No, it's not 'Kids'... But that's ok


Between this film and the upcoming 'White Girl', we have 2 films that are getting HEAVY comparisons to 'Kids' and it's just not fair to any of the films, nor future "Youth Culture" projects. 'Kids' is still one of the most underrated, overlooked Masterpieces of Cinema(YES, I said MASTERPIECE). To any urban youth whom grew up in the 90's, it hits home in every sense and it's due to Clark's Directing and Photography background but mainly due to Harmony Korine being engulfed in the lifestyle. It's minimalist nature and the realism it portrayed are almost impossible to recreate...

Now, on to Bang Gang... While it may pay some homage to Kids and even earlier films from France, Japan and the US of course, the rest of the story is most obviously a personal one. It's more Dreamlike and Visual than the counterparts. It's disjointed nature is NOT a bad thing IMO, yet that seems to be where the critics have focused their attention. Now, I'm not saying they have it all wrong. While I enjoy this film, I don't see or feel the electricity that Kids literally OOZED in every scene. One image was more powerful than the next. The Flop House Scene, followed by the Park, followed by the Club and eventually the House Party... Every moment was pure. For me, Korine didn't try to be TOO CLEVER. He knew EXACTLY what he was doing. Raw and emotional. Bang Gang is most definitely TOO stylized. Some of the impact is taken away because of this. What I do praise is the contrast in Cinematography. While Clark, Van Sant and even Nick Gomez of New Jersey Drive all used the Urban Environment, in Kids it was Summer in Manhattan, in NJD it was the Bleakness of Winter and rain soaked streets of Brooklyn and Jersey etc... Here, we get BEAUTY and it was the Right Choice, especially with the Dreamlike Scenes. Widescreen landscapes on the beach. Backyards full of trees and greenery... It was the best and only choice. The disjointed feel was necessary too. Days and Nights blend together, especially at that age and even more so when it's 13 years later. We may remember a Summer or Age but only to a certain extent, this succeeds in that area.

So while comparisons should be left at the door, Bang Gang should be held on its own merit... And while it's not a great film, it was a solid watch and original take on Youth Culture. It doesn't try to be bigger than it is, no matter what Critics say (Or even me for that matter lol). Sorry for the rambling. Just needed to get this off my chest.

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