Customer Reviews

Brown Sugar [VHS]

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

This film gets 4 stars only b/c I don't believe in perfection. But it is all that and more! Brown Sugar is a cleverly entertaining, but immensely political film that will only be fully appreciated by those who were exposed to real hip hop music pre-gangsta rap/Vanilla Ice/MC Hammer cartoon character [stuff] that totally casts African Americans into narrower caricatures while mocking the creative, intelligent art form in its truest nature.

All of the other reviews will tell you about the plot. I'll break it down like this. The film is metaphorical. Sid (Sanaa Lathan) and Dre (Taye Diggs) represent real hip hop -- the pure creative stuff with great lyrics & true uplifting substance most mainstream folks don't hear on the radio. They each try to get together with other folks (Boris, Nicole) who represent the misguided mainstream that's partially at fault for the overtly racist, simplistic "rap music" that gets so much hype, radio air play and industry promotion attention today.

The marriage between Diggs and Nicole (whatever) doesn't work out in the end b/c (as I understand the point the writers were trying to make) a union between hip hop in its purest, realest form and all that [stuff] that's just designed to sell records to misguided white folks who think that's all there is to the music can't work -- also sending a message that artists shouldn't comprise and sell out just to sell records.

That's why Diggs quits his job & that's why he tries to promote Mos Def's character ... one that represents all the real, creative, intelligent and above ...booty shake rappers who don't get big sales and radio airplay.

This movie courageously attempts to assail the music industry and mainstream consumers who don't know what real hip hop is -- and thus either buy into all of this violent, misogynistic music that gets promoted b/c they really think that's the extent of the life of African Americans OR people that hate it altogether b/c they think since that's all they hear and see then that's the full extent of hip hop music.

The real reason the "Rin and Tin" characters are such laughing stocks is b/c the writers are both mocking the fake music passed off as rap music that sells today in the mainstream AND hoping audiences that see this movie laugh and get the real joke in understanding these characters aren't genuine and thus not real.

Hip hop is a culture of expression -- greatly varied in message and creativity.

Brown Sugar gives a voice to all those fed up with negative, stereotypical rappers getting promoted to predominantly white audiences who often buy into it -- thus shutting out more creative, true, talented rappers with positive, fun and deeper messages in their lyrics.

True hip hop is fun and can articulate every aspect of life like all other genres.

Hopefully, just as in the movie's poetic ending with Mos Def getting radio airplay, real hip hop artists will get the promotion they deserve and give the art form a better name among the mainstream that sadly still knows absolutely nothing about its essence.

As I see it this movie is creative and clever b/c of its parallel between social commentary on the current state of the music industry, what sells, what's real and what should sell with this love story.

Sid and Dre are together b/c "real recognizes real." That's Brown Sugar.

This movie is brilliant and entertaining and fresh, but sadly most the the reviewers of this movie TOTALLY MISSED the point.

If you thought this was just another romantic comedy, then of course you'd think this was just a run-of-the-mill, predictable movie.

If you weren't exposed and/or have no concept of what hip hop was before it's crossover period, circa-1990 with FAKE, gimmicky artists with no skill like Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer who put out anything that would sell records, don't watch this movie -- someone else will only have to break it down to you later.

Like the Amazon.com Review (Jeff Shannon) says above (please read carefully), the LEAST entertaining aspect of this movie is Dre & Sidney's relationship.

The gist of the movie is how Dre & Sid's relationship is written as a direct parallel and with commentary on the music business of how hip hop lost its soul when it crossed over and became commercial.

Every scene in the movie is metaphorical and attests to this commentary.

Dre & Sid's friendship as innocent young kids in the 1980s parallels the birth of hip hop and its innocent period.

Dre & Sid's outside (dating) relationships parallel hip hop selling out just enough in the mainstream to survive.

Dre's ultimate marriage to Reece, a fake, money-grubbing, status quo symbol, parallel's hip hop's crossover to the mainstream and going commercial.

Dre & Sid's hookup in the end (pay close attention to the hotel scene dialogue when Sid tells Dre she can't review his CD ... Dre's lines "One moment you say you want me to change and the next you're saying you want me to stay the same...").

That whole scene is metaphorical for the true to life debates music fans have today ... everyone wants hip hop to grow & change, yet those unhappy with the changes (such as overcommercialism & the rise of Southern hip hop) are longing for the "pure days" when rappers with real skills put out great music to represent their intelligence, their skills and their personal experience INSTEAD of puttin' out whatever flava-of-the-month style of music will sell the most (thus, selling out hip hop).

Finally, Dre & Sid's hookup as an official couple on Angie Martinez's Hot97 is like this film's writer's personal commentary that ultimately, hip hop has to return to its roots to move forward (kind of like a Hip Hop Sankofa concept, looking back/understanding the past in order to move forward).

Like I said, if you don't know what hip hop music was pre-1990, you won't understand half of the movie and thus you won't appreciate what the 4 & 5-star reviewers of this movie see in its creativity.

This film was written with a purpose and I hope, despite meager sales, we get more like this one instead of the stereotypical, dumbed-down stuff that Hollwyood keeps pushing.

This movie is for those who truly love (underground) hip hop. Otherwise, it would not make a lot of sense or even be worth your time. It is one of my favorite movies. Rap is not hip hop, loving someone is not being in love with them.

is "Brown Sugar," the new romantic comedy starring Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. I loved it. The mix of the love story, where two longtime friends are brought together originally by their love of Hip Hop, who eventually take their relationship to another level, is smart, funny and engaging. Taye and Sanaa are attractive, charming leads who exhibit a chemistry that makes the relationship believeable, making the moviegoer care about the relationship. Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Mos Def and Queen Latifah lend terrific support. In the movie, their caring for each other and Hip Hop endures and stands the test of time. And isn't that what true love does. When did I fall in love with Hip Hop? It was 1989 and it was this film that helped me remember how wonderful love and Hip Hop both are. As two "Old School" joints once said, "There Ain't Nothin' Like Hip Hop Music," and "There's Nothin' Better Than Love." One of the best films of the year, with one of the best soundtracks ever! See it and feel good.

It's nice to see African-Americans depicted in a positive light for a change and Brown Sugar does just that. It is infused with ambition, humor and romance!

Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan, my favorite actor and actress coming together, it has to be good! But you don't need to know either one of these two to love "Brown Sugar". This movie involves two adults that grew up as best friends but later realised that they were in love with eachother, it raises a question of whether a man and a woman can be friends without sexuality being in the way but at the same time it goes beyond that; having a lover as a best friend is as good as it gets. What makes this movie good is the trouble these two best friends go through to realize how they feel about each other but that's not a bad thing, it just helps them realize how they truly feel. Most movies would just show the physical attraction between two people but Brown Sugar shows you two people understanding eachother in every way possible. It is truly the best romantic movie that I have ever watched, it's not only touching but it has humor along the way which makes it open to a lot of different audiences. The delivery was great, no surprise there, if I didn't know better I would think it was a true story. Beautiful movie!

When I first saw this movie in the theater, I was extremely impressed with it due to the fact that. I love hip hop culture and have been a part of the culture my entire life. When I first saw this movie I was impressed with the fact that the movie addresses hip hop's stagnant redundancy that's currently so prevalent. But I rented the DVD for the first time last week, and boy was I wrong about this movie being great. First of all this movie had the potential to be different as well as great. But the movie itself as well as the plot is almost identical to most recent black buppie love stories (see: The Brothers, Love & Basketball, The Wood.) It seems as if a majority of black film makers today lack the ability to break new ground. Or venture into a another dimension to capture our stories. Black films need more avant garde substance today, and that's clearly obvious with a film like Brown Sugar. They do a great job of fooling the audience with it's "hip hop's in a state of emergency" disguise, but I guarantee you, after you view this film for the second time, you will be disappointed. The character's are extremely under-developed and not too convincing either. Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan just seem to try to hard to fit into a Nuevo "hip-hop" persona. They just don't strike me as true hip hop heads. They simply just don't fit the roles of these characters. They both look confused in some instances, and look like they just became interested in hip-hop culture overnight rather than being embedded with it their entire lives. Lathan, was actually satisfactory with her performance. But Diggs was just god-awfully horrible, he didn't even convince me that he was even from New York...he just tried so hard to fit in throughout the whole movie. I gave this movie 2 stars for the extremely superb and credible performance by Mos Def (Cabbie) who seems to be the only character here with an ounce of substance. This movie could have been slightly better with a more convincing cast, maybe Digg's character should have been reserved for Mekhai Phifer or Omar Epps even. But the true reason why Epps wasn't used in this role is so that the audience wouldn't be able to indicate that this movie is a direct rip-off of Love & Basketball. The writers should have titled Brown Sugar Love & Hip-hop to fit more accordingly. The beginning of the flick includes the best portion of the entire a film with short interviews and freestyles from hip hop legends such as Kool G. Rap and Slick Rick. But ultimately if you've seen any of the millennium's bougie/snotty/ghetto flicks then you've seen them all. When will we wake up. I Hope African American filmmakers begin to follow the paths of Spike Lee and The Hughes's Brothers. Because we are now experiencing a new Exploitation era with these types of films. Rent this film don't spend your hard earned money on it.

"So, when did you fall in love with hip-hop?"

Hip-hop heads rejoice!! There has been finally been a movie made out hip-hop and for hip-hop revolving around a love theme. Sydney Shaw (Sanaa Lathan, "Love & Basketball") and Dre Ellis ("The Best Man", "How Stella Got Her Groove Back,") star in this romantic comedy about two best friends' love for hip-hop and the ultimate love for each other. When full-time careers bring them closer to each other, Sydney as a respected writer for XXL magazine and Dre as label executive for Millenium Records, they find they love for one another--and hip-hop-- has not changed, or has it? Despite pressure from Sydney's cousin, played none other by Queen Latifah, ("Set It Off"), and unsigned talent/cabbie driver, Cavi, (rapper Mos Def at his funniest) both seem to be reluctant to go forward with something more than friends. When Dre decides to marry his sweetheart, Reese, (Nicole Ari Parker of Showtimes, "Soul Food") of a few minutes, er months, things definitely heat up!! Is he doing this in spite of Syd or because he can't have her? Sydney moves on and meets Kelby (Boris Kodjoe of Showtime's "Soul Food" fame) and soon finds herself engaged to be married in about the same amount of time Dre spent romancing his Reese. But is her heart with him? Or is it with Dre? I won't spoil the movie, but DO check this one out. Hip-hop heads will be delighted at all the cameos from new and old school rappers!! Don't sleep on this one!!

"There's A Difference Between Rap And Hip-Hop
It's Like Loving Someone And Being In Love
One Is Just A Word"
-Sanaa Lathan as "Sydney" in "Brown Sugar"-

OH MY GOD!! Plz ppl, go watch "BROWN SUGAR". support this movie!!! It's the best movie i've ever seen.

I've never seen a movie that made me:
· Laugh so much
· Have a permanent smile on my face
· Cry because I was yearning to be around when there was real hip hop
· Wanna just be with the one i love
· Desire to have a meaningful, beautiful relationship
· Just feel good all over!

Plz ppl, this movie needs support. We don't get many movies like this anymore. They are few and far btwn and the one's that do come out aren't of this caliber.
If we don't go watch it they'll take it out of the theatres early, and then they won't make movies like this again.
And believe me, we need movies like this. One's that will uplift us, teach us to laugh, smile and cry.

...I think I've just fallen in love.

This was a film that puts a smile on your face, and brings you back to the good days of hip hop. The music was incredible, and the actors/actresses were funny, witty, and often surprising. The film definately had its way of throwing you around. From looking back on great music- to looking ahead at your future, this film did all that!