Customer Reviews

Chris Rock: Kill the Messenger (Three-Disc Collector's Edition)

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!

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.

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.