Menace II Society This 1993 ‘hood’ film is flawed, yet it still has some powerful scenes that elevate it from the poor storytelling. The opening scene has two black teenagers entering a Korean store and one character ends up murders both storeowners in cold blood. This opening is both raw and powerful at the same time. This scene reveals the huge contrast between Larenz Tate’s character and the main star Caine 'Kaydee' Lawson.
The acting in this urban drama ranges from extremely good to really bad. Tyrin Turner (Caine) seems to have trouble carrying the role of the main character in this film, and his performance is uneven. On the other hand, Larenz Tate appears to be having the most fun in the movie, playing the crazy O-Dog. Samuel L. Jackson has a small appearance in the film as well; he’s in it long enough to have him shoot someone and yell (What Jackson does best). He rules that scene. A young Jada Pinkett Smith has a satisfactory role in the movie, and look for Charles S. Dutton to bring a small but power role too.
My brother pointed out the main problem he has with the film to me. He told me that the film’s main characters have no redeemable qualities and that the movie sometimes glories violence. I agree with the first part, Caine is a murderer and sells drugs on the side, for some reason, I can’t feel for this character. (In contrast with the main character in Boys in the Hood, who isn’t a bad person, just in a bad environment) I don’t believe the movie glories violence, it merely shows the rawness of those violent acts and how violence can have a snowballing effect, which will come back to bite you in the ass.
Grade B-
“Yeah, so I was in Alien3. So what?”
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