New Jack City (Two-Disc Special Edition)
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Movie Reviews of New Jack City (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Movie Review: If you've seen the 1932 Scarface, the 1983 Scarface, and remember the 90's well then you have a good grip on the film
Summary: 3 Stars
I've only seen this movie quite recently after hearing about it for years and being told that it's a must see. While actually viewing the movie my opinions were mixed but afterwards everything slid into focus. On the technical side of the movie the directing and editing were nothing new or original, Mario Van Peebles played everything straight out of a textbook and the pacing didn't create any great flow. Most of the acting was far from award winning but not so bad as to distract from the movie itself, for any real length of time at least. Everything about the quality and look of the film screams early 90's, but in an endearing manner. As far as the films influences go, the 1983 version of "Scarface" is the most acknowledged and the one film that this movie will probably be compared to for the rest of its rememberance. However I began to notice something very quickly at the heart of the movie and with the blurb about drugs and drug dealers in America at the end, it became clear that the 1932 "Scarface: Shame of the Nation" had just as large of a part in the shaping of this movie, it serves basically as a PSA to America. This also may account for why everything technically seemed very plain and stereotypical (mind you with very high production value). Take these two movies, throw in a dash of "Cops", a very pop show at the time, add in a lot of the earliest mainstream MC's and you have New Jack City. A movie that still holds appeal after more than 15 years and an eclectic piece of 90's cinema that makes a decent viewing.Movie Review: seen it all before...
Summary: 2 Stars
Very little that's original here. I just don't see it as being some kind of classic.
There is a scene at the beginning where the main lead and his cohorts decide to put all the crack activity in one building: the making, the selling, etc. and one of the honcho's people says: "That's ingenius."
Huh? What's ingenius about it? If the cops assaulted the place you'd lose everything, the whole shebang, all at once. Why make it easier for the authorities? I doubt that drug lords are that dumb in real life. Certainly, some are--the proof is there, but someone as the character portrayed by Wesley Snipes? I doubt it.. I mean the film lost me right there, not to mention the fact that we have seen so many of the scenes in other films that came before it.
The flick just didn't grab me. Also, Judd Nelson, usually very good, seemed lost in the shuffle here--due to lack of focus by the director.
Not to mention: it's truly annoying when filmmakers go around praising their film and telling you how GREAT they think it is.
You know what? That's for the audiance to decide. A little modesty goes a long way. This director doesn't seem to know the meaning of the word.