Good story, Not enough for a whole film

A Masterpiece!

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Unless you were an adult in the 1990s, Jungle Fever probably won't strike a chord with you, so you might want to keep looking for tonight's evening entertainment. In 1991, it was a big enough deal for a black man to have an affair with his white, Italian secretary to inspire Spike Lee to make one of his controversial, heavy dramas he's known for. People who weren't even born yet might not be able to relate; Moonlight might be the movie they talk about with their friends instead.Wesley Snipes is married to Lonette McKee, but when he has an affair with Annabella Sciorra, everyone's world gets turned upside down. At first they keep their affair a secret, no only because he's married, but because an interracial relationship wouldn't immediately be accepted by their friends and family. But, of course, since this is a Spike Lee Joint, you can bet on the secret getting out, tensions reaching their boiling points, and lives getting destroyed.What I like about this movie-Jungle Fever is my favorite of Spike Lee's films-is there are many more issues discussed than race. Samuel L. Jackson plays a junkie, and the relationship between him, his brother Wesley, and his parents Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis, is truly accessible and heartbreaking. Lonette and her friends have a heart-to-heart about what it's like to be a black woman trying to find romance in a culture that doesn't generally link beauty with dark skin. In one of the most memorable scenes for me, Wesley and Annabella are playing around, having a good time on the sidewalk; an outsider mistakes their interaction for attempted rape and calls the police. It's a very chilling scene, one that's still incredibly applicable today. Much of the movie is, but since it's very obviously a "90s movie", modern audiences might not find it edgy enough. Grown-ups remember how edgy it was, and when we re-watch it-if we choose to; it is very heavy-it'll still seem edgy.Keep an eye out for Halle Berry and Queen Latifah in very small parts. Halle plays Sam's junkie girlfriend, and while her performance looks like a bad community theater rehearsal, Queen's small part as a tired, overworked waitress is much better acted. On the Italian side, John Turturro and Anthony Quinn add to the cast.Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to graphic sex scenes, language, and violence, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

Jungle Fever focuses on two characters from different ethnic backgrounds who fall prey to forbidden lust/love. Although this is considered a romantic film with racial themes, I believe it was executed poorly. Granted, the main characters endured some bigotry from both eyes of the black/white spectrum due to their unorthodox relationship, however their situation made them both more unlikable to begin with. To explain, I think Flip( Wesley Snipes' character)was an asshole for cheating on his wife. There is no excuse for that. As for Angie,( Annabella Sciorra's character)she was a b!tc# for "succumbing to the devil and tasting the forbidden fruit" as the good reverend( Flip's dad) would say. I mean, She knew he was married and had a kid. Though without discrimination, they were both unlikable. All in all, it was a decent movie, but I did not care much for the main characters at all. They were too flawed, ordinary and despicable. However, Paulie(played by John Turturro) and Orin(Tyra Ferrell) were far more believable and likable characters. Although they only had about 10-15 minutes of screen time, they shared more chemistry than the main characters throughout the whole film. Minor SPOILERS, At least, Paulie had the balls to stick up for the girl he liked despite the hate he endured from his friends and father while walking to her house.

Who in their right mind plays a lyrical song at the same time they are portraying an emotional scene between two people? When Flipper confronts his wronged wife in the dressing room, the song sung with lyrical content is as loud as the dialog, so one can hear neither, diluting any emotional impact the scene may have had. The scenes of Annabella getting beaten by her father with his fists, a lamp and then a belt was so cartoonish as to be absurd. This entire movie is a cartoon, the rampant prejudice against whites is literally astounding. The discussion by the black women after flipper's wife finds out he has cheated on her with a white woman - as if it were a discussion by an oxford debating team, is ridiculous. The rampant racism might be possible to endure, but the soundtrack and the sound mixing during this 'movie' is too much. It was a technically poorly made movie. There is no understanding of the basic craft of movie making, the sound track, the editing and the desperate attempt of great actors trying to keep this movie afloat. I actually felt sorry for Anthony Quinn, wondering why he had accepted a role in this flick - his appearance in this is painful. This is the first movie I have seen by this director and it will be my last.

This movie really brought to the limelight how the world deals with interracial dating. Snipes has a loving wife and child. Even with that, he manages to befriend and fall for a white woman. I think that he just wanted to experience something different. In my opinion, I would never date outside of my race because I feel comfortable with black women. The latter part of the film shows the evil side of interracial dating. When Sciorra fathers finds out, he mercifully whips her and kicks her out of the house. Snipes's wife banishes him from his home. Both families learn the meaning of stereotyping and try to come to grips with the adversity they face.