Who payed the critics

People are voting emotionally.

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Being a huge fan of hip-hop and turntablism to begin with, I always knew I would like this film. However, I wasn't prepared for just how good the documentary actually is. It covers almost all the important aspects of the only element of hip-hop which has been there from the very start. The "story" begins in the early 70's, and follows the evolution of turntablism as an art from up until early 2000 (turntablism aficionados will point this out as significant).The editing is nigh on perfect throughout the film. Aside from the excellent visual "scratch" techniques which they used, the rapid cutting between interviews and the stock footage is excellent, giving the film pace when it is needed. The sound editing is also very good, with some nice sweeping sounds being used to help with transitions.The absence of a narrator was also welcome. We aren't taken by the hand through the story, and as a result the audience is able to make their own assumptions easier. Each DJ adds another side to the story, and it is so interesting to hear about the unknown stars of hip-hop, especially those who were there when hip-hop was being shunned left, right and centre by the music business.Although there are many excellent things about this film, I do have a few gripes. The biggest of these is the absence of several notable DJs, such as Ca$hMoney and Jazzy Jeff, and also DJs from outside America, such as Scratch Perverts and DJ Noise. However, if you watch the commentary on the DVD (something which I highly recommend), producer and director go in to great depth about how they regret not being able to feature them. The deleted scenes contain many interviews with Ca$hMoney, Jazzy Jeff and the Scratch Perverts.This is definitely the best documentary I've seen on hip-hop culture and music. It does stop short of showing the true potential of turntablism; for that I highly recommend checking out the DMC and ITF videos. However, that is a minor quibble. I highly recommend this movie, not least for the phat soundtrack, with excellent music throughout. (9/10)

As someone who's been interested in scratching for a longtime it's possible that I was expecting a little too much from this film.Scratch is actually quite boring in places, and as far as cinematic documentaries go it falls way short of the standard set by films like Dogtown and Z-Boys. Scratch didn't seem to capture a lot of what gets me excited about scratching and turntablism. It concentrates too much on dull cliched dialogue about the 'Four Elements of Hip Hop', and 'Keeping it Real'.To me it seemed quite poorly researched. A number of key figures in the development of this music were not interviewed or even mentioned. The most notable of these was DJ Ca$h Money, one of the all time great battle DJs and the inventor of many influential scratch techniques. Also absent were Jazzy Jeff and Jam Master Jay (who was still alive at the time of filming).Another gripe is that the only non US DJ featured was DJ Krush. The absence of artists like DJ Noise, Scratch Perverts, DJ Dexta, Kid Koala and many others showed some ignorance towards the huge global following that this movement has.That said there is some excellent footage notably of the Mix Master Mike, DJ Shadow record shopping and the superb performance of Rockit at the 1984 Grammies.As an introduction to the history of scratching this film might be useful, but it seems incomplete and somewhat lifeless. Instead you should check out the videos of DMC or ITF battles, or better still get to a battle yourself.

Just seen this at the Cambridge Film Festival - UK premiere.Scratch is very well researched, has in-depth interviews and contains some superb footage (especially Herbie Hancock doing Future Shock live). There is no doubt that this film is aimed at a very specific audience, who will absolutely love it! The entire documentary emphasises the importance of the dj throughout the development of hip-hop. As with any good culture, hip-hop has now been absorbed and appropriated by the commercial mainstream. Doug Pray pays respect to the originators and innovators who still rock the crowds with a pair of turntables, a mixer, stacks of vinyl and phenomenal dj skills.However, given the incredible diversity of hip-hop, it was a shame that Pray didn't offer a wider view of this fascinating culture. In the last decade, for instance, some really inventive vocal styles have developed and artists such as those in the Anticon collective, Kool Keith, Company Flow, Infesticons and Mike Ladd didn't get so much as a mention.Even if you haven't got vhs tapes of the DMC World DJ championships adorning your shelves, this documentary is worth catching if only to see various dj's reminiscing about wrecking the stylus on their parent's turntable in their youth!

-That's pretty much the whole soundtrack to this film. I just saw this baby at the Munich Film Festival and it rocked the house. Director Doug Pray is never seen in this documentary, nor I think he is even heard, but he has done a very intimate look into the lives and history of the "mixer." He has segmented his film into about eight chapters and then his motley group of enthusiastic interviews will be spiced throughout according to what they are talking about. I was never big into "scratching" but the film does a wonderful job of keeping elementary for those who know little, and infusing in-jokes for those who are experts themselves in this area. Mix Master Mike from the Beastie Boys is in this film, but it wasn't until after the film that I could name several heavy hitters in the industry (DJ Shadow, Q- Bert, etc). The extreme fascination for turntables by these talented and quirky DJs is evident in their explanations of what their music means to them. The film also sheds some gratifying light on these guys (and one woman) to be classified as musicians. Pray doesn't let his film idle and if there exists a slow scene it is soon re-energized by hardly ever ceasing music. If nothing else, this film will increase your slang vocabulary. I have to get back to "digging", so I'll end this review. See it, it will be of interest. Good stuff man. Good stuff.