Folks Seem So "Worked Up" Over This Thing - Why?

Rating: 6/10 (4 June 2007)

This movie was highly recommended to me, in addition, I'd heard the hype. When viewing such movies there is a simple rule that one must apply: 1) In spite of they hype, the movie will NOT be great.
If you doubt this rent "Blair Witch Project".
Thus, I started the DVD with low expectations. I expected the usual "whitey is bad". To be honest, there was less of that sentiment than I anticipated. It was actually refreshing to see other races portrayed in such a fashion. Upon reflection, it was good to see that all the characters were given the same two-dimensional treatment.
From what I've read here, I understand that we were supposed to be sympathetic to the character that Ludicrous was playing. Just wow! I've not heard such preaching since Laurence Fishburn's diatribes in "Boys in the Hood".
Then there is the whole "guns are bad" and the "LAPD is racist LOL" aspect. Disappointing, but hardly surprising given Hollywood's world-view.
Films, by their very nature ARE manipulative and yes, I guess the whole "Little Girl" sub-plot might have been over-the-top, but as the parent of a three-year-old, I found myself engaged with it and was glad to see it ended well. For my tastes, there is just too much garbage and evil that is shown in movies, just for the sake of being shocking. Thus my pleasure at that one syrupy story line.
I guess what surprised me the most was that I expected more to go "wrong". The problem was that after a while, the "twists" didn't twist and the death of the cop's brother at the end (come on, who didn't see THAT coming) was meaningless. In addition, what cop would EVER pick up a hitchhiker to begin with? All-in-all "Crash" is okay so long as you're smart enough not to buy the "hype" and obvious propaganda.