Light It Up

1999
6| 1h39m| R| en| More Info
Released: 04 November 1999 Released
Producted By: Fox 2000 Pictures
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

On a winter day in a southside Queens high school, events collide and six students are suddenly in an armed standoff with the NYPD. At the school, classrooms freeze, teachers come and go, resources are scant.

Genre

Drama, Thriller

Watch Online

Light It Up (1999) is now streaming with subscription on Starz

Director

Craig Bolotin

Production Companies

Fox 2000 Pictures

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Light It Up Audience Reviews

GamerTab That was an excellent one.
Lucybespro It is a performances centric movie
WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
TrueHello Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.
michelle-141592653589793 Although I wouldn't have been the person who would have thought to rent this movie if I had seen it in a video store, I saw it on TV for the first time last night and was amazed. It was a terrific movie that I would recommend to almost anyone. The themes and violence could be too strong for young children, but even adults that don't like violence or strong themes in movies should see this movie because the ideas in it are so good that it is worth it. This would be a great movie to watch with a church group of older students or something like that because it stresses some great points and shows a lot about human nature and what makes humans beautiful.
xawn I must say that although the film it no oscar winning material, it is not bad at all. The acting is very good, the story line is simple but powerful at the same time. It is firmly much better then many of the blockbuster films which hit our screens every month and leave us with a sour taste in our mouth.
fitzdagod Light It Up is a story about a group of rebellious teenagers taking charge of their troubled school in Queens, New York. After an accidental shooting of a security guard on school campus during a struggle, six desperate students barricade themselves inside the schools library. As the police, media and the eyes of the country zeros in on this sensational crisis, the student realise that for the first time in their short lives that their voices might actually be heard.The main characters are all placed in separate stereotypes just like every other film involving teenage issues. Theres the sports star Lester played very well by R+B star Usher Raymond who has a vengeance against the New York police who wrongfully killed his unarmed father. The Brainy student council member Stephanie who just wants the best education she can get, the bad boy gang member Rodney who doesn't give a f**k about anything, Rivers the popular hustler, Lynn the pregnant loner girl and the gifted artist Ziggy who is being abused by his parents and causes the dramatic stand off. The security guard is played by Forest Whitiker who does a really a good job portraying the over eager guard.The release of the film was hindered because it was released so soon after the tragic events of the Columbine High School massacre. The film is far from the Columbine massacre its more about the changing atmosphere concerning kids and guns. The writer/director Craig Bolotin manages a difficult task of telling the story without exploiting the events around the films release. The film doesn't use violence to get its point across, it uses the emotional feeling built up through the characters to show the state of the American Education System. The movie is shown the students point of view and is very different from recent film about the American Education System, Dangerous Mind, The Principal etc.All in all I would give the film a 8 out of 10 for the positive message the director is trying to get across, stronger gun laws and a better education system for all school.Go and get this film from where ever you can because it is definitely worth it. A thought provoking teens action drama that is aimed at a wide audience range.
swagner765 I really liked this movie. It's enjoyable and dramatic. I think you should watch this movie if you don't like your school. I really loved how this movie was acted. Usher Raymond, Rosario Dawson, Robert Ri'Chard, Sara Gilbert, Clifton Collins Jr., and Fredro Starr gave beautiful performances. Usher Raymond starred as a traumatized jock, and he gave it all. Rosario Dawson's character wanted to do what was right, and she did great. Robert Ri'Chard played a abused boy who lives at school, and he gave an astounding, teary, performance. Sara Gilbert played a pregnant teen, and she gave a dramatic and soaring performance. Clifton Collins Jr. played a briber, and he was hilarius. Fredro Starr played a rebel, and he was wonderful. So I liked this flick! Yeahman