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Brooklyn Babylon

Brooklyn Babylon

List Price: $14.98
Your Price: $13.48
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Offbeat Romeo and Juliet with the Roots, how can you miss?
Review: Alright, this film is plain horrible. While I admit that this isn't the most original telling of the most original story, there's much more to it than that. To whoever had a problem with the "racism" in this film, the importance of Rastafarian ideals is obviously paramount to the movie, and failure to recognize this can lead to failure to understand it. The narration of the movie is one of the coolest things I have ever heard. Rahzel, the Godfather of Noyze, showcases his vocal talents in this narration, and it is very artfully done. Just as Black Thought and Rahzel fit together in the Roots, they fit in this movie. Perhaps one needs to understand the offbeat nature of Roots art to get the film. All in all, the story is well acted and the fusion of the Roots into the movie is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I hope the Roots do this more.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Offbeat Romeo and Juliet with the Roots, how can you miss?
Review: Alright, this film is plain horrible. While I admit that this isn't the most original telling of the most original story, there's much more to it than that. To whoever had a problem with the "racism" in this film, the importance of Rastafarian ideals is obviously paramount to the movie, and failure to recognize this can lead to failure to understand it. The narration of the movie is one of the coolest things I have ever heard. Rahzel, the Godfather of Noyze, showcases his vocal talents in this narration, and it is very artfully done. Just as Black Thought and Rahzel fit together in the Roots, they fit in this movie. Perhaps one needs to understand the offbeat nature of Roots art to get the film. All in all, the story is well acted and the fusion of the Roots into the movie is one of the coolest things I've ever seen. I hope the Roots do this more.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wheres The Soundtrack?
Review: Excellent music, excellent performances by the roots and even Spragga Benz, I'd like to get the soundtrack if its available. The story bases itself loosely around the Song of Solomon, and lets you know of how the rastas see themselves as descendant of Solomon (jewish king) and Sheba. The garden scene and others all mirror that earliest and greatest of love poems, and that's where the narrator gets his stuff from. I thought the movie was better than most people did, maybe a little cliche, but well acted, not overacted, and just good to watch, good brooklyn scenes. Even the cameos are well done (slick rick).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: madd cool
Review: First off- I gotta say that Mark Levin is the man!! He is well on his way to developing a film language that speaks to the depth and beauty of hip hop culture. Like "Slam", this flick is structurally adventurous and beautifuly acted. Cats in Hollywod betta watch out- Tariq Trotter (aka Black Thought) is not only a dope MC- he's also got madd thesbian chops! Karen Goberman gives a beautifully subtle performance- and Bonz...well Bonz is pure charisma.

The film's strenght lies in the chemistry between the two leads. Most flicks depict interracial relationships as either silly and shallow (Jungle Fever) or corny and sentimental (Save the Last Dance). Trotter and Goberman build a smoldering yet subtle connection that helps this flick rise above the usual "Can't we all just get along" propoganda.

Spend dat money!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: madd cool
Review: First off- I gotta say that Mark Levin is the man!! He is well on his way to developing a film language that speaks to the depth and beauty of hip hop culture. Like "Slam", this flick is structurally adventurous and beautifuly acted. Cats in Hollywod betta watch out- Tariq Trotter (aka Black Thought) is not only a dope MC- he's also got madd thesbian chops! Karen Goberman gives a beautifully subtle performance- and Bonz...well Bonz is pure charisma.

The film's strenght lies in the chemistry between the two leads. Most flicks depict interracial relationships as either silly and shallow (Jungle Fever) or corny and sentimental (Save the Last Dance). Trotter and Goberman build a smoldering yet subtle connection that helps this flick rise above the usual "Can't we all just get along" propoganda.

Spend dat money!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: good acting from the roots (Black Thought)
Review: For being a low budget movie this was pretty decent compared to the movies contributed by Snoop,Master P,DMX and Fat Joe.(Mostly all weak).Black Thought really held his own.If your into good rap themed movies then this is one to get.It deals with prejudice between black and jewish people with love and a baby resulting from the lead characters.Very good!!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Most of you seem to miss the underlying point
Review: I find it shocking that almost everyone saw this as a retread of the Romeo & Juliet or West Side Story kind of forbidden love tale when the device the plot actually hinges on is the Biblical Song Of Solomon and the Ethiopian legend of Solomon & Sheba. The story and plot follow the story told in the Song Of Solomon much more than they do Romeo & Juliet. As a Jewish man, who happens to be a hip-hop artist, that is married to a Jamaican Rastafarian Brooklynite woman, maybe I found this story just way too irresistable.

No Brooklyn Babylon isn't a cinematic classic, but it beats almost everything else geared towards the young urban demographic with it's intelligence & relatability.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Easy going, mellow and likable in that fashion.
Review: I have to disagree with the first reviewer.

This film is easy going, mellow and uncomplicated. In other words, it's realistic in its simplicity.

Sure, the Romeo and Juliet storyline has been done many times before, and "Brooklyn Babylon" isn't some grand retelling of R & J.

And that's why it's strong.

Unlike "Romeo + Juliet" and "Romeo Must Die" this film doesn't rely on flair, flash and occasional overacting to drive the story.

The relationship between the two leads is believable and yes, while at first, it's the differences between them that attracts them to each other, when you break it down, they love each other DESPITE those differences.

And they do make a good couple on screen. The pairing of Tariq Trotter and Karen Goberman is much more believable than that of DiCaprio-Danes and Jet Li-Aaliyah in their respective movies.

At first, I thought the ending was too abrupt, but after I let the film sink in, I grew to appreciate its symbolism.

At the very least, if you're a Romeo and Juliet fan, rent this movie. Approach the film with an open-mind, not with that of a professional critic or with the mindset of someone looking for the meaning of life and the question of why we are here.

It does have insight if you allow it to show you that.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: TARIQ TROTTER IS SO SEXY!
Review: I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM, I REALLY LOVE THOSE, SEXY KISSABLE LIPS! OHH YEAH, THE MOVIE WAS GREAT!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Must See!
Review: I loved this movie. Both characters were played exceptionally well. You could truly feel the chemistry between them (it was very sensual, very real) and the story was well written. The park and garden scenes were visually rich and shot beautifully. The tension between the two races/religions was strongly felt and quite riveting. I especially enjoyed the string over beats in the score as well as Tariq's performances with his band. I hope to see him in more movies. Props to the director as well. Slam was a wonderfully made film as well. Peace. CLB.


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