Street Generation

I watched the movie about 13 yrs ago while living in Airlie Beach Qld Australia. I had found it in the shelves of a little shop in the back that most don't bother to browse.

To my pleasure I found it and watched it with the intention of one day owning it and being in my collection. I still do not have it but will one day.

I like the concept with the poetry and the fantasy. The semi deserted street scenes with a busy teaming city in the far background added to the visual effect.

I have numerous times mentioned this movie to people that enjoy this genre, with nothing but praise. It has stuck in my mind and will for a long time to come.

I fully recommend this film, but only to those that are into this type.

This comment and the one from LA,CA can assist you when choosing to watch this film. The comments may be negative but I found them positive if you look past the derogatory connotation.

THE BEAT..pretty beat, in fact. Nice to see New York Hardcore legends The Cro-Mags, though. Lots of NYHC superstars in there, too(rich Krackdown, Sammy/Porcell, Richie Underdog, etc.). if you're into punk or hardcore music, this is worth a look for the live show stuff, but not much else going on.

Several fraternities at my college used this film as a hazing tool. At the time, it was in the HBO rotation.

Insufficiently invested pledges were forced to watch this film repeatedly.

I was once forced to watch this movie three times consecutively.

The beat, the beat...dah dah! The beat, the beat...dah dah! Those who endured the movie five times enjoyed special privileges in the 'TUBE Room.'We became varsity tube watchers will all the privileges and responsibilities attached thereto.

Eventually, several of us wore this feat of endurance as a badge of honor.

To those who could actually enjoy this pretentious, disjointed film - I pity you.

For those of who that sat through this garbage to test your ability to watch ANYTHING - I salute you sir/madam! For me, alcohol helped at the time.

A support crew may also be necessary - to steal the remote, block exits, provide booze, etc.

In short, watch this film...if you dare to be great!

I must say, this film, really disappointed me. The best thing about it was the presence of some actors I like. John Savage was just wasted as a professor, while I've always found William Mcnamara interesting to watch, especially as the nutso in Copycat. And weirdly it was directed by a guy who really didn't go anywhere as an actor, but made such an impact as a brutal gang leader in Tuff Turf. I actually found this movie pretty dull and boring. The new kid in school, is a few stamps short of full postage, a weirdo, who I must admit is fun to watch. He's a poet, out to teach a dangerous community of kids, how to express themselves, and not be afraid. This film lacks any kind of punch, and there's no real spark, and the lead weirdo tends to get on your nerves. A little bit of brutal violence is on offer too, where not much else is in this film, that really disappointed the crap out of me.

"... the beat is too strong ... we're deaf mutants now--like them", Rex Voorhas Ormine

I am surprised that this movie has been uniformly bashed. Let me be the first to actually discuss the virtues of "The Beat" and why YOU MUST SEE THIS FILM NOW.

Make no mistake, this movie is cheesy and "bad" in the conventional sense: the story is preposterous, the poetry is silly, and the acting is inconsistent.

But these are the film's CHARMS--all of these ingredients form the recipe for one of the most UNDERAPPRECIATED CHEEZY FILMS of the 80's.

If the reference to "deaf mutants" didn't pique your interest, then perhaps this will: What kind of name is "Rex Voorhas Ormine", anyway? It is such an unusual name (for North American audiences) that I said to myself, "even the names of the characters in this friggin' movie are firggin' silly."

Well, "The Beat" is so fabulously cheezy that the "meaning" and "symbolism" behind "Rex Voorhas Ormine" is revealed not-too-subtly by Bart Waxman (the misguided guidance counselor you love to hate). I won't spoil the revelation behind Rex's name, but please don't get too excited, O.K.?

Overall, the acting is inconsistent (John Savage--who plays the "concerned teacher" Mr. Ellsworth is pretty good, as is the fellow playing Bart Waxman, but the rest of the cast are unconvincing). That said, the acting does NOT detract from the film. Why? There is a SINCERITY in each of the actors' performances that makes the characters they play endearing. So although the performances may suck, you are still left with the impression that the actors are really trying to do their best. As a result, the actors' sincerity succeeds where their acting fails (which is quite often).

The homage to "beat poetry" in this film is bad, bad, bad. But this is a good, good, good thing when it comes to entertainment. Would you actually enjoy "better quality" or "more respectable" poetry--especially in a film like this?

Folks, that would be BORING (think about the droll they made us read in high school--sanitized to avoid "corrupting the youth", politically conservative and devoid of any critical analysis, etc.) Even if you don't like poetry or "arty" movies (with all of the "intellectual" posturing that implies), you most certainly can (and should) appreciate LUDICROUS POETRY in a WANNABE ART FILM!!!! How could you not enjoy the following?

"do you remember the roar of the dinosaur? a woman's scotty craps on the floor bad scotty bad, oh the woman's so sad she washes her hands and then waits by the door today, yeah--today!"

Yes, that is an example of some of the remarkable poetry liberally sprinkled throughout "The Beat." But what about the story, you ask?

Well, the story is preposterous. But then again, that is the beauty of this film. Apart from some cliches, stereotypes, and predictable plot points, there are enough genuinely unique elements to the plot/story to keep things interesting. Who is Rex? Where did he come from? What the heck is he talking about? Deaf mutants? Illiterate angels? Do Billy and Kate REALLY understand what Rex is saying? Is the audience supposed to understand Rex and his poetry posse? (I've seen the movie several times and I still haven't figured everything out.)

Will bad poetry and high school talent shows really END GANG VIOLENCE?

I guarantee that you have never seen anything quite like "The Beat"--a perfect combination of brilliantly bad poetry, mediocre-yet-sincere acting, and a "mythopoetics conquers gang violence" storyline that has YET TO BE RIVALLED BY ANY FILM EVER MADE.

Bonus for fans of classic NYC hardcore: The Cro-Mags make a rare film appearance as the "Iron Skulls" and it's a hoot to see them perform several songs. I wish they included more concert footage, but maybe that will be an "extra" included on the "collector's edition" DVD I fantasize about.