Customer Reviews

Civil Brand

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to give this film 4 stars because the ending was too similar to films of the past, ala "Thelma & Louis," "Set It Off,' meaning the bad guys don't really win. The women are in jail because they are hardended criminals, yet the film is set up for us to feel compassion for these women. They are mothers, they have feelings and the are horribly abused by the prison captain.

The stand out roles in this film are not the obvious. Lisa Raye is a very beautiful woman who I support, but her acting is pretty much the same in every film, she pouts, she tries to look tough, i.e., she could have been Diamond from "Players Club."

Da Brat did some pretty good acting as the films narrator Sabrina. Lark Voorhies shined as little mama and N'Bushe Wright proved that she deserves more film roles. Monica Calhoun is in this film, Tichina Arnold and several other leading African-American women including MC Lyte who acted really well in her role. Not to mention Mos Def as a college going prison guard.

This film is well written in most parts, there were a few scenes that had me wondering, like why the women were doing sit ups in the hole, but other than that it was a good film.

I thought it would be like those cheesy prison movies in the 70's, but it is very thought provoking. It makes the viewer think about prison as a business and how when abuse takes place behind prison walls it is often hard to get word to the outside.

This film made me depressed at times because the women just faced so much tragedy. This movie is definitly worth watching, it just can be a downer.

Civil Brand was a very good movie. When my fiance' picked it out, I was just like whatever, but I watched it anyway and was presently surprised.

It had an unexpected ending and the cast was great, Da Brat, Mos Def, LisaRaye, Nubush Wright, Lark Vorhees and many more. The acting was superb and very real. I was shocked at how they portrayed a female penitentiary.

This movie is worth watching.

Later!!!!

I LOVE THIS MOVEI I SAW IT ON BET AND HAD TO PURCHASE IT. IT IS SO AMAZING WHAT WOMEN GO THRU IN PRISON AND IM SAD TO SEE IT DIDNT GET A LOT OF RECOGNITION

This movie is a winner.With an alstar beautiful cast with so much talent.They are LisaRaye, Tichina Arnold, N'Busche Wright, Monica Calhoun, Lark Voorhies,Da Brat, Mc Lyte and even Mos Def.

The plot is so importaant and this is a great movie.Its baout women who too a stand because they were tired of their hard labor and sexist treatment while they are in prison.These women all shien in this movie and among that it has won many awards at film festivals even BEST PICTURE.
I remeber reading amagazine and seeing an ad in a magazine for a movie after that i never heard anything else about it.NExt thing i know i was walking thorugh Wal-Mart and saw the DVD.I never seen it before so i bought it and loved it..

BOTTOM LINE THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR EVERYONE


OVERALL GRADE 97/100 = A

THE MOVIE WAS NOT THAT BAD THE PLOT WAS OK BUT IT COULD HAVE
BEEN MUCH BETTER. THE MOVIE IS ABOUT WOMEN IN PRISON FACING
A CORRUPT WARDEN AND SECURITY GUARD. THE MOVIE COULD HAVE PLAYED OUT BETTER FOR THE MOST PART IT WAS JUST OK.

1st off Much Love & Props 2 Neema Barnette 1 the Guru(s) of the underground Directors! I've found a much deeper connection with her work after I viewed the DVD with her commentary... I love both Mc Lyte's & N'Bushe Wright's Dispositions period, so they're my rationale for supporting Civil Brand! Mc Lyte gets slept on as an Actress & Rappers as well! She ominscient at what she does and she speaks & raps eloquently! Mc Lyte, Queen Latifah are 2 of the best that has strucked Rap & Acting (hands down). Thanks to Neema B. for not being raunchy & making Civil Brand out to be a cliche' prison chick flick! Tichina Arnold (Pam) from Martin showed that she's versatile with her skills. I loved when Tichina punched Lisa in the face & snatched her chain, like ''Bitch Ante-Up''. I'll express my Hatred for Clifton Powell's character... He had the balls to think that he & his boss would get away with turning these inmates into Tricks!!!!
When Monica Calhoun & the rest of them were beating his ass I got an Adrenalin rush! They took over the prison on some Attica
sh*t (You Know). Mos Def was feeble at 1st but he found the courage to help with cause, so he was cool. Cervantes/Mc Lyte
was on the wrong team, but I'm glad in a way because if she was a convict then she might have been killed also! My biggest complaint is that Neema should've kept most characters alive
so that they could've wreap the benefit of being Emancipated
along with the narrator Da Brat! As I said before all of these prison movies are an example of how prisoners are slaved (it must be Seen & Heard). It should be Rectified why aren't these Tyrants being brought to Justice as the criminals that they are? It's F***ing sad that a prisoners has to make clothing & be paid little to nothing after completing it!... After that they'll Rape the Consumers by charging 2 arms & 1 leg for those items (A Total conspiracy)! I feel that Neema could've found someone else to play Lisa Raye's role, I wasn't getting anything from her! Jada Pinkett would've been suitable to play L. Raye's role! I enjoyed the sound track plenty because it had a touch of Poetry!

I enjoyed this movie. I was very suprised and moved by the movie.
I am glad I purchased.

I saw this movie about 10 years ago and never forgot it. I like the fact is shows these ladies standing up for one another even though they are incarcerated. There is true meaning in the word "sister" as you watch these actresses in stellar performance. Reminds me a lot of my older sister who is pretty but tough.

Received in a very timely mannor, Quality excellent as described! Thank You for this movie, it was everything you promised!!

Don't let the cheesy looking DVD artwork confuse you; this is no T&A, 1970s blaxploitation women in prison flick, (although some of those were damned good movies).

These are women of color behind bars, but the characters are portrayed as strong women, edgy, and intelligent, and to their credit, the director, script writer and the actors keep this high level of quality and integrity throughout the entire film. If you're looking for a fast-paced black-chick-in-peril flick, look for any movie from the early 70's starring Pam Grier. Civil Brand, while it appears to have been marketed as a cheesy type of movie, rises above the perceived sterotypes to deliver a high caliber movie experience.