Higher Learning

Rating:
Summary: Nazis to Rebels
Review: I really enjoyed Higher Learning by John Singleton. I have read many reviews concerning the graphic nature of the movie and I disagree. I feel that in a movie that attempts to appeal to such a diverse audience, you have to over dramatize the situation in order toget the point across. These campus issues may not explode into the violence show on the screen but present day campus life does have this potential. I go to a predominately white school in the South and I can fully relate to the racism depicted in this movie. The only change is that the Nazi flag is replaced with the Confederate flag.

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Summary: I thought it was a realistic portrayal of modern society!
Review: I really enjoyed this movie. It touched on the aspects of race and diversity on a college campus. unfortunately we live in a segregated world and so this movie portrays reality. My favorite character was tyra Banks because she restrained her frustations and fought back with her mental intellect. This movie not only addressed black/ white discrimination but also lesbian affairs. I really liked this film and I thought it was well put together. It's a sad thing that we see race as a separation factor. There should be no talk of white/black division, rather we should all work together and realize that we are part of the same race.... the human race.

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Summary: Higher Learning made me really think!
Review: Higher Learning made me think about what it really means to be black and white in America, and it not only brought up social issues but college issues, which I understand. I think it was realistic, and i'd recommend it for any race relations class.

Rating:
Summary: Finding a Place
Review: Though Singleton's Higher Learning was greatly a movie about racial issues, it was also about finding oneself and place. Michael Rapaport's character is a young man who doesn't seem to had a healthy childhood. He struggles to find his place among the other students. I felt that he never did find his place among them even when he was accepted by a group.

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Summary: The different issues dealt with everyday on college campuses
Review: I enjoyed Higher Learning to a certain extent. Personally I do not enjoy movies with a lot of violence and sad themes. I'd rather enjoy a movie that doesn't get me down. Parts of the film bothered me. I didn't like the violent ending with Tyra Banks, and the whole KKK thing bothers me as well. But the issues I didn't like are all things that are real in today's society so they needed to be shown. To a certain extent the violence and language was used well in a way to express a mood and feeling for the audience to obtain. The movie is a good reminder for student-athletes that college is not easy while you go to school and are playing in a varsity sport. It shows a younger audience the importance of time management to athlete's and the pressures they will face. It did a good job with Mr. Fishburne of showing a professor's attitude and sympathy, or lack there of, toward students and student-athletes. His character did a good job of reminding the audience about certain issues in life. That life is hard and to succeed and get what you want out of it is really controlled by how much you put into it. Regardless of sex, race, or background nothing in life is given to you because everybody wants to be on top. Malik, a great character, went through many of the main issues in the story. He did a good job of dealing with them and in the end he came on top, but only after did he see that he was going to be a stronger person and would be able to be at his best when things were at there worst. Higher Learning is a good film, and is one that all incoming freshmen should see as well as those who are already in college. It shows the naive, what really can go on at a college campus, and better educates those who don't know.

Rating:
Summary: Dealt with a variety of racial issues
Review: The movie was very broad in dealing with all the issues, but to make those issues apparent is what I liked. Poeple that aren't use to even thinking about the typical race issues should watch this movie because it more than likely would give them a more opened-mind about their beliefs. It shows how each character would deal with the conflicts that arise in a more practical way. I really think this movie emphasizes the more important flaws in our society and lets you think about how you would deal with these issues.

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Summary: Omar Epps is hot!
Review: Omar Epps is the bomb!! I think he is what made this movie so great. It was an inspiring film for today's youth...yadayadayada...Omar is hot!

Rating:
Summary: John singleton at his best
Review: Higher learning is a great film that a college person can relate to easy. I really enjoy this film alot, can't stop watching it. John singleton is at his best with this movie

Rating:
Summary: Higher Learning
Review: Being a freshman in college myself, I was able to relate to a lot of the issues that are addressed in Higher Learning. John Singleton does a good job of pointing them out, though he falters some on really examining them which keeps this film from really succeeding. The movie follows three main characters: Remy, a white male from the not-so-diverse Idaho, Malik, a bad-ass Black male with an attitude and Kristen, an innocent White female. The story revolves around these freshman and how they adjust to the diverse surroundings of Columbus University. Along the way, a number of other colorful characters crop up - almost too many - that move the story along into a very intense and somewhat unrealistic climax.

Malik almost instantly finds solace with the school's group of angry Black folk, who seem to constantly talk about Black Power and how the White man is always keeping them down. Kristen chooses to hang out with a couple of girls who really aren't the best of friends and ends up in the bed of a guy she doesn't want to be with. Later she meets Taryn, a lesbian feminist who helps her cope with the rape and who inadvertantly makes Kristen question her own sexuality. And Remy, poor Remy, just can't seem to fit in with anybody. Try as he might, no one wants to include him until he meets up with the local gang of Neo-nazi skinheads who quickly make him feel at home. Also present in the movie is Fudge, played by Ice Cube who is the Black clique's mentor and Busta Rymes, who does little more than spout out lines that all seem to include the phrase, "White boy."

John Singleton does a good job creating the problems and issues these students face as first time freshman, but beyond that, little is done to explore them and no conclusion is really reached. The Black Power guys have a understandable dislike of the campus police officers and White people in general, but Singleton focuses so much on making their discontent justified that he never shows any sort of closure at the end of the movie. Literally, Jennifer Connelly's character (Taryn) and Fudge (Ice Cube) and Kristen's boyfriend Wayne just drop out of sight the last bit of the movie. You never see them, with the exception of a 2 second clip of Ice Cube, after the climax of the film. What happened to them? We'll never know.

There's some overacting at some parts, particularly with Busta Rymes and some of the scenes with the police officers are just ridiculous. That's my biggest complaint about the movie is this totally unrealistic and biased portrayal of police. They are all racist, White guys who exist only to rag on the Blacks and let the Whites get away with murder (literally). The best parts of the movie are the scenes with the skinheads. Cole Hauser, who plays the skinhead leader Scott, is simultaneously likable and scary. He was the most interesting character to watch, as Hauser really acts the part out with a lot of charisma and fervor. Of course, the movie wouldn't be complete with the Blacks and skinheads getting into a rumble and the skinheads getting their asses kicked. For some reason I have this feeling Ice Cube had a lot to do with how that part of the movie played out.

This movie really doesn't compare to other dramas about racism and diversity, like American History X or Boyz n the Hood (aother John Singleton film) but it does offer some food for thought. It gives you a glimpse of what might happen on a campus where the love of diversity is preached but not practiced and how multi-culturism can make a person isolated and alone. I'm sure there's a lot of people who will find themselve's identifying with Remy throughout the movie, as his character is the one that generates the most sympathy. So give the movie a watch, you may or may not like it, but it's definitely one that shouldn't be ignored, not during times like these.

Rating:
Summary: Higher Learning Blows
Review: This movie totally sucks. If you want to watch a stupid movie with annoying characters Higher learning is your ticket. Every character present is a total lame stereotype from his/her respective race or social click. I recommend putting your eyes out with a red hot poker before subjecting them to the vulgar punishment this trashy film has to offer.