Product Details

• Actors: Chris Rock
• Directors: Marty Callner
• Writers: Chris Rock
• Producers: Chris Rock, Marty Callner, Andy Derbyshire, Carol Axler Turner, Douglas Miller
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• DVD Release Date: January 20, 2009
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B001HB1JY2
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,279 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger" on IMDb

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the ’08 presidential election, while funny (John McCain is "so old, he used to own Sidney Poitier"), are obviously no longer current.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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Still Tellin' It Like It IS October 8, 2008

By Sky TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

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. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars His third best dvd November 28, 2009

By K. Swanson TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

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!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Still Tellin' It Like It IS October 8, 2008

By Sky TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

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. Read more ›

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Funny But Lacks A Variety Of Subjects December 5, 2009

By Bruce Nichols

Format:DVD

What I love about Chris Rock most is his spot on insights about daily life. In this performance he reminds us of two things we waste our money on. I also loved his thoughts on George W. Bush's attitude toward the public. He has a pocket full of ___, but won't give you one. This kind of material shows off the genius and creativity of CR. My problem with this show is that he goes on too long about racial issues. The jokes just get too repetitive. If he varied his choice of topics, this performance could have been so much more interesting. Instead, he chose to stay on familiar ground and for that, this performance suffers a bit. Good, but not classic Chris Rock.