Customer Reviews

South Central

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

 

 

When you think about it, many 'hood movies dropped around the early 90's, like "Boyz N The Hood", "New Jack City", "Menace II Society" etc. All of these got the recognition they deserved, and they have all stood the test of time, as all of them are over 10 years old. However, there is one movie that didn't get the recognition and publicity that it should have. This is the 1991 "South Central". South Central is a great hood movie with a different twist to it than the others I mentioned. It is also very touching in certain places. It takes place in Los Angelas just like almost all these other hood movies so that's no surprise.

The movie starts off with a young Bobby Johnson getting out of jail. After fighting with a local drug-dealer over his girlfriend, he kills the drug-dealer who's name is Genie Lamp. He lays low for a few months, then he decides to ride out with a few other members of the Deuce gang, which he is part of. They pick up an undercover cop along the way, and she busts them for possession. While the newly proclaimed "OG" Bobby Johnson is being interrogated by the police, his fingerprints match the prints on the silencer and the gun he used to kill Genie Lamp. He takes the blame for everything and doesn't drop any names of the other members of the Deuce gang. Due to that he has to serve a decade in prison. There he finds from Loco, and old Deuce friend, that his own son was becoming a Deuce and that he was stealing stereos for Ray Ray, the leader of the Deuce gang. The rest of the movie is centered around Bobby trying to get his son out of the gang life and keeping him from making the same mistakes he did. Can Bobby convince his son that being in a gang is not worth the price you pay? Or is it too late for Jimmie (His son's name) to get out of his lifestyle?

The acting is OK, but not too memorable. Glenn Plummer, who also played Parnell is Menace II Society, did an excellent job as OG Bobby Johnson. Christian Coleman as Jimmie "J-Rock" Johnson did an exceptional job for a child actor, but at times it seems as if he kinda overacts a lil bit. At some scenes he's a little bit too enthusiastic with his dialogue (I don't know maybe they wanted it to be like that). Larita Shelby as Bobby's girlfriend Carol was exceptional as well, but she kinda overacted too. However, at the parts where she was messed up on PCP and at the times when she was pissed the acting came through quite well. Byron Minns did a great job as Ray Ray. I feel he captured the character pretty well. Overall I'd say the acting was decent, I've seen better but I've definitely seen worse.

So, I'd say if you're a fan of hood movies or gangster movies this would appeal to you. Don't expect the greatness of Juice or Boyz or Menace though. But this is highly entertaining and definitely worth a rent, and even a buy because you can probably buy it very cheap now (I bought it at my local Best Buy for 5.99). Now that I think about it though, you probably won't find it in video stores, so I'd say find a month when it's coming on BET to see if you like it. BET plays it from time to time. I would check it out if these types of movies interest you. It's good for its genre. 4 Stars.

South Central is one of the premier hood based movies. It is about the start of a california based gang called the Deuces which I believe later becomes the Crips. But what it's really about is one man's struggle to get out of the gagsta life and to bring his son out of the hood. South Central is not as gorey as Menace II Society, so even older adults will like it, but it is still a great movie for teenagers and 20 year olds as well. My mother, brother, all of my brother's friends, and I loved this movie and I recommend it for anyone.

This adaptation of Donald Bakeer's novel, "South Central L.A. Crips", showed the human side of L.A. gang members (Crips) thru Glen Plummer's memorable portrayal of an O.G. (original) Crip who came back from prison to save his son from a similar fate. The last scene is one of the best in all of black film making. This, the first portrayal of the human side of Crips, fulfilled "Variety's" prediction that it would save lives. South Central which debuted soon after the L.A. Uprising (7/92) had a great impact on L.A. gang and would-be gang members. It and Bakeer's novel are a must for anyone who seriously studies the gang wars that killed thousands of youths in America during the 70's, 80's and 90's.

A GANG MEMBER [GLENN PLUMMER] ENDS UP IN JAIL FOR A DECADE. AFTER CHANGING HIS WAYS IN JAIL, HE GETS PAROLED AND NOW HE MUST STOP HIS SON FROM MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES HE MADE. NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS ''BOYZ N THE HOOD'' OR ''MENACE II SOCIETY', BUT IT'S AN OK HOOD MOVIE. GLENN PLUMMER DOES A GOOD JOB PORTRAYING THE REFORMED GANG MEMBER IN THIS MOVIE. IT'S WORTH A WATCH. FANS OF HOOD MOVIES SHOULD LIKE THIS.

Oliver Stone Presents?(Enough Said),Revisionist history aside and conspiracy kook-ism aside,I am surprised there was not any "The CIA introduced Crack to the black community" Myth presented in the film,Glenn Plummer does a decent job,but other than that, you have the usual Someone Does a heinous crime now he is "reformed" and care of the Beanpie selling Crackpot AntiAmerican Nation Of Islam he does no harm.Good for him,perhaps that should have been the goal from the get-go,once you do the crime there is no going back or being "born again".

For once we actually see a convicted gangbanger reformed.South Central sucessfully shows how a neglected teen thrust into a life of gangs and drugs, is convicted and sent to prison, and there radically changed into a productive and caring father. It's a rarity to see something positive come out of these type of films so focused on the negative aspects. South Central successfully proves that if people want to change their lifestyle they can. A "must see" for all those wanna be "hard" folks, and those who think they can never change paths.

This an excellent portrayal of a man, who wants to protect his family from the mean streets. He does a good job too!

I've watched this movie off and on for years. It's always a very good movie and gives you a lot to think about. Against all odds, this man is able to be a man and to rescue his son from a life with no future and no hope. This is also a movie, I think, lots of people can easily relate to because the same situation exists today for many families. I purchased this movie because I think it's a good movie for any collection.

this movie I bought from amazon is a replacement of the 1 I had b4. It tells the story of a man who is determined to break the generational cycle of jail, gangs, violence, life of crime for his only son 2 not follow who he was but 2 follow in the footsteps of who he is now. Amazon sold it the greatest price, still cheapest after the shipping charges. Superb quality 2. Always an honest description

Great movie, it shows with a little help and hope we can all change for the good!