maxwell, as always is money, right? Miguel was out there, it was raining and Miguel was out here in his little glory. Lotto was great. Shout out to Gorilla. She may, maybe small in stature, but she's mighty. Out there, she's the girl of the moment, also Lady Alma again, getting back to house music and dance music. So there was a lot of Philadelphia's talent on Jersey talent on the stage. I had me some Philly food'cause I had me a real pretzel'cause you cannot get a good pretzel outside of Philadelphia. So I really I went a little crazy on the carbs, so I had me, my, my pretzel saw my people for my funnel cake. Because, we were walking, so I had me a good time and the music was music Soulchild too was out there. RB as a whole was featured. And of course I, the Roots crew did their thing once, it did take over. The man. So yes, you had a little bit of Chicago and Philadelphia. I know Reggie would've been like,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 9:27

I, I all the artists that you mentioned, I would've been like on it. So I would've been happy. But I am not the mud person either. We have this thing here that's not African American based is Lalapalooza and Loza. When we get that rain and we always, it is always rainy during Lollapalooza. These people are sloshing in the mud. They're doing stuff like, what is that? The slip and slide? No, no. People are just sliding through the mud, having a great time drinking their beers and just thinking. It's wonderful. It's not for me. So I totally understand your mud thing. There was one thing that I want to ask you before we move on, and you had a pretzel. I'm not eating meat these days, but I have not, and I'm not trying to blow smoke here. I have not had a good Philly cheese steak outside of Philly. I just have not, I've not had one and so when I was eating meat, I would always go. Get me a Philly cheese steak. So did you have one or no?

Kathia Woods: 10:38

I didn't go full fledged. I felt it still, the funnel cake and the pretzels. We did enough. But if you are not a red meat eater, go to Ishka Bibb on South Street. Ishka Bibb. Not some other place. Ishka Bibbs on South Street. Not the one further down the little, the little hot sliding joint.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 10:58

Okay.

Kathia Woods: 10:59

Where you eat by the bar stools or you can have it via the through window. Best chicken steak. It is so good. I mean like I'm so glad that Eve put it out there too. If you want a chicken steak, that is where you go and you can get it accompanied with the boardwalk fries, which are a little thicker. That will hit the spot. Now I'm sorry I can't help you with the vegetarian spot.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 11:28

That's okay. That's okay.

Kathia Woods: 11:28

Industry, you know what I mean? That that's okay. I respect anybody's food choices. But if you are not, if you are a person that is not. Red meat based. I got you. With the chicken steak and it's really good. And you gotta get the Amer, don't get the cheese with, you gotta get the American cheese and then have that and it's like a nice chicken breast and it's seasoned.'cause we season our meat. I might

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 11:53

have to, I might have to do that. So that's great. Well, I wanna move. I

Kathia Woods: 11:57

think, and also, like I said is, hey, summer festivals, I don't know about anybody else.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 12:04

Food is food. Well, I wanna move. Oh, I know the last question. Food

Kathia Woods: 12:06

is a portion of that, right? So to me it's what's the point of being at a summer festival? I don't care if it's food, drinks, jazz, whatever. If you can't get some good food, some fun food, at least

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 12:17

yes or no, yes or no answer, yes or no answer this, all you can do is say yes or no. Would you recommend people to attend the Roots Festival next year?

Kathia Woods: 12:30

Yes.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 12:32

There we go. My, what's on my mind is really about the American Black Film Festival. I used to go to the A BFF all the time, and it was one of my favorites because it was, everything was accessible. The movies were accessible, the. Stars were accessible, the fun and the parties were accessible. I always had a great time going to the A BFF. So for 10 years I was the red carpet host for the A BFF and just had a blast. If I interviewed Kevin Hart one more time, he probably would've just put me on one of his SIR XM radio shows or something. Dang, dang. I wish he would have, but. This year it's in Miami as, which is the main place that the A BFF is, and it's from June the 11th to the 15th. I'm excited because I'm always thinking about that Chicago connection. So what's the Chicago connection this year? Year, this year? They're doing a tribute to Love Jones. Their ambassadors are Lorenz, Tate, and Nia Long, and I love, love, love Jones. It You always ask the question, when there's a movie set in Chicago or in Philly, does it represent the city? Does it, is it accurate? More than it represented the city. It represented the vibe that was happening during that time and that vibe of doing that poetry and having. That environment. Oh man, I, I felt that, I think I might've told you, is that it? It's one of my favorite movies and the reason it's my, one of my favorite movies is because it reminds me of a time that I was trying to be like a Loren Tate. Now I was trying to be like a Loren Tate before a Darius before the movie because I proposed to my wife at a speakeasy kind of place. Very, very similar to what was happening in Love Jones. That's what I did. I went up there, did a couple of poems and all of a sudden she's looking at me all weird. Like, did he did it? He, he's talking to me. The, my friends who were there were like, Donna, Donna, what you gonna say? She couldn't even say Yes. I, for a minute I thought it might, might, I might have bombed because it might not have happened. So I am really excited about this tribute. To Love Jones. And one of the things that I like the movie just period, but one of the things, because you're the music person, I decided that we would just talk for a minute, just for a minute about the soundtrack. Ooh. And the soundtrack for Love Jones. You just got through mentioning Maxwell and you know. In that movie was something, something. So something, something, not something, something, something, something. So there were so many good songs, great songs that came out of that movie that I just want to tell people you need to go and listen to the soundtrack. And in fact, you might not even know that these songs were on the soundtrack. If you've never seen the movie. Think about, in a sentimental mood. You got Duke Ellington on there. You had, they had the one that Nia did Nia Long did was it was called Nina's poem. I'm looking at music and then you had Darius doing his thing, brother to the night. Oh my goodness. Come, come brother to the night was the jam. The way he delivered that in the film. Oh my goodness. They had escape. They had Kenny La Latimore and they had groove Theory come on. And then, you know, they had, I Got a Love Jones for you by the refugees camp. I'm just saying that. Soundtrack was all that. That's, I'm done. I just want you to comment on the music,'cause you the music person.

Kathia Woods: 16:57

One of my favorite songs is Hopeless by Deanne Ferris. On that soundtrack. I don't think, I think Deanne Ferris is a artist that is so undervalued and I feel like the labels didn't know what to do with her, but that is just, that song is so perfect, they say I'm hopeless. That song is just really, really good. You

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 17:18

know what? That song is fire,

Kathia Woods: 17:20

isn't it? I think that is a very a very unique song. And then you ha you Move me by Cassandra Wilson, who is a jazz artist. And I think I think you opened up Pandora's Box a little bit. We used to have. And I'll be brief'cause I know we gotta get to our MO movies, but we used to have in these movies shows, now we have a playlist. But we used to have specific. Songs like and Forever, I think the TV show has a beautiful playlist, right? But those songs weren't specifically creative for the show. They were like a musical director picked these songs, but I feel like we're losing in some of our black content. I think Issa Rae did a good job with that, with Insecure, where she would pick people that weren't necessarily mainstream artists, her team to be played right. But I think we are losing some of that where we used to put people on via the soundtracks of our black movies, especially r and b, where you would have people that aren't necessarily, mainstream, but I think you hit the nail on the button.'cause now when we think about this movie, it's more than just the story. We also think about the music and how it just transformed us to these different scenes.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 18:46

Well, I'm really glad that you mentioned that, and I'm very, very happy that you mentioned the song Hopeless by Dionne Ferris. That song is absolutely classic. I hope that people will go back after listening to this and. Just, just take a listen to the songs that came from this movie. Love Jones.

Kathia Woods: 19:09

100%. What else you got, Reggie? What was, that's it. That's it? That's

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 19:13

it. That's it for our long, our Long What's On My Mind segment, but I had a lot, I mean, I had a lot that I wanted us to cover. Let's talk about movies. Moving into our first movie. Let's talk about the film. The Phoenician scheme.

Kathia Woods: 19:30

I saw your video.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 19:32

You saw you. Okay, so you saw my social media post on the Phoenician scheme, so I'm gonna let you start this one first.'cause if you saw my video, you know why I'm gonna let you start this one first.

Kathia Woods: 19:49

So the overview on this film is Wealthy Businessman Zaza Corda, which is played by Venicio Deltoro, appoints his only daughter or nun as sole heir to his estate as Cord embark in a new centerpiece. They soon become the target of scheming tycoons foreign terrorists and determine assassins right. And Mia, I'm gonna say her name correctly, Mia. Trio Plate plays Sister Liesl, his daughter. So the way I'm interpreting this when I saw it, and I have to say, I went into this being like, you know what? I've had my issues with Wes Anderson films. They haven't always worked for me, but I kind of like this one. The way that I looked at this was like that. Benicio who has been in a lot of Wes' movies, right? Yeah. Is a businessman that, that he don't always deal in the up and up. So he's trying to have this thing built right, this vision, this thing that he wants to have built. And he looks at his children, first of all, and he's okay, I think my daughter will be the best person to help be the heir to my empire because she has the least like. She has the least invested. So she's not gonna try to, she's not trying to, she's gonna, I'm gonna be able to persuade her to see things my way. That's just thinking.'cause she's a nun and she has no vested interest in other words, but. In the meanwhile, in order to get his vision done, he's gotta do business. He has all these different business partners, and since he is a SKYY businessman, he's trying to have them absorb a lot of the costs so he can have all the glory, but they're tired of dealing with him and his shenanigans. Meanwhile, he, because of his way of doing business, all these people are constantly trying to kill him. So, you know, he's been the running joke also in this is that he survived, I don't know how many, 13, 14, 15 plane crashes. Like the man won't die. Yeah, yeah. But I think is. That's the gist of the story. So as he's dealing with, is meeting with each entity, he is trying to figure out how to scam them before they scam him. And of course, they're sick and tired of his stuff. Now the key to Wes Anderson is number one you gotta give it to him even if you don't like his content. The cinematographer is always beautiful and interesting. He has a certain. Visual aesthetic, right? It doesn't look like it ever takes place in the real world. And I think that's done on purpose. It's very colorful and the costuming is always like from another era, right? But it's taking place in present day and it always, and it shout out to the set designer. So you have all of that going on. It's very.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 22:48

And generally you liked it?

Kathia Woods: 22:50

I did. I enjoyed it. And also the other thing too is I thought I was gonna have to be in this thing for two and a half to three hours.'cause sometimes, and I got really comfortable and then I looked up and it was only like an hour and some change and I was like, hallelujah, I'm gonna be home, but before 10:00 PM which is a win-win. But I liked it. I completely understand this is not going to be a lot of people's jam, but I liked it and I thought it was quirky, and I understood for once what was going on. And, and again, I love to

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 23:24

meet Bill Toro okay, so, you know that I did not understand what was going on in my review. I'm saying it is quirky, but it's funny, it's, there's a way, there's a way in which while I didn't understand it all, that the jokes are somewhat compartmentalized and you could understand them. And so I laughed. I thought that the characters were weird, but that they were interesting. And that the performances were solid all the way around. And you just spoke about that inclu including the cameos. I thought they did a great job with the cameos, which I don't want to tell you everybody who's gonna pop up, but they, the performances were good all the way around. So these are the things I like. And, you know, anytime that they referenced basketball, I'm a happy camper. So the fact that they had to shoot a couple of hoops to make a deal was pretty funny to me. And I liked that. Then to your point about looking good on a big screen, the colors on this, they really do jump out. But there was some things that I didn't like about this film. The first one is, it's confusing. It really is confusing the plot. It's not just a plot, which is very, very convoluted because it's, you're talking about fixed prices, there's shell corporations, there's closing the gap in terms of trying to figure out how he is gonna pay for it, and so on and so forth. So all of that's confusing. But the other piece is why should the viewer care? They didn't do enough, in my opinion, to make it where you should care about these. These characters like, okay, they got a scheme going on. It's kind of funny, but it doesn't relate to anything that, for me, the film is so expansive because it's going all to all these different places that, for me, it really doesn't have a clear focus. They're going all around the world, so to stay in our music. Our music groove. Can I just modify Lisa Stansfield quote and stand and say is they were been around the world and they can't find the meaning. I could not find the meaning for this one. Now, don't get me wrong again, I laughed at this, at things. I, lot of things I didn't completely understand. I thought that the characters were too removed from reality, but not close enough to pure fantasy. Kind of placing it in that middle, making it curious, but not complete. And if you don't understand what I mean, don't worry about it.'cause I didn't understand what I meant either. Is that it? It's fascinating to watch. It really is. It's a fascinating movie to watch, but difficult to fully connect with. So my rating is that I felt like this is entertaining, but it was bewildering, it was funny, and it really didn't have too much of a meaning on my scale of four reels. I'm giving it a two that if you're curious enough to want to go check it out, cool. But, and if you want to see this and see it on the big screen, cool. But then would I pay the money to go see it? Uh, I don't think so. I saw it for free. That's my thought.

Kathia Woods: 26:33

I would see it. I would pay to see it. I think it's a good key key. And again, if you go, I think if you go in there with no expectation, you're gonna be pleasantly surprised. I thought it was quirky, it was fun. I thought Anderson finally put together something where it's not just for his fan base, but people that normally are skeptical, you know, skeptical, skeptical about his work, are able to enjoy this because also it's not super, super long and super, super complicated. And there are some terrific cameos. And again, Benizio loved that he leans into this really quirky off kilter man. The dialogue is very witty. I really enjoyed it. And again, I normally, when it comes to Wes Anderson, I'm like, Ooh, this is about to be. It's, this is gonna be a tough one. You know what I mean? And, okay. I actually, I laughed through it. I enjoyed it.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 27:41

I am not telling people to go to not go see it, but I'm not telling people to go see it. Th that, that's where I am. All right. Let's move on to our, let's move on to our next movie. We got one person recommending it and then one person being too shaky to say no or yay, or nay. So, that's me. Let's move on to our next movie, and that next movie is a movie that actually, that I am really looking, was really looking forward to seeing, and I was really looking forward to seeing it for a number of reasons. And it is, the movie is from the world of John Wick. Ballerina. So what's it about? Well, in the world of John Wick, during the third installment, Eve McCarroll, played by Anna Diarist witnesses, her father being murdered, and is taken in and trained by the Russ Roma, led by the director, played by Angelica Houston Eve just cannot get over the brutal murder. And although she has been forbidden, I mean forbidden by the director to seek revenge. Eve uses all that. She's learned to track down this mysterious and elusive group of murderers. Who's in it? Well, I told you a couple folks. We got Anna Dees, we got Angelica Houston. We got Gabriel Bryan, we have Lance Reddick Lina Sino Moreno. We have Norman Redis. And then we have Sharon Duncan Brewster, Ian Mcsa, and Keanu Reeves. So for me, what was it to like. Many times franchises have to look really, really hard to extend their narrative. But the makers of John Wick really didn't have to look far. The writers explored this rich landscape that they have in John Wick and it, and this landscape is rich. In fact, last week we were talking about how Halle Berry's character could have had, had a movie. So it's a rich landscape. They got plenty of people that they could focus in on, and it makes sense. So Eve after witnessing her father's murder is a perfect instrument to continue the blood in mayhem and her hunt for the chancellor played by Gabriel Bryan is delightfully ruthless. If you are looking for that John Wick stuff, it is ruthless and unrelenting and on top of that it has that John Wick style and creativity. We just talked about how Wes Anderson has a style. John Wick has a style and you know it's John Wick when you see it. And in fact their style, people are trying to duplicate it, but they can't duplicate it. So John Wick is not only known for killing, he is known for how he kills and Eve does him and the franchise proud. There are certainly many casualties along the way, which certifies Eve as a bonafide beast, but the way she disposes of her opponents is brutal. And sometimes cringeworthy. Y'all know me. I'm already a scary cat, so there are some kills in this that I was like, oh snap. We got the guns, we got knives, we got ice skates. I'm not spoiling anything'cause that's in the trailer. We got grenades, we got hand-to-hand combat. So lovers of this franchise will not be disappointed and will be on the edge of their seat. For me, the battle choreography has the graying style of, excuse my pun, a ballerina, and the cinematic style of that makes every confrontation visually arresting and worth watching. And if you thought you might not like this film without John wit, don't worry. Reeves Reprises, his role to satisfy that craving and the filmmakers battle. The need to have John Wick in the film with the mindset that Eve could be, I'm just saying, could be the new franchise of this film. I mean new face of this, of franchise, and you get WIC and Eve, they got a Showdown. Showdown in the film. I won't tell you what happens, but WIC does get to be wic and Eve gets to learn what it means to try to follow in his footsteps. I think that this movie does an excellent job of giving us our favorite characters while introducing us to some new ones. Most notably Reddick gets to is there one more time? And we get to see him. And it's a delight to see him master his craft as he does. It's bittersweet, but it's absolutely a delight to see him do that. That's all the things that I liked about the film. There's some new folks. You got Gabriel Bryan, you, you got Sharon a Brewster. I liked all the new people that they put in there, and then they got the little girl who plays Ella Ava, Joyce McCarthy. And I think that they got a lot more to say beyond this installment, and it looks like they, they might. Have a future in the John Whi fan franchise. Anyway, so I like this film. I enjoyed it a lot, but I will tell you, it is not for everybody. It is not, it is really brutal. I mean, it's, it is a brutal film. So that's, those are my thoughts. I took a long time on it, but I like this one.

Kathia Woods: 32:43

Alright. To. Oh, go ahead. For me, I didn't love it as much as I do the John Wick films I literally wrote in my review, you need to go on and look at this as its own entity. You can't go in wanting it to be on the level of the John Wick film. I thought that Anna did what she needed to do. I thought it was smart that they adjusted the choreography to a woman assassin, not having her try to fight like a man because her strengths are different. I thought some of the best fights scenes, sorry, Jesper just walked in. Some of the best fight scenes were the ones where she was in the town with all of the assassins, where literally everybody in that town is like an assassin, which is crazy when. She's like using a frying pen, a pick, and all these different things to fight the people. One of my favorite sequences was the beginning of the movie with David, the guy who played her father Javier. As they're coming across around the corners, those fight sequences, the tight ones where he's doing the hand to hand. Brilliant. Now, where it goes a little for me is the story. I thought the story was a little lackluster, and I know people are like, it's an action field. The reason we care about John Wick is because of his story, right? He went on this whole thing, somebody killed his dog and he's trying to balance. And rectify being this killer. But at the same token, he doesn't want that life anymore. Like he's trying to get out of this organization and they just will not let him. Every time he turns get out, they're pulling him in. There is a whole situation here with who he is. I get the whole ballerina backdrop, that's the guys they use in order to train these kids and house them and whatever you have there. But I just felt like the story was not as enticing. And I feel like sh her adversaries were not as enticing as with John. You have Danny Yin, who's like the blind assassin who's getting his own series and he's gonna direct it, and I'm really excited about that. Also the whole Asian component. We kind of like lost that all together with ballerina. But I think as a, as part of the universe, I feel like it's not adding to the John Wick universe. It's not no say, it ain't. So for me, it's not adding, I don't think you need it. Because it's supposed to be taking place. In between three, three and four. After three and four. And I'm just like, how and why? But I think if you look at it as its own entity, then yes, but I do think it is, it's okay. You know what I mean? It's like a six out of 10 for me, and I really wanted to love it more because I love John Wick, like I'm here. It doesn't bother me that the brutality of it, because these are really bad people. Like you can't be like, these people will cut off your finger and everything. Also Gabriel Byrne as the bad guy. Mm. Don't know I would like to have more screen time with Angelica Houston. Also Norman Ritas, who played Pie, the first person that she's in there. But the little girl who we know from Walking Dead, I think he deserved a little bit more. I just and I did think it was the part where you had John in there was cool, but overall all together, it was a little. It was a little flims. I think she deserved a better story. We don't get a lot of assassin films with women. Leading and being in that. I just felt they did her a little. And this is the from the director that comes from that did the underworld for Kate Becken saw. And if you ever watched the Underworld, that's fire. If you really like that type of stuff and you like women leading and that type of stuff, I just felt she deserved something with little bit more me. But Anna did what she needed to do with what she was given. So for me, it's a six out of 10.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 37:00

Wow. So I disagree with you so much on this, that that's okay. The way in which they fashioned the story was more substantial than a dog. I know that, that Jasper just walked in, but come on. Are you going to be more upset if they kill Jasper or if they kill a husband? I don't want you to answer that. Don't an don't answer. Don't answer that question. Don't, don't, don't, don't answer that question.'cause Kevin is listening, so I do. Do not. I'm, they killed my dad. They killed my father. That's more than enough for her to do what she's doing. John, they killed your dog, man. Come on you upset.'cause it's a dog. You's just a dog. That made a little funny, but I really feel for Eve's character. They killed my daddy. That's enough story for me right there. So I do think that maybe they went with a lot more action maybe, but I think they needed to do that too, because from a man's perspective, we don't support. Women in movies like this enough, in my opinion, we don't support them enough like this. I think that she did everything that she needed to do for men to say, yes, I want to go see this film because men are a big audience for these types of movies. And I just think that they did the choreography well, that. They gave me all the action that I'd want to see. I gave this three and a half out of four. I really liked it and I thought that they did a pretty good job. So we just gonna, we're just gonna have to agree to disagree. However, I will say for people who are looking for more of a story, I think you're right there If you are looking for a story driven thing because we just get that her dad is killed and she's looking for revenge. But if you looking for a lot more story in there, you're right. I agree with you that they could have shown some of these other characters a little bit more as well, but I think that's gonna come in some of these other installments. I think that they set it up. For us to see that. But this film is not for everyone. It's not for the faint of heart. No it is a slow build story and it's not really for that reality seeker if you are looking for this to be reality. It's not that I think this is a killer's paradise and this time wig didn't have to do all the killing. It's vivid, it's vicious, and I think it is victorious.

Kathia Woods: 39:46

I do think, I think that part of the story I get her, but the sister and some of this other stuff, that's where it got a little Yankee for me. Do you know what I mean? What does that have to do with them coming? Like why? Did they kill her father? Like what was that reasoning? We never really got a clarity on it, right?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 40:08

We did. And I can't say here we did. They told us why they killed him.

Kathia Woods: 40:13

Yeah, but did you think I just felt like, wait a minute, we doing all of this, like you sending everybody in the kitchen sink. Because,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 40:21

because just like John Wick, you can't get out. We cannot allow you to get out. Once you're in, you're in. There's no, give me a coin, and you get out of the game people to trying to get outta the game.

Kathia Woods: 40:36

I, I hear you. It's just, like I said, it's for me, I wanted, my expectations were so high because I do love the John Wick film so much and I love. All of that. I just felt like they could have given her more. But you know what? Depending on how the movie does, and hopefully the movie is successful, maybe we'll get a little bit more. It will get flushed out in Ballerina too.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 41:01

Well, that's it for our movies. Now we move into our last segment, and our last segment is Rant and Rave, and here it is. This is, I don't even know if I'm ranting or raving. I just have a question for you, Patia.

Kathia Woods: 41:15

Got it.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 41:17

I'm headed to New York and I can't watch the screenings that the critics have here in Chicago'cause I'm in New York. I'm actually in New Jersey. So I can go from New Jersey to Philly to watch screenings, or I can go from New Jersey to New York to watch screenings and I'm doing both, but I have a conflict, not which city to go to. Because the movie I'm going to go see in, in Philly I have to bring up my calendar. The movie that I'm gonna go see in Philly is F1, so I'm gonna go to Philly to watch F1. But the movies that I have a choice of, and I need your opinion, should I go see 28 years later on Tuesday? Or because they're at the same time, or Elio, which movie should I go see?

Kathia Woods: 42:18

Okay, wait a minute. So Elio and 20, I would go see Elio because you are a little bit of a scared dec cat.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 42:31

Oh. So I reached out to both of the. Reps for each movie. They both tried to work magic and say, Hey, these movies you can go see them and this is it. So let us know. So now I'm on the hook for both and I can't go to both. So I'm going to piss somebody off and you're telling me to go ahead and piss off the Sony. I think it's the, is it the Sony people? For 28 days later.

Kathia Woods: 43:02

I just, yeah, I think they'll understand. Just say it, you can't be in two places and I do think that, yeah, I think that's

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 43:10

so I wanna throw another, I throw another wrench in here. Oh, boy. Is that 20? You are absolutely right. I am a scaredy cat. I don't know if I could take. 28 days later, I'm not really sure if I go by myself, I'm in a different city. I'm by myself that I'm not sure I can do this, but 28 days later has set a record for advanced ticket sales. So this is probably going to be one of the most talked about movies and you're telling me not to go see it, and I think rightfully because I think I like, like your suggestion, but I'm just throwing that wrench in there that. It's setting a record for a presales, and it's not even out yet.

Kathia Woods: 43:55

Well, okay, I know you, and if you sit through 28 days without going like this, Ooh, what? Woo, what? What? And also, I would suggest you go, see, I would suggest you look at this trailer too and ask yourself, are you being gonna feel comfortable sitting through that?

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 44:16

I don't think I am. I don't think I am, but I needed some help.

Kathia Woods: 44:20

Are you gonna spend half the time in the theater? Are you gonna bring a little blanket and you're gonna be like, Ooh, ooh. And then you're gonna, I,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 44:27

I, I am I need to choose wisely. I will tell you that because I will have to catch a train from Jersey to New York, get on the subway, get it. Deals

Kathia Woods: 44:38

with exposure and infection. That means, you know.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 44:42

Get, get that's, but I still have to catch a train to go to Philly, so Stop it.

Kathia Woods: 44:46

Stop it. It's, is it a epidemic? Woo. It's getting into some stuff, you know, bodily fluid. When,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 44:53

When I go to Philly, I'm gonna go, I don't even know where this is. So You might as well. I, firstly, thank you. Thank you for your advice. And the last thing I'll talk about is the theater or where I'm going to in Philly and I'm going to the fashion district to see F1. Do you know where that is? 9 0 1 Market Street.

Kathia Woods: 45:14

Yeah. Gonna be right. You'll be downtown because you take the train into downtown, you'll be at 30th Street and you can either, if you're feeling really adventurous, you can take the subway into the fashion district, which used to be the gallery, and then just walk over. Or just take it to city hall and then walk down, and then you can do, it's gonna be a one-two punch. That's that right downtown you, it's not like you gotta go and, you know what I mean? Wow. But I'm just saying F1 is gonna, I'm looking forward to F1. I think F1 is gonna be really amazing.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 45:45

Yeah. I'm looking forward to F1 too. See, what I would have done is I would've called a friend who lives in Philly asking to pick me up and then go to, I would've

Kathia Woods: 45:52

done it, that I've done it. Like, come on now. Don't do.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 45:59

Your daughter's still in Philly. She can come pick me up. What's up? What's up?

Kathia Woods: 46:03

You know what you should stop by. I'm gonna tell her that you should stop by you should stop by the Nike store'cause she works at the Nike store in the fashion district.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 46:14

All right I'll stop by and try to say hi to her. Well anyway, that's it. That's all we got. Did you write about the Roots Festival? I.

Kathia Woods: 46:22

Yes, I did. You can see it. You can go to the Philly, it's philly trip.com and you can see not only my words, but my pictures. A girl does have some skills.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 46:33

All right. All right. We you did the full coverage, huh?

Kathia Woods: 46:36

Yes,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 46:36

I did. All right. And where else can people check you out? You can,

Kathia Woods: 46:41

Check me out at the Sacramento Observer, and of course, couple Soul show.com.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 46:47

Well, you can check me out at vocalo.org. That's V-O-C-A-L-O, and you can also check me out with Bonnie at Bonnie's Eye on film on Jam 98, which is a online radio station, as well as indigo do com. That's our show. We had some fun. Thank you so much, Kaia. I hope you, you can get a little bit of rest and, and think about the question that I asked you. Is it Jasper or is it Kevin? Think and think long. Think long.

Kathia Woods: 47:20

And me as my Gemini friend's laying here on the on the floor and it's like, Reggie, I thought we were friends. Why are you, why are you trying to, why are you trying to have me give up my spot? As he's comfortably,

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 47:37

I am not trying to get you to give up your spot, Jasper.

Kathia Woods: 47:40

He's gonna be like, I thought we were cool friend.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 47:43

I'm not trying to get you to give up your spot, obviously, will Smith. And his movie was worried about his dog over his family too. So, whatever. I guess the dogs prevail. It's a dog eat dog world. That's our show. There's two critics, two opinions, and one mission where dialogue engages, educates, entertains, and occasionally escalates.'cause we escalated it this time'cause I do not agree with Katia on ballerina, but it is what it is. That's our show and we'll see. We just agreed

Kathia Woods: 48:12

on the Ian, she and that's okay. That's why we have both of us, you know.

Reggie Ponder, The Reel Critic: 48:17

That is true. That's our show and we'll see you guys next time.

Kathia Woods: 48:21

See you next time.