Rating: 
Summary: Truly Thought Provoking
Review: I'm confused. And if you get "Bamboozled", you will be, too. And that's a good thing.Bamboozled is basically a movie that attacks, with dead-on accuracy, the media and its constant drive to turn African-American's into baffoons. It shows, in depth, the character assassinations that take place behind closed doors in television stations across the country. And particularly highlighted, are the advertisers who "pimp" members of the Black race to sell their product even as they degrade and destroy them. For example, Tommy Hillfinger, who has publicly stated his distaste for people of color and his distress that his clothing are primarily bought by Blacks, is parodied in this film with such horrible accuracy that it FORCES you to think. And that seems to be the key to MOST of this film. Sadly, as many of Spike Lee's films do, it crumbles at the end. The ending of this film has absolutely nothing to do with the overall premise, the plot, the build up nor the character assignments. You will wonder throughout the film what the character Julian (Big Black Africa) is going to do and what his group of militants are truly about. Are they rappers? Militants? Actors? What? Well, the answers will not be given at the end and you will still be wondering why they were made a part of this movie in the first place. Probably to justify the grotesque ending, but realistically, we didn't need to get to know them at all for that. Anyhoo, big props to Jada Pinkett-Smith and Damon Wayans for wonderful performances. And particularly to Tommy Davidson and Savion Glover, without whom I don't think this film would have been half as good. Overall, this was a wonderful movie that forces you to think about the treatment of the African-American in the media, the corporate world and in life period. And I recommend it mainly for the first 1 hour and 45 minutes of the 2 hour 9 minute film. But I can only give it 3 stars because of the misdirected ending which completely blows the strong buildup.
Rating: 
Summary: ONE OF SPIKE'S BETTER FLICKS
Review: The top three spike lee films (as of this date) are "Do the Right Thing"-incendiary, troubling, powerful. malcolm x- more a tribute to denzel washington's great performance rather than spike lee's script, but spike was the one who hired denzel, so he gets some credit too. and she's gotta have it, spike uses his comic talent to its fullest in his debut film. the first and the third films were greatly helped by lee's performances: he is a talented comic actor. bamboozled is not up to the level of those three films, mostly because of its second half which is overlong and preachy and dramatically unfulfilling. but up until damon wayans goes to visit his father "junebug", the film had an A potential, so it ends up with a B. a few scenes I'd like to mention were particularly effective. jada pinkett telling her brother that she will not call him big black africa rather than julian and him telling her that it's easy enough to pronounce was a very funny, even heartwarming interchange between the house negro and the field negro. these are two siblings of different pigments and facial characterisitics on opposite sides of a cultural and economic divide and there is a love between them. savion glover's talent as a tap dancer certainly gave the movie an artistic heft it could not have had without him. tap dancing as shown by gregory hines and his brother in coppola's cotton club can be a poweful means of expression of frustration, anger and defiance. Despite this it is a mode of entertainment that immediately brings to mind a truckload of american history of a very painful quality. the movie is not contradicted by spike lee's own experience with stereotyping and buffoonery but it is rather enriched by his history and indeed his mixed feelings towards it, (even one of the mau mau's has to confess that that stuff makes him laugh.) in fact included in the audition was one very funny pimp who sang of beating and kicking his ho'. as i laughed i felt uncomfortable. not only because i fell out of my chair, but because stereotypes are a devilish business. they make us uncomfortable and laugh and teach us how complex our prejudices and preconceptions really are.
Rating:
Summary: Flawed, Curiousity Piece
Review: When I first heard about BAMBOOZLED, it sounded a lot like "The Message," Spike Lee's first 16mm film while a student at New York University (NYU). The latter was about a black man hired to write the $50 million remake of D.W. Griffith's racist masterpiece, THE BIRTH OF A NATION. The film allegedly angered members of the faculty so much, that Spike Lee was almost kicked out of the film school. Now twenty years later, Spike Lee slings a few more arrows at the media with BAMBOOZLED. Not having seen "The Message," I'll refrain from comment on that film. However with BAMBOOZLED, Spike Lee has a lot of provocative ideas, but like so many of his films, he doesn't always know quite what to do with them. The first problem comes in the form of Damon Wayans's character, Pierre De La Croix. Probably the most talented of the Wayans clan, in this film, Damon gives a very stilted performance. He's a complete caricature of a so called "bourgeois negro," utilizing a clipped delivery that gets very irritating after a while. Almost as annoying, but in a different way, is Jada Pinkett Smith's character as De La Croix's assistant. She's very shrill like so many women in Spike Lee's films. Also her character is very inconsistant. For example, when De La Croix pitches his minstrel show to his boss, she acts like she's never heard of it before. The film is essentially a one-dimensional diatribe against racism in television. However, he hints at a few issues, which if developed would have made the film more intriguing and more richly textured. For example, when the minstrel show tapes its first episode, after the initial shock of seeing the leads in blackface, the studio audience (both black and white) eats it up. This hints at a very important point: black people are at least partially responsible for the cartoonish images that they see on television. The sad fact is that many black people would rather see a show like "Martin" or "The Jamie Foxx Show" than say, something like the short-lived drama, "City of Angels." Spike really blew it on this point. Savion Glover and Tommy Davidson do a credible job in their respective roles, but each have gaps in their character's respective arcs. In other words, major changes occur with their characters, seemingly from out of nowhere. This is really a shame, because one gets the feeling that one or both of them could have given Oscar-level performances in the film. This is particularly true of Tommy Davidson, who seems perfectly cast in his role. On a technical note, the shot-on-video piece looks very cheap and murky. While this may very well have been a creative choice, it comes across as more a cost-saving measure than anything else. More and more pieces released in the theatre have been shot on video, but not as grainy and grimy as this one. Like the film's story, the film's look is just as obvious in its presentation. Of course, Spike Lee's body of work is easy to attack, but you've got to give him credit for his bold choices. Few filmmakers (black or white) are willing to take risks like him. For that alone, Spike is to commended. However, like many of his films, he's got some good ideas, but doesn't develop them fully. It's as if, he expects the viewing audience to simply "fill in the gaps." After seeing DANCING IN SEPTEMBER by Reggie Rock Bythewood (who wrote the Lee-directed GET ON THE BUS), one wished that they had worked together on one project about the television business, instead of doing two separate films. The best scenario would probably have been Spike Lee as a producer and Bythewood as a writer/director (like Bythewood's wife Gina did with Lee on LOVE & BASKETBALL). Of the two films, Bythewood seemed to have a better handle on the general subject matter. Perhaps even a three way collaboration between Lee, Bythewood and Sidney Lumet (who did NETWORK, one of the best films about television to date) would have been great. Of course, I'm dreaming now. In short, BAMBOOZLED has a lot of interesting ideas, but essentially preaches to the converted. While the film has some worthwhile elements, NETWORK and even, DANCING IN SEPTEMBER represent more effective examples of the genre. I'd recommend that you see one or both of them before you see BAMBOOZLED. A final note: Given their obvious similarity, it would have been nice to also get "The Message" included with the DVD. Kasi Lemons's short "Dr. Hugo" was included with EVE'S BAYOU, so why not "The Message" with BAMBOOZLED?
Rating:
Summary: Your point is made
Review: Spike Lee does it again! This film is all about SATIRE to those who don't understand that and take everything literaly. Spike definitely made his point of how the only images of black people on television and in movies are negative and show us as ignorant while all the shows and movies that show us as smart and sucessful get canceled or recieve poor reviews. This movie is VERY relevant to current times and definetly makes you re-think of who and what you find funny and why. Also accurately compares these minstel shows to mainstream popular rap music with ignorant rappers posing w/ 40 ounces in one hand, and half naked girls in the other arm. The only problems were the jittery camera angles (obviously independently made film, what big Hollywoowd corp. would fund this daring movie), and sometimes the script being way to satirized for my taste. Spike Lee definetly spells everything out. Still a good movie, although as a black female, hard to watch the minstrel shows with black people shown as buffoons.
Rating: 
Summary: Why can't I give this film ZERO stars?
Review: I caught about 20 minutes of this film, and thought I had lost my mind. Spike Lee seems to be continuing his racist agenda with this film. Talk about stereotypes? Watch a few Spike Lee movies and you'll get all you need. Spike Lee has not made a watchable film yet. Somehow, he got some power off of his first film, (and some critics who are over eager to enbrace a 'black film maker'), and the viewing public has been paying for it ever since....
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: Bamboozled isn't one of spike Lee's best films but it isone of his better ones. While the jittery camera angles can be annoying, the movie hits the mark whentalking about the roles of African-Americans in the media. Lee makes it clear that African-Americans do not have a significant amount of control over their own image, and because of this whites create false pictures of black life inmedia. Strong Performances from Jada Pinkett-Smith, Tommy Davidson, Savion Glover and Damon Wayans Make up for the film's jumbled pacing and bad camera work. It's not the story that's bad in bambooozled it's the editing and camera work.
Rating: 
Summary: Let's wake up!
Review: History repeats itself.
In response to the person who brought up urban legends and the myth that has perpetuated everyone's email account, I think you missed the whole symbol of using Tommy Hilfiger in Spike Lee's movie. We (meaning everyone) have a lot of work to do in the current state of race relations. This movie is a catalyst for some who have been blinded by the superficialities of society.
Granted there are many who believe that Hilfiger and Clairborne made these statements, however, Hilnigger represents the collective of fashionable clothes worn by young blacks. It is by no means a way of defaming Tommy Hilfigger. Because there are many blacks who buy his clothes as sort of a status symbol, Hilfigger was the easiest target. Many of us are blinded by the glamour of today's superficial society. From the reviews posted, I see that most people enjoyed the movie despite the harshness of the topic, however, this movie has gotten andprobably will not get the recogition it deserves. I hope the entire world can learn from this movie.
Rating:
Summary: 2 stars for the film, and one more star for the extras.
Review: Uneven film about a screenwriter (Damon Wayans) who creates a minstrel show (I kid you not) to beef up ratings at his televisioon network under the pressure of his boss (Michael Rappaport). He recruits two guys from the street, and solicits the help of his assistant (Jada Pinket Smith) to put the show together. The first hour or so is great, but the last 20 minutes send the movie downhill. Spike Lee had a great idea, only to be gunned down by lousy execution. The features are solid, however. "Bamboozled" isn't the effective commentary it thinks it is, but it's still entertaining to watch Lee try.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful message, very poor concept
Review: Spike Lee throws another controversial curveball to the audience, this time attacking the media for the unflattering portrayal of Black Americans. Damon Wayans stars as Pierre Delacoix, a well-educated TV exec who introduces the idea of creating a satirical modern-day minstrel show to his white jerk-of-a-boss, Michael Rappaport (who is the head of a fictitious prime-time network). Mind you this is introduced after Rappaport rejects Delacoix's earlier pitch for a TV show about an affluent minority family because it would be too boring. Delacoix is stunned when his boss agrees to put "Man-Tan: The New Millennium Minstrel Show" on air, and is more surprised that this farce is a ratings winner and a critical success. But let's face it; most of the story is just not plausible. Like network TV execs would literally put a modern-day minstrel show on air. Even more unbelievable is that TV critics would actually praise this show as a satire; there's a difference between acknowledging political incorrectness and plain stupidity as humor. As for the Man-Tan sketches, they're pretty long and so uninteresting that they drag the film down. I find it hard to believe that a studio audience could sit through those repetitive Man-Tan sketches and still find it hysterical (even with the Applause signal on). It's just not logical in this day and age. TV viewers may have their personal prejudices but no one can be THAT stupid (or racist) enough to sit in an audience wearing blackface, hooting and howling like they were on "The Jerry Springer" show. America's taste isn't that offensive. I also have mixed feelings about the casting. On one hand Jada Pinkett-Smith (who plays Delacoix's unhappy assistant with a conscience-ironic for TV execs), and the gifted Savion Glover (who plays Man-Tan) each gave wonderful performances. Michael Rappaport was convincing with his "blacker than most blacks" image (a dig at white rappers), but then his portrayal got too over-the-top and annoying. Damon Wayans' acting as a corporate "oreo" was too awful to take him seriously even in his darker moments; he seemed more of a caricature. Tommy Davidson's role as Savion's sidekick in the minstrel show, unable to morally deal with wearing blackface, was also good but too short. The inept Mau-Maus, who could make the Black Panthers run for cover, were a nice touch and a very interesting social commentary on misguided race rioters who have little thought on their actions. Some of the more subtle jokes are very funny, such as Delacoix's dream sequence where he's very hysterical and gives up the award he won to presenter Matthew Modine at a televised ceremony, a dig at Ving Rhames and Cuba Gooding Jr. during their acceptance speeches. But then Lee throws in tacky, tiresome jokes, such as Bill Clinton sitting in the Oval Office enjoying the black T&A commercials on TV. He manages to attack almost every famous black or white enterprise (such as UPN) or celebrity in the media. And the ending really falls apart, I won't give it away but it veers off into another territory-"snuff films". Stick to one controversy at a time! The only thing to look forward to at the end is the separate video montage of early motion films and animated shorts featuring Black Americans in unflattering, stereotypical roles (which also sheds new light on earlier films with Shirley Temple, Judy Garland, and several other white entertainers from that era). While I applaud Spike Lee for dealing with the issue of minorities in the media, the way it's presented is very clunky and illogical for today's audiences. You can't tell weather he's taking it seriously or not (a similar problem in the very tame film-adaptation of "American Psycho" where the lines between comedy and drama were blurred). Basically the minstrel show concept was unrealistic. Considering that the dialogue isn't good and some of the acting is too over-the-top, "Bamboozled" seems more like a caricature skit you'd find on the now defunct "In Living Color". Despite its flaws this is a film worth watching.
Rating:
Summary: THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
Review: BAMBOOZLED IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FILMS IN CINEMA HISTORY. IT'S SPIKE LEE'S BEST WORK THAT DEALS WITH ALL THE CARICATURES BLACKS HAVE BEEN MADE INTO(WHICH UNFORTUNATLEY IS STILL WITH US) AND THROWS EVERYTHING BACK INTO THE FACES OF WHITE AMERICA WHO THOUGHT OF THESE DEPICTIONS AND IMAGES SO ENTERTAINING. ALSO DEALS WITH HOW BLACKS WHO NEED MONEY WILL DO ALMOST ANYTHING EVEN IF IT DEHUMANIZES THEIR OWN RACE. THE MONTAGE AT THE END BRINGS ME TO TEARS BUT ALSO MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH THAT ANY HUMAN BEING WOULD PARTICIPATE IN DEGRADING AND DEHUMANIZING A RACE OF PEOPLE.
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