The Lives of Present Day Gangstersby Anonymous
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March 29, 2007:
The movie "Belly" is within a genre of its own. The story follows the lives of two friends Tommy "DMX" and Sincere "Nas". The pair has grown up together on the streets of New York with crime flooding all around them as their only means to create the lives they claim to desire. As time goes on and situations become more serious, the two realize they want different things for themselves. Sincere aspires for the family life in order to take care of his wife and young daughter. Tommy on the other hand wants to continue his life of sin and in fact step things up a notch becoming more dangerous and out of control. The friends find themselves setting up a highly illegal operation that ultimately leads to unfavorable effects on their relationship. This film is an attractive portrayal of the lifestyle many individuals in our day dream of but will never achieve. Many who review this movie like to claim this movie is purely a bunch of heinously wealthy rap stars who only want to flaunt their money and pretend to be gangster, but I think this movie does more than that. Because the actors in this movie have seen many of the events within this movie in their own lives it makes the film more relatable and real to the audience. Hype Williams creates a feeling within "Belly" that draws the viewer in. The combination of color schemes and music forms an alternate form of communication. For example, the opening scene, which I would consider to be unmatched, features deep bright blues flashing to the beat of the music and the actions by the characters moving to the sounds. The cinematography in and of itself is a reason to see this film and simply put outstanding. The acting in "Belly" to me is probably the biggest deficit to this movie and the most obvious. The actors in this film are first and foremost in the music industry and therefore their acting skills are not exactly what one would consider to be "up to par". Getting past all that is the hardest part in watching this film. Overall, I would say it is sufficient, but not exceptional. One advantage to having rappers so highly involved in this movie is also the same thing that hooked me to this movie instantly. The musical selection is terrific. Hip hop fans all over can embrace this movie for the simple fact that the music holds the movie together and fits so perfectly with the themes. Overall, the story of this movie shines light on the darker side of getting the luxurious life we dream of and presents the viewer with two paths in which a person can take. I would definitely recommend "Belly" to anyone who enjoys movies involving crime, drugs, hip hop, and straight up gangsters.
This review was written about the DVD Wide Screen edition.
Stop hatingby Anonymous
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July 05, 2004:
I'll keep it short. Belly is one of the greatest urban/gangsta flicks you'll ever see. Decent acting, nice cinematography, explosive action, and great story
This review was written about the DVD Wide Screen edition.
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