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American History X

American History X

List Price: $19.96
Your Price: $14.97
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Thought Provoking
Review: This movie was a very thought provoking movie, it leaves you with a sense that this would have happened to the family whether their father was killed or not from the way that he inflicted his thoughts towards racism towards his family. It was a very emotional movie as the boys never really had a chance at a normal life without racism being a big part of it thanks to their father. Also, & lastly everything goes around in a circle, if it's not whites being racist towards the blacks, it's the blacks being racist towards the white's. And because a white kid looks at black kid funny or vice versa things in somones life can be dramatically changed forever...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best Nazi movie ever!
Review: This movie is about a man called Derek, he is a nazi. And you see how he and his brother are dealing with his family. His brother are following in his footsteps all the time. But one day something happends, and he realize how stupied it really is, and tells to his brother(Edward Furlong) how horrible he had it in Jail! But will his brother do as he now? This movie is so great, that I couldnt really describe what I felt after coming out of the cinema(yeah this time it was cinema for a change), I was just stood there, and thought "WOW! ". Edward Norton, IS INCREDIBLE GOOD in this movie, but so is his younger brother(E.Furlong) they are both in a class for themself. And it deals with problems that probably always will be there, it shows how people get tricked by listening to others, how parents can have an effect on their childrens, with hatred chat about people with other color of their skin ect. SEE THIS MOVIE RIGHT NOW! IT IS A MUST!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Preachfest
Review: I submitted a review of this before - But it must have gotten lost somewhere.

American History X struck me as far too preachy and devoid of reality. The film is set in Venice Beach, California. A kind of tribalistic environment where hate = survival. The story basically begins with a young high school student named 'Danny', a fledgling Nazi Skinhead played by Ed Furlong, who has submitted a glowing review of Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'. This ,of course, sends everyone into fits. As such, a Black councler named 'Sweeny' decides that Danny, in typical self-righteous fashion, must think along more acceptable lines and therefore must submit a report on Civil Rights - and the tone of the movie is set. (Why is it that Hollywood thinks Blacks are synonymous with superior wisdom?)

The heartbeat of the story revolves around Danny's brother 'Derek', a Nazi skinhead who is well played by Ed Norton. Derek gets sent to prison one night because he violently prevented the theft of his property: He kills a Black who was trying to steal his truck. The roots of this attempted theft actually goes back to a basketball game in which Derek and his friends defeat a group of Blacks - Typical Hollywood fantasy. Anyway, In prison Derek does the right thing and joins the skinhead gang inside. However, Derek soon finds himself along side a Black laundry worker who 'wins' Derek because the Black guy just misses sex so much. Of course Derek soon turns his back on his skinhead comrades and they promptly rape him in the shower - Very ugly.

This rape actually causes Derek to become a goody-goody - Unreal. Here is a man who argues his ideology with passion, conviction and intelligence. I'm sorry, but it's going to take alot more than this for him to change. The next thing you know, Derek is trying to convince his brother Danny that everything they stand for is 'wrong'.

The film does have some strong points. There are flashbacks in black & white that are somewhat effective and a very good performance by Fairuza Balk as Dereks girlfriend. But along with all the ghettocentric view on 'wasted potential' you could want, American History X is one big obnoxious preachfest.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dark and emotional, with nothing to the imagination.
Review: A very brutal and terrifyingly emotional piece, "American History X" takes many cult and gang issues and packs it all into a gorgeous film. Edward Norton stars as Derek Vinyard, a man who has been in jail for three years for murdering two black men. Upon his return to his family's new apartment, the viewers learn of Derek's past involvement with the largely-populated white supremacist gang in California. It is also made clear that he wishes to escape his past life, to break free from the gang that considers him to be "a god." As he begins meeting his old friends again, he discovers that his younger brother has become involved in the gang, and throughout the movie, black-and-white flashbacks are used as Derek's thoughts and stories used in order to convince his brother to leave the gang before he gets himself in too deep. The film is totally violent and utterly graphic, leaving none of the brutal aspects of the gang's nature to the imagination. Norton and Edward Furlong, who plays the brother, give excellent performances that add nothing but integrity and believability to the film. While being graphic in nature, the film is a breathtaking view of what life is like in gangs and cults, and the life-long consequences that accompany them.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Powerful
Review: Before its release a lot of dirty laundry was being voiced about the production of American History X. I had been anticapating this film for quite sometime and was disappointed to hear the director disparaging his own film. After viewing this movie I was conflicted. Without a doubt it is very distrubing and powerful. On the other hand some elements of the movie, technically speaky, are not perfect. I got to thinking does that matter. American History X hit me brutally with its message and I have returned to watch it more then few times. It works and thats what should count.

Your New Line DVD was surprisingly devoid of extras. Standard trailers, and then some deleted scenes. Thanks to the aforementioned production squabbles American History X should have had some choice extras. Hopefully it will be revisited. Good movie, sparse extras.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Not realistic
Review: A very corny film that doesn't develop any of the portrayed characters except Norton's role. Cheesy slo-mo sequences like Bevery D'Angelo's scene where she kneels down in front of her house looked so amateurish. And the sports metaphor of the film! White skinheads beating black homeboys at...get this.... basketball? And the "super intellectual" high school teacher, reportedly possessing two PhD degrees, using a double-negative in one grammatically disappointing scene. This film could've said and done so much more than it did. The murder scene on the street curb was totally unnecessary - leaving it out would not have detracted from the film's "message".....so why? Second rate entertainment at best.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Powerful.
Review: I believe the majority of the movie is nothing that we've never seen before in previous films. What sets it apart from these films is the incredible acting, especially on the part of Norton and Furlong. The ending was unexpected, shocking, and everything that a drama should be. Powerful stuff. Norton should have nabbed the Oscar, easily...

P.S. the DVD features are typical fare; the deleted scenes are interesting though.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: our ability to change is important to remember
Review: the controversial tale of misled youth and the downfall that terrors like racism and ignorance can easily be the cause of. derek (wonderfully captured by edward norton in one of his many great performances) is a highly intelligent high-schooler destined for great things, but the seeds of racism were planted deep within and soon the innocent derek is drawn into the shadows. he begins feeding his illusions of freedom and justice to other young minds that are in search of false security. but this is not derek's final destination. he falls, and is reborn upon realizing: in order to survive, he must abandon his old life and recreate himself, but not without facing old 'friends'

do not be discouraged by the subject matter that the film deals with. it is an important film and a powerful display onscreen. the black and white flashbacks are an interesting touch by kaye, and norton gives an unforgettable performance.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Why should we hate?
Review: This movie asks the question "Why should we hate?" Life is too short to be mad at other people. It's much like the quote 'What you can't change, you must accept.'

Edward Norton, an ex-neo nazi skin head, has just gotten out of jail. His brother, played by Edward Furlong, is following in his footsteps. Edward Norton will do anything to stop that. The movies relys on it's flashbacks, which are poignent, yet disturbing and frightening. By the end of the movie you are moved and enlightened. You understand something that the general public doesn't recognize that much, and it really takes a powerful effect on you.

Let me warn you that it is a very graphic movie, yet, it is also amazingly one of the best I ever have seen. Hate is baggage, don't carry it with you through life. This wonderful masterpiece also stars Beverly D'Angelo, Ethan Suplee, and Eliot Gould.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bottom Line...GREAT MOVIE
Review: This movie is filled with truth that happens every day, a man goes to jail because of hate against another race, and finds friends in jail that change his life, and how he looks at his friends and enemies

Edward Norton did wonderful work with this film, and made it believable. It was wonderful how all of his past was in black and white, but the present was in color. This film did not get enough recognititon, but GO SEE IT.


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