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Bel Air

• Bel Air

• Bel Air

  FantasticMR > 24/08/2020, 07:20

  So the Fresh Prince is getting a gritty reboot, it feels cringe at points in this trailer where the original source material is quoted especially when the new tone is soooo far removed from the original show but it looks to have high production values and a decent budget. It's a bit cringe where Will's character is seen saying, "my life is not some kind of sitcom" but overall I think that a lot of people will like this interpretation. 
  
  I was not a fan of the original text, I've largely always found Will Smith incredibly irritating and I don't think this new cut is targetted at me as a demographic but it's good to see a reboot that has decided to go a completely different direction rather than simply update it's source with more modern quips and tropes.
  
  

• RE: Bel Air

  FantasticMR > 24/08/2020, 08:50

  (24/08/2020, 08:19)spitefulI Wrote:

  (24/08/2020, 07:20)FantasticMR Wrote: So the Fresh Prince is getting a gritty reboot, it feels cringe at points in this trailer where the original source material is quoted especially when the new tone is soooo far removed from the original show but it looks to have high production values and a decent budget. It's a bit cringe where Will's character is seen saying, "my life is not some kind of sitcom" but overall I think that a lot of people will like this interpretation. 
  
  I was not a fan of the original text, I've largely always found Will Smith incredibly irritating and I don't think this new cut is targetted at me as a demographic but it's good to see a reboot that has decided to go a completely different direction rather than simply update it's source with more modern quips and tropes.
  
  

  
  This is a fan made trailer. Very good considering. 

  
  

• RE: Bel Air

  FantasticMR > 24/11/2021, 08:39

  Doesn’t look as good as the fan made trailer but then it’s not highlighting loads atm.
  
  

• RE: Bel Air

  claydavis > 24/11/2021, 08:59

  Translating a sitcom about a working class kid going to live with his middle class relatives, into a drama is an interesting approach to a reboot. I loved the original FPOBA (especially Hilary and Ashley LOL), so my expectations for this being any good are relatively low. But I might give the pilot episode a chance, to see how good the writing and acting are.

• RE: Bel Air

  claydavis > 10/01/2022, 23:42

  My expectations for this were so low when I first heard about it, but this latest trailer has kinda got me sold on it. Conceptually it's actually an interesting and refreshing approach to the premise, especially given that the most critically acclaimed episodes from the original sitcom were the ones that were more dramatic. I'm intrigued to see if the writing and acting is good. Also I hope the core traits of the main characters remain; Hilary is bouji, Ashley is optimistic, Geoffrey is sarcastic, Carlton is naïve, Uncle Phil stoic, Aunt Viv is sensible, Jazz is oblivious etc.
  
  

• RE: Bel Air

  Troyspunks101 > 12/01/2022, 21:12

  Hearing alot about this but in till I see the Trailer was unsure now I have watched it not what I expected I thought it might be funny still but with a twist which him being a rich kid and them being poor in a little house instead of the big mansion from the original. Same type of family and him still being a more poor character which I wasn't expecting and everything else seem to be completely different. I think it would have been better as it seem a lot different they should have just had a fresh show instead trying to mix it as doesn't look like a bad might have to give a watch still.
  
  I see why it on peacock thought it might have gone to Disney + with Will Smith show also on there at the moment and him being on board for this remake. But now seeing it I can see why it gone there because it lot more of a drama series fit a little bit more with peacock or Netflix. Maybe we will get a come of Will Smith cameos as her is a bit part of the story behind the screen for this version. It nice that they have called it to Bel Air in stead of the fresh princes of Bel Air as it fit's more in line with what I have saw from the trailer.

• RE: Bel Air

  claydavis > 01/03/2022, 22:35

  Episode 1
  
  I was really sceptical when I first heard about them making a dramatic version of the Fresh Prince, but after watching the first episode, I was really impressed. The working class versus middle class dynamics leap off the screen.
  
  As soon as I heard "No Role Modelz" by J. Cole in the opening I was sold, and then they played "What We Do" by Freeway that was the icing on the cake. The casting of Freeway as Will's High School basketball coach was genius. Actually the casting across the board is exemplary. Jabari Banks has the perfect amount of cocky charisma as Will. April Parker Jones as Viola Smith has a warm protective nature. SteVonte Hart looks like the spitting image of Don Cheadle. Jordan L Jones nails Jazz's effortless style. Jimmy Akingbola's quintessentially British stiff upper lip as Geoffrey is perfect. Adrian Holmes has a stern but loving aura as Uncle Phil. Cassandra Freeman's classy but earthly poise as Aunt Viv is a joy to behold. Akira Akbar as Ashley looked familiar and then I realised she played young Monica Rambeau in Captain Marvel. Simone Joy Jones is brilliant as Lisa, and glows whenever she appears on screen. But the two standouts are Olly Sholotan as Carlton and Coco Jones as Hilary. Olly plays the role with so much middle class ease in regards to his distain for Will's working class upbringing. His character arc looks like it'll be really interesting. WOW! Please can Coco Jones be cast in everything. She nails Hilary's style and demeanour, but modernises it with such flair and effervescence.
  
  The looming threat of Rashad and Jared being Will and Trey's antagonists in Philly is going to be a really interesting plot point that will play out in this season, and I'm looking forward to how that will eventually conclude. There is also the opportunity to dramatically delve deeper into so many other subplots from the sitcom, like how they've already touched upon Carlton's drug use. I'm really looking forward to watching more episodes. Here's a little fun fact the original sitcom was loosely based on the life of J. Lo and Mariah Carey's former manager Benny Medina.

• RE: Bel Air

  claydavis > 02/03/2022, 23:36

  Episode two
  
  It felt a little bit less cinematic than the pilot episode, but it was still an interesting progression of the character arcs and overall plot. Will and Carlton's relationship is still fractured. Hilary is trying to find her way in the world. Trey is suffering the repercussions of Will's actions. Viv and Vy's sisterly dynamic is explored more. Phil's self-interested reasons for bringing Will to Bel Air are explored more. Will's PTSD and basketball aspirations are looked into.

• RE: Bel Air

  neeks > 03/03/2022, 14:41

  This has to be the best remake of any show I have ever seen! Jabari Banks carries Will's style and finesse just as well as  Will himself. I am a major Will Smith fan, he's classy, funny and IMO one sexy ass man! The show is gritty and actually deals with issues that are usually the undercurrent to many African American's lives. It  Tackles these issues without being too political but makes you aware. The 'new' Carlton (Olly Sholotan) is annoying and I  do not like him- so it means he has done his job as an actor- well. If you think about every character from the original show, they would have evolved into how the show has depicted them, i.e Hilary being a social media celebrity and Carlton being snobby and intensely jealous of Will but it becoming more sinister (which showed in the original occasionally) Uncle Phil in politics and questioning if he should actually be himself. If you can't already tell ... I LOVE, LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!

• RE: Bel Air

  claydavis > 03/03/2022, 23:11

  Hi Neeks, I'm glad to hear that you're thoroughly enjoying Bel-Air. I'm a big fan of the real Will Smith too, and I hope he wins the Best Actor Oscar at the end of this month for King Richard.
  
  You're right about how this remake intellectually, humanely and subtly approaches important topics, like how Uncle Phil's campaign to become District Attorney is built around dismantling the school to prison pipeline, and that's part of the reason why he wanted to bring Will from Philly to Bel-Air.
  
  The creator Morgan Cooper has done an excellent job in how he took the core elements of the characters from the sitcom and gave them even more dimensions and complexities. Even the subtle nods in Episode Three to things from the sitcom like the Air Jordan V's that Will wears, the pool game between Uncle Phil and Geoffrey, and the reason why Will wears his Bel-Air Academy blazer inside out are all genius.
  
  
  
  
  
  
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