Best Spike Lee film

[TheMoviegoer]

25th Hour is the best Spike Lee film (probably because he didn't write it), the best Edward Norton film (no over-the-top fantasies or cliched endings here), and the best, most realistic movie made in and about NYC (excepting maybe Laws of Gravity)

The monologue in the middle of the movie is classic.

Only three movies to vote on because his other joints are irrelevant.

[eraserhead_99]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
25th Hour is the best Spike Lee film (probably because he didn't write it), the best Edward Norton film (no over-the-top fantasies or cliched endings here),

personally i think do the right thing is the best. and what exactly do you mean by over the top fantasies or cliche endings?

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by eraserhead_99
personally i think do the right thing is the best.


You didnt vote for it. Did you see 25th hour?

Originally posted by eraserhead_99
what exactly do you mean by over the top fantasies or cliche endings?

I mean Ed Norton finally starred in a film that didnt have them.

[freakandgeek]

25th hour definately.

[Cosimo]

Jungle Fever-8/10
Do The Right Thing-8/10
Summer Of Sam-8/10
Clockers-7/10
He Got Game-6/10
Malcolm X-6/10
Bamboozled-4/10

[Moviefan1234]

"25th Hour"

[VicVega]

I'm not a Spike Lee fan but Summer of Sam (8/10) was great.

[TheMoviegoer]

^agreed, if by "great" you mean one of the slowest and dullest movies ever made in the history of cinema.

[therealjohng]

I love Do the Right Thing. I'd buy the damn movie if it wasn't 35 fucking dollars!

[TheMoviegoer]

its $22 dollars here - http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0783227949/ref=nosim/suco01

[flowrchild]

Out of those choices, Do The Right Thing followed by 25th Hour

[iamjack]

Do the Right Thing (10/10)
25th Hour (9/10)
Malcolm X (8/10)

[ilovemovies]

Of the movies listed then Do the Right Thing. But his best film without a doubt is Malcolm X. It's a masterpiece!

[Cosimo]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
Of the movies listed then Do the Right Thing. But his best film without a doubt is Malcolm X. It's a masterpiece!

Malcom X was imo a fairly good film with strong performances that unfortunately didnt focus on relevant information surrounding Malcom X and his murder.Very Strange considering it was in Spike Lee's hands, a filmmaker who normally thrives on representing the full truth.The interesting but extremely controversial fact about Malcom X is that the Nation Of Islam actually fronted the Klu Klux Clan.This was due to the fact that both these radical groups wanted seperate countrys where the blacks and white didnt have to intergrate.The notorious picture of the kkk members standing behind Malcolm X whilst he was giving a speech is witness to this fact.Also im not sure if it was pointed out in the film but Malcom X's assasins were also fronted by the CIA who in turn wanted Malcom X dead.Why Lee decided to leave this out?Well i think it was wise that he did as Malcolm X was a good man and Lee didnt want to tarnish that but looking at it as a film in general i was slightly disappointed.

[Gregorious8]

Originally posted by La Motta
Malcom X was imo a fairly good film with strong performances that unfortunately didnt focus on relevant information surrounding Malcom X and his murder.Very Strange considering it was in Spike Lee's hands, a filmmaker who normally thrives on representing the full truth.The interesting but extremely controversial fact about Malcom X is that the Nation Of Islam actually fronted the Klu Klux Clan.This was due to the fact that both these radical groups wanted seperate countrys where the blacks and white didnt have to intergrate.The notorious picture of the kkk members standing behind Malcolm X whilst he was giving a speech is witness to this fact.Also im not sure if it was pointed out in the film but Malcom X's assasins were also fronted by the CIA who in turn wanted Malcom X dead.Why Lee decided to leave this out?Well i think it was wise that he did as Malcolm X was a good man and Lee didnt want to tarnish that but looking at it as a film in general i was slightly disappointed.

Wow man thanks for that info, I didn't know about any of that.

My favorite film of his is Do the Right Thing, though I don't really like many of his films. I haven't seen 25th Hour yet, so this could change.

[mrdeeds]

I think Do the Right Thing is Spike's best. A lot of his movies have a habit of going off track, muddling any kind of message (ie. Jungle Fever) he may have. I am still not 100% sure exactly what Summer of Sam was supposed to be about.

[eraserhead_99]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
You didnt vote for it. Did you see 25th hour?

Yeah i know. that was sorta a mistake. :D


I mean Ed Norton finally starred in a film that didnt have them.

but what did have them?

[notchreturns]

Do The Right Thing is Spike Lee's best film, and probably the best film to come out of the '80's.

A great piece of filmmaking.

[Sparrow]

My personal favorite is "Get on the Bus", followed closely by "He Got Game".

[QUENTIN]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer


Only three movies to vote on because his other joints are irrelevant.

What the fuck does that mean? In my opinion, while Do The Right Thing is his best, Malcolm X is quite close behind, a 10/10 film, the third best of the decade. He Got Game is also a solid 9, while Clockers, Get On The Bus, Bamboozled, and Crooklyn (in addition to the mentioned Jungle Fever) are all great films. The 25th Hour was very good, maybe even great, but I don't happen to think it's near his best, in fact I think it's one of his lesser efforts. Either way, why does your opinion that The 25th Hour is his best make the rest of the films "irrelevant"? Lots of people love Lee's work, I don't see how you can dismiss that so.

[Puck Bond]

Originally posted by QUENTIN
What the fuck does that mean? In my opinion, while Do The Right Thing is his best, Malcolm X is quite close behind, a 10/10 film, the third best of the decade. He Got Game is also a solid 9, while Clockers, Get On The Bus, Bamboozled, and Crooklyn (in addition to the mentioned Jungle Fever) are all great films. The 25th Hour was very good, maybe even great, but I don't happen to think it's near his best, in fact I think it's one of his lesser efforts. Either way, why does your opinion that The 25th Hour is his best make the rest of the films "irrelevant"? Lots of people love Lee's work, I don't see how you can dismiss that so.

Agreed...how could anyone consider Malcolm X as irrelevant? I consider it his best film.

Malcolm X-9/10
Do the Right Thing-8/10
25th Hour-8/10
Clockers-8/10
He Got Game-7/10
Summer of Sam-7/10
Jungle Fever-7/10

[Nate6]

Do the Right Thing is his best, I'm glad it's up there, but where in the sweet holy love of fuck is Malcolm X?

[Scarface King]

I believe they are entitled 'Joints', not films :D

[MikeyB]

Do the Right Thing, 10/10, by far his best that I've seen.

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by Puck Bond
how could anyone consider Malcolm X as irrelevant?


How could anyone not?

Any and I repeat any episode of OZ is a better crafted piece of work than 80% of Spikes work. His forte is depicting the feel of a neighborhood and its characters, which is why Do The Right Thing and Jungle Fever succeed while the others fail. 25th hour is basically all about a neighborhood and its characters, which is why its by far his best work. Clearly the poll is skewed by those who haven't seen it (but should).

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by Nate6
where in the sweet holy love of fuck is Malcolm X?

It could be in a thread dedicated to Denzel Washingtons best performances....but take Denzel outta Malcom X and you have Boring X.

Kinda like American History X could be in a thread about Edward Nortons best performances.

But uh a film isnt defined solely by the lead performer, which is why Nortons and Spikes best film is 25th Hour.

[ColinM]

He Got Game (8/10), followed by Malcolm X and Do the Right Thing (both also 8/10).

[Nate6]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
But uh a film isnt defined solely by the lead performer, which is why Nortons and Spikes best film is 25th Hour.

But, uh, Malcolm X isn't defined by its lead performer. Denzel may give an amazing performance but that's certainly not that's to the film. It's considered one of Spike Lee's very best and while you don't love it, most people do, and that's why I was surprised not to see it up there.

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by Nate6
while you don't love it, most people do

Actually most people don't, proven by its poor box office.

What "most people" like may determine or justify what you consider great art.

But thats you, not me.

[the movie guy]

The 25th Hour was great.

But I guess I have to see Do the Right Thing.

Clockers was also really good.

And, as for Summer of Sam... it sucked donkey-ass.

(I think that's all I've seen of the man.)

[Jasonite]

It's Malcolm X in my book.


J

[Nate6]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
Actually most people don't, proven by its poor box office.

Ever heard of national release? $48 million is not exactly a poor box office figure, especially for a film that was only in 1200 theatres at its peak.

But I shouldn't have said most people love it. Change that to "many people love it" or "most people who have seen it love it."

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by Nate6
$48 million is not exactly a poor box office figure


Where are your sources for that figure? Actually it is exactly poor for a national release and roundly deemed a failure (financially and artistically).

Originally posted by Nate6
most people who have seen it love it.


lol. Do you always need to justify your own opinion with vast assumptions about others?

[Nate6]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
Where are your sources for that figure? Actually it is exactly poor for a national release and roundly deemed a failure (financially and artistically).

BoxOfficeGuru.com, and in only 1200 theatres, back in 1992, $48 million is not a bad figure.


lol. Do you always need to justify your own opinion with vast assumptions about others?

lol. I'm not making assumptions. Ask the Schmoes who have seen this film if they like it or not. I'd be willing to bet that a sizeable majority would say yes.

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by Nate6
I'm not making assumptions. Ask the Schmoes who have seen this film if they like it or not.


lol. "most people who have seen the movie" and gave it a paltry sum of $48 million are not Joblo schmoes.

Originally posted by Nate6
I'd be willing to bet that a sizeable majority would say yes.

Again, the opinion of "the majority" may determine or justify what you consider great art.

But thats you, not me.

[Nate6]

You refuse to acknowledge a film that is largely, largely considered to be one of Lee's best because you think that $48 million is a paltry sum :confused: and that the opinion of the majority does not classify art. Well, that is your opinion, but to refuse to recognize a relevant film that I believe many people see as important boggles my mind.

But anyway, it's your list, your thread, do what you want.

[the movie guy]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
Actually it is exactly poor for a national release and roundly deemed a failure (financially and artistically). If the budget was 25 million (which it was) for Malcolm X, and it earned 48 million in theatres in the US and then has made 19.4 million on video in the US, it's not a failure. It almost made twice as much as it cost to make the film, and that means producers were happy.

(Source - www.imdb.com)

As for the quality of the film, I cannot say. I never saw it.

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by Nate6
a film that is largely, largely considered to be one of Lee's best

Still using its popularity as evidence?

Your first response was "most people":

Originally posted by Nate6
while you don't love it, most people do

You changed that to "many people":

Originally posted by Nate6
I shouldn't have said most people love it. Change that to many people love it

Then "most people who've seen it":

Originally posted by Nate6
most people who have seen it love it.


Then it was "the Schmoes":

Originally posted by Nate6
Ask the Schmoes who have seen this film if they like it or not. The majority would say yes.


Now its "largely, largely considered"
Originally posted by Nate6
largely, largely considered to be one of Lee's best


I anticipate the next response will be "no one who loved it didnt love it, so there."

You continue to use 'majority' opinion as evidence of greatness, or correctness.

But thats you, not me.

[Nate6]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
You changed that to "many people":

Then "most people who've seen it"

Actually, I didn't. They are meant as the same thing, as I said both of those statements in the same post in reference to one another. As for going from "Most" to "Most people who have seen it," get it through that head of yours that I wasn't changing what I said, I was simply clarifying. And "the Schmoes" are people, contrary to what you may think. I simply mentioned them as an example. But ask all of the people who have seen it, they will almost certainly say they love it. You are nitpicking, trying to find faults in what I'm saying. That's not very mature.

I'm simply stating my opinion that if a majority of people who have seen a film like it, I can't see how it can be considered "irrelevant". It doesn't even matter if I like it. But I'm saying that a film like this, with so much grounded in general life and in the moviegoing society, deserves to at least be mentioned, that's all. But as I said before, it's your list, and your poll, so do what you want. I'm simply stating my opinion.

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by Nate6
if a majority of people who have seen a film like it

"If"

Originally posted by Nate6
I can't see how it can be considered "irrelevant".

Again? "Majority opinion" aka "mob mentality" isn't evidence of greatness, correctness, or relevance.

[Nate6]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
"If"

You're twisting the meaning of my words. I did not mean "if" in the respect that you are insinuating I did.


Again? "Majority opinion" aka "mob mentality" isn't evidence of greatness, correctness, or relevance.

Perhaps, perhaps not correctness, but certainly relevance and likely greatness. It is relevant to a society if most society believes it so, wouldn't you think? And I would bet that most people who have seen Citizen Kane or The Godfather or Casablanca consider them great films, doesn't that make them great films in society, if not necessarily great films in one's personal opinion? I'm not saying that you have to like Malcolm X, that's your choice. But calling it irrelevant and refusing to mention it despite all of the praise it has gotten makes little sense to me.

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by Nate6
I did not mean "if" in the respect that you are insinuating I did.


haha, sounds like Clinton, except more serious...

Originally posted by Nate6
calling it irrelevant...despite all of the praise it has gotten makes little sense to me.

Exactly, because the opinion of the "majority" is how you determine relevance, and "likely" greatness, and "perhaps" correctness.

But thats you, not me (nor X...)

[QUENTIN]

Fuck all that noise, while I agree with Nate here and think your argument is seriously lacking in reason, forget the "majority of people who have seen it" loving it, even though that is true. I love Malcolm X, and most schmoes who've seen Malcolm X love it, and I bet most of those "Other" votes (which outnumber the votes for the movies that are on your poll) are for Malcolm X...So, I think the film should be in your poll, but that's your choice. Either way, LOTS and LOTS of people LOVE the movie, myself included, therefore whatever your opinion of it may be, it is not "irrelevant".

[MickeyKnox]

Do the Right Thing has got to be one of his best films, putting all that confrontation in NYC in the summer between the African Americans and the Italians has got to be one of the most thought provoking films of 89 when i first saw it i said Damn he sure knows how to put the audience in the dark and not let u know what happens, Spike makes us think as a movie audience he dosent want to give anything away to easy he wants it to be hard on us to think and that is good for a filmmaker to do!

[MickeyKnox]

Oh i also forgot to mention Malcom X that was a fantastic movie Denzel Washington's performance in that was top notch and deserved the Oscar that yr and Spike Lee's directing in that film was marvelous!

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by QUENTIN
LOTS of people LOVE the movie, myself included, therefore whatever your opinion of it may be, it is not "irrelevant".

The opinion of "LOTS of people" is how you determine relevance, and you claim my argument is lacking in reason? lol

Thats your standard, not mine (nor X's...)

[QUENTIN]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
The opinion of "LOTS of people" is how you determine relevance, and you claim my argument is lacking in reason? lol

Thats your standard, not mine (nor X's...)

You are quite purposefully IGNORING the fact that many of us are also stating our own opinions. I'll say this one more time for you: I LOVE MALCOLM X. I determine it's greatness and everything else based on my opinion, but yes one accurate way to judge relevance is by how effective a film is on the populus. This is why movies like Citizen Kane, Casablanca, The Godfather, Raging Bull, Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, Vertigo, etc... are all very relevant. Because people love them. And if many people love a movie, then just because you dislike it does not make it irrelevant. It is obviously relevant to them.

For example, Resident Evil, Gladiator, and the remake of The Getaway are all poorly made quite BAD movies (my opinion), but you apparently love them. The sole fact that one person (in this case, you) loves those movies means they are not irrelevant, my opinion aside. They must be relevant to you, so just because they're shit to me doesn't make them irrelevant.

You chose a very poor word by calling it "irrelevant" and have since been trying to claim that Nate6's argument is poor, but really all you are doing is focusing on one statement he (and I) have made (that lots of people love the movie) and acting as if that means nothing, when in fact it means a lot, it means the movie is quite relevant. That's all, your argument has now passed into the ridiculous and I don't really see a point in it. Malcolm X is relevant to many people, myself and many schmoes included, so again, no matter what you think of it, it is not "irrelevant".

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by QUENTIN
one accurate way to judge relevance is by how effective a film is on the populus.


The very idea of how to determine how effective anything is on "the populus" is just as subjective as making that a factor in regarding relevance.

They are both just an opinion, your opinion.

Not even close to my opinion:

The relevance of art is in how it effects the individual.

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by QUENTIN
Resident Evil, Gladiator, and the remake of The Getaway are all poorly made quite BAD movies (my opinion), but you apparently love them.

haha. Resident Evil is the best sci-fi/horror since Aliens, Gladiator is the best action since The Road Warrior. The Getaway isn't the best anything but had a sadistically entertaining sequence of betrayal. Poor Harold lol. (Plus Kim B. gets slapped and tossed in a garbage dump)

[BakeTheMooCow]

You've done this before. You set out to mess with people by taking single lines out of their entire posts, and you use it completely out of context. So.. I'm not even going to bother arguing with you why Malcolm X is not up there.

I consider 25th Hour to be Spike Lee's best.

[Hannibal21]

25TH HOUR. Flawless direction, writing and acting make up an excellent film.

[QUENTIN]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
You've done this before. You set out to mess with people by taking single lines out of their entire posts, and you use it completely out of context.


Wasn't he banned for that? MovieGoer it's pretty childish to purposefully misconstrue people's words and disregard the point of their argument, which you've done many times. And by YOUR definition, since the art effected ME, it is not irrelevant. If it effects one person (and it's effected many) it CANNOT be irrelevant, since it is relevant to at least one person...and since you apparently hate the general public, we'll use me as that one person. Therefore, by your own definition of how to judge relevance, Malcolm X is NOT irrelevant.

[TheMoviegoer]

Originally posted by BakeTheMooCow
I'm not even going to bother arguing with you why Malcolm X is not up there.


Finally, someone who realizes X is not even worth discussing.

[QUENTIN]

LOL Moviegoer, you get funnier with every post.

[platanero79]

the 25th Hour (2002) 9/10
Bamboozled (2000) 10/10 The Most underrated in his Filmography
Original Kings of Comedy, The (2000) 5.5/10
Summer of Sam (1999) 8/10
He Got Game (1998) 8.5/10
Get on the Bus (1996) 5/10
Girl 6 (1996) 4/10
Clockers (1995) 5.5/10
Crooklyn (1994) 8/10
Malcolm X (1992) 9.5/10
Do the Right Thing (1989) 6/10 the most Overrated in his Filmography

[Nate6]

Originally posted by TheMoviegoer
Finally, someone who realizes X is not even worth discussing.

Once again, you're taking little quotes and using them out of context. Very mature...

[Cyclonus]

Haven't seen a lot of his movies, but Do the Right Thing is a very good film, the best one I saw by far. (For the record, the other ones were He Got Game and Clockers, both of which are solid films as well.)