Rating: 
Summary: First rate actors, unfocused film; rent it, don't buy it
Review: "Jungle Fever" is certainly worth seeing for the first rate cast. Each actor gives a magnificent performance. However, as with just about every film he's ever made, Spike Lee packs way too much into this film and therefore dilutes the message, and the film eventually becomes nearly overwhelming. Further, though I appreciate that Spike Lee brings non-mainstream issues to the public forum with his films, he would benefit to learn a little subtlety, as he seems to hit viewers over the head with his messages.
And then there is the issue of the disappointing framework of the film: the interracial relationship between an Italian-American woman and African American man. I think Spike Lee did a major disservice by making this film focus on an adulterous couple. The issue of intermarriage and mixed-race relationships is very interesting and complex. It's sad that there are very few movies on this topic, and even sadder that this one, which is perhaps the most high profile interracial movie of all time, focuses on an adulterous relationship. He could've done so much better. He could've presented a more "honest" relationship, a man and woman who were not cheating on their spouses - a couple that was "normal" in every way except for the fact that they were from different ethnicities.
Watching this film, one can't help but get the sense that Spike Lee himself is opposed to "race mixing." And the production notes of the DVD say that Spike Lee is not condoning or condemning interracial relationships, but merely examining the motives behind them. Um, how about love? Would love be an motive? There are many so-called interracial relationships (scientifically "race" does not even really exist) that are actually founded on love and not on some "thrill" of experiencing something exotic. It's too bad Spike Lee couldn't have made a truly loving relationship the centerpiece of this movie.
Mr. Lee could also have offered some insight into Italian culture's experience with racism, as he allows such insight into the African American experience. For example, he could've addressed the fact that there was a point in US history when Italians were not considered white. (This topic is discussed in books such as ARE ITALIANS WHITE? by Jennifer Guglielmo and Salvatore Salerno.) At one point, Italians were actually considered a race "in-between" black and white. And, as UNA STORIA SEGRETA: THE HISTORY OF ITALIAN AMERICAN EVACUATION AND INTERMENT DURING WORLD WAR II details, Italian-Americans were even put in interment camps, similar to concentration camps, in the United States during World War II. So we have experienced bigotry first hand as well. Providing such insight into the Italian-American experience may've given more depth and nuance to the xenophobia of some of the Italian-American characters in "Jungle Fever." Often, unfortunately and perplexingly, those who have experienced bigotry will then dole it out to others.
To Spike Lee's credit, though, "Jungle Fever" does deal briefly with the fact that Italian-Americans were occasionally lynched in the South.
I am Italian-American, was living in a predominantly African American neighborhood at the time of release of "Jungle Fever," and my parents were a "mixed" couple (my stepfather was Mexican-American; he died in 2001), so this movie should've really resonated with me. But it didn't. It left me feeling alienated, irritated, and overwhelmed. There is simply too much going on in this movie, and it hits viewers over the head with its - too many - messages. Still, it has its good points. The performances are wonderful (except for Spike Lee himself, who plays the same character in every one of his movies). And therefore I would recommend viewing "Jungle Fever" at least once, but I wouldn't recommend buying it.
Andrew Parodi
Rating:
Summary: He's got Jungle Fever, she's got Jungle Fever. . .
Review:
JUNGLE FEVER
Wesley Snipes, Annabella Sciorra, Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Lonette McKee, Anthony Quinn 1991 Synopsis
A married black architect (Snipes) begins an affair with his Italian secretary (Sciorra), which causes them to be scrutinized by their friends and cast out from their families. My Review
Interesting flim by Spike Lee. Soundtrack by Stevie Wonder. The highlight for me was the acting of Lonette McKee (who plays Wesley Snipes wife). How she reacts when she finds out her husband and father of her daughter is cheating on her with a white woman. Very powerful and well written script.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Performances in a Thought-Provoking Script
Review: Although less famous than "Do The Right Thing," "Jungle Fever" is perhaps the deeper of the two films, boasting excellent performances and an intriguing script which raises issues of racism in both the white and black community, with most characters to some degree obsessed with the idea of skin tone as a indication of status. Lee's indictment of racism extends to covert racism in the black community as well as among their white counterparts, and the film spares no one. Fascinating, often powerful, and extremely though provoking!
Rating: 
Summary: RACISM IS SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE?
Review: As to why on Earth anyone would consider the validity in a racist film is beyond me.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent acting despite poor production/scriptwriting.
Review: As usual, Spike Lee's cast of actors and actresses are far more powerful than the cookie cutout characters created by Spike Lee. The interracial dating subject is so tired and boring, I am about to scream! Also, I can't help but wonder why a prominent African American film-maker like Lee always casts his "own" (Black) females in a secondary light to a White or non-Black woman. Perhaps this is to make his films popular at the expense of the dignity of African American woman. Anyway, I LOVED the actors and acting but Spike Lee's work SUCKS!
Rating: 
Summary: One of Spike's Most ambitious films
Review: But he apparently was still having some trouble with balance. The story is , well, you know. And it's a great thing that Spike had the guts to do something like this. And while there was some balance, the scale was a shade racist. Just a shade. Still, one of his absolute best and a must, although he really did have trouble with ending this one.
Rating:
Summary: Spike Showed Truth With This Film
Review: First of all, I am a black female who could care less if someone dates out their race. And I don't know if Spike is a racist or not (because he has dated white women and his father is married to a white woman). But one thing is clear; SOME black people do get offended when they see a black man with a white woman. I have personally seen black women confront black men for dating white women and I have seen black men act crazy when they see a black woman with a white man. In my opinion, Spike showed reality in this film, whether you agree with it or not. However, I don't like this film because it was so unfocused to me. There were too many things going on and in the end, it all seemed useless. I guess Spike wanted to get people talking about race and if that was his goal, then he achieved it. Personally, what I find most offensive and racist is the person who is playing the lead character. He (Snipes) made nasty comments about black women to a black magazine, which explains why his popularity has gone down.
Rating:
Summary: You'll want to catch this "Fever."
Review: Following "Do the Right Thing" and "Malcolm X," this is Spike Lee's best film. It concerns an interracial tryst between a married, well-to-do buppie (Wesley Snipes) and his working-class Italian-American secretary (Annabella Sciorra). Spike Lee pulls no punches in this film, as he illustrates the unfortunate repercussions that sometimes result from interracial relatiosnhips. There's lots of frank dialogue from both sides, and some scenes are tough to watch. Still, Lee has created a beautifully-written, well-produced gem of a film that ranks among his best. Although Universal didn't give this DVD the deluxe treatment it could have gotten (the extras include only a brief featurette and the trailer), it's worth watching and merits a purchase.
Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking
Review: I definitely think that "Jungle Fever" is Spike Lee's masterpiece. It wasn't just the characters that made the storyline and plot interesting, but I also marveled at the brilliance of the soundtrack by Stevie Wonder & Terence Blanchard featuring the Boys Choir of Harlem. Probably one of the best performances in this movie was that of Samuel L. Jackson, playing the role of Gator, Flipper's (Wesley Snipes) older brother. And I would be absolutely remiss if I didn't give honorable mention to my favorite timeless couple, who played Gator and Flipper's parents, and did an exceptional job (Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee). My favorite scene by far was the roundtable discussion that the ladies were having in the aftermath of Flipper's indiscretion with an Italian woman from Bensonhurst (Annabella Sciorra). Lonette McKee who played Drew, Flipper's wife, spoke with such passion and conviction about the society in the past, compared to present-day conflicts with racism, and brought about a fresh, cutting edge conversation with the viewing audience that will be remembered for years to come. Mr. Lee conveyed a message to Hollywood that will not soon be forgotten, and to me that was groundbreaking cinema. In my heart of hearts, I feel that this movie should've at least been nominated for best picture, but it is apparent that Hollywood is not ready for that type of truth, and perhaps never will be. Five stars *****
Rating:
Summary: Groundbreaking
Review: I definitely think that "Jungle Fever" is Spike Lee's masterpiece. It wasn't just the characters that made the storyline and plot interesting, but I also marveled at the brilliance of the soundtrack by Stevie Wonder & Terence Blanchard featuring the Boys Choir of Harlem. Probably one of the best performances in this movie was that of Samuel L. Jackson, playing the role of Gator, Flipper's (Wesley Snipes) older brother. And I would be absolutely remiss if I didn't give honorable mention to my favorite timeless couple, who played Gator and Flipper's parents, and did an exceptional job (Ozzie Davis and Ruby Dee). My favorite scene by far was the roundtable discussion that the ladies were having in the aftermath of Flipper's indiscretion with an Italian woman from Bensonhurst (Annabella Sciorra). Lonette McKee who played Drew, Flipper's wife, spoke with such passion and conviction about the society in the past, compared to present-day conflicts with racism, and brought about a fresh, cutting edge conversation with the viewing audience that will be remembered for years to come. Mr. Lee conveyed a message to Hollywood that will not soon be forgotten, and to me that was groundbreaking cinema. In my heart of hearts, I feel that this movie should've at least been nominated for best picture, but it is apparent that Hollywood is not ready for that type of truth, and perhaps never will be. Five stars *****
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