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ehlenahunter
Reviews
The Crush (1993)
I Liked It!
After all these years, who doesn't know the premise of this movie? It's about a mentally unstable 14-year-old who becomes obsessed with a grown man renting a room on her parents property. She even goes so far as to try to ruin his career, life, and freedom when he doesn't return her advances.
I saw this movie many years ago and I liked it. In fact, all these years later I can see where this movie set a precedence for other teenage "obsession" movies within this genre. But, oh yes, there is a BUT. After viewing it all these years later, I can safely say that Nick (Cary Elwes) did indeed lead Adrian on. As a grown man, he did some inappropriate things that put him in this position with Adrian. That's not to say that she still wouldn't have become mentally unhinged, but his relationship with her was far from amicable from the beginning. The constant leering at her in her bikini, following her on the balcony and flirting with her, taking her on moonlit drives at night, kissing her under the lighthouse, and sneaking into her parents house without making his presence known and peeping at her through her closet door. Granted, I know he was looking for some items he thought she stole, but still. None of that makes Nick come out of this clean, in my opinion.
Did he deserve what he got? I think so! All besides the rape allegations. I saw that coming a mile away, and he should have too, which is why he should have known that all personal contact with a female minor should have been kept to a minimum.
All in all, I did like this movie, and I did like Alicia Silverstone in it. It's just too bad she didn't get a chance to take her career further. What ever happened to her anyway?
All Eyez on Me (2017)
Good Movie!
Since people seem so determined to vote down anybody who has anything GOOD to say about this movie. Let me just say that Biopics never live up to everyone's expectations anyway. Either you love the movie, or you hated it, there usually is no middle ground.
Honestly, there rarely is a Biopic made where everything is perfect. Believe it or not, Eazy E's son hated that he didn't get to play his father like Ice Cube's son did in Straight Outta Compton, and they completely omitted Michel'le's supporting role in NWA's success all together, which is why she told her own story. My point? That movie wasn't perfect either since people keep making comparisons.
The same thing happened with Notorious because Lil Kim HATED the way she was portrayed, and didn't care for the actress who played her. Pretty much the same way Jada Pinkett-Smith didn't like the way her story was told in this movie.
All I have to say is... GET OVER IT! It's Hollywood's version, so don't expect perfection. And given how many people Will Smith has portrayed from legends like Muhammad Ali, to Chris Gardner, to Dr. Bennett Omalu, she should understand more than anybody what Demetrius Shipp Jr. was going up against by taking on this role. As usual, I think she needs to shut the hell up as someone else stated.
Secondly, it's obvious who the new fans are compared to the old ones. I just finished reading John Singleton's ideas for this movie and was mortified. I don't see how he, or anybody else, would think it's a good idea to tarnish Pac and his mother's legacy with visions of prison rape and crack-induced bi-sexual group sex in front of her child. Why are these people in Hollywood so determined to destroy images of Black leaders, heroes, and crusaders with homosexual acts and other degrading filth? A lot of people still haven't caught on to that Hollywood agenda yet, although a few have.
John Singleton wanted to turn this movie into a pile of nasty, smutty, trash by claiming that Afeni Shakur approved of it. The issue with that is that Ms. Shakur isn't exactly here to confirm nor deny the validity of those statements, now is she?
Was this movie perfect? NO! However, it was a good movie considering the subject. Let's be clear, Tupac is way too complex of a human being to shove into an hour and a half. His personality was so multi- faceted not making this an easy story to tell. In order to completely tell his story, it would have needed to be done in movie series format, or told in segments like the New Edition story. However, for a full length movie that they wanted in theaters, it told a decent story. Tupac was from the streets and witnessed the turmoil there that the young Black males struggled with, which only confirmed the stories of inequalities, disparities, and injustices that his mother warned him about as a child, which shaped his mind into the legend that he eventually became. Tupac was the people's champion, if you don't believe that, then you have no clue who this mas was. To accomplish what he did at only 25, and the legacy he left behind, was nothing short of amazing.
Tupac did not just rap about the streets, he said the things that the Criminal Justice System and the politicians DIDN'T want the people to know about. That's why people have always said that an educated Black man is their WORST NIGHTMARE. Think about Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, and practically every strong Black intelligent male that ever had a story to tell. They all were executed!!
Tupac was not the common bubble-gum rapper, or street-thug. That honor goes to these flashy wannabes that have unsuccessfully tried to be like him over the last two decades, but nobody has captured half of his swag or charisma. That's what makes Demetrius Shipp Jr. great in this role whether he gets the credit or not.
Tupac was not only a rapper, he was an actor, who played a psychopath in Juice, and very convincingly, I might add. Probably because he saw so much of himself in Bishop's character. I think that's why it was so important that his role in Juice not be overlooked in this movie.
In addition to being an actor, he was a poet and writer who wrote things so deep that his writings are still being studied today in Ivy League universities. How many rappers can say that?
He was an activist and humanitarian. Look up Joshua's Dream! How many rappers can say they have ever cared that much about their fans?
I could go on and on all day long about everything this man contributed to this world, but all some people will only see is somebody reckless who died way to soon. Never mind the fact that he was also a prophet that predicted that this is the way things would be, and that he would never being fully appreciated until he died, which is sad but true for a lot of artists. The only way people fully get to know them, and what they were truly all about is after they're gone. Think about Michael Jackson and Prince. I know Prince has a movie somewhere out there just waiting to be made.
All in all, this movie was a decent effort. I liked what they were trying to do with the movie. If you were expecting perfection, you're not going to get it here, but you will or SHOULD gain a new appreciation for Tupac. I think I agree with The Game's opinion on this movie. Don't know what he said? Look it up! He has a message for the people criticizing on behalf of Tupac.
I couldn't have said it any better!!!