Carmen: A Hip Hopera (2001)

Waste of time

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I don't know exactly what people were expecting, they keep writing bad reviews and giving the film a low rating. It's an MTV movie people. Overall it was not that bad. Very low budget, like a super long music video, lots of talent involved. Most of them even acted well. Half the people who were in this film wouldn't be caught dead participating in such a film in this day an age but it's nice that we have something like this to look back on. Beyonce acted very well in it (in fact her acting was better in this film than some of her more recent work.) I miss Mekhi Pfeiffer I wish they would cast him in more films instead of letting his talent go to waste. Mos Def was also good. Joy Bryant the serial best-friend was also decent. Also, it's a good thing to know that Beyonce can rap pretty decently. It was short, to the point and precise. Well done all!

This movie is fantastic and beyonce is best in this than anything else she has done. A role well suited for the multi talented entertainer. The script is well written and the whole movie ends with a mutual moral which can be asked both ways. The passion and class is well identified and real life issues are being brought on. Although there has not been a UK release, this movie is worth seeing if u haven't. A cast of talent and well worth viewing. There is no better words to explain this. If u want a well written musical with a sense of passion and sexual desires watch this. If u like musicals generally u'll love this. THe sound and flavour of urban music is well mixed with the originally classy style.

In my opinion, this movie was done quite well. It's story goes along pretty well with it's original opera version by Georges Bizet. But Lil Bow Wow was a bad idea, he was just there for product placement in my opinion, and the song sang with him when they are in prison doesn't occur in the real opera (Don Jose sings by himself), but the song's meaning is similar. The only thing that vexed me is the fact that the ending is different that the "Real" ending in the opera. I won't give any spoilers but both are done well and Da Brat narrating was a good idea. The lead parts (Beyonce and Mekhi) are done exceptionally well with Beyonce playing Carmen beautifully, capturing especially the sexuality and Mekhi capturing the emotion and love.

I enjoyed this, although it was too short to cover the story well enough. I thought Beyonce & Mekhi were both great, and Mos played a good villain. As long as you don't expect a true remake of the opera, you should enjoy it.