- Actors: Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, June Kyoto Lu, Toshi Toda, Samuel L. Jackson
- Directors: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes, The Hughes Brothers
- Writers: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes, Tyger Williams
- Producers: Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 18
- Studio: Eiv
- DVD Release Date: 5 July 2004
- Run Time: 97 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00023JHMW
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,646 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Tyrin Turner may not have broken out into stardom as was initially expected, but his work in Menace II Society is one of the more powerful cinematic debuts. The film, from the brother writer-director team of Allen and Albert Hughes, chronicles life in the Los Angeles 'hood. Similar territory was covered in the equally commanding Boyz N the Hood, but what makes this cautionary tale stand out is not only the Hughes brothers' forceful story, (written with their friend, Tyger Williams) and direction, but the naturalness of then-newcomer leads Turner as Caine, Larenz Tate as O-Dog, and Jada Pinkett as Ronnie. They are so credible--occasionally frighteningly so--that the repressive universe of violent ghetto life is captured effectively. Life as portrayed here-and no doubt accurately so--is both figuratively and literally narrow. As a very young boy, Caine witnesses his dad murdered over something inconsequential, and his mom OD. His is a world where respect comes from intimidation, power from violence. Despite his understanding of right and wrong (values passed on by a good friend, his kind grandparents, a caring teacher), his life and its entrapments are too much to overcome. --N.F. Mendoza
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I thought this film was brilliant. I had seen Boyz in the Hood and was a bit disappointed with it, someone recommended this one and it was great. The characters are all so real, and it's surprisingly realistic. You see the main character Cain struggling over what's right and wrong, and the ending really makes you think that life doesn't always turn out okay in the end. I would definitely recommend this.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
The Hughes Brothers film about civil unrest in the burbs of LA has often been slated for being too violent - and encouraging violence, but this has to be one of the best films about violence in LA and Western America.
Caine is the storyteller here, and racontes the story of his life, from a dangerous childhood, to a fully armed killer in his later years. He's not really helped by the fact his parents were into the game too, his mum a drug user, his father a gangster. It doesn't stop there; Caine is hanging out with a nasty piece of work - O-Dog, who's insane and doesn't really care about human life. This is their ups and downs in society, and after killing a Korean shopkeeper, the boys have to decide whether it's all good, or whether they should leave the game.
This is an excellent portrayal from the Hughes siblings, with the help of Tyger Williams. Both Tyrin Turner and Larenz Tate were really good in this, even though they were freshmen to cinema. Samuel L Jackson was superb in this too as Caine's father - and made a direct impact. The film is violent, but stays relevant to it's plight; uncovering LA gang violence - and is nothing like Colors and New Jack City, but rather more concise and harder hitting. It's quite amazing that two music video producers did such good work, the camera work is professional and like a pro's work. They have cited Scorsese as their influence, and Goodfellas, and you can see why - this is an interesting and relevant piece of work.
This Blu doesn't let the side down either, the picture and sound are glorious - lovely bass on the soundtrack as the beats kick in. The colours are vivid and make the best of the footage, it actually felt like I was in a cinema watching this. The extras are good too, the making of not too boring, with plenty of discussion from the brothers and some snippits from both Turner and Tate. The interview with Allen and Albert is interesting too, I was amazed to hear they didn't like going out much after they made Menace II Society. This Blu-Ray has just enough extras to make it worth the time upgrading to, and the quality is present too, which is a big boost to this item.
Worth a look, especially if you like Goodfellas, Colors and New Jack City.
Recommended.
Caine is the storyteller here, and racontes the story of his life, from a dangerous childhood, to a fully armed killer in his later years. He's not really helped by the fact his parents were into the game too, his mum a drug user, his father a gangster. It doesn't stop there; Caine is hanging out with a nasty piece of work - O-Dog, who's insane and doesn't really care about human life. This is their ups and downs in society, and after killing a Korean shopkeeper, the boys have to decide whether it's all good, or whether they should leave the game.
This is an excellent portrayal from the Hughes siblings, with the help of Tyger Williams. Both Tyrin Turner and Larenz Tate were really good in this, even though they were freshmen to cinema. Samuel L Jackson was superb in this too as Caine's father - and made a direct impact. The film is violent, but stays relevant to it's plight; uncovering LA gang violence - and is nothing like Colors and New Jack City, but rather more concise and harder hitting. It's quite amazing that two music video producers did such good work, the camera work is professional and like a pro's work. They have cited Scorsese as their influence, and Goodfellas, and you can see why - this is an interesting and relevant piece of work.
This Blu doesn't let the side down either, the picture and sound are glorious - lovely bass on the soundtrack as the beats kick in. The colours are vivid and make the best of the footage, it actually felt like I was in a cinema watching this. The extras are good too, the making of not too boring, with plenty of discussion from the brothers and some snippits from both Turner and Tate. The interview with Allen and Albert is interesting too, I was amazed to hear they didn't like going out much after they made Menace II Society. This Blu-Ray has just enough extras to make it worth the time upgrading to, and the quality is present too, which is a big boost to this item.
Worth a look, especially if you like Goodfellas, Colors and New Jack City.
Recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
I thought killing those fools would make me feel good, but it really didn't make me feel anything.
13 July 2011
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The directorial debut of twin brothers Albert and Allen Hughes, Menace II Society is a tough, no nonsense look at youthful black life in the Watts section of Los Angeles. The Hughes Brother's movie charts the hapless life of Caine {Tyrin Turner} as he seeks to escape the ghetto. The son of both a drug dealer {Samuel L. Jackson in a potent appearance} and an addict, Tyrin, surrounded by guns and a machismo culture, is tied to his friends and the way of life afforded him. Even as love and a chance of a way out arises with Jada Pinkett's pretty Ronnie, it's doubtful if Tyrin will escape from the revolving door of death.
Menace II Society had a troubled beginning, refused a video certificate on the grounds of its profane language and brutally violent scenes, it has since gone on to be viewed as one of the finer exponents of anti-violence involving Black Americans. That wasn't always the case tho, many critics in the 90s were prone to calling it a film that glamorises the lifestyle of "Hood" gangsters, but offered a saver of sorts by correctly saying it had realism in amongst the harshness. Certainly the dialogue and regional slang was refreshing to hear, thus affording "Menace" and its makers praise for keeping it real, so to speak.
Ineviatbly comparisons were {are} drawn with John Singleton's 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood. But although "Menace" is rawer, uncompromising and more visceral with impact, it lacks the intelligence of Singleton's film. Where "Boyz" had fully rounded characters, character with which to hang your hat on to, "Menace" is just a social group of youths we neither know or care outside of the group, ego driven dynamic. When lead protagonist Tyrin is trying to deal with his confliction, we the audience are treated to standard run of the mill melodrama. The streetwise edginess that the Hughes' began their film with {the opening is nigh on horrific} has long since gone as they try to make a film that touches all the bases of Black Americana.
Easily the most realistic of all the ghetto films made, in fact the film at times feels like we are on a documentary drive around downtown Watts. Menace II Society, however brutal it clearly is, has loaded the gun and shot the bullet, only to see it narrowly miss the whole target it was aiming for. Still one hell of an experience tho. 7/10
Menace II Society had a troubled beginning, refused a video certificate on the grounds of its profane language and brutally violent scenes, it has since gone on to be viewed as one of the finer exponents of anti-violence involving Black Americans. That wasn't always the case tho, many critics in the 90s were prone to calling it a film that glamorises the lifestyle of "Hood" gangsters, but offered a saver of sorts by correctly saying it had realism in amongst the harshness. Certainly the dialogue and regional slang was refreshing to hear, thus affording "Menace" and its makers praise for keeping it real, so to speak.
Ineviatbly comparisons were {are} drawn with John Singleton's 1991 film, Boyz n the Hood. But although "Menace" is rawer, uncompromising and more visceral with impact, it lacks the intelligence of Singleton's film. Where "Boyz" had fully rounded characters, character with which to hang your hat on to, "Menace" is just a social group of youths we neither know or care outside of the group, ego driven dynamic. When lead protagonist Tyrin is trying to deal with his confliction, we the audience are treated to standard run of the mill melodrama. The streetwise edginess that the Hughes' began their film with {the opening is nigh on horrific} has long since gone as they try to make a film that touches all the bases of Black Americana.
Easily the most realistic of all the ghetto films made, in fact the film at times feels like we are on a documentary drive around downtown Watts. Menace II Society, however brutal it clearly is, has loaded the gun and shot the bullet, only to see it narrowly miss the whole target it was aiming for. Still one hell of an experience tho. 7/10
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Menace Is Society
This movie is an extremely important statement, not just about young Blacks growing up in the gang crime 'ghettos' of LA, but more importantly the social, economic and cultural... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. M. Hetep
Andy
Terrific film, one of my favourites, brilliant acting, a real look at how american 'gang bangers' act, a must see for any gangster film
Published 14 months ago by Andy
Classic
This film is a classic. and I have this film removed from the shelf and placed in a drawer. that is how much I treasure it
Published 16 months ago by Richie Rich
Great Movie "Genius"
I used to own this movie on VHS and i just watched it for the 1st time in a long time in a friends house on DVD, the reason why im on here RE-PURCHASING IT !!! Read more
Published 22 months ago by Scott Mackay
really good
this film is a must watch if you into them ghetto hood films from america powerful and sometimes funny if you buy this you won't be dissaponted trust me
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by liamkearns
"It's right there in the Bible, Exodus 20:13: '"Thou shall not kill."
Pop this movie just the other night and it turns out this is still an incredible movie. Larenz Tate is indeed a fine actor. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2007 by Jenny J.J.I.
Never A Dull Moment
Possibly my favourite movie of all time.. or at least one of them definitley.. I would never hesitate to reccommend this move to anyone looking for an action packed movie that... Read more
Published on 30 May 2006 by Jay-P
A hard-hitting drama to remember for a long time to come!
Originally released in 1993, Menace to society was, i am led to believe, nearly banned for it's brutal portrail of growing up in a bad area and around bad people. Read more
Published on 3 July 2004
MENACE II SOCIETY
you might be thinkin that these reviews are a waste of time but im tellin u this is the real deal, i hav never seen a film that is more brilliant than this, this truely is one film... Read more
Published on 21 Nov 2003 by kash
Top Class!
This film is an unmissable story of the life of two lads in South Central LA, creating a vivid dipiction of what I, having never been there, would imagine life in the ghetto to be... Read more
Published on 26 May 2003 by "andrew2_1ftm"
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