A Drop of Happy

Captain America: Brave New World – A Hero’s Journey Against All Odds

Captain America: Brave New World – A Hero’s Journey Against All Odds
Journal Prompt: What are three things I can do this week to take care of myself?
Captain America: Brave New World starting with Anthony Mackie and Harrison Ford was released in theaters on February 14th. Now, I admit that I did not have high hopes for this movie based on a couple of things. Ever since Avengers: Endgame Marvel hasn’t been hitting it like it used to and the trailers I’ve watched for Brave New World did not get me excited enough about this new Marvel movie. Nevertheless, I was determined to see for myself because the racist trolls were trying to take it down before it even got the chance all because they did not like a black Captain America. They did not even care that the storyline followed the comics and even had one host talking about how Steve gave the shield to some random black guy. Random (in my Soldier Boy voice)! We will not have it oh. So my son and I decided to check it out on opening night.
Captain America: Brave New World finds Sam, the new Captain America, working closely with the President of the United States on a mission that ends up going sideways. Eventually, they find themselves on opposite teams again while Sam tries to get to the bottom of an evil plan to spark off a potential World War Three situation. Starring Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson aka Captain America, Harrison Ford as Thaddeus Ross, Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres, Giancarlo Esposito as Sidewinder, and Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley to name a few, Captain America: Brave New World does not disappoint.
I was pleasantly surprised and entertained to the point that I will be watching it again. The pacing was well done and I appreciated it more the second time around. It started a tad slow but that was necessary to build the background and get us acclimated with the new Captain America and where he fits in the landscape of things. The acting and special effects were on point, but I particularly enjoyed the cinematography, especially with the air shots. The character development in this film was well done as they had layers of complexity and realism considering having to deal with the aftermaths of End Game. They did a great job showcasing the new Captain America’s strengths and skill set. I also enjoyed how they brought past movies to the current plot and tied up loose ends while potentially introducing the next Avenger phase.
Overall, I enjoyed it and found it more substantive which I discuss further when I get into the spoiler sections. Let me just say my favorite character is Isaiah followed by Thaddeus and that’s because both actors, Carl Lumbly and Harrison Ford, did the darn thing. There were a couple of things that left me with a question mark which is why it will not end up with a 10.
Captain America: Brave New World 9/10
Spoilers ahead
So it starts with Sam as the new Captain America and the wannabe Falcon, Joaquin Torres assigned to a secret mission to retrieve a valuable item that was en route to Japan. We later find out the item was an adamantium sample that is at the center of a treaty Thaddeus is working on with three other countries. He is looking for collaboration on further mining and production of said mineral found in Celestial Island after the events of The Eternals movie. After which, we learn that the president invites Sam and Joaquin to the White House where Isaiah Bradley, a super soldier who was wrongfully imprisoned and tested on for 30 years, along with a few other personnel shoots up the white house event. It looks like, Isaiah was trying to kill the president but then runs off. Sam catches up with him and urges him to turn himself in.
Sam then tries to talk to the president into letting him investigate but Thaddeus digs at him not being Steve Rogers or essentially not being the real Captain America. Sam gets upset and decides to investigate himself. He eventually finds out that Samual Stern is the master manipulator behind everything that has been happening with his ultimate goal for Theddues to turn into Red Hulk. Thaddeus, pushed to the edge by Stern's antics, eventually does turn into the Red Hulk, and Sam swoops in to save the day. In the process, they have an impressive air fighting scene involving Sam, Joaqui,n and a couple of other fight jets. Unfortunately, Joaquin gets badly hurt during this process and requires life-saving surgery which he gets and survives. We also have a Bucky sighting amid all the craziness.
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Sam Wilson played by Anthony Mackie
Thaddeus Ross played by Harrison Ford
Isaiah Bradley played by Carl Lumbly
Secret Agent Leila Taylor played by Xosha Roquemore
Sidewinder played by Giancarlo Esposito
Ruth Bat-Seraph played by Shira Haas
Samuel Stern played by Tim Blake Nelson
Commander Dennis Dunphy played by William Mark McCullough

Harlem: The Final Season — A Touching and Unforgettable Farewell on Prime

Harlem The Final Season: It comes to an end on Prime
Journal Prompt: How does my body feel today, and what does it need from me?
I just finished the last season of Harlem and I am sad. I am sad because it was so good and now it has come to an end. Harlem was giving Sex and the City Harlem edition. I have said it before. Quinn played by Grace Byers is Charlotte. Camille played by Meagan Good is Carrie. Angie played by Shoniqua Shandai is Samantha. Last, Tye played by Jerrie Johnson is Miranda by default. Ian played by Tyler Lepley is Aidan if Carrie didn’t keep leaving his ass for Big. I mean, I am definitely simplifying it but you get the drift.
So there are three seasons to Harlem that follow the four ladies through the ups and downs of trying to live their best professional lives and find love as they do it. I found this series to be fun and entertaining while touching on some real-life concerns that professional black women have as they navigate the dating scene. I enjoyed the peek behind the veil into their family dynamics. This gave an insight into who they are and why they made some of the decisions that they did.
Quinn is the seemingly sweet, innocent, and idealistic one. She is flowers and roses and everything nice. Her family has money and she does pretty well for herself as a boutique owner and designer. It took her a while to find her way but she finally did focusing on her craft.
Camille is hot-headed and impulsive and like a little hurricane. But she is loyal and cares deeply about her friends. She eventually does find the love that she deserves. Angie too is searching for herself and also finding good sex wherever she can get it. She is definitely the free spirit of the crew. I love that she often throws caution to the wind but struggles with her true calling at the same time.
Tye appears to be the confident and secure one in all ways, and that’s where her complexity comes in because in reality, she is not secure at all. Tye pretends to have it all together, financially and emotionally. She is an open lesbian who loves playing the field. Ultimately that confident facade is nothing but a smoke screen to hide the fact that she is scared of facing rejection and the consequences of real-life choices. When things get emotional she runs.
We follow these four through 3 seasons of ups and downs and family drama and finding themselves. Season three is by far my favorite season because it gave me a happy ending that was also fun and captivating.
Lesson Learned: Know your worth
Harlem Series 10/10
Season three spoilers
Camille was a little crazy and neurotic but I would like to blame that on her pregnancy and hormones. To catch you up to speed at the end of season 2 after she broke up Ian’s wedding and got back together with him, they spent some time in the honeymoon phase until Camille found out her chances of having a baby were slim. Then she decided she did not even want a baby. I had a problem with how she handled that whole thing because she never confided in Ian about her fertility issues which led to her deciding that she did not even want a child. This left Ian out in the cold because he wanted children and a family with Camille so badly. They end up breaking up over it. Fast forward to season three they decide they can be exes with benefits and spend some time sleeping together. It turns out that Ian is seeing other people and ends up getting together with his childhood friend.
This throws Camille into a state. She is acting a little crazy to me but then she finds out that she is pregnant. She tells Ian, he is somewhat happy but does not seem overjoyed. At first, she does not want to keep the baby because she is afraid she will be a terrible mother like her narcissistic mother. She gets comforting advice from Ian’s aunt and decides to keep the baby. Ian tells her that he will help her but he is staying with Portia because he cares for her. Meanwhile, they bonded over her wanting to have children. She came to town to freeze her eggs and they ended up starting that process together. As time goes on, Ian is helping Camille with her pregnancy, Portia realizes that he still has feelings for Camille which he does not deny when confronted. She leaves and he gets back together with Camille.
Ian really shouldn’t have started the relationship with Portia. It was clearly a rebound situation in which he was filling in all the gaps he had with Camille with what Portia could do for him which was ultimately give him a child and a family. The only problem is that he still really wanted those things with Camille. Ultimately, I am glad Portia had the sense of self-worth not to put up with that and she left.
Quinn too had a bout of getting her sense of self and self-worth tested because she got with a gorgeous baseball player who she fell in love with and promised to give her everything she wanted. He stated he had strong feelings for her too and saw her as his main chick. Turns out that he is polyamorous and had a partner who was down to share him. Quinn went to meet with them and was overwhelmed by the girlfriend asking her 201 questions and talking about her STD testing regimen. It was a complete turn-off for Quinn and she was done. Again, knowing your boundaries and your self-worth is extremely important and allows her to make the right choice. She ends up deciding that she will freeze her eggs and have a baby alone. At the appointment, she meets her ex from season 2 and looks to be the start of something good.
Tye and Angie are the most interesting for me this season. Listen to the podcast for the rest of the breakdown.

Powerful Quotes from Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey: Tenet 1

Rest is Resistance Part 2: Tenet 1 Rest is Resistance
It has been a while since I did Part 1 of Rest is Resistance and it is appropriate that I hop into it now because as things are happening around me, I need to remind myself that we are resting. I need to rest and focus on me and doing me and growing me and enjoying me. If there was ever a time to take rest as resistance it is now because I am tired!
For the rest of the parts, we will look into my favorite quotes from the book. For a review of the book and my thoughts, please return to part 1 (The Book Review Part 1).
Mind you these quotes are pulled from the introduction where Hersey introduces us to the four tenets of the nap ministry.
These four tenets are:
Rest is a form of resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against capitalism and white supremacy.
Our bodies are a site of liberation.
Naps provide a portal to imagine, invent, and heal.
Our DreamSpace has been stolen and we want it back. We will reclaim it via rest.
“Grind Culter weekend or love of self and community”
Tenet 1: Rest is a form of resistance because it disrupts and pushes back against capitalism and white supremacy.
“The systems have manipulated and socialized us so that we stay exhausted.”
“Capitalism was created on plantations. The roots of it are violence and theft. We as a culture gloss over this historical truth. But, to dive into the cracks of this reality is where a profound part of your deprogramming from grind culture resides.”
“The possibilities are infinite, although living under a capitalist system is to be confronted with a model of scarcity. This space makes you falsely believe there is not enough of everything: not enough money, not enough care, not enough love, not enough attention, not enough peace, not enough connection, not enough time. There is abundance.”
“Keep repeating to yourself: I am enough now.”
“All of culture is working in collaboration for us not to rest, and when we do listen to our bodies and take rest, many feel extreme guilt and shame.” “To understand that we are spiritual beings navigating life in a material world opens us to the possibilities of rest as a spiritual practice. Our entire living is a spiritual practice. Much of our resistance to rest, sleep, and slowing down is an ego problem. You believe you can and must do it all because of our obsession with individualism and our disconnection to spirituality. Nothing we accomplish in life is totally free of the influence of spirit and community. We do nothing alone.”

The Wolfman 2025 Movie Review

The Wolfman 2025 Movie Review
The Wolfman starring, Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott has been out for a couple of weeks now. Released in the US on July 17th, it had a lackluster box office opening weekend of just a little over 10 million. Currently, it is sitting at around 28 million with a mid-performance on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. The movie follows a family who returns to a secluded town to take care of family affairs after learning of a relative’s passing. While they are in this remote part of the country, they encounter a ferocious beast and have to do all they can to survive the night.
Now, you all already know, I don’t do scary movies anymore. There was a time when I would have been all over this but that time has been long gone for me. So naturally I had no interest in seeing this but I ended up watching it by default because the timing was right and we wanted to watch something. However, I was surprised that I ended up enjoying it. I consider it more of a thriller than horror. Nevertheless, it had me at the edge of my seat. The acting was well done. Christopher Abbott (I don’t know who this man is) did a phenomenal job. Julian Garner was solid as well and the little girl, Matilda Firth, did a good job portraying a scared confused daughter.
It was just creepy enough and thrilling enough to keep me engaged. The pacing was just right as well. They let you find a false sense of security right before having you jump out of your seat. I also enjoyed how they let us see things from the wolfman’s perspective which was interesting and different and contributed to the viewer feeling closer to what was happening on screen.
I give it a sold 7/10
Spoilers

The Wine Down Entertainment Rewind 4

The Wind Down Entertainment Rewind 4
What are you doing to manage your stress? Remember to create and cultivate your safe space.
Top 10 Box Office for the weekend
Tonight’s Conversation and Kita Rose
Derrick Jackson on repeat. But why are ya’ll still listening to him?
Harlem is Back!
Hillmon TikTok University. How did I get enrolled?
Bruno Mars getting nasty with Sexy Redd- Fat Juicy and Wet
I Am Legend 2 trailer is fake
DeepSeek shaking things up in the tech sector
Tabitha Brown backlash because of Target and other DEI detractors
Casting of Children of Blood and Bones
Colleen Hoover gone ghost in the
Blake Lively Justine Baldonie Drama

Keke Palmer Shines in One of Them Days

One of Them Days Movie Review One of Them Days premiered at number two at the box office with Mufasa: The Lion King rising to the top again after being dethroned by Den of Thieves: Pantera the previous weekend. 
One of Them Days starring Keke Plamer and SZA is produced by Issa Rae, the mastermind behind HBO’s hit Insecure. The film follows the two best friends and roommates as they navigate a wild and crazy day trying to gather their rent money so they do not get evicted. It is currently doing well with moviegoers staying with a strong 94% from Rotten Tomatoes and 7.2/10 from IMDb. The cast is popping with fan favorites from Katt Williams to Keyla Monterros Mejia to Lil Rel Howery. I was excited to see Joshua David Neal get his break because I have been watching his talents on TikTok for the past few years, and he’s got skills behind the camera more than in front of it. 
One of Them Days is worth the high audience marks. I laughed out loud a few times in large part to Janelle James. Overall I thought it was an enjoyable movie. I love Keke Palmer but don’t usually love her acting. I think she tends to be a touch over the top but in her role as Dreux, she gave just the right amount of energy needed. Her chemistry with SZA is on point. Although it was a comedy, I found there were subtle layers that made the antics of their day a little more interesting. The pacing was just right, the acting was solid and the vibe was chill. Oh, I did not find Katt Williams funny in this one, but I appreciated his presence. 
One of Them Days 8/10 comedy score
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The Circle of Sound: Mufasa The Lion King Soundtrack

Mufasa: The Lion King Sound Track
So by now, you know how much I adore Mufasa: The Lion King. It is leaps and bounds better than the live-action version of The Lion King. However, that soundtrack though!
It is composed by none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda and that might make me biased because of how much I love the music for Hamilton and Encanto. Mind you this soundtrack only has seven tracks but each one is impactful.
Ngomos- I loved this opening to the film because it took me back to the first time I went to the movies. It was to see Coming to America and I got the same feeling from the beginning of that movie when Mbube Wimoweh by Ladysmith Black Mambazo started playing. It was more of a nostalgic moment for me but a great way to start the movie.
Milele—This is a beautiful song that takes the time to lay the groundwork for the viewer to see and be a part of Mufasa’s destiny. I also really enjoyed hearing Anika Noni Rose’s voice again.
I Always Wanted A Brother- This is the song that everyone is having fun with on social media, and I can understand why. It is fun upbeat and showcases the cubs getting to know each other, having fun, and getting into a little trouble. It also gives us a peak into Taka’s tendency towards entitlement in comparison to Mufasa who seems to have more compassion. This is particularly evident when they are talking about the birds being free vs Taka wanting to command them. When Mufasa tries to enlighten Taka, he gets bored with the topic. Taka basically spends the entire song making commands even though he is defending Mufasa. The song itself is a joy though featuring the cubs growing into lions.
Bye Bye- My daughter was not a fan of this song but I enjoyed it. It is the villain’s time to shine and it comes across a little tongue and cheek. He is menacing and mocking at the same time. My favorite part is the “bye-bye” and when the chorus joins him and the cadence goes a little faster.
We Go We Together- This is the song of the ragtag crew led by Rafiki, which, to me, was the heart and soul of the movie. This is my favorite song of the seven. You can get up and dance around and feel the beat. The melody and joining of voices are infectious, especially towards the end. We get to see the group grow closer and a glimpse into Taka’s delusion that Sarabi is somehow his. “If you wanna go far we go together!”
Tell Me It’s You- This too is a well-crafted song between Mufasa and Sarabi as Aaron Pierre and Tiffany Boone’s voices really complement each other. This is when we see their relationship start to take form as Taka watches with growing jealousy. But here’s the thing, Sarabi was never into Taka. Not ever, not at all.
Brother Betrayed - Taka gets his solo moment to shine and again this song hits especially since we know how things turned out with Scar. He’s still not a complete villain but he’s a spineless idiot. By now the audience knows he’s a coward because he ran when he was supposed to save his mother and he hid when he was supposed to save Sarabi leaving Mufasa to come to the rescue both times. Bother Betrayed is the last track and the strings and melody lead us nicely into the true treachery, which is Taka betraying his “brother” to Kiros.

The Wine Down Rewind: Entertainment Highlights 3

The Wine Down Entertainment Rewind 3
California Fires
Protect your safe space
Squid Games 2
Chloe Baily and Burna Boy
Megan Markle
Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Goode
Aaron Pierre
Mufasa
Wicked
Don Lemon
Jamie Foxx
Short Drama's
Allison Holker
Blake Lively, Ryan Reynold, and Justine Baldoni