Barbie (2023)

 

In honor of Women's International Month and Barbie's recent 65th anniversary, I've decided to review the live-film version of Barbie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The hype for this movie was inescapable and garnered overwhelming praise, including six Oscar nominations and many, many other awards. I'm telling you, it's a whole slew of nominations on Wikipedia that I can't even count. Now for the nominations for Ryan Gosling's performance? I get it. For the production design and costumes? Definitely deserved and was one of the main highlights of the movie. Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture? No. Just no. Now I didn't think the movie was god-awful or anything but I didn't think it was this modern masterpiece. I would even go on to say that this was one of the most overrated movies of 2023. Besides all that, I thought the cast did a really good job, and I did  get a few chuckles here and there, but it's the script that really brings the movie down. There are some really good ideas here that weren't executed well or were just completely abandoned. Anywho, let's get down to the nitty-gritty because there is a lot to discuss.

The first act is really well done. The World-Building, The Set-Up, Barbie's existential crisis, it's all good so far. And just to mention, everyone is perfectly cast in their roles. Besides the wonderful Ryan Gosling as Ken, we also have Issa Rae as President Barbie and Kate McKinnon as Weird Barbie, who were definite standouts. 

Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling have amazing chemistry, and it would've been nice to see them together for the rest of the film, but....that's not how things turn out. The film falls apart for me around the middle section of the second act once Ken discovers that men rule the real world, which is ludicrous. Plus, I felt that the men in the real world were portrayed unrealistically. How I would describe them is cartoonish, bufoonish, and absolutely one-note. Ken is the only one considered a nuanced character from the rest of the male cast. And by the first third act of the movie, it becomes the battle of the sexes between the Barbies and Kens. Sure, that's fine and all, but I wish the writing was better. 

Okay, now let's move on to the characters and break them down one by one:

The Mattel executives were not needed in this, and I was taken out of the movie every time they appeared on screen. Will Ferrel was really irritating, and I know that's his brand of comedy, but it just didn't work for me. It was like the film was afraid to make the Mattel executives the villains, which would've made the movie more interesting, but since it didn't take those risks, they're just there for the most part. 

After the goofy chase scene involving the Mattel executives, Barbie runs into Mattel Secretary Gloria and her daughter Sasha. Barbie soon discovers that Gloria, not Sasha, is the lost little girl she needs to reconnect with. Now, I didn't have a problem with Gloria, and America Ferria was endearingly likable, but she just wasn't developed enough as a character. Gloria serves as the film's heart and is the secondary main character besides Barbie; however, there are only glimpses of her character arc without scratching the surface. It's implied that she's having a midlife crisis and projecting those insecurities onto Barbie. Yes, that is interesting, but the problem is, we never see Gloria struggle with that. Okay, what if she's this put-upon secretary who's gifted but usually ignored at her job. Since Gloria's husband is basically non-existent in the film, why not have her go through a divorce or kill him off. That's a little morbid, but it would've added more weight to her character arc. Therefore, her speech in the middle of the movie would've felt more earned. 

Now, we move on to my least favorite character in the movie, Sasha. Holy cow, this girl was annoying! Throughout most of the movie, all she does is bitch and complain, and oh god, it gave me such a splitting headache. She is supposed to be the typical moody, bratty teenage daughter, a character trope that has gotten egregious over time. A character like this could work if she was written better, but we never know what Sasha's damage is. She's just a self-centered, know-it-all teenager who treats her mom like crap for no reason. When Barbie meets her at her school, Sasha is framed as if she's the mean, popular girl, a character that Sasha herself would despise. And when you think about it, this might've been really good commentary because Sasha comes off as the "not like other girls" type of girl when, in actuality, she's no different from the so-called mean girls from her school. Case in point, we have Vivian Kensingston from Legally Blonde. She would be the typical brainy brunette that Elle Woods herself would look down upon, but the roles are reversed. I guess that's what the film is trying to go for, but I digress. In the movie's middle section, Sasha does come around...a little bit. I don't know. I just feel like this character was less developed than Gloria, and the film just didn't do a good job of making her the least bit likable until the end. 

Okay, I want to get this out of the way. I thought Gloria's husband was so irrelevant in this movie. He's basically a punchline, and his whole schtick is that he's a white guy trying to learn Spanish. I...just don't get the joke. It's absolutely cringeworthy, and I hate it. Sure, I know the actor was America Ferria's real-life husband. Sure, that's sweet and all, but he was not needed in the story. Like I said before, why not have Gloria go through a divorce or kill off the husband. This brings back the focus on Sasha. Maybe the reason why she's angry all the time is because she doesn't know how to grieve, whether it's through the divorce of a parent or the death of a parent. Then, when we get back to the scene where Barbie goes through her depression mode, SASHA is the one who convinces her to break out of it ("Don't give up," "I still believe in you"). Therefore, Sasha confesses that the reason why she rejected Barbie is because of societal pressures or her so-called friends in high school who keep telling her that Barbie is a bad representation of women and feminism. Then, Sasha confesses to her mom about her growing pains, Gloria makes her speech, and Mother Gloria and Daughter Sasha reconnect again. All I'm saying is that Gloria's husband was not needed, and the plot would've been better for it. 

Now, let's talk about Ruth Handler. I just want to get this off the bat: It's kind of disrespectful of the filmmakers to puppeteer a dead woman to serve a plot. There is a case of honoring one's spirit, but I wish they had handled it better. Oh yeah, and second of all, Ruth Handler, in real life, wasn't the typical grandma who made tea and baked cookies; she was a level-headed businesswoman who wanted to break the code. There is nothing against Rhea Pearlman; she did well with the role, but I would've imagined somebody like Glen Close or even Meryl Streep in a role like this. Also, I don't see Ruth in this quaint little kitchen sipping tea, oh no. I see her decked out in a sharp white suit in this slick white office with all the Barbie posters and all the collectible Barbie dolls prepped up like statues. The whole setting would be omnipresent and very cool-looking. Oh, what a missed opportunity that would've been, but the movie has plenty of missed opportunities, trust me.

But let me focus on the positives and talk about the two wonderful leads:

Ryan Gosling was just ah-dorable as Ken. I never knew that he knocked it off the part the way he did, but he totally sold it. Ken's story arc was actually well-developed. I mean, it wasn't perfect, but the one aspect I liked was how he was underappreciated by Barbie and felt inferior next to her. Sadly, I felt his story arc didn't come full circle. Sure, the film takes a turn and makes Ken the antagonist, but I wish the movie would dig deeper into Ken's insecurities and portray them in a way where it's both funny and sad. Okay, for example, Ken turns on the TV and shows Barbie how popular he's become in a scene in the movie. Okay, here's my what-if: What if GI Joe or a GI Joe-adjacent character becomes popular instead. Hell, John Cena made a cameo in this movie; he would've played this GI Joe-type character. On top of that, another good casting choice would be Zac Efron as Max Steel (I'm pretty sure some millennials know about this toy line). Okay, so Ken turns on the TV, and the announcer goes, "Now introducing GI Joe and his sidekick, Ken!" Ken would throw this massive bitch fit and say something like, "Oh, I'm always second best, but at least I'm better than you, Barbie!" that would've been a really good joke. And get this, the part where the Barbies pit the Kens against each other, what if Barbie was forming a faux love triangle between Ken and this GI-Joe character and the Max Steels, of course. Then, the I'm Just Ken sequence would be more palpable. I'm pretty sure there were some kids who had Barbie leave Ken for GI Joe, and that also would be ripe for comedy. This would make Ken feel he's not masculine enough compared to the more muscular, manly GI-Joe doll. So many missed opportunities. So many glorious missed opportunities. Besides all that, Ryan Gosling did a stellar job, and he's an absolute comedic genius without missing a beat. Although Ken is supposed to be the antagonist, you can't help but like the character, and that's due to Ryan Gosling's impeccable charm. And I must say, the man has a clean set of pipes on him. This guy is a massive triple threat. He can sing, act, and dance! Just an absolute treasure. Ryan Gosling's performance is truly the best thing about this movie. 

 

Speaking of, Margot Robbie as Barbie was just darling—truly, truly darling. Not only does she look like Barbie herself, but I also think she captured her spirit and put a lot of heart and soul into the role. As far as Barbie's story arc goes, it's a bit all over the place. Okay, so Barbie is having an existential crisis. Good, that's a nice setup for a character like Barbie. Then, her mission is to find the little girl playing her, who's obviously going through a depression. So, Barbie actually has a purpose, but sadly, it falls flat in the end. There are some aspects of Barbie's character that I did like. I like that she's an empath, representing Barbie as a whole. When you look into it, Barbie is empathic, and Greta captured that well. But I wish her story arc was more compelling. Okay, just to clarify this, I didn't like the ending. Why, oh why, would you end the movie with Barbie seeing a gynecologist. She deserved a better ending than that. What if it ended with Barbie taking control of her image and Mattel as a whole. What if she was the co-founder and Gloria was the new CEO. Then, it ends with Barbie, in a slick black and white striped business suit similar to her 1959 bathing suit, doing an advertisement on the newly revamped Mattel in which she says these words, "Hi, I'm Barbra Handler, the CFO of Mattel. And we girls, we can do anything!" I find that to be a much better ending than we got here, and it gives the whole women empowerment message a new light. But oh well, that's another missed opportunity. However, Margot Robbie did an amazing job, and I can't picture any other actress playing this part other than her. Bonus points for her being the producer of this movie as well. Margot Robbie is a definite class act.

The dialogue in the film is quite strange. I know that Greta Gerwig is trying to make a comedy here, but real people don't talk like that. There are instances where the dialogue could've been sharper and witty, but that's not the case here. Some of this did work in the first act, such as the "Beach You Off" scene. However, this scene goes on a little too long. That's actually the problem with most comedies these days: The jokes go on for too LONG. Will Ferrel does his improv schtick, which would've worked back in the early 2000s, but it's really egregious here. There's also too much of explaining the joke, which makes it less funny. Then you have Sasha's dialogue, which is basically social media buzzwords. Teenagers don't talk like that; they just don't. And that's one of the reasons why I found Sasha unlikable and annoying.  So yeah, the delivery of the dialogue was not that great.

Okay, let's discuss the film's writing, which is one of the movie's weakest points. Most of this stems from when Barbie enters the real world and encounters some unsavory men. There's a part where Barbie and Ken are at the beach, and this random guy slaps Barbie on the butt. Barbie, in response, punches him straight in the nose. It's obvious that the guy committed a crime, and sexual assault is a crime. Yet Barbie is the one who gets arrested, and Ken is too? But I guess the film is trying to hone in on the message that the real world is ruled by the patriarchy, and women who get assaulted can't stand a chance. I mean, really? It's clear that there is not any ounce of subtly in this portion of the movie. On top of that, you even have police officers coming onto Barbie. Get real. It would've been nice if they had a female police officer that said, "Hey, that outfit looks great on you." And Barbie would've said, "Oh, thanks." This would probably lighten things up and hone in on the fact that in the real world, some women hold the same power as men yet still look out for other women at the same time. This would've made Barbie's story arc more palpable and added more of the women supporting women message that the film is going for. 

The concept of the real is like watching a parody of a lifetime movie. I just couldn't get past it. So, Ken is apparently brainwashed by real-world patriarchy and brings it over to Barbieland. This could work if it was just a small group of men in the real world to give Ken this mindset instead of, you know, the entire state of California populated by men. Again, it's just ludicrous as hell.

The other thing I've noticed is how the Kens treat the Barbies. There's nothing that indicates, "Oh, this is bad." Dressing the Barbies in maid outfits and being subservient to the Kens can be degrading, but I wish there was more conflict with this. Like if the Kens acted like stereotypical obnoxious frat boys compared to their usual sweet selves. Then, we see how Barbie, Gloria, and Sasha get Barbie back to their matriarchy, and...it's really dumb. You see, they get the Barbies to act helpless toward the Kens to lure the other brainwashed Barbies out of their captivity. Then, they have the Barbies to make the other Kens jealous, and then, the whole fight battle and the (the very long) "I'm Just Ken" sequence begins. Therefore, the Barbies get their power back, the Kens get their equality, and all is well. Yeah, sure.

It's weird how this all reminds me of better movies. There would've been many instances when Barbie entered the real world, and the humor could've been similar to The Brady Bunch movies. You have this family who are straight out of a sitcom from the early 70s, yet they're placed in a 90s kind of world. Also, there are movies like Legally Blonde, where Elle Woods, a stereotypical ditzy blonde, tries to make it into Law School, of all places. Lastly, you have the 2004 version of Stepford Wives. Now, I do not find that movie to be good at all, but it's still about these powerful women brainwashed into captivity and later breaking out of that. This sort of thing could work, but it just didn't. It fell flat for me, and it seems that the writers or whoever was running out of ideas at this point. 

Lastly, I would like to discuss Greta Gerwig's lack of history concerning the Barbie lore. In her interviews, Greta mentions that her mom forbade her to play with Barbie because...wait for it...she was a poor representation of women. So, Greta's lack of knowledge about Barbie really hindered the film, in my opinion. She seems to forget that Barbie and Midge are very best friends, and Midge is supposed to be married to Alan. But for some reason, they're not a couple in this movie? Barbie also had friends like Christie, Teresa, and Kira. Not to mention her little sisters such as Skipper, Stacie, Chelsea (formerly known as Kelly), and baby Krissie. Even Ken was friends with Allan, who had a friend named Steven and a little brother named Tommy. For some reason, all these characters were left out of the movie. There is a mention of Skipper, and we have a Skipper-like doll, but I don't think she's supposed to be related to Barbie. I get that there were already a lot of characters in this movie, but then again, why not have Chrissie be president of Barbieland, Kira be the physicist, or Teresa be the Nobel Prize Winner. So many missed opportunities. And she seems to forget that there are women on the board of Mattel in real life, and again, there's another missed opportunity with that as well. Wow, this aspect of the movie is really, really disappointing, and it would've worked if they had a Barbie superfan as the creative consultant. It would've definitely enhanced the movie a bit more.

Whew! This was a long review, and it took longer than I expected. But I felt like this movie had so much wasted potential. I didn't hate it, but I didn't think it was great either. And if you like it, that's fine. However, this movie would've been so much better. 

I would say one positive about Barbie. At least it feels like a real movie—maybe not a perfect movie, but a movie nonetheless. First of all, the movie is COLORFUL, and it was nice to see practical effects again. I would definitely like to see more of it. It's crisp, clean, and pristine, and not at all fake-looking without shitty CGI. Second of all, it's not some long-extended episode connected to some stupid cinematic universe. And, third of all, Barbie had a beginning, middle, and end, wrapped up in a neat little bow. No sequel hook in sight, and it was so REFRESHING. I can see why this movie was so successful because it was an actual goddamn MOVIE. This is what the audience wants. They don't want a sequel, a prequel, a remake, a reboot, a reimagining, or even a whole goddamn franchise, including a cinematic fucking universe. They want movies with a clear hero's journey. That's what makes a movie successful, and whoever's running these studios needs to understand that.

Okay, here's my final word: it's not great, but at least it's watchable. 

 

The Long Road Ahead Exclusively on Wattpad

Yes! I have finally finished my novella, The Long Road Ahead, just in time for Valentine's Day. It is a rough draft mind you, it's not exactly official. But you can check out the link down below if you want to give it a read: 

https://www.wattpad.com/story/314502737-the-long-road-ahead

P.S. I'll keep you posted on the Scream 4 Review coming soon.

The Long Road Ahead Book Cover Reveal

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I present to you my new year's gift...

For the Cover Reveal of my new upcoming book!

I'll keep you posted on the release soon...

Happy New Year!

The Long Road Ahead Blurb

 

Here's a blurb from my upcoming novella, The Long Road Ahead. I'll launch the Cover Reveal sometime next week as a New Years Gift, so take a lookout. In the meantime, I present to you, The Long Road Ahead:

When your eyes meet, that's not love at first sight. It's when you can't bring yourself to look away, for you've captured the loving soul embodied through their eyes. 

Javon Norton, fresh off from his hometown in Linclon, Ohio, attends his first year at The Toronto State University. With a major in Visual Arts and a $10,000 scholarship under his belt, Javon plans to achieve his goal of becoming a comic book artist. But there's one slight issue...The scholarship is not quite ready. To prepare for the full grant, Javon must register for a scholarship program. 

As he enters the doors of Mr. Harrison's Art History class, a certain someone catches his eye...

Photography Student Mick Richardson is looking for a purpose in life. Thirsting for a sense of adventure, he applies for the 10,000-scholarship grant to explore the island of Oahu, Hawaii, his birthplace. To elevate his mind’s eye, Mick wants to discover the hidden beauty of his homeland and capture the glistening waves of the faraway ocean as a photo kept in his memory.

Coincidently, Javon and Mick are at the top of the scholarship list, matching them into a tie. To break it even, Mr. Harrison puts them up to task. In order to receive the 10,000-scholarship grant, they must each come up with an original project by the end of the week.

As a friendly gesture, Mick invites Javon to a weekend getaway across central Canada to ease the tension between them. Javon is skeptical but seeing that this is an offer he can't refuse, he accepts.

What starts as a mild curiosity soon develops into something more…

Now, Javon is caught in a friction, embracing the tenderness of Mick’s affections while holding on to what he’s worked so hard for.

Which begs the question: Is love more valuable than success?

 

 

Anne Rice Tribute

 

I know I'm a little late on this but I would like to pay tribute to the one and only Anne Rice. Through her writing, she is one of those writers that taught me to be a better writer and to give her the utmost gratitude I present to you my review of her best work of fiction

Rest In Peace, Anne Rice:

https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/2020/06/interview-with-vampire-1994.html

https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/2020/07/queen-of-damned-2002.html

Sweet to the Sweets for a Halloween Treat

 

I know I'm a little late to the party but, as a kid, I always had a habit of celebrating Halloween past October. However, I do believe that Halloween has a 6-day aftereffect, maybe until around mid-November, so it's no big deal. This month I will be covering the Candyman series. Back in the day, I only ever heard of the first Candyman but I never got to watch it. I remember watching snippets of Farewell To The Flesh on TV one time and  Day of The Dead late at night but only just a little because I didn't get into horror movies until I was older. Finally, I was brave enough to watch Candyman in its entirety...at the tender age of 17. Yes, I said it. 17 years old. Let me remind you that I didn't watch four of the Friday the 13th films and the first Nightmare on Elm Street until I was 10 years old, The Hellraiser films, maybe around 11 to 12 years old. But it seems that Candyman was so scary, in fact, that I had to wait till I was 17 to watch it. And let me tell you, I was scared shitless. Every time a character would say his name five times, I would cover my ears. It was that intense. I also found Tony Todd to be extremely terrifying in the role with his deep voice and imposing appearance matched with a bloody, gory-looking hook. It gave me the creeps. Worst of all, I had to sleep in my grandmother's basement the same night. I had my eyes open the whole time. Yeah, it totally got me. But come to my surprise that the movie was adapted by a short story Clive Barker. It's no secret that I am a huge Clive Barker fan. so, I did a  little research, purchased the Books of Blood Vol. 5, and now I'm ready to dissect this project. I am hella excited to cover this! Just to compare how the movie captures the essence of Clive Barker's imagination. And I have to say, that it captures it pretty well. Now for the other movies, there's not much to really say, though I would like to add that Farwell to the Flesh is a decent-enough sequel where Day of the Dead...is not. For the 2021 reboot, I thought It was a very competently made film, however, there's one little issue that I would like to discuss full length. Anywho, I am totally siked to get this off the ground. So wish me luck and Happy Halloween!

The Prince and the Mermaid...

 

There once was a handsome Prince who lived in a castle near the woods. Eager to find a wife, he pondered for half of his life. He searches high and low for a mate, but heavens know what would come of his fate. One of the Prince’s handlers tells him of the ancient sea, but the Prince scoffs at him and replies, “That could never be. Fairy tales, folklores, all of them silly stories.” Yet the handler is adamant of his claims, telling The Prince, “that’s where his true love could be.” The Prince is skeptical, thinking all of this would be a spectacle, though he obliges. He sails across the ancient seas to a nearby beach, far beyond his reach. Resting upon the beach, he chants to the moon:

O’, where O’, where, will my love, be

To now I seek through the enchanted seas!

The Prince falls into a slumber, but a sudden sound wakes him up in wonder. A Maiden comes by, her hair streaked in white.

The Prince says, “Please come to me, my queen.”

But, the maiden says, “No stay away from me.”

The Prince pleads, “You’re all that I need.”

The Maiden replied, “Oh please, you don’t even know me.”

The Maiden runs away. The prince follows.

The Maiden says, “What is your wanting?”

The Prince replies, “It’s your soul that’s haunting.”

The Maiden still runs away, but the Prince, still enchanted by her beauty, follows.

The Maiden relents. “Okay, but you must keep my secret.”

The Prince obliges. “Whatever it is, I’ll keep it.”

The Maiden is reluctant; however, she smiles. “Stay with me till sunlight and I’ll love you, forever and always.”

The Prince holds her in his arms. “Whatever your secret is, I’ll keep it.”

The Maiden tells him, “Only if you’ll dream it.”

So, they lay together from dusk till dawn where they dream of dreams far beyond.

The Maiden whispers to the Prince, “Keep me forever and always.”

The Prince says to her, “I’ll keep you days upon days.”

The ray of sunlight rises, the Maiden wakes up in a crisis. “Oh I must go, you can’t keep me here.”

The Prince says, “Why not, it’s safe to keep you near.”

“You don’t understand,” the Maiden says. “The sun will dry up the sand.”

“My heart is what will ascend, for it is my love that will bring you back to me,” The Prince says.

The Maiden replied, “Just pray and I’ll be all you need.”

The Maiden rushes up to the sun, whatever path she’ll take shall be done. The Prince looks on, helplessly, hoping that this could not be.

The Maiden stops. Her heart quickens. She spins around, wishing the pain will not fill in.

The Prince rushes to her aid, crying to himself that the deed was not made. But then his eyes spark up in wonder, like lightning meets thunder.

The Maiden rises yet not a woman, but a child. She says, “I must go into the enchanted waters of rebirth, so I can fulfill the magic of mirth. If you love me, you’ll wait. For that’s all I can take. I will always love you, my dear prince.”

And as the woman-child swims off to the enchanted sea, the Prince waited for his Maiden in the castle ever since.

The moral of the story: True love comes to those who wait…

 

 

 

I got a press release!

 

For Immediate Release

Date: January 15, 2021

Contact: J.D. Fitzgerald, 336-926-7958, mcneairjonathan@gmail.com

Manhattan Girls: A YA Coming-of-Age Book Series

Promotional Use for Manhattan Girls and A Change Would Do You Good. Books Written by J.D. Fitzgerald.

Lexington, North Carolina-J.D. Fitzgerald is the author of an ongoing book series titled Manhattan Girls. Two Books are now available for release. Manhattan Girls, which is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Kobo, and various online retailers, and Manhattan Girls: A Change Would Do You Good, which is also now available. The series is mainly targeted to the YA audience. It is a contemporary coming-of-age story focusing on a group of friends going through the ups and downs of life at a New York City prep school.

“Life is a journey. Make of that what you will.”

AUTHOR BIO: J. D. Fitzgerald

Born and bred in the Triad of North Carolina, ever since he was a child, Fitzgerald always had a vivid imagination. Drawings on notebooks became ideas in written form. By the age of fifteen, he realized his passion. He wrote his first novel, Christine: The Strawberry Girl, along with two short stories inspired by singers Tori Amos and P.J. Harvey. Christine: The Strawberry Girl, unfortunately, never came into development, but elements of it can be found in Manhattan Girls, his very first fully developed novel during his sophomore year. Through the end of high school and his adult years, Manhattan Girls had gone through plenty of revisions to become the novel that is now. Not only does Fitzgerald focuses his time on novel writing, he also has two screenplays in development. His other hobbies include studying film and television, learning the basics of astrology, and practicing the graceful movements of interpretive dancing. He is an avid fan of late-night ’80s primetime soaps such as Knots Landing and character-driven teen dramas such as My So-Called Life, which is an inspiration for Manhattan Girls. Currently, he is taking classes at The Los Angeles Film School to learn more about the organic flow of storytelling in film and television. You can check out his blog here: https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/

 

Synopses

Manhattan Girls:

WELCOME TO HAMILTON ACADEMY, THE FINEST OF THE FINEST OF PREP SCHOOLS FROM ALL AROUND, WHERE OPULENCE DWELLS AND SECRETS ABOUND…

Fifteen-year-old Gwen Stevenson gets a chance of a lifetime. Escaping from the depths of small-town boredom, she finally sets her sights of embellishing the wonders of New York City. While entering the halls of the prestigious Hamilton Academy, she meets reserved bookworm Kyle, aspiring filmmaker Vera, Valley girl Shawnie, and gets an unexpected reunion from her two childhood friends, Maxine, a southern belle who plans to take over the popularity food chain, and Mona, a reclusive rebel who dreams of becoming a rock star.

Gwen soon realizes that she is no friend of honor society president Bianca Walworth, who doesn’t appreciate her longtime boyfriend, Chace, making flirty eyes with Gwen.

Having a new life in the city has never been so complicated but in the end…

Will there ever be solace in the city?

 

A Change Would Do You Good:

A NEW DAWN AND A NEW DAY BESETS THE CONCRETE STONES OF HAMILTON ACADEMY

It is the eve of September and a new student has arrived at Hamilton. Anita Deveraux, an aspiring singer-songwriter from Louisiana, has set foot in New York City. Trying to find her place in the world, she joins in with Gwen Stevenson and her friends. They soon become enraptured by her natural vocal abilities and wistful tales of her hometown down south. Meanwhile, Gwen is still having an identity crisis. Worst yet, it’s only a few weeks until her sixteenth birthday. She soon realizes that life is about taking risks, so she decides to finally fulfill her transformation by gaining a new sense of style. Gwen’s childhood friends have other plans. Maxine is organizing a party to impress popular senior Rain Bosworth while setting her sights on the newly single Chace Fairbanks. Mona Margulies and her new gal pal suddenly break the barriers of the friend zone, which brings back what she lost in the past. Kyle Durmsdale is enjoying the perks of being a newly ordained honor society secretary by wooing the new president Jared Milton, but, unbeknownst to her, there is a certain someone who wants to take Bianca Walworth’s empty nest. Upon getting prepared for the Annual Short Film Contest, Vera Hudgens is confident with her finished project and her new beau but Vera’s new boyfriend may not be as honest as he seems, and when the truth comes out, it goes into a suspension of disbelief. Maxine’s new BFF Shawnie Jenkins faces a dilemma in her love life. Being duped by who she thought was her Prince Charming, Shawnie vows to take revenge upon Blake Kingston…by making him jealous, of course. But as she rekindles with an old flame, those familiar feelings makes the lessons of the past come back to the present…

For the girls at Hamilton Academy, change is a one-way street …

 

A Review from Chick Lit Café:

“Manhattan Girls by J. D. Fitzgerald is a story about growing up, adjusting to change, and the strength of true friendships. The story starts with Gwen, a teenager growing up in North Carolina. Her home life is troubled with an alcoholic father, so when her mother gets a job opportunity in New York City working for the New York Times, Gwen and her mother move to the big city and a new life. Gwen enrolls at Hamilton Academy and is nervous about making new friends, having left her two best friends back in North Carolina, but she needn’t have worried as there is a grand reunion, and making friends is not as difficult as she anticipated. Soon there are five firm friends, all with different characters and life stories, but the girls blend together well as their lives unfold and they evolve and adapt to city life.

The author, J. D. Fitzgerald, has crafted a great coming of age story, where the characters and the situations of the girls help them to cope with their changing roles. Take Gwen, for example, a shy girl embarrassed by her braces and dull clothes, who blossoms into her true self with the help of her friends. Each of them realizes their dreams as life takes them on their journey. The author has done an excellent job molding the individual styles, home life, experiences and characters of the girls to turn the story into a mix of Grease meets Friends in a novel that will excite and empower every young adult reader.

J. D. Fitzgerald has skillfully written the transition from country girl to city girl and painted a vivid and candid picture of life at a city academy, with all the stresses of growing up and relationships, to style and personal achievements. With a little touch of humor and personalities that will excite and frustrate, this true to life story will have you engaged from the beginning and satisfied at the conclusion. There is no doubt that many readers will be able to relate to the situations the girls find themselves in, from the makeovers to the stirring of attractions to finding one’s true identity, this book has it all. Get ready to immerse yourself in life at Hamilton Academy and New York City and marvel at the resilience of the girls as they set out on life’s journey. Manhattan Girls is a great read and hopefully, the author will have more tales to tell of the intrepid five as they continue their adventures.” –Jewel Hart, chicklitcafe.com

 

 

 

 

A word from J.D. Fitzgerald:

Let me be honest with you. My chosen path of self-publishing has not been an easy one. It’s been like two years since I’ve published my first novel and the marketing of it was a very hard task, indeed. I’ve put my heart, my soul, every bit of my hard-working money into this project. I’ve scoped out reviewers, promoters, and websites just to get my work known. It was exhausting. So, I decided to put more of my time into writing my next novel, which again took me about a good year to get finished. I haven’t been putting my time into marketing like I should have, but hopefully, I’ll get back in the game. Like I said in my opening quote, “Life is a journey. Make of that what you will.” And boy, is it a journey. I’ve dealt with a lot while focusing on my writing, but I don’t want to get too personal. It wasn’t all bad, though. I found it exciting, putting my words into text. Creating stories from my imagination for the world to share. I met a lot of amazing people during my writing journey and I have no regrets. Right now, I feel like I’m on the right path. I am getting the resources that I needed for so, so long and I’m finally looking at the bright side of things. It’s never too late. I’ve always realized my passion and now I’m looking forward to making it happen. Just like the characters in my books, my life is going through a metamorphosis. I have good moments and I have bad moments, but there is always a balance to things. And I think I found my balance. My life is only just beginning.

My first book, Manhattan Girls is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Google Play, Apple Books, and other online retailers[vv1] .

https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Girls-J-D-Fitzgerald-ebook/dp/B07FR7FDBF

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/manhattan-girls-jd-fitzgerald/1129217282?ean=9781723506529

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/manhattan-girls-4

My Second Manhattan Girls book, A Change Would Do You Good, is available on Amazon now.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R5P9ZDQ

 

Here’s where you can contact me:

https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.mcneair.1/

https://www.pinterest.com/mcneairjonathan

https://twitter.com/jd_fitzgearld

https://www.instagram.com/jdfitzgerald22/

I also host a blog titled J.D. and Ivy’s Domain where I mostly write TV and Movie reviews:

https://thestoriesofjdandivy.blogspot.com/

 

P.S. I haven’t exactly got an author’s website, but I will put it up real, real soon, so keep a look out for that. Thanks!

 

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Merry Christmas Everybody!

 

Just wanted to say hey, hello, and how are you. I hope you all are having a safe and well-deserved Christmas. I do have a very special present for you but it's pending at the moment, so be extra patient if you can. I've had a pretty busy year with all the taking the time blogging, writing, going to school, and working. Yeah, it's a trip but all is well, and hopefully, all my hard work will pay off in a big way.

Here's what coming in store for next year:

Romeo and Juliet (1996)

1999 The Year of Classic Literature and theTeen Film: She's All That, Cruel Intentions, Ten Things I Hate About You

Ginger Snaps (soon)

Jennifer's Body (soon)

Cat People: Book, Movie, and Remake

I Know What You Did Last Summer: Book and Movie Review 

I hope you all have many blessings and an incredible New Year...

Happy Halloween/Updates

 

Hey everybody, just wanted to give a quick update. I'm afraid I have to do a late Halloween review. there's a lot to talk about when it comes to the Scream series, so I'm putting a lot of thought, time, and research with a pretty hectic week, so rest is very important. But on the bright side, I am in the process of editing A Change Would Do You Good and I even have some more reviews for you guys to check out. Here's my list:

The Anatomy of Riverdale: Season 2

Mildred Pierce-Book/Movies/Mini-series

The Stepford Wives-Book/Movie/Remake

Ginger Snaps

Jennifer's Body 

Okay, I'll get back on the game soon.

Happy Halloween!

A Halloween SCREAMfest

 

I've just heard that Paramount Pictures just made an announcement that they are producing a fifth Scream installment. How do I feel about this? I don't know. This is actually the first Scream film without the involvement of Wes Craven and even Kevin Williamson. I feel like without the collaboration of Craven and Williamson, It's just not going to capture the sharp wit and suspense of the first film. At least we have our core three leads back: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, and David Arquette. Their characters have become a legacy in this franchise and that's quite an achievement.

But I want to go back to the movie that started it all. Scream is one of those movies that was ingrained in my childhood. The parodies, the inside jokes, the Ghostface costume that became a staple in Halloween stores. The hype was completely overblown. 

I've seen trailers, tv spots, clips, and whatnot, though I never saw the movie itself. But it was at the age of ten where I got to watch the whole movie in its entirety. I was shocked at how visceral the violence was. It was actually, dare I say, scary because it wasn't your typical horror movie. It was intensely realistic. Now I've first watched I Know What You Did Last Summer when I was around seven years old and watched half of Wes Craven's New Nightmare when I was eight. And yeah those movies scared me but it didn't scare me as much as Scream did. Hell, I was still too scared to watch A Nightmare On Elm Street back then and have yet checked out the Friday The 13th films. I had to grow into Horror movies a bit, I wasn't an early bird like most kids. But at age eleven, I saw the fun in watching horror movies, even the ones that really, really scared me. At age 12,  I was hooked. Age 13-14, the rest is history. And in between those stages in my life, Scream was the movie I watched the most.

Out of all the horror movies I've seen, Scream was a different experience for me. It felt very grounded. It felt very real. The characters were framed as actually relatable and there was a sense of authenticity that we don't see in most 80s slashers. They are now self-aware of the conventions and feel as though they're immune to it. The commentary on horror movies became a staple in the late 90s and brought in a breath of fresh air that was needed in the genre. However, Scream was not without its copycats, which I myself watched every now and then. Certain people would look back at Scream and cringe at the characters' dialogue where they constantly make movie references. But I feel like that's where the movie's charm comes from, demonstrating how the characters are comparing their lives to a movie that they themselves can't figure out. 

At this time, I"m only going to focus on the first three films. I might do Scream 4 a little later into this year but I have to tell you that my opinions on Scream 4 have changed a little bit. I still enjoy Scream 4, however, there are some things I'm iffy about when it comes to that sequel. The first three films for me feels like a solid trilogy where you get to learn and explore with the three lead characters of Sidney, Gale, and Dewy with an ongoing theme based on sensationalism, which is rare for a slasher film series. Not only that, the mystery is pretty tight and does keep you invested with a well-enough pace, alongside the late great Wes Craven piling on the suspense with a pulsating atmosphere. 

Gosh, I would go on and on about how great these movies are...well, at least the first two. Still not a fan of Scream 3 but I'll tell you my reason when I get to that review.

First and foremost, I present to you, on this Hallows eve, The film that changed the face of horror...

See you soon.

The Craft: Legacy (Trailer)

 

It has now come to this. They finally went through with a Craft Reboot of sorts. Well, it's not really a reboot, it's more of a spiritual sequel in a way. It's hard to explain.

So, the trailer starts off with the main character, moving into a new town to live with her mom's new boyfriend and three sons. It's very identical to the original where Sarah moves to Los Angeles at the start of the movie. 

How the main character meets the three girls is actually through an embarrassing experience. The scene implies that she has her period in front of a classroom of students. Everyone is laughing except the three main girls, identifying as our coven in the movie. Right off the bat, they accept her, showing a surprising amount of empathy. Okay, that's one thing I do like about the trailer. It's comparable to the cold reception Nancy and the three girls in the original film give to Sarah when she first meets them but I guess that's supposed to demonstrate their sudden betrayal in the climax.

As the trailer continues, they give the girl a ceremonial bath, christening her as their fourth. This suddenly enhances their magic, the main character being the most powerful of them all. But with great power comes with great irresponsibility as the main character's thirst for dominance becomes too hard to handle.

Okay, at least I do see that they do things differently this time. When I heard the announcement that Blumhouse was going to remake The Craft, I cringed. Okay, I would say they did an okay job with the Halloween Reboot, not the best but way better than the sequels and the Rob Zombie remakes. But this is also the same studio who made the second Black Christmas Remake, which I have not heard good things about. I really wasn't looking forward to it. I always felt that the Craft worked well on its own, particularly in the time period it was set in. It's one of those lightning-in-the-bottle types of movies that didn't need sequels or remakes. Is it perfect? No, but it's still entertaining with a charming cast of female leads. 

But in this day in age, we are getting an influx of year-gap sequels and reboots. So due to the cult following of the 1996 film, a second movie was in the works. 

The first thing I noticed was that David Duchovny, of all people, was in the movie....as the dad character, no less. We also have Michelle Monaghan, who I haven't seen in a while, as the main character's mom. I don't know if their roles are significant or not, but we'll see. 

The main girl is sort of a mix of Sarah and Nancy. One clue is that she is the new girl in town, starting off shy and repressed. But as the trailer progresses, she gets more powerful and becomes a bit arrogant. She even recites one of Nancy's classic lines. Yeah, let me talk about that. That was one thing about the trailer that threw me off, which makes me think that this is a sequel disguised as a remake. 

They somehow include a photo of Nancy in the trailer (which doesn't look real by the way) but it never entirely explains how much of importance she has in the story. Is she related to one of the characters? Is she a distant cousin of the main girl? I'm scratching my head here. In my opinion, I wish they would've left this out to be a surprise in the movie. This is what annoys me about these trailers because they want to constantly shove in easter eggs to remind the audience of the original film. The callbacks just makes the sequel seem like a cash grab and that's a shame. In the first few seconds of the trailer, I was actually invested in what new ideas that would bring into this movie.

For instance, we have the coven leader played by Lovie Simone. The difference between her and Nancy is that she actually comes off as caring and intentive. She also guides the girls with full knowledge of the craft, kind of like the character of Lirio. She could be put into a position where warns the main girl not to take advantage of her powers.

But as soon as the main girl gets corrupted, the coven leader must do what she can to stop her wrath. That would be an interesting enough twist. If the trailer just left it like that, I would be singing a different tune right now.  I'm not sure how the other two girls would be portrayed in the movie but let's hope they have more development than how Bonnie and Rochelle were handled, in which by the end of the 1996 film, they are no more than cackling minions to Nancy. 

Though my question is: are the four main leads believable as outcasts? I"m sort of in the middle with this one. 

While the girls in the original movie were beautiful, they were also believable as outcasts but with this version, the girls look a bit...polished. And that's what I was afraid of. That this version would strip away any edge the original had. 

As demonstrated in this photo here, the girls look like they're posing in a photo shoot for Seventeen magazine. Maybe the performances will tell otherwise, but again, they look a little too prim and proper by comparison.

So now I am down to my final thoughts. Will I watch this? Maybe, but not right now. It's not the type of movie that I will go rush to see. If something like this was done a couple of years earlier, I might. But since there are so many of these year-gap sequels, I might have to sit and wait for this one. 

Let's hope for the better.

THE KARDASHIANS/JENNERS HISTORY OF RIPPING OFF BLACK WOMEN & THEIR NEGAT...

The Truth Will Be Revealed...

Love (a celebration of romance)

Love is a strange thing, such a beautiful thing. Love could make you go crazy. It can make you dream of a world that you can only see. That you can only feel. To feel and embrace the arms of your lover, to let it be known that what's inside you is alive. Catching the ecstasy of romance, to look into your eyes of your true twin flame. Where two souls meet binded together by through venus tides, surrending to the power of love where intensity rise. Sex. Passion. Love. It flows. It molds. The threshold of euphoria bursting with delight. Love is a feeling. That's new. That's fresh. It takes you and fulfills you. Love is unexplainable. Love is unpredictable. Love...is irresistible.

Update

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, and it's a new year...
Speaking of a new year, I meant to release my second Manhattan Girls novel in December of 2019 but I guess life got in the way where I had to delay some things. But fear not my fellow readers, I am almost, almost finished. I have just a few more chapters to write. By that time, I'll get it edited and before you know it...boom! It'll be all complete. So stay tuned...
On top of that, I'll be doing some book to movie reviews such as She-Devil starring Roseanne Barr and Meryl Streep and Interview with the Vampire and It's sequel Queen Of The Damned starring the late, great Aaliyah alongside The Anatomy of Riverdale: Season 2.
So be sure to leave a comment if you may.
Until then, have a great new year.
See you soon...

The Call of The Winter Solstice

The call of the winter upon winter dreams, the falling of the snow, so sublime and serene

The crystals of the ice glow in the trees like frozen cream
I call upon the winter solstice to bring death and rebirth, to salvage of neverending mirth, come Santa, come gifts, come prosperity, for all that is worth
My backyard is like a winter wonderland while I catch the snow with the palm of my hand,
Oh winter solstice, oh winter solstice, bring my life anew, where I see the colors of gray, white, and blue
From the leaves of autumn, there is very few, until spring things will be recharged and in tune
Oh winter solstice, oh winter solstice, until time goes by
The soul itself is what keeps us alive