Lovely movie

[Totems4jt]

Author
DrJill

It's a pity "UnBowed" hasn't been given wide release on DVD because I think if it had, Jay would be a whole lot better known. He's done some wonderful work with smaller roles, but his portrayal of Waka Mani proved he's leading man material. "UnBowed" has so much to offer -- it's an informative period piece and a love story with a lovely, hopeful ending. Jay deserved his Best Actor prize!

Jill

[Totems4jt]

Author
Windsong

Now this was a treat!!!... the whole movie with Jay as one of the starring roles... woohoo!!! I saw this movie thanks to another one of Jays fans... Miss D... whom has a copy of this movie and guards it with her life and don't you even dare try to take it away from her, she will beat you with whatever is within her reach, beleive me I tried... hahaha. The story is so Cool!!! in this film Jay was very passionate, full of emotion, strength, intelligence, a most admirable physique, romantic and funny too. I totally enjoyed this movie as it was full of Jay, again his performance was impecable and impacting and my eyes just about shot out of my head when I saw him on the roof with only a loin cloth... oh, be still my heart and then the romantic and steamy love scene on the roof was the icing on the cake.All in all the story was a very good one and should be released on DVD, it would make Jay more popular and boost his career even more. Jay is an exceptional actor.

[Totems4jt]

Miss Davis

Feb 23, 05 - 3:05 PM UnBowed - The Commentary

UnBowed – The Commentary
By Miss Davis

Over all, I really liked the movie. I just really wished that there was more interaction shown between Waka Mani and Cleola, you know, just to go a little deeper on why they fell for each other. Well, here is my two cents worth from the Peanut Gallery.

• Miss Bennet – She’s a smart old lady! She can smell ragin’ hormones from a mile away, like when Richard and Cleola left the party and when Cleola was watching Waka Mani’s “Hai Alai” game.

• I wouldn’t call Waka Mani and Cleola’s first sighting love at 1st sight. It looked like curiosity, intrigue, and typical hormone laced attraction at first sight to me.

• Did anyone get the impression that Cleola’s mother was required to offer additional “services” other than being a laundry woman to her boss!?? Eeewww!

• Racism! No matter what age, what era, or what race; anyone who practices it looks amazingly stupid! Just ask Junius and that moron soldier that beat Waka Mani unprovoked! I thought it was kind of cool that the military officer was not racist and even showed it when he drank after Pres. Duquesne.

• I thought the other two Indian Braves were handsome, especially Simon Crow. . . .both still pale in the “yummy factor” compared to our Jay.

• Oh man, Waka Mani and Cleola’s meeting on the stairs was so memorable. When Cleola denied watching him from the stairs, he rose up to her while locking her stare like a serpent that stalks it’s prey . . . ooops, made a liar out of her! Ha-Ha!! The rest of Waka Mani’s stairs interaction with Cleola was a whole lot of hormones and ego all the way.

• Lewis is the African American character that truly reminds me of myself. I am the type of person to embrace those who are different than me. I’ll learn words from other languages, I’ll eat foods that aren’t like mine, I’ll befriend those that aren’t like me, embrace traditions that don’t go against my own. I really liked his character. He really tried to make the Indians feel welcomed. Lewis even found a “Partner in Crime” in Simon Crow.

• Ah, African American Women! We’re a saucy bunch, aren’t we!? I loved how Cleola called out Waka Mani when he was trying to play dumb at the dinnertable or as the only minority to have it hard. She didn’t cut him any slack. I loved it!

• The Library Scene – I’d be a giggling mess if someone handed me a book that way! There were some definite hormone vibes going on between them!

• Richard Singletary was a decent sort. I thought it took a lot of character to tell the truth that he started the altercation between him and Waka Mani. A lot of people like to put the blame on others instead of taking responsibility for their own actions.

• Was anyone as tripped out by that seriously devious grin on Waka Mani’s face when he heard Cleola inter the classroom? Oh yeah, when he leaned over the desk and got into her personal space, did anyone else notice the Hubba-Hubba fireworks going off between them?! Hmmwwaahhaa!!!

• I think the biggest attraction for Cleola for Waka Mani is that he knew who she really was and about her family, but he cared for her anyway. Cleola didn’t have to pretend to be anyone but herself with him. What a tender moment that was when she joined him on the roof because he alone knew of her heartbreak, and all he did was try to comfort her, instead of take advantage of her.

• Aaaahhh, The Tree Scene . . . one of my favorite! I loved it when he asked about her hair and actually put water on it! Y’all just don’t know how much I had to just HOLLER on that one! What a riot! And oh, that 1st kiss . . . Ay yai, yai!!! OOOhhh Lordy! I was sure wishin’ that Cleola was me!!! Land Sakes! Somebody HOSE me down!!!!!

• Pres. Duquesne – I have a funny feeling that he knew that Cleola was conflicted to which young man she was in love with. Those looks he gave her while sitting on the bench were priceless!

• Okay-Okay; The “Two Cats On A Hot Tin Roof” scene . . . Oh Lord. It was a lot racier than my Orthodox tastes are used to. Yikes! Well, what I managed to allow myself to see while screaming and feverishly pressing the Fast Forward button, with my left palm covering my left eye, while looking through my left hand middle and ring finger with my right eye, it made me think how lucky I would be to have a beautiful hunk of man like that to just love and marry me for exactly who I am.

• How sad it was when the Indian died. I thought it was beautiful that all of the sane, civil, good-hearted Blacks were with him and also supported the others.

• The second kiss at the church and what Waka Mani did to her when he told her that she didn’t need to think about going with him in her heart. . . Mercy Sakes! Somebody HOSE me down!!!!

• Watching them disappear into the night really made me wish that there would be a sequel to this movie. I too would definitely like to see what it was like for them at the Tribe and even among other Americans.
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Della Anderson

Jul 30, 07 - 5:58 PM Superb Heartfelt Movie.

Hello, my name is Della Anderson,

I just received the DVD of the movie "UNBOWED" and just loved it, I wish it was 2 hours longer. I am an single African American woman, who truly appreciated this movie. I felt as if Mr. Tavare was talking to me personally, that I was the woman that he fell in love with and made me even more proud to be a woman of color.

I found it great to see a movie that shows the reality that African American women were attractive to the Native Americans here in this country and that they did marry and raise families together.
It would be so wonderful to see more movies like this one, but longer. I would like to know if Mr. Tavare will be doing anymore movies with African American women as his love interest? I know of a lot of women of color who would go see it and buy it.

I know that Mr. Tavare doesn't read the emails that fans send to him but I wanted to know if he was married or engaged? I'm not trying to come on to him, I am just a regular person and he is a movie star, but was curious about his marital status. And I am a writer and I'd like to know if Mr. Tavare would look at a story that I wrote that I'd like to turn into a movie?

I would love for him to be the main star with an African American woman as his love interest.

Thank you once again for your contribution for making us African American women feel beautiful and loved, dispite the world views of us. I hope to hear a response to my email.

Sincerely, Della Anderson
Sparks, Nevada
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Miss Davis - a.k.a. "Five Shrieks"

Jul 30th, 2007 - 6:55 PM Re: Superb Heartfelt Movie.

Whoooo! Hot-Ziggity!

Hello Della! Welcome to The Tribe! Girlfriend, I've been hoppin' up and down about Jay doing more romantic movies with Black women in them. I really enjoyed the storyline of this movie and it made me feel good to see such a handsome A. Indian man in love with such a pretty Black woman. Obviously, there was quite a bit of that happening in this country. Have you ever read that book called Black Indians? It's really good. I sure hope that Jay contacts you and at least gives your story a look-see. That would be nice. *giggle*

Awhile back, we did a group chat with the director of this movie Nancy Rossov. That was lovely and very insightful. I really wish she would do a sequal. I think she said it would cost 2 mil. I said, "Is that all??!" I was shocked.

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the movie and hope to see you posting again.

Holler!!

Miss Davis
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Blue Angel

Aug 3rd, 2007 - 5:08 AM Re: Superb Heartfelt Movie.

Received the DVD on Tuesday and managed to watch it in full yesterday.
I can see what the movie tried to bring across. However, some of the actors came across rather wooden, or as if they were restricted in how they were allowed to act out their characters. On the other hand It seemed to me at times as if Jay was the only one putting his heart and soul into it.
I vote to try to get this movie re-made using mostly the same actors (such as the teacher, Jay - obviously -, the black guy who hated the 'Indians' ...) but maybe a different director and different composer, turn it into a typcial Hollywood movie, and wordlwide release with a massive marketing strategy behind. The revenue made from it should go to projects like Jay is involved in, One Spirit, Africa ... It's a shame that movies like this hardly ever find their way to a mass audience.
Doncaster
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Totems4JT

Aug 3rd, 2007 - 11:10 AM A few facts about Unbowed.

Unbowed was shot over two years with a break of one year to raise more money to finish the film.

Everyone working on the film but the key departmental heads, were first time film makers and Unbowed was their fist film.

Most of the scenes were shot in on or two takes and the production only had one camera and if you watch most of the scenes are one long take with no cuts.

There was a death in the cast, and the other male lead Richard could not return to finish the film so the story had to be changed.

Unbowed has won 5 awards to date.

Jay did choreograph the stick ball scene and one of the fight scenes.

Their film was made for under 450,000 dollars which is unheard of for a period film with costume changes.
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Blue Angel

Aug 4th, 2007 - 10:20 AM Re: A few facts about Unbowed.

Thanks for those interesting facts.
Still, it is a shame that Hollywood prefers to bombard us mostly mindless, forgetable movies, many of them celebrating extreme violence, which I personally find very shocking.
Your Location: Doncaster
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sonya

Aug 18, 07 - 3:39 PM Yeah!!!!! Happy Early Birthday to me..

I received my copy of Unbowed today and I was so excited. I forced myself to wait before I watched it, as I needed to clean the kitchen. I have never cleaned my kitchen so fast!!! My birthday is August 27th, so this was a early birthday present to myself. It was a wonderful movie and very well acted. Jay's body was something else. The love scene...........well all I can say is, I actually can't say anything as I am drooling.

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
nashville, tn
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Deer

Aug 25th, 2007 - 5:59 AM Embarassed

I can't believe I'm going to mention this. I saw Unbowed last weekend. A very sweet friend bought it for me. I watched it. My 19 year old son laughed at me. Yep, I hid my face during the love scene. LOL! Can you believe that? I am so embarassed by that!

Very good movie and may very well have happened many times in the schools that had both Native and African American Students. Hampton University in Virginia was one of those colleges.