Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior? In this movie, it's not as simple as that. It's a fairly good movie, yet I think it's based a lot around the racism between blacks and whites. Not to mention it's exaggerated. There are obviously other races there, but they don't play a major role in this ... Read review
Director John Singleton's Higher Learning follows three very different freshman students ... more
in their first term of university who find themselves having to reassess their lives and confront such thought-provoking issues as prejudice racism and sexism......
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Kona John Cowan Higher Learning 101/360§ DVD: Educational DVD by Kona Clump rider John ... more
Cowan. John Cowan "Higher Education" DVD Higher Learning 101-360 is the first action packed instructional video outlining the progressive steps to learn how to dirt jump on your mountain bike, from getting your first taste of air to advanced skills and tricks like 360's and superman seat grabs. Higher Learning 101-360 is an educational half hour video hosted by Kona free-rider and jump Jedi John Cowan, who prepares us for beginner, intermediate and advanced riding with trick tips, product talk, detailed step-by-step instruction, and invaluable advice to keep in mind throughout our dirt jumping schooling.English w/French & German subtitles.
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8 Mile:8 Mile explores a week in the lives of a group of young people struggling to find ... more
their way in urban decay of 1995 Detroit. For people like Jimmy 'Rabbit' Smith, Jr. (EMINEM) and his friends, hip-hop is the only thing standing between them and the void. Rabbit knows his ticket out is through his rhymes, but to succeed, he has to channel his anger into his lyrics, and face the showdown of his life. Featuring outstanding performances from Eminem, academy award winner Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy and Mekhi Phifer.Boyz N The Hood:Boyz N The Hood is the critically acclaimed story of three friends growing up in a South Central Los Angeles. The Hood is a place where harmony coexists with adversity, especially for three young men growing up there: Doughboy (Ice Cube), an unambitious drug dealer; his brother Ricky (Morris Chestnut), a college-bound teenage father; and Ricky's best friend Tre (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who aspires to a brighter future beyond The Hood. Strengthened by a father who keeps him on the right track, Tre is put to the ultimate test when tragedy strikes close to home.Higher Learning:18,000 Students. 33 Nationalities. 6 Races. 2 Sexes. 1 Campus. Something's gotta give. Kirsty Swanson, Omar Epps and Michael Rapaport star as first-term freshman who get a crash in diversity, identify and sexuality in writer/director John Singleton's (Boyz N The Hood) bold look at contemporary college life.
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: feeling of being in the movie, get to know one's character likes Disadvantages: exaggerated racism
Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior? In this movie, it's not as simple as that. It's a fairly good movie, yet I think it's based a lot around the racism between blacks and whites. Not to mention it's exaggerated. There are obviously other races there, but they don't play a major role in this movie. Also, it appears to be a movie where white people are always the "culprits" and main problems(I'll explain later). I think that this movie ... ...etc. The main characters deal with racism, knowledge, power, financial problems, grade problems and sexuality.
Directed by John Singleton (who also directed "Boyz in the Hood") this movie is set on the fictional Columbis University campus. Starring Ice Cube, Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, Tyra Banks, Busta Rhymes, Michael Rapaport, Jennifer Connelly, Regina King and Lawrence Fishburne.
Freshman, Sophomore, Junior or Senior? In this movie, it's not as simple as that. It's a fairly good movie, yet I think it's based a lot around the racism between blacks and whites. Not to mention it's exaggerated. There are obviously other races there, but they don't play a major role in this movie. Also, it appears to be a movie where white people are always the "culprits" and main problems(I'll explain later). I think that this movie portrays typical college life, with protests, charity groups, althetic groups, etc. The main characters deal with racism, knowledge, power, financial problems, grade problems and sexuality.
Directed by John Singleton (who also directed "Boyz in the Hood") this movie is set on the fictional Columbis University campus. Starring Ice Cube, Omar Epps, Kristy Swanson, Tyra Banks, Busta Rhymes, Michael Rapaport, Jennifer Connelly, Regina King and Lawrence Fishburne.
College life is taken apart and examined through the ethnically and racially diverse students enrolled in Columbis University.
This movie is based around 3 main characters (each of them freshmen at Columbis University), that each go through big changes in their lives.
Kristen (played by Kristy Swanson) is a young innocent-looking white woman, who easily becomes a part of a white party-going group of students. One night during heavy drinking, she gets raped and doesn't know what to do about it. She goes back to her roommate/dorm-mate (who's a black girl) and she tries to help Kristen, but it doesn't really get "resolved". Later on in the movie, she meets Taryn (played by Jennifer Connelly) who's head of a woman's group, and an open lesbian.
Malik (played by Omar Epps) is another of these three main characters. As a black male, he's there on a partial sports scholarship, and he's only there at Columbus University to be a runner (as well as a non-loser, in HIS mind). He goes through problems with college grades, and can't find anyone to state his views of I-don't-need-a-brain-to-run, to. As the movie goes on, Malik needs to try to turn towards learning, as his girlfriend (played by Tyra Banks) and best friend (played by Ice Cube) basically scold him for not trying to learn.
Remy (played by Michael Rapaport) is a troubled freshman that can't seem to fit into any groups, but later finds a skinhead group, that thinks all about "white power". Along with being a strong racist group towards the "blacks", they're also armed with guns. The leader of this skinhead group, challenges Remy to shoot innocent victims on the campus.
Sights & Sounds: Columbus University is set in South Central Los Angeles, where a statue of Christopher Columbus stands at the entrance. The camera views are very well done, adding to the feeling of urgency along with the big fights that go on, it goes from steady, to appearing to be running along with the actors/actresses. This view where it appears to be running, gives you the feel that you are actually there in the movie witnessing every move, and standing out of the way of those who are fighting. The sound also adds to the traquil moments and urgent moments. As well as the strong loud beats during a fight or while Malik is running, it also appears to take you into the specific character's likes in music as well.
No-one in this movie seems to have a real proper solution to their problems, though it may appear to get better in some cases. I think this movie isn't about subtle racism, sexuality or power. Singleton has put it plain and clear so that we can actually see what happens without question. The racism between black and white, although exaggerated, and a very strong point in the movie, I think is intended so we don't have to wonder about a minor side story or anything. When I mention exaggerated racism, the story is mainly based around white's against black. When the black group has a loud party, it's broken up very quickly, and the white cops are quick to ask for I.D, meanwhile the white fraternaty party going on, isn't bothered at all, except a kind: "could you just keep it down?" Remy, joins the neo-Nazi group, and causes a lot of trouble, shooting at a "celebrate diversity" musical concert, injuring and killing. It's later seen in a chase between Remy and Malik, that the cops are quick to pounce and accuse a non-armed Malik, and try to talk sense into Remy who's out of his mind confused, threatening his gun all over the place. Many police out there, would look at both sides of a story (though I don't say there AREN'T any police like this out there, nor do I mean there are no people like Remy out there). As I said, Singleton has made this so, in order that we will have no confusion about the message he is trying to get across.
The choice of characters in the movie is well chosen, and the acting is well done. Even though there are troubling parts to the movie, it's to show us that racism, power-trips and sexuality are out there in the real world, and it's to make us think about it and we can't avoid knowing it's there. Very well done Singleton!
Advantages: Characters, Issues Disadvantages: A little over-ambitious in places
John Singleton’s Higher Learning deserves some serious respect for exploring a number of sensitive issues that many University students encounter at some point in their lifetime-- some of which include institutional racism, rape, and the individual desire to be accepted. While some of the characters lack emotional complexity and the story at times may feel a little "preachy", the film is still a very enjoyable and thought-provocative experience -- ... ...we're subjected to this. Higher Learning is at its most compelling when it explores racial tensions. Epps and Rapaport make lasting impressions as the frustrated and unfocused students looking to be accepted and make a difference. They feel like they have found a temporary solution when they engage in conflict with one another, but, as we all should know, violence is never the answer. The film makes the point that there are no easy answers to the ...
andycarrington 05.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Higher Learning (DVD)
"...[The] cast is solid....Ice Cube scores effectively....Fishburne is all commanding charisma..." (Variety, 09/01/1995)
DVD Description
The third installment in John Singleton's trilogy about South Central Los Angeles, HIGHER LEARNING examines mid-1990s university politics from racial, sexual, and economic standpoints. At fictional Columbus University (where a statue of the explorer stands witness to the dominant culture's supremacy), three freshman arrive to find a campus ready to explode. Malik (Omar Epps) wavers among the influences of revolution-preaching super-senior Fudge (Ice Cube), no-excuses Professor Phipps (Laurence Fishburne), and his motivated girlfriend Deja (Tyra Banks). Kristen (Kristy Swanson), another neophyte, is thrown into sexual confusion when she meets a charismatic lesbian, while the socially inept Remy (Michael Rapaport) can only fit in with the local skinheads. The storylines cross and complicate as each character tries to discover what's right, but the potential for violence grows with every wrong choice they make. Singleton recruited an emsemble of considerable talent to flesh out the complex plot, which allows him to deal efficiently with a breadth of concerns without preaching.
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