Customer Reviews

Love & Basketball

5 star:		(77)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best movie I have seen in a long time. I first saw the movie on TV; it was obvious that some scenes were deleted. I bougth the DVD and I have watched it everyday (sometimes more than once a day). This is a classic love story. I loved the way Ms. Prince-Bythewood portrayed the characters (Monica & Quincy)during the stages of their lives - youth, teenages to young adults. The transformation was very realistic and you saw the devlopment & maturity at each stage. Sanaa & Omar did an outstanding job depicting the writer\director's vision. At the conclusion of each viewing, I am sad because I want to see more. I wish it had been a 3hr movie or the DVD included all deleted scenes. I can't get enough of this movie. It is GREAT!

I love basketball, but I hate sappy love movies. This movie though ... is, er, my favorite movie. Ever. Of all time. If you don't have this movie, I will BUY it for you. This movie teaches the lesson that the thing you're looking could be right there in front of your face all along.

This movie is my all time favorite. I can and have watched it millions of times. this movie had an awesome balance of love and basketball (no pun intended). I am both a basketball fan and a sucker for good love movies. I also love the fact that she loved dude from the minute she saw him at 11 years old. The movie is well put together and a nice one to fall in love with.

One of the most successful African American movies since Boyz n the hood, Omar epps is one of the best african american actors today, from his early roles in movies like "Juice" and "The wood" and his golden globe nominated role in "In too deep" with rap star LL Cool J, and tv roles in emmy award winning show "ER".
This movie will inspire you, romance, basketball, great cast and a hell of a movie, i loved it and i'm sure you will too, the power of romance will create a new atmosphere. 9.5/10.

I've always wanted to see this movie and since I have it hasn't came out of my dvd player. I've watched it three times in two days and I love it. First of all, I love basketball, and second of all, the love story is amazing. The chemistry between the two characters is so real and the story is told so well. My favorite part is the end and it makes me cry everytime. It seems so real and really hits home. This is definately one of my favorite movies now and I can't wait til I go out and buy it. The soundtrack is also amazing. Omar Epps was incredible and so was the girl who played Monica, I'm not sure what her name is though but I'll definately be finding out. I wish I could give this movie more then 5 stars cause it is seriously that good.

This love-story set against the back drop of emerging basketball players might make one think that this is a "black movie" aimed squarely at that audience, which is not. This is one of the tenderest loving stories that I have seen many times. It all has to do with the strong cast. First off is Omar Epps, who has been good since I first noticed him in another sports movie called "The Program" which once more pitted him in NCCA competition but at that time he was a football player. If you haven't seen "The Program" it's one you need to rent. It's one of my favorite football movies. In this film, Omar delivers the edge of a spoiled athlete who has the soul of a boy.

Next has to be the enchanting performance of Sanaa Lathan. Lathan is so real and truthful in this love story. Since the majority of the film focused on her we saw the depth and raw emotion coming from her. She was nothing less than excellent as Monica; her passion for the game, and her passion for Q, was drawn out beautifully. Equally believable as a young woman experiencing her "first time", and a more mature, sensual woman playing "strip basketball", Lathan's all-too-brief love scenes with Epps brought Black Sexuality back to the mainstream movie audience as it hasn't been shown since "Jason's Lyric" back in 1994.

Away from the leads, you have Dennis Haysbert as Epps' father and Alfre Woodard as Lathan's mother. These flawed parental figures were subtle but brilliant performances. Haysbert is a pro basketball player on his way down but living up to his son's perfect image leads to his unraveling. Woodard is always brilliant and here her parental figure believes her daughter resents her stay at home role. Writer/director Gina Prince, was strongest of all. Her performance here is reminiscent of John Singleton's strong entry into feature filmmaking (Boyz In The Hood), but only in the sense that they put out such good works in their rookie year. That, and the fact that both are Black directors, is where the comparison ends; life in Singleton's "Hood" was vastly different than Prince's vision of Hoop Life.

My one big issue was the turning point in Q and Monica's relationship. I had a very hard time believing that the thing which changed their relationship (trying to avoid spoilers here) would've really done so; since they both were in very similar situations, there's no way one of the characters should've been so pigheaded as to huff and puff about...that thing. While not a big enough issue for me to downgrade the movie's rating, it's a flaw that could've been easily addressed by Prince giving the characters a different conflict to stress over. Other than that it's a great movie to watch.

This movie is great. I love the storyline. It is very real and not far fetched from reality. It is wonderful to see this type of love story, where there is no a great deal of sexual contact throughout the entire movie. It had a story which I appreciated. This movie is one of my favorites and one of the best. I am happy it did well for the director. Hopefully she will make more quality films of this nature, that I will own.

When I first saw that Spike Lee was one of the Producers I was skeptical because I don't care for his work that much. However, this movie blew me away and is now one of my all time favorites! It is a must see for any die-hard romantic. It has something for everyone....sports, humor (Damn girl, I didn't know NIKE made dresses) to a spectacular love story that develops over several years and then withstands the test of time and many ups and downs. The last two scenes left me with goosebumps and has to be one of the most romantic endings ever to grace the silver screen. I also thought it was a nice touch that the movie was broken up into four quarters like a real game. I wish I could give it more than five stars.

a great movie with great script, acting, directing, editing and sound track. i've hesitated to pick this up but was so glad i did. wonderful story with fantastic performance of all the characters. love it, and, love it. what could i say more?

I first saw this on an airplane and blubbered like a baby at the end- such a wonderful warm, deep romantic bond that grows between this pair.
Monica and Quincy are the focus of the story. They literally grow up together and both play basketball.
They grow up, apart and then back together. The depth of feeling, the quality of the performances and the unique storyline make this one of my personal modern classics.

Leads Sanaa Latham and Omar Epps are backed up by Debbie Morgan and Alfre Woodard as their mothers. The cast is so strong- truly a flick worth seeing! Tyra Banks has a cameo as a hot stewardess for any fans of hers:)

Do not categorize this as a black movie- it is ROMANCE and so well done- will be enjoyed by anyone who is a fan of great flicks! The strong theme of women in sports makes this a great inspirational flick to share with young future WNBA players.