Directed by twin brothers, Allen and Albert Hughes, this critically acclaimed cinematic masterpiece brilliantly details real life in today’s tough inner city. With the powerhouse performances by Tyrin Turner (Deep Cover), Larenz Tate (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air) and Jada Pinkett (A Different World), the film also features dynamite supporting roles by Charles S. Dutton (Roc) and Bill Duke (Predator).
DVD Features:
Interviews
Production Notes
Theatrical Trailer
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
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March 5, 2010
#1
I have not yet received this item. Hopefully, it is on its way. It has been over three weeks.
March 5, 2010
#2
Dis movie be da bes movie bout bruthas an bout livin in da hood. I personally know of a few homies dat had da same thang happen to dem. Da bes part be when da homies is drivin da caddy an lookin for dem other biatches to cap. My favorite part is when OG says “ya’ll actin like a bunch of biatches.” I’s be wonderin how dis movie ain’t be bes picture of da year? There be sum real life lessons in dis movie for anyone who be livin in da hood.
March 5, 2010
#3
Sorry peeps but I just never felt this “Hood” crap! M2S was just another in a long line of “Hood” movies with nothing but gratuitous violence and foul language and no message whatsoever! Yes we know growing up in the hood sucks! What else is new? How about a movie about someone overcoming the odds and living a good clean life in spite of the environment they grew up in? I guess that’s not “real” or “black” enough, huh? A lot of people compare this film to “Boyz N The Hood” but it really does injustice to BNTH which was not only the first but actually had a message! What’s the message in this one? I don’t think it’s coincidental that this came out at a time when gangsta rap really took off and many young black males, including college students, thought that being a gangsta and being down with the hood was cool but I never bought into that foolishness! Call me an anomaly or even a hater (A tired overrused expression if there ever was one) if you wish but this mess was far from being any kind of masterpiece!
March 5, 2010
#4
What, am I the only one who thought this movie [wasn't good]? I had heard so many rave reviews about it but when I finally watched it, it was a total letdown. Everything was so fake, and you could see the ending coming 10 minutes into the movie. No doubt the story is believable (though you KNEW what was going to happen), but the acting was… well, acting. These guys try to sound tough but they’re not. It comes off as very amateur acting. The story line is so-so, but having to sit through these guys reciting their lines just plain kills off whatever’s left of the movie. I expected to feel terror looking at these guys, but the whole time I was just thinking, “Where’d you guys learn to speak like that? Gee, thanks for trying, but really, you should’ve spent some time listening to how real LA gangsters speak.” This whole movie is so watered down. The only good and realistic part is the opening scene of the shooting in the liquor store. Everything else just goes downhill after that.
March 5, 2010
#5
The Hughes Brothers have such potential that it disappoints me to see how awful Menace II Society was. Although it claims to be a clear portrayal of life in “stereotypical” ghetto in Los Angeles, I feel that it is such a copout to take the easiest thing to write about and turn it into film. It would be a greater accomplishment if they could successfully portray the lives of those who’ve managed to rise above rather than repeat the story of those who’ve failed to get out. Menace II Society just wastes your time by reiterating the same old stereotypes and puts them onto the faces of African-Americans in film. I definately recommend you DON’T waste your time.