Quite an acceptable tale based on a true story. The storyline does seem to slump somewhat in the middle and I found it hard to maintain my concentration, however, this is quite some story and one that is worthy of telling.
It's worth taking a look at the special features on this one also.
WITHOUT DOUBT ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVIES EVER MADE
Welcome to the City of God, a playground for armed gangs, and if you trip you most certainly fall.
The story open starting in 60s with the young boy, Rocket, who manages to see the way he could turn out, just by looking at his brother and his friends. .
The whole film is told by the boy, and manily his hopes on finding a job and staying alive. The place gets even more Wild west by 2 rival gangs, fighting each other, over something that the 2 have forgotten about.
I loved the way that the characters would intersect each other in different tales. And how sometimes Rocket would introduce the charcters, yet say it wasn't time for there story. Leaving you awaitied for their special tale.
The film is so Extraodinarily shot, and so beautiful that its hard to resist watching the film over and over again. This is my favorite Foriegn film, an extreme truimph. The movie answers Questions as well as posing them. And has more characters than you can shake a stick at.
This movie plays intensely with your emotions from happiness to sadness. The potential truth about living in Rio do Janeiro and facing difficulties. You have to see this movie and have a "brazilian" mind. I want to go to Rio...despite what I saw here.
i really dig how the film is cut up into sections. i personelly luv the concept of one acting against or in accord with one's own environment. me really likey! p.s. the characters rock too.
One of the rare films that lives up to the hype. City of God broke out of nowhere and set it off. A true powerhouse of a film where everything's perfect; the plotting, cinematography, acting and direction coalesce to transend typical limits of storytelling.
Unequivocably recommended.
Cinematic Gold! Ladies and gentlemen, the best foreign film ever made! I mean what was not great about this film. The story was awesome, the acting was superb, the direction was right on, the cinematography was incredable, the look and effects were realistic and effective. Defently one of the more different movies I've ever seen. Also one of the best crime movies, however, at points it hard to watch, but over all has a big impact on us by showing the world we live in and what really happening in other parts of the world. Yes its from Rio so it is subtitles for the entire movie, but it's one movie where you get so into the movie that the subtitles arn't even a problem. But why am I talking go see this movie where you want a awesome crime movie, a impactful movie, or just something completely different, I highly recommend this movie. Like Roger Ebert said, " One of the best films you'll ever see!", and you better believe it.
a unique, gritty, humanistic look at poverty, gang warfare, and the external and internal driving forces behind it. a brilliantly-shot film that brings you up close and personal, edited flawlessly in a style reminiscent of Crash. for having virtually no professional actors, the cast did a magnificent job. shocking, gripping, disturbing, and ironically beautiful--one of the best foreign films in a long while and a solid testament for Brazilian filmmaking.
A story based in how a famous "favela" in Brasil got started. At the same time, it tells us the story of a group of kids raised there, and how their lifes were connected to the atmosphere created in the city.
Really good movie, that shows a different and violent world. And how evil and good co exist somewhere in the world.
This has to be amongst the greatest films ever made. It is funny, sad, frightening, gripping, suspenseful, and entertaining.Some parts of the film will break your heart, so be prepared to cry. It's a truly beautiful film, with a fantastic cast, and an incredibly powerful, yet true story. 'City of God' is not to be missed.
There are alot of films about kids in 3rd world conditions going down violent paths, but rarely are these accounts as first hand, expansive, and compelling as City Of God.
Theres a vibrance, urgency, compassion, and scope that makes this movie so hard to pull away from. The story of a boy named Rocket trying to escape and being pulled back into the violent conditions around him, as well as the local history that created this enviornment. We see generations of slumlords few old enough to drive, come and go, in ages and empires, of drugs and fashions from the 60's to the 70's. Most of the performers here are not actors but children from the infamous slum, including Brazilian pop star Sue Jorge(seen in the Life Aquatic seeing David Bowie songs) who also grew up there.
Theres an immediacy, honesty, and energy to this film that 90 percent of films about gangsters, street life, and the 3rd world miss. No glorifications of excess, just poverty, desire, hope, and ignorance, put in a blender and set to fuck all. Anyway, excellent from start to finish. One of my favorite films of all time.
Instant classic. If this was an English movie it would probably be the Academy Award winner and a huge box office. Movies like this, depicting drugs, voilence, youth, and poverty can easily be spun into cinematic gold but this is special.
Even poverty, crime and drugs in an explosive cocktail of SouthAmerican temperament cannot completely disguise how colourful though dramatic SouthAmerican people can be, they are always dancing dangerously close to the precipice.
The opening scene with the chicken pulls you right into the movie. From this onecam follow shot on, you're on a rollercoasterride of sex, drugs & rock 'n roll in Cidade de Deus. This movie is like sour pop powder on your tongue. Is however very sensitive to subtitling. I was lucky to see one of the better versions. Message of the movie? It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
Takes some good time introducing the caracters from their very past to what they have become.
An outstanding cinematography and a brilliant direction helped the story evolving smoothly.
Winner of 4 academy awards, this is the most realistic gangster movie you'll ever get to see.
Once again,the word "original" gets thrown around a lot,but this film is just that.scorsese's "Mean Streets" had that same bristling sort of energy-Meirelles and Lund strike me as directors who"ve really been there-there was something almost personal in it.See it!
What makes your intestines turn inside out in these movies is the thought in the back of your mind: "God, somewhere out there, this sort of shit is actually happening!" It says nothing really - it just takes a clip of life and holds it up for you to see, and after that, it hardly needs to say anything...
this movie was down right brillant it was amaizng, the story was sad tragic but intregring and interesting. the story of the streets of rio de janiro and the croupption in the seventies. with the genrious witt and great dialoge this movie was great. some of the most beautiful cinitomagraphy i have ever seen yess one of the best movies you will ever see.
What an awesome movie this is. Instant classic! I was finally able to watch the film Cidade de Deus by Fernando Meirelles last night in all it's glory and wow... what an amazing film. I was left speechless at the end. The dangerous "City of God" in Brazil is filled with brutal life and tragic end. This film was portrayed very realistically that sometimes it seems as if it were a documentary. The cast is phenomenal, amazing performances by all. "Cidade de Deus" what more can I say about it? Watch it as soon as possible. You're missing out if you haven't seen it. I need to get this film on DVD as soon as possible. A+!
One of the most fleshed out, stylized and elaborate crime-drama films I have ever seen. This is one of the most impressive masterworks in modern cinema - a thrilling, important and disturbing work that begs to be seen. Absolutely phenomenal. I'm glad I finally saw it.
MCT:July 24, 2008
MCT:July 23, 2008
MCT:July 23, 2008
MCT:July 22, 2008
