Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD EAN: 9780780620407 Format: AC-3 ISBN: 630469623X Label: New Line Home Video Manufacturer: New Line Home Video Number Of Items: 1 Picture Format: Letterbox Publisher: New Line Home Video Region Code: 1 Release Date: 1997-10-22 Running Time: 104 Studio: New Line Home Video Theatrical Release Date: 1993-05-26
Tyrin Turner may not have broken out into stardom as was initially expected, but his work in Menace II Society is one of the more powerful cinematic debuts. The film, from the brother writer-director team of Allen and Albert Hughes, chronicles life in the Los Angeles 'hood. Similar territory was covered in the equally commanding Boyz N the Hood, but what makes this cautionary tale stand out is not only the Hughes brothers' forceful story, (written with their friend, Tyger Williams) and direction, but the naturalness of then-newcomer leads Turner as Caine, Larenz Tate as O-Dog, and Jada Pinkett as Ronnie. They are so credible--occasionally frighteningly so--that the repressive universe of violent ghetto life is captured effectively. Life as portrayed here--and no doubt accurately so--is both figuratively and literally narrow. As a very young boy, Caine witnesses his dad murdered over something inconsequential, and his mom OD. His is a world where respect comes from intimidation, power from violence. Despite his understanding of right and wrong (values passed on by a good friend, his kind grandparents, a caring teacher), his life and its entrapments are too much to overcome. --N.F. Mendoza
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: 5 star movie. Comment: Menace II Society is a very good movie, that has it all. I would say that it's one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Customer Rating: Summary: 100% average Comment: I went into this movie expecting a little Dead Presidents-type drama and charactor development. What I got instead was a very ho-hum account of thug life. I don't know how this director managed to make drive by shootings boring, but he did it somehow. I just never felt any attachment to any of the actors to the point where I didn't give a hoot if they lived or died. The main charactor is sympathetic in one scene, then a total maniac in the next. There is never a common theme throughout the entire film, and every charactor has split personalities. The dialogue is pretty lame and the basic plot of the movie is revenge. This one is getting that one and that one's getting this one back. Just kind of juvenile and boring. I'll watch Dead Presidents again just to get this bad taste out of my mouth. If you're interested in a great thug movie with plot, dialogue, and development that's your answer to this mediocre attempt. Customer Rating: Summary: even if you don't like it, wait until the last scene... Comment: ...it'll be worth it. i won't go into details, but that chilling image that the hughes brothers crafted was probably one of the best pieces of cinema i've ever seeen. even after seeing a number of times, it still gets me. having said all that though, do check out the movie for its performances, particularly larenz tate's, belivability, and overall message. Customer Rating: Summary: A Hood Classic for sure......................... Comment: The shock and horror of urban violence pierces through screen on this movie. Customer Rating: Summary: Unauthorized bigraphy is what it felt like Comment: This is by far one of my favorite movies. I do not however own the DVD version of the film.
Actually I am lucky to own the VHS version. You see one night while I was sleeping an ex-girlfriend decided to assault me with my VHS copy of the film Seven staring Brad Pitt and a human head.
I awoke to the tape bouncing off my noggin...when I realized what was going on it was too late for SEVEN, the tape had been pulled from the plastic rectangle and all I could do was jump to my feet to see what was happening outside my bedroom. What I stumbled upon was pure horror!
The soon to be ex had my copy (my most prized movie possession) of Menace to Society in her clutches and was about to begin dismantling the movie I had come to love. I bolted forward and grabbed the tape from her and escorted her away from the property.
Now most of you may not see this review as a review of the movie, but having a crazy woman try to break your most prized possessions and twarting her efforts on Round 2 (since she won Round 1 with Seven...a film I didn't particularly care for, but stole fair and square from a buddy we call Lunch Box) is a victory for me.
I mean I liked the movie so much I chose it over a woman. And it was the grainy VHS version that needed to be replaced and was outdated anyway.