Baby Boy
 

John Singleton's new movie, Baby Boy, will be in theatres around the country today.

What are your thoughts about the movie thusfar? Is this form of movie making out for Black America? Or, do you think that having a movie like this and one like Love and Basketball reflects the breadth of the Black experience?

Are you going to see the movie? If you've already seen it, what are your thoughts?

[This message has been edited by nikki25 (edited June 27, 2001).]

nope...not going to see it...it looks ghetto...now diversified roles are all good...but it is past time we took a hiatus from the ghetto flicks to pump some effort into intelligent comedy, dramas that rival "non-black" productions, a bit of sci-fi and some action-adventure as well...if this is the image that we keep putting out and supporting...we cannot complain when the world wrongly perceives us as thugs and rump shakers... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Ditto.

I can't wait to see it, the previews did not look ghetto to me.

That's rather interesting. I think that Mr. Singleton may have made that statement as a marketing ploy. Whites may have believed that with the downtrodden images of Blacks that they had an understanding of our experience. The new wave of films such as that of movies Love and Basketball, Love Jones, The Best Man, negate their previous "understandings". Singleton's calling these pictures a fascade puts an overcast on those films and makes himself appear as the authentic Black storyteller and filmmaker, thereby validating the downtrodden and outdated image of Blacks in America.

I just plain out think that its a marketing scheme for him. He really needs to know that he has not cornered the market on the Black experience. If he think that he has he needs to experience that mighty wake-up call! Black America is too diverse to be canned and sold. There's just too much diversity.

He's really being rather unfair to Black filmmakers overall when he makes statements that generalize the Black experience.

I don't know what Singleton said or didn't say.

I think I will eventually see the movie. When I saw the making of... on MTV, it really caught my attention. It didn't look ALL THAT ghetto. If you haven't checked out The Making of...you need to.

I still want to see it! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

I did want to go check out the movie but not after those comments! John Singleton will say anything since he hasn't had a hit since Boyz in Hood. He has to go back to the negativity and violence to sell his films. Personally:

1. I have ever lived in the ghetto.

2. Grew up with BOTH of my parents who both have college degrees.

3. I can speak standard English.

Does this make me less black or not apart of the "black experience?" Someone please enlighten me.

The only thing about the movie I don't think I'll like is Tyrese. I don't think he can act.

On the GHETTO note, I'm from the CPT. I see people like this as well as professional business-minded folks evryday. The ghetto/negative (depending on how you want to look at it) aspect is just as much a part of the "black experience" as overcoming it. To pretend that everything is honkie dorie is not real. Don't get me wrong Love & BBAll is my favorite movie. And happy family movies like that do depict reality for a WHOLE LOT of black folks. (I'm one....well kinda. We all got our own family dramas http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif) It's just that movies like that are not a reality for EVERY black person. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif

Did you all know that the role that Tyrese is playing was created for 2Pac?

When John had decided to do the film, he had seen Pac a few days before and told him he had his role. In the convo, Pac told him he was going to Vegas...and the rest is history!

...and I thought it was just me.
He was just fine singing the praises of Coca-Cola on the bus.

I'm not going to see it, because it just doesn't interest me. To me, this seems to be a repeat of Boyz N The Hood, the only exception is that Singleton chose to focus more on the relationship part.

Putting celebrities (Snoop, Tyrese) in a movie does not guarantee that it'll be a blockbuster. Personally, I do not care for the acting of either one of these music artists-just look at Murder Was The Case that Snoop did a few years back.

Singleton saying that other directors aren't "keeping it real" needed to be kept to himself. Just because a black director decides to branch out with a different genre of movie doesn't mean a thing, except that they want to bring some diversity on the big screen.

For those that see the film, please post your opinions on the board!

Have a good Wednesday
*Classy_Diva5*

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"Mind ya own, stay true to ya own, be ya own."

Peace and God Bless
*Classy_Diva5*

I will not pay money to see it. I will only go if my boyfriend wants to see it, which he hasn't said he does. And if he does want to, he'll have to pay. I'm just getting sick of seeing these types of movies. Not that they shouldn't be made but come on. I can relate to some things in these films but I can also relate to films like Soul Food, Love Jones, etc. More important it's not about relating. Why can't we see us doing other things? Why do we always have to have movies that we relate to? Can't we just see US in a good action flick from time to time? I mean I couldn't relate to everything they were going through in the movie Life (it was set in a time way back and I've never been to jail) but yet I enjoyed it immensely. Baby Boy, been there done that. I think it was Boyz in the Hood.

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#10 Sigma (Clark Atlanta University) Spring 1999
Currently: MAL, Southern Region

[This message has been edited by DST Love (edited June 27, 2001).]

I won't be seeing it...BUT if anybody can get me a bootleg cut of the scene of Tyrese's fine choclate ass dancing naked I would be forever grateful.

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Pretty is as Pretty does...and I do it all the time.

OK, I just saw it!!! Curiosity got the best of me, so I caught a matinee. The acting was bad....don't want to spoil it for anyone, so I'll leave it at that. But I will say I have a new respect for Ving Rhames, D*** he's fine.

I will go see it just to see Tyrese and that is reason enough for me!

"Would have been nice to see Tupac in that role."

I have to agree w/ you. There are too many people that try to relate to movies that are being made that the entertainment part is negated and forgotten about. I personally did not plan on seeing this movie in theaters and probably will not order it on Pay Per View...just wait until it comes out on cable. I didn't like Boyz In the Hood and I probably won't like this.

I won't watch this until its on regular TV. John Singleton was talking about how he feels like slapping all these black film makers who keep making happy "black" films(ala Best Man, Soul Food, Love and Basketball) because those are not "real" movies. When he said that I was like WTF? There are Middle and upper class african americans you know. He's talking like through all his success he's been "keeping it real" in an apartment in Compton. Give me a break.

I don't think I'll go to the movies to see this. Whenever I see the previews and Tyrese says that line to the effect of, "I'm gon make you my wife" or "you my wife" or whatever...he just sounds terrible! ugh! It just sounds like he can't act at all in that line. Hopefully, that's the only line where he sounds like that. I think the concept of the movie seems good, but I'm not feeling Tyrese. Plus, I'm not a big fan of rapper/singers who try to act. I mean, Will Smith is about the only person who actually did it. He's not the greatest, but um, he's a LOT better than some of these rapper/actor people. I think I'll wait until it hits the video store.

Here's a link to a profile in the Village Voice about Singleton, Baby Boy and Shaft: www.villagevoice.com/issues/0126/tate.shtml

I really don't want to see this movie in the theatres. If I'm over a friends house and they happen to have a viewing of the movie in a few months then I shall take a peek.

I do find it refreshing, however, that Singleton will explore the relationship aspect a little more. That was the overpowering theme for Boyz N' The Hood for me. The father-son, brother-brother, mother-son relationship that we saw on-screen continues to pervade in my consciousness.

Like many of you, I do think its time that we had more diversity in the film industry. It's time for people to really stretch their imaginations. After a while, I'll get tired of seeing flicks like The Best Man, The Wood, and Love Jones, and will want something else. We really need to stretch out and do different things. Historical pieces, romantic comedy, and action/thriller kinds of movies have not been done by black filmmakers. If they want to really be diverse in what they are offering, stretch the thinking a tad. At the same time, when they come out with these type of movies, we need to be willing to support it.

Now, on my boy, Willie Will (Will Smith), the brother has certainly done well for himself. He's shown that he can do different flicks from ID4 to The Legend of Bagger Vance. If you really want to become convinced of Will's abilities, check out Six Degrees of Seperation from your video store.


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[This message has been edited by nikki25 (edited June 28, 2001).]

I went to see the movie this past weekend and thought it was horrible. After the first ten minutes, I was like let's go. Just because you are famous does not mean you can act.

Bowing head... "OK I did it! I went to see Baby Boy!"

It wasn't that bad, it actually had a decent plot.However, Singleton wasn't too creative with this one,he just took the script from Menace to Society and changed the ending. I have to say, there is something seriously wrong in a movie where the lead actor can not ACT. I couldn't tell if I was supposed to laugh or cry at certain parts. The role would have been better suited to 2-PAC.

I am a little weary of these life-in-the-ghetto love stories. Singleton seems to think that sums up the black experience. I'm sure he'll learn when the money stops flowing in.

Not going to see it. I like to see actors act. I like to see singers sing. However, I do not like to see singers act. I think Tyrese should stay on the bus and sing about soft drinks. I liked him in those days. Some un-known, deserving black actor could have had this role but a singer who already has his face out there has it. I don't like that. I can understand when MTV does it with stuff like "Carmen - A Hip Hopera" or "Love Song". It's music television, but to pay to see a singer try to act, no thanks I'll wait til HBO.

Girl, you are being more than fair when you say that the movie wasn't bad.
I love movies about real life stuff, but come on, did it have to be so GHETTO!

I hate "sharing" that type of movie with the white people in the audience.

How many times did girlfriend have to say that jacked up sentence?
"He don't luv me no mo!"
(she said it four to five times)

Ladies, please wait for this one on video. That way you won't have to look around the movie theater wondering if the all of the white people in the audience think that this is the way all black people behave.



[This message has been edited by Silk (edited July 02, 2001).]

Ok I saw the movie last night. Waiting for this movie to come on video is a no-no also. How about everyone wait until it comes on USA and watch USA cut the movie up..maybe they will do a better job than Singleton did. The movie was horrible and the plot was lost in the shuffle either between the profanity or the sex scenes. I can't believe John Singleton waited so many years for a new movie and this was the result. It was a Boys in the Hood, Menance to Society, I Got the Hookup, and South Central all rolled up in one. Save your money.

[This message has been edited by Total Elegance (edited July 03, 2001).]

Hey sorors--I have been away for awhile..
My hubby just had to see that mess...It was ..so childish!!
It was way to long!!

Dang-I guess I'm the only one who thought it was decent. I thought Tyrese did okay. I mean, after all, this WAS his acting debut (plus in some scenes he looked like he was workin wit something http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif I wouldn't compare it to another "hood" movie. I mean, it wasn't perfect but I guess I could relate to different aspects of the movie. I'm under 20, so maybe this film is not for more "mature" audiences...

I liked it as well. I had convinced myself I wouldn't, but I gave in and saw it.. and I was pleasantly surprised. Tyrese's acting was a lot better than they insinuated on the preview:

(Tyrese, in monotone): Ay girl.. you got mah baby, and you prolly gone be mah wife! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif

It was okaaay.. but the movie with Morris Chestnutt and Vivica Fox on the previews looked much better. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif

hello, i went to see baby boy over the weekend and i wasn't too impressed. my friends really enjoyed it, but i thought it could have been better

I haven't seen it yet, and probably won't because of the negative vibes I am feeling from reading your posts. I will probably wait until it comes on TV or something.

I saw the movie. It wasn't the greatest, but several parts had me in stitches. Those of you who saw the movie know what I'm talking about:

-the blue bike
-Ving Rhames cooking breakfast.

lol, and don't forget about that hairdresser

Okay, one of my guilty pleasures is watching this movie. I actually went to see it during its opening weekend and was much less than impressed (the ghetto audience that insisted on hooting and howling during the sex scenes and talking back the the screen may have had something to do with it :rolleyes: ). Then, I saw it on HBO3000 (Mama Classy has digital cable) one night and realized how truly funny this movie was. I don't think all of the comedic parts were intentional though because some of the acting was so bad that I had to laugh.

Well, I rented it from Blockbuster the other day because I hadn't seen it in a while and I needed a good laugh. The DVD has all of the extra selections, including the deleted scenes. This movie could have been much better if some of these scenes hadn't been deleted. A lot of the storyline, foundation, and character development ended up on the cutting room floor.

One extra scene develops Juanita, Jody's mother, as a real source of guidance and growth for him. When he gives SweetPea a little speech in a parking lot about buyers vs. sellers, it seems out of place because there is really no reason for the sudden revelation. When in fact, Juanita is the one who told him all of that. Everything he says comes from her mouth first.

There was also more exploration of his relationship with his son and his daughter. As the movie is now, his kids, especially the baby girl, are more like props. There is no relationship between them and their father. In fact, there are only two times in the movie that we see Jody with his daughter. And, there is also discussion of Jody's dead brother Ray-Ray and the background on why Jody and SweetPea were in jail is also given.

A lot of the foundation of the film has been lost due to editing. I really thought John Singleton was a better filmmaker than this. Had the film been edited right, the only complaints would have been about the acting and not the storyline.

My boyfriend and I watch that movie last summer when it came on HBO, I must say it was suppose to be a drama but it was more like a comedey to us, we just laughed and laughed the whole movie. Especially at Jodys girlfriend she couldn't act for nothing in the world!