Product Details

• Actors: Khandi Alexander, Maya Angelou, Ché J. Avery, Lloyd Avery II, Kimberly Brooks
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Unknown), Spanish (Unknown)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: March 30, 1999
• Run Time: 109 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0767821955
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,525 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Poetic Justice" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Director John Singleton (Boyz N the Hood, Rosewood) made an earnest effort in this, his second, film to say a great deal that is true and relevant about living and loving in a violent, difficult time in American history. Janet Jackson plays a beautician and poet who withdraws into herself after her boyfriend is murdered by gangsters. The late Tupac Shakur plays a postman who tries to get through to her, and the two travel on a course through urban America, connecting with family and community. Singleton has so much on his mind that the film comes out a terrible muddle, but there is a certain integrity peeking through the fog. Shakur makes a startlingly good impression in his film debut, and Jackson strips away her star veneer to play something like a real person--and entirely succeeds. Maya Angelou wrote the poems that pass as those penned by Jackson's character, and she also appears in the film. --Tom Keogh

Product Description

Superstar Janet Jackson makes her stunning film debut in director John Singleton's (Boyz N the Hood) street-smart love story, Poetic Justice. A mismatched pair pushed together on a road trip from South Central L.A. to Oakland, Justice (Jackson) and Lucky (Tupac Shakur) have only one thing in common: they can't stand each other. But as their friends Lesha and Chicago (Regina King and Joe Torry) fight and make up in the back of the van, Justice and Lucky find themselves reluctantly drawn together. After a surprising detour toward romance, the two travelers are confronted once again by the shocking violence they thought they'd left behind. Featuring the music of Naughty by Nature and Tony! Toni! Tone! and the poetry of Maya Angelou, Poetic Justice is every bit as intense, original and unforgettable as Boyz N the Hood.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Un-Poetic misinterpretations !!, April 4, 2005

By 

todd rich "scoop 69" (makin it happen , nc United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poetic Justice (DVD)

Originally , I wasn't going to write an online review about this film. Mainly because it came out , over a decade ago. However , I feel the need to defend it , from most of these other reviews.Therefore , I will explain two important points. 1) Alot of people dislike this film for the dialog. The film is based on people who are frustrated with the directions of their lives and the deterioration of their envioronment ( aka:hood ). The profanity might be abundant in the script , but it was coming from characters who vented their frustrations, that way.Not everyone in the hood cusses. But John Singleton's characters, do. Nobody protested Martin Scorcese's Goodfellas. I'm sure not every Italian cusses. 2) Alot of people say that there's too many things going on , in the movie. John Singleton said , in the commentary , that he deliberately , filmed that way. He was trying to cappture the realism of everyday life and exemplify the fact that things are still happening , irregardless of the problems of our central characters. Personally , I think John Singleton, did a phenominal job of juggling other delimas, from the side characters, without sacrificing the importance, of the dynamics between Justice and Lucky. Another director would've totally blown the task , altogether. As for the dvd , it offers a director's commentary ( which some reviewers , obviously didn't watch ) and previews of other Singleton, films. The film's theme is simple : Love can conquer all. All acting performances are excellent and the soundtrack is good ( old and new school , atleast in '93 ). * The featured cameo appearances, of Mayu Angelo, The Last Poets,and the dedicated acting from Tupac Shakur and Regina King, cement "Poetic Justice",into a significant and unforgettable film.

17 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Good, March 16, 2002

By 

B. Downey (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Poetic Justice (DVD)

All I ever remember hearing about this movie when it came out is how bad it was overall, or how Janet and Tupac didn't act very well. Come to find out, they were wrong. This movie is very well made, and Janet and Tupac work wonderfully together. The film is very sad at parts, then can turn around and be "abrasive" because of the language and subject material -- but don't be mistaken, the movie more accurately depicts the people and places where the movie occurs because of this "abrasiveness."

The poems that Justice (Janet) reads/writes throughout the film were all done by Maya Angelou, who makes a cameo in the movie too (I was sort of shocked to see her in it). Poetic Justice is a very good film, but be warned there is language, "sexual situations" (pretty mild though), and violence. If you like Jan. or Tupac, then you'll most likely really enjoy the film, and even if you don't have a thing for either, you will still be thoroughly entertained. It's a wonderful movie if you can handle the subjects involved.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, March 29, 2008

By 

me - See all my reviews

This review is from: Poetic Justice (DVD)

This movie is highly under-rated. It is a "love conquers all" story that is beautifully written. The film is a surprise which covers the break-up of a seemingly cute-and-cuddly couple Iesha and Chicago and the coming together of the mis-matched Lucky (2pac) and Justice (Janet Jackson). While many love stories are unrealistic, this story speaks the truth and includes many heart-breaks,deaths, arguments, and hurdles along the path to happiness. Additionally, this film speaks to the true talent of the late Tupac Shakur. Some of the background story lines (such as the focus on the salon owner, Jesse) are a bit lame, distracting, and a waste of time, but if you forget them and focus just on the 4 main characters you'll see how powerful this movie is.