Movie Review: All Eyez On Me

It’s been two weeks since the premier of “All Eyez on Me,” the untold story about the life and legacy of Tupac Shakur. This movie was special to me. Although I was only four years old when the rapper’s life was taken his work had an impact on my life. It was and still is more than the music for me. Pac was a poet and had more to offer life and I think that’s why so many people love him. I can say with NO hesitation he is and always will be the most influential rapper of all time. If you ever have the chance just sit back and watch his old interviews. Watch how he articulated his self when he spoke. When he had something to say you listened.

I am a little disappointed in all the backlash his movie received. Could the movie have been better? Of course, but as a fan you respected what you got. I personally loved the movie and I can’t wait for it to come out on DVD, so I can get a copy. People must understand the movie was only two hours long, so everything can’t be shown. For all the people saying things were missing it happens. I’m sure “Notorious” didn’t show everything, but we were happy that we got see his life and legacy projected on screen.

The story was well told, but the production could have been better. Benny Boom did a great job with what he was given and Demetrius Shipp Jr did an amazing job bringing Pac’s personality and character to life. Every time he did something funny or said something that caught your attention I caught myself laughing even if it was a serious moment because it’s one of those moments where you’re like “I know Pac said that.”

As for Jada Pinkett-Smith and the things she had to say via twitter I understand, but I wish she would’ve gone about it a different way. In the movie Pac read Pinkett-Smith a poem moments after being told he and his sister had to move to LA. Pinkett-Smith took to twitter to state how she felt.

”Forgive me my relationship to Pac is too precious to me for the scenes in All Eyez On Me to stand as truth.”

“Pac never read me that poem. I didn’t know that poem existed until it was printed in his book.”

“Pac never said goodbye to me before leaving for LA. He had to leave abruptly and it wasn’t to pursue his career.”

Now I understand Pinkett-Smith’s frustration, but c’mon now a poem Jada? You’re mad about a poem that he did write, but he just never read it to you. It’s a movie. They have to make your relationship seem legit. Maybe Jada should’ve asked to be involved in the writing process, but sis it that’s deep, but it’s also not. As far as him never saying goodbye it’s not that serious and they didn’t make it seem that Pac went to LA to pursue his career in the movie. His mother sent him to LA and the reason was never stated in the movie. He did in fact start pursuing his career as a roadie when he got to LA, but we had to see how his career got started and it was in LA.

Pinkett-Smith also stated via twitter, “I’ve never been to any of Pac’s shows by his request. We never had an argument backstage. The reimaging of my relationship to Pac has been deeply hurtful.”

Now I can understand that, but Pinkett-Smith has said herself that her and Pac had arguments because she didn’t like the crowd he was involved with and she said they disagreed about a lot of things going on with him. Also, when Pac died they were not on good terms and Pinkett-Smith has said in an interview she knows Pac knew she loved him, but she wishes she could’ve told him one last time.

I get where her frustration is coming from, but the movie was not about her. She was in maybe five scenes. I think we all got a sense of how important their friendship was and the love they had to each other. I think that’s all that matters. Obviously, somebody was there to explain the relationship between the two it just wasn’t Jada.

As a fan, I respected the movie and I would encourage you to go see it for yourself. Don’t depend on other people’s opinions.

I will leave you with one of my favorite Tupac quotes he said in an interview.

“Only way I’ve been practicing my whole life to live my life is to be responsible for what I do.”

#Tupac #JadaPinkettSmith #AllEyezOnMe #DemetriusShippJr