Rock Fresh (2004) User Reviews

excellent documentary on art!

[shaunrosetti · 10/10 · 21 April 2005]

i was very impressed when watching this film. i initially assumed it would be a very genre specific, niche film for graffiti enthusiasts. i was happily proved wrong. any artist can relate the themes in the film. the film centers on five graffiti writers turned career artists who struggle to make a living, while keeping their reputation and maintaining their friendships. this is as real as it comes. what really kept me intrigued is how the film takes a particular angle on the subject, rather than just doing the overall history, then why they do it, then their influences. this was a journey in these artists lives. above all, the doc was very entertaining, very funny at times. there is a part where the director candidly interviews a homeless man who claims to be a Vietnam vet. the "bum" as the neighborhood kids call him, actually has some interesting things to say, despite the heckling kids. that visually proved to me that a simple wall of graffiti art can bring together people of all walks and all ages. very impressive documentary, both visually and thematically. anxiously waiting for a DVD release.

breath-taking, one of my favorites films ever!

[411-1 · 10/10 · 17 January 2005]

ROCK FRESH left me gasping for air. Lots of documentaries claim to be truthful, raw, invigorating. This film takes you to an entirely new world, gritty and street level, the film pulses with an infectious energy that i can't explain. The director Danny Lee obviously knows what he's doing as the film taught me so much, and that there's another side to what the world considers just graffiti. The film is highly entertaining from start to finish. The graphics are incredible. The music is upbeat hip hop and electronic, experimental in nature, all relevant. This film is the most conclusive, well rounded film on graffiti/hip hop culture ever done. ROCK FRESH represents the future of film-making where young, fresh and hip replace these old, dry films being done by your regular crop of Hollywood sleepers. This is truly one of my favorite films of all time, perfect for a quiet night at home or throwing on during a party with friends. HIGHLY RECOMMEND getting your hands on a copy. This film will inspire the world.

a true piece of art.

[barryhatcher2000 · 10/10 · 28 December 2005]

incredible incredible. such a distinct film on such a relevant culture. as a fine artist myself i was instantly engaged in this film. i didn't see it as a film on graffiti art. i saw it as a raw depiction of artists trying to make a living off what they love, with graffiti as the backdrop. hardcore graffiti guys might think i'm wrong but that's just my take. i love the rich vibrant colors and editing/graphics that are layered over it. the film is honestly the first of its kind. a breakthrough in film-making and our general way of thought. i applaud the filmmakers in their sincere effort in bringing beauty and a subculture rarely unseen. we all know about the illegal, destructive side. those kids may love that vandalism element but 95% of the world appreciate true art. and this is what this film is - true art.

Whippersnappers

[JohnSeal · 4/10 · 26 September 2005]

Up front admission: I hate graffiti, and I generally dislike murals, so I was unlikely to be impressed by this film about young urban street artists. Nonetheless, I consider myself reasonably open-minded and my left-wing political pedigree should have me aligned with the lank-haired, rebellious underdogs depicted in Rock Fresh, right? Sadly, wrong, as I found these 'artists' to be inarticulate philistines with bizarre ideas about the social context within which they work (one contends that his murals stop crime), the history of California and even the definition of pop art. Boys, no worries: the work of Warhol and Lichtenstein will live on long after your last tag has been painted over by the public works department. On the other hand, most of these guys work in L.A., a city so hideously ugly already that it can hardly be rendered any less attractive, can it? As for the film itself, it's badly framed and poorly recorded, no doubt to provide it with the requisite 'edge' in order to convince us that the director knows how to 'keep it real'.

I expected better

[mistersp · 1/10 · 9 April 2011]

After hearing quite a few negative comments/remarks/reviews about this film, I had somewhat lowered expectations.

Anyway, I finally sat down to watch the movie and all the expectations were correct, the movie was quite disappointing to say the least. I was expecting a lot more from a los angeles based director. The city after all is one of the leading centres of street art in the entire world. However, the documentary failed to present the graffiti world in an interesting way. Instead, the result was a superficial documentary at high school a/v club standards.

I hope the director follows up with a stronger movie in the future.