I Watched *MENACE II SOCIETY* For The First Time And...

[@Lake_Moon_2009]

Pin Meh

[@USCFlash]

Mel is right.... the acting was pretty poor.

[@blood9903]

@@USCFlash no it wasn't lmao

[@USCFlash]

@@blood9903 Yeah it was. There is a reason why none of the three leads have ever acted in an important dramatic leading role in an important dramatic film....EVER...since this.

[@Lake_Moon_2009]

@@USCFlash imma just let ya'll argue, Have Fun

[@tee2x.]

@@USCFlashLarenz Tate? Try again

[@INeedThatGrassComprende]

Watching hood movies growing up as a kid helped me understand victims of circumstances and products of environments

[@M4TCH3SM4L0N3]

See, I don't feel like Mell understands: these boys didn't CHOOSE this way of life; in those circumstances it's often kill or be killed. If you grow up in the hood or the projects, and can't count on 3 square meals because your parents can't get work because nobody ever taught them how to be "respectable" to rich White people when they were young and they probably grew up in the city during a time when we were still putting lead in our gasoline to make our cars quieter and the only schools in the area were too overloaded and understaffed to offer the kinds of interventions necessary to help students in those circumstances, then how are you supposed to perform well in school yourself or hope to even stay long enough to graduate when you are just as likely to need to help bring in money for the family or risk getting evicted? Like, that is not even half of the problems that poorer inner-city youth face BEFORE you factor in racism from individuals in power, substance and physical and sexual abuse within the home, and any number of other common complications that only exacerbate the problems. I'm glad for Mello that he had a better childhood and upbringing, but it doesn't do to judge the people who didn't have that privilege and who may have had to make many hard decisions at a much younger age than he has (or we have) to this point.

[@uhuh.2232]

Most people today from the suburbs dont know nothing about this. They think everyone got the same opportunities or upbringing as them shit annoying

[@91Definite]

Yeah watching these movies help me to stay away from that shit and being around the wrong people

[@reneedennis2011]

​@@91DefiniteYup.

[@Kenny-ep2nf]

100%

[@tstumpf75]

It wasnt tryingnto show it as "Culture". It was showing the world what was heppening. Back then people had no idea...

[@bobcobb3654]

Unless they watched “Boyz N the Hood.” Or “Colors.” Or “New Jack City.” Or “American Me.” Or “South Central.” Or “Juice.” “Menace” was a little late to the party.

[@ThommyMckGoaty]

@@bobcobb3654 Menace came out a year after Juice and South Central, you acting like it came out in 99 or something💀

[@MajorMalteasin]

There were plenty of movies, sitcoms, music etc that showcased the best of black culture. This was a movie showcasing the stuff America didn’t want to see. But it needed to be seen. If you grew up during these times you’d of known.

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup.

[@PeterStone-hy6ir]

He likely grew up in a area that wasn’t mostly black

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

Nah the balance was towards these films. Those other films did not get much attention. Hollywood loves these black trauma films and it’s only recently that black creatives have started to challenge that and offer alternatives and force Hollywood to get behind those kinds of films. And yes I was of age in the 90’s, I listened to lots of rap music and I know my black history.

[@TribalCheif-ku4vn]

@@thepodbaydoorshalyou wasn’t outside. These movies weren’t even blockbusters.

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

@@TribalCheif-ku4vn ?? What does that even mean?

[@thebrhinocerous]

Here's the thing, and it's like other people have said--you don't have to be "into it" to understand WHY these movies were made in the 90s. It really was an issue, and the gangster/thug subculture had a spotlight on it with the popularity of gangster rap. Plus, you have to remember that this stuff was happening very heavily in and around the Hollywood area, so with it being so close to the place that produced these movies, it's not a surprise that movies like this one, Boyz N The Hood, and others were made and were very popular. People who lived in that type of setting felt like their reality was finally being shown to the world, and people like me who didn't live it were able to have a window into it and increase our empathy for what was happening.

[@reneedennis2011]

Good point.

[@91Definite]

Right 💯

[@blackdynamite5016]

Well said ✊🏿💯

[@williamschaedel5527]

as those above me said, very well put point. kudos

[@jude7225]

Heya Mel, it wasn't just this movie they were parodying. It was a mix of all the popular "hood movies" at the time. Don't be a menace ----- "Menace ii Society" To South Central -------"South Central" while drinking your juice -----"Juice" in the hood -------"Boyz in da hood"

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup. Also, Dead Presidents and Higher Learning.

[@orlandojohnson-gu4kq]

Oh wow I never peeped how all the movies fit into one name lol thanks

[@bobcobb3654]

You’re not wrong about the “hood movie” glut in the early-mid 90s. Reminds me of an interview Ice Cube gave about getting “Friday” off the ground. He said some producers took meetings with him before reading the script because they thought he’d basically written “Boyz N the Hood 2” and were shocked he had written a comedy. His response was “You know, even people in the hood laugh and have fun.”

[@deanahicks6744]

After South Central and Boyz in the Hood it was a reflection of what we were living at the time. It was a way to show the world that it was rough in the hood especially in Los Angeles. Don’t be to harsh on this form of movie cuz it gave us classics like Do the right thing, Poetic Justice, Mo Betta Blues, Devil in a Blue Dress, Eve’s Bayou etc not all of them were hood movies with violence. ❤

[@theprodigy8607]

Exactly! If you didn’t grow up in the “hood” you really can’t relate or see how rough it actually was.

[@dariusthegr8one81]

Great comment. Although I disagree about poetic justice lol. Loooooove the other films though. They nvr get watched on these reaction channels though. Even something like fallen doesn’t get watched on reaction channels. He complains about these type of movies but doesn’t even know the others exist.

[@USCFlash]

​@@dariusthegr8one81 "See a part of the problem with Hollywood is folks thinking the black dollar is worth less than the white. " Total nonsense. Nobody believes "the black dollar is worth less than the white". My brother in law is a movie producer. A black dollar is worth the exact same as a white dollar. If you show him a way to get the black dollar as much as the white dollar he'll do it to make a profit in a nanosecond. The fact is, the black population here in the north american box office is far smaller than the white population and far less overseas in europe..... and it is near zero in Asia. Black film goers head to the cinema less than whites as well, historically. There are only approximately 40 million black americans in the ENTIRE world. That is equal to the population of Canada. The Black American market is, by all standards a smaller market. It's smaller than the populations of 36 countries in the world. Hollywood's first goal is not to make great art, but to make money. If you've got a foolproof way to ensure their films will appeal more to blacks and earn more $$$ they will immediately attempt to do it. Tyler Perry is a perfect example of that. He is a niche filmmaker at best and yet hollywood likes him because his films have a small, but very consistent & dedicated audience that comes out reliably. Green matters more in Hollywood than black. But they will not do it if it means getting more black dollars while losing white dollars here and abroad, which is a far larger audience. It has nothing to do with the "black dollar" being less. A dollar is worth a dollar, no matter who puts it down on the counter. It has to do with the potential MARKET for earning those dollars being less.

[@HellzDrifter]

@@theprodigy8607No way? Really!? Hahaha.

[@deanahicks6744]

@@HelloMellowXVI Sweetie watch what makes sense for you. This is your channel and only you know what works on it. Yes most of the 80’s and 90’s generation are protective of the movies we grew up watching. So I understand if you don’t feel what we feel watching certain movies. But it’s still a treat to see thru your eyes. Keep doing you love ❤️

[@kosewa27]

It’s weird how we think that as black society we can’t have depictions of us in it not doing so good. there are thousands of movies about rock stars who’ve taken drugs and serial killers who’ve murdered and they all depict white people doing heinous crimes but we don’t look at them any different or think that that’s their culture fully. This is a look into a group or a neighborhood’s life and all of a sudden this is why all Black people can’t get out? it’s weird to me it’s just a depiction of a couple of peoples lives but yet now it’s ghetto for all Black people.

[@ZYaKnoe249]

Thank you

[@reneedennis2011]

Thank you.

[@HelloMellowXVI]

There Are Thousands Of Movies Like What You Just Explained Yes, But There Also Hundred Of Thousands Of Other Movies That They Make That Are Actually Different. While We As Black People Got Thousands Of Movie Dealing With The Same Shit And Maybe A Couple Hundred Movies Doing Something Different. You Know What I Find Weird? It's How We As Black People Are So Accepting Of Mediocrity And The Bare Minimum. We Will Literally Disregard The Real Aspects Of What Makes A Movie Great Just Because They Showing Black Peoples Struggles. Like It's So Crazy How All I Want Is For Us To Do Better And Yall Really Make It Seem Like I'm Disrespecting My Race And That I Hate Myself. Like What Kind Of Delusion Do Yall Have? Just Because They Show Black Peoples Struggles Does Not Make The Movie Good. If You So Worried About That, Then Watch A Damn Documentary! Other Races Literally Make Different Movies And In The Mist Of Those Movies They'll Make A Couple Of The Movies You Explain, While WE As Black People Make The Same Shit And Then Every Once In A While Make Something Different. It's The Damn Pattern I'm Also Hitting On. Like Open Your Damn Mind. Then Yall Complain On Why Our Movies Don't Perform And Make Excuses Instead Of Taking Accountability For OUR Choices...

[@4523bgb]

@@HelloMellowXVI Bro......if they even MAKE another slave movie ima riot. I feel you.

[@TribalCheif-ku4vn]

@@HelloMellowXVI Nigga you want black Harry Potter. You don’t know enough goal movies and sound like a confused white boy

[@kudarooo]

didn't see anyone comment this so i'll say it if you didn't figure it out, He's basically speaking to us from the grave from start to finish, telling us his story like a grim reaper

[@91Definite]

Right since he’s no longer here

[@thesilllypotato]

Yeah just how it got to his final point.

[@SmokinDroFrayser]

You gotta watch more black movies because it allows you to see the worst and best without having to live the life.

[@missk8185]

You summed it up perfectly.

[@villavelli]

I think he liked Juice

[@MonnieDel]

@@villavelli he tolerated juice because of the sound track 🤷but judged Raheem for the gun and backed door steel on his weight smh.. low key decent reaction still

[@aligmal5031]

​@@MonnieDelboyz in the hood still best movie out of them

[@91Definite]

@@villavelliJuice was good! The thing is Bishop was the one that always had a chip on his shoulder ready to blast at the world. His other friends was still young in high school still learning what they want outta life. Raheem for me looked at his babymother moving on from him and their child. Which I believe which is why one day he wanted to rob that corner store and Bishop was down to do it. But shit went left cause of Bishop. My girlfriend to this day was afraid of Pac in that movie..

[@mike-zy2bn]

I gotta ask. Where did you grow up? When this came out we all went and saw this like 10x this is California living in the 90s

[@HelloMellowXVI]

Indiana playing video games and binge watching will smith movies and lord of the rings.

[@mike-zy2bn]

@@HelloMellowXVI • Right on. I’m Cali born and raised teenager in 90s. This was real life sh!t. And I just wanna say. You’re the best with reactions. Cheers bro

[@jeremiahsmith7389]

You can tell people who was sheltered. They’re whole life because of the 90s in the projects it was like this because we was just getting out of the 80s crack error. You wouldn’t understand because you didn’t grow up like that but for people who grew up like that you understood the movie.

[@Ravenstormx_]

Sheltered? Lmao not growing up in violence or in the hood doesn’t mean you’re sheltered. And not everyone who grew up in the hood was on the streets or involved in that life. I understand what he meant, these movies were important for their time, but the over saturation of violent “hood” movies gives an inaccurate idea of what the black experience is or has been like as a whole. It’s not all just about this lifestyle

[@bradkirchhoff5703]

@ravenstorm- then you missed the entire point of the fucking movie. This movie teaches incredibly important lessons. Did you just ignore those? “The black experience”. You fn ignorant dipshit. Its the life experience. This shit DOES HAPPEN.

[@wyntahb3968]

​@@Ravenstormx_ not knowing the watts riots is .

[@hodrichrxmpr8981]

⁠@@Ravenstormx_you clearly was sheltered 😂😂

[@hodrichrxmpr8981]

@@Ravenstormx_and if you really watch his reaction videos then you can tell he was sheltered and nothing is wrong with that so chill lil dude

[@LilRedWitch]

As a white woman who grew up incredibly sheltered as a child, I NEEDED these movies to see what I was forced to never even consider. Bless you 💜

[@derekmason1881]

The amazing thing is, the Hughes Brothers were only 20 years old when they directed this. Also, they said Alina wasn't really pregnant. She was lying to get money from Kane, but the actress played her too sympathetically. Basically Kane got killed over a lie.

[@thesilllypotato]

Aw man

[@aceambling7685]

O-Dawg survived cuz he was the only one on timing, he was ready to go. He seems "immature", but its really that hes in survival mode all the time, pure lizard brain. A piece of characterization I like is that when Cain asks for a gun to beat Chauncey, Dawg automatically assumes hes gonna shoot dude and puts one in the chamber.

[@Yvanehtnioj2000]

O Dog didn’t know Kaine was bout to do that to Chauncey, he was confused but bein a good friend and not asking questions lol

[@acnelson75]

The Hughes Bros. stated that this movie was an answer to Boyz in the Hood in the sense that Singleton’s movie was too hopeful and focused more on the kids that had a future and neglected those who didn’t. They wanted to show how kids like Kane and O Dogg end up the way they do and felt like their stories need to be told.

[@blood9903]

the reason this movie is iconic, and why so many people like it, is that it's genuine and honest. it's unfortunate, but it's real. I feel like you don't understand the angle that this movie is coming from, or don't like it, which is cool, but it sorta seems like you're hating on something that is important to acknowledge and showcase in american history. a movie like this is a spotlight on what some people in this country had experienced at a time VERY recently, and to some, still today. regarding your end statements; black americans ARE very much more of this type of shit, but it's not appreciated the same way for all kinds of different reasons.

[@TribalCheif-ku4vn]

He was sheltered and likely shunned black things

[@JinNeptune]

@@TribalCheif-ku4vnidk why yall keep associating this lifestyle as being “black” crabs in the barrel ass mindset..

[@HelloMellowXVI]

Bruh I Don't Get Some Of Yall. Just Because A Movie Hits On A Certain Topic Doesn't Make It Good. Yall Really Coming At Me Saying I Don't Understand, When I Literally I'm Talking About The Movie. None Of Yall Talking About The Movie, Yall Talking About The Meaning Behind The Movie, Which I Myself Said Was A Necessary Movie To Make. Like Why Can't None Of Yall Actually Debate With Me On The Movie Itself? What's With All This Extra Stuff? This Movie Could've Been So Much Better, But The Story And The Acting Was Not Good. I'm Talking About The Art And I'm Also Talking About The Pattern In Which We Make Movies. We Barely Get Any Support On Shit, But If We Actually Made Better Shit And Then Sprinkled These Movies In As Well Then They Would Get More Exposure. Like All I Want Is Better For Us And Yall Making It Seem Like I Said I hate Myself. Like Wtf?

[@Sickwidit]

@@HelloMellowXVIyou dont understand Lance. Instead of being so quick to respond in some negative outlook and respond to everyone fighting everything back just shhhh and understand.

[@HelloMellowXVI]

@centerstagemediaoutlet2268 And This Is What I'm Trying To Tell You And Everyone That's So Quick To Judge Me When Yall Don't Even Know Me. Yall Don't Know What I've Seen And What I've Been Through In My Life. I Told You I'm Talking About Strictly The Movie And You Still Talking About The Subject Matter, Which I Never Said I Had An Issue With. I'm Saying I Wish They Could've Done More. The Thing Is Yall Are So Accepting Of The Bare Minimum. Just Because They Talked About This Subject Doesn't Mean Nothing To Me When They Didn't Put Their Full Effort Into It. Yall So Quick To Say I Don't Understand When I Do Understand. I Been Through This Shit, The Problem I Have Is Not About How People Generalized It. It's How We Made It To The Point Where People Did Generalized It. I Didn't Love This Movie Because I Didn't Get It Bro, I Didn't Love This Movie Because The Story Was All Over The Place. The Scenes Were So Random And Felt Like They Were Just Thrown Together. There Was No Coherence And Flow With The Story, And The Excuses Yall Will Make When It Comes To This Topic Are Insane. The Examples You Made Of The Acting Of The Decades Is Ridiculous. How Does An Accent Even Correlate With The Way People Portray A Character With Their Physical Language? Over Acting Has Always Been Over Acting. In This Movie, Majority Of People You Could Tell Was Acting. Barely Anyone Was Being Real, Even With Them Living This Life. Some Of These People Were Too Busy Trying To Act Like A Gangster Instead Of Just Being The Character And Bringing Them To Life. It's The Sameway Like If You Watch Someone Act As A Lawyer Or An Interviewer. If Their Not A Good Actor They'll Act On How They THINK A Lawyer Or Interviewer Would Act Off What They Seen. Instead Of acting Bringing The Character To Life.

[@infiniteloop8274]

There was all kinds of black movies at this time. The Wood, Love and Basketball Jason Lyric all black movies that aren't like this. This was also just an unfortunate part of our reality

[@A.Light33]

Jason’s Lyric was tragic too but has a great story

[@emilykeegan4345]

Higher learning and Dead Presidents are both great movies from about the same time.. also Poetic justice (Tupac and Janet Jackson) and of course "Do the right thing" love to see you react to these films. I haven't seen anyone react to any of these. Btw great video as always.. keep it up ❤

[@M4TCH3SM4L0N3]

I finally saw Poetic Justice last year, and I can't believe I hadn't seen it before! Do the Right Thing is top-tier indy film - I cannot recommend it highly enough.

[@91Definite]

Do The Right Thing I feel wasn’t a independent film, cause if it was alot of people wouldn’t know about it like that. Spike Lee had many of movies that made money in the late 80’s early 90’s

[@aceambling7685]

A-wax is played by the og LA rapper MC Eiht, who also played Ryder in San Andreas.

[@antoncrowley4359]

​@@Jaybeast5xBig Smoke

[@celsovera91]

He was also featured in the song maad city with Kendrick Lamar

[@Gameroomrebel1980]

MC Eiht is Also the Artist that Made the Them Song for GTA V welcome to Los Santos. Definitely a Legend frfr

[@gtjohns220]

You should watch Higher Learning. It's about a Black man going to college on a track scholarship. It stars Omar Epps, Tyra Banks, Laurence Fishburne, Ice Cube and is directed by John Singleton.

[@wavonbarksdale3771]

I mean there were plenty of black movies out during that time that weren’t of this subject matter. I think it’s important to tell honest stories good and bad because everyone isn’t aware of what’s going on in black neighborhoods and it’s not like there were a whole bunch of movies or tv like this beforehand, people ended up just regurgitating the same hood shit with no message or meaning so the value is lost.

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup.

[@dariusthegr8one81]

Boyz in the hood was the after school special hood movie. This was the the fully polished version. Maaaan this had some insane tense moments. Ending still upsets me but it’s a true reality for some especially at that time. This was an Oscar worthy performance by Larenz as well.

[@goanna83]

Larenz Tate is such an underrated actor. His roles ranging from a murderous gangster to a romantic in Love Jones is astounding

[@dariusthegr8one81]

@@goanna83 his whole 90s run is fantastic to me. He had menace, inkwell, dead presidents, love jones, and why do fools fall in love. All insanely rewatchable movies and in different genres. I miss those days man

[@therealmarlonbellamy]

Rewatching this movie as an adult i’ve come to the realization that Caine had it coming. The movie did a good job at making him look like the protagonist.

[@jalankvng]

I hope Mell doesn’t think all black movies are about trauma. There’s plenty of other black films where trauma is not involved. If it ain’t about the hood or Tyler Perry in the plot, it’s not traumatic 🤣🤣

[@HelloMellowXVI]

You Didn't Hear Me Talking About All The Black Movies That Have Been Consistently Made At The End Of The Video Broski?

[@jalankvng]

@@HelloMellowXVImy bad I was still watching the beginning of the video while I was typing 😂

[@jmurdock8303]

​​@@HelloMellowXVI I think there's a difference between black movies and hood movies. Hood movies are sub genre

[@donaldmcclurejr.494]

Great reaction, Mellverse to a classic film. The actor that played A-Wax is a legendary rapper from Compton named MC Eiht. He was/is part of a group called CMW(Comptons Most Wanted), a group that found their footing in the 1990's and beyond. MC Eiht was also the voice of Ryder in the GTA San Andreas! Once again, great reaction, Mellverse!

[@emmanuelmedina5535]

Too Short was also in this film.

[@donaldmcclurejr.494]

@@emmanuelmedina5535 I also noticed a small cameo from Yo-Yo as well. I didn't know she was in this film until today.

[@brianvalencia7717]

And for those who don't know, Kane's cousin Harold is played by Saafir, of Hobo Junction.

[@brianvalencia7717]

Potentially even Spice 1 too was gonna be in this to play O-Dog.... but his agent screwed him out of it.

[@ComicPhreak]

23:26 That was Yo-Yo, man. Ice Cube's protégé. You probably know her as Keylolo from "Martin".

[@nawfsidemoe9858]

These type of movies were the first glimpse upper class white people ever got of what people in lower income communities were going thru. That’s y they were made. We had other movies back then. But the shock value is why some people rant and rave over it

[@bradkirchhoff5703]

You defintely grew up in a bubble bud. Im white and conpletely understand the entire movie. I saw a lot of the same exact shit growing up. Its REAL.

[@slipstreammonkey]

That community is just as much in the bubble as any other. If you choose to stay or stuck inside then that's your bubble. Most places don't have that level of death around them.

[@TribalCheif-ku4vn]

@@slipstreammonkeythat’s a lie.

[@slipstreammonkey]

@@TribalCheif-ku4vn Great, tell me how it's a lie.

[@ZYaKnoe249]

@@slipstreammonkeythe mob and mafia were heavily present during this same time period and was regularly in the news. Mexican gangs in LA & Texas were regularly killing eachother

[@TrueLibraGirl]

If you saw Larenz Tate in other roles, you would see that he did a great job acting as ODog. I suggest watching Love Jones or the Inkwell for comparison. I was kinda surprised that you had such a negative opinion of this movie before it began good. But I understand your POV after you experience it at the end. I liked this movie back in the day because it showed me how it was growing up in a hood different from my own. I had to laugh when you talked about Kane & Harold walking across the street & looking at the car that was trying drive down it. We used to play kickball in the middle of our street. The sewer holes and manhole covers were the bases 😩 When drove up we definitely looked at them sideways for interrupting our game 😂 We had a ball but it’s fu€ked up we didn’t have a park close by to play in. (The girl you thought was from Salt & Pepper was actually YoYo, a LA rapper.)

[@ZYaKnoe249]

How many black movies have you truly watched? Saying this is most of it is a weird generalization. Comes off as you were sheltered.

[@wowplayer160]

You the black police?

[@larellwash6989]

“So this dude dies bruh? MC Eiht: and it ain’t nothing but a Compton thang y’all…” 😭😭😭😭

[@DShipp85]

2Pac was gonna be Sharif but he fought one of the Hughes brothers. 2Pac also did a reading/audition with George Lucas for the Jedi Master Mace Windu but they chose Samuel Jackson. I would've loved to see Tupac be a Jedi Master.

[@AyyJT82]

I'm actually surprised that you ain't watched Menace to Society yet, but i know the reaction gonna be a lot of mixed emotions especially at the end.

[@AnnnieMcken]

Hey Mello! New subscriber who’s currently binging your channel and wanted to comment on this vid. I must say, as someone who’s a native of east Atlanta, your view definitely came across a little out of touch. I love this movie. First watched it as a teen and it didn’t have me question and judge the actions of the characters so much. Because i understood that people don’t have the same choices as others (or don’t even realize other choices) because of their upbringing and surroundings. Ofc this reason can’t be used so leniently when you were in adult, but these characters were just kids and you saw that for Cain, that life was all he knew. Forms of Media depicting this part of black culture is not 0:01 forced down our throats and it’s definitely not all there is to black media. If anything movies such as this should evoke empathy and compassion.

[@HelloMellowXVI]

Well, I'm sorry I disagree. Because you're right, the purpose of these movies supposed to bring empathy, but it basically inspired a generation. The movies had a negative impact on the community. Especially when also the government and other executives push that agenda on to our communities to where now this generation worships that lifestyle. The problem is all of you keep talking about the subject matter and people needing to see it, I never said they shouldn't. I said, being a variety as it also gives people different things to look up to and inspired by different things, it gives us more ideas. I'm also taking about the quality of some of these movies. They are not good which makes it worse on us. Then we complain about how no one supports us and our movies don't perform well. Trust me I'm not out of touch, I just want our people to do better and get received better.

[@jonathanaldecoa1099]

I love this film. It’s a stone cold classic gangster flick. I’m a Chicano dude, I saw this flick back in the day. I’ve seen this film 100’s of times ❤😎🕺

[@fredrickgowans949]

Man Dont be Disrespecting The OG Charles Dutton Aka Mr.butler The teacher in this Movie He Really Used to live that Lifestyle Himself at a Young Age before he Changed He been to prison for murder once And He Plays off a 90s Sitcom Called Roc

[@TrueLibraGirl]

I know you get a lot of suggestions but here are some Black movies I think you’d enjoy or find interesting. Black History (Most based on true stories): Hidden Figures, Green Book, 42, Harriett, The Help, Race, Judas & the Black Messiah, Loving, Just Mercy, Belle, Radio Some Classics: Love & Basketball, Waiting to Exhale, Best Man 1 & 2, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Love Jones, Think Like A Man, Stomp The Yard, Sister Act 1 & 2, Soul Food, Boomerang, Coming To America, Life, Harlem Nights, Friday, The Five Heartbeats, Hitch, ATL, Crooklyn, the Inkwell Movies about or starring rappers/musicians: What's Love Got to Do with It, Higher Learning, Dreamgirls, Hustle & Flow, Cadillac Records, Straight Outta Compton, 8 Mile, Get Rich or Die Trying, Ray

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

He’s probably aware of those films. The point is they revolve around hood violence, racial violence, racial struggles or some other black struggle issues. Not saying those stories shouldn’t be told but it paints a skewered picture of the “black experience”. We need diversity of perspectives and more unique voices in our films.

[@TribalCheif-ku4vn]

@@thepodbaydoorshalmajority of these movies listed have nothing to do with any of that… and shit. The black American experience is trauma…

[@TrueLibraGirl]

@@thepodbaydoorshal you don’t know what he’s aware of 🤦🏾‍♀️ There are movies on the list depicting a variety of Black perspectives & experiences. All movies have some type of issue to overcome, adversity or hardship. Have you seen every movie on that list to even be speaking on them?

[@KrisFlicks]

@@thepodbaydoorshalwe have diversity of perspective, it’s just the world loves negativity so they only focus on such

[@thepodbaydoorshal]

@@TrueLibraGirl madame I probably saw all of those films before you did lol

[@Stanlayy-em4fk]

The classroom dialogue about "If Allah can make my son a better man" is probably my favorite movie quote of all time. Very underappreciated

[@theCommentDevil]

90s hood movies hit differently 🙏 also they are spoofed very well in Don't Be a Menace while Drinking your Juice in the Hood

[@ThommyMckGoaty]

This a hood classic, talking bout I didn’t know this was that popular💀

[@wyntahb3968]

Right

[@LTJfan]

The actor who played Ilana's cousin was in a parody movie called "Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood", also as Bulldog from "Tales From The Hood"

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup. He was also in The Player's Club and Set It Off.

[@LTJfan]

@@reneedennis2011 Yeah, you right

[@reneedennis2011]

@@LTJfan Thanks!

[@ethanhobbs2817]

We liked this movie growing up cus it’s relatable even tho that’s not a good thing

[@barryallen825]

I'm not gonna roll in and be like "what? you're a black dude and you've not seen this" but way more like "you like GTA and haven't seen this?" lol. this one is good....dunno if it's the best of the chunk of hood movies from like 91-93.....but still excellent. I will say.....i don't think those got made so heavy cus it's the only thing black folks can do in a movie - but really cus there was a handful of directors that came from this life, and it seems the truly great directors ....all of their first movies were something they knew so heavy. They all did well, and they reflected what was going on at the time. I think you just got so many right there in a clump because there was so many amazing directors making their first or second movie right in that little area. It happens, from time to time.

[@CGSLIM11]

Yessss mello w reaction this movie was a childhood fav movie as a kid growing up in the hood

[@thereallyst]

Not EVERY black movie dealt with this topic. You missed out on a BUNCH of excellent movies with that mindset. I'll help you out with a few.... Love Jones Inkwell Poetic Justice Best Man The Wood House Party Mo Better Blues Mississippi Masala Jungle Fever Mo Money Boomerang Class Act Crooklyn Above The Rim A Low Down Dirty Shame Jason's Lyric A Thin Line Between Love and Hate Booty Call Soul Food ....and etc etc. Movies like Menace are a slice of life some faced on a day to day. It was a way to show the world what happens cause it doesn't get reported in the news, life isn't always gum drops and fun times, but maybe some of these will I listed will be more to your liking....

[@HelloMellowXVI]

And you really missed out on what I said, because I also brought up other movies that black people literally keep making and nothing else. I didn't just say hood movies.

[@PeterStone-hy6ir]

@@HelloMellowXVIwell you were wrong and sounded ignorant

[@nawfsidemoe9858]

The fact that he said “brotha man” tells me alot😂😂😂

[@hughfuller8416]

Not traumatizing myself. I’ll leave the like and the comment for the algorithm.

[@MonnieDel]

He ain't seen monsters before😅

[@arijohn8413]

Same thought! I watched this move once & never again.

[@hughfuller8416]

@@arijohn8413 I can’t watch again.

[@callmemyss]

Movies like this, set it off, Higher learning and Boyz n The Hood 1 and done. . . Never again

[@dunbardunelm3924]

Set it off can see me again 😅 ​@@callmemyss

[@joshwoodard1692]

Being from the hood in Detroit it didn't traumatize me it was type of sh*t I was raised around

[@juanlugo3982]

I used to watch this religiously in the early nineties

[@reneedennis2011]

Same here.

[@vikmixedandproudconservati2095]

The guy saying Give me my motherfuckin' joint is MC Eiht a Compton rapper and the voice actor of Ryder from San Andreas

[@gamerfilmfan1960]

The opening scene is one of the scariest scenes in a non horror movie.That is just me .

[@vincenzobonadonna4556]

The kinda film you gotta learn from, not revel in and emulate.

[@aceambling7685]

Me and my homies watched this movie so many times in high school we spotted a production error in the first scene. When the camera follows Cain and Odawg up the aisle you can spot the camera crew in the anti-theft mirrors.

[@Killua4145]

Watching this movie, boys in the hood, and paid in full kept me out of the streets lol. I'm not built for that lifestyle

[@marcuss.9302]

The ending to this movie absolutely scarred me the first time I watched it, and it still scars me. Just so incredibly brutal and disturbing, and also frightening at the same time.

[@timothymuntu9027]

The voices for Ryder and Big Smoke played in this movie

[@prettygurl9568]

Quick movie facts…Tupac was originally set to play Sharif and even filmed a few scenes until he and the directors got into it. Also Larenz Tate did this movie in 93 and the next year starred in Inkwell showing how deep his acting range went and it also showed that he can’t be typed cast. You definitely should check Inkwell out.

[@thebookgeek87]

These hood movies were made as cautionary tales. At least that's the way I always looked at them.

[@josephjimenez5137]

I was 12 when this came out. Grew up not too far from this area. When I was young, i could watch horror movies with no problem. But this gave me nightmares.

[@DonaldMorgan-o5i]

Tupac was originally supposed to play Sharif in this film but due to creative differences and a beef between Tupac and the director, he was replaced.

[@91Definite]

Yea Pac wanted his character to have more depth. Like why he turn Muslim and his upbringing. Pac was doing too much and obviously he challenged one of the Hughes brothers to a fight. Rumors was that one of them lost and Pac was out of the movie. He was suppose to be on Higher Learning as well as Omar’s character

[@TribalCheif-ku4vn]

@@91Definite How was he doing too much? New Line legit only green light the movie if they could get Tupac in Allen Hughes own words.

[@markeyiszra]

Even i watched Don't be A Menace (Wayans Brother movie parody before Scary Movie) first for that Mini Market scene seeing the original scene it still haunted me. No music,just a sound of gun shot,and screaming it was a chilling opening. Funny thing about Don't Be The Menace,they even got the actor who play the Clerks from this movie to play the same role in the parody.

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup.

[@gbone1971]

Like others have said, these films show life in the hood at the time. In many ways, things haven't changed. These films were also cautionary tales to me. What not to do or be.

[@kidcupid1974]

I watched this in the movie theater back in 93' with the whole family!!!

[@James-rd8lg]

How old were you

[@kidcupid1974]

In 1993 I was 18.@@James-rd8lg

[@austintoler820]

Bahaha MellVerse Self-Insert in the back of the lowrider at 17:14 "Man what you need to be doing..." 😂 Shit caught me off guard. That was hilarious.

[@nikkisatchel4699]

and u have to remember, the world was different back then...same as it was different in the 70s, so when u watch these movies, u have to look at it thru the lens of back then, not now...the things u see as harassment wasn't that back then...every one was harder

[@LaurenLumsden]

Ehhh, it was still harassment. It’s just ppl are calling it out now.

[@JinNeptune]

Umm it’s still harassment… whether if it was 100 years or not.

[@nikkisatchel4699]

@LaurenLumsden it wasn't harassment cuz the women weren't offended by it...u cannot put today's mindset on what was acceptable behavior...like we were able to smoke on busses, airplanes, in hospitals, and it wasn't seen as wrong or disrespectful, of harmful, and the surgeon General warning was on the package...same as kids were allowed to go buy beer, cigarettes, etc from the store for adults wit just a note...kids also got paddled in school by teachers and didn't need parents permission up until 1985...

[@jamesfoxx564]

​@@nikkisatchel4699 shit.. I still paddled by teachers in the 90s

[@lonexelaa]

Love this movie, very deep, and doesn’t have that happy ending everyone wants.

[@JessieMouse8]

I remember going to see this when it came out in the movies. Woo boy....what a movie!

[@gingerhunter777]

Great video Mel! I don't care if its almost March you gotta watch It's A Wonderful Life. You gonna cry. It's one of the great classics in my opinion.

[@ezelldaniels6064]

One of my favorite hood movie classics of all time

[@MichaelLesesne]

I am amazed at how parents back in the 80s and 90s let their kids watch any and everything. I know I saw some of every type of movie growing up in the late 80s and early 90s.

[@reynabaker6483]

King Von reminded me of O-Dog. But, growing up it was like this for me. I lost a brother, cousin, boyfriend, friends and classmates to gun violence. It’s a reality for a lot of people. I don’t really see it as a traumatic movie because I’ve lived it. I understand why others hate it.

[@bradkirchhoff5703]

Most my friends died from drugs or accidents but we felt the threats all around us. I had buddies shot at but didnt get it. Ppl we would get or weed from always had bullet holes in their homes and cars.

[@91Definite]

Sorry for those losses! I guess it all depends were you live. The neighborhoods I live in? It was shit going on, but it wasn’t a war zone

[@reneedennis2011]

I am so sorry 😞.

[@Detroit_Dawg]

What happened to the "Missing" reaction video? It just disappeared as I was watching it

[@katmossa3503]

I came here to see if anyone had a problem with that video, it just stopped

[@sim_ne]

Same omg

[@ItsJustFox]

My favorite part about this movie is the messaging behind it. And it wasnt just to show a life in the hood. Caine literally explains it in the end. The lifestyle leads many youth to becoming so far gone in their deeds that by the time they realize they want more from life, its too late. Usually due to a young death. The movie then turns from "here's life in the ghetto" and into a warning to young back men that environment.

[@OneShotK.]

Glad you watched this movie bro. One of my favorite films. btw I recently signed up for your Patreon to watch your full reaction to these movies. lowkey been binging all day. I went straight here to see you watch this and damn near forgot what all the edits felt like lmaoo but your reactions honestly capture real genuine human emotion, speaking from other movies I seen you watch. idk what it is but you're a dope ass reactor, good shit man, you're my favorite youtuber rn.

[@Darksista1]

I get what u saying man, I feel like my upbringing was similar to Kane's, back then we had to cvercome and persevere, it was alot, I personally dated some similar characters in this movie also, it was scary, if we learn and live long enough we can do better, I'm a living example😊

[@fredrickgowans949]

You Really Gotta Be From The Hood To Understand These Kinda Movies Or Have To Have Lived Through Those Times To Relate

[@scrptar129]

I think I was twenty when I saw this for the first time, maybe a year after it came out. It rocked me. I was just a white kid from a small city, but I had been exposed to some violence and had lost some of my friends to it. I’ve never thought these films were necessarily meant to be enjoyed, but as a time capsule of sorts. Something to be viewed and learned from. I guess the real question is have we?

[@bradkirchhoff5703]

I was 7

[@RollingxBigshot]

11:20 I think you’re thinking about boys n the hood when cube got revenge for his brothers death

[@brazyfilmo3121]

True but you can say the same thing about Italians in mafia movies

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup. Good point.

[@bvnks2827]

22:17 EXACTLY !! growing up I never understood why people think less of others over a skin color smfh. in the end, were all just bones

[@bobcobb3654]

I don’t think O-Dog got away for long. Remember, Chauncey sent his copy of the robbery tape to the cops.

[@TheAnimeClub1]

Thanks for reacting it's not for everybody bro that's why I love film

[@BrewAndBiscuits]

YYESSS!!!! i absolutely LOVE this movie, its sooo underrated and under appreciated, i wish more people would watch this film

[@bradkirchhoff5703]

I picked this out at the video store when I was 7 on my dads weekend to have me. He said ok. Id get a sega game and a movie. This movie became my go to. My favorite movie at just 7 years old lol….Theres only a few movies as powerful as this one. Ppl saying they cant watch it only do a disservice to themselves. This movie teaches EXTREMELY IMPORTANT MESSAGES.

[@reneedennis2011]

Yup.

[@lettztripp4023]

Great reaction Mell, you had me dying laughing for most of the vid and I appreciate your thoughts about the content... Keep it up.

[@spanky223]

Not only the car part that was parodied.. but there is tons of parts and sayings that were used thru the years. In songs. Tiktoks.. allat

[@Sejjjee]

I just love the messages in these types of movies and the realities back then !

[@Johncollins219]

Movie straight had you going through mad emotional changes 😂

[@onetruesavage]

I saw the parody before the real movie. It wasn't so much about liking it. It was understanding us as a people in the hood and wanting to make it out. (A black man from the hood who made it out)

[@TribalCheif-ku4vn]

This dude named multiple types of movies blsck people have made then said we limit ourselves lmao, yet white people can do the same thing and it’s fine lol.

[@HelloMellowXVI]

Dude I See You Didn't Listen At All. White People Literally Make Different Shit While All We Do Is Shit Around Toxic Relationships, Church, Hood Shit, Racism, Drugs, Gangs, Prison, Black Families, Or A Buddy Comedy That Also Guess What, Deals With Weed And/Or Hip Hop. Like Yall Don't Listen, We Rarely Make Anything Fantasy Or Scifi

[@TribalCheif-ku4vn]

@@HelloMellowXVI You sound dumb, there’s hundreds of repetitive white tropes and movie scripts. You’ve reacted to dozens of them. Simply sounds like you have no knowledge of your people

[@rubenlopez3364]

Messed up that he let the little boy hold the gun because that’s what happened when he was a kid

[@syx6766]

been waitin on this. One of my favorite movies

[@skinssxe]

@mellverse, I would love for you to have the opportunity to see the movie “Fresh” if you haven’t already. It is a film often forgotten among other cult films about the "ghetto". Absolutely brilliant and very moving. I think you will enjoy this film very much. The story of an extremely intelligent ghetto kid who tries to save his sister from the hands of a local drug dealer (played by Giancarlo Esposito, Gus Fring in "Breaking Bad" and Bug in "Do The Right Thing"). He plays chess with his father (played by Samuel Jackson), and the game of chess is linked to the strategy that Fresh will put in place to survive. I'm sure this scene deeply inspired the failure scene of the series "The Wire" during the first season.

[@KHAOE1]

Th directors said they made this film as an "anti" Boyz N The Hood to show what really happens in the hood where Tre made it out the hood but Kane didn't. As the slogan for this film was "This is the truth...this is what's real." That's Kane narrating from the grave at the end. Back in the 80s and 90s black on black crime was at an all-time high in the hoods and just like Ice Cube Said in Boyz N The Hood "Either they don't know, don't show, or just don't care about what goes on in the hood." So these films tell not just blacks but ALL ETHNICS about what OUR communities go through not only when interacting with their races but with our own as well and that being a black man on earth wasn't (and still isn't) gravy. This was an era where people nationwide needed to see what was going on. I now see people of all ethnicities reacting to these hood films and the stunned look on their faces are gold. One white lady on her channel said "Wow...who knew?" Ice Cube said its why he wrote the movie Friday. To put the hood into a better light than what was shown earlier. Oh and the only thing good about Jack In The Box is their chicken sandwiches and egg rolls. Everything else sucks lol.

[@joeyrogers7017]

This movie was one of our favorites from 1993 (still is). We were 12 yrs old and Menace 2 Society, Colors, Boyz In The Hood, Juice, South Central, Do The Right Thing, classics. At 43, Menace still gives me cold chills at the end.

[@RamiroGetsit]

That LONG red light n Crenshaw be crucial n the hood 😂

[@ahwhite2022]

This movie for me is just too many bad memories of everything I left behind when I left High School.

[@threesixteen3757]

I was 8 when this dropped and I remember being on the playground saying "what you say about my mama" 😂