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Menace II Society [1993]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Tyrin Turner may not have broken out into stardom as was initially expected, but his work in Menace II Society is one of the more powerful cinematic debuts. The film, from the brother writer-director team of Allen and Albert Hughes, chronicles life in the Los Angeles 'hood. Similar territory was covered in the equally commanding Boyz N the Hood, but what makes this cautionary tale stand out is not only the Hughes brothers' forceful story, (written with their friend, Tyger Williams) and direction, but the naturalness of then-newcomer leads Turner as Caine, Larenz Tate as O-Dog, and Jada Pinkett as Ronnie. They are so credible--occasionally frighteningly so--that the repressive universe of violent ghetto life is captured effectively. Life as portrayed here-and no doubt accurately so--is both figuratively and literally narrow. As a very young boy, Caine witnesses his dad murdered over something inconsequential, and his mom OD. His is a world where respect comes from intimidation, power from violence. Despite his understanding of right and wrong (values passed on by a good friend, his kind grandparents, a caring teacher), his life and its entrapments are too much to overcome. --N.F. Mendoza


"It's right there in the Bible, Exodus 20:13: '"Thou shall not kill."
Review date: 2007-06-27 Rating: 8 out of 10

Pop this movie just the other night and it turns out this is still an incredible movie. Larenz Tate is indeed a fine actor. I've seen this movie numerously over the years and it still get to me. "Menace II Society" is a film that is so violent, depressing and real it seriously looks and feels like a documentary. Inside the first 20 minutes there are a few scenes that would be the climatic in the latter (Boyz n The Hood) purely because they contain outrageous violence, sadness and that feeling that you are watching something brilliant & depressing. It shows what a tenacious, vicious film this is- the normal, brutal ending to another film of misguided youth is purely an introductory, walk in the park for this.

The film follows the venture of a young man, "Caine" (Tyrin Turner) in the hood. He is a part time drug-dealer, but even though the portrayal of his character isn't sympathetic, that emotion is still evoked at the same time as watching him and his friends manoeuvre through the 'hood. Caine's best friend, O- Dog (Larenz Tate) was never any hope. Seen "Trainspotting"? O-Dog is a GD-up version of the psychotic, violent character "Begbie". He shoots people for fun, treats women in a degrading fashion and constantly annoys and makes fun of his friends. Other characters include Jada Pinkett-Smith, Bill Duke, and Samuel L Jackson, the last two only holding small roles in this movie.

I'm not going to go into great depths into this film. It cannot do it justice. Every actor is superb, the script is impeccable and the violence is raw, uncut but informative. Watching this is like a documentary- you feel as if you are there, and by the end you won't be able to process what eventually happens. For me, it made me go numb. I'm never able to leave my seat for a few minutes. My advice: watch this for yourself. And don't feel bad about crying- even the hardened will have trouble holding back in this amazing, cinematically beautiful masterpiece.


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Reviews


Never A Dull Moment
Review date: 2006-05-31 Rating: 10 out of 10

Possibly my favourite movie of all time.. or at least one of them definitley.. I would never hesitate to reccommend this move to anyone looking for an action packed movie that never fails to deliver.. although harsh at times.. the movie captures a dangerous society discarded by America left to run with its own world and rules like a small LEDC country.. The performance from Larenz Tate really caught my eye as O-Dogg as he is every bit as explosive as his character is designed.. great role from a great actor.. pick up this movie I promise you won't regret it!

Fantastic
Review date: 2005-03-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

I thought this film was brilliant. I had seen Boyz in the Hood and was a bit disappointed with it, someone recommended this one and it was great. The characters are all so real, and it's surprisingly realistic. You see the main character Cain struggling over what's right and wrong, and the ending really makes you think that life doesn't always turn out okay in the end. I would definitely recommend this.

A hard-hitting drama to remember for a long time to come!
Review date: 2004-07-03 Rating: 6 out of 10

Originally released in 1993, Menace to society was, i am led to believe, nearly banned for it's brutal portrail of growing up in a bad area and around bad people. A film which pulls no punches, and over-flowing with guns, drugs and a general bad attitude, it centres around a guy called Cain who is born into this world and how he copes with it, along with his group of friends. Whilst i enjoyed this film, the main flaw with it is that you learn virtually nothing about the main characters's pasts or why they're in the situation they're in. This makes the characters very one-dimensional and very hard to relate to or feel sorry for. Because of this, the violence in it, at times, seems exploitative and pointless. That said, the overall film message remains the same and is very valid. A film definately worth owning but, at the same time, its no masterpiece

MENACE II SOCIETY
Review date: 2003-11-21 Rating: 10 out of 10

you might be thinkin that these reviews are a waste of time but im tellin u this is the real deal, i hav never seen a film that is more brilliant than this, this truely is one film that has left me mesmorised!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
June Kyoto Lu
Toshi Toda
Samuel L. Jackson
Tyrin Turner
Larenz Tate

Creators:
Tyrin Turner (Primary Contributor)
Larenz Tate (Primary Contributor)
Albert Hughes (Producer)
Albert Hughes (Writer)
Allen Hughes (Producer)
Allen Hughes (Writer)
Darin Scott (Producer)
Tyger Williams (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Entertainment in Video
Manufacturer: Entertainment in Video
EAN: 5017239192173
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-07-05
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 92 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1993-05-26
Language: English (Original Language)

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