-
Leave the Wrapping to Us
Sending a gift? Save yourself a little time this Father's Day by taking advantage of gift wrapping for just $3.99. We'll select from our coordinating papers, boxes, and ribbons to make your gift special. Note: Large items might arrive in a reusable cloth gift bag instead of wrapping paper. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Special Features
None.
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Chris Rock in 3-D? That’s more or less what you get with Kill the Messenger. Recorded in 2008, the 79-minute show is actually a compilation of three different gigs (in London, New York, and Johannesburg, South Africa) deftly edited into a single performance, presumably drawing on the best takes from each. It’s an effective technique, as it sustains visual interest (i.e., Rock’s wardrobe changes) and reveals the comedian’s gift for making his act seem spontaneous when in fact it’s basically the same every night during a given tour. As for the content, it’s what you’d expect from Rock: rude (f-bombs fall like acid rain, the "n word" flows freely, and the sexual references are extremely graphic), incisive, and hilarious. Some of the material has already passed its sell-by date; jokes about the ’08 presidential election, while funny (John McCain is "so old, he used to own Sidney Poitier"), are obviously no longer current. Elsewhere, Rock riffs on the difference between "career" and "job," gay fans, ringtones, and even Gwen Stefani, but it’s his observations about race that are central to the performance--and they never lose their bite, especially when it comes to black-white relations (on black men’s predilection for, uh, larger women: "A black man’ll drop-kick Keira Knightley to get to Rosie O’Donnell"). On the whole, he seems optimistic, if somewhat bemused ("All my black friends have a bunch of white friends. All my white friends have one black friend"), even as he remains acutely aware of the persistence of racism and inequality. If you’re easily offended, steer clear of Kill the Messenger. Otherwise, get ready to laugh. --Sam Graham
Product Description
Comic superstar and three-time Emmy® Award-winner Chris Rock stars in his fifth solo HBO stand-up performance. Kill The Messenger features Chris Rock from three international performances - at South Africa's Carnival City Casino, Londons Carling Apollo Hammersmith and New York 's legendary Apollo Theater - where he delivers his unique, adults-only take on dozens of social, political and celebrity issues.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Chris Rock is not just a comedian. He doesn't just tell jokes (anymore). He's a truly smart guy that sees the world for what it is...and then shares his view of it with you. And the world is clearly a very very funny place.
Political views. Racial views. Religious views. Social views. His views on plain old common sense....Whether you agree with his views or not, he'll make you laugh. He might even make you mad with some of his views...but that's the point. Oh, you mean the stuff you agree with is funny, but the stuff that you don't agree with isn't??? C'mon!
Rock's 2008 HBO special Kill the Messenger is Chris Rock at his best. Some of the act does seem familiar just because (most of us?) now know his routine so well after so many fine years. You have his previous HBO specials: from "Big *** Jokes" 14 years ago when he used to simply "tell jokes", to his breakthrough specials starting in 1996 that established Rock for the unique style and delivery that he is now famous for {Bring The Pain (1996), Bigger and Blacker (1999), and Never Scared (2004)}. And of course you also have years and years of TV and movies to go with his signature HBO persona.
So, while some of the act may seem a bit familiar, rest assured that the subject matter is fresh. The only annoyance (albeit a slight annoyance) with the Kill the Messenger performance is the 3-venue video splicing presentation. In other words, you'll see Rock start a joke in New York, but then finish it in London or South Africa (not necessarily in that order); this splicing effect was distracting for me, but may not bother you.
So do go ahead and hit the buy button for a night of laughs if you didn't have the good fortune to catch this on HBO. One other word of caution is that the material is very timely. When the DVD is finally released in early 2009, some of it will actually be dated...mostly the pre-election stuff.
Political views. Racial views. Religious views. Social views. His views on plain old common sense....Whether you agree with his views or not, he'll make you laugh. He might even make you mad with some of his views...but that's the point. Oh, you mean the stuff you agree with is funny, but the stuff that you don't agree with isn't??? C'mon!
Rock's 2008 HBO special Kill the Messenger is Chris Rock at his best. Some of the act does seem familiar just because (most of us?) now know his routine so well after so many fine years. You have his previous HBO specials: from "Big *** Jokes" 14 years ago when he used to simply "tell jokes", to his breakthrough specials starting in 1996 that established Rock for the unique style and delivery that he is now famous for {Bring The Pain (1996), Bigger and Blacker (1999), and Never Scared (2004)}. And of course you also have years and years of TV and movies to go with his signature HBO persona.
So, while some of the act may seem a bit familiar, rest assured that the subject matter is fresh. The only annoyance (albeit a slight annoyance) with the Kill the Messenger performance is the 3-venue video splicing presentation. In other words, you'll see Rock start a joke in New York, but then finish it in London or South Africa (not necessarily in that order); this splicing effect was distracting for me, but may not bother you.
So do go ahead and hit the buy button for a night of laughs if you didn't have the good fortune to catch this on HBO. One other word of caution is that the material is very timely. When the DVD is finally released in early 2009, some of it will actually be dated...mostly the pre-election stuff.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It takes this show a while to get moving, but it does pick up nicely about 15 minutes in. The use of three different shows is interesting, but the rapid cuts get old fast and lead to unnecessary confusion.
The best performance is clearly at the Apollo, the site of Rock's greatest success, Bigger And Blacker. So why include the Jo'berg and London shows? Just to show he's an international star now? Too bad, because you can hear from his voice that Rock is most comfortable and free--and funny!--at home in NYC. His outfit in each town says it all.
When it does pick up, you can see Rock relax and start to really deliver the goods. As usual his best material is related to race and personal politics, and there are some classic bits here. The "crease" line is pretty special, among many.
So, while not close to the perfection and edge of B&B, and not quite as solid as Bring The Pain, this is better than Never Scared. But Chris---one show every five years? We need more of your comedy, and especially your gift for telling the truth about society, particularly America's blind greed and narcissism. You've got all the cash you need now; stretch out and really let us have it!
The best performance is clearly at the Apollo, the site of Rock's greatest success, Bigger And Blacker. So why include the Jo'berg and London shows? Just to show he's an international star now? Too bad, because you can hear from his voice that Rock is most comfortable and free--and funny!--at home in NYC. His outfit in each town says it all.
When it does pick up, you can see Rock relax and start to really deliver the goods. As usual his best material is related to race and personal politics, and there are some classic bits here. The "crease" line is pretty special, among many.
So, while not close to the perfection and edge of B&B, and not quite as solid as Bring The Pain, this is better than Never Scared. But Chris---one show every five years? We need more of your comedy, and especially your gift for telling the truth about society, particularly America's blind greed and narcissism. You've got all the cash you need now; stretch out and really let us have it!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Chris Rock is not just a comedian. He doesn't just tell jokes (anymore). He's a truly smart guy that sees the world for what it is...and then shares his view of it with you. And the world is clearly a very very funny place.
Political views. Racial views. Religious views. Social views. His views on plain old common sense....Whether you agree with his views or not, he'll make you laugh. He might even make you mad with some of his views...but that's the point. Oh, you mean the stuff you agree with is funny, but the stuff that you don't agree with isn't??? C'mon!
Rock's 2008 HBO special Kill the Messenger is Chris Rock at his best. Some of the act does seem familiar just because (most of us?) now know his routine so well after so many fine years. You have his previous HBO specials: from "Big *** Jokes" 14 years ago when he used to simply "tell jokes", to his breakthrough specials starting in 1996 that established Rock for the unique style and delivery that he is now famous for {Bring The Pain (1996), Bigger and Blacker (1999), and Never Scared (2004)}. And of course you also have years and years of TV and movies to go with his signature HBO persona.
So, while some of the act may seem a bit familiar, rest assured that the subject matter is fresh. The only annoyance (albeit a slight annoyance) with the Kill the Messenger performance is the 3-venue video splicing presentation. In other words, you'll see Rock start a joke in New York, but then finish it in London or South Africa (not necessarily in that order); this splicing effect was distracting for me, but may not bother you.
So do go ahead and hit the buy button for a night of laughs if you didn't have the good fortune to catch this on HBO. One other word of caution is that the material is very timely. When the DVD is finally released in early 2009, some of it will actually be dated...mostly the pre-election stuff.
Political views. Racial views. Religious views. Social views. His views on plain old common sense....Whether you agree with his views or not, he'll make you laugh. He might even make you mad with some of his views...but that's the point. Oh, you mean the stuff you agree with is funny, but the stuff that you don't agree with isn't??? C'mon!
Rock's 2008 HBO special Kill the Messenger is Chris Rock at his best. Some of the act does seem familiar just because (most of us?) now know his routine so well after so many fine years. You have his previous HBO specials: from "Big *** Jokes" 14 years ago when he used to simply "tell jokes", to his breakthrough specials starting in 1996 that established Rock for the unique style and delivery that he is now famous for {Bring The Pain (1996), Bigger and Blacker (1999), and Never Scared (2004)}. And of course you also have years and years of TV and movies to go with his signature HBO persona.
So, while some of the act may seem a bit familiar, rest assured that the subject matter is fresh. The only annoyance (albeit a slight annoyance) with the Kill the Messenger performance is the 3-venue video splicing presentation. In other words, you'll see Rock start a joke in New York, but then finish it in London or South Africa (not necessarily in that order); this splicing effect was distracting for me, but may not bother you.
So do go ahead and hit the buy button for a night of laughs if you didn't have the good fortune to catch this on HBO. One other word of caution is that the material is very timely. When the DVD is finally released in early 2009, some of it will actually be dated...mostly the pre-election stuff.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's Amazing Chris Rock Is Still So Funny!!
How many other comics from the early 1990s have stand up specials in the late 2000s and are still hilarious? Basically none! Read more
Published 2 days ago by Leopold Stotch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for collectors
If you're a collector of comedy like me, this is a must-have item. Chris Rock is one of the best so having his catalogue is essential. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Jae Least
1.0 out of 5 stars
One Long Very Partisan Obama Commercial
I love Chris Rock and own all his other specials on DVD and the Chris Rock Show, but when it comes to Obama he lost his impartiality and his credibility. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Mr. Know-It-All
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprised my husband
My husband is a huge Chris Rock fan and this was a big hit for Christmas. That's really all I wanted.
Published 1 month ago by NikkiSilver
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chris Rock
In my opinion the most hilarius guy in the world! This show is so great! I laugh from the beginning to the end!!!
Published 2 months ago by Paulo A. M. Markowski
3.0 out of 5 stars
Funny
The only thing I'd change would be the "Cut" of the video. It was a little to "jumpy" for me. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Boonkey
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's Chris Rock
Can't go wrong, always funny. Right now Kevin Hart is top black comedian, but Chris Rock is still the most intellectual comedian, period.
Published 5 months ago by Anthony Perez
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love it
My husband an I are a big fans of Chris Rock. I decided to buy three of his DVD discs for him a fift. Shows are great. Quality is very good as well.
Published 5 months ago by Nina
5.0 out of 5 stars
Asthma Attack
I laughed so hard tears flowed down my cheek, I could barely catch my breath and I had to hit my inhaler to fight off an asthma attack. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Tom Gray
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of best comedians out there
Chris Rock what can be said about this comedian. I sum him up as one of the best comedian out there currently. I enjoy bigger and blacker and Never Scared. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jack D. Lowry
