Rating: 
Summary: A Must See
Review: I believe every high school civics class should have this film as part of it's curriculim. This powerful, at times gruesomely realistic movie paints racism and hate in a modern and true way. It paints a real picture of the neo-nazis of today as victims of their own ignorance and search for truth. The same things that brings gangbangers to their own groups. And most importantly the basic moral of this story is summed up in 1 quote, "he learned all this crap, and he can unlearn it to". A must see for any kid attending high school in America today. It shows how far we have come in the fight for not civil rights, but human rights, and how much further we have to go.
Rating: 
Summary: Not as bad as I thought it'd be
Review: With American History X, I fully expected yet another bombastic Hollywood race epic; but the film works on a somewhat more sophisticated level. Edward Norton stars as good kid turned homicidal neo-nazi, Derek Vinyard. Vinyard is sent up after capping some Crips he catches trying to jack his car, but he returns to his old hood three years later on a mission from God. This odd metamorphosis is effected through his friendship with a mysterious prisoner of color; and by his loathsome skinhead cellmates, who bum him in the shower for being friendly with a black man. Although the story has holes in it big enough to drive a panzer through the movie held my interest. Special mention should be made about the excellent acting of all those involved, especially Edward Norton, who somehow makes Vinyard's transformation from psycho killer to penitent believable. In my opinion, Norton's presence in any movie is enough to raise it a star or two. Less satisfying were the somewhat lifeless cinematography and the sometimes hammy dialogue. There were times I was taken back to those propagandistic short subjects they used to make us watch in junior high. All in all though, a worthwhile way to spend 119 minutes.
Rating:
Summary: Straight forward way to deal with racism and hate crimes
Review: American History X blew my mind. Not once have I viewed a movie that so deftly deals with the intolerant and rampant hate between races in our country. Tracking the life of a skinhead in California, his murder of racial enemies, imprisonment, and his final ascent from previous hatreds, this movie shows a man who came full circle and trys to help his brother find the right path. As Americans we cannot ignore the injustice that occurs daily in unrequited hate, and gang fueds. This movie is a striking education on what is actually out there, and why things happen. Though this movie is a bit strong for kids under 14 or so, I would say that every child growing up should see this movie in order to get a taste of today's problems.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie With A Great Message
Review: This is an excellent movie. The acting was universally great, the writing was sharp, the characters believable. Even the neo-Nazis are rendered believably, no small feet in a Hollywood movie. And the conversion of the lead character from racist agitator to normal person is convincing. The anti-hate message is excellently sent, and the audience is not bludgeoned. The characters are given reasons for their hate which render it understandable if not condonable This makes their conversions all the more believable. The only complaint I have is that the script writer obviously hasn't read Mein Kampf, not ordinarily a bad thing, but the book is crucial to one of the movies central moments.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely exhausting, mentally, becus it makes you think
Review: wow, i jus finished watching the VCD like 15 minutes ago, i'm completely shaken by the violence and everything. extremely disturbing film, with a strong important moral(or is it social) message. i imagine when derek was taking a shower in one of the last scenes, he was like trying to wash away the past, trying to change all that, and he tried to. maybe it came a bit too late, but he did. both edward norton and furlong's acting shine and help indefintely bring out the message in the movie. it's such a pity edward norton didn't get an academy for his sterling performance in this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Hate is Baggage
Review: "Hate is baggage, life's too short to be pissed off all the time, it's just not worth it."~Daniel Vinyard You have to see this movie, because of that quote, it's what lifes all about, and mostly this movie. I never saw a movie with Edward Norton in it, but this definetly is one of my favorites. The message at the end is unbelieveable and so true too. Tony Kaye did a wonderful job directing it, like how the water looks when it just drops off of peoples faces,like it's in slow motion, and how it changes to black and white to color, I've never seen it done exactly like that. It made me confused at first because you want to believe Derek *Edward Norton* because he's so convincing, but he likes to ramble, I believed that some of the views were right, he killed those black men in self defense, but what I learned is that some of it is unnecessary. This is one of my all time favorites now, and I want a movie poster even though I have nowhere to put it. It's about fear, thoughtfulness, caring, love, and deep emotions. Eddie Furlong is the coolest!
Rating:
Summary: Edward Norton gives a blistering performance in . . .
Review: This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Edward Norton and Edward Furlong give an allstar performance in this chilling tale about the consequences of racism. A skin head named Derek is put in jail for brutally killing two black guys who are trying to steal his car (this was my favorite part of the movie). After a very rough prison life, he is released (no longer a racist) only to find that his little brother Danny is following in his footsteps. It is a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie, A tale of redemption
Review: This movie though seemingly violent, repulsive, and controversial, is actually a movie that show a lot of love, hope, without undermining the problematic nature of the subject matter. It leaves you thinking, wow that is a great story of the redemption of a man(white) but what about the perspective of a minority. It is one of those rare films that take you on a journey, entertain through marvelous storytelling, and brings up important issues that affect those that watch it.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT EXCELLENT EXCELLENT FILMAKING HERE.
Review: I can't say enough. Just damn good. Gripping. Voilent. Touching. Truth. Hate. Love. Feeling, lots of feeling. Edward Norton is such an amazing actor! I hope he gets soooo many Grammies in the future! I will see ALL of his films!
Rating:
Summary: An X-cellent Choice
Review: American History X: rated R, 1 hour and 58 minutes American History X is a well-thought out thriller in which Edward Norton stars as an extraordinarily astute neo-nazi who becomes repentant for choosing the path of becoming a racist skinhead. The characters in the movie are exceptionally developed with skillful actors to match their complexity. Edward Furlong plays Norton's confused teenage brother. Furlong's acting is sensational, but Norton in particular displays talent literally beyond human conception. He delves so deep into the character of Derek Vinyard that he easily wins over the audience in thoroughly convincing them of his animosity. At one moment in the movie, Derek marches back triumphantly after brutally slaying a black man. In this flash, Edward Norton presents a facial expression like no other. His eyes are filled with deathly delight, his mouth twisted in a grin of sheer pleasure, and his cheeks glowing with the image of death. At this instant, as well as throughout the whole movie, Edward Norton puts in his greatest effort and captures and provokes the audience utilizing his incredibly skilled acting ability. I firmly believe that he is worthy of holding the best-actor title at this year's Academy Awards. The plot of American History X starts off with Daniel Vinyard being assigned an enormous report containing all of the details on how his brother had become active in the nazi community, how that impacted his life, and all of the events leading up to the present day. Initially he is overwhelmed and does not take it seriously, but his brother, who just returns home to his family after being incarcerated for the murder of three men, forcefully urges Danny to complete the thesis. Danny titles the report American History X and proceeds to type it up with minimal success. As time passes by, Danny begins to undergo painful flashbacks involving his brother and his own childhood. He submerges into his past and progresses greatly with his life story. It becomes obvious that Derek is the main influence on him. Derek introduces Daniel to the life of hatred and crime. After their father dies trying to put out a fire, being shot by a colored man, the two boys' lives change dramatically. This is the supposed origin of Derek's loathsome ways. Later on, it is known that the source of Derek's anger goes much deeper beyond his father's death. Now out of prison, Derek seems to be strangely reformed. Jail has traumatized him and taught him a valuable lesson that he could not have possibly learned without his outstanding perception and intellect. The rest of the movie deals with Derek attempting to restore his own life and correct his younger brother's before it is too late. Chilling and forceful, American History X is aimed directly at the hearts of sensitive Americans like myself. American History X is truly more frightening than any typical horror movie; it portrays the harshness and injustice of reality in an extremely effective manner. It is in my opinion, the most powerful and emotional movie of the decade. The movie is created as a wake up call to America. The violence, racial prejudice, and malevolence that take place concealed amongst the citizens of the US are expressed to a maximum velocity in the movie. As well as acting as a warning, the movie offers great insight into questions that many of us have forever yearned for the answers to. It accurately exposes the means by which a seemingly average and intelligent human being can be metamorphosed into a vicious and cruel hate monger. American History X is an incredible entertaining and educational experience. The movie brought tears to my eyes during certain sequences and fury during others. It hit me head on with all of its intensity and I came out of the film perplexed and abysmal, yet in no way do I regret seeing it. I strongly would recommend that anyone with the tolerance for excessive violence and graphic depictions view this movie. Profound and mesmerizing, American History X, also starring Elliot Gould, Beverly D'Angelo, and Stacy Keach, directed by Tony Kaye, is in my eyes one of the most rich and enlightening movies of its time. I give it a flawless A+.
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