I pray that racism isn't the reason this film has such a low rating on here.I'm a black college student who used to be in a white fraternity and this film is actually fairly accurate to the ideas those organizations promote.The acting is stellar, Laurence Fishburne, Giancarlo Esposito, Tisha Champbell, and Spike Lee steal the show but as much effort is put into almost every supporting role.The cinematography is done pretty well, not flawless but as a film buff I appreciated it. The music is awesome and keeps you engaged, it really serves as a nice break for the more dramatic scenes.The storyline is overall about finding yourself in college which is a very difficult task and even more difficult now in the age of social media.The only complaint I had about this film is that the actors don't really look like college students, but it's minuscule in comparison to the film's themes.I would recommend this film, but the primary audience is adults and I would keep high school students away from this film unless they're exceptionally mature for their age.Go into School Daze with an open mind and be prepared for a powerful film that sticks in your mind well after your initial viewing.

School Daze is billed as a musical comedy but is better described as a comedy-drama with musical numbers as commentary--the only non-diegetic number is "Good and Bad Hair," Lee's all-girl fantasy homage to West Side Story that addresses colorism between the "paper bag-light" sorority Gamma Rays and the darker activist girls. Ebert wrote that this was the first movie he'd seen in a while where the black characters relate to each other instead of a hypothetical white audience--it is this that gives the movie its engrossing authenticity. (If it matters, I'm white.) As funny as the movie can be, it's also incredibly hard-hitting--there's a sequence in the last 20 minutes where Julian, "Big Brother Al-migh-tee," insists his girlfriend "prove" her love, that's almost unwatchable and yet brutally honest. Lee has been called sexist for his underwritten female characters--there may be some truth to that but School Daze is far more critical of the men than the women. Rachel, Dap's girlfriend, is perhaps the most levelheaded, likable character in the movie, and is strong and supportive of Dap while still maintaining her independence. Even the Gamma Rays, who come off as shallow and colorist in the beginning, are sympathetic as they stand up for and try to aid the pledges during hazing. The characters who come off the worst are the GPG brothers who are, almost to a man, brutish, sadistic and crude. Julian in particular is unredeemable--clever, manipulative and almost sociopathic in his treatment of Jane. Lee supposedly based the movie on his observations at Morehouse and the movie stands as a scathing indictment against the black fraternity system and its abuse of the women's auxiliaries (aka "Little Sisters").The movie has structural weaknesses (the ending is problematic and seems to come out of nowhere although it fits thematically) but its biggest problem is Lee's flat performance as Half-Pint (and, frankly, he looks a little too old for it). I love Lee's movies but his early tendency to cast himself in major roles was a real weakness--he's just not a good enough actor and his performance always jerks me out of the story. The rest of the cast is fantastic, though, especially Tisha Campbell as Jane and Giancarlo Esposito as Julian. Notice must also be given to Bill Lee's wonderful score. Ultimately it's a movie whose heart and imagination overcome its flaws.

I loved this movie! I have it on VHS and DVD.I always related to this movie. As an African American man who was actively pressuring the institution of "higher learning" that I was attending at the time to divest from South Africa, I felt like one of "Da fellas". My boys and I even went to see it in a raggedy Chevrolet.I completely vibed with the whole frat versus GDI issue. As a student at a northern predominantly white institution some of the other issues around skin color were new to me.A must see for any African American student attending or planning on attending college - especially if they plan on attending an Historically Black Colege or University.

School Daze takes us through the homecoming weekend of the fictional Historically Black College Mission College. Spike Lee has gone out of his way very successfully to recreate the events that surround an HBCU homecoming. We have the parade. The Homecoming Dances and Pageants. The football game. Even a crossing over of a fraternity. This is the best film I have ever seen that features HBCU college life and gives an inside look at it. Various issues that were a big deal on college campuses then are discussed such as light skinned vs dark skinned, almost obsessive interest in the apartheid situation in Africa. The film covers some good ground. Most of the movie, however, revolves around the character Half Pint, whom Spike Lee himself portrays. He is online for the fictional fraternity Gamma Phi Gamma and if he lasts the weekend through, will be joining the G Phi G family. I won't say that Half Pint is a nerd, but he isn't the most popular guy on campus. After he crosses over, we see a definite change in him though. A change that a big majority of people can relate to if they have ever known someone close who has pledged a frat or sorority.I had a few problems with the movie though. I just found Laurence Fishburne unconvincing in this role. This is not his best performance and since he didn't really have a role to challenge his true acting ability until What's Love Got To Do With It, I can't really be surprised. Another problem is the ending. Spike Lee goes from reality to something that looks like it's right out a dream. It's so unique that it jumps from interesting right into the realm of ridiculous.Be on the lookout for some absolutely stunning musical pieces. Especially a performance by Tisha Campbell and three other sisters titled I Don't Wanna Be Alone Tonight. Another great number is Straight and Nappy. You'll know it when you hear it.Another thing, the wanna be's were like a thousand times finer than the jigaboos. I'm sorry. The wanna be's couldn't hold a flame to em. They couldn't even hold an unlit match to em. And it ain't got nothing to do with their skin color.I would recommend this film highly. It has flaws but they are few and in-between. And when you look at the fact that it is Spike Lee's second feature, you'll have even more respect for it.8/10