Which was the better movie Cooley High vs. Boyz in the Hood

[Black A. Camus]

I know. Still, when you think about it, one can construe Boyz in the Hood as a modern retelling of Cooley High: Black high school youth in their respective urban neighborhoods living their lives until one is lost to violence.

They're both great films. Just because you like one more doesn't take away from the other. But, if you had to choose, which would you say is better?

 

[dasailr03]

cooley high... it hit harder.. impacted the culture harder.. its like comparing martin to good times.. its a generational thing but good times like cooley high impacted the culture far more than boys in the hood. some people watch boys in the hood but your grandma, momma and daddy lived /watched cooley high...

 

[Black A. Camus]

cooley high... it hit harder.. impacted the culture harder.. its like comparing martin to good times.. its a generational thing but good times like cooley high impacted the culture far more than boys in the hood. some people watch boys in the hood but your grandma, momma and daddy lived /watched cooley high...

I liked everything you wrote except the comparison you made. Martin to Good Times? Martin had very little, if not zero, seriously tragic moments--it was 100% comedy. Good Times, however, was comedy but it often had some serious moments.

Other than the fact they take place about 25 years apart, and in different cities, Cooley High and Boyz in the Hood have identical levities: they're both moderately comedic tellings of the Black Experience until tragedy strikes. In fact, I wish I could ask John Singeltary ( R.I.P) how much, if any, Cooley High influenced him when he made Boyz.

 

[dasailr03]

I liked everything you wrote except the comparison you made. Martin to Good Times? Martin had very little, if not zero, seriously tragic moments--it was 100% comedy. Good Times, however, was comedy but it often had some serious moments.

Other than the fact they take place about 25 years apart, and in different cities, Cooley High and Boyz in the Hood have identical levities: they're both moderately comedic tellings of the Black Experience until tragedy strikes. In fact, I wish I could ask John Singeltary ( R.I.P) how much, if any, Cooley High influenced him when he made Boyz.

i was referencing the cultural impact. to some you can say "maaaartin" and they get it..to other you can "when jj got shot" or "damn, damn, damn" and they get it...just using it as a cultural reference. Overall I think cooley high hits harder because no matter how many times you watch it, you just hope cochise would get up.. where in boys in the hood, the foreshadowed, somebody was gonna die... but nobody expected "cochise" to die..plus the soundtrack for cooley high was a banger all the way though.

 

[BlueCarpetTreatment]

Damn, this is a tough choice for me. Just watched Cooley High the other night. Both are coming of age stories that reflected the times and the culture. I loved both films. I wasn’t around when Cooley High dropped so I can’t speak 100% on the cultural impact at that time. I’m sure it hit home for a lot of young black folks at that time. Boyz In The Hood came out when I was a youngin. It resonates with me more due to the time and culture of the time. Hard to say which was a better film because they both deserve their flowers. Can’t choose, mayne. Lol

 

[Backshot Bully]

damn op you gon make me choose?

 

[tallblacknyc]

I saw Cooley high when I was extra young so can’t really remember it as well but I definitely can say if history serves me right I definitely like boys in the hood more

 

[husband73]

Hate me if you want .. love both but
Cooley high was universal throughout all cities.
Boyz n the hood was a Cali thing

 

[TENT]

Hard to compare.

Boyz is a great movie. There was nothing like it in recent memory of the time. The Stop sign Scene was iconic.

However Cooley High is a better movie over all.

 

[geechiedan]

 

[SmoothD]

Not to jump off topic but the episode of Good Times where Debbie Allen was JJ's junkie girlfriend was way ahead of its time

 

[Z MONSTER]

Both were a tragedy can't choose.

 

[ThaBurgerPimp]

Not to jump off topic but the episode of Good Times where Debbie Allen was JJ's junkie girlfriend was way ahead of its time

Wish theyd done some kind of follow up...

 

[CptMARVEL]

Both are great films.
But Cooley High wins this one because it was original for its time.
It came at a time when films didn't focus on the angst of Black teenagers living in "the hood".
Boys In The Hood had the good fortune of coming at a time (the early '90's) when there was a surge in Black/urban films focusing on Black lives.
And besides, Cooley High was the direct inspiration for: