Bomb It 2 (2013)

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Am I Missing Something?

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Bomb It 2 starts off where Bomb It left off. Instead of looking at the history of graffiti like in the original (I recommend that you watch them in order), BI2 dives head first into what artists are doing now. Director Jon Reiss traveled across six continents (rumor is Antarctica will be in BI3?) documenting different styles of graffiti art from around the world. In some places, like Palestine, street art is a means to free speech with possible deadly consequences for the artists! The artists in this movie advocate free speech and thought, a message that I totally support. Because BI2 skips the history lesson (although some of the artists talk about the history in their regions), there are way more artist spotlights and locations than the original. In that sense, this sequel has a faster pace than the first. But if you've seen both, it's a natural progression for the series. I recommend you check it out!

I always question why graffiti artists put themselves at risk to perform this type of art, in most parts of the world it's considered a felony and has some serious consequences. In the film, a Malaysian artist explains that authorities will strip you naked and whip you with a soaking wet rattan, ouch... Jon Reiss takes you around the world meeting artists from Bethlehem, Hong Kong, Copenhagen, Bangkok, Singapore and a plethora of other cities/cultures and really gives you a strong understanding behind the story/motivation of graffiti artists. I really appreciate the risks that were taken by Jon Reiss and the other filmmakers involved to pull together these stories, I will certainly never look at graffiti art the same.

So many filmmakers make a great movie and then try to make a follow up and fail. Reiss made a great movie in Bomb It and then followed it up with an equally impressive film. Bomb It 2 continues the exploration of graffiti in public space, but delves deeper into the plight of the artists themselves all while taking the viewer to locations that get little attention from the art world in general. In some places, writing is the only way that political statements can be made. In others, it's a matter of beautifying spaces - with the communities consent. A lot of time these works of art are commissioned. I've never been a proponent of graffiti, but Bomb It and Bomb It 2 do not condone or condemn, they just document, which is what you want in a documentary. Kudos! Whether you've seen Bomb It (I recommend seeing it!) or not, Bomb It 2 is an interesting and entertaining movie and makes you want to get up!

Bomb It 2 is a piece of film-making that really changes how one sees graffiti, not as vandalism but an idea, a piece of art and someone's voice. Not only does the director take into account each artist individual account of their artwork but also what graffiti means to their country, government or regime. Speaking through a can of paint sends a powerful message especially in a place like the West Bank, China, or Palestine.The fact that film can remain unbiased and merely be a catalyst for the artists' voices is impressive considering the current dynamics of the world that we now live in. Politics play a minor role in the film rather than dictate it. Rather the paint and the pieces do the talking. Just looking at artists like Banksy who sell their paintings for thousands of dollars it does resonate that graffiti is being taken and abused in someway. In the end graffiti began on the streets and is for people to enjoy for free. It's about a story for some, discovering what is inside their own instincts, their sub-conscience and painting it for the world to see. Its not just a film about a can of paint, but human emotions, and how they are affected by the world that they live in. That's the genius of Bomb It 2.