Rating: 
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.
Rating: 
Summary: Just My Two Cents
Review: Okay, I have to admit, I bought the DVD only because Black Thought was on the cover. Being the huge Roots fan that I am, I felt obligated to give it a viewing. I was not greatly impressed with the script until I considered the source, Bonz Malone (he plays Scratch in the film.) The original script was only 10 or so pages long, meaning that a lot of the dialogue is improvised and it feels that way. Tariq does hold his own as does the female lead, to me, the "supporting" cast is where the film folds up shop. This is a great film that can be used in an educational setting perhaps in a Social Studies class. Reason being because it focusing in on tolerance and helps to bring to light some of the parallels that the two waring fractions have in common. This is best demonstrated during the dinner scene at Sara's house. At any rate, I guess I have to justify my rating of four stars. Two stars because of the soundtrack alone, which by the way is not available (what a pity). The other two stars are earned because of what it is trying to convey; despite the differences that society has being focused on for eons, we still have more things in common, one of which is the ability to love.
Just give it a viewing if you know someone who owns the movie and make your own decision. That is my two cents worth.
Rating: 
Summary: Hopefully The Roots will find a better script next time
Review: So here we got another interracial Romeo and Juliet story. The most distinctive thing about it is that it features acting and a soundtrack by the great hip hop band The Roots. Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter delivers a charismatic performance... of course he's a charismatic MC playing a charismatic MC so it can't be too much of a stretch for him. Karen Goberman is his attractive and likeable love interest, and the two generate a little chemistry... but they are not helped by the script. The racial tension here isn't tangible. It basically is retreading territory that "Do the Right Thing" covered much better, the only difference being that the Italians are replaced by Jews. In DtRT the tension boiled off the screen. Here it feels forced, even though these tensions are very real. Of course fans of the Roots will enjoy the soundtrack and the performances by the band, which are by far the best thing about the film. This would be a two star film without them.
Rating:
Summary: Hopefully The Roots will find a better script next time
Review: So here we got another interracial Romeo and Juliet story. The most distinctive thing about it is that it features acting and a soundtrack by the great hip hop band The Roots. Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter delivers a charismatic performance... of course he's a charismatic MC playing a charismatic MC so it can't be too much of a stretch for him. Karen Goberman is his attractive and likeable love interest, and the two generate a little chemistry... but they are not helped by the script. The racial tension here isn't tangible. It basically is retreading territory that "Do the Right Thing" covered much better, the only difference being that the Italians are replaced by Jews. In DtRT the tension boiled off the screen. Here it feels forced, even though these tensions are very real. Of course fans of the Roots will enjoy the soundtrack and the performances by the band, which are by far the best thing about the film. This would be a two star film without them.
Rating:
Summary: ONLY BAD THING IS THERE WASN'T MORE
Review: TARIQ TROTTER OR BLACK THOUGHT IS SO AMAZINGLY CHARISMATIC HE BRINGS U INTO THE FILM AND BASICALLY CARRIES IT ON HIS BACK I WAS SUPRISED AT HOW SEXY HE WAS AND THANK GOD THIS WAS REALISTIC AND NOT OVERACTED THE UNDERSTORY WAS INTERESTING AND PRETTY DEEP.I WISH IT COULDVE LASTED FOREVER.
Rating: 
Summary: it fails on every possible level
Review: this film is just horrible:1. although this movie is nominally concerned with the evils of racism, it uses some really ugly racial sterotypes. the west indian day parade is depicted at a mindless orgy of primitives in strange costumes. in fact, there's an important spiritual side to carribean festivals, which this film totally ignores. the black folks are shown to be just a bunch of weed-smoking, irrational fools. consider the bizare advice sol's "father figure" gives him, and note the sceen where one brother procures some explosives -- and from whom? an arab. there's also the standard "big momma" character with a fake sounding west indian "you mus get an educaaashun"-type accent thrown in. 2. the film is narrated in a very way. not only are his vocal effects overdone, but the narrator breaks in to explain what's going on at times when doing so is unnecessary. there's never a need to have a narrator do a recap; the story itself should be clear. 3. the two main characters don't work well together. there's no sense that these two people would ever like each other, much less fall in love. the only thing it could be is the attraction of "the other" which was emphasized in mississippi masala, but either ignored here or handled in a trite -- "can i touch your hair" -- and offensive way. 4. brooklyn babylon just doesn't add anything to the genre. from "west side story" to "china girl" to "romeo must die" we've seen r&j material explored from a variety of stupid angles. why add another film to this mess? what was the director's new vision? other than changing the racial/gender dynamics slightly, there's no difference between this and any other r&j clone. okay, the sound track is great. and, at times, the two main characters demonstrate some acting talent. So there are a few good spots, but there's not nearly enough to go around.
Rating:
Summary: Worthwhile
Review: This is an independent film about forbidden love and the ensuing violent cultural clashes between Brooklyn's African-American and Jewish Communities. The storyline is somewhat predictable, but the film's musical score, detailed cinematography, and suprisingly decent acting make it a worthwhile watch. The chemistry between the main characters Sol (Tariq Trotter) and Sara (Karen Goberman), was not entirely believable, and the acting by the secondary actors could have used some touching up. Allusions to Ancient Babylon and King Solomon's Empire put an interesting twist on the story. You will see visually spectacular footage of Brooklyn's Carribean Festival (a kind of Mardi Gras celebration). If you've never seen or heard the Roots perform, you are in for a treat. They present an evocative style of Hip-Hop, without relying on those played out themes (i.e. money, sex, violence). The sound they create is truly organic and full of musical integrity. Yes, we've seen forbidden love stories before, but none quite like this.
Rating:
Summary: HOTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: This is the best hood love story i have seen.Black Thought and the rest of The Roots had a great performance. Black with his love for a jewish girl and hate for the rest of the jews.He lets his heart decide and not his mind or boys. Him and his crew are the best in the music business.if you like this movie I recommend you to get all their cds.Peace.
Rating:
Summary: Brooklyn Babylon
Review: This movie was an excellent display of the Rastafarian backround and the Jewish backround. Both of the characters did an excellent job and also the supporting cast too. It was very, real, modern, and entertaining. The music was superb and displayed a great mixture of both worlds. If you haven't seen this movie, go see it. It grabs you with the cultural aspects of both peolple. It's a winner!
Rating:
Summary: Brooklyn Babylon
Review: This movie was an excellent display of the Rastafarian backround and the Jewish backround. Both of the characters did an excellent job and also the supporting cast too. It was very, real, modern, and entertaining. The music was superb and displayed a great mixture of both worlds. If you haven't seen this movie, go see it. It grabs you with the cultural aspects of both peolple. It's a winner!
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