Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Micah Lloyd Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

Sarita Rafferty There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

Python Hyena Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005): Dir: Michel Gondry / Featuring: Dave Chappelle, Kanye West, Mos Def, Dead Pres, Common: Engaging documentary about talent and race. Comedian Dave Chappelle claims that this is the concert that he has always wanted to see and to see it through he goes about meeting various people and inviting them to his block party, which will feature performances from such acts as Kanye West, Mos Def, Dead Pres, etc. Chappelle invites a marching band including producing two buses to transport them. He goes to a daycare centre where he brings joy to the children there. He even invites various elderly folks who perhaps wouldn't have any interest or tolerance of rap music. On stage he delivers on the jokes while viewers are also given the enthusiasm of artists who see this as a grand opportunity. Many of these artists have claimed success on the music charts but view this as more personal. These performances are in tow with Chappelle's with an audience joining in. Structure is divided into concert footage and Chappelle's visits to various locations. Directed by Michel Gondry who made the inspiring and creative Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and here he tackles documentaries. Strong themes throughout include uniting of race and a tremendous case for rap musicians who render this one block party worth attending. Score: 7 ½ / 10

bradtheman18 I had a lot of fun watching this documentary. The Block Party looked like a lot of fun. You get a good look of Dave Chapelle behind the scenes. You also get a good behind the scenes look at many hip hop artists and groups such as: Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jill Scott, Common, Erika Badu (who takes off her huge wig), the Roots, Lauren Hill, Wyclef Jean, Dead Prez, Kanye West, and many more. Like I said, this movie is very fun to watch. It does start slow, but you get into it. It's very funny and interesting and it makes you wish you were their. I hope he eventually does another Block Party and I wouldn't miss that for the world. I was very surprised about how funny some rappers are back stage. Like Dave Chapelle says "all rappers want to be comedians and all comedians want to rap and personally, I'm descent at both, but found a way to make money." You also see Dave Chapelle in his home town and school and everyone gives him love. They're all proud of him and they respect him and this was cool to see. He made a lot of people happy by throwing this Block Party. If you like Hip Hop or comedy, then you'll enjoy this.

D_Burke Dave Chappelle is a comedy genius. There is no doubt about that. He went from being just another comic in the 90's to creating "Chappelle Show" (2002-2005), one of the best comedy shows of the last decade. It's common knowledge that Chappelle himself pulled the plug on his show for reasons that are still not well known, and may not be for years. However, it only elevated his status as a legend, and probably did not hurt the popularity of this movie."Block Party" (also known as "Dave Chappelle's Block Party") is a really good documentary detailing Chappelle putting together . . . well . . . a block party in the Bed Stuy section of Brooklyn. This isn't just any block party, though. It is a concert featuring the best hip-hop and R&B acts, many of whom were featured previously on "Chappelle Show".Because the concert took place on September 18, 2004, there are a handful of stars that were not as famous during filming, but whose fame greatly increased by the time of this film's release. For instance, Kayne West was the opening act (today, he would be the headliner), and John Legend and Keyshia Cole were background singers.What's even more amazing though is that all the performers (presumably hand-picked by Chappelle himself) were not just the most popular artists of the time. Chappelle could have gotten more mainstream rap and hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, or Lil Wayne at the drop of a hat. Instead, he assembled The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Queli, Dead Prez, Jill Scott, and Erykah Badu. These artists' songs are not necessarily better than the aforementioned more popular artists, but they are (in my opinion) less dated. It's noteworthy that all the artists have real musicians backing them up. There is also a DJ, but the music that corresponds with the rap lyrics (and singing in Scott's and Badu's cases) is not all prerecorded and re-sampled. There's nothing wrong with using samples, but live instruments make for a more intimate setting, and makes the overall music feel more real. People watching this film 20 years from now will probably agree.So suffice it to say that the music is great, and the concert footage is well-shot. The film cuts back and forth between concert footage, Chappelle himself giving free tickets away to residents in Ohio, and Chappelle interviewing everyone from bystanders to the artists. For a guy who the tabloids suspected canceled his own show because he went crazy, he seems very at ease with anyone and everyone he interviews. He is also very funny in these situations, and anyone who doesn't like rap music will still laugh at Chappelle's antics.Michael Gondry, who directed many music videos and is best known for "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (2004) and "The Science of Sleep" (2006), directed this picture. He is a filmmaker who is best known for dazzling visual effects, and disappointingly, the only visual effects he has here are the creative letters that come out of Chappelle's bullhorn in the very beginning of the film. I was a little let down when Gondry limited his visual effects to that scene, but then again, this movie does well without bells and whistles.Also, great documentaries tell a story, and this one didn't really seem to. Even "Woodstock" and "Gimme Shelter" (both 1970) told stories. This film just jumps back and forth between interview and concert footage without any real rhyme or reason. In fact, the scene where the woman who owns the Bed Stuy building where the concert will be played in front of reveals her opinion about rap music is repeated once, presumably by accident.The motive for putting on such an epic concert would have aided the story greatly. If Chappelle gave any reason for holding this free concert, he didn't extrapolate on it well enough in the film. If he just felt like bringing some hip-hop acts together, that's okay. He just had to say that. The fact that the reunited Fugees served as the secret headliner may have influenced his decision to hold the concert, but again, he just had to give a reason. The fact that he did not specify a motive didn't ruin my enjoyment of the film, but it still would have been nice to know.Otherwise, though, true fans of hip-hop will love this movie. Dave Chappelle fans will find this movie funny too. Moviegoers who are not fans of either may find themselves converted by the time the credits roll, provided they don't expect Rick James to make a cameo.

dutchbeats This movie healed me and couldn't have come at a better time. I only just saw this recently and what can I say, if you're 29 years or older and you listened to/participated in Hip Hop growing up then here is your Medicine......B*tches(!)Dave is 31 at the time of filming(I'm 3 yr younger)and he and the artists who share the stage with him are also in the same age bracket and for Hip Hop, represent the last of the 'Golden Era' children.I myself grew up near Toronto and started making beats at age 12 in 1988(been listening since 84). I had the fortune of gaining respect and many friends with this music and will always hold it dear to me. Watch this movie and you will feel the same way if not for the love of the music(trust me on this one, this has some Woodstock moments but I won't give it away) then at the very least because of the richness of this movie as a documentary thanks to Michel Gondry and all. Many wonderful people are documented along the way, some famous, some not, and as a decadent contrast we have this surprise concert which is Dave's brainchild and lifelong dream and we get the treat of watching this fateful day in Bed-Stuy in glorious surround sound in the comfort of our own home. Oh and did I mention Dave supplies the comic relief?CHERISH THIS FOR YEARS TO COME - A HIP HOP ESSENTIAL!!!!! ... ...... ........."Do You Want More?!!!??!"