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Scratch

Play trailer Poster for Scratch R 2002 1h 30m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
A feature length documentary film about the hip-hop DJ and today's "turntablist" movement. From the South Bronx in the `70s to San Francisco now, the world's best scratchers, diggers, party-rockers and producers on beats, breaks, battles, and the infinite possibilities of vinyl.

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Scratch

Scratch

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Critics Consensus

Whether you know anything about turntablism or not, Scratch makes for fun and informative viewing.

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Critics Reviews

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Ray Conlogue Globe and Mail 10/11/2002
3/4
Engaging documentary. Go to Full Review
Laura Bushell BBC.com 09/03/2002
4/5
Pray has really done his subject justice. Go to Full Review
Robert K. Elder Chicago Tribune 07/20/2002
3/4
Pray's subjects can wander off into arcane Dennis Miller-esque rants, but he manages to hit the high points and most of the major personalities. Go to Full Review
Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review 08/07/2008
4/5
Betsy Bozdech DVDJournal.com 11/09/2006
3/4
A film not unlike the music it celebrates: Vibrant, eclectic, loud, rhythmic, and powerful. Go to Full Review
Film Threat 12/06/2005
4/5
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Audience Reviews

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Hermentotip I Mar 21 Must see for music lovers, specially hip hop heads. Not only about scratching, but also the evolution of the music and culture, breakbeats, sampling, and many other foundational elements of modern music. Pure gold See more 11/14/2014 This is a great documentary even if it doesn't really ask many questions of it's protagonists. Maybe that's because of the time it was made when Shadow seemed like the great new hope for Hip-Hop and the instrumental album was taking centre stage. The opening 45mins are the strongest looking at the history of scratching and the foundations of Hip-Hop. It loses it's way towards the end when endorsing scratch break records and DJ trickery rather than collaboration with the MC. Still well worth a view though. See more 03/29/2013 Scratch is well made but unfortunately leaves no emotional impact on its viewers. See more 03/17/2013 A passionate j-j-jour-j-j-jour-journey-j-j-j-journey through the wor-wiki-world of turntablism. See more 02/05/2013 Look. Even if you just hate scratching, think that hip hop is just garbage, and believe that a turntable is not a musical instrument, this documentary is a must. It just does a great job in showing the luminaries of the genre. It celebrates/knows it's history (something Rock and Roll really doesn't in many ways). Nearly all DJ's agree on certain values, beliefs, etc, and they almost all agree that DJing as a music form hit the big time with Herbie Hancock's "Rock It" in 1983. It is fascinating and even if you don't agree, you have to respect the voodoo that is turntablism. Plus Mix Master Mike and QBert are god's amongst DJing men. See more 02/04/2013 A must for any hip-hop fan & you'll need a notebook ;) See more Read all reviews
Scratch

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Movie Info

Synopsis A feature length documentary film about the hip-hop DJ and today's "turntablist" movement. From the South Bronx in the `70s to San Francisco now, the world's best scratchers, diggers, party-rockers and producers on beats, breaks, battles, and the infinite possibilities of vinyl.
Director
Doug Pray, Bonner Bellew
Producer
Brad Blondheim, Ernest Meza
Screenwriter
Bonner Bellew
Distributor
Palm Pictures
Production Co
Firewalks Film, Ridgeway Entertainment
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 15, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 17, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$291.0K
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby SR, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.66:1)
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