Customer Reviews

Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I love to laugh & this performance makes you think, say hmmmm & laugh. Nothings off limits. You can't be a square & closed minded. If you're thin skinned & hold tight to predjudices then this is not your comic or Dvd. Dude says real stuff we don't want to say aloud, in a palliative, humorous fashion.

Length:: 9:48 Mins

This is one of the best comedy shows I have ever seen. Wish he talked a little more about that Palin person.

Outrageous, ingenious humor. Chris Rock is unstoppable in this world tour de comedy force.

Rock starts out talking about the 2008 election (Bush, McCain, and Obama) and ends up on sex. In between its non-stop humor - race, sex, jobs, sex, the differences between men and women, sex, his African safari, etc. He's a fantastic talent.

Everything Chris Rock does is funny.On his stand up dvd's,Chris rock is hillarious and right about whatever he is talking about.Some dvd's contain some of the same jokes as on previous dvd's,but still funny.

I think this special edition rules!!! You get three different shows for the price of one and digital copy. Chris Rock with every special always makes you think and laugh out loud at the same time!!! A must own.

Chris Rock absolutely does it again. This show is amazing. I'm not sure who came up with the idea of shooting and cutting between 3 cities but it was an extremely brave choice. I would have thought the show was going to be jarring and the shifting from city to city would steal the thunder but i think it adds to it. Funny is funny no matter what country you're in. I googled the director to see what else he's done and it's a pretty amazing list. He's done a bunch of other HBO shows including Will Ferrells new broadway show and Dane Cooks show (which i thought dane comedy lacked substance but was amazing in the round). anyhow he's got a website where he actually responds to peoples technical questions and about the artists [...] anyhow back to Rock his comedy is still cutting edge and I was laughing my ass off the whole time. In particular he does a bit about the rich white man that lives next door to him, I don't want to spoil it but when you see it you'll know what I'm talking about. In closing buy this dvd