November 27, 2002
Spike-O-Rama
My Next Three DVDs to Watch (courtesy of the New York Public Library system):
1. Bamboozled — Powerful, but as usual, Spike fucked up the ending and Americans just don't get satire.
2. Do The Right Thing — Spike's best, IMMHO!
3. Clockers — The introduction of Mekhi Phifer, a mixed blessing.
{that's if the lazy bums at the library can find and then notify me of the availabity of the above in a reasonable amount of time}
UPDATE: Bonus Spike
Posted by ronn at November 27, 2002 01:58 AM
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Remember my plans to watch a few Spike Lee movies on DVD? Well forget it. I just wanted to inform [Read More]
Tracked on January 6, 2003 11:27 AM
I would amend #1 to say Spike's
target audience doesn't get satire. There are plenty of folks, like myself, who
do get it (I no longer consider myself a part of Spike Lee's target audience).
Besides,
good satire is an art form. I'm not convinced Spike has developed his use of dialogue or subtlely to pull it off.
Subtlety, or it's lack thereof, is really the problem. He likes to beat you over the head with a hammer to get the point across.
And he doesn't know how to end a story. At least not in a satisfying way.
j. & Jason:
Bingo! Spike has never learned to be a
quiet director. His in-your-face style unfortunately shows up on the screen. Witness the difference in the two movies he didn't script
Clockers, and
Girl 6. Now the latter was a bit over-the-top, but quiet in its own way.
I'm very intrigued by the upcoming one though, 25th hour. I think he does a real good job with material he doesn't write.
I like Clockers and Malcolm X. The structure of the films work because he has a framework to run with.
And School Daze is underrated.
Maaaaan, it is WILD over here ... I love it! LOL Are you a news/entertainment reporter? Jus' wondering. Happy Thanksgiving! :o)
Jason:
I haven't heard a word about the upcoming movie. However, I'm intrigued by any movie he's doing. In fact, I anxiously await anything by a Black director, ghetto cinema excluded.
Diamond Diva:
Thanksgiving Greetings to you. I
wish I were a reporter (or at least paid for all of the eNews I
report on).
Damn, Jason. I completely agree with your sentiments about
Clockers,
Malcolm X and
School Daze. Eerie.
I liked Malcolm X and Clockers as well.
Spike took a new direction with Clockers I thought. He plunged the audience into the reality of the inner city with a raw documentary-like cinematography.
One down, two (or more) to go. I actually have an improved opinion about
Bamboozled after rewatching it Wednesday night. While I still think Spike tried to convey his message by hitting us over the head, it would have been a great movie w/o the heavy-handedness of the ending. Damon Wayans could have stretched as an actor also, but that would have been asking for too much.
Next up should be
Do the Right Thing. I'm thinking about rereading the
book as well.
School Daze was my favorite movie for a long time. i enjoy Spike's movies. all movies are putting some type of message out there, if we look for them.
just found your site. i know i will like it here.
DivineJoy: Welcome and I hope I can meet your expectations. While all movies have a message, Spike too often resorts to conveying his utilizing a sledge hammer. Sublety is a good thang!
Antonio: School Daze is wack!, [sarcastic voice]IMMHO[/sarcastic voice].
[laughs]I'll pretend like you didn't say that ...
OK Antonio (& the rest), I'm going to add
School Daze to my queue and give it another shot. Picking up
Do the Right Thing today and will watch it a couple of times over the weekend. I'm especially excited to see the included documentary,
The Making of Do the Right Thing.