Every now and then, I encounter a movie that nothing could prepare me for. Bodied is one of those films.

Bodied follows a young white rap enthusiast investigating the underground rap scene until he inadvertently demonstrates his own rap skill and finds himself pulled deep into this world of aggressive bars and stereotyped insults, one rap battle at a time.

I don't use the word "aggressive" lightly. Bodied is relentless with the slander it lays out in performances. This is a movie that elicits engagement from audiences. It's almost impossible to hold back audible reactions when disses are delivered, as if the audience is standing live at these battles. And any time viewers think the movie has thrown its hardest punch, it gets even more ruthless.

Needless to say, Bodied is not a movie for everyone. However, those willing to endure the verbal abuse will find that by the end, there is a bigger message to internalize about misconceptions of stereotypes, the validity of rap as an art, and the lines that shouldn't be crossed in a world with no rules.

I can't recommend this movie highly enough, but approach it with caution and an open mind. You've been warned.

Acting and Casting - 2 | Visual Effects and Editing - 2 | Story and Message - 2 | Entertainment Value - 2 | Music Score and Soundtrack - 2 | Reviewer's Preference - 2 | What does this mean?