Jungle Fever
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.28 You Save: $5.71 (57%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.13 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Jungle Fever
Movie Review: Bungle in the Jungle
Summary: 4 Stars
It's hard to believe that Spike Lee's movie Jungle Fever could be controversial,considering it was written and directed post 1990. Intimate interracial relationships should'nt shake anyone's apple tree but they do! Lee wisely chooses Wesley Snipes,an underrated actor who also underplays this role as the male love interest beautifully. Annabella Sciorra,a ravishing Italian american actress fills out the female end of the story playing Snipe's love interest. She's also underrated,having been in far too few films. This movie gave her something to sink her teeth into.The story begins with Snipes character,an architect successful yet frustrated with his employer but happily married to an african american woman.Being black himself,this is a pretty traditional union for two people of color. Enter Sciorra,an Italian american woman from a working class area of New York City(yes,Italian american in real life as well as her character)who lives with her father and two brothers. Sure,she has a white boyfriend but it's not a particularly passionate relationship;however,things really heat up for her and the architect when she gets hired as his assistant. At first he really does'nt want an assistant nor does he care for her. Still,he tells his boss that she can hang on there at the office anyway. A couple nights after she starts,they order chinese food after work and before you can say chopsticks they're getting very sweaty on his desk. This is a rare treat,one of the finest scenes of intimacy I have ever seen. So they continue to see one another in a clandestine fashion. A few weeks later,the cat is out of the bag and her brothers ans father find out about the affair. It takes a strong constitution to watch what ensues;her father works up a sweat too,but it's none too pleasant. He beats her and all fury breaks loose,because her racist family can't bear the thought of sister/daughter dating a black man. Spike Lee's direction is impeccable and his statement is powerful. Will they be able to continue seeing eachother? Does his wife know or care? Will Sciorra's character be staying with her family or is it time to move? Of course I won't tell what happens at the end but one thing's for sure,racism is alive and kicking today as it always has been.Movie Review: Film #5 Interracial Relationships
Summary: 4 Stars
I am going through all of Spike's films chronologically. This is Spike Lee's fifth film and follows along the lines of "Do the Right Thing". So far this is my second favorite (of five) Spike Lee films.
It is an excellent film because of the intensity of numerous scenes throughout it. In fact anyone out there who has not yet seen this film must see it for the following scene in particular. Here is a brief description.
The scene I am referring to is the one in which Wesley Snipes scopes out his brother. It begins with a woman preaching in the name of Jesus over a great soul song (the film was scored by Stevie Wonder) with heavy bass lines. Snipes walks through the city asking for his brother's whereabouts and is finally led to the Taj Mahal, a place swarming with people using and abusing crack. We finally find Samuel L. Jackson, Snipes' brother in the film, with Halle Berry (in her very first performance).
Other notable scenes are when Annabella Sciorra's, Snipe's girlfriend in the scene, father finds out she has been dating a black man or when Samuel L. Jackson's character, Gator, goes home one last time demanding money, from his mother, for his addiction.
As for the acting, the film is packed with incredible performances. Ossie Davis, John Turturro, Anthony Quinn, Samuel L. Jackson, Ruby Dee, Annabella Sciorra and Wesley Snipes are all superb actors in this film.
I agree with other reviewers, mentioning how over-the-top some of the people's reactions are to the interracial relationship central to the story. However, I refuse to say that they are unrealistic. I believe Spike Lee has merely acted out many of the thoughts of the racist person to show how dangerous such thoughts can be.
Movie Review: white and black argument
Summary: 4 Stars
Okay the film is well made because it attacks the interracial argument from many perspectives. Black Men, Black Woman, White Woman, White Man. The only thing I found unsettling is why can't the two just be attracted to each other. Why do they have to be attracted to each other because of the color of their skin. I guess the film allows to draw whatever conclusion we want but the issue is sticky. And I guess because the issue is sticky the film is also sticky.
All I'm saying is why does their have to be something psychologically screwed up with Wesley Snipes is the film saying that there is? Ask these questions watching the film.
Movie Review: Lessons Learned!!
Summary: 4 Stars
The one thing about a Spike Lee joint, you're bound to learn something at the end. In this case, it's our perceptions about race. The purpose of Spike's intentions, I suppose, is not about interracial relationships but about how they affect other people. In this case, everyone is hurt or affected in some way. From the marriage between Wesley Snipes and Lonette McKee to Annabella Sciorra's relationship with her father, to the waitress, to their friends, to the police, and so on. It's definitely a conversation maker that's worth viewing!!Movie Review: One of Spike's Most ambitious films
Summary: 4 Stars
But he apparently was still having some trouble with balance. The story is , well, you know. And I admire Spike for having the guts to do something like this. But there was some truly overt racism in this film. The candy-shop guys you'd expect. But the little "sistuh-fest" was every bit as racist as Annabelle's father was, and maybe more so. The weak link here was Lonette; she was WAY too into hystronics, exaggeration and over-reaction. Still, one of Spike's best, although he really did have trouble with ending this one.