Menace II Society MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 1/2 Content: -4

Caine (Tyrin Turner) grew up in Watts during the late 60's and both his parents died from drugs when he was small. He later learned how to deal drugs and hustle. The movie takes place during the summer after he graduates from high school. One night, he helps his friend rob a liquor store and sees him shoot the Korean owner in the head repeatedly. Later, Caine and his cousin are shot by other local youths, but survive to shoot them down in cold blood. He goes to prison briefly and gets brutally beaten by some racist cops. Finally, when he decides to move from Watts, all his mistakes and violent behavior come back to haunt him. Caine gets plenty of warning from his religious grandfather, his Muslim friend, and even his girlfriend Ronnie (Jada Pinkett), but he discovers the disastrous consequences of his mistakes too late. MENACE II SOCIETY will turn many, if not most, viewers off. However, it does say ...what you sow you will reap.

Unfortunately, to get this message one has to endure an hour and a half of filthy language and violence. The movie seems to revel in the corrupt actions of the characters and then at the end says, "but you shouldn't do this." During the film, at least 10 people are gunned down, most of them shot repeatedly. Two men are brutally beaten and kicked repeatedly. Most of the shooting scenes are in slow motion and blood flows freely, sometimes splattering against the wall. One scene of sexual intercourse is included, but no nudity is shown other than a woman's bare back. Atrocious obscene language occurs so often, this film may have set a record, with roughly 317 occurrences. It seems astonishing that this many expletives could fit in a 90-minute movie. For its graphic violence and incessant obscenities, MENACE II SOCIETY should never have seen the inside of a movie theater.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: New Line Cinema Corp., 888 7th Ave., 20th Flr., NY, NY 10106