Bomb It 2 (2013)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Beautiful, moving film.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

This movie really goes everywhere. Jakarta, Thailand, Tel Aviv, Hong Kong, Australia, even Austin, TX. Super comprehensive, and a superior movie than shorts I've seen on graffiti culture. I've never been that INTO graffiti, but this movie is great. I could hang out with these artists all day long -- just have it on in the background. It's so interesting how everyone is very aware of why they graffiti, and how their aesthetic choices come out of that. I found the artists from Copenhagen and Jakarta especially interesting -- but, the artists in Tel Aviv make some incredible stuff. The most interesting parts of the film for me were artists talking about the repercussions of graffiti, as well as the political nature behind the art. Really, really smart people, and obviously a smart filmmaker. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Reiss' no holds-barred documentary bridges inter-cultural gaps we didn't even no existed. He redefines "graffiti" from illicit hobby to expression of the soul- a rare art form where people are able to influence their environment as much as their environment influences them. BI2 reminds us to unleash our passion, there's almost always a place for it. It's not enough for Reiss to stay in one place- instead he brings us around the globe- exploring this intriguing sub-culture with countless characters. I knew nothing about graffiti before watching this movie. All I knew was that it was illegal and looked down upon. Now I see it's not just a juvenile expression of disdain for society- instead it's the opposite. It's an expression of the soul- an artistic and human release for many people who might not have any other available. Without graffiti, one character even says he wouldn't know what he'd do with his life. It's not about disgracing property- it's about expressing yourself within your environment, and actually changing that environment to become an extension of yourself.Chris Bashinelli - Host and Executive Producer of "Bridge the Gap" on PBS

I always question why graffiti artists put themselves at risk to perform this type of art, in most parts of the world it's considered a felony and has some serious consequences. In the film, a Malaysian artist explains that authorities will strip you naked and whip you with a soaking wet rattan, ouch... Jon Reiss takes you around the world meeting artists from Bethlehem, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, Bangkok, Singapore and a plethora of other cities/cultures and really gives you a strong understanding behind the story/motivation of graffiti artists. I really appreciate the risks that were taken by Jon Reiss and the other filmmakers involved to pull together these stories, I will certainly never look at graffiti art the same.

Indie marketing strategist, international lecturer, and, more importantly, documentary filmmaker Jon Reiss -- yes, that same Jon Reiss who brought us the first instalment of the Bomb It series -- boldly returns with the long-awaited followup to his whirlwind global tour of graffiti-around-the-world.Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Reiss is back with a vengeance, more jet-lagged than ever.Spanning another four-pack of continents and a grab bag of nations both developed, developing, and Third World alike, we, loyalists and aficionados of the swelling Reiss oeuvre, feast once again on the delectable offerings in this engaging work of social commentary.It's a doc which attempts to explain -- in interview format as is the traditional Reiss custom -- the reasons why the men and women who love to "detonate bombs" simply do the things they do. If you've ever wondered why, now's your chance to find out once and for all.The world's revolved another six years and the indie film distribution landscape has turned over on itself like a piñata on the juice -- where it stops nobody really knows (and anyone who tells you they do is a rotten egg).The production values on this new film -- from the graphics, to the tunes, to the title cards delectably done by animator Joaquin Baldwin, plus the sundry Bonus Features (believe me, there are many!) -- are what will likely catapult Bomb It 2 to even greater renown than the first.Reiss has scooped up a few tricks in the intervening half-dozen years and stacking the films up side-by-side, Bomb It-s 1 and 2, you can't help but notice.WHY YOU WANT TO WATCH THIS FILM:You don't want to catch a glimpse of Bomb It 2 because I respect the sort of work Jon Reiss and Co. set their minds to. I also don't want you to run to view this film because I said so.You want to watch this film because:** it's a very good piece of filmmaking entertainment, and you could use the break from screen-tapping and status updating ** the visuals are stunning -- regardless of how you feel about the creative commons -- the hours invested by these various creative professionals into their work boggles the mind and will floor you ** Reiss has worked very hard, logged a lot of air time, and been far away from his family to bring this piece of documentary artistry our way ** the artists all have something unique to tell us and you will learn something new from all of them, as I did. Just when you think you all there was to know about graffiti and the creative commons, along comes Bomb It 2, and ** because this is the way documentaries are going to be shot in the new lean non- traditional distribution era, and if you're an indie filmmaker looking to sink your chops in a serious campaign of audience engagement, you'll want to sit back and watch how Jon Reiss separates the men from the boys with this project.And in the meantime...SPRAY ON!