This documentary of Tupac Amaru Shakur's life was amazing. I am a huge Tupac fan and have seen many other stories and and biographies of his life, but this movie by far surpassed any expectations I had about it. Even if you are not a Tupac fan; you will still be amazed at the life he lived, grew up with, and his legacy. One of the film's strong parts is the fact that it really explains Tupac's mind and how he though about life. Not only that, but many people have a misconception that Tupac Shakur was just a "gangstar" that ran the streets and made music; and this film shows that he was not all bad and that he had a more sensitive side to his life and music. Overall the film captured a lot of his life through his eyes. The film isnt about his friends and family getting interviewed and recalling facts.....It's real interviews of him in the studio, in court, on MTV, personal interviews, and live accounts of him being him.
40 Reviews
Outstanding.
Droogie50216 November 2003
First of all, let me say that I am biased, I think the world of Tupac. That said, this is his (and his mother's) mission statement for his life and death and everything in between. I have followed 'Pac for almost 10 years now, and my obsession for him has only grown deeper and deeper as the years, months, even days have passed since his departure from the music game.
When I first heard about this film, I thought it was going to be another video release accounting his legacy and mystery. I had no idea that it had a theatrical release date until a few months ago. Then I started hearing the hype behind it, and really started to anticipate it strongly. I informed all my friends and anyone else who shared the same passion of 'Pac as I, of it's existence and when it was close to release. After reading some very positive advance reviews from "Rolling Stone" and a few other publications, my anxiety only increased. It hits it's peak when I saw that ROGER EBERT gave it 3 1/2 out of a possible 4 stars. I saw the film tonight at an 8:00 showing fully prepared sportin' my 'Pac t shirt, ticket stub in my hand, and an unmistakable grin of happiness of things to come. One word: OUTSTANDING. Afeni, Mtv, and Paramount were really, really, really seriously devoted to this project!
I don't want give anything at all away to either serious 2pac devotees or casual fans, but EVERYTHING you ever needed to know, or wanted to know about him, is presented in ACES. I rated this documentary a 9 out of 10 stars on the Imdb scale. To sum up, I really and truly believe it is an enormous shame that some people just don't understand or "get" how iconic and influential Tupac was on both the music industry and to a certain extent society as well. He was WAY, WAY more than just a "rapper", he was an IMPACT!
2PAC FOR EVER.
When I first heard about this film, I thought it was going to be another video release accounting his legacy and mystery. I had no idea that it had a theatrical release date until a few months ago. Then I started hearing the hype behind it, and really started to anticipate it strongly. I informed all my friends and anyone else who shared the same passion of 'Pac as I, of it's existence and when it was close to release. After reading some very positive advance reviews from "Rolling Stone" and a few other publications, my anxiety only increased. It hits it's peak when I saw that ROGER EBERT gave it 3 1/2 out of a possible 4 stars. I saw the film tonight at an 8:00 showing fully prepared sportin' my 'Pac t shirt, ticket stub in my hand, and an unmistakable grin of happiness of things to come. One word: OUTSTANDING. Afeni, Mtv, and Paramount were really, really, really seriously devoted to this project!
I don't want give anything at all away to either serious 2pac devotees or casual fans, but EVERYTHING you ever needed to know, or wanted to know about him, is presented in ACES. I rated this documentary a 9 out of 10 stars on the Imdb scale. To sum up, I really and truly believe it is an enormous shame that some people just don't understand or "get" how iconic and influential Tupac was on both the music industry and to a certain extent society as well. He was WAY, WAY more than just a "rapper", he was an IMPACT!
2PAC FOR EVER.
This movie resurrected Tupac Shakur
vinnienem14 February 2007
I liked the movie very much. The documentary summarized 2Pac's life. It's very informative and it educates us. You could learn a lot by watching this movie. I'm a big 2Pac fan. I've listened to his music, read his books, and watched, heard and read his interviews and speeches. He is a standout from all the other rappers I've seen and heard throughout the years. He is more than just a rapper. He is a poet, prophet, revolutionary, activist, actor, singer, intellectual, leader, orator, and artist. He is a man of many accomplishments. That's why many fans and rappers strive to be like him. But I don't think that we will ever see another one like 2Pac. There is only one 2Pac. He was so different from the rest of us. It's a shame that he was taken from this world at such a young age.
A biased but beautiful documentary about a brilliant mind
LoveCoates20 November 2003
One never knows what to expect out of rock films. Going into Tupac: Resurrection, I half expected another mediocre blaxploitation groaner. The other half expected a gushy MTVish drool-fest out to promote the soundtrack artists, including current corporate media darling 50 Cent.
Resurrection is neither. The producer is not some slick Hollywood mogul with no understanding of rap except as a source for making a quick buck. Instead, Afeni Shakur, the late rapper's mother, takes charge. As both executive producer and the dominant force in her son's short life, her personal agenda impacts every frame. Like all documentaries, this is an extremely one-sided account, and it is likely due to her input that the movie downplays the darker aspects of Pac's self-destructive downward spiral after his move to Death Row Records. Nor is the film harsh enough on Tupac's seemingly endless capacity for paranoia and irresponsibility.
Fortunately, she also makes the crucial decision not to dwell on more tired hash-rehash of so called East Coast/West Coast rap war, which the movie clarifies as less of a reality than a media event. Nor does it choose to linger on the numerous rumors and conspiracies surrounding Tupac's murder.
Shakur and director Lauren Lazin wisely decide to let Tupac's voice carry the film. Lazin wisely refrains from using the masterful, propagandistic gimmicks of a Michael Moore documentary. There are no distracting interviews or massively-edited montages. As a result, the movie has a lyrical, sacred tone. History has mystified Pac as a martyr for West Coast gangsta rap, although during his lifetime he only released one such album. Few choose to remember that Death Row was the twilight of his life, that he spent the first half-decade of his career recording in the East where he grew up. It is here that the film takes its cue.
Resurrection lays bare a magnetic, arrogant, charismatic spirit that immediately affirms why Pac remains one of rap's only true megastars. Though the film is not hard enough on how his growing obstinacy may have hastened his demise, it does not shy away from the controversy, the premonitions of death, the sex abuse conviction, and the inflated ego. The result is a well-drawn sketch of man aware of his genius but haunted by demons, a tortured soul navigating a realm more thuggish than he was at his core, a contradiction which plays as a general commentary on rap's manufactured images.
This movie's production value alone easily outclasses nearly every other cinematic work that has ever pretended to be about hip-hop. It bears little resemblance to How High or Belly or to the shameless self-promotion of the vanity project 8 Mile, which was so sanitized as to kill any revelations it might have made about its star Eminem, the most high profile rapper to yet arise. I don't understand how someone could praise 8 Mile for its beauty and honesty (it isn't) and then criticize this film.
By contrast, the sincerity of Resurrection solidifies Pac's reputation as `the only rapper that matters.' It shows why he is peerless and maybe the greatest artist the genre has yet produced: whatever can be said about his music, as an intelligent personality there is simply no one else in his class. He is so much more painfully relevant than all star rappers, and the sharpness of his observations on everything from politics to poverty leaves dust in the eyes of all his contemporaries. He represents a paradigm that has become all-too-rare in a musical form now dominated by cartoon images: a constructive rather than destructive point-of-view.
A ball of contradictions, Tupac is finally much more complex and brilliant than most people would expect. People are uninformed and uninterested in hip-hop probably will get little out of this movie. Those who know will realize that the biggest tragedy is that not that Tupac died before reaching his full potential, but that other young black men with similar sensibilities rarely reach his level of visibility. 9.5/10.
Resurrection is neither. The producer is not some slick Hollywood mogul with no understanding of rap except as a source for making a quick buck. Instead, Afeni Shakur, the late rapper's mother, takes charge. As both executive producer and the dominant force in her son's short life, her personal agenda impacts every frame. Like all documentaries, this is an extremely one-sided account, and it is likely due to her input that the movie downplays the darker aspects of Pac's self-destructive downward spiral after his move to Death Row Records. Nor is the film harsh enough on Tupac's seemingly endless capacity for paranoia and irresponsibility.
Fortunately, she also makes the crucial decision not to dwell on more tired hash-rehash of so called East Coast/West Coast rap war, which the movie clarifies as less of a reality than a media event. Nor does it choose to linger on the numerous rumors and conspiracies surrounding Tupac's murder.
Shakur and director Lauren Lazin wisely decide to let Tupac's voice carry the film. Lazin wisely refrains from using the masterful, propagandistic gimmicks of a Michael Moore documentary. There are no distracting interviews or massively-edited montages. As a result, the movie has a lyrical, sacred tone. History has mystified Pac as a martyr for West Coast gangsta rap, although during his lifetime he only released one such album. Few choose to remember that Death Row was the twilight of his life, that he spent the first half-decade of his career recording in the East where he grew up. It is here that the film takes its cue.
Resurrection lays bare a magnetic, arrogant, charismatic spirit that immediately affirms why Pac remains one of rap's only true megastars. Though the film is not hard enough on how his growing obstinacy may have hastened his demise, it does not shy away from the controversy, the premonitions of death, the sex abuse conviction, and the inflated ego. The result is a well-drawn sketch of man aware of his genius but haunted by demons, a tortured soul navigating a realm more thuggish than he was at his core, a contradiction which plays as a general commentary on rap's manufactured images.
This movie's production value alone easily outclasses nearly every other cinematic work that has ever pretended to be about hip-hop. It bears little resemblance to How High or Belly or to the shameless self-promotion of the vanity project 8 Mile, which was so sanitized as to kill any revelations it might have made about its star Eminem, the most high profile rapper to yet arise. I don't understand how someone could praise 8 Mile for its beauty and honesty (it isn't) and then criticize this film.
By contrast, the sincerity of Resurrection solidifies Pac's reputation as `the only rapper that matters.' It shows why he is peerless and maybe the greatest artist the genre has yet produced: whatever can be said about his music, as an intelligent personality there is simply no one else in his class. He is so much more painfully relevant than all star rappers, and the sharpness of his observations on everything from politics to poverty leaves dust in the eyes of all his contemporaries. He represents a paradigm that has become all-too-rare in a musical form now dominated by cartoon images: a constructive rather than destructive point-of-view.
A ball of contradictions, Tupac is finally much more complex and brilliant than most people would expect. People are uninformed and uninterested in hip-hop probably will get little out of this movie. Those who know will realize that the biggest tragedy is that not that Tupac died before reaching his full potential, but that other young black men with similar sensibilities rarely reach his level of visibility. 9.5/10.
Fascinating and tragic (***1/2)
Ronin4720 November 2003
There is no doubt that Tupac Shakur is one of the most intriguing, fascinating personalities in pop music history. He is made up of a seemingly endless list of contradictions: ruffian / nice guy, obnoxiously arrogant / sweetly humble, hedonist / activist, "gangsta" / poet. And most interesting is that none of these "sides" of him seem at all false. He really is that complicated.
Being a fan of his, especially his acting, ("GRIDLOCK'd" is one of my favorite movies) I choose to remember the admirable parts of his personality more often, but I know that he was no angel, and I'm glad that "Tupac: Resurrection" doesn't try to paint him as a hero.
Made very much in the style of last year's great documentary "The Kid Stays In The Picture" (so much so that I was surprised there is no connection), it combines seamlessly edited footage, photos that "float" around to look 3-dimensional, well-chosen music, and fluid narration to create a dreamlike and slightly eerie portrait of one person's lifetime in his own words.
Unlike "The Kid Stays In The Picture", though, in "Tupac: Resurrection" the narrator telling his life story is dead.
Tupac is the one and only narrator of this film (through an edited collection of insightful interviews), and it's a distinctly poignant and eerie experience to hear it, almost like he is, "Sunset Boulevard"-style, telling you his story from beyond the grave. Adding to the "Sunset Boulevard" feeling is that the story starts in Las Vegas where he was killed, and then rewinds to the beginning of his life. But sadly, you know it's eventually going to end up in Las Vegas again.
This is an extremely well done, gripping documentary that I highly recommend even to people who don't care for rap music. Tupac's life story is a true American tragedy, and anyone can learn from those.
Being a fan of his, especially his acting, ("GRIDLOCK'd" is one of my favorite movies) I choose to remember the admirable parts of his personality more often, but I know that he was no angel, and I'm glad that "Tupac: Resurrection" doesn't try to paint him as a hero.
Made very much in the style of last year's great documentary "The Kid Stays In The Picture" (so much so that I was surprised there is no connection), it combines seamlessly edited footage, photos that "float" around to look 3-dimensional, well-chosen music, and fluid narration to create a dreamlike and slightly eerie portrait of one person's lifetime in his own words.
Unlike "The Kid Stays In The Picture", though, in "Tupac: Resurrection" the narrator telling his life story is dead.
Tupac is the one and only narrator of this film (through an edited collection of insightful interviews), and it's a distinctly poignant and eerie experience to hear it, almost like he is, "Sunset Boulevard"-style, telling you his story from beyond the grave. Adding to the "Sunset Boulevard" feeling is that the story starts in Las Vegas where he was killed, and then rewinds to the beginning of his life. But sadly, you know it's eventually going to end up in Las Vegas again.
This is an extremely well done, gripping documentary that I highly recommend even to people who don't care for rap music. Tupac's life story is a true American tragedy, and anyone can learn from those.
A movie that will tempt you to think.
adam9308416 November 2003
I went into this movie kind of hesitant. A lot of albums have been put out after 2pacs death and all this and it seems like everyone just wants to make a quick dime off of him. Suge Knight more than anyone. But when i heard that 2pacs own mother had put this movie together I wanted to see it. So some friends of mine and I went to it. I've seen a lot of documentaries because a lot of documentaries interest me and though i completely disagreed with Bowling for Columbine it was interesting to watch. This documentary by far takes the cake. This movie was one of the deepest most heartfelt documentaries...wait i mean MOVIES ive ever seen. 2pac takes you through his life and what he's down and though it dragged a little in the beginning as he tells you about himself as a boy it picks up nicely as you're going through and you just can't help but think this man was pure genius. This movie is worth watching. Take a date, take your mom, take your dad, take your friends...take your kid sister. The message isnt about violence. Out of 4 stars I give it 3 3/4 . Beautiful Movie.
2pac and Growing up in the ghetto....
ice_man_3915 November 2003
This documentary shows everything about 2pac's life, you can really dive into his character and see how complex he is. His accomplishments during a period of 6 years (pretty much) is really inspirational. He isn't a hero, or he at least didnt have enough time to transform into one, but I think the message was quite clear: Give (black) people a chance and they can do great things. That's pretty much what this movie is about and it can be enjoyed on many levels by different races simply because of - struggle.
A Documentary Full of Facts Told Frankly by Tupac Himself!
Faisal_Flamingo26 November 2006
This is a very good documentary .. it gave me an inside closer look to a world I don't know much of. I've heard some stories about Tupac .. some myths too in my high school but I wasn't 100% convinced and sounded just like lies.
I'm not a big fan of rap. I heard some songs of Tupac, though. I don't remember his songs but I remember that I didn't like them due to the foul language with all the swearing and the excessive use of the "F" WORD!.
Anyway, that didn't mean that his life story wasn't interesting .. the movie showed me briefly the life of a controversial young man who's music was popular in many places of the world .. I'm amazed of how frank Tupac is and that he has such courage to tell his stories publicly.
Good documentary..entertaining, brief and goes right to the point!
I'm not a big fan of rap. I heard some songs of Tupac, though. I don't remember his songs but I remember that I didn't like them due to the foul language with all the swearing and the excessive use of the "F" WORD!.
Anyway, that didn't mean that his life story wasn't interesting .. the movie showed me briefly the life of a controversial young man who's music was popular in many places of the world .. I'm amazed of how frank Tupac is and that he has such courage to tell his stories publicly.
Good documentary..entertaining, brief and goes right to the point!
Interesting portrayal of the man and his struggle (if not somewhat biased)
jofitz271 April 2005
I am a fan of Tupac. Usually when rappers appear in movies they end up catastrophic (minus Friday and Boyz N The Hood) but considering there was little script and movie acting, I gave this a try. There is no doubt that Tupac was always a very intellectual and talented individual, and though he didn't piece this together, it was an interesting and thoughtful way of looking at "Thug Life".
Though there should be no excuses for any violence and such demeaning phrases used towards women, Tupac uses a relatively unseen and very interesting viewpoint. "I rap about graphic violence the for the same reason people make war movies," he states. "I'm trying to make a point. Trying to show people what the ghetto is like in reality and how not to fall into that trap." Though it sounds a little contrived, interesting viewpoints like this appear throughout the movie, and we see a lighter side to the gun toting man we're all used to hearing about. He in fact was shy, and wrote poetry. One main message is blatant and cleverly true: never judge a book by its cover.
However, the film has its weaknesses; it, though having no real voice-over apart from the man itself, seems rather biased. Apart from that, it is a thoughtful and interesting account of the hardship Tupac Sukur endured, which ultimately cost him his life.
Final Summary: 7 out of 10
Though there should be no excuses for any violence and such demeaning phrases used towards women, Tupac uses a relatively unseen and very interesting viewpoint. "I rap about graphic violence the for the same reason people make war movies," he states. "I'm trying to make a point. Trying to show people what the ghetto is like in reality and how not to fall into that trap." Though it sounds a little contrived, interesting viewpoints like this appear throughout the movie, and we see a lighter side to the gun toting man we're all used to hearing about. He in fact was shy, and wrote poetry. One main message is blatant and cleverly true: never judge a book by its cover.
However, the film has its weaknesses; it, though having no real voice-over apart from the man itself, seems rather biased. Apart from that, it is a thoughtful and interesting account of the hardship Tupac Sukur endured, which ultimately cost him his life.
Final Summary: 7 out of 10
A Fuller Picture
view_and_review20 February 2021
Documentaries, more than scripted movies, have to be about a topic you're interested in and/or people you're interested in. As much as I love documentaries, if there was a documentary about cabinet making or Kim Kardashian, I'm not wasting my time (though I'd choose cabinet making over KK anyday). So, you'd have to have at least a passing interest in Tupac to watch "Tupac: Resurrection." As for me, I was in high school and fully immersed in hip-hop when Tupac was at his zenith, so I have more than a passing interest in Tupac.
"Resurrection" pulls the curtain back. More than simply going into place of origin, important people, and important events, it goes deeper into who Tupac was in his own words. And as much as he was a controversial figure with some unflattering tendencies, he was fairly conscious. Some of that consciousness showed in songs such as "Brenda's Got a Baby," "Dear Mama," and "Keep Your Head Up." And at the same time his baser side is displayed in too many of his other songs which only means he was a flawed human being like we all are.
Unless you're a super Pac fan or a Tupac historian, "Resurrection" will give you some new information about Tupac you never knew, it will clarify things you were misinformed about, and the rest will be a refresher and a means to hear Tupac once more.
"Resurrection" pulls the curtain back. More than simply going into place of origin, important people, and important events, it goes deeper into who Tupac was in his own words. And as much as he was a controversial figure with some unflattering tendencies, he was fairly conscious. Some of that consciousness showed in songs such as "Brenda's Got a Baby," "Dear Mama," and "Keep Your Head Up." And at the same time his baser side is displayed in too many of his other songs which only means he was a flawed human being like we all are.
Unless you're a super Pac fan or a Tupac historian, "Resurrection" will give you some new information about Tupac you never knew, it will clarify things you were misinformed about, and the rest will be a refresher and a means to hear Tupac once more.
Interesting enough -- even if you don't like the central subject or his music
Pedro_H19 October 2005
The life of the rapper/actor/sex criminal Tupac Shakur - told in his own (beyond the grave) words.
The very word MTV sends shivers down my spin. The initials could be used as a by-word for superficial with its enthusiasm for everything that is popular (however dumb or irresponsible) and its sense that its audience cannot really concentrate for very long.
Boy, they must they have been shaking in their fashion casuals over asking people to keep watching for 90 minutes! However, fear not. They haven't done too badly and it is only the close involvement of his ex Black Panther/ex drug addict mother (Afem Shakur) that prevents a fair and even picture.
While the film lingers over minor matters (pratting around to the camera, etc.) no independent comment is allowed when things turn nasty. Which they often do.
The involvement of Madonna in his life is glossed over (legal problems?) --- one of the long line of plastic "bad boys" that got her all hot-and-wet before falling for some strange religion and the English countryside. She didn't even visit him in jail -- so this film says -- ha, that is women for you!
(No.1 in the Billboard charts in a high security cell - now that is something!)
I love the way dumb people justify themselves. Stupidity -- rationalisation -- stupidity -- rationalisation - round and round like a merry go round. How many rounds of this has a bullet robbed us of? God knows. At least he had an agenda (which is to make as much money and have as much fun as possible) -- which is something his blank-eyed hangers on lacked.
The film tries to fit in as much of his music -- and that of others -- it can get away wit, although it stops short (thankfully) of his full soft porn pop videos.
I love music and I love pop history and while rap ranks near enough bottom of my own personal league table -- some of it is OK. Usually the stuff with the wit to steal/sample classic pop.
Tupac predicted his own death -- so they say over and over again here. Rather like a guy that spend a lot of time in a brothel fanning himself with money predicts that sooner or later he is going to be lead away to get laid...
The very word MTV sends shivers down my spin. The initials could be used as a by-word for superficial with its enthusiasm for everything that is popular (however dumb or irresponsible) and its sense that its audience cannot really concentrate for very long.
Boy, they must they have been shaking in their fashion casuals over asking people to keep watching for 90 minutes! However, fear not. They haven't done too badly and it is only the close involvement of his ex Black Panther/ex drug addict mother (Afem Shakur) that prevents a fair and even picture.
While the film lingers over minor matters (pratting around to the camera, etc.) no independent comment is allowed when things turn nasty. Which they often do.
The involvement of Madonna in his life is glossed over (legal problems?) --- one of the long line of plastic "bad boys" that got her all hot-and-wet before falling for some strange religion and the English countryside. She didn't even visit him in jail -- so this film says -- ha, that is women for you!
(No.1 in the Billboard charts in a high security cell - now that is something!)
I love the way dumb people justify themselves. Stupidity -- rationalisation -- stupidity -- rationalisation - round and round like a merry go round. How many rounds of this has a bullet robbed us of? God knows. At least he had an agenda (which is to make as much money and have as much fun as possible) -- which is something his blank-eyed hangers on lacked.
The film tries to fit in as much of his music -- and that of others -- it can get away wit, although it stops short (thankfully) of his full soft porn pop videos.
I love music and I love pop history and while rap ranks near enough bottom of my own personal league table -- some of it is OK. Usually the stuff with the wit to steal/sample classic pop.
Tupac predicted his own death -- so they say over and over again here. Rather like a guy that spend a lot of time in a brothel fanning himself with money predicts that sooner or later he is going to be lead away to get laid...
Tupac in his own voice
SnoopyStyle3 October 2016
Famed rapper Tupac Shakur recounts his own life from the grave using old tapes of his recordings. His Black Panther leader mother was pregnant with him when she was in prison. His father was mostly absent and his stepfather was a gangster. He lived in poverty in Harlem, then Baltimore before moving out west. At times, he attended art school, made friends, and found purpose in performing. Through it all, social justice and the class struggle was never far from his mind. There is something ghostly and haunting about hearing from his voice as if from the other side. It heightens the power and he was also a very charismatic person. I'm sure plenty of his darker side was edited out but it's still a compelling portrait.
Tupac lives
chung10114 November 2003
"Tupac :Resurrection" gave me a little more insight into the mind of a gifted and at times troubled artist. However, the film felt less like a documentary and more like a compilation of most of the material that I had already seen on MTV and VH1. The problem is that the director fails to create a theme. The overuse of aerial "pretty" shots of sand dunes, Las Vegas and the clouds become less reflective and in short repetitive. Overall, as a Tupac fan I enjoyed listening to him and seeing his life given the attention it deserves.
Very biased
GHCool23 November 2003
I don't listen to rap. The only thing I knew about Tupac Shakur before I saw this movie is that he had been shot a few years ago. After seeing this movie, I understand that Tupac had a life worth making a documentary about, but I did not like the approach the filmmakers took. I really wanted to like this movie. Parts of it were really well done, but it was so biased that I cannot honestly recommend it. It was more like a commercial for Tupac's image than a documentary on his life.
Its amazing how many interviews Tupac gave in his life. We can see that he was an intelligent and affective storyteller. However, a person's life cannot be understood just by the way that person sees him or herself. A person's life also needs to be judged by other people's points of views. This could have been a great film if only the filmmakers had shown interviews with important people in Tupac's life such as his mother, his sister, his teachers in school, the artists he rapped with, his producers, etc. It was also a little difficult for a person unacquainted with Tupac's life and the world of gangsta rap music to fully understand the time line in which these events occurred.
I liked the visual style of the film though (especially that 3D effect a lot of the photographs had). Those helicopter shots in Las Vegas and of the Golden Gate Bridge were beautiful too. Overall, TUPAC: RESURRECTION is a flawed film that had a lot of potential.
My grade:
5 out of 10
Its amazing how many interviews Tupac gave in his life. We can see that he was an intelligent and affective storyteller. However, a person's life cannot be understood just by the way that person sees him or herself. A person's life also needs to be judged by other people's points of views. This could have been a great film if only the filmmakers had shown interviews with important people in Tupac's life such as his mother, his sister, his teachers in school, the artists he rapped with, his producers, etc. It was also a little difficult for a person unacquainted with Tupac's life and the world of gangsta rap music to fully understand the time line in which these events occurred.
I liked the visual style of the film though (especially that 3D effect a lot of the photographs had). Those helicopter shots in Las Vegas and of the Golden Gate Bridge were beautiful too. Overall, TUPAC: RESURRECTION is a flawed film that had a lot of potential.
My grade:
5 out of 10
compelling look into a man's life
Buddy-5118 September 2004
Gangsta' Rap artist Tupac Shakur was gunned down on the streets of Las Vegas in 1996, the end result of the life he led and the people he knew. He was 25. The documentary 'Tupac: Resurrection' takes an unusual and interesting approach to its subject, allowing the deceased singer to speak to us, as it were, directly from the grave. The film begins with him commenting on his own murder, then tracing back over the events of his life as a means of both setting the record straight and trying to make some sense out of all that happened to him in his very brief time here on earth.
The film, directed by Lauren Lazin, relies primarily on interviews Tupac gave throughout his short career, supplemented with some additional commentary from those who knew him best. Though he became a lightning rod of controversy due to both his criminal activities and his provocative (i.e. violent, sexist) lyrics, Tupac saw himself more as a 'voice of the people,' using his music as a vehicle for reaching out to and connecting with the downtrodden, impoverished blacks living in the kinds of ghettoes from which he himself sprang. However, even many well-known black leaders and spokespersons had trouble accepting Tupac's rather rose-colored definition of himself. What's most interesting about 'Tupac: Resurrection' is the dichotomy it establishes between the violence, drug use and criminal activities which played so prominent a part in Tupac's life, and the genial, reflective, almost apologetic tone of so much of what we hear him saying. It's hard to know just how much of what has found its way into this film is really raw truth and how much is sugarcoated revisionism designed to 'resurrect' and burnish a man's posthumous image and reputation. His views on women come out particularly incoherent and unresolved. Yet, 'Tupac: Resurrection' is an intriguing documentary because it gives us a glimpse not only into a strangely conflicted individual but also into the even more bizarre world of corporate thuggery he inhabited. Like many artists who have attempted to speak for the 'little people,' Tupac became a victim of his own success and celebrity, living the kind of pampered lifestyle that most of the people he was singing about would clearly never know. It's a conflict as old as art itself, and it is one that Tupac, for understandable reasons, was never able to resolve in his own life. Interestingly, however, his brutal death at the hands of murderous rivals, demonstrated that he never made it quite so far from his roots as his lavish lifestyle might otherwise have suggested.
As a document, the film traces Tupac from his early years as the child of two Black Panther members ( a pedigree that, he believes, set him on the path to social crusader early on), through his youth in poverty, his exposure to literature and drama at a performing arts high school in Baltimore, his early attempts at performing, his meteoric rise in the music industry, his years as a controversial celebrity, his burgeoning film career, his continuing battles with police, the first attempt on his life, his conviction for rape, his time in prison, and, finally, to the rivalry between his own West Coast label, Death Row Records, and the East Coast label, Bad Boy Records, which ultimately led to his untimely death. For that little bit of history alone, the film is worth watching.
As someone who knew very little about the life of Tupac - and even less about his music - before watching the movie, I found him to be both appealing and repellant, frightening and charismatic. The film leaves the audience feeling as conflicted as the subject - which is what a truly successful documentary should do after all.
The film, directed by Lauren Lazin, relies primarily on interviews Tupac gave throughout his short career, supplemented with some additional commentary from those who knew him best. Though he became a lightning rod of controversy due to both his criminal activities and his provocative (i.e. violent, sexist) lyrics, Tupac saw himself more as a 'voice of the people,' using his music as a vehicle for reaching out to and connecting with the downtrodden, impoverished blacks living in the kinds of ghettoes from which he himself sprang. However, even many well-known black leaders and spokespersons had trouble accepting Tupac's rather rose-colored definition of himself. What's most interesting about 'Tupac: Resurrection' is the dichotomy it establishes between the violence, drug use and criminal activities which played so prominent a part in Tupac's life, and the genial, reflective, almost apologetic tone of so much of what we hear him saying. It's hard to know just how much of what has found its way into this film is really raw truth and how much is sugarcoated revisionism designed to 'resurrect' and burnish a man's posthumous image and reputation. His views on women come out particularly incoherent and unresolved. Yet, 'Tupac: Resurrection' is an intriguing documentary because it gives us a glimpse not only into a strangely conflicted individual but also into the even more bizarre world of corporate thuggery he inhabited. Like many artists who have attempted to speak for the 'little people,' Tupac became a victim of his own success and celebrity, living the kind of pampered lifestyle that most of the people he was singing about would clearly never know. It's a conflict as old as art itself, and it is one that Tupac, for understandable reasons, was never able to resolve in his own life. Interestingly, however, his brutal death at the hands of murderous rivals, demonstrated that he never made it quite so far from his roots as his lavish lifestyle might otherwise have suggested.
As a document, the film traces Tupac from his early years as the child of two Black Panther members ( a pedigree that, he believes, set him on the path to social crusader early on), through his youth in poverty, his exposure to literature and drama at a performing arts high school in Baltimore, his early attempts at performing, his meteoric rise in the music industry, his years as a controversial celebrity, his burgeoning film career, his continuing battles with police, the first attempt on his life, his conviction for rape, his time in prison, and, finally, to the rivalry between his own West Coast label, Death Row Records, and the East Coast label, Bad Boy Records, which ultimately led to his untimely death. For that little bit of history alone, the film is worth watching.
As someone who knew very little about the life of Tupac - and even less about his music - before watching the movie, I found him to be both appealing and repellant, frightening and charismatic. The film leaves the audience feeling as conflicted as the subject - which is what a truly successful documentary should do after all.
When in his own words, wonderful
bubsy-317 August 2004
I'm not a "Hip Hop" fanatic but I must admit that I liked this movie a lot. Tupac was a man with a charasmatic personality and a certain charm that really is apparent in this film. But it is eerie watching a someone narrating a movie as if he had already been killed. The last Hip Hop movie I saw was the dissapointing "8 mile". Prior to that "Welcome to Death Row" which I liked a lot. But Tupac Resurrection was the best. It's sad to think that we lost one so gifted so early in his life. Even those who are not Rap fans are likely to be moved by this film and even those who are not rap fans are likely to be moved.
It all circumvents to "I don't give a f***" versus "Give me liberty or give me death"
StevePulaski17 June 2014
Tupac: Resurrection is made such a compelling documentary because rather than a documentarian detail the life, motives, and opinions of the late rap icon Tupac Shakur, old interview compilations, poetry excerpts, excerpts taken from Shakur's colorful music, and much more are played in order for him to tell his own life story despite no longer being with us. This provides for one of the most personal documentaries I have yet to see, especially considering that it would've been much easier to hire a narrator to analyze Shakur's upbringing, rise to fame, untold controversy, and his untimely death in 1996.
When Shakur died, he left us with a plethora of content, some of which had been released, some of which would later see a release on his label Death Row Records. Tupac: Resurrection even contains some seldom-heard music from the man himself, and even emphasizes on Shakur's handwritten poetry, which describes his mother, who was a devoted Black Panther, and his father - whom he didn't know until later in his life - who was also an activist for African-Americans. Growing up in an unstable home, where violence was prominent and alternate living conditions were difficult to arrange, Shakur would often emulate the behavior of characters on sitcoms like Different Strokes, which revolved around a big, happy family - something Shakur craved.
Shakur had the fortunate circumstance of being exposed to the arts and the theater when we was very young, and read and admired William Shakespeare throughout his entire life. He recognized his good fortune by seeing others in his neighborhood not even know who he was talking about when he would try to hold a conversation with them on plays, art, theater, or what-have-you. After leaving his mom's house as a teenager, Shakur looked to role models on the streets, which helped build the Shakur we know today.
The film shows Tupac as a commanding, rugged philosopher, who would always emphasize the word "thug" and his personal motto "thug life." However, the way he defined "thug" was much different than the contemporary dictionary definition of the world. Shakur states that a "thug," in his mind, is a prideful underdog - somebody who has nothing but still holds their head up and works to make something. "What's the difference between me saying, 'I don't give a f***?' and Patrick Henry saying, 'Give me liberty or give me death?,' Shakur asks.
Directly after the scenes where Shakur is defining "thug" show Shakur working in efforts to bring the East Coast/West Coast sides of the rap game together in a social gathering that served as a truce in the nineties. Shakur stands tall on stage, rapping his heart out, before imploring the people at the gathering to stop the violence and he'll continue to organize benefit concerts as a token for his appreciation.
When Shakur explains his music, however, is when he can be a deeply contradictory figure. Despite his music both equal parts powerful and empowering, Shakur's actual music and his explanations and analysis of his music frequently seemed to come at a crossroads. This isn't as big of an issue as it may seem. Shakur, despite being rugged, tough, and thuggish (the word is employed here with his definition in mind), he was also incredibly vulnerable, and his explanations of his work reflect a more sentimental or compassionate side of him that may or may not have been an afterthought. Regardless, even his perspective on certain issues makes one think more than the average rapper today. In one scene, Shakur tells us that the only reason the Vietnam War ended was because we saw the horror that took place over there; with other wars, we kind of just assumed people were dying in a beautiful, civil way When the time comes for Shakur's brief but significant career as an actor to be discussed, one can see that through his methods of preparation and focus when portraying another character that Shakur was nothing other than a method actor, or somebody that invests in and studies their character for an ample amount of time in order to perfect a role. From his memorably gritty performance as the main antagonist in the street-drama Juice to the sweeter, softer side of him shown in the film Poetic Justice, Shakur demonstrated a diverse, character-actor mentality despite being so young and impressionable in the industry.
Finally, Tupac: Resurrection looks at the controversy Shakur endured, not in the form of concerned politicians and talking heads in terms of what music their children were listening to, but how Shakur found himself wrapped up in several sexual assault cases, all of which he vehemently denied. With the aura Shakur had created about himself through his music and ideas, he proved that while you can be one of the smartest thinkers in a dangerous industry, you're still part of a very dangerous industry, which only further proved true as Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas in September 1996 in a drive-by shooting.
Tupac: Resurrection is a fantastic display of documentary filmmaking by director Lauren Lazin, who allows Shakur to discuss ideas and topics "in his own words," so the film's tagline goes, and provide us access to a great deal of exceptional content from the man himself. It is one of the strongest, most powerful music documentaries i have yet to see.
Directed by Lauren Lazin.
When Shakur died, he left us with a plethora of content, some of which had been released, some of which would later see a release on his label Death Row Records. Tupac: Resurrection even contains some seldom-heard music from the man himself, and even emphasizes on Shakur's handwritten poetry, which describes his mother, who was a devoted Black Panther, and his father - whom he didn't know until later in his life - who was also an activist for African-Americans. Growing up in an unstable home, where violence was prominent and alternate living conditions were difficult to arrange, Shakur would often emulate the behavior of characters on sitcoms like Different Strokes, which revolved around a big, happy family - something Shakur craved.
Shakur had the fortunate circumstance of being exposed to the arts and the theater when we was very young, and read and admired William Shakespeare throughout his entire life. He recognized his good fortune by seeing others in his neighborhood not even know who he was talking about when he would try to hold a conversation with them on plays, art, theater, or what-have-you. After leaving his mom's house as a teenager, Shakur looked to role models on the streets, which helped build the Shakur we know today.
The film shows Tupac as a commanding, rugged philosopher, who would always emphasize the word "thug" and his personal motto "thug life." However, the way he defined "thug" was much different than the contemporary dictionary definition of the world. Shakur states that a "thug," in his mind, is a prideful underdog - somebody who has nothing but still holds their head up and works to make something. "What's the difference between me saying, 'I don't give a f***?' and Patrick Henry saying, 'Give me liberty or give me death?,' Shakur asks.
Directly after the scenes where Shakur is defining "thug" show Shakur working in efforts to bring the East Coast/West Coast sides of the rap game together in a social gathering that served as a truce in the nineties. Shakur stands tall on stage, rapping his heart out, before imploring the people at the gathering to stop the violence and he'll continue to organize benefit concerts as a token for his appreciation.
When Shakur explains his music, however, is when he can be a deeply contradictory figure. Despite his music both equal parts powerful and empowering, Shakur's actual music and his explanations and analysis of his music frequently seemed to come at a crossroads. This isn't as big of an issue as it may seem. Shakur, despite being rugged, tough, and thuggish (the word is employed here with his definition in mind), he was also incredibly vulnerable, and his explanations of his work reflect a more sentimental or compassionate side of him that may or may not have been an afterthought. Regardless, even his perspective on certain issues makes one think more than the average rapper today. In one scene, Shakur tells us that the only reason the Vietnam War ended was because we saw the horror that took place over there; with other wars, we kind of just assumed people were dying in a beautiful, civil way When the time comes for Shakur's brief but significant career as an actor to be discussed, one can see that through his methods of preparation and focus when portraying another character that Shakur was nothing other than a method actor, or somebody that invests in and studies their character for an ample amount of time in order to perfect a role. From his memorably gritty performance as the main antagonist in the street-drama Juice to the sweeter, softer side of him shown in the film Poetic Justice, Shakur demonstrated a diverse, character-actor mentality despite being so young and impressionable in the industry.
Finally, Tupac: Resurrection looks at the controversy Shakur endured, not in the form of concerned politicians and talking heads in terms of what music their children were listening to, but how Shakur found himself wrapped up in several sexual assault cases, all of which he vehemently denied. With the aura Shakur had created about himself through his music and ideas, he proved that while you can be one of the smartest thinkers in a dangerous industry, you're still part of a very dangerous industry, which only further proved true as Shakur was shot and killed in Las Vegas in September 1996 in a drive-by shooting.
Tupac: Resurrection is a fantastic display of documentary filmmaking by director Lauren Lazin, who allows Shakur to discuss ideas and topics "in his own words," so the film's tagline goes, and provide us access to a great deal of exceptional content from the man himself. It is one of the strongest, most powerful music documentaries i have yet to see.
Directed by Lauren Lazin.
Best Movie of the Year!!!
poo_catt12 November 2003
I saw this movie last night and it was great! It didn't depict Tupac in a goody two shoes way but it did show me what I've always known, That Pac was the Mutherfreakin truth!!! He told us during the film that he makes mistakes. And sometimes his mouth is too big and that he can sometimes be arrogant. However, the good parts about him seem to outweigh the bad ones. And he really got to talk about being a Gemini and how we have two sides to us. A lot of folks don't understand Gemini's and think we're complex.
Although I got to see it for free last night i'm definately going to go back to support it when it hits theaters on Friday. It told me a lot of stuff about Pac and even about the Biggie situation that you would have never known if you left it up to VH1, MTV, or even BET. I recommend you go and check this out if you're a fan or even if you are interested in seeing an intelligent person speak. This was the best movie I've seen all year long.
Although I got to see it for free last night i'm definately going to go back to support it when it hits theaters on Friday. It told me a lot of stuff about Pac and even about the Biggie situation that you would have never known if you left it up to VH1, MTV, or even BET. I recommend you go and check this out if you're a fan or even if you are interested in seeing an intelligent person speak. This was the best movie I've seen all year long.
Best documentary since 'Bowling for Columbine'
Dolomite-516 November 2003
An incredible look into the life of a complex artist. This movie exposes a side of Tupac that the casual mainstream American never sees. If you watch this movie and still dismiss Tupac as merely another thug, consider yourself too narrow-minded and/or racist.
Good documentary
bgar-809328 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Tupac was a super interesting guy for many reasons and this explored them. He was uber talented as he died at 25 and had all those great songs anyways, he was violent, he was well spoken and intelligent, and at times he'd call for peace. He was a bit of a contradiction between his words and actions at times I believe because how impulsive and mad he would get. He was very sensitive. Thing is I've been somewhat obsessed about Tupac for a long time. I feel he's one of the greatest talents we lost way too soon so I've seen most of these interviews and I know basically all the highlights of his life. It was still a good documentary though and the end about got me in tears.
It is recommended to all!!!!
exxotiqgirl20 November 2003
One of the best movies of the year. I was never a big Tupac fan but this film will appeal to anybody who is even remotely interested in the impact and importance of hip hop and the cultural significance of Tupac Shakur. Furthermore the film is a lesson on the most important racial and economic issues of our time. It is recommended to all!!!!
No stranger to poverty and suffering
eminkl21 November 2019
"I had no police record until I had a record," says Tupac Shakur in this revealing documentary, which the rapper himself ingeniously narrated using interviews recorded shortly before his death in 1996. Made in collaboration with Shakur's mother Afeni, Tupac: Resurrection is an undeniably one-sided affair that celebrates its subject slavishly with an idolatry-bounding fervor. But even when viewed through rose-tinted specs, Tupac emerges as a bright, perceptive individual whose assassination has robbed us all of a bold and uncompromising talent.
Tupac
luv307617 May 2005
I am a big fan of Tupac he made his movie Tupac resurrection on my B-day i love his movie's their really great i vote a 10 because i fill the heart inside for Tupac. He was a great movie maker and i hope that everyone likes his movies and they fill inside their hearts to vote a 10 or at least a 5-10 well i hope that he gets the highest vote and i really can't believe that this all happened to Tupac he was a great person and some day the love one's of Tupac will all be with him again in heaven cause that's where i believe that Tupac is right now smiling down watching all of us every move we make he is watching us all so before i go i just wan't to say is god bless all the loved ones of Tupac and he shall rest in peace with others!
Good but not the one that will inform you enough about 1994-1996
kcskoul6 October 2020
Great way ti learn about Tupac's life. The only problem was that in the entire documentary we weren't informed enough about him being shot in 1994, his rivalry with Biggie and even about his shooting in 1996. In fact, the shooting in 1996, the incidents and the information about the whole thing from this particular documentary lasted only about 3-5 minutes. I guarantee that people would prefer to know way more about his west side vs east side involvement.
strange
beef_and_broccoli10 July 2005
We have this guy talking about the death of Tupac being more than a death of "smart black man". Then another guy comparing Tupac to the religious founders of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism. Then we have Left Eye saying that she totally agrees with Tupac whom she said decided to die from his wounds because "obviously there is life after death". This goes on and on and on with catchy expressions, "you know what I mean?", linked to catchy expressions, "you know what I mean?", and linked to other catchy expressions, "you know what I mean?". No, I hardly know what you mean because all I hear is a bunch of words and concepts with no clarity.
I think they were all high on something. This movie sucked so bad. I've watched a lot of documentaries and this is probably the worst ever. The sound quality is just bass, bass, and more bass; hello, if you don't have treble, the sound of speech just sounds like mumblings which is what happened here. I'm glad I saw it on DVD instead of actually paying money to see it in a theatre.
I think they were all high on something. This movie sucked so bad. I've watched a lot of documentaries and this is probably the worst ever. The sound quality is just bass, bass, and more bass; hello, if you don't have treble, the sound of speech just sounds like mumblings which is what happened here. I'm glad I saw it on DVD instead of actually paying money to see it in a theatre.
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