Rating: 
Summary: Uneven and unmotivated
Review: Thirty to fourty minutes could have easily been taken out. The director kept cutting and cutting the movie from here to there. The actors were happy one second then mad the other. It just felt too amateur to me because the whole thing was a mess. Say, these guys are Asians? I thought they were white dudes in yellow skin.
Rating: 
Summary: Cheatsheets As The Gateway Drug?
Review: This film got hyped because it portrayed a subclique that gets little mainstream play: cool Asians nerds. It's a pretty ripe concept to riff off of, but BLT was a flawed effort and can't compare to other, earlier movies that explore the same topic, such as Over the Edge and Kids.Visually, BLT is a hodge podge of styles, with shots ripped off left and right, mainly from Scorcese's Goodfellas but also from a host of other filmschool staples. The cinematography was about what one would expect from a first time director's low budget debut- nondescript and slighty grey, which is a little surprising since it always seems so easy to get a hot, glossy look for anything shot in Southern California. That might've been the aesthitic the cinematographer was aiming for, but it made for a boring look, especially for an MTV film about disaffected Cali youth. Storywise, the movie was verrrrrrrry slooooooooow. And not that shocking. And pretty implausible. I mean, c'mon- their life of crime went from running petty credit card scams and a high school cheatsheet ring to dealing in guns and coke? And their motive for all this secret bad behavior: because they can get away with it and still get into the Ivy League. Uh, yeah sure, I'll buy that. And it all seems even more silly because the actors appear to be at least six years older than any high school student anywhere would ever look. BLT isn't exactly a total waste of time. Despite the increasingly unbelievable plotline, the lead actor's performance is very good and there is a fair amount of chemistry going on in the scenes he has with the cheerleader porno girl. But all in all, it makes you feel sorry for these kids of today- they're being cheated in the "disaffected youth films" category.
Rating: 
Summary: Thinkin' Bout Tomorrow
Review: When I first saw the trailer for the indie film, Better Luck Tomorrow, I was intrigued enough to want to check out the film. The problem though, was that, the movie had a very limited run and was gone in the blink of an eye. Fortunately, the DVD format, gives me another shot to see the film. High-schooler Ben Manibag (Parry Shen) appears to be the "model" student. An overachiever, destined for nothing less than graduating with top honors, and then attending any college of his choosing. Underneath this idyllic persona though, lies a darker side - Ben and some of his bored high school chums lead double lives, flying high in a world of petty crime and material excess in order to ease the pressures of "being perfect" Little do they realize, things are about to spiral out of control, and take all of them on an unexpected journey, that none of them could have forseen. Director Justin Lin and the production team had very little cash to work with to make this film. And yet, somehow the cast and crew managed to overcome that obstacle, in fine style. Some like to mention the high minority ratio of the cast, While this is definately a great thing to see, for me it's not really even an issue for me--This is a unique coming of age tale that anyone can identify with...no matter what their nationality. The cast is just great with solid on screen chemistry. The script from Ernesto M. Foronda & Fabian Marquez has a few notable twists that make things more interesting. I have more respect for films that don't necessarily follow tired old formulas--and this film is in this catagory, for sure. I also really enjoyed the audio commentary track on the DVD Lin, Foronda, and Marquez have an engaging and personable style. The trio's deadication to this film is apparent and doesn't seem false. I would have liked to have heard from a few of the cast members as well though. Better Luck Tomorrow is a film that recieved litte fanfare, outside of the critics circle, but definately deserves a look now. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Mind blowing
Review: Extremely entertaining and thought provoking movie. Its a near classic. Its like Menace II Society, only the main characters are nerdy asian "gangsters."
Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie that Takes Real Risks
Review: "Better Luck Tomorrow" is a clever and disturbing film that is disguised as something upbeat and bright, only to hide dark and troubled layers within. It's for sure a film that takes you by surprise by giving you something you'd never expect from the looks of it. This is probably one of the film's strongest strengths. Ben Manibag appears to be your average overachiever; a bright kid that gets good marks in school and has a steady job. He appears to be every parents' dream. However, Ben and his friends are living double lives as they play dirty outside of school. Always committing some sort of petty crime, it is only a matter of time that Ben and his friends become greedy and start taking more risks and performing dangerous crimes. The appearances of being "bright and perfect students" gives them the freedom to do almost anything they wish without being examined under a microscope, and with your typical "model student" stereotypes to keep their darker sides hidden. Of course, everything that has a beginning has an end. It's just a question of when the downward spiral begins and how deep they fall into the rabbit hole with no option of turning back. For a low-budget movie, it does not look nor feel like one. In fact, it feels and looks like a film made by professionals. The directing and editing styles are slightly reminiscent of "Requiem for a Dream," but still add an original and fresh element to the film. The story presented to us is thought-provoking, disturbing, scary and authentic. Very much like Ben and his friends, the movie is disguised as something normal with a darker side that is not clear right from the word "go," but ever so increases little by little as the film progresses. You do not know what will come next, and you have no idea how things are going to turn out in the end. A great thing about the movie is that it takes the risk of not being ordinary and brings honesty to the story and the characters. You could easily see things that are portrayed in this movie happen next door to you. The events that take place do not occur in ghettos or poor neighborhoods; nor do they involve gang-bangers and hoodlums. Everything takes place in suburbia and involves your "everyday kids," which makes it all the more effective and horrifyingly insightful. The cast does a terrific job and the writing is true to itself. The DVD doesn't have much to offer, which is a shame. The movie looks and sounds great. Again, it is very hard to tell that this was a low-budget project, as it has the markings of true professionals. The bright and upbeat cinematography is excellent at concealing hidden truths and darkness. Lacking in special features, the only extra on the DVD is commentary. "Better Luck Tomorrow" is really a film that stands out. While I don't think it's a masterpiece, I certainly think it's better than a lot of the drivel that's out today. If you're looking for a unique and different picture that is both scary and thought-provoking, then this might be the ticket for you. It's a great film with real strengths that ventures away from the ordinary and clichéd.
Rating:
Summary: Oy
Review: holy cannoli...I saw this movie and couldn't think straight afterward. It's awesome.
Rating:
Summary: A Interesting Movie to Watch, Esspecial for a Asian American
Review: I've heard many good things about this movie, but the reason were strange when given to me so I would go watch it at the theater. When I finally watched it on this DVD version, I was kind of watching what maybe unrealistic but maybe true. The story leaves a cliffhanging outcome to what these rascals' future will be, but doesn't stop you from thinking, what was the point of this? I finally figure it out, it was about friendship. Their behaviors, their personalities. It's a interesting movie to watch.
Rating:
Summary: Hmmm not that great
Review: I was definitely disppointed by this movie. It was more Hollywood oriented than I expected. It was great to see some Asian American actors and great to see some expression of what it is like to be an Asian American teenager. However, I thought that the violence in the film detracted from the larger meaning of the movie.
Rating:
Summary: Justin Lin is a genius!
Review: This film is awesome! Great acting, Great story line, and a Great director. What more can anyone ask for? sparky20005 (a person who rated this movie) said that she didn't agree with the violence. What is she talking about? The violence was necessary and made a good movie great. Maybe you should stick to Disney films from now on...This film is awesome! GET IT!
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic Low Budget Story...
Review: Ben is preoccupied with creating the perfect life for himself by being successful in everything. However, he finds himself having very few friends and there is something missing in his life. In the disguise of his good grades and extracurricular activities he is drawn into a darker world involving crime, drugs, and guns with his friends. This leads to an indulgence in self importance and social status, which is intertwined with pleasures, love and more crime. Better Luck Tomorrow is a fantastic story that was filmed on a modest budget. However, there are moments when the cinematography seems ludicrous and the acting is stiff, which causes some awkwardness in the story. Overall, the cinematic experience is a satisfactory event that muses and entertains the audience.
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