American History X; A Hardcore Review

Into it holds the idea that we should be fair and balanced and be "nice" and not be damning of a product or its creators. I say this. It would not be truth if I only reviewed things I liked or always in a favorable way. In fact the reviews where I have panned something have brought me the most kudos from readers. And quite simply, if you do not like things to be reviewed fairly and in an editorial manner... DON'T FUCKING READ MY REVIEWS! In fact if that's how you feel you should probably never read anything I write... EVAR!
I am going to remind everyone who reads these reviews that the grading system I use is this: instead of thumbs up or stars, I rate on hardcore moments in pro wrestling history. The more hardcore the event, match, promo or moment the more I liked the book, comic, movie or video game I am reviewing. The less hardcore the moment, the more I disliked it. An example would be anything related to Hulk Hogan would be highly NOT recommended. Onto the review...
I just finished watching one of the most moving and powerful movies I have ever had the good fortune to see. American History X is a visually stunning film that grabs you from the outset and forces you to witness it. That's it. You don't watch this movie so much as you witness the story. David McKenna writes the story of a former skinhead who is living with the result of his murder of two black gang members who were attempting to steal his truck. After serving three years for the crime, Derrick Vinyard is released from Chino Penitentiary. The movie takes place mostly in the past tense and is shot primarily in black and white. It gives such a visual impact to the story. Tony Kaye directs and shots the film. And he is on the mark with the message. You not only see the ideals through the eyes of an angry, confused young white man. You also see it in spaces through the eyes of other characters who are equally frustrated and confused about their position in life.
The film uses hatred as a catalyst for setting off a subject that is touchy at best and down right vicious and passionate when set ablaze. The words are like so much poetry and resulting more like a tragedy written by the likes of Shakespeare.
Originally I went to see the movie because my favorite actress, Fairuza Balk was co-starring in it, but I quickly became aware of the cast in its entirety. Edward Norton stars with Edward Furlong and his younger brother, Danny, who has begun down the same path as Derrick. Beverly D'Angelo also stars, with Avery Brooks, Elliot Gould, Ethan Suplee and Stacey Keach. The moment that sums up the movie is a line delivered by Avery Brooks, "has anything you've done made your life better?" It single handedly steals the movie and makes for possibly the most powerful spoken line in cinema history.
There is absolutely no wasted footage in this movie. Every shot proves its worth. And in the end the total is greater than the sum of its parts. Anger can be used to prove a point. It can also be used as a motivational tool. But every moment of this movie builds to the climax. One of the things I like most about this movie besides the message is that Kaye did not glorify any of the violence. Too often a movie loses its important message when directors Hollywoodize the violence. Parts of this movie are very gritty and so real you cannot help but wince and look away from the screen. This has to be one of, if not the most important movie of my generation.
In the end, this movie has to register a vastly significant moment in the history of the squared circle. It is Spike Dudley challenging the unstoppable monster of ECW, Heavyweight Champion, Mike Awesome. It all begins at Guilty as Charged 2000, with Spike calling out the massive champion. Awesome tosses Spike over the top rope, through a table like he was throwing away an empty can of beer. The violence went back and forth for a long time, including Awesome spring boarding off the top rope into the crowd and slipping on a patch of spilled beer. Whatever the case, Spike Dudley just wouldn't stay down.... Until Awesome Awesome Bombed Spike off the top rope through a table. This match made it into a compilation dvd produced by WWE years after ECW folded.