Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Roman Sampson One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

ragitbynature I had no clue about the film before I watched it. My hiphop knowledge is pretty poor since snoop's doggy style so I had heard of DMX and Naz but wasn't familiar with their tunes.The opening scene is breath taking.The story line is simple but enthralling, DMX and Naz are comfortable in their roles, as their characters play out the parts. Their business expands, they start treading on toes and ultimately pressure and stress grows between the two protagonists as well as their subsequent relationships with wives and girlfriends. The sound track is wicked, the action is well paced, its violent but also intimidating, really quite raw in some parts which I like. Some of the smaller part characters are quality too, like a local dealer in a Omaha.Its a classic for me.

star_hoopa I don't understand how anyone could not like this movie. It covers so many grounds on real life issues, such as friendship, love, and at the same time action packed with violence. Every part of this movie will keep you paying attention because it changes up so much but stays on the story line.This is one of those movies that i can watch over and over again without getting tired of it and find something new in it every time. I can't even lie, the first time i watch this movie I didn't even know what was going on. When the movie went off i didn't know what happened and was left looking confused but i had no problem watching it again. Movies that you have to watch more than once are the ones that are worth keeping to me. No one wants a movie when after you watch it once, you never have a reason to watch it again.In my opinion this was a great movie because, i actually live around and know people who are like the people in the movie and i could really relate to it. This movie teaches so many morals you might not even notice them all. This was a great debut for the two rappers in this movie(Nas and DMX).Other rappers co-starred like Method Man too. This movie is the movie that really opened the door for other rappers in the acting industry. Overall this is a must see movie even if you don't like rap music or gangster like movies.

manicmontana This movie is pathetic..in no way has it a proper plot or developed characters..also i hate the scene when the Jamaican gangster is rolling around in his mansion shooting the endless amounts of assassins..it is a complete rip off of scarface(the last scene)Do not see this movie...and rappers should stick with rapping.I am writing this comment here to warn those who might be thinking of watching this movie.It may appeal to fans of Nas and dmx but not because of their acting abilities believe me .There is no originality in it either...every thing is a composition of other movies thrown together in this piece of crap of a movie....the only reason to watch it is if you want to laugh at the corny acting and dialogue...stay away from this movie otherwise

DonFishies I am not sure what words to use when describing Belly to another person. It just feels totally incomprehensible. Even though the movie really is not on par with some of the absolute garbage that Hollywood consistently pumps out (don't get me wrong, it's almost on par), I just cannot find the words to describe the film to another human being.Belly opens up with an "interesting" monologue from the main character Tommy (DMX), about his thug life and how he sold his soul to the devil as a child. Does it have anything to do with the rest of the movie? Not really. Just a nice touch to try to entice viewers into watching the rest of it. A stylish heist in a club follows, and basically sets up for the film to fall down hard from there on.The film revolves mainly around two childhood friends, Tommy and Sincere (Nas). They grew up together like brothers and gained the lives they lead through various robberies, despite Sincere turning into a family man with a wife and child. After seeing a newscast on a new type of heroin, Tommy decides randomly that they should get into drug dealing. From this point on, the film changes direction from a one-note crime film, to a half-assed morality tale. Of course, with this new direction comes way too many characters and sub plots to count. After a bit of sifting through meticulously placed useless pieces of exposition and action, you may feel you fully understand the film and can see where it's headed. But then, it adds something else into the mix and continues being dragged into a deep hole of filth.The main problem with the movie is the totally uneven script. The film is totally unsure of itself, and adds in useless action and dialogue at every turn. The acting in the film suffers heavily, even to the point where the actors do not seem sure of themselves either. It begs the question of who would greenlight such a film, with a decent premise that never fully materializes. It has the moments within it that makes it feel like the urban thriller/drama it attempts to be. But these moments are totally glazed over by the crappy script and even crappier directing. If Hype Williams wanted to make a music video with acting, he could have done it for MTV and it would seem pretty good. He does an extended one here for a full length feature, and the film falls flat on its face.It almost seems at times that the rappers in the film (yes, I forgot to mention the lack of real acting talent) are just rapping off their preachy lines, and not acting them out. Maybe someone forgot to enroll them all in Acting 101, since it is clearly not in the same room as Rapping 101. Yes, for many, it probably is their first feature film role. But it's no excuse for why some film executive could not have paid a few extra dollars to have them learn how to actually act. Eminem did not have a problem with 8 Mile (even though the rest of the movie did), so why are DMX, Nas and the rest of the gang not acting the same way? If the script and acting problems were not enough, the editing takes a beating too. Hype, this is not a damn music video! You cannot just have the film run around in circles until it's eventual conclusion, just adding, killing or removing characters as you go. Adding them into random scenes does not help either. Even if you really do not feel the need, you may need to repeat a few of the scenes over again, just so you can fully understand the film. Is it even remotely worth wasting your time doing this? Of course not. Hype just adds more as he goes, to make you even more confused. The entirety of the film becomes a convoluted and confusing mess as a result of this, and again, becomes a question of who greenlit the script to become a movie. Did they really think an urban music video director and a bunch of silly rappers could pull something like this off? With a better script and a heightened sense of acting flair, the movie probably could have been much greater and made an impact on the world of urban films, and cinema in general. it may seem like a little bit of a higher call for a film like Belly, but it's something that could have happened. When the acting and action is good, the movie isn't half bad. But when the movie becomes the convoluted mess it eventually becomes, it's downright terrible.And by the way, who in God's name would greenlight a sequel, after this? 2/10.(Portions of this review originally appeared on http://www.dvdfanatic.com).