Samuel L. is Afro Samurai...

Wassup, Y'all!

Happy New Year! I hope to get back to a regular posting schedule now that my holidayin' is finished as I know y'all are ready to once again savor the flavor. What better way to get back into the groove than with news of my boy Samuel L. 'Never seen a project I didn't sign on to' Jackson? That's right, y'all. Sammy is back with a little 'behind the scenes' work as the voice talent behind the new Spike TV animated feature Afro Samurai. Note the 'Spike TV' in that last sentence as this joint is hyper violent and definitely not kid appropriate. That said, if you're a fan of those whacked out Kung Fu movies and Japanese anime influenced cartoon style, this joint should definitely keep you entertained...

I'm not sure what it is with Samuel L. and sword fighting, but on the heels of his light saber wielding role as Mace Windu in the last three Star Wars joints and his perpetual quest to bring a live version of Afro Samurai to the big screen, he's clearly living some childhood fantasies. Jackson actually voices two characters in the cartoon version of Afro Samurai - the title character , a man of few words who lets his Katana blade do the talkin', and a jibber-jabbering sidekick named Ninja Ninja who gets all the good lines.

I checked out the premiere episode and liked it so far but I have to admit, there's more than enough decapitations and dismemberments to go around. The animation style also reminds me of the Boondocks (another Spike TV staple, which also features Jackson as the voice of whacked out Iraq war vet Gin Rummy).

During the premiere I also caught the trailers to two upcoming movies that look pretty good. One is Eddie Murphy's comedy Norbit which stars Donkey in multiple roles, primarily a Steve Urkel type nerd who ends up attached to a Big Babe (think Martin Lawrence in Big Mama's House and then go up one size larger). Looks too funny - check the trailer out on the above link. Casts looks good too - Thandie Newton, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Man Law alum Eddie Griffin (okay, 2 out of 3 ain't bad!).

Mark Wahlberg also has a new joint coming out that reminds a bit of the Bourne Supremacy series. It's called Shooter and stars Wahlberg as a former military sniper framed for a presidential assassination. Can't say there have been many movies starring Marky Mark that I haven't liked so I'm expecting to be wolfin' some popcorn at both these joints.

Peace@Least,

Tyrone