The Hate U Give [DVD] [2018]

Phenomenal movie about racism and hate. Must See!!

An excellent 4K presentation of a very current social drama. I chose not to read the book, but after finishing the movie, I am reconsidering it. I was very moved by the film, which speaks on all the big issues of the Black Lives Matter movement and police brutality, and on a subtler level, the difficulty experienced by people who live in two different worlds. Young actress Amandla Stenberg carries the film in the lead role of Starr Carter, who goes to a mostly White school and adopts another persona than when she’s in her Black community. The film reminds me in part of dramas of the ‘90s like Boyz N the Hood or Juice, but has a more feminine perspective and acknowledges the 25 (or more) years in which the system has failed to improve in delivering justice to communities of color. When Starr reconnects with her friend Khalil after a party, he tells her about the message he learned from Tupac Shakur’s T.H.U.G. L.I.F.E. philosophy, which sounded brutal to a lot of audiences who misunderstood, but the beginning of the acronym serves here as the title of the film, The Hate U Give—and how that hate plants itself in young people to make them destructive, especially self-destructive. A tragedy sends repercussions through both of Starr’s worlds, and as her testimony in a criminal cases brings threats to her doorstep, she also finds that not all of her White friends are as concerned about justice as she is. The same ideological divides that saw a peak clash in 2020—with Black Lives Matter challenged by Blue Lives Matter—plays out on the screen in this film, and while it doesn’t try to portray an equality to both arguments, it certainly makes it clear why the film and its characters take the stand that it chooses. What might have seemed far more challenging to White audiences in 2018 should be more understandable to those who have seen the outrage over George Floyd’s and Breona Taylor’s murders escalate, and I invite anyone who wants to learn more about the frustration behind the Black Lives Matter movement to watch the film and hopefully see things in a new way. As a film, it’s extremely well made, based on the novel by Angie Thomas and directed by George Tillman, Jr., (Notorious, Men of Honor) and with veteran performers like Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Anthony Mackie, and Common. It’s one of the most moving films I’ve seen in the past year, as well as one of the most insightful; the importance of these issues just two years after it was made shouldn’t be ignored.

This movie regardless of your race will open your eyes to the hate that this world teaches. We all deserve equality and equal rights no matter your skin tone or financial status. When we started checking boxes to "identify" our "race" that's one thing we all got wrong. We are the Human race and it's time we all fight for each other! Amandla is such a beautiful and talented actress and I'm so glad she did this movie. I hope everyone sees this film and acknowledges their part in this and hopefully we can make this world a better place for everybody

This is a great movie. Really hits the nail on the head with what’s going on in today’s world. I watched it with my 10 year old daughter while getting us both emotional. It makes you have a conversation about life. I truly would recommend this to anyone to watch. Especially anyone over the age of 10.

This movie has a good storyline. The actors are phenomenal!!! A young teenager (Starr) lives to different lifestyles attending school with the rich kids on the nicer side of town but she lives in a crazier part of town. One night Starr attends a house party with her friend from The neighborhood and ends up leaving the party with a close friend she grew up with only to be pulled over and killed by a police officer. The movie is based on The trouble with the system and that justice is not always served.

An excellent movie on discrimination in today's world. everyone should see

My youngest daughter enjoys this movie along with me. It teaches about community, race, being a voice, and issues in real life! I got 3 copies for the price of 1.

This film is so important given the current climate of the world. I actually think this should be shown in High School going forward the same way in which To Kill A Mockingbird was shown to my generation