Be Somebody... or Be Somebody's Fool!

I have to say that because I am a real fan of this movie, I read through all the comments on it here, just because I am really curious to see what people think of it. Most of the people I've showed it to (and believe me, this tape saw some heavy action during college years at St. John's in Santa Fe; some of you out there may vaguely remember something like that) have really enjoyed it. A lot of people, like myself, seem to be drawn to it as if by some kind of strange drug, so that when it is showing somewhere we will manage to wander in and see it. After seeing it about 50 times, I have begun to wonder whether it has permanently altered my mind, and if that is for the better or worse.

Well, what can I say about it? It's a truly great cult movie with a very small cult -- mostly because it's very hard to find copies of this film on video at present. Someday there'll come along an 80s retro period strong enough to bring this film back into distribution, and on that day -- may the forces of the disrespecting, momma-hating, punks fear because Mr. T will be back to teach them how to behave.

I won't go through all the advice that Mr. T gives in this film -- suffice it to say that Mr. T shows us how to use our anger and imagination to our own advantage and how to make it look like we mean to do everything we do and are always in control, even when we're confused or making horrible mistakes. Reading his autobiography (which was obviously written by Mr. T himself; if you don't believe me pick it up) which came out about the same time as this film has convinced me that he is sincere. He truly lives his life by the words he says and by what he shows in this movie, and if you and I follow it we will all be powerful, independent, individuals and probably rich ones too. We'll ALL "BE SOMEBODY"

This is not a bad film. This is a film of genius.

For those of you who choose to forget, Mr. T was an icon of the 1980s--a tough guy who could act sensitive when he needed to, or when a paycheck depended on it. If you ever watched the A-Team, you'd see his character repeatedly clobbered in the head with lead pipes and he wouldn't flinch; but he also tried to branch out into a strange kind of motivational programming for children, even inspiring a tasteless breakfast cereal. "Be Somebody, or be Somebody's Fool" is one of Mr. T's bizarre efforts to teach little kids how to be better people. Either this show is incredibly bad, or it's just too deep for me to comprehend. The 80s answer to Huggy Bear leads the viewer through a long string of unrelated pearls of wisdom, the values of which are reinforced by small children who can't act. The philosophy of this show really is encapsulated in its title--the watchcries never stray beyond this level of simplicity. This show really is insane--you have to wonder who thought it would be a good idea. Mr. T is no Mr. Rogers; he presents his lessons to children without seeming to care at all. If you can find this tape, it's worth watching just to see how bad children's programming can get. Plus, the hilariously bad rap songs may inspire you to donate something to the "Blacks Without Soul" fund.

There are a thousand things I could say about this film. Mr. T is cool. This video teaches values and will show the young'ns the right way towards life. Through many song and dance routines, Mr. T enhances the way of living for all that watch. Mr.T was heckuva break dancin' . How does his neck support dem chains? This is one T-riffic movie!

Next to Caddyshack, the Blues Brothers, Animal House, and most of the early stuff from John Hughes, this might be the most comedically entertaining films to date. Not only does it feature one of the greatest human beings ever to live, but, unlike most films released in modern Hollywood... this piece has a fairly legitimate moral(actually, several of them). The one thing that sets this cinematic masterpiece apart from the group mentioned above, is, that for the most part, "Be Somebody, Or Be Somebody's Fool" wasn't created to be intentionally funny... it just kind of turned out to be what it is through clever evolution... which gives the consumer a reaction that is violently side-slitting (that's a good thing). The scenes are perfect, the quotes are memorable, and the acting isn't that great, but that didn't really bother me, since I was laughing to hard to notice. As I close, I'm going stray from the normal tendency of others reviewers on this page, by not attempting to describe any of the scenes in this delightful little PSA from the early eighties. Instead, with genuine sincerity, I'm going to urge anyone who hasn't seen this gem to do so immediately.... Otherwise, you are never going to experience the supreme sensation of pure un-adult

This piece gives us an in-depth look into the philosophy and psyche of this modern-day thinker and performer, Mr. T. The film demands our attention and with repeat viewing the metaphors in his performance become clear. We see Mr.T's struggle for attention and respect mirrored in his struggle with the cello. We see a man of great vunerability trying to gain acceptance with his gold. We see a man searching for his lost child-hood. This is more than a movie. It is a moving experience and one not easily forgotten.