City of God [Blu-ray] [2002]

What's there to say write about City of God? This film is amazing in every way. It's a crime/drama/gangster film set in the slums of Rio de Janiero, Brazil. The film uses intricate stroytelling to combines the paths of all it's characters leadng back up to the films opening scene. The film's main protagonist is Rocket...the film does always center around him, but we see him go from the slums to the city and on the way we are introduced with various characters that serve an important purpose. This is a gripping film and deserves to be up at the same height as other great gangster films such as GoodFellas, The Godfather, etc.

Bought this as a replacement for my dvd because I love this movie. Chilling drama (and part biography) of life as it was in the drug and gun riddled favelas of Rio De Janero. (I say "was" because supposedly the goverment has cleaned up many of these areas in preparation for the upcoming Olympics). I like stories that give you a glimpse of life outside of our culture, and this film does all that. Quite, perhap over-the-top, violent and I suppose controversial, it also is a story of rising above circumstances. The extra feature documentary included is quite good, and will simply have you shaking your head.

Unfortunately, this little known foreign film only played in independant theaters, or else it might have been more of a hit. One of the great things about this movie is that it takes place over a period of several years. We are able to see how kids get involved in a life of crime, only to be replaced my the next generation decades later. Being that this movie focuses on the slums of Brazil, the film is in Portuguese. It was filmed in a gritty way that suits the subject matter of the movie. This movie shows us how innocence is corrupted, and few can help but get drawn into the crossfire of urban warfare.

I said that this being in Portuguese was a con because I've never taken any lessons on the language. So it was kind of a hassle reading the subtitles while watching the film but that aside, this movie is by far one of the best foreign film I have ever seen. The fact that this was based on a true story brings me to tears and makes me appreciate the kind of life I am living, though no way interesting, more. The story is just heartwrenching. But Yeah, I can't really explain it. It's much better if you just watch.

City of God is one of the most critically-acclaimed films of the last decade. This gripping, emotional drama is one of the finest works of film. Cuaron does an excellent job directing and sets himself apart in the industry. It also paved the way to the rest of his success as a director. I recommend this movie to anyone who loves great films with a moving plot and realistic characters and drama.

Having never heard of this film, I was skeptical. However, once I sat down to watch I couldn't take my eyes off of it. It is an intricately woven tale that grips you from the beginning. Even moreso amazing is that the movie is based on real events. It is a graphic and shocking story but necessary in illuminating the events that occur in places like this. Love this film!

This movie I got to see for the first time was in school and I have to say I loved it. From the start to end. And shows Brazil streets. The way the film was put together. You feel your walking the streets of Brazil and again this is a great movie to have

Meirelles and his cinematographer César Charlone cast the favela in an impossibly golden hue a lot of the time and that creates a dusty saffron ambience that is distinctly at odds with the gritty lives the characters are leading.