Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire had its gala screening at the Toronto International Film Festival and in attendance was director Lee Daniels, actors Paula Patton, Sherri Shepherd, Mariah Carey and newcomer Gabby Sidibe, and of course, executive producers Tyler Perry and Oprah. Mary J. Blige, who wrote the song “I Can See In Color” on the movie’s soundtrack, and Sapphire, author of Push, were also in attendance for the screening. Lucky for me, I had the opportunity to not only see them on stage to introduce the film, but also watch this incredibly powerful movie before it was released into theatres nationwide. Now the winner of TIFF’s People’s Choice Award!

Four years ago, our New York City foursome in Manolo Blahniks, Jimmy Choos and, well quite frankly, all the designer shoe labels that I can barely afford without leaving me in the poor house, left our television screens. Or at least left our screens in the new episodes sense, because I’m sure many of us have been watching reruns or re-watching episodes on DVD since then. Lo and behold, the Sex and the City feature film was announced, then filming started happening all around New York City, pictures started turning up all over the web, and I (along with the legion of other SaTC fans) began anxiously awaiting the release of the movie.

Hey, what’s up with their spelling of “happiness”, grammar and spelling fiends will wonder (such as myself). Well, before watching the movie, the “y” in “happyness” bugged me but after seeing the movie, I know there’s actually a reason for it. Not just Hollywood execs being too cheap to hire a proofreader.

Let me be honest: I love chick flicks. Most movies about romance, tossed in with some goofy comedy or drama, and I’m so there (probably). When I heard about the movie adaptation of a book I’ve heard good things about, I was quite interested in seeing the movie. I’ve never been a fan of Asian cast movies (i.e. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), albeit being Asian myself, but that’s mostly because I thought movies with thick accents would be not so easy to follow.

Well, it turned out that that was the case.