Rating: 
Summary: Well-Done, but not as effective as it should be.
Review: Spike Lee is one of our greatest directors who has sizzled the screen with great films like "Do The Right Thing," "He Got Game" and the riveting epic, "Malcolm X." "Summer Of Sam" is another good movie delivered by the voice of the African-American in Hollywood, but it leaves you a little disappointed. It shifted me through many angles. First, it's exhilarating and interesting, then it slows down and drags on, then it gets good again. The problem here is two things: The writing and editing. For a screenplay that went through three writers (including Lee), it seems like a first draft, it doesn't keep the interest up like it should. Maybe "Summer Of Sam" would have been an even greater film had there been a re-edit, some scenes seem to go on too long. Even the profanity gets boring since it seems to be in every sentence. Still, I must be clear, this is a good and convincing movie. Maybe it doesn't keep your interest on fire, but it still manages to show talent. The cinematography is feverish and hyper, the disco-club scenes are electric and exhilarating. John Leguizamo and Mira Sorvino give great performances that manage to keep us believing the characters. The soundtrack sizzles off the screen and adds more mood to great scenes. But "Summer Of Sam" seems a little too lame to follow Lee's "He Got Game," which was exciting, interesting and moving from beginning to end.
Rating: 
Summary: What was Spike Lee thinking?
Review: I am in disbelief at what the other reviewers have written. Perhaps we watched different films? This has to be one of the worst films I have ever seen. I was thoroughly disappointed, especially since this is a Spike Lee film. While the actors gave stellar performances, you can only do so much with so little. Adrien Brody was excellent playing the only character of any depth. Every stereotype, good or bad, of a NY'er and/or an Italian is depicted in this film. It does nothing to shatter the image, it perpetuates and exaggerates it. For example, if I had a dime for everytime the F-word was used, I could retire at 25. This movie is disjointed and the characters are unsympathetic. The plot does not involve the audience and seemingly goes nowhere. My greatest concern through the movie was not about the characters and what will happen next, but wondering when will this movie end? It just kept going and going, with no end in sight. The only saving grace was Spike Lee's paper cut-out portrayal of a local New York news figure, John Jeffries- a caricature of real life John Johnson of ABC. As a Long Islander, I enjoyed that trip down memory lane, but even that couldn't outweigh how bad this movie was. I am sorry I gave up 140 minutes of my life for this drivel.
Rating: 
Summary: Now I know....
Review: this is wonderful movie... I can not believe how much i got into it...I think I am just afraid, i don't know, i don't want to feel my heart broken by seeing my love with another man. This movie just made me realize how much I love my LOVE, wow, the actor made the movie so intense, that i can't stop thinking about the movie.. expecifically that part where she had sex with another man and woman.wow, wow, wow, wow. Now i know why I did not think about having a career that has something to do with making a movie because i love movies so much that i don't want to lose the magic movies like this one brings to my life.
Rating:
Summary: What a Piece of Junk
Review: It seems that the other reviewers are afraid to "dis" the great Spike Lee. This was the most boring movie I've seen in a long, long time. The gratuitous sex scenes bordered on porno. And how about that great acting by Spike? What a piece of garbage. It gets one star only because zero was not an option.
Rating:
Summary: Summer of Excellence
Review: Spike Lee is like fine wine, he keeps getting better with age. This is a departure from his usual work, and shows that he is one of America's most versatile directors. Acting is fantastic all around, as is the story and film-making. You feel the pain, excitement and heat of the era. Keep 'em coming, Spike.
Rating: 
Summary: Summer Of Sam Spike Lee Quality
Review: Another quality effort by Spike Lee as well as performance by John Leguizamo Story is easy to follow woven through the lives of films characters. Cinematography/closeups excellent and documents a slice of New York City history through Spike Lee's interpretation. Utilization of soundtrack both forefront and in the background adds definition of the year and time. Mira Sorvino brings class to the film in another good performance. I've become more of a Spike Lee fan with each film.
Rating:
Summary: I DONT THINK SPIKE LEE IS CAPABLE OF MAKING A BAD MOVIE!
Review: summer of sam was excellent, the subject matter here is very brutal, and in your face. spike does not hold back at all, but also taking a serious subject matter, he also throws in humor, race issues, gay issues, this movie is so much more than the story of the serial killer, its a story of alot of things, and set in the 70's with great music, how can u go wrong with this gem. it was refreshing to see spike step out of the norm, by using a white cast, just something different, also check out the other films this man has made, like jungle fever, i cannot believe it won no awards at oscar time.
Rating:
Summary: unfufilled potential
Review: I wanted to like this movie, but somehow couldn't. As someone who was in the city around this time, saw the rise of punk, the deathrows of disco, and lived through the paranoia I recognize a great many things in the movie. But while this may make for a great walk down memory lane it just doesn't work as a story. For one thing most of the characters in the movie are so pathetic they can't hold your interest past the first ten minutes of the film. They are cardboard cutouts, not real people, like the guests of Jerry Springer timewarped back to the disco era. We never see the effects of the Berkowitz slayings on the average person, always through the eyes of a bunch of misfits. The problem is that these people are so screwed up apart from events that they don't add to the subject at hand. They'd have been out of control during the "Summer of Love", or any other time. Most of the people of the city are invisible, unless they are being shot by Sam, in which case they dutifuly die in gory manner. In addition Spike Lee would have done well not to interject himself into the film, as his reporter on the street bit just doesn't work. The news clips seem inserted too deliberately, and as a result were for the most part annoying. The camera work is as dishelveled as the characters, alternating between the too intimate dialogue and the frenetic madness of SOS with a hamhandedness which I find astonishing in a director of this experience. What it most reminded me of is the TV show "Homicide", that is, it was derivative. So if you are interested in seeing a few of the old cultural markers of the era, such as the swingers club "Plato's Retreat", Studio 54, and CBGB indulge yourself. If you want a insightful view into the pysche of the city during this period look elsewhere. This could have been a great film, owing to the subject matter, instead it is only mildly interesting.
Rating:
Summary: One of my al time favorites!
Review: I saw the movie in theaters and thouroughly enjoyed it! The incorporation of the music into the plot is wonderful and adds to the film's overall excellence. I pre-purchased this DVD and have been waiting impatiently for it to ship! I also purchased the soundtrack, when it was released, which is a great survey of the music from that time.
Rating:
Summary: Very good Spike Lee and cast members are brilliant
Review: Spike Lee has another hit. Mira Sorvino, John Leguizamo and Adrian Brody are very convicing! The story is very intreging and the script is believable. One of the best movies if not the best movie ever.
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