Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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39 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't Go Bishop on Me!, June 7, 2000
In other words, don't start getting ridiculous, going crazy and all, like Tupac's best character ever, the one he came to maybe live out, some would say. Pac's performance is truly amazing, let's not forget, he was a trained actor before he even got into hip hop, so this maybe shouldn't be SO surprising, but for the fact that he hits it so well because, well, it's him. This is Omar Epps first movie (I think) as well, and he was excellent, as was the guys who played Rahim and Steel. The movie is great and well shot, with excellent music throughout. It's primarily the story of a dj (Epps), really, just trying to get on, and his friends, and the possibilities that can erupt in every man's struggle for respect. Never mind the critics, they seem to critique all black movies the same. This film is unique. It's NOT that violent, especially in the day of Quentin Tarantino or even Menace II Society. There's cameos by tons of rappers, including Special Ed, EPMD, Latifah, Naughty by Nature, and others. But they're small and inconsequential roles for the most part (as they should be). Don't watch this movie as any commentary on Harlem or on black youths or any of that trash. Only racists try to generalize and make every movie that a black person makes into an all-encompassing Statement of Reality. It's overall a somewhat fun movie with a strong bite to it. And it's got a classic soundtrack, the first of the many rap soundtracks that would come out with every movie after this. It's perfect, not too ambitious, doesn't try too hard, isn't a real "tear jerker" though it can be touching. Overall, I'd say its a classic and ten years later, its still as enjoyable.
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THIS IS HOW IT GOES DOWN IN THE HOOD, June 16, 1999
By A Customer
THIS MOVIE IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MOVIES TO COME OUT IN TODAYS HIP HOP GENERATION.MYSELF AND MANY OTHER TEENS CAN RELATE TO THIS FILM.JUICE IS A SLANG WORD FOR RESPECT AND IN THIS WORLD RESPECT AND CREDIBILTY ENABLES MOST TO HAVE POWER. WHEATHER IN THE CORPRATE FIELD OR IN THE HOOD PEOPLE WANT JUICE.LIKE THE GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT HUNG AROUND EACH OTHER IN THIS FILM ,I HAVE A GROUP OF FRIEDS THAT I'VE BEEN WITH SINCE THE SIXTHGRADE.EVERY ONE OF US WANTED JUICE IN SOME TYPE OF WAY WEATHER IT BEING IN SPORTS, GETTING THE MOST GIRLS,OR BEING THE FUNNIEST.THERE ALSO ARE YOUTH WHO WANT JUICE FOR BEING TOUGHEST. SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE SERVING TIME IN PRISON BECAUSE OF NEED TO HAVE JUICE . THEN GET IN PRISON AND GET IN MORE TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY WANT JUICE.MY FRINDS BEAT A MAN TO DEATH OVER DRUGMONEY IF THEY LET THIS MAN GET AWAY WITH THE CASH THEY WOULD LOSE SOME STREET CREDIBILTY .SO INSTED OF LOSING THHRE JUICE THEY LOSE THERE LIFE OF FREEDOM FOR TEN TO TWENTY YEARS.IN THIS FILM THE MAIN CHARACTERS Q AND BISHOP WANT IN TWO DIFFERENT WAYS .Q WANTS TO BE THE BEST DJ WORLDWIDE NOT JUST IN THE STREETS .HE TRYS HIS BEST TO GET THAT RESPECT BY COMPETING ANGAINST THE BEST DJ'S AROUND.BISHOP WANTS JUICE IN THE STREETS FOR BEING TOUGH AND CRAZY .SO HE GOES WILD WITH HIS GUN AND SHOOTS PEOPLE UP TO GAIN RESPECT ....I'M NOT SOME REAL MOVIE CRIDICT I'M JUST A YOUNG BLACK MALE WHO KNOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING JUICE .WHILE READING OTHER CRITICS VIEWS ON THIS FILM MADE ME REALIZE THAT THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE POWER AND EFFECTS OF JUICE.WHILE THEY SAY THIS FILM IS TOO REAL TO BE REAL THAT SHOWS THEY REALLY CAN'T RELATE TO THE STORY LINE .MANY PEOPLE DIE OVER THIS WORD JUICE .THIS FILM IS JUST REALITY ON SCREEN.FOR THOSE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT JUICE IS GO VISIT A PEISON AND ASK THE INMATES TO EXPLAIN IT TO YOU. THIS REVIEW IS COMIMG GHOST A U-FLOW PRODUCT.STRAIT OUT OF THE STREETS OF NEWJERUSE(NEW JERSY)
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Juice, October 3, 2002
Spike Lee cinematographer Ernest Dickerson (he shot Spike's first 6 films) makes a stylish, dark debut with the 1992 teen drama "Juice". Set in Harlem, the story chronicles the lives of 4 friends (including Tupac Shakur in a strong debut) trying to stay out of trouble. 'Q' is an aspiring DJ who holds fierce all his intentions to stay clean and away from danger. Steel is a chubby homeboy who wishes for nothing other than to have fun. Raheem, a teenage father, serves as the level-headed leader and peace keeper, and Bishop is a hot-headed firecracker eager to start war with the neighborhood gang (although these 4 don't behave like or consider themselves any sort of gang). Soon enough, trouble erupts when they rob the local liquor store in search of "juice" (power, respect) and a war erupts between Q and Bishop. Expectedly, Q would rather focus on an upcoming DJ contest but trash-talking Bishop has other plans.Dickerson's directorial manner is sleek and balanced, his camera and editing preferences are not as out there and in-your-face as Spike Lee, yet he knows exactly where to put the camera for each scene (the cross-cutting police interrogation sequence is most dynamic, better than that of "The Usual Suspects" and it pre-dates that film by 3 years as well). Dickerson also chooses to avoid the obvious route expected in these kinds of films and delivers a sad, somber ending. The film is stamped hard with the look, sound and feel of the early 90's (an excellent era of those "urban" films if you ask me), colorful clothing, an excellent hip-hop soundtrack and murky neon lighting. If this is up your alley, I also suggest Bill Duke's equally powerful "Deep Cover" (also from 1992). It's too bad that Dickerson's further efforts have not topped this engaging premiere.
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