Malcolm X

Rating:
Summary: We wuz robbed.......
Review: which was how Spike Lee was quoted after Denzel didn't win the Oscar for best Actor of that year. I agree, and when you consider that Denzel did win a Oscar for Training Day. you have to wonder what denotes a great performance. This is a MUST-SEE film for people who a)Think that all Malcolm X represented was violence, a history of drug Dealing, ex-con b) That think that people can't change and c) the power of education. It is a long film, but didn't feel that way to me(I saw it twice at the cinema, and was moved to tears on both ocassions) Spike's Best film to date, which so far he has not surpassed.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Born of trouble, snubbed by the Oscars and faded from memories, Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" thunders back in a DVD set keyed to the 40th anniversary of its subject's death. The film did a better job of selling "X" hats than cinema tickets upon release in 1992, partly because of its running time of about 3 1/2 hours. Lee's "labor of love" feels at home on DVD, where viewers can pause on any of the film's organic chapter breaks, delineated by cinematographer Ernest Dickerson's dramatic shifts in visual style.

The film comes remastered on the DVD, with generous and to-the-point extras. The feature stretches over both discs. Audio and widescreen images are first class, with almost no signs of wear or damage. (The DVD set replaces a vanilla single-disc version released five years ago.)

Lee's stylish and eclectic vision holds up well, but Denzel Washington's performance as the polarizing black activist of the 1960s remains the reason to revisit "Malcolm X." Washington's portrayal is "one of the best in American movies," Martin Scorsese maintains in the DVD extras.

The extent to which Washington embodied his character becomes clear while viewing the DVD set's other outstanding Malcolm X film, the documentary of the same name from 1972. The film relies on audio from Malcolm X's speeches for most of its narrative drive. There's no political correctness on display here, only the raw emotions of the era. "The devil is the white man," Malcolm X informs his audience. "By nature he is evil."

Lee enthusiastically introduces a handful of deleted scenes he said he didn't remember shooting. ("The DVD is one of the best things to ever happen to directors," he said.) One great scene shows Malcolm X toying with an overeager volunteer. "People don't realize, he had a great sense of humor," Lee said.

Joining the director on the commentary are longtime collaborators Dickerson, editor Barry Alexander Brown and costume designer Ruth Carter. Their talks were recorded separately and edited together reasonably well, but there are awkward moments -- as when Lee says something profound about Malcolm X's legacy and Dickerson immediately begins talking about light bulbs. The commentary rarely drags, and Dickerson and Carter make good use of the opportunity to address the specifics of their crafts.

Rating:
Summary: Why?
Review: I bought this title over again as I had already owned the original disc. I also owned a Superbit "Lawrence or Arabia," but quickly sold it due to the fact that it was spread out over two discs. Malcolm X (2005) for some reason is spread out over two discs! Why? I thought that since this was a two-disc set, it would have meant that bonus materials were on one disc and the film on the other. Noooo, they put bonus materials on one disc and some on the other! This spreading a film over two disc is one of the reasons I did not like the laserdisc.

The film itself was remastered, although the original disc was excellent in picture quality for an earlier DVD disc. The remsatering is similar to the Star Wars DVD. You can see the weaves of clothing material type of detail. You can now see film grain, if you like that!

The best addition was the 1972 documentary of the real Malcolm X. You get to see extended views of certain sittuations and his murder along with public reaction on the scene! That alone is the main reason I bought the new one. You also get to see his casket for extended periods. I just wonder why I have not seen footage of the actual assasination since you have the before and after.

If this thing was not split over two discs, I would have given it a five.



Rating:
Summary: Oscar-worthy performance by Denzel Washington
Review: I admit that I never thought much of Denzel Washington until I saw him in "Training Day". In that movie, I was very impressed with his ability to play a very confident, smart, and super-cool character. He deserved that Oscar. Now, watching "Malcom X", a movie made by Spike Lee in 1992, I realize that he has always been that kind of actor. His portrayal of Malcolm is full of power and subtlety. I've never had that much interest in Spike Lee's films, but I have to say that this one is very well done, and very interesting, no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.

Rating:
Summary: Malcolm X: May God accept him in paradise
Review: Malcolm Little, a.k.a. Red, was not a man I would have wanted to be seen hanging around with. I wouldn't even have wanted to cross paths with him. But what happened to him later on in his life and the change that he underwent is one of the most influential and inspiring true stories that have ever touched my heart. When Malcolm accepted Islam, even though he entered this great religion from a wrong and very misleading angle, it was the beginning of a legendary figure's emergence into the American conscience and a beacon for all that stood up to the oppression and injustice that America was doing to its own people. This legendary person's name was Malcolm X, or Hajj Malek Shabbaz, may God bless him.

Spike Lee, the director of Do The Right Thing, brings Malcolm X to the big screen with Denzel Washington portraying the late Black leader. The movie takes you through Malcolm's turbulent childhood, his upbringing into a young con man, drug abuser, and gang leader. It was his 6 or so years spent in jail where Malcolm was introduced to the rising Nation of Islam lead by Elijah Muhammed from one of his inmates. Malcolm educated himself in jail and turned out to be what many never expected; an outspoken, strong and very intelligent spokesperson for the Nation and the struggles of the black community across America. The movie successfully reveals the inner conflicts between Malcolm and the Nation, and the result of Malcolm breaking away to become an independant activist. The film also does Malcolm's story justice by showing his pilgrimage to Mecca - pilgrimage is known as Hajj in Arabic and is considered the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It was this special visit to Mecca where Malcolm was exposed to mainstream Islam - the true picture of Islam unlike the misleading teachings of Elijah Muhammed and the Nation of Islam. The movie ends with the disturbing assassination of Malcolm and a piece narrated by Ossie Davis featuring pictures of the real Malcolm X and a scene with Nelson Mandela giving his thoughts on Malcolm.

The movie is based on the bestselling book 'Autobiography of Malcolm X' by Malcolm X himself as told to Alex Haley.

I do recommend reading this book to get a wider picture of Malcolm's life and realization of mainstream Islam.

One of the best movies I have seen.

A

Rating:
Summary: lOVE HIM OR hATE hIM
Review: As a black man, I do not agree with most of Malcom's militant views...its was reverse racism in many ways....but you cannot help but appreciate his place in american history...and this movie is undeniably a superb example of a film biopic...Weather you love or hate Macolm you cannot deny this movie as being a masterpiece.....and to the person who said muslims hate white people...Malcom was first a part of the Nation of Islam....which is not exactly the same Islam as it is practived in its home the middle east....Islamic followers or Muslims are not terrorists and the religion it self is not one of vilence and murderes that hate white people...did you even see the film???....when Macolm went to Mecca to see how Islam was meant to be practiced he converted and began to change his views of white people....This in turn leaded to his assasination... he also discoverd that their are plenty of white followers of the Muslim faith...

SO before you bathe in the pool of ignorance...pick up a book and read about the religion and its teachings...its not a religion that discrimiinates nor does it tell people to go blow up buildings...they follow the 10 commandments just as Jews and chrsitians do...it teaches peace and love.

So please dont take the views of a handful of idiots who "murder in the name of Allah"...which is a complete twisting of the words of the Q'ran as a representation of what the Islamic faith is about...Those people are just crazy and use religion as an excuse, and belive me they are wrong in the eyes of true muslims....

and by the way Iam a christian...but i also have sense enough to respect others beliefs and not blame 9/11 on an entire faith rather than a few crazy idividuals with no cause....I mean look at the KU KLUXX KLAN...they hate ALL non-whites all in the name of christianity and murder in the name of Christ...does that mean all christians are terrorist who hate all non-white...NO..the KKK is a group not similar to the fools who blew up the towers..so single them out not all followers of the religion..

so i say to you...please read, educate yourself before you speak on the matter at hand...



Rating:
Summary: What?
Review: Dear Abe aka "Starman",

I just read your review and have one question. WHO is a hate monger?!!!

P.S. I thought the movie was excellent!