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Dead Presidents on DVD (1996)

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Average rating: 65%
1117620121335
3.0
from 356 members
 
Starring: Larenze Tate, Keith David, Chris Tucker, N'Bushe Wright, Freddy Rodríguez, Bokeem Woodbine, Clifton Powell
Director: Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes
Studio: WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time: 114 mins
Certificate: 18
User collections: Judas' British, American and Asian Thug Most Wanted
Genres: Action/Adventure, Thriller
Languages: English
Dubbed: French, Italian
Hearing-impaired: English
Subtitles: Dutch, English
Released: 15/06/2006

Brief synopsis of Dead Presidents

A young black man from Brooklyn leaves his girlfriend and his numbers-running mentor to fight in Vietnam in 1968 only to return three years later to find no welcome and little hope for him and his buddies. Unemployed and desperate, he plans and executes an armored car robbery to secure enough "dead presidents" (slang for cash) to give him a fresh start.

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Critics Reviews

Rating of 3 stars out of 5 Radio Times

In this brutal drama, Bronx boy Larenz Tate returns from a tour of duty of Vietnam to find his urban life just as messed up as the war. Armed robbery seems the only solution. It's interesting to see the “coming home” story told from a black perspective, and there are some stunning sequences — the heist finale is a knockout. However, the film's tone is so grim, and the characters so superficial, that it never quite sucks you in. Great period detail and a superb soundtrack of soul classics help disguise the fact that this is little more than another crime-drenched tale in the Boyz 'n the Hood mould.

Rating of 1 stars out of 4 Halliwell's Film Guide

Downbeat thriller that struggles to marry social comment with the familiar form of a gangster movie; the union is not a happy one.

Time Out

The twins' follow-up to Menace II Society is essentially a classic gangster movie (The Roaring Twenties, say) revamped... Read more on www.timeout.com

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Members Reviews

Reviews Voted Most Helpful

Rated - 3 stars

Roo#5 from BLACKPOOL , 23/04/2004

Well this is quite a good movie. The only major problem with it is that it's a bit slow, and does seem to take it's time moving along. But don't let that detract from what is a very well written and acted movie. Also i should point out that it's quite bloody in places, espically the vietnam scenes and the robber scene, which in turn made me laugh out loud. This movie is no comedy, but there is one scene and if i say "you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" you will know what i mean when you see it. It's worth renting just to see that scene alone.

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Rated - 2 starsEasy watch, but not enjoyable.

lord2nz from Queenborough , 29/04/2008

I found this film pretty average to be honest. The vietnam scenes were handled very well, and added a different backstory to a heist movie. However most of the characters in the film were so one dimensonal you didn't care for them, which takes away from the impact of the piece. Storywise I found it shallow, and pretty cliche. It does have some good set pieces and action scenes tho, and a pretty gorey 'nam scene that might make males winch. Overall tho this is a 'hood' film, and I found that other films in the genre do it better.

(Also as a side not this is on an older 'flip side' dvd, so you have to turn it over midway to watch the 2nd part of the film)

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Rated - 5 starsawsome

Jonathan Bower from london , 06/02/2005

a black version of the deer hunter.a must see for fans of nam films

  1 out of 2 people found this review helpful
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Rated - 3 starsThought it was about a robbery

Richard Butler from Wakefield, England , 15/09/2005

I was unknowing to the fact that this is a vietnam movie and not a movie about a robbery. There is little to do with a robbery apart from the last 20 mins. It was average though and an easy watch.

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Most Recent Reviews

Rated - 3 stars

Roo#5 from BLACKPOOL , 23/04/2004

Well this is quite a good movie. The only major problem with it is that it's a bit slow, and does seem to take it's time moving along. But don't let that detract from what is a very well written and acted movie. Also i should point out that it's quite bloody in places, espically the vietnam scenes and the robber scene, which in turn made me laugh out loud. This movie is no comedy, but there is one scene and if i say "you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" you will know what i mean when you see it. It's worth renting just to see that scene alone.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
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Rated - 5 starsBrilliant

Alex Campbell from England , 16/05/2007

The sound track alone gives it 10/10. Moody, broody and gritty film that makes you feel like you've been transported to the early 70's

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