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447 out of 672 people found the following review useful: Another Petty Nihilist Hits the Jackpot, 15 November 2005 Author: Joel from Venice, CA
50 Cent is decidedly no mere circus performer; unlike him, circus performers possess real talent. Yet, while his musical talent is certainly nil, it would be a mistake to argue that he therefore altogether lacks talent. In fact, 50 - very much like the legions of other gangster rappers - possesses great talent: the talent of a virtuoso con artist. 50 is banking on a pandemic of cataclysmically cheapened tastes - in other words, on the very aesthetic decline that made these other blissfully unconscious con artists rich. This extraordinary, innate ability to identify and exploit today's mass degeneration of taste is a truly supreme talent - a talent reaching to the very depths of cynicism. 50's nihilistic celebration of the meaningless and absurd is, of course, very "postmodern," very fashionable. As such we'll doubtless continue to skip and whistle our way to oblivion. Yes, 50 Cent is a joke. Unfortunately, the joke is on us.As for this "film", I for one believe that if something's not worth doing, it's not worth doing well. So just as it's impossible for me to get excited over a spectacular tattoo, a gold chain, or the latest cutting-edge developments in nose-piercing technology, I have trouble taking seriously anything having to do with 50 cent. He is a thug, a petty nihilist, and a symptom of cultural decline. Nothing more.I am a black man, and 50 Cent in no way represents me or anyone I know. I think it's shameful the way he's plastered up all over town. What he represents is the worst that our culture has to offer.
330 out of 610 people found the following review useful: BLOODY Awful, 8 November 2005 Author: jeremevr6 from United States
50 Cent should fake his death after this 2 hour embarrassment.It is 100% pile of steamy crap with corn and flies. The script was if it was written by someone in the third grade.The acting was deafeningly stale. The scene with the knifefight in the steamy shower slipping on soap was worthy of being left on the cutting room floor.It went on and on and on.Boring and more boring and wait! Even more boring still.I am embarrassed for rap music after seeing this.I want my DMC and Public Enemy.
148 out of 269 people found the following review useful: He looks like the missing link., 21 November 2005 Author: selfishbastid from United States
I have nothing personal against 50 Cent, don't buy his records, kind of view him as a flash in the pan. But after being saturated with his face for the past 3 years I figured, why not see what all the hype is about...yeah his "music" is bubble-gum wannabe gangster rap that couldn't hold a candle to the originators of the genre...(i.e. N.W.A.,Schooly-D,etc.) The music will be forgotten in 5 years time...so maybe the movie will give him some validity, let's see if he can act. BAD MOVE, this guy makes DMX look like Sidney Poitier. The whole movie is the classic template, just plug in a one gear, multi-millionaire so-called rap artist. It just wasn't entertaining, I wasn't expecting the Godafther, but jeez...what a waste. So many other movies, steeped in hood reality have delivered far more...Menace 2 Society and Boyz N' The Hood all the way back to Cooley High. Hopefully the relatively dismal box office receipts will keep this guy out of the movies so he can concentrate on selling dull, bland pop music to the mouth breathing masses who hail him as the king of the streets.
43 out of 67 people found the following review useful: It isn't *that* bad., 18 January 2006 Author: katyiana from United Kingdom
I don't see why everyone has such a problem with this movie - I thought it was okay, it wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, and it didn't have the best acting ever, but it certainly wasn't the worst movie ever.The ending wasn't too good, but the movie wasn't too shabby, the storyline was good and it proved to keep me entertained for the full two hours. I learnt a lot about 50 cent during the movie, even though I'm not a fan of rap and/or 50 cent himself, I still enjoyed it.The movie gives you inspiration, if 50 cent can go through a lot and come out of it a billion dollar rapper at the end, it makes you think that you could probably do something on the same level.You don't have to like rap and/or 50 cent to enjoy this movie and read into it. If you enjoyed the trailer, don't let the bad reviews put you off, that's what I did, yet I liked the movie.
78 out of 139 people found the following review useful: Who cares?, 22 May 2006 Author: Snapsnbites from United States
Few redeeming qualities here.This film is a cheap, brainless waste of time and money glorifying a character you care nothing about from scene 1. As a protagonitst, 50 is very dull and unremarkable. The story of his life was enough to put me to bed twice. It took me 3 tries to get through this movie, and I can't say I'm any better for having seen it. I still have no interest in his music, or anything he does.Pop Icons shouldn't have movies made about them until, at least 10 years after their death. 10 years from now, who the hell is going to care about 50 Cent? For that matter, who the hell cares about him now?
173 out of 332 people found the following review useful: Horrenous, keeping this lifestyle alive., 14 November 2005 Author: tomduo from Miami
This movie is horrendous. The terrific directing cannot separate the fact that this movie is perhaps one of the worst 'I sell records, why not make an album?' movies ever. He cannot act, sounds like he is reading his lines from a textbook, and his feelings range from dumb to ohmygod! The visual style of this movie acts, and the whole film seems like a horrible stereotype developed by racists (of all colors) who see inner city blacks as nothing but criminals. It is a shame that nice movies set to an African American theme flop, but movies that showcase the worst in society that affect kids do so well.If you act like a criminal, you will be rich. Nice.
33 out of 56 people found the following review useful: Some people are being so unfair to 50 Cent...., 20 November 2005 Author: vlopez4 from United States
I seen this movie and I think it was really unfair all the crap people are saying about 50 Cent. I thought he did a really decent job for his first time acting. This is just one of those movies you HAVE to see for yourself and not listen to all the hype.I really enjoyed getting a deeper look at what 50 what he is today and hope he makes acting a regular part of his career. OF course Terrence Howard gave a really great performance. I always enjoy watching him. I thought 50 played well off of him and I would really like to see them in another movie together. But really don't let all the negative hype be the reason you don't go out and see a really great movie that I believe anyone open-minded enough will enjoy.
70 out of 130 people found the following review useful: Not really about the movie, 22 April 2006 Author: jeff-foster from United States
I hope that the right people get a hold of the comments I'm about to make. Motion pictures still have the ability to be used as an art form that can be a medium of effective communication. As a culture have we forgotten how to use gifts and talent? As a nation (USA) have we decided that freedom means that "gangsters' can pimp the arts with money and influence? Let's face it, music, TV and motion pictures are the hallmark of artistry in our world. And, at the same time the abuse of these mediums has caused talent and gifts to be eroded from the next generation. There is pot of gold in our youth and young adults that executives and media directors have a MORAL and CULTURAL obligation to ensure art is not bastardized for profit. Mr. Jackson (50 Cents) is just one of the many symptoms of what we are becoming as a people, a cancer. As an American of African heritage I feel a burden for my peers of caucasion ethnicity, please don't "help" black people by lavishing wealth and opportunity on the loudest, most threatening and menacing people in our communities. Say "no" to the next 50 Cent, no to his music, his "acting," and his abuse of 1st Amendment rights. Lets send a message as leaders in media that everything isn't acceptable. Lets educate people to what is good, positive, life affirming and yes creative as well. Lets fund and support education in the arts and create new industries starting in the places with the least opportunity and hope. Art can be made in the hood, but its born from the Heart.With great power comes great responsibility. -Stan Lee
12 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Think Outside of the Box, 5 October 2006 Author: seitanicvegan from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I watched this movie for one reason: Terrence Howard. As always, Howard is brilliant. The other performances are solid, including Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson who, for people who don't seem to understand this, plays himself. (If 50 Cent were to "act", as some maintain, then he would not be portraying his true self, and the entire movie would self-destruct into a moot point.) The camera shots, angles, and lighting are superb, the dialog is genuine, and the plot line is believable. But this is not run-of-the-mill Hollywood fare. There is no seamless stream of canned emotional music to fill in the gaps for underactive imaginations. There are no handy-dandy humor scenes for fluffy feel-good filling. There are no flat characters to artificially ease the main character into some orchestrated epiphany. There isn't even really a hero. There is only a man who is trying to live as best as he can in a self-serving world, a man who finds a measure of strength even as he runs from his fears. In order to truly appreciate the message that this movie has to offer, you have to think outside of your comfortable movie-watching box. This movie is gritty, powerful and raw. This movie makes no excuses. This movie is about as close as the big screen can get to portraying real life. No, it's not a pleasant movie. Neither is life.
21 out of 33 people found the following review useful: Surprisingly good, 7 December 2005 Author: (swifttiburon) from United States
I really enjoyed this movie. At first I didn't think it was going to be a big deal and I was very skeptical when I was at the movies but I did the right thing by giving it a chance. 50 Cent's acting is surprisingly good considering he has never really acted before. The plot was well thought out and there were a lot of parts that were emotional; for instance when his mother was killed and he then had to grow up by himself. I read some comments on here that though expressed personal opinion were really hateful, but I guess its expected when a rapper makes a movie. I like 50 cent as a rapper, maybe I am biased, but I really do think this movie was good.
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