School Daze (1987)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:19
Fresh:11
Rotten:8
Average Rating:5.7/10
Synopsis: With SCHOOL DAZE, writer-director Spike Lee examines the tensions, biases, and frustrations of middle-class black youth at a southern college campus. Lee combines musical and fantasy sequences with... [More]
Starring: Tisha Campbell, Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Kyme
Director: Spike Lee
Reviews for School Daze
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
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 1.5/4 |
A shapeless mess that falls far short of the high expectations created by Lee's first feature. Full Review |
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Click to read the article Full Review |
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Some of the issues get lost in the mix, but strong performances by Lee and Fishburne make this a watchable and thought-provoking venture. Full Review |
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C |
The film's political issues are far more interesting than its artistic attributes--this messy picture feels as if Spike Lee is just incidentally interested in what makes musical movies work Full Review |
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Lee has a small, intimate talent; here, he goes for the big podium and blows it. Full Review |
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3/4 |
The film’s central argument is that black matriculation is undercut by internal divisions. Full Review |
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3/5 |
No review available.
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3/5 |
An uneven but probably necessary stepping stone between "She's Gotta Have It" and "Do The Right Thing"
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2/5 |
Uneven and a little dull, although the ending inspires.
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2/5 |
No review available.
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For every tough-minded confrontation between the different student factions, School Daze is apt to offer a love scene less than vital to the plot, or an overlong musical scene whose effect is that of treading water. Full Review |
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3/5 |
ambitious, messy, rowdy comedy-drama, which tosses together fraternity foolishness, campus activism, lusty romance and even a few musical numbers Full Review |
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5/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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3/5 |
No review available.
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4/5 |
No review available.
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Spike Lee had something in mind while he shot School Daze, his follow-up to the cult hit She's Gotta Have It. Unfortunately it's still lodged behind his cranium. Full Review |
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School Daze, with its pompous patchwork plot, is an arrogant, humorless, sexist mess. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Even with all its flaws, School Daze is worth seeing, because Lee gets into areas no director before had even bothered to come near. Full Review |
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3.5/4 |
Although the film has big structural problems and leaves a lot of loose ends, there was never a moment when it didn't absorb me. Full Review |
CommentLatest News for School Daze
February 04, 2005:
Ossie Davis: 1917-2005
The great Ossie Davis, an outstanding actor and noted civil rights leader, has died at 87. Davis was found dead in his hotel room in Miami Friday, Feb. 4; he was working on the... More...
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