Juice

I was up late and decided to rewatch Juice, and it reminded me why this movie is such a classic! Growing up on this film, it was a staple in my collection, and it still hits just as hard today. The story, the acting, and the raw energy make it one of the best coming-of-age crime dramas out there.Tupac’s performance as Bishop is legendary—his intensity and transformation throughout the movie are unforgettable. Omar Epps, along with the rest of the cast, delivers a real and authentic look into friendship, power, and the struggles of growing up in a tough environment.The soundtrack, the cinematography, and the overall vibe make Juice a timeless film. Whether you’re watching it for the first time or revisiting it like I did, it’s a must-see. Highly recommend for anyone who loves classic 90s movies!

Juice is one entry in a long list of 90's films that tried to appeal to black urban youth by portraying characters and situations they would presumably connect and identify with. Films like Boyz in the Hood, Menace II Society, Poetic Justice, and Friday, approached the poverty stricken rough black neighborhood setting from a variety of angles. What makes Juice stand out for me when compared to those films is the intensity, intimacy, and realness of the narrative. Juice is the story of a group of friends who slowly fall apart from the negative influence of their environment. The character who exemplifies this best is Bishop played by breakout actor Tupac Shakur. Growing up in an environment ruled by masculinity and aggressiveness, each character tries to find where they belong in this crazy setting and at the same time enjoy the time spent with one another. Sadly that time is cut short when a gun is brought into the mix. The group is tragically divided and become paranoid of what the others are planning. It comes down to a chase between Bishop and Q (played by Omar Epps) that results in Bishop losing his life. Q then realizes the price of adoration in this urban setting and how things can never go back to what they once were.What I think makes Juice more authentic and relatable than say Boyz in tha Hood, is the situation and the setting. BITH portrays one of the worst aspects of life in the hood and at times gets a little heavy handed. After Ricky gets shot we learn he got accepted to college in what feels like such a contrived move. Juice doesn't need to take unrealistic shortcuts to make you feel for these characters. Encountering someone unhinged like Bishop in an environment that breeds violence, neglect, and desperation is not so unbelievable. None of his peers reactions seem so out of the ordinary either as they gradually back away out of intimidation and fear. Another issue I have with BITH is how John Singleton structured the movie. Elements of the film are clearly taken straight out of Straight Outta Compton by NWA. In fact, Singleton originally intended for NWA to be in the movie. For some this may be a strength, but at times it felt extremely formulaic and borderline cartoony. Also Compton is so dramatized in Hip Hop that to connect with it you essentially need to be in a perpetual riot. The setting in Juice is one that I think far more people can relate to than South Central LA.What really needs to be said though is the acting of Tupac as Bishop. For all its strengths I dont believe we'd still be talking about Juice if not for Tupacs stunning performance. It's a shame that he met his end tragically like Bishop when he had so much potential for more. If you're interested in seeing a film depicting the rougher side of urban living I cant think of any reason to not recommend this film. It's a great time capsule of that time and place and of the developing hip hop scene as well. Open your eyes and ears and tune into some war stories.

Excellent film and release starring Tupac Shakur. Would highly recommend this film and it's premium steelbook release. Not available in the UK either so I had to import it.

Me and my brother used to rent and watch this back in the day. I like it. The story is really good. The cast did an amazing job. The picture and sound are great.

Good movie that you have to watch at least once.

Quality was excellent

Great movie featuring the late great & extremely talented artists, Tupac Shakur! I liked this movie the first time I saw it, it's a really good movie about friendships that start out great but turn tragic & the insanity that can happen to a person craving power & status to be the toughest guy on the block! Good picture quality & good seller! Thanks! 👍

I can’t believe this was Tupac’s first movie because he was awesome right out of the gate. I have it on VHS and wanted to own a digital copy, so I downloaded it.