Customer Reviews

Tupac Shakur - Before I Wake

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was absolutely the BEST video I've seen on Tupac, or any rap artist! After suffering through Thug Immortal, it looks as if Xenon finally has gotten it right. The only thing I question is whether the bodyguard is telling all that he knows. Some of the stuff seems believable, but there was a lot of stuff that just didn't make sense to me.

But from a pure entertainment perspective, it was very good. I laughed (the in-studio footage was hilarious - it was good to see Pac smiling), and I got caught up in the moment when he died. The film was very intelligently done. I've always been a Tupac fan, and this is finally something really about HIM! Of course now though, I want some more Pac material!

If you really have an interest in Tupac Shakur, and you REALLY want to know who is possibly responsible for his murder, then get Tupac Shakur: Before I Wake. Out of all the Tupac documentaries, this is the only one that followed his shooting in a step by step format. Frank's part is a little long, but he takes you on a step by step journey of Pac's last year of his life. It was good seeing Easy E in the doc, some people act like he never existed. Done by true Pac fans and fans of hip hop.....I can tell, can you??

This DVD was worth the [money] I spent but I would not recommend it to any non Tupac Fan. This DVD is basically Tupac's body guard telling about his life as Tupac's main body guard and friend. This DVD does an exellent job of showing the softer side of Tupac. The in studio footage is very entertaining. Out of the 8 0r 9 people interviewed only Frank Alexander had a close relationship with Pac. Not a single represenitive of Death Row was interviewed. No interview was done with his mother or close homeboys who new Pac for many years. Frank Alexander is an impostor who is using his position as Pac's ex body guard to make a quick buck. Frank Alexander is the executive producer and he made no effort to make this a fair balanced piece. Alexander new Pac for all of 12 months. More interjection from people who new Pac on a personal basis would have made this DVD worth purchasing. All that said it is still a must have for a true Tupac fan.

I must say when it comes to Tupac, I'll watch anything, but their have been some disappointing videos, like for example Thug Immotral, which just was .... That video they are just trying to make money out of his name. This one I had my doubts but as I continued to watch, it got more exciting. I really do recommend this DVD for all 2pac fans. It just makes you think, how talented he was, also the way he died. In my opinion his murder was defintely a setup, it was planned. That's the sad thing about Tupac, a great artist, dying at a young age, when he had so much to prove and accomplish. But to my point every Pac fan must see this. I know I did, I even shed some tears at the end of the video. It can be a very emotional video also, but very interesting and exciting. R.I.P Tupac Amaru Shakur, the legend he is, the best.

If you thought Thug Immortal, Welcome to DeathRow, and any other unauthorized documentary about 2pac was good, y'all seen nothing until y'all have seen "Before I Wake". It takes you where other documentaries can't and that's threw the eyes of someone who was closest to him. "Before I Wake" was made by 2pac's former bodyguard, Frank Alexander (who also wrote the "Got Your Back" book), and
therefore he's the main one being interviewed; Cathy Scott, Michael Eric Dyson, etective B. Becker (a detective that was at the scene of the Las Vegas Shooting were interviewed). Frank goes over alot of things, from what he talked about in his book to all of the nights in Las Vegas leading up to the 2pac's death to other things; he even goes to the exact street where the shooting occured and breaks it down specifically, from detail to detail. The video includes unreleased footage of 2pac (as well as the Outlaws and Snooop) in the studio recording/playing songs (like "Why U Turn On Me", the Outlawz rapping over the "Untouchable Freestyle" beat, and Frank's paraplegic niece talking on one of the songs), hanging out, and clowning people, which is very hilarious. It also has unseen footage of 2pac on Sept 7 in Las Vegas moments before the shooting, rare pictures, and some extended interviews. Also archive footage from Eazy-E, Russell Simmons, and Jesse Jackson. I can't speak on the DVD version, because I have the VHS version, but I'm sure the DVD version has 'special features'. Everybody should pick this up; you'll get your money's worth.

Before I wake is by far the best Tupac film/documentary. If you are a true Tupac fan you will luv it and should already own it. Anyone paying out on this documentary must be delusional. It details the last year and most importantly his final days.
His bodyguard tells the story and does a great job. So much emotion in the film.....once you see it you just think Tupac is legend in his own league......his ability to write/perform.....everything about him is amazing. You feel like killing the person who shot him.....thats how touching the story is.
Congrats the producers/directors......Im out.

Documentaries about Tupac Shakur can be tricky business. On the one hand, he is a fascinating subject, on the other hand, filmmakers can rarely get a hold of his music or interview the important people needed to tell the full story. Tupac's music is controlled by his Mother and she hasn't sanctioned an official documentary thus far. And with it only being 5 years since Tupac's murder, most of the important parties associated with him are reluctant to talk. "Before I Wake" makes a valiant effort but is hindered by the same things I mentioned previously. WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD: This film is basically an interview with Tupac's bodyguard that is somehow stretched out into 90 minutes. The film maker's cannot use any of 2Pac's music, his videos or concert fotage, so they rely on still pictures that they repeat over and over again. Credit must be given to the editors though who use a moody instrumental score, creepy sound effects and a dark visual style that makes an impression. Essentially, "Before I Wake," boils down to a brief bio of Tupac followed by a recap of his legal problems. The main focus of the documentary is his murder in 1996. We get a blow by blow, often minute by minute summary of his final day before the shooting. The bodyguard has an interesting story to tell. Unfortunately, his story drags on and on. Which does add some suspense but it gets to be overkill. Like the filmmaker's are teasing the audience with a big revelation that never comes. In a nutshell, the film reveals that Tupac's security detail messed up big time that day in Vegas and that the Las Vegas police did a terrible job of investigating the shooting. No big surprises there. Nonetheless, "Before I Wake" is an indispensable document on Pac's murder and his troubled last years. The film will make you miss him terribly. And wonder just why he seemed destined to die young.

I, like many other hip hop fans, was and is completely engrossed in the world of Tupac Shakur. But whether or not you liked his music doesn't detract from the intensity of this DVD. The first 30 minutes or so are rather bland, talking about his days with Death Row and his beef with Bad Boy Records. You've heard it all before. But after that, witnesses go into DEEP detail about what happened the night of his death and the days that followed. They talk about the MGM Grand feud between Suge and Orlando Anderson. What Suge said to Pac after he was shot. How friends reacted when they found out he was actually dead. Some of this stuff is pretty chilling, especially when Frank Alexander states, "I thought I was going for a swim that night."

If you're a true fan, you need to pick this up. This DVD represents everything about what a good documentary on Tupac should be. Unlike most other ones, the people who worked on this project knew what they were doing. This is the best stuff I've seen on Pac so far.

This play by play rendition of Tupac's last day on this earth was very interesting and shocking. Frank Alexander gave a very detailed description of what happened on that day. It made me feel like I was actually there in the car with Frank Alexander and the Outlaws. This was a great buy for me and my Fiance who is a true Tupac Fan. He has every movie, every book and every poster that was published about Tupac.

This is better than Thug Immortal. Presents questions and Doubts regarding what Happen. Such a Sad thing to Happen such a talented person.