This is one of my favorite movies. And Im really not a big move watcher. I like this movie because i has a talented cast of young men that I can reconize now. Expecially omar epps and Tupac , both of their careers took off after this movie.I like this movie because it is more realalistic than most other gangsta movies becuase they dont go on a killing spree an murder groups of folks and never get caught.Its a nice realistic story line.They try to rob a store and accidently murder the clerk. And a side not its fun seeing 2pac and the rest of the cast young and this movie captures the early 90's time period of high tops fades and new jack music. i like this movie.

The 1992 timeless 'hood movie "Juice" is a great drama movie which sort of turns into a thriller more towards the end. Directed by Ernest R. Dickerson, this movie just goes to show you what the longing for respect can do to a man and his friends. It has an excellent cast, with Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur, Khalil Kain, and Jermaine Hopkins playing the main gang. A few guest hip-hop stars appear as well. Juice also has an excellent soundtrack to go along with it. However, there are a few flaws in the movie, which I will point out later.

"Q", (Omar Epps) is an up and coming local DJ hoping to find a major breakthrough with a DJ competition taking place at a local party. He is part of the Wrecking Crew, which also consists of the unstable Bishop (Tupac), Rahim (Khalil Kain), and Steel (Jermaine Hopkins). After roaming the streets one afternoon, Q runs into a friend of his named Blizzard in a local bar, who decides to stick the place up, and asks Q if he wants some. Q says no, and he and his friends leave. Later, at Steel's house, they see a news story on the TV about Blizzard being killed by policeman after he wounded a few of them. Well, this story pisses Bishop off, badly. He wants the juice. He convinces his friends to rob a convenience store; however, it's on the same night as Q's tournament. The Wrecking Crew rob the store, but while they are in it, everything goes wrong when Bishop shoots the store clerk, when he did nothing. It all goes downhill from here. Now Q is the only one that can stop Bishop from the madness that has taken over him since the store shooting, while at the same time trying to protect himself from him.

The only problem I have with the movie, really, is the climax and the ending. When the action is supposed to pick up, it really slows down. It's not dramatized or anything. I guess you can say that's a good thing but with movies it really ain't. The movie also ended weird. At the end it leaves you thinking "is that it?" It sure did that to me. Sometimes it seems like the movie was pointless, but the actors did a wonderful job at their roles, especially Tupac, that it picked up the slack.

So, I'd say pick this up if you're interested in African American cinema or hood/gangster movies, like me. If you're not, then well, this isn't for you. Maybe if you're just a fan of Tupac, since Bishop is probably his best role, in front of Birdie in Above the Rim (review for that is coming soon). Maybe even Omar Epps, since this is pobably his best role too. I give this 4 stars.

I grew up with this movie and it still remains as one of my favorites. The begining where they're ditching school and cooking breakfast at home brings back so many memories... It also marks the begining of Tupac Shakur becoming the legendary actor/rapper/poet/artist, 2Pac-Makavelli-Shakur. A landmark film everyone should see. (excluding the very young)

Tupac Shakur's portrayal as Bishop had to be the best portrayal of a villian I ever seen. I mean it was touching, frightening and sensual all at the same time. Tupac was every emotion captured on film. The locker scene still scares me right now and I'm almost 30 years old. Handsome devil just about sums up Tupac's performance and appearance in this classic, urban flick. I'm an avid Tupac fan and I love every moment I see him on the screen.

I truly miss that man.

Rest In Pest
"Concrete Rose"

By far this is 2pac's best movie. He auditioned for the role of 'Bishop' as well as his buddy Treach. Treach admitted in The 2pac Thug Angel special that after seeing 2pac's audition, he knew right then and there that no way he would beat out 2pac for that role. And 2pac further validated that point with his powerful performance. Everytime I think of Juice, I think of 2pac's character. Treach actually got a different role as a homeboy of 'Radames'. It wasn't a big role but it's always good to see Treach in a movie. As for 'Radames', the first few times I saw him in the movie, I really didn't like him but when I found out he was in Empire, I started to respect this actor more. The actor's name is Vincent Laresca and I found out on his IMdB page that he was only a teenager in this movie. To me, that is real impressive how he played that part at such a young age. Another actor who also as a teenager did great was Omar Epps. He was great playing 'Q', a kid who wants to get respect by being a DJ. Epps was born to play that part. Khalil Kain did a great job as 'Raheem' and Jermaine Hopkins did a great job as 'Steel'. And you also notice a very reconizable face in a very small role by our standards. I'm talking about the legendary Samuel L. Jackson as 'Trip'. It wasn't a big role for him but his performance was just an added bonus to this powerful piece of work directed by Ernest Dickerson. Dickerson as you know worked with Spike Lee on 'Malcolm X' so it's no surprise that he did a fantastic job directing this movie. Who's a better director to learn from than Spike Lee? It just shows you how successful someone can be working with Spike Lee. This is one of the best urban-youth gangster films of all-time. Don't miss it!