Customer Reviews

Never Die Alone [VHS]

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

"Never Die Alone" is a dark and bleak crime drama/noir that never makes any apologies for its brutality or harshness. Definitely not something for people with weak stomachs, the movie is a great example of showing you what goes around comes around, even if you decide it's time to change your life. As harsh as the movie can be, I think it was very well done and took some really good risks. This is definitely something that doesn't come out of typical Hollywood.

DMX plays King David, a notorious drug dealer who has a solid rep and one hell of a dark past. He decides it's time to make things right and hopefully find some sort of redemption. Well, things don't work out like that as his past mistakes finally catch up to him with unrelenting results. A would-be reporter gets caught in the middle of the crossfire and ends up learning about David's horrible past through his own cassette tapes that he had made. What is revealed to him is a grim story about drugs and violence in unspeakable proportions.

I was actually expecting the movie to be nothing but non-stop "street violence," but it ended up being a lot more clever than that. There's an actual storyline to it that works, along with some great performances from the cast. Even though this isn't a perfect movie, I think it is a very good one. DMX is absolutely chilling and unforgiving in his role of "King David." So unforgiving that he even admits in a making-of featurette on the DVD that he had a hard time with some of the things his character does in the film. You can tell that he was determined to become the character, as he does a great job of selling it. David Arquette and Michael Ealy also give terrific performances and should not be forgotten.

The DVD doesn't have a whole lot to offer, but there are some extras included. You have the option of either watching the widescreen or fullscreen version of the movie. Extras included are commentary, a making-of-featurette, trailers and deleted scenes. While it doesn't offer a whole ton of extras, there are a couple that you can check out.

It goes without saying that the movie is dark and brutal. If you're looking for a happy-go-lucky type of movie, then this is something you will not want to even take a chance on. As harsh as this movie can be, I don't think it's gratuitous, which was something I was expecting it to be. Still, this is something that isn't for everybody. I think that "Never Die Alone" is a well done movie with some unforgettable performances. A real urban-gangster picture that isn't all fluff and empty calories. It actually has something to say. -Michael Crane

I was impressed by the quality of the acting, even in small secondary characters, such as Ella (played by beautiful young actress, Drew Sidora). All performances were convincing, gritty and professional.

If Drew Sidora manages her career the right way, we may see a lot more of her acting talents in the future. She reminds me of Drea De Matteo (of "The Sopranos" fame)perhaps for the way she was made up.

The story is interesting, adding new twists to old schemes. It is somehow a little bit difuse, but that is because it mixes with two other plots.

The movie is worth buying and I am glad I did. I will see it many more times.

I admit I am not a big fan of DMX movies, but this movie is truly excellent. The acting was great. DMX shined as King David because of his grimey rap lyrics he was very believable as the dirty shady character. The character that impressed me the most was the acting by Reagan Gomez-Preston. She has played such goody-goody roles in the past I never imagined that she could so convincingly play a dramatic role but she was a scene stealer. Michael Ealy and David Arquette were great too, as was the storyline. It looks like the movie was shot on film and didn't make the transition to DVD that great, it seemed grainy and dark in parts but I loved this movie, although it was a bit violent for my taste.

I really had no idea what this was about before I rented it other than it had DMX in it. But I will admit I didn't have high expectations ahead of time. This may contain a few spoilers.

It has David Arqette in it, and basically he see's DMX get stabbed in the beginning, and then DMX is so surprised that he stopped to help him, that on his deathbed in the hostpital, he signs over his car and all his possessions to him. Well, in his car he finds these tapes that DMX made, kind of a autobiography. It talks about how he ripped off this drug kingpin, and then went out west for a while, but then decided to come back and make things right, but then he gets killed. And so the drug dealers guys see david arquette and try and have him killed cause he's a witness to the whole deal. The drug dealer sent two guys to get payment from DMX and that's when things went wrong and DMX got killed, so the drug dealer has those two guys killed also, but they screw up and one gets away, who then goes after the drug dealer. So, it's actually a pretty complicated movie, with a lot of shooting, drugs, and ghetto in it. Like I said, not a bad movie, kind of an interesting concept. In the beginning of the movie david arquette was trying to get a job with a newspaper and in the end, the newspaper hires him after reading the story he wrote, which was all about the interesting events that happend to him after he saw DMX get stabbed.

Overall, kind of cool. If you like DMX, and you're into the whole drugs, shooting, cursing, ghetto kind of thing, then you'll probably find this movie entertaining. The presentation is interesting also, since DMX gets killed right away, the rest of the movie is told half in the past, and half in the present.

I read the book Never die alone and it was nice to see it as a motion picture. If your not a fan of Donald goins or DMX then you may not like it, but over all it was a decent movie. Remeber DMX is a rapper not a actor so it's unfair to judge him on the same standards as you would a Densel Washington or Morgan Freeman. DMX does a good job of depicting King. It won't win any oscars, but worth renting when it comes out

Movie started out cheesy with jewish writer trying to get "real" by living in slums and getting close to black culture. Other than the poorly acted writer role, the rest of the movie is similar to what happens in ghettos all over America. Very good, if you are interested in social work, psychology. Dont bother to scare your kids with this one; in fact, it would probably encourage them.

the movie really did not have a complete story line....the acting was ok, I was expecting more.

DMX was excellent in this movie and I think all young ladies between the age of 13 to 25 yrs. of age should see this movie. Even though it is just a movie - it can and does happen to our young women everyday - they are exploited and introduced to drugs and worse by someone whom they love and trust...

I was rather impressed with how strong this film is. Having heard not much about it I was expecting another 'In Da Hood' film. I didn't have much confidence in Ernest Dickerson (Surviving the Game, Demon Knight) as his direction hasn't matured in the past decade. I eat my words now. He definitely brings a strong visual integrity to Never Die Alone.

DMX turns in a believable performance as King David a New York drug dealer who legs it to LA when he steals his bosses stash. Upon his return years later he is promptly offed by a two-bit thug. In his dying moments he bequeaths his entire legacy to investigative reporter David Arquette (who is great in his role too). Before the night is over Arquette pieces together his life and an awful past full of heinous crimes is unleashed, but it's not over yet and Arquette becomes marked for death by King David's still very angry boss.

In a mere 88 minutes Never Die Alone tells an intriguing story in non-chronological order and sets up a remarkable array of complexly interwoven characters. It's surely a character drama first before anything else. Don't misjudge it as being no more than a violent 'gangsta' thriller. The violence is brutal and honest but it does not distract, none of it is superfluous.

Dickerson's direction has a gothic, urban noir edge to it that has the feel of a 1950's pulp novel. It's dark, very dark and some may feel slightly uncomfortable with how frank Never Die Alone is in it's depiction of misogyny and the utter ruthlessness of it's central, highly evil character.

The DVD is in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 sound. There are a bunch of extras I never had time to check out. But this is definitely a movie for fans of (the initially unrecognisable) DMX, just don't expect one of those nice but bad characters he played in Exit Wounds or Cradle 2 the Grave. King David is a bad, bad man.

I was so happy to hear that another remake of a Donald Goines classic was being created. After being slightly dissapointed with "Crime Partners" I was thrilled to see that "Never Die Alone" was made by another production company all together. The movie was captivating; it seemed to me like it had been taken page by page from the book. Seeing as though I had read the book many times I had goosebumps the entire time I watched. This is a great movie for anyone who would love to see the book on film. Also a great movie for action seekers, storyline chasers, and the always loyal DMX fans..