Civil Brand (2002)

Excellent

Received in a very timely mannor, Quality excellent as described! Thank You for this movie, it was everything you promised!! July 17, 2008

Thought Provoking Movie - Not Just Your Usual Women In Prison Flick

Don't let the cheesy looking DVD artwork confuse you; this is no T&A, 1970s blaxploitation women in prison flick, (although some of those were damned good movies).

These are women of color behind bars, but the characters are portrayed as strong women, edgy, and intelligent, and to their credit, the director, script writer and the actors keep this high level of quality and integrity throughout the entire film. If you're looking for a fast-paced black-chick-in-peril flick, look for any movie from the early 70's starring Pam Grier. Civil Brand, while it appears to have been marketed as a cheesy type of movie, rises above the perceived sterotypes to deliver a high caliber movie experience. May 16, 2008

Important Movie, Necessary Theme, Mediocre Cast

I'm still on a mission to see every single movie that Mos Def was in, so I picked up this one. When I first started watching the movie about women in prison, I cringed at the terrible acting. I don't know why, but Tichina Arnold plays much better comedic roles than she does serious roles. Monica Calhoun and Lisa Raye are great at playing characters with a bunch of attitude (as in "Player's Club"), but their acting comes across as stiff when they try to play vulnerable roles. I'm still scratching my head over why Lisa Raye keeps getting acting roles. Every single movie/tv sitcom she's been in, it sounds like she's reading directly from the script. I really would love for her to get an acting coach. When she plays crazy, I see potential though. MC Lyte is an okay actress, but not great. Da Brat was extremely stiff in this role, but somehow that worked for her because she played the boss/masculine role well. I don't think it was acting though; that seems to be her persona regardless. However, I really enjoyed the performances of N'Bushe Wright, Mos Def, Lark Voorhies, Reed McCants, and Clifton Powell. These five people carried the movie for me where the rest of the actors struggled. The more I got into the plot and theme of the story about female prisoners being mentally and sexually abused along with terrible working conditions, I understood why this movie was so important and stopped concentrating on the mediocre acting. This movie was relevant and on point, and I hope it left an impact in how prisons run. I doubt it, but I still think movies like this are necessary to make those in authority nervous and maybe start acting like human beings. October 1, 2007

deep

I LOVE THIS MOVEI I SAW IT ON BET AND HAD TO PURCHASE IT. IT IS SO AMAZING WHAT WOMEN GO THRU IN PRISON AND IM SAD TO SEE IT DIDNT GET A LOT OF RECOGNITION May 13, 2007

The Actions of Corrupted cops, Should be Rectified!

1st off Much Love & Props 2 Neema Barnette 1 the Guru(s) of the underground Directors! I've found a much deeper connection with her work after I viewed the DVD with her commentary... I love both Mc Lyte's & N'Bushe Wright's Dispositions period, so they're my rationale for supporting Civil Brand! Mc Lyte gets slept on as an Actress & Rappers as well! She ominscient at what she does and she speaks & raps eloquently! Mc Lyte, Queen Latifah are 2 of the best that has strucked Rap & Acting (hands down). Thanks to Neema B. for not being raunchy & making Civil Brand out to be a cliche' prison chick flick! Tichina Arnold (Pam) from Martin showed that she's versatile with her skills. I loved when Tichina punched Lisa in the face & snatched her chain, like ''Bitch Ante-Up''. I'll express my Hatred for Clifton Powell's character... He had the balls to think that he & his boss would get away with turning these inmates into Tricks!!!!
When Monica Calhoun & the rest of them were beating his ass I got an Adrenalin rush! They took over the prison on some Attica
sh*t (You Know). Mos Def was feeble at 1st but he found the courage to help with cause, so he was cool. Cervantes/Mc Lyte
was on the wrong team, but I'm glad in a way because if she was a convict then she might have been killed also! My biggest complaint is that Neema should've kept most characters alive
so that they could've wreap the benefit of being Emancipated
along with the narrator Da Brat! As I said before all of these prison movies are an example of how prisoners are slaved (it must be Seen & Heard). It should be Rectified why aren't these Tyrants being brought to Justice as the criminals that they are? It's F***ing sad that a prisoners has to make clothing & be paid little to nothing after completing it!... After that they'll Rape the Consumers by charging 2 arms & 1 leg for those items (A Total conspiracy)! I feel that Neema could've found someone else to play Lisa Raye's role, I wasn't getting anything from her! Jada Pinkett would've been suitable to play L. Raye's role! I enjoyed the sound track plenty because it had a touch of Poetry! May 25, 2005

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