Current Events > Just watched "Menace II Society" and I don't really get it

(+) Yeah! (+)

Seriously, what was the point of this movie? I know the original goal was to make us all feel sorry for the main character because he's DEFINITELY just a product of his environment and has no accountability for his actions, but literally every character in this film is awful. Just absolutely terrible.

It opens with this dude "O-Dog" killing a guy because he says something he doesn't like. Then he takes a tape of the footage and shows it to all his friends throughout the film. He's meant to be the funny character; he never gets caught, and he faces no repurcussions.

The main guy is also a really bad human being. Murders people, gets a girl pregnant then leaves her, just a total dog. The description on Netflix says it's about a black youth trying to turn his life around, but it's actually just about a thug being a thug, and we're supposed to feel sorry for him when he gets his ass shot at the end.

There's only one really notable scene: He gets pulled over by some cops who "profiled" him, and it becomes this whole racial thing, until you realize that he was driving a stolen car. They make this huge deal about how cops pull over black youths, but the guy stole the goddamned car and was driving around in it. He also robbed another black guy earlier in the day. The other dude's like "lol why are we robbing and killing each other" or something and he doesn't give a shit, takes the money and beats his "brother" up.

I watched it not too long ago too. I thought it was just fine but I definitely had issues with it.
I like to think of it as a mix between Trainspotting and Kids (yes, it predates both of those movies but for the sake of comparison).

Trainspotting in the sense that the movie didn't have a real traditional plot and stuff just happens. And Kids because the movie is suppose to play up just how bad the world they live in is and how despicable everyone seems to be.
Unlike both of those movies, it doesn't have the aspect that make those things work. Just the negatives.

Trainspotting works because the characters are layered and likable (even though they aren't the best people), so with that it was strong enough to hold up the movie's lack of plot structure. And Kids (mostly) work because there's a clear narrative that the characters are working towards.
In MIIS the characters, while convincing and we'll acted, they were written to be so one note with very little growth with a very unclear narrative. The only character I somewhat liked that I felt had some layers to him was the kid that converted to Muslim.
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I cant fully watch it. That thug with the curly hairs pisses me off.
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I love the master p song in that movie

Uhhhhhhh
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The scene where he's stomping that guy out is unintentionally hilarious.
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Another_Voice posted...

literally every character in this film is awful. Just absolutely terrible.

I guess Sharif doesnt exist. Or his dad. Or Ronnie......

Are you white, by any chance?
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Conception616 posted...

Another_Voice posted...

literally every character in this film is awful. Just absolutely terrible.

I guess Sharif doesnt exist. Or his dad. Or Ronnie......

Shariff was probably my favorite character. He was the only one I felt like had any real depth to him. Though, him and his father were pretty vocal about their dislike towards White people. But I like that about them. They're not 100% good people because no one actually is but they still have likable traits.

Meanwhile, Ronnie was cool but she was a terrible mother who, despite all of the dumb shit they get themselves in, allows her child to be around Caine and his friends and be influenced by them.

The only characters who are really 100% good are Caine's grandparents.

Are you white, by any chance?

Now that's just unnecessary.
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Conception616 posted...

Are you white, by any chance?

lol
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BignutzisBack posted...

Conception616 posted...

Are you white, by any chance?

lol

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Its literally the other side of the coin from Boyz in the Hood. It really is like that in the deep ghetto. Its not that far off even if they take a few liberties.

KlRBEH posted...

BignutzisBack posted...

Conception616 posted...

Are you white, by any chance?

lol

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This movie was definitely a bad movie. They made it not really for moral teaching but was to cash grab it from Black people.

I hate to say this but a better movie of this genre would be Tyrese's Baby Boy.
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Veggeta X posted...

This movie was definitely a bad movie. They made it not really for moral teaching but was to cash grab it from Black people.

82% tomato rating. 4/4* from Ebert. Your opinion is pretty irrelevant.

Everyone I knew growing up held this movie in the highest possible regard. You dont have to have wholesome protagonists to have a great movie.
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