Customer Reviews

New Jack City (Widescreen/Full Screen)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

New Jack City is a classic gangster movie and is based on a true story. I highly recommend it for anyone's collection, or just for anyone who likes 90's ganster movies. Definitely one of my top picks. (Awesome sound track too!)

"Drugs ain't a black thing, or a white thing. It's a death thing. Death don't give a s*** about color."-Nick Perrti

I first saw this in 1993 and was totally blown away by the directing, cinematography, script and acting and so I was really looking forward to seeing it again after an absence of almost thirteen years. But after seeing this a second time, I could scarcely believe I was watching a film I had remembered very well. In 1994 I would have given this film 5 out of 5 but instead I've given it a 4 due to its frail ending.

New Jack City (1991) is an interesting movie that aims to please. This film marks the first time Mario Van Peebles directed a theatrical released film (that his father helped co-write) and he co-stars in the film as well. The movie follows a small time hood Nino Brown (Wesley Snipes) who builds up a vast criminal empire by flooding the streets with crack cocaine. Ice-T and Judd Nelson co-stars as well as two unorthodox cops who want to lock up Nino Brown. Allen Payne (Gee Money) and Mario van Peebles himself (Stone) has also giving some approved performances in here.

The acting is not the strongest part of this film but to me, three men made this film worthy of attention which is Wesley, Ice-T, and Rock. Chris Rock is unforgettable in this movie and he shines in his role as the "crack-head" Pookie. He has so many one-liners that are hysterical funny. The real winner is truly Wesley Snipes, who plays a role we don't usually identify with him, and does so with considerable spirit. He is utterly believable; the scene where he describes first killing someone while high on drugs scared the crap out of me - this is not someone I want as a friend! - Which happens to be a central theme of this film.

There are flaws in it to be sure, primarily of continuity - there are moments for which we are unprepared, and loose ends that don't get tied. The "Cash Money" drug cartel never gets its act together as a criminal organization - which may be the point, but in which case this needs greater exploration on the street level - without soldiers, you have no army, a lesson the Mafia could still teach the younger gangs. But taken all-in-all, "New Jack City" is a tough crime thriller, well-presented, with a great cast at their strongest. Despite it flaws, it holds a lot of strong and impressive moments which makes this worth a watch.

Fool, this film be the bomb, and I don't mean it bombed. Few movies touch me, but in New Jack City, the message was loud and clear, 'Keep it real and don't get caught'. Nino Brown had it all, and I mean he ruled the school. The problem was he got greedy. He makes deals with undercover cops, he wants to take down the mob, and his gang is falling apart. Plus he drops a decent looking ho for a real skanky looking ho.

It funny to see the size of cell phones back then, but the hair styles were pretty ridiculous too. Ice T is no Slash, but he can wear a top hat in the rain just as easily. Judd Nelson has a race problem in this movie, He can't tell the difference between himself, a white cop, and Pookie, a black crackhead. He finally settle the matter buy proclaiming he is 'Poor White Trash Pookie'.

In the end though, the message is clear. "If you've lost everything, you might as well cut loose and run. You never know, the libraian you shot may have a son coming to take you down." Or another moral of the story is "Avoid crazy old men on the stairs when you leave the courtroom."

I know some people did not like this movie, but I loved it. The film had me hating some characters and loving others. Ice-T played his role well in this film. The scene that still gets me to this day is when he gets Pookie from that crack house. The other scene is when he is with the drug lord, and finds out HE is the man responsible for his mothers death. That scene was deep. The film has a good cast, Mario Van Peebles, Wesley Snipes, Bill Nunn, Allen Payne, Vanessa Williams, Micheal Michaels and some other folks. The film really hipped you to how bad the drug scene is in the inner city.

I like the pace at which the story in this movie was told. It's not blazing fast so you pick up on all the little things. The acting from all is done very well. Ice Tee is a beliable cop, I appericated how he wasn't shown as some perfect cop, but he wasn't bad either. He was human, which added to the realism. Westly Snipes delivers a stunning performance as Nino Brown. I think everyone should watch this movie and Sugar Hill back to back. Westly is great in both, and it's amazing how oppisite the drug king pin character he plays really are in those 2 movies. New Jack City is gritty and real. And much like Scarface, you'll be left with a feeling of just how crazy life can be.

Now I don't ignore the fact that at times this a serious and dark
movie with the junkie played by Chris Rock(believable and scary)
and other mentions of crack babys.But this movie is entertaining
the whole way through.I loved Judd Nelson and Ice-T was great and
Wesley Snipes was a modern day Tony Montana.Comparisons to Scar-
Face are made in reviews but they're really not that much alike
this is no 3 hour long epic about one man.It's about cops dedicatd to stoping the crack(cmb)gang and ridding the streets of
drugs.It's fun to watch the shoot-outs between cmb and the mob
also the cop's pull some dirty moves on cmb as well.Good movie
all around.Despite what people say this is not an anti-drug movie
but a basic action cop's and bad guys movie with the usual gung-
ho cops and ruthless ammoral bad guy all played well by the actors.I couldn't get enough.

I love hood movies and as far as acting, writing, characters and sheer believeability go, this movie ranks way below films such as Boyz n the Hood, Juice, Clockers, ect.

Besides Ice T's (Scotty) and Snipes (Nino), all the other characters seemed so false. Even though those are the two main characters, if all your other characters arent believeable, the whole movie falls apart. The chief of police is like someone out of a cartoon. Chris Rock (Pookie) isnt funny and does his part no justice. Mario Van Peebles is a joke

Apparently a drug syndicate is able to take over and entire apartment building in NYC...for years!! Its amazing isnt it. They can ride up in a drop top jeep and shoot people point blank in the head in broad daylight and not get caught. The story is just so hard to swallow.

Also the cinematography is really sub par. There is no artistry in any of the shots even in the dialogue. It also seems like the entire movie moves too fast for the events that are supposedly taking place. There are no subtle nuances at all in this film. I would say dont waste your time, the movie isnt really exciting at all, the performances are boring as is the plot. Go watch Juice.

If you liked Scarface, you'll probably like this movie too. It gives u a first person perspective of how the crack game works and the consequences of getting involved. BUY DIS FlICK!

This film is one of the best "Scarface remakes" I have seen. the action and the drama kept you on the edge of your seat. It sends out a powerful message at the end. This film made Wesley Snipes famous and it launched the acting career of rapper Ice-T. If you like action/crime-dramas, this is one of the best.

of being angry at weak gang movies, like Belly, and state property, I realy didn't know what to expect when I saw this last year, when my brother brought it over. I was hoping it didn't turn out to be a horrible black crime movie, and tank God it wasn't. Wesley Snipes plays Neno Borwn, who's just Undeniebly one of the evilest characters in movie history. This guy doesnt' care who he sells dope to, kids, wemon, his boys, as long as he's sitting on a pile of money, and having the world in his hands. It also has Ice-T, who does real good in this this movie, so far his best performance, you got Allen Payne, playing Neno browns brother G-Money, and Chris Rock, in one of his early, less comidec films, as pookie, a crackhead. Well this movie does deliver some messages, and some good ol' shootouts. This and King of New York are my favorite black crime movies. They may not be another Scarface, but there the only black movies that can come close to it. So if you like Scarface, go check this out, and if you love Movies like Belly or State Property, this will make you forget about them, and throw em' in the garbage.