After watching this movie on MTV I came away with one feeling, disappointment. The music is the movie was pretty good, but was lacking a bit in production value. Robert Townsend's direction of the spoken dramatic scenes were very well done, but he tried to be too flashy during the musical numbers. The music should be an extension of the action we see on screen, and should not be cut off from everything else. The music sequences were poorly visualized and at an hour & 20 minutes the movie was just too short. The acting was good, and the story was updated very well. As far as cautionary tales go, this movie was far from the best I've seen, but it was also far form the worst. I give it a 5 out of 10.
30 Reviews
not great, but better than I expected...
PERRO31510 July 2005
"CARMEN: A HIP HOPERA" thrusts BEYONCE way out there in the somewhat tailor-made, classically seductive role most prominently tackled by DOROTHY DANDRIDGE almost 50 years before! While Beyonce effortlessly pulls off the visual aspect of the man-baiting Carmen, her dramatic emoting---at this early stage of her thespian career---is pretty weak! Fortunately, she is backed by strong actors (MEKHI PHIFER, MOS DEF, TROY WINBUSH, REAGAN GOMEZ-PRESTON) who give solid performances! Phifer is good (as usual) as a principled cop who gives up those principles to experience a lifetime of passion with Carmen, Mos Def makes a quietly menacing villain, Winbush is solid as the supportive, but ultimately corrupted, cop friend who betrays Phifer in the end, and the beauteous Gomez-Preston (who played "CARMEN" director ROBERT TOWNSEND's daughter in TV's "THE PARENT 'HOOD") is especially memorable as Phifer's betrayed ex-love! "CARMEN"---despite its limitations---is a lot of fun to watch!
actually quite good
malamal17 May 2002
Robert Townsend for me was not the ideal choice to make this, nor would I have used Beyonce Knowles as my first choice to play the lead Carmen Jones in this updated version of Bizet's classic opera 'Carmen'.
In the films defence I will say the music was great,and she may not act that well but Beyonce can sing people and she looks hot. Remixing some of the original Carmen score worked really well and Mekhi Phiffer was as always very good. On Mos Def I will say he is a peculiar guy, sometimes it seems he is acting real good, all laid back and sometimes it seems as if he is heavily stoned and cannot remember his lines!
Overall the concept of remaking Carmen into this MTV hip hopera was a very good idea and I think it worked well, given most of the cast were non actors.
In the films defence I will say the music was great,and she may not act that well but Beyonce can sing people and she looks hot. Remixing some of the original Carmen score worked really well and Mekhi Phiffer was as always very good. On Mos Def I will say he is a peculiar guy, sometimes it seems he is acting real good, all laid back and sometimes it seems as if he is heavily stoned and cannot remember his lines!
Overall the concept of remaking Carmen into this MTV hip hopera was a very good idea and I think it worked well, given most of the cast were non actors.
B to the A to the N-A-L.
Victor Field18 August 2002
Warning: Spoilers
WARNING: The following review contains a spoiler.
In 1990, several recording artists took part in the AIDS charity album "Red, Hot and Blue," made up of covers of Cole Porter songs; Neneh Cherry's rendition of "I've Got You Under My Skin" took a few liberties with the few, if you can call "dropping all of the music and completely changing the lyrics apart from the title" a few liberties.
This MTV Original TV Movie update of "Carmen" - ludicrously (Ludacrisly?) dubbed a "Hip Hopera" - is the closest visual equivalent yet. Transferred to present-day Philadelphia and Los Angeles, the almost total absence of Georges Bizet in favour of some people called Kip Collins and Sekani Williams is the first problem; the movie is heavy on rappers (starting with the bookends from Da Brat, who should know all about featuring in weak music movies after "Glitter") but light on people who can actually act, with all due respect to Fred Williamson. Meanwhile, the story of a basically decent policeman (Mekhi Phifer) who finds himself drawn away from his girlfriend by the spirited Carmen and falling in love with her, going to prison for her, running away etc., is surprisingly short on passion in its telling; in fact, it's really quite dull, and messily told with it (some more time to give it depth might have helped).
Having an opera in rap is a better idea in concept than in execution; music is just as important to the form as words, but umpteen phrases tumbling out without any real melody behind them is ultimately fairly tedious (though in fairness I must admit to not being much into rap anyway); they may as well be in a fast-talking contest for all the good it does. Robert Townsend insists on over-directing the movie with soft-focus, rapid repeating of shots, slow-motion etc., but all it does is make the movie seem even more like a bad music video than it already does (in fact, one scene where Carmen's two friends extol the good life waiting for them with big-time rapper Blaze IS a bad music video). It's no coincidence that the last fifteen minutes, which rely less on rapping and more on story, are comparatively the most effective in the film
***SPOILER ALERT***SPOILER ALERT***SPOILER ALERT***SPOILER ALERT***
but even with the downbeat ending (at the rap concert climax Carmen is shot and killed by the villain, and our cop hero is arrested after avenging her death), the movie just doesn't have any real emotional punch to it, as opposed to "William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet" (another update that ultimately works a lot better).
***END OF SPOILER ALERT***END OF SPOILER ALERT***END OF SPOILER ALERT***
In her first real acting role (if you don't count the time she appeared as herself in an episode of "Smart Guy"), Beyonce Knowles doesn't really convince as Carmen - unquestionably bootylicious, but as an actress she's a fine singer. Most of the rest of the cast won't be practising any acceptance speeches either, mind, but Beyonce isn't really up to the role (not that she really gets much help from the shoddy script). In one of the outtakes that accompany the end credits ("Stylist for Miss Knowles: Tina Knowles." Her mother, that is), two of the cast members are ticked off for studying Beyonce's bottom when she walks by; since Beyonce's beauty will probably provide the sole entertainment for some viewers, you really can't blame them. "Austin Powers in Goldmember" must surely be better than this...
In 1990, several recording artists took part in the AIDS charity album "Red, Hot and Blue," made up of covers of Cole Porter songs; Neneh Cherry's rendition of "I've Got You Under My Skin" took a few liberties with the few, if you can call "dropping all of the music and completely changing the lyrics apart from the title" a few liberties.
This MTV Original TV Movie update of "Carmen" - ludicrously (Ludacrisly?) dubbed a "Hip Hopera" - is the closest visual equivalent yet. Transferred to present-day Philadelphia and Los Angeles, the almost total absence of Georges Bizet in favour of some people called Kip Collins and Sekani Williams is the first problem; the movie is heavy on rappers (starting with the bookends from Da Brat, who should know all about featuring in weak music movies after "Glitter") but light on people who can actually act, with all due respect to Fred Williamson. Meanwhile, the story of a basically decent policeman (Mekhi Phifer) who finds himself drawn away from his girlfriend by the spirited Carmen and falling in love with her, going to prison for her, running away etc., is surprisingly short on passion in its telling; in fact, it's really quite dull, and messily told with it (some more time to give it depth might have helped).
Having an opera in rap is a better idea in concept than in execution; music is just as important to the form as words, but umpteen phrases tumbling out without any real melody behind them is ultimately fairly tedious (though in fairness I must admit to not being much into rap anyway); they may as well be in a fast-talking contest for all the good it does. Robert Townsend insists on over-directing the movie with soft-focus, rapid repeating of shots, slow-motion etc., but all it does is make the movie seem even more like a bad music video than it already does (in fact, one scene where Carmen's two friends extol the good life waiting for them with big-time rapper Blaze IS a bad music video). It's no coincidence that the last fifteen minutes, which rely less on rapping and more on story, are comparatively the most effective in the film
***SPOILER ALERT***SPOILER ALERT***SPOILER ALERT***SPOILER ALERT***
but even with the downbeat ending (at the rap concert climax Carmen is shot and killed by the villain, and our cop hero is arrested after avenging her death), the movie just doesn't have any real emotional punch to it, as opposed to "William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet" (another update that ultimately works a lot better).
***END OF SPOILER ALERT***END OF SPOILER ALERT***END OF SPOILER ALERT***
In her first real acting role (if you don't count the time she appeared as herself in an episode of "Smart Guy"), Beyonce Knowles doesn't really convince as Carmen - unquestionably bootylicious, but as an actress she's a fine singer. Most of the rest of the cast won't be practising any acceptance speeches either, mind, but Beyonce isn't really up to the role (not that she really gets much help from the shoddy script). In one of the outtakes that accompany the end credits ("Stylist for Miss Knowles: Tina Knowles." Her mother, that is), two of the cast members are ticked off for studying Beyonce's bottom when she walks by; since Beyonce's beauty will probably provide the sole entertainment for some viewers, you really can't blame them. "Austin Powers in Goldmember" must surely be better than this...
My Review of Carmen: A Hip Hopera
khat-datty11 May 2001
"Carmen: A Hip Hopera" , ranks with some of the "worst" movies ever made!!! Inadequate acting, and the waste of a talented director such as Mr. Robert Townsend. Bizet's "Carmen", and Preminger's "Carmen Jones" were excellent!!! The "third time is a charm", is not the case with "Carmen: A Hip Hopera!!!!! V.King
Could have been better
redman925523 June 2001
This movie was a very good start for MOS DEF for beyonce she should stick to singing. As you watch the movie mos def (Frank Miller)took the whole movie to a different level, while beyonce's acting killed to whole movie, through out the movie it seems she is reading the script word by word. If you like freestyle rap and a TV-movie plot this a very good movie but I WARN YOU beyonce's acting might force you to change the channel.
Disappointing letdown to hip hop fans
funkyfry7 October 2002
Poorly acted, unconvincing "modern" adaption of Bizet's classic opera. Saddled with a two-dollar production look and a cast of (with the exception of Phifer) unprofessional actors. One fairly interesting bit is a few parts which actually set Bizet's music to raps, which only works intermittently. Inferior to both the original and Oscar Hammerstein's similarly overblown 1950s adaption (filmed, if I remember right, memorably by Otto Preminger).
All fans of musicals should avoid it, even though it holds out the promise of being a new type of musical. All fans of hip hop should avoid it, because it forces a cast that is incredibly talented in musical areas to act with hokey dialogue and no direction. It should especially be taken on for taking Mos Def, a genius of lyrics, and making him rap to mediocre lines written by some bozo the clown.
Townsend should really be taken to the cleaners over this, and in the future he should probably be advised to look the other way when offered TV productions with a look like my mama's basement (and she hasn't got one, folks).�
All fans of musicals should avoid it, even though it holds out the promise of being a new type of musical. All fans of hip hop should avoid it, because it forces a cast that is incredibly talented in musical areas to act with hokey dialogue and no direction. It should especially be taken on for taking Mos Def, a genius of lyrics, and making him rap to mediocre lines written by some bozo the clown.
Townsend should really be taken to the cleaners over this, and in the future he should probably be advised to look the other way when offered TV productions with a look like my mama's basement (and she hasn't got one, folks).�
Very entertaining!
Sherazade27 June 2010
I don't know exactly what people were expecting, they keep writing bad reviews and giving the film a low rating. It's an MTV movie people. Overall it was not that bad. Very low budget, like a super long music video, lots of talent involved. Most of them even acted well. Half the people who were in this film wouldn't be caught dead participating in such a film in this day an age but it's nice that we have something like this to look back on. Beyonce acted very well in it (in fact her acting was better in this film than some of her more recent work.) I miss Mekhi Pfeiffer I wish they would cast him in more films instead of letting his talent go to waste. Mos Def was also good. Joy Bryant the serial best-friend was also decent. Also, it's a good thing to know that Beyonce can rap pretty decently. It was short, to the point and precise. Well done all!
Crap
tubajmc19 December 2002
This was one of the dumbest ideas MTV has come up with. I just thank god that it bombed so badly that they never think of doing a "Hip Hopera" again. Hip-Hop is a simple musical form, and trying to combine it with Opera and making musical theatre out of it is probably one of the worst ideas imaginable. I hated hated hated hated hated this film. Hated every minute of my time it wasted. Hated every agonizing, taste reducing minute of it. Don't watch this. Unless you want to beat your head up against the wall and waste an hour trying to plead for the time you wasted watching it.
good for what it is
daveart24 June 2001
I enjoyed this, although it was too short to cover the story well enough. I thought Beyonce & Mekhi were both great, and Mos played a good villain. As long as you don't expect a true remake of the opera, you should enjoy it.
Resounding Failure
LeonardKniffel1 May 2020
This surprisingly dull take on the classic tale of the tragic gypsy, lacks both passion and memorable music. You will perk up, however, when you hear unfortunately brief echoes of Bizet's classic opera. It's an interesting experiment that showcases the good looks and expert voice of Beyoncé Knowles, with insight into why she would become one of those talented female superstars who need only a first name for instant recognition.
About the movie " Carmen, a Hip Hopera "
trish98421 December 2005
I liked this movie especially the music, sure Beyonce rocked it and really put some kind of flavor in her character Carmen, I liked her game, she looked amazing, very sexy and attractive, but... she was definitely mean : she enjoyed hitting on other people's men and creating trouble, she was selfish and manipulative, and hey, she got into a fight!! what kind of a Diva is that? and she ruined Hill's life. So at the end, I didn't quite understand when they said there will never be anyone else like her !? I mean, do you really want to have somebody like that in your life? I don't think so ! And to me, that's where the movie failed because in the end there was really nothing special or even likable about Carmen, she was just mean, you think she was beautiful? but what is beauty if you don't have it from the inside ! I think they should have removed the epilogue because it contradicts the whole movie and it seems kind of hypocrite too: So we're supposed to have some kind of pity for people just because of their looks? My answer is NO: wrong is wrong even if you look like a star, don't let the looks fool you, and most importantly know how to control yourself, something that looks good doesn't mean it is good, and sometimes you just have to accept your life the way it is, your girl might not be a Diva, her game might be "wack" but that's fine, because a diva could bring much more trouble in your life than you think. I thought the actors were great in the movie, especially Mekhi,Mos Def,and Beyonce, they were all so natural, they kept it real and that was good.
Terrible
kenyaekofi9 June 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This movie had very terrible songs and very poor rhyming skills. Words for being rhyme with the same word that was used a sentence before. Don't get me wrong seen Beyonce dressing up provocatively was pretty great, however the movie Lacks in creativity and even originality. There was a lot of unnecessary slow motion shots and even bad CGI shots. The movie could have been a lot better.
Side Splitting Hilarity
mugwug16 May 2001
This movie made me howl with laughter because it was so bad. Bad acting, especially by 'Bouncy' Knowles, bad editing and horrible looking blue screen work. None of the songs were memorable and the 'film' looked like a overlong music video. Robert Townsend did great with Hollywood Shuffle and has gone downhill ever since....give up Robert!
Bochco directed this right?
muze2222-212 June 2007
Well, I'm a huge fan of Beyonce Knowles; but, omg; this is Cop Rock just a few years later. Studied classic voice for 8 years, and was not expecting that type of quality; but, the situations where each character breaks into "song", is embarrassing. It's much like the feeling I had when as a college student I watched Steven Bochco's COP ROCK; but this is worse; did this even get an airing on broadcast TV? Poor Beyonce; Thank God she redeemed her self somewhat in "Dreamgirls." one star for trying to being creative; Beyonce is very hot in this; even for a gay guy, I find her exuding natural sexuality more than most of the vanilla, white anorexic actresses today. I hope she didn't put this on her resume'.
Not what I expected
angel-2739 May 2001
As a avid lover of opera, my first reaction was one of distaste-- a stuck-up response, I'll admit. My thoughts were like many others: Where does MTV get off screwing around with once of the most beloved operas of all time?
I did decide to watch it however, trying to keep an open mind. I was actually rather pleased by the performances and really taken with the style of filming. It didn't try to be something it's not (which I can really appreciate). It's edgy quality was sensitive enough to the original story that I found myself actually enjoying the production. Not being a fan of rap or hip hop in general, I was surprised by how much I was NOT offended. You can even hear small bits of Bizet's music weave in and out of the fabric. It had it's week moments, and was by no means a great movie, but it was unique, and I can appreciate that. I can also appreciate how this type of "hip hopera" may actually reach some people who would never think of watching traditional opera (just as I had never considered watching a rap artist sing over Bizet's melodies). I recommend this movie because of it's uniqueness and because it honestly wasn't all that bad!
I did decide to watch it however, trying to keep an open mind. I was actually rather pleased by the performances and really taken with the style of filming. It didn't try to be something it's not (which I can really appreciate). It's edgy quality was sensitive enough to the original story that I found myself actually enjoying the production. Not being a fan of rap or hip hop in general, I was surprised by how much I was NOT offended. You can even hear small bits of Bizet's music weave in and out of the fabric. It had it's week moments, and was by no means a great movie, but it was unique, and I can appreciate that. I can also appreciate how this type of "hip hopera" may actually reach some people who would never think of watching traditional opera (just as I had never considered watching a rap artist sing over Bizet's melodies). I recommend this movie because of it's uniqueness and because it honestly wasn't all that bad!
No, this comment was the exact opposite of what I thought of when I watched this movie.
soccercp1713 December 2006
First of all I want to state that I have seen this movie once in my life. I could only bare to see it once for the fact that Beyonce Knowles has been my Role Model for the past 6 years. Ever since the very first time I heard her voice on the radio, I had become to love it. For the fact that I want to be a famous singer when I grow up, Beyonce Knowles had always been who I had looked up too. She was one of the few celebrities who had managed to stay out of negative media SUCCESSFULLY. I had never heard of her becoming intoxicated and out of control, their was never any provocative statements being said, and she was never heard of as being in a two day relationship. Beyonce Knowles had always been a positive person in my life, and her music was my escape to the realities of existence. Middle School & High School: I couldn't have made/been making it through these years if it were not for her music brightening my day.
You can call me bias, I don't mind. I am only saying the way I feel. : ) Then, this movie came out, and for me it was a modern-day Selena remake. If you haven't seen the movie Selena, I highly recommend you to watch it. The two are quite similar. Anyways, Beyonce Knowles was only pursuing her dreams in the music industry. This was the simple well-known fact of how hard it was to "make it" in this industry. Now, things aren't as tough, and if your name is well-known, you can have a record deal in a matter of 2 weeks. IF not, then you have to start climbing the ladder. Once you have reached the middle of that ladder, you have to be careful not to fall. After this, if you keep on pursuing your dreams then you will succeed to the top of the ladder. In the movie, Beyonce Knowles had died before her life-long dreams had been reached.
I cried for the next hour after watching Carmen: A Hip-Hopera. I couldn't explain the way I had felt for Beyonce's character, Carmen. And I had soon realized that I would try my hardest and never give up to reach my dreams.
In reality:: I am 16 years old and I still have not yet received any type of record deal. I live in a small town, so that only makes it ten times harder. Yet, I still know that I have the rest of my life to become a singer if that is what I want out of my life, and it most certainly is. I know that I must never give up on my dreams, until the good Lord takes me home.
May I just add one last thing: Beyonce emerged from a trio group {which was first a foursome, but they SURVIVED the split.} and Destiny's Child had Grammy's and the Billboard under their belt. Then Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams all went solo. Michelle chose Gospel while Beyonce and KElly chose R&B. The record label Destiny's Child had signed with, was owned by Beyonce's manager, her very own father and backbone support, Matthew Knowles. Now, Beyonce has overwhelmed the media with her two solo albums, her appearance in two movies, The Fighting Temptations and The Pink Panther, along with her performances in this movie and soon coming to theaters, Dreamgirls.
; D She did it, she raised above the negativity and made her dreams come true. You may disagree, but I know that I can do that too. This movie gave me nothing but encouragement. = D Thank you for listening!! Feel free to comment!!
You can call me bias, I don't mind. I am only saying the way I feel. : ) Then, this movie came out, and for me it was a modern-day Selena remake. If you haven't seen the movie Selena, I highly recommend you to watch it. The two are quite similar. Anyways, Beyonce Knowles was only pursuing her dreams in the music industry. This was the simple well-known fact of how hard it was to "make it" in this industry. Now, things aren't as tough, and if your name is well-known, you can have a record deal in a matter of 2 weeks. IF not, then you have to start climbing the ladder. Once you have reached the middle of that ladder, you have to be careful not to fall. After this, if you keep on pursuing your dreams then you will succeed to the top of the ladder. In the movie, Beyonce Knowles had died before her life-long dreams had been reached.
I cried for the next hour after watching Carmen: A Hip-Hopera. I couldn't explain the way I had felt for Beyonce's character, Carmen. And I had soon realized that I would try my hardest and never give up to reach my dreams.
In reality:: I am 16 years old and I still have not yet received any type of record deal. I live in a small town, so that only makes it ten times harder. Yet, I still know that I have the rest of my life to become a singer if that is what I want out of my life, and it most certainly is. I know that I must never give up on my dreams, until the good Lord takes me home.
May I just add one last thing: Beyonce emerged from a trio group {which was first a foursome, but they SURVIVED the split.} and Destiny's Child had Grammy's and the Billboard under their belt. Then Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams all went solo. Michelle chose Gospel while Beyonce and KElly chose R&B. The record label Destiny's Child had signed with, was owned by Beyonce's manager, her very own father and backbone support, Matthew Knowles. Now, Beyonce has overwhelmed the media with her two solo albums, her appearance in two movies, The Fighting Temptations and The Pink Panther, along with her performances in this movie and soon coming to theaters, Dreamgirls.
; D She did it, she raised above the negativity and made her dreams come true. You may disagree, but I know that I can do that too. This movie gave me nothing but encouragement. = D Thank you for listening!! Feel free to comment!!
Bad flick
SPA2TACU53 January 2005
I wouldn't say don't waste your time on this one, but if you do then indeed you do waist it, coz its a bad bad baaaaad movie.
After 45 minutes it becomes so boring discipline is needed to keep watching and specially listening to the same kinda rap song again and again.
Gotta say Mos Def give quite a good performance, the rest was baaaaad.
Anyway this comment is too short, so Ill recommend people to watch it if you want to see one of the few movies in its genre. Or if you want to know what I'm talking about.
And there's really not more words to spoil on this movie to warn people that its bad. OK?
After 45 minutes it becomes so boring discipline is needed to keep watching and specially listening to the same kinda rap song again and again.
Gotta say Mos Def give quite a good performance, the rest was baaaaad.
Anyway this comment is too short, so Ill recommend people to watch it if you want to see one of the few movies in its genre. Or if you want to know what I'm talking about.
And there's really not more words to spoil on this movie to warn people that its bad. OK?
this movie yo!
carriedevil31 July 2007
Warning: Spoilers
this movie is alright for a rainy day if you just chillin' wit yo friends and want a good laugh and some pretty okay songs. I like this movie but its not to be taken seriously, i mean, its just a ridiculously good, bad movie. but i would highly recommend that you watch this movie because its just, somethin' that you should watch. THe songs are hot, the plot would've been okay had it had some experienced actors acting it out. THe death scene with (Carmen) was whack because at the time, Beyonce' couldn't act so it just really sucked! But other than what i stated, it was a surprisingly okay movie. so watch it and try not to be too cynical, opinionated, and serious; watch the movie when you are in a silly mood and just want to have some fun. it makes it a whole lot better.
Fresh and inventive
spam-14821 February 2003
I really liked this one. I thought they did a great job of updating the story to the present day in a clever, believable way. I'm not a particular fan of hip-hop, either. There were some really clever lyrics (my favorite was the argument scene), yet the original score does underlie the whole thing. I liked it much better than "Carmen Jones," the 50s version of "Carmen" which degenerates into Broadway schlock at times.
The man who played the evil cop did a really terrific job, and I hear he's usually a singer, not an actor. The supporting roles were really well interpreted and the people who played them well-chosen. I very much enjoyed the fortune teller, who seemed really ominous with his voodoo/Jamaican aura. The leads shined.
My main gripe with the whole thing was the camera work, which was rather distracting at times. For example, there is a meta-commentary at the beginning and end of the movie, a rap done by a woman, and the camera constantly changes angles and splits into multiple images of the artist. I'd have much preferred a straight shot so that I could pay attention to what she's saying and her body language, which were good.
Overall, I loved it and will see it again.
The man who played the evil cop did a really terrific job, and I hear he's usually a singer, not an actor. The supporting roles were really well interpreted and the people who played them well-chosen. I very much enjoyed the fortune teller, who seemed really ominous with his voodoo/Jamaican aura. The leads shined.
My main gripe with the whole thing was the camera work, which was rather distracting at times. For example, there is a meta-commentary at the beginning and end of the movie, a rap done by a woman, and the camera constantly changes angles and splits into multiple images of the artist. I'd have much preferred a straight shot so that I could pay attention to what she's saying and her body language, which were good.
Overall, I loved it and will see it again.
Pretty Good, Done Well
Puffy245410 April 2003
Warning: Spoilers
In my opinion, this movie was done quite well. It's story goes along pretty well with it's original opera version by Georges Bizet. But Lil Bow Wow was a bad idea, he was just there for product placement in my opinion, and the song sang with him when they are in prison doesn't occur in the real opera (Don Jose sings by himself), but the song's meaning is similar. The only thing that vexed me is the fact that the ending is different that the "Real" ending in the opera. I won't give any spoilers but both are done well and Da Brat narrating was a good idea. The lead parts (Beyonce and Mekhi) are done exceptionally well with Beyonce playing Carmen beautifully, capturing especially the sexuality and Mekhi capturing the emotion and love.
This old white fuddy-duddy LIKED it!
jtur8815 December 2001
I'm in my 60's and I live far from any exposure to African-American culture. I always found Rap to be pretty annoying. But I stumbled across this on cable, and I really liked it. It helps that "Umbrellas of Cherbourg" is one of my all-time favorite films, and this had a very similar flavor. One refreshing feature of the film was the authenticity of the language. It always irritates me to see black kids in the ghetto (movie version) speaking something that sounds too close to acting-school English. The cast of this fiom, apparently, did not consist of trained actors who enunciated clearly in a ghetto-esque parody, but people who live and talk in that culture all the time, and it sounded real. At the same time, it was not so steeped in arcane under-culture talk that I could not understand it. So, 5 stars out of 5 for overcoming the language problem that mainstream films are so challenged by. I'd have liked more music---quite a bit of the dialogue was spoken in normal conversation---a lot more could have been put to music, since the commitment had already been made to use that device. I think the pace of the musicalized dialogue was very, very well done in terms of matching body language. Nobody seemed uncomfortable with the exchanges, or impatient for the imposed rhythm to catch up with the reaction. A neat job. Overall, this is a finely-tuned, slick vehicle that works. Whatever you think of African Americans or their music or their culture, this is a nice film that will perhaps endear you to this charming entourage.
Very under rated
kenandraf15 August 2002
One of the best musicals I have seen.It is a classic and could even have reached Masterpiece status if it was done with a better production that was less rushed.Overall more entertaining than the original Carmen due to more up to date portrayal of this tragic but often true tale.The acting here is only average but adequate enough and is compensated by the very good musical deliveries.Incorporation of the best techniques from Music Video productions into modern musicals is an idea that is long overdue and in due time will be eventually done more often as evidenced by the successful film Maulin Rouge.Music videos have developed very good visual effects and styles that will translate very well into movies.Why this has not been done more often is probably due to Hollywood powers that be who are trying to protect their brand of directing styles from MTV influence as much as they can.This delaying tactic will not hold on forever and eventually,the mainstream will catch on and ostracised Music Video directors/technicians will be let into the movie industry more.This is inevitable.There are so much incedible Music Videos being released that are such masterpieces,they have better overall production quality than most junk movies Hollywood releases year after year.It just so happens that Hollywood has great stars/actors and more minutes per show on hand.Beyonce Knowles also displayed that she is a talent to be reconned with and the average acting she displayed in this musical is incredible for a first timer and I am sure she will get better as she continues to blossom.She is a unique all around talent that must not be under estimated.Bravo to the Hip Hop communty for creating this remake.This musical is only for those who like Hip Hop and uderstand the classics as well,and for big fans of the lead Actors/Musicians here.....
A great musical
DunnDeeDaGreat8 May 2001
Carmen is a hip hop remake of the classic film Carmen Jones. The film stars Beyonce from Destiny's Child as Carmen. Carmen is an actress trying to make it with the love of Mehki Pfefier. But Mos Def a dirty cop stands in the way. This is one of the best hip hop movies since Krush Groove.
this is a great musical movie
yaara100011 February 2005
This movie is great. I don't know what you're complaining about. the plot is great for a modern day version of the fantastic opera "Carmen", and I can't think of anyone else but Beyonce to play the role of Carmen Brown. The person who wrote all these great rap\hip hop songs is a very gifted artist, because that was the best part of the movie. Although the plot was a bit stupid, I mean, some few little things but I don't think they're that important, the movie itself proved to be very enjoyable and interesting. Why is it, that so many famous actors and performers agreed to appear in this movie? because it's a very good movie. I wish it would of gotten a bit more sympathy and publicity. Beyonce rules in the movie, and she's got a very unique voice.
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