Customer Reviews

Poetic Justice

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

It's not the follow up that wasn't as strong as it should have been for someone of Singelton calibar but it's still a good movie. Jackson and Shakur made their mark in this movie and keeps your attention. Check this out with Sineglton's other films in the ghetto trilogy, Boyz in the Hood, Baby Boy.

When I first thought of Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur in a movie I thought to myself "oh no they didn't!" But as I watched the movie I really enjoyed seeing Tupac tormenting Justice as his character Lucky. They didn't get along at first but ended up finding out that they shared the same views on life and violence. Although the movie ended on a not so great note I really enjoyed it and now it is one of my boyfriends and my favorite movie to watch.

I would first like to address Dennis "the idiot" Alvey, by saying how absolutely frivolous and outlandish his review was. In writing a statement such as: at least Tupac is dead only proves that even in death Tupac Shakur still holds the power to strike anyone good or bad. Truth be told, whether you loved him or hated him he stole the entire show. Not even a superstar like Janet Jackson had the ability to shine brighter than Tupac and anyone who has taste in movies knows this. Even if Tupac were a horrible actor that gives no one the right to trifle his death. The movie was good period. Hey Dennis, even in death Tupac has more class than you. Honestly, Tupac will never be dead and if you don't understand the meaning behind that, you're the moron.

This money is great. It shows a woman healing from the pains of her boyfriend being killed my gangsters. Also Tupac Shakur plays in this movie and does a great job. You see a side of him that you wouldn't see anywhere else. Instead of the gangster routine, Tupac plays a postman that meets Justice one day and the story unfolds from there. Great movie :)

I loved this movie. I've always wanted to see Janet use another one of her great talents. I like the calaboration with Janet and Tupac. they make a great duo. the poems that justice recites are incredible. They really hit home because i also love to write and coming from Janet Jackson is wonderful being that she is my all time favorite performer, singer, artist, and all around person.

I want to first off say that I am biased because I love Janet, so perhaps my review is curved in the movie's favor. At age 15, when I first saw this movie, I was very disappointed. I'd hyped myself up about it and yearned for something different. Now I am able to appreciate the movie for what it is -- for all of it's subtlies and deeper meanings. Indeed, I couldn't handle all the cursing and bickering in this film the first time I saw it - but I discovered later in life that many people's lives are just this tumultous and stress filled as the characters in Poetic Justice. With all the chaos and pain around them, the main characters were still desparately trying to carve out some sanity - they were trying to salvage whatever remaining innocence and hope that they had left. Yet both of this maintained a tough exterior - a facade to protect them from their hostile environment.

John Singleton was a very young man when he wrote and directed this film and he had a lot on his mind. Poetic Justice offers reflections on family, community, finding meaning in life, letting go of pain, learning to trust, self reflection, friendships, relationships, superficial vs. real, the generational divide, morality, culture, pride, insecurity, inner peace, prejudice, grief, loss....I can go on and on. Even with Babyboy, Boyz in the Hood and other, it is evident that John has a tendancy to really try to say a great deal in his films - but he doesn't want his films to lose their mass appeal. They always have a deeper meaning if you take the time to look. In Justice, for example, I think John was trying to say a lot by having the Last Poets featured at that Afrocentric Festival with their poem "Niggas are afraid of revolution."

Despite my curve rating, I can't give this film a higher rating because I think it could have been tighter - meanings could have been stronger and some superfluous scenes and shots could have been spared for a cleaner product. Nonetheless, I truly applaud this film for many reasons and appreciate it as a adult more than I could have ever appreciated it as a teen.

Poetic Justice was one of my favorite movies. It was about a young poet that is very alone. She has no one in her life. Her family passed away and so did her loving boyfriend. Justice was devastated. To let her pain out she would write her poetry. Justice worked in a local Beauty Shop with friends. One day she had to go on a trip to Oakland for a hair fashion show. Her car broke down. she had to call her friend Iesha. Iesha comes in a mail truck with two other people her boyfriend Chicago and his friend Lucky. As Justice is walking to the truck she sees that the driver is the same person she dissed in the beauty shop the other day. So as they are on the road the first don't get along then the started talking and knowing each other. As their friends Chicago and Iesha breaks up they come more together. Justice never thought that she would have another man in her life. She actually liked the fact that she had some one to love. I really think that I can comprehend with this movie.