Spikeopath
Britain's answer to Larry Clark's Kids, Kidulthood works hard for realism and shock value but falls somewhere in between. Story focuses on a group of London youngsters who have been given the day off school when one of their classmates commits suicide after being bullied. The various groups of friends spin off to do their own thing, which invariably involves drugs, violence, casual sex, teenage pregnancy angst, revenge and lots of cussing in street speak. All this is crammed into a 24 hour period, suggesting that the yoof of today never live a dull moment when not at school.Writer Noel Clarke (who also stars) and director Menhaj Huda clearly want to keep things raw and authentic, but it eventually comes off as wholly unbelievable. In fact it at times feels like it's a bunch of mates making a film and living out some fantasies where they get to be wicked for a day. There's some messages in the mix trying to break out of the hysteria, to be a wake-up call to parents and elders as to what is happening under our noses, but ultimately sensationalism wins the day.It's a film strung together by a number of instances, characterisation and reasoning is given short shrift, the makers over egging the pudding in their unrelenting mission to shock. Some scenes are undeniably attention grabbing, while the soundtrack pulses away with verve and Brian Tufano's cinematography is right on the money, but come the preachy finale you may feel you really haven't learnt anything new about the unruly and unfeeling kids of today. 6/10
Michael J Davies
In my opinion one of the best British films ever made. My top two British films may be controversial to most "The Hole" and "Kidulthood".Noel Clarke has created a gritty a most importantly REAL representation of what growing up in the UK is like at the moment. I was 16 when this film was released, making me around the same age as the characters. Perhaps I can relate more to this film having seen two of my friends stabbed, neither killed, and many violent actions on the streets of my estate. I do feel though, that with Clarke's script comes a hard hitting and powerful movie about teenagers in the UK trying to fit in and avoid confrontation which, unfortunately comes due to everybody trying to fit in and be top dog.If anyone from the older generation wonders what it's actually like growing up in Britain today, I can't recommend this film highly enough.
nive9
Really amateurish, I can't believe this film is being taken seriously.Bad acting, awful script, tacky devices and frankly silly plot. The only thing it pulls off is catching some of the reality of language and attitude of these parts of UK society.I suppose you do find yourself sympathising with people you wouldn't normally, but never deeply enough to create any subversive resonance or emotional attachment.It only gets good reviews because most of the reviewers are under 17. The reason the British press and middle class, 30 somethings, like it is because they patronisingly enjoy blending street culture with the arts as some sort of bourgeois pet keeping fetish.When you watch this film you're looking into a car crash and the collision was between 'urban London youth culture' and the London Guardian reading, wine drinking, metromedia. The carnage is gory, morbid but somehow, you're still watching avidly.
marcus_is_the_best
I -Like- this movie, why the low low low ratings, some people say its unrealistic But.... its real to me, iv gotta say this to those people who say its unrealistic, when I was 15 years old we robbed shops, people getting stabbed and stuff.... But in a place like this its easy to get up to no good "aha Just Saying" people try not to judge because stuff like this happens all the time, if you cant enjoy or relate to this, then, you missed out on your childhood and id say 70% of this was meant to be funny with a mix of innocence, life lessons, gritty, underground, grime life styles this is worth watching listen learn and try get to grips with the "Super Super Story" 3+1=5
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