Light It Up (1999)

Sadly Over-hyped

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I've seen worse, which is a backhanded way of saying how crummy this film was. The plot is ridiculous: a student shoots a police officer and five more take him hostage? In a dimly-lit, smoky New York school -- and somehow this clichéd hostage situation takes 24 hours to resolve? Are you serious? A day-long hostage situation -- with a wounded NYPD officer no less, takes all day? I realize this film was made pre-9/11, but still. I looked at the clock and wondered how they could possibly drag this overdone plot on for another hour and 10 minutes.The acting was mediocre at best all-around, and the characters were seemingly thought up by 7th graders. The child-abuse kid, the pregnant scared girl, the violent gang wannabe, a confused unfortunate victim, the wise-cracking white guy. Please.Trying to make this hostage situation into a mission for "more textbooks" and better school conditions? Please -- this is a weak attempt to justify writing a movie about a kid who shoots a cop. They're confused, ignorant idiots who get involved in a dumb -- far-fetched -- situation. Don't try and paint them, suddenly, as noble, The most laughable is Ziggy, who lives in the school's attic and admires Michaelangelo so much so that he paints these striking scenes on the walls. You've got to be kidding me.The "no racism" signs in the protesting crowd? A black kid shoots a black cop and a black negotiator tries to patch it all up. This is a random message.I understand the overall message, which was poorly portrayed, albeit by some actors who have gone on to respectable careers.This was a joke though the red sniper lasers on the roof? The worst scene was the kid, fake snow falling, dying in the arms of his buddy on the roof, "promise me" etc. How original.The epilogue of "I went to prison but now I'm pre-law at XYZ University" ... a fitting way to end a joke of a movie.

Light it up was about a group of teens who just wanted to be heard. Personally speaking, Lester and Ziggy were the main point of the movie, but whatever. It was a deep depiction about the world of government and civilians. What does it take to get heard? That was the point of the movie. I was kinda disappointed with the other characters other than Officer Jackson, Lester, and Ziggy. They really had no point. Especially Stephanie. What was her point? Just to kiss Lester? Weird.And what was the deal with Lynn? I still don't understand her purpose. All and all, it was good. I was pleased with the ending and it kept me wondering during the movie. It was excellent!

Light It Up is a great movie about standing up for what you believe in. The cast led by Usher Raymond is all good. Usher does goood in his first lead role and look forward to seeing him in more big roles. The soundtrack is also very good. 5/5

I recently saw light it up with my friend and i just had to comment on it as it was a really inspirational movie that showed the audience the causes, problems and solutions to racial discrimination and how teenagers cope with problems to do with this topic.I think that Lester (Usher Raymond) played an inspirational leader type character that held the place together when things became tense. I admired Lynn's (Sara Gilbert) courage and attitude towards her own troubles such as being used by someone she thought she loved and dealing with a teenage pregnancy.Light it up is an emotional story of the lengths some people will go to, just to get the attention they deserve. I fully recommend this film to anyone in search of a tale of inspiration that will guarantee to have you crying by the end. A real 10/10!