Def Poetry - Season 1  (2002)

Rating: NR

Distributor: HBO Home Video

Release Date: August 31, 2004
Review posted: August 28, 2004

Reviewed by Jon Bjorling

SYNOPSIS

Rapper Mos Def hosts a few nights of spoken word performances.

CRITIQUE

I haven’t been a fan of coffee house spoken word performances. It’s not that I have had anything against poetry; it’s just that I never found the few performances I’ve seen all that interesting. As I watched the Def Poetry episodes, I found myself both falling in love with the performers and wanting to smack the hell out of some of them. Some performances are wonderfully insightful and deep. Others just waste our time. Fans of poetry and of hip-hop culture will enjoy it.

THE VIDEO

The transfer is standard. Everything looks crisp and clean and there no problems that I can notice.

THE AUDIO

The audio mix is standard as well. Every poet is clear and are never lost under the audience.

THE EXTRAS

The Making of Def Poetry -  Interviews with the poets as well as Russell Simmons and Mos Def. It’s a very interesting making-of segment.

OVERALL

A really well put together disc. A must for all fans of poetry.

VERDICT: RECOMMENDED

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