Rating: 
Summary: The Extreme College Life
Review: This movie reminded me of my college days, when I had a rotten roommate for most of my first year. (That convinced me to change schools!) Although he ended up killing two people, I sympathized with Michael Rapaport's character Remy because he originally wanted to get away from Idaho and study to become an engineer. Unfortunately, he fell in with the wrong crowd.I thought Ice Cube's character was too hard on Remy, although I liked it when he charged into the frat house to grab Billy, the guy who raped Kristen and called Monet a racial epithet. What I didn't understand was how the Neo-Nazis could remain on campus after they beat up a black student for dating a white student, and plotting the rampage at the multicultural fest.
Rating: 
Summary: I liked it
Review: I like a movie that will get people upset, and then maybe think. WHite kids got to put up with a lot of crap in society, blacks think they are owed everything and Hispanics are taking over anyway, so what's whitey to do? Shave his head and start shooting. MAke no mistake about it. The majority of white people in society are angry and one day we will fight back. Also chicks going lezzie is pretty cool.
Rating: 
Summary: A powerful piece of work
Review: "Higher Learning" stumbles upon many issues, the most emphasised being racism. At first, I thought this movie was one of those teen movies where they put in some cheap (immature) laughs here and there but it's a movie that really grows on you as it progresses and you may actually start to feel for some of the characters. I kind of got the same feeling as I did when I watched "American History X". Both films suck you in right till the end and then hit you with one big punch. The DVD is nothing to rant about, it does have a trailer, a commentary track and some talent profiles. Nothing fancy but better than a kick in the pants. I have yet to watch the film while the commentary is playing. I'm not sure if I should because I believe the film can be interpreted in many different ways and I don't want anyone changing it for me.
Rating: 
Summary: The Grade is "F"
Review: Higher Learning is a thinly veiled attempt to inject the audience with Singleton's opinions and values. From the first frame to the last, it feels more like a preachy ABC Afternoon Special than a feature film. Despite the slick veneer of a fine cast, Singleton once again reveals himself to be the main attraction, an angry director trying to promote his bitter social agenda.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent insight into college life
Review: 'Higher Learning' is one of those rare college movies that actually has a lot to say and doesn't come across as pompous, schmaltzy or boring. It focuses on several students from different backgrounds who have all come to Columbus university with different expectations of what uni life will be like. First of all there's Epps, a scholar who has to use his spare time on the track to fund his tuition fees and who gradually finds himself involved in a race war on campus. There's also Swanson as a pretty white girl who, after being date raped, finds herself palling up with Connelly, the college feminist and a lesbian. However, perhaps the most powerful performance of all comes from Rapaport as a lonely kid who finds himself falling in with some neo-Nazis. The emphasis here seems to be on the conflict between wanting to be your own person but still craving conformity and acceptance from others. The racial friction is handled with a sensitivity and intelligence which unfortunately seems abnormal in many films, not just teen ones. It's also a mercy that such stunning actors were given the roles, with both Epps and Rappoport bringing real sympathy to their roles. This is some feat considering Rappoport becomes a neo-Nazi towards the end. The fact that the director shows such sensitivity to such obnoxious characters speaks volumes of the quality of the movie. If there's any quibbles it's over the stereotyping of Connelly's role, as it comes over that her lesbianity must breed a hatred towards men. This is something that Connelly should not be given, as she is an incredible actress in her own right. Apart from that though, this really is a very good film indeed that will really make you care for its characters, especially because even their most heinous actions are shown to have a reason. This is the thinking teen movie, and actually quite unnerving too.
Rating:
Summary: Too many themes in one movie
Review: Higher Learning has what I think is one main character finely portrayed by Omar Epps who is Malik, an athlete trying to adjust to a new and sometimes hostile environment at a majority-white university. However, it appears that Kristy Swanson and Michael Rappaport split the screen time and therefore, the movie is diluted into several themes and subplots surrounding rape, race, and rage. In this respect, Higher Learning shares the same pitfall as Spike Lee's Jungle Fever - too many themes in one movie. Singleton jump-started the urban drama trend with Boyz in the Hood (also starred Ice Cube, Lawrence Fishburne, Regina King). Boyz in the Hood succeeded by focusing in tightly on one main character's point of view of a hostile environment and how to survive in that environment. Higher Learning should have probably been made into two or three different movies so the viewer is not assaulted with several dramatic themes to sort out at once. Perhaps Singleton wanted to make several points and the university campus setting, which serves as a microcosm of worldwide issues and cultures was the means to achieve that. Not Singleton's best, but recommended for those who are interested in learning another's point of view of social ills that plagued the 90s (without having to view old OJ Simpson courtroom tapes).
Rating:
Summary: A powerful piece of work
Review: "Higher Learning" stumbles upon many issues, the most emphasised being racism. At first, I thought this movie was one of those teen movies where they put in some cheap (immature) laughs here and there but it's a movie that really grows on you as it progresses and you may actually start to feel for some of the characters. I kind of got the same feeling as I did when I watched "American History X". Both films suck you in right till the end and then hit you with one big punch. The DVD is nothing to rant about, it does have a trailer, a commentary track and some talent profiles. Nothing fancy but better than a kick in the pants. I have yet to watch the film while the commentary is playing. I'm not sure if I should because I believe the film can be interpreted in many different ways and I don't want anyone changing it for me.
Rating:
Summary: another Singleton powerhouse
Review: though it deals with a lot of racism and depicting Nazi's in here, it deals a good job with problems that people have. Epps does a great job in the title role and Michael Rapaport is really evil and he is also the one who kills Tyra Banks at the end which is one of the most powerfulest scenes in that movie and Epps watches her die and then he runs to go find Rapaport. Fishburne as the Professor is again always good in roles. Ice Cube also does a good job as well. other actors like Kristy Swanson and Jennifer Connelly appear as well.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: Being a college guy I had to see this movie for Kristy Swanson(Dude, Where's My Car?), she is so hot. This is a great movie and all to true. The great acting of all the stars made this movie a unforgetable one. I also liked the fact that Jay Ferguson was cast in the role of "Billy", he is so hot. (...)
Rating:
Summary: Learning, indeed.
Review: This movie is supposed to be so slanted toward the extremes of racism, homophobia, and sexism that it really should enrage any viewer. Singleton has many themes and many issues involved in this movie and for good reason, because it is representing a heightened college experience.
Many actors in this movie are great. Cole Hauser as the leader of the Skinheads is so terrifying with just his voice. Jennifer Connelly as the lesbian is almost ridiculously good for the role. Kristi Swanson plays wide-eyed well but also a little too naive. Omar Epps carries his far share.
The extras on the DVD are okay. The commentary is not that informative and Singleton sounds kind of like a dirty old man at times, but when the talks about what he was trying to do with this movie you can honestly agree with him. He pulled it off. But the caricature nature of all the characters does leave things a little flat.
Good movie though.
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