MovieChat Forums > South Central (1992) Discussion > I don't understand..

I don't understand..

posted 20 years ago by DreTam2000
9 replies | jump to latest

...and this is something I've posted on the other board as well. Movies like Jason's Lyric and South Central get low ratings, but 'Boyz N The Hood' and 'Menace II Society' get perfect scores on here.

Do we like to see n!ggaz killin' eachother? Is that it? Or maybe it's just the cool spellings of both the titles. This is ridiculous. JL and SC are just as much classics as are the other two. All four have superb directing, nice depictions, good acting, and beautiful stories, etc. Yet only the two with the most killings and "gangsta sh!t" are rated above 6.9. It's a shame how we view black films.

I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way

[–] J_Malice 20 years ago

It could just be that everyone who enjoys this movie as much as we do haven't voted for it yet. I agree that this movie is right on par with Boyz and Menace(maybe even better in some senses). The fact that this movie didn't recieve very much publicity at the time of it's release may have something to do with it. It is a very positive movie and does deserve more credit, but I believe the movie speaks for itself. It was like four movies like this hit once a year back in the early 90's:

1991-Boyz N Tha Hood
1992-South Central
1993-Menace II Society
1994-Fresh (maybe not like it, but close)
then didn't Jason's lyric come out in 1995??? Regardless, I agree with you and think they should all get the same amount of respect/votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v223/BobbyRZADigital/redpajamagirl11111.jpg

[–] orders-40 19 years ago

I disagree; look at a film like "Do the Right Thing," which has a minimal amount of violence in its climax yet is highly regarded as one of the best black films of all-time. "South Central" certainly had good qualities, but missed the mark in many aspects. It often felt insincere in its ethnic portrayals, like in forcing the race issue by having Jimmie referring to ping-pong as "honky ball" for no apparent reason, or in goofy names like "Genie Lamp." It could certainly have been one of the best of the 90s if handled properly, and not rushed to meet the demand for these films, but its flaws do loom rather large.

[–] DreTam2000 19 years ago

You might be right. And I appreciate your response. It feels good to hear some honest critique coming from the technical/artistic aspect. I just hate how films like "Menace II Society" and "Boyz N The Hood" (the latter of which was spectacular BTW) get good ratings, when "South Central" moved me so much more. You're right though. The film wasn't treated with the care of the other two. I respect the former two for being documentary-style, realistic depictions of the community, but "South Central" was just too awesome for me.

I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way

[–] kli753 19 years ago

"It often felt insincere in its ethnic portrayals, like in forcing the race issue by having Jimmie referring to ping-pong as "honky ball" for no apparent reason, or in goofy names like "Genie Lamp.""

No offense, but I think that's going a bit overboard. American History X forces WAY TO MUCH the race issue yet it receives a much higher score. I don't think any barriers were broken by referring to table tennis as "honkey ball" or some dude named Genie Lamp (a name really can't have much relevence to the story of the movie).

Why did Boyz and Menace do good? Well back in the day these movies were the most popular. And Boyz is the basically the essential hood movie. South Central, Juice, even Menace are considered just offspins of Boyz. All of them are great though.

What's real good about this movie is that it goes to a different direction than Boyz and Menace. Menace and Boyz are the same thing; young black youth, violence around them, then tragedy. South Central tried to do something different. The message was different. It was about people making mistakes and wanting to change, and while some things change, much more stays the same. The climax/ending is incredible.

You have to realize the ratings on these boards are bull$@%@. People rate Lord of the Rings as a top 10 movie, but that's because it just came out and it floored people. 40 years ago and maybe people would disagree. It's all about popularity on here, not quality.

[–] DreTam2000 19 years ago

...thanks for your response. It puts a thing or two in perspective. I wish this movie was more popular than it is, but atleast there are many of us who have been touched by it, and recognize its potential as an amazing piece of cinema. It definitely was a more positive outlook than usual black films of the early 90s.

We should rate it up..

I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way

[–] J_Malice 19 years ago

South Central tried to do something different. The message was different. It was about people making mistakes and wanting to change

The same thing could be said about "Menace II Society". Caine had screwed his life up, alot and he was in the process of changing at the end when he was moving to Atlanta. Unfortunately, we know that never happened. He was wanting to make a change, though, or it seemed.

Please.........don't let him kill me- Kate "The Omen"(2006)

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] DreTam2000 16 years ago

After the years have passed and I have come to understand films better, and what makes a good film good, I realize now what it is about this movie that is inferior to BITH and MIIS. I realize what makes BITH and MIIS so wonderfully done.

It's their superior, tightly done editing and documentary-style adaptations of real hood life.

That's what puts them above others. South Central, as good a film as it is, is not as crisply done in the performance and depictions department.

Some things are not fine tuned in the delivery of the film. It has superior story to MIIS and BITH because those two films are supposed to be documentary-style depictions of the real world. Too much story would take away from their points. This is because real life doesn't have a shaped plot; it just unfolds naturally.

South Central wasn't attempting that same style, and gets applauded for attempting a bold, emotional tale with a wonderfully done plot. Only some things aren't as crisply done as they could be.

I'm not a control freak, I just like things my way

[–] 16 years ago

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