IMDb user comments for
ATL (2006)

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27 out of 43 people found the following comment useful :-
Surprisingly strong film shows the flipside of the dirty dirty, 27 March 2006

Author: Michael Dennis ([email protected]) from City of Brotherly Love

I just got back from an advance screening of ATL--the movie that cannot be marketed as a roller skating flick because Roll Bounce "didn't make money."

OK, so I guess that's a major spoiler in Warner Brother's eyes. But I think it's kinda cool to see a PG-13 movie set in current times that shows young men and women battling with the process of growing up. If you've seen lots of movies like me, you'll know where ATL borrows it's cues from--the friendships of Juice, the house party from House Party, the fat girl from Cooley High a dash of Purple Rain the broad tapestry of Last Picture Show or American Graffiti and the swagger of Saturday Night Fever. It also owes a lot to John Hughes' early work. That being said, director Chris Robinson, in his feature debut, delivers strong visuals and an excellent soundtrack/score that constantly reminds you that these are real places, people and problems. He gets excellent performances from his cast--a mix of veteran actors and musicians in their film debuts.

The big plot twist in the story (which I won't give away) raises a very interesting question that the movie with as broad a scope as ATL has no way to answer--do these young girls project a "grown-up" attitude because it's fashionable or is it the only way to find love and attention from these young boys who are, in their own way, desperately in search of their own manhood without the guidance of true role models? ATL tels a very familiar story but with interesting hues and nuances that defy the typical "hood" flick. I encourage you to check it out in theaters.

11 out of 18 people found the following comment useful :-
Much Better Than I Expected, 1 April 2006

Author: bimsie99 from Phoenix,Arizona

The New Urban drama/comedy ATL,about a group of friends coming of age in Atlanta,was better than I expected in so many ways:It was sweet.It had heart.It was funny in real and unexpected ways,and it had a pace and rhythm all its own.

Another reviewer mentioned "Cooley High" as a reference,but I would also add American Graffiti,especially in using a central location,in this case a roller skating rink,as the focus of the action,as the meeting place of the kids in the area.

I'm afraid that once the word gets around that this isn't another tough,gangster style film,that it will die quickly at the box office,as evidenced by the bored,loud teenagers I saw the film with tonight.

Are small,personal African American films like ATL and "Something New" doomed to failure because of their refusal to dumb down to their audiences with broad,crude humor?I hope not,but why should they be any different than white audiences that cant see a good thing if their lives depended on it either.

End of rant.Take a chance on a film that takes a chance.

2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
It was good, but reminded me of Boys in the Hood, 11 April 2006

Author: twe57 from United States

This was a good movie. I have to admit I was a little skeptical, I mean this is my first time seeing, Tip "T.I." Harris act and I did not want to be disappointed by another rapper turned actor. I would have to say that he did good, I liked the fact that he was able to keep his southern accent and the "TI" feel, but still get into the role of Rashaad. I didn't understand why the movie had to be centered around the local skating rink, but thought it was different. Never before that I can remember have I seen a movie where they focus on the different skating groups. This movie really made me want to break out my skates from back in the day and hit the local rink, like I used when I was in middle school. I say it reminds me of Boys In the Hood, because you have a group of friends all trying to make it out of the hood and you really want to know who will make it out, alive anyway. The movie definitely had funny parts, that will keep you interested. I wouldn't say this was your typical hood movie though, because there wasn't a lot of killing and baby mama drama, I think it actually had somewhat of a family feel by providing you with in site on Rashaad's family, but also by making you see the importance of sticking together during hard times. If you are bored, need a good movie to watch, that's going to lift your spirits, this would be the one. I would definitely watch it again, because it was overall a good movie.

6 out of 10 people found the following comment useful :-
Good movie, 3 April 2006

Author: sclayborne from United States

I may be biased because I love T.I. but I was pleased with the movie!! I thought it was good to finally show something other than the usually clich� movie about urban kids who all want to sell drugs and smoke. It shows the "real" side of urban kids. The side the media never wants us to see. All kids are not bad; and no we do not all perpetuate the stereotype. Great movie, but I will admit the end of the movie did not lend to the imagination and could have expounded more on what other possibilities there were for the conclusion. However, T.I. is amazing in this movie; especially considering this was his big screen debut. Natural, funny, and real.

7 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
Skating is in, 4 April 2006

Author: froglegcutlet from United States

What many people refuse to believe is the accuracy in socio-economic depictions of dramas and routines of young black teens that ATL brings to life in theaters. As I glance over the several reviews written by critics who seem rather shocked that skating is actually a hip-hop trend makes me even more convinced the world knows very little about what really goes on in the vines of trends and threads of hip-hop. (Skating has been "in" for a while now...anyways) ATL expressed reality artistically, which makes the movie more, in my opinion "fun." The movie scopes into the lives, gives reasons for deprivations and answers from where, what and why do people find a haven in where they "kick-it," and who they "kick it with" I think ATL is a good movie because what it really expressed to me is the strife to... just making it.

Heck, I never went skating, I mean, I'm not a very trendy or hip-hopish type of person to boot, wouldn't fit in. So the movie provides a perspective and although I may not be so into rap, the movie still gives a strong statement, so I like it. It motivates me, kind of like, Hustle and Flow.

Overall, ATL was a lot better than I expected, especially the acting, who knew Rapper T.I. can light up the screen.

Its about time a film for Black youth that says do the right thing, 15 April 2006

Author: integrityandvalues from United States

Not only Black youth, but all youth who are numbed by the spell of the glam of gangstadom. This film is intelligent, beautifully filmed and takes the edge off of the mainstreamed comodification of the southern gangsta that youth are spoon fed through every venue it can be sold. It makes making the right decision cool; doing the right thing for yourself the way to go, to get out.

Filmed on location in the ATL, local superheros, Bog Boi and various members of the Dungeon Family make this movie authentic and an inspiration, not to mention that it was co-written by THE Antuane Fisher who was born in a women's prison where his mother was an inmate, and Tina Gordon Chism.

Thank you Anuane, Ms. Chism, and director Chris Robinson for your vision and setting an example.

Not a "hip-hop" movie!, 13 April 2006

Author: GangstadanDT from Detroit,United States

ATL is a movie that shows that even though we are from different locations, we are'nt that different, and we should'nt make automatic judgements from where a person is from. Funny thing is, it tried to make roller-skating look "street". And made most of the women in the movie look dumb. T.I looked almost the same throughout the whole movie, though I could understand the emotions/expressions of him. A lot of people though this was going to be another hip-hop/rap movie, but it is'nt. It has nothing to do with rap. T.I is'nt even pursuing the rap music industry.The ending was a little rushed in my opinion, but if you want to know about growing up in a low-class part of Atlanta, dealing with life and not having the things people take for granted, watch this movie.

wonderful, 13 April 2006

Author: jtodah from United States

this movie is a classic.ti is a good actor. for a rapper not bad. i came with my expectations low this movie turned it around. he is at the top. it's a nice time at the movies kind of movie. it was way better than get rich or die trying. see this movie. it's for everyone black white gay or straight. this is fresh. see it i loved it you will too.this was a great film. the best i seen in a long time. the setting was great the story beautiful. the acting awesome. it knew when to be funny it knew when to be serious. oh my god even ross was great. big boi was funny. atl is the best movie this year. the story is captivating. the love is pure. the reltionship between him and new new. is just mavelous. the love is real. esquires's passion yo get to the ivy league is strong. ti's struggle raw. the skate offs are wonderful. the story is pure. see this movie.

2 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
A good movie, 3 April 2006

Author: aloombax from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

ATL tells the story of four young meant growing up in the urban scene of school, work, dating, skating, and scandal. Overall, this movie is eye catching and very entertaining.

The rollerskating scenes are picturized very well, which shows this directors talent. Along with this, TI, Evan Ross and Outcast played their roles to their greatest potential. TI portrayed his role as a breadwinner and loving brother very well, and Outcast played his role as a local drug dealer well. The combination of everyones performances added on to this movies success.

The movie enfolds drama and humor together to create a movie that can be enjoyed by ANYONE. Overall, a good movie for EVERYONE to enjoy!!

2 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
So Amazing!, 3 April 2006

Author: from United States

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This was one of the best movies i'v seen in a long time! I loved it and I have no idea why people are giving it bad ratings. TI was amazing in it and the actor that played Ant was also very good in it. This was definitely AH mazing. Although the main reason I saw it was for TI because of how hot he is I was surprised with the results of the movie. I would give this movie a 10 out of 10. Going to see it I was not expecting much out of the movie that I would actually like but i was extremely surprised by some of the twists in the movie like NEW NEW actually being Erin and actually her father being the richest guy in the state. Most people I know would also agree with me when I say that this was a very good movie with actual drama besides stupid things like the boyfriend and girlfriend broke up. I thought that this film was very straight forward, surprising, and very good.

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