Customer Reviews

Tupac: Resurrection

5 star:		(55)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

While I am a very big fan of Tupac Shakur, I will present this review based on the movie itself and not "what an AWESOME rapper" I think he is or print my own half-baked theories on how he is really alive. I have noticed that pretty much every review has offered very little detail on the film. With the countless amount of DVD's and other product floating around, is there really a need for another movie based on the life of Tupac Shakur? Well, this movie does offer something that none of the others have before and that is narration by Shakur himself.

Courtesy of old audio interviews and soundbytes, Tupac tells the story of his life in a way that few others could. From his birth as the son of a Black Panther to his final days in Vegas, Pac goes into detail on it all. Though commentary on his fatal shooting is clearly actually that of his first shooting at a New York recording studio, there are still some very eerie moments here. He talks about his days on Death Row Records in the past tense even though he was there until the day he died, he predicts his own downfall many times, and speaks candidly on a number of subjects that will really surprise you. The inclusion of Shakur's music is another thing that helps seperate this from a lot of the other documentaries on his life. To be able to hear the man himself speak on some of his best and most controversial recordings while they play in the background makes a huge difference.

"Resurrection" really plays like a companion piece to one of Pac's albums. It provides all of the visuals to go with the stories that Pac tells in his complex rhymes. It isn't just a story about rap music though. We're not spending exhausting moments of time in the studio or on concert. This isn't about Tupac the rapper. This movie much like the artist it depicts is bigger than just its contributions to the world of rap music. The film spends most of its time examining the man himself. Going into depth about the controversy surrounding him. It gives him the microphone and allows him to fire back at the hypocritical politicians and Black leaders who try to dismiss his music as "gangsta rap" without even attempting to listen to the message behind it. It allows him to speak in great detail about the real horrors of the ghetto. He talks about his experience in prison and how it nearly destroyed him inside. He give us his side of the story on his sexual assault conviction, his NY studio shooting, and the beef with Notorious B.I.G. and Puffy.

At times, "Resurrection" makes the mistake of pointing us away from things that don't show Shakur in the best of light. Well, it isn't exactly a "fluff piece" but there were some details that seem conviently absent. There is a moment where Pac talks proudly about being happy to work with Dr. Dre on Death Row but the movie never makes any mention of their falling out after Dre's departure from Death Row. Pac's feud with Biggie is the only one that actually gets covered while there were several others that at least deserved an honorable mention.

For those Pac fans who are still pondering whether this film is worth the price of admission given that you probably have seen or heard every interview and own every DVD, it is. Granted there were a handful of times where I recognized the source of the audio in his narration, it didn't ruin the film at all for me. Seeing this one movie makes all of those other Pac documentaries seem like a waste of money. Pac's story finally gets the respect and attention that it deserves.

"Resurrection" is a very unique film that really educates the average fan on the history of its subject. This film would honestly be best suited for those who no little to nothing on Shakur but continue to dismiss him as some "loud-mouthed thug". Sadly, it is that very ignorance that will keep them from ever even giving the movie a chance. With this film, I think Afeni Shakur has done something that I feel she was never able to accomplish in releasing all those posthomous recordings and that is to paint a portrait of Pac that really fits him well. I don't like taking quotes from other reviews, I think Roger Ebert summed it up pretty well when he said "Even if you don't intend to ever see a rap documentary but might have in it you to see one. This is it." This film might not convert you into a Tupac Shakur loyalist but if nothing else, it will give you a better understanding of who he was and why so many young people of all races view him as such an important figure.

"Tupac Resurrection" is a documentary celebrating the life of Grammy-nominated rapper Tupac Shakur. Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, serves as executive producer on the film, so this is really a loving tribute to her son, made for his many fans. Because MTV produced "Tupac Resurrection", director Lauren Lazin was able to include material from MTV's archives, which would otherwise not be available. Lauren Lazin has done a good job of presenting a coherent portrait of Tupac Shakur's music, message, and personality, from his childhood in Harlem to his death in Las Vegas in 1996, at the age of 25. "Tupac Resurrection" isn't going to convert anyone who doesn't already like Tupac Shakur's music or share his political convictions. His detractors will find their justification in the film, and his fans will find theirs. Perhaps ironically, that is the film's strength. "Tupac Resurrection" uses a lot of interview audio, as well as the interviews, themselves, to present Tupac's life in his own words. He speaks for himself here. Afeni Shakur and director Lauren Lazin are to be commended for including the less admirable aspects of Tupac's personality, including coverage of his 1994 trial for sexual abuse which resulted in Shakur serving eleven months in prison. Tupac Shakur once said that his life is a story of "ambition, violence, redemption, and love". Love him or hate him, this is a very good documentary about a man who not only cultivated the image of constant conflict, but also the reality.

The DVD: This is a very good package of bonus features for Tupac Shakur fans. In "Interviews", you will find a never-before-seen interview from 1992, recorded by MTV while Shakur was recording "A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 2" and an interview with Tupac and Snoop Dogg that was taped after the 1996 Music Video Awards. The "Malcolm X Dinner Speech" is a speech Tupac gave in 1992 at a dinner banquet given by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. "Deposition" is a video taped deposition that Tupac gave in 1995 while in the Clinton Correctional Facility concerning a lawsuit. "About the Resurrection Soundtrack" features three songs from the movie accompanied by interviews with the artists: 2 songs by Eminem and one by 50 Cent. There are two videos in "Music Videos". In "Remembering Tupac" ten actors and musicians and nine family members talk about what Tupac Shakur meant to them in mostly separate interviews. The celebrities include Jada Pinkett Smith, Snoop Dogg, Treach, Mary Jo Blige, and 50 Cent. "Mutulu Shakur Interview" is with Tupac's stepfather. In "Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts", Afeni Shakur talks about the performing arts center that bears her son's name. "Bootleg This!" is a short statement concerning lawsuits against Tupac Shakur's estate. Also included are some deleted scenes and an audio commentary featuring director Lauren Lazin, Tupac's mother and executive producer Afeni Shakur, and some surprise guests. I wouldn't recommend the bonus features if you're simply interested in learning about Tupac Shakur, but are not especially a fan. It really doesn't provide any additional insight. But this is a gold mine for fans.

This movie was flawless. There wasn't a single mistake nor error. I know that is a disappointment to maintstream Hollywood, but it's true! Yes there is finally a great movie about the most Controversial rap artist of our time. There is finally a movie that shows how wrong, biased, and down right evil the media was towards Pac during his life time. They tried to reduce him to nothing but a low-life, trouble making, hood star with tattoos. Just because they were threatened by the truth in his lyrics, and the realness of his actions. Let's keep it real, Tupac represented a whole mass of youths in urban ghettos all across the country, if mainstream media accepted Pac, then they would have to accpet all of us, gangstas and thugs included! and you know they are not having that! With that being said, it's not suprising to hear some of the negative reviews previously stated. Some people would love to keep Tupac Shakur in that negative depiction of a thug life screaming maniac with out hearing his side of the story. Well this movie dismisses all of that. We hear the story coming straigt out of his mouth. We heard why he did certain things, how he felt about it, and his opinions of his own actions. If you watched the movie you saw that he was caring, intellegent, beautiful, charismatic, charming, misunderstood and incredibly talented. Don't get me wrong.. He had his faults as well.. But he didn't have faults because he was Tupac, he had faults because he was HUMAN, not only that but he was only 25!

Let Pac rest in Peace! He was already his biggest critic. If you're going to tell a story about him then tell all sides. If your going to scream about him being a thug, then also scream about him being politically conscious. If your going talk about him being in trouble with the law, then keep it real with yourself and others and talk about how almost everyone with the last name SHAKUR is either dead or in jail from their political practices.

This movie shows all of that.. The good and the grimy, the real and the romantic. It is a most have for any fan of hip-hop, urban politics, and future film makers....

until next time
PEACE

There has been so many dvds (8 IN ALL)released about 2pac since he was murdered on sept 7 1996 at 25yrs. His estate has released 8 albums & there is still more to come plus he stared in 6 movies while he was alive. This movie captivates you from start to finish, his eyes draw you in & make you feel like your going threw the struggle with him. His life was so short yet he achieved so much, with just another 6 months who knows how many more albums we would have coming out. This movie is filled with never before seen footage of pac on several talk shows where he does not hold back on anyone & you get to hear his side of what happend from his fights with police,rape allegations & of coarse biggie & puffy. AS you watch you come to realise that puffy is a fake man beyond words & that one day he will be exposed. AND songs like hitem up & about 20 others he made dissing puffy & biggie would be what anyone would do in his position who was shot 5 times. Ressurection is by far the best movie made about pac, his music sets the soundtrack perfectly as the story unfolds. At the end you are left with an empty feeling that all the jealousy of others was what finally brought him down(they wounder how i live with 5 shots, ni**az are hard to kill on my block). Pac never let up on his goal(to make us all aware white & black,what the governement & certain people in the world are fooling us & leaving us in vicious cirle of poverty & no hope) even after his death he still remains the best rapper of all time. Ressurection will be a classic for years, plus the dvd will have extra scenes & interviews. This movie is so enjoyable beacause there is no one else talking about him its all pac telling his story(some of the comments he makes leaves you woudering did he sit down & tell his story to a mic before he died so his legacy would live on. Im getting 2 copies when its released on june 15. Pacs lyrics will live on for ever. rest in peace pac & yak

After reading some of the reviews here, it was time for me to speak my opinion on Tupac's documentary. First of all, to all the people who are saying this movie is biased and needs an outside view: You guys completely and utterly missed the entire point of the documentary!!! We have already had a trillion documentaries on 2Pac, with an outside view and/or opinion, and many of them have been wrong, inaccurate, or just flat out ignorant. With "Resurrection", we get the TRUTH to who Tupac really was as a person. Why have an outside view?? Nobody can tell Tupac's story better than the man himself. All the lies and false labels the media labeled him throughout the years are finally put to rest.

The film starts off with Pac in the car, with his classic reflective song "Starin Through My Rear View" playing in the background, just before he gets shot and then starts from his childhood in chronilogical order up until his death, literally a visual autobiography. He sheds much light on his life as a young child, his Black Panther heritage, and what the purpose of his music was and stood for. Many of his troubles with the law do indeed take a back seat here, and for good reason. These are things that the press only seem to look at, while choosing to ignore his talents and the positives of his music. We already know he was very controversial, and that he had alot of trouble with the law. Finally, we get to see it from his point of view. He admits that some of his troubles were his fault, and that he didnt take responsibility for some of his actions. At the same time, he points out that some of his cases were unwarranted, and that he was not at fault. For those who have only had a negative view of him, it is highly suggested that you see this movie. Even for those who know much about him already, even if you are a huge fan to begin with, there are some things about him you will definatly learn here.

This isnt about Tupac the artist. It's about Tupac the HUMAN BEING. Overall, Pac was a extremely intelligent, well-read deep thinker, with a charismatic personalty, a sense of humor, and an extremely sensitive side to him. He was also a very angry, confused indivdual as well, and why he was all these things is broken down perfectly in this film.

Tupac wasnt a perfect person, and he made many bad decisions during his life, something he admits during this film. However, we all make bad choices in life. Overall, I think Pac gives an honest (brutal honesty is something you can ALWAYS expect from Pac, whether in his interviews or in his music) view of who he really was. He was far from being the loud-mouthed, ignorant gangsta that the press and the rich, right-winged conservatives put forth (and continue to put forth even today). What he was/is, a revolutionary, a poet, and spokesman for the oppressed young people disenfranchised by the older people who refuse to listen to their pain, and for those who "grew up on the otherside of perfect". Why the mainstream media and upper class conservatives continue to loath his ideas and what he stood for is beyond me. Ignorance and blindness is perhaps the best explanation for that. In any case, love him or hate him, you better start getting used to him, because he is now considered a legend by many, and his music will continue to be played and bought for years to come. He is considered by many to be the biggest musical icon of the last 15-20 years (he's arguably the biggest icon since Michael Jackson), and is perhaps the Elvis Presley of this generation. His voice and words will continue to be heard forever. His legacy wont be dying out anytime soon.

For those who seek to understand him and what he stood for, this movie is a must see. For people who already follow him, it is still a must see.

This is a great documentary that lets Tupac speak for himself through his own eloquent words, his own testimony on his life, views, message, all of it the foundation of his legacy. His existence, brief though it was, makes for an engrossing story that is at times greatly disturbing, at others just as captivating. It's always tragic when an artist with so much talent dies far too soon, and as intended Tupac's senseless murder casts a shadow over the entirety of Resurrection. That infamous last photograph of him looking back through the car window as he's leaving the Las Vegas casino moments before his fatal shooting should haunt anyone. At least a hundred songs written and never recorded? A mere twenty-five years on planet earth? Although I'm inviting criticism by saying this, I'll never understand a culture of violence that strikes at the brightest and most charismatic among its own.

"Tupac: resurrection" (2003) is a documentary that tells us about the life of Tupac Shakur, a rapper that became an icon, and that was murdered in Las Vegas in 1996, when he was only 25. I am far from being a fan of rap music, but I don't regret watching this documentary, as it is interesting and informative, the kind of film Tupac's fans will adore, and spectators that don't know about him will appreciate.

To start with, the director (Lauren Lazin) managed to get Tupac to speak from the grave, thanks to the careful edition of many interviews he gave during his lifetime. We get to know about his childhood, his relationship with his mother (a Black panther, and one of the producers of this documentary), and his beginnings as an artist. We are also allowed to hear his point of view about many issues, the kind of things he did to help his community, and the mistakes he made. Most importantly, we can hear his songs, the controversial music in which he expressed what he felt and who he was.

On the whole, I think that this documentary is outstanding. Notwithstanding the fact that it is subjective, it manages to entertain and inform at the same time. And even though you must not expect to know the whole truth about Tupac after watching "Tupac: resurrection", I'm confident you will have a pretty good idea of why we is remembered by so many even now. Highly recommended...

Belen Alcat

PS: For parents --> take into account that this documentary is not adequate for children, as it contains strong language, images of drugs, violence and sex.

2Pac Resurrection is the movie to see if you are a Pac fan if you are a Pac fan and havent seen this movie then get out there and rent or buy it me peronally I bought it right away and felt that the movie was worth every penny.

It starts off when he was younger growing up and goes through all that he experienced through his far to short life . If you dont know anything about Pac or you dont know much about him this is the dvd you want to learn more about and the type of life that he lead . He had almost different faces of him some people knew him as a gangster, some knew him as a poet, some thought he was to violen, some thought that he was no good , others saw him as a kind gentle caring man. Whatever side you choose to belive in him is up to you you will see his many sides in this dvd. Me personally I believe that he had a little bit of everyone of these sides but was more good than evil. This is a must and would probably be his best dvd to date.

Tupac 4 Ever

"God Bless The Dead"

R.I.P. Tupac Shakur

I was never a fan of rap music, and for the most part, I still do not like most of it. However, after viewing this documentary on Tupac, I became very interested in this gifted, talented young man whose life was cut much too short. The world has lost a truly promising and magnetic artist/activist. I was genuinely surprised to see that Tupac was a very intelligent and articulate young man. His writing, his poetry, his acting ability and his political savvy, all were far beyond his young age. If he had lived and matured, he could (and would, I believe)) have become one of America's leaders. It is so sad that he is gone. What a waste...

Buy this DVD or if you don't want to buy it, at least SEE IT. I think you will understand what I'm talking about.

For any people who are not fans of the rap genre, Tupac Shakur is dead, and this is movie with REAL footage about his tragic and heroic life! Now, you may seem a bit confused to as why, nearly 10 years after the rap legend's death, that they would just be releasing a film on it. It is a tribute to Tupac, a martyr and legend to the rap community. Tupac Ressurection features real footage of Tupac in his younger days all the way up until his brutal shooting, and I am very excited for the whole thing to come out in theaters. This seems like the thing that should be on Biography, not in the movie theater, but whatever the case is, I am finally glad that someone is recognizing this great person for everyting that he has done. For any 50 Cent, Eminem, or Snoop Dogg fans out there, Tupac is the man that gave them inspiration. He practically invented the gangsta rap genre along with the legendary producer Dr. Dre, producer of such albums as The Marshall Mathers LP and Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Not many people in the world have an appreciation for this man, but people like me do, and I hope the rest of the world will open their eyes to Tupac's story. Go see this film! I know it will be informative, and just because it is all real footage doesn't mean that it won't be enjoyable. 8 Mile is gonna be nothin' compared to this!