Starring
Laurence (Larry) Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Campbell, Kyme,
Joe Seneca, Art Evans, Spike Lee, Ossie Davis, Kadeem Hardison, James
Bond III, Branford Marsalis. Directed by Spike Lee. (1988/121 min).
AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM SONY
AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY FROM SONY
Review
by JOHNNIE BALLARD
One
of my favorite movies of all time is School Daze. Written and
directed by Spike Lee, this musical-comedy is about conflicts during
homecoming weekend at Mission College, a historically black
institution in Maryland (though the school itself is fictional).
Vaughn
"Dap" Dunlap (Laurence Fishburne) is a student who is an
activist and wants to change the protest issues going on at the
college. Lee himself plays Half-Pint, Dap's younger cousin who's bent
on getting into the most popular fraternity on campus, which is run by Julian
(Giancarlo Esposito). The predominantly African-American ensemble
cast features many rising stars and familiar faces, including Kadeem
Hardison, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Joe Seneca, Bill Nunn and Ossie
Davis.
 |
| During the big alphabet quiz, Half-Pint is caught cheating. |
Thirty
years later, I still love this movie. I was 12 years old when it was
first released, when TV shows like the Cosby Show and a
Different World showed what being black was really like
and introduced the world to historically black colleges and the
social norms of the African-American community. Though the film is
fictional, it really inspired many in the black community to
become more socially involved. And on a personal note,
it also encouraged me to go to college.
Finally
available on Blu-ray, School Daze remains one of Spike Lee's best, most entertaining
films. Its message of the need for social change, not only in the black community
but also the country, resonates even in today’s cultural climate.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
NEW:
Q&A WITH CAST & CREW - Including Writer/director Spike Lee,
Casting Director Robi Reed, actors Tisha Campbell & Kadeem
Hardison.
2
AUDIO COMMENTARIES - One with Spike Lee, the other with actors Bill
Nunn, Darryl M. Bell, Tisha Campbell and Kadeem Hardison.
FEATURETTES
- "Birth of a Nation"; "Making a Mark"; "College
Daze" (Lee and others recall their own college days).
3
MUSIC VIDEOS
DIGITAL
COPY
KITTY CONSENSUS:
MEE-OW! LIKE BEING TURNED LOOSE IN A BIRD SANCTUARY
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