1) slam poetry sucks. it demeans an actual art form, much like ebonics demeans the English language
2) this movie sucked. not only was the "rhymin, yo" really horrible, but the acting was terrible. they should be sent acting school...
3) this movie really, really sucked. DON'T WATCH IT unless you want your IQ to drop significantly.
1) Slam poetry is true poetic expression, such quick language reactions demand high intelligence and extreme creativity. Ebonics does not demean the English language, it enhances it in the same way that all creative additions do to a language. The only thing that can demean a language is when one lowers the vocabulary to _fewer_ words (as using the expression "it sucks" all the time instead of providing genuine explanations).
2) I haven't had a chance to see this movie yet, but I have heard at least 50% of Saul Williams' rhymes and poetry, and I know it to be deep, meaningful, creative, and full of original metaphors. It has soul, and reason to it. I also saw his role in K-Pax, where he did a really great job, I don't know about the other characters in Slam though, like I said, I haven't seen it yet, but am looking forward to seeing it soon.
3) I think that line would be more fitting for Vin Diesel movies such as "Triple-X" with...
I know this is all totally subjective opinions, but so was your post ;)
It would be difficult for the acting to suck, considering a majority of the people in the movie had actually written the slam poetry they performed. Just because you don't like something doesnt make it any less of an art form. Slam is just oral poetry, rant style. I thought the actors put a huge amount of emotion and sincerity into their work. It portrayed an actual culture, and culture doesn't demean anything. And as far as your "IQ dropping significantly", I seriously doubt you could have written something that powerful and personal, memorized it, and performed it- most people can't. People like Saul Williams have real talent and express themselves in the way that works for them, and I thought this movie was very inspiring.
share[deleted]
This has got to be my favorite movie of all times hands down(with Whiteboyz in a close second) I mean the only problem I could even begin to see somebody havin with this film would be the low budget production the acting was superb I have never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever(thats not a typo by the way) felt the level of emotion in any acting performance as a did in this film I mean that scene when Saul and Sonja were arguing damn near made feel like I was right on that damn porch with them and I felt his pain, I mean I felt it like it was the first I ever saw a movie where someone was talking about there situation and I genuinely felt their pain. So that was a first for me I mean seein that made me finally realize why those snooty big wigs put so much emphasis on so-called really good dramas(Oscars, Golden Globe, Academy, etc) you know I never understood why some people would rather give an award to drama movie than a badass action flick, that was until I saw this film, Saul should have gotten some kinda award for that period but thats just the way this society is besides the only way we will probably ever get to see African-Americans giving good performances is probably low budget films and they probably won't get the credit they deserve nor an award. Oh and don't even get me started on Bonz Malone that dude is like my idol, I haven't seen that dude do role yet that I didn't like and one last thing that scene in the prison yard where Saul started brakin them dudes off wit some real knowledge that right there let me know alot people were not going to like this film because when a film contains supreme knowledge like that and people aren't learnt or just don't like hearin African-Americans talk like that they start hatin on it, but to me this movie is truly a gem among fake jewels.
sharei like jimmy fuc king huang
i know who his dad is
I thought this movie was okay. A bit cliched, though.
But what I really don't like is this slam poetry. I guess a little bit is all right, but doesn't it all start to sound the same after a while? The main points are; don't be racist, don't be sexist, don't be materialistic, yada, yada, yada.... Everyone is so over the top and self congratulatory. It seems to be more of a public speaking contest for sanctimonious showoffs, as opposed to poetry.
>It seems to be more of a public speaking contest for sanctimonious showoffs, >as opposed to poetry.
And here I thought thats what poetry was.
I dont know if people were listening, but the slam poetry in this movie doesnt all have the same message. And to say your iq will drop when you watch this movie makes me think that you just couldnt follow. It suprised me because i usually have a pretty easy time following a movies story and allusions, but this one had me on my toes, it actually took me a while to figure out what happened in the first 1/4-1/2 because i wasnt paying 100% attention, i was just watching it. By the end i found this movie very good, and i felt inspired, as is the effect of most of saul william's work on me.
----Look at that black kid, he'll be like. I want that purple stuff.
>It seems to be more of a public speaking contest for sanctimonious showoffs, >as opposed to poetry.
And here I thought thats what poetry was. Only when the poetry is really bad, like it was in this movie.
[deleted]