Rating: 
Summary: Modern Morality Tale
Review: The key message of this movie is pretty plainly that violence begets violence, but the movie is so well done that at no point does it seem "preachy," and in fact you could watch this movie and not even know it has a message deeper than "look how bad these people have it."The cinematography is beautiful, the feel of the movie is fluid and alive. The storyline is mostly good, although a couple times I found myself slightly confused by plot points - nothing major, just minor points, and more of a *feeling* than any actual identifiable mis-cues. Perhaps a second viewing would iron those out, but since I hardly ever miss plotlines in movies, I feel it's worth mentioning. The acting is a definite highlight - the actors all perform wonderfully, completely reinforcing the reality of the cinematography. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes gritty urban dramas. There is hope, dispair, love, heartbreak, honor, betrayal, growth and retrenchment, all in double-helpings. I don't recommend this movie to anyone who can't handle watching a lot of hand-held shots, or to anyone who would be seriously disturbed by seeing children shooting each other.
Rating: 
Summary: CRUSHINGLY good!
Review: This film is breathtaking, yet it does get slow in a few places. Nevertheless, it is a film that is incredibly eye opening for this country of Brasil and its culture of violence in the favelas (slums). It's also a gripping tale show casing one young boys desire to somehow get out of the madness, where if anything life is cheap. The fact that it is based on a true story (what parts those are, I am not certain) is even more chilling, particularly the end credits in which a real tv interview with a gang leader was taken word for word in the film. Probably the greatest triumph of the film is its ability to show that violence is cyclical and that in a culture where only guns and death exists there is almost no escape no matter how moral you might be, or try to do what is right. An amazing picture. Rating 9 out of 10
Rating:
Summary: Cidade de Deus
Review: I think this is one of the greatest cinematic films made in our time. The cinematography in the film is amazing. I saw this film while I was in Brazil on a college exchange program. Throughout the film I didn't understand any of the dialogue but I was amazed by the cinematography. Even without understanding the dialogue a person clearly understands the story line. Since the movie is based on a real-life story it portrays an excellent view into the life of the dangerous slums of Rio. Throughout the film a person is taken on a great journey of what life is like in the slums and let me tell you it makes our gangster movies look like Walt-Disney!!!
Rating:
Summary: Cidade de Deus (City of God)
Review: City of god surely one of the greatest most realistic gang films ever made. It makes films like boys in the hood (which I love) look like a school play. The director Fernando Meirelles seems to be so in touch with life's rhythm & detail that he makes you dance laugh & grimace all in one seamless motion. During the film you find yourself sitting on the edge of your seat pleading for some fairy tail mercy which never really comes (thank god!). An absolutely beautifully filmed film, supported by wonderful music and great plausible on screen relationships. When you are coming of age to the samba beat in 70's Rio slums, "a day without Blood is like a day without sunshine."
Rating:
Summary: The Brutal Reality of the City of God
Review: "City of God" ("Cidade de Deus") is a great Brazilian film of the brutal realities of the area. This true story is desplicted wonderfully by the cast and crew. It earned several award wins and nominations, including four Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe nomination (Best Foreign Film). Director Fernando Meirelles leads the cast and crew to express the harsh realities of the City of God in the 1960's-1970's, ranging from gangs, daily residential life, corrupt police, and others. The brilliant plot not only educates audiences on what happened; it also never holds back on the level of violence. Therefore, the graphic scenes are necessary to offer a more realistic glimpse of living there. They explore the characters' life backgrounds wonderfully, allowing audiences a more inside look. Audiences must watch this film a few times to fully understand the deep range of details. The actors express everything beautifully, though most are amateurs. However, there are some gifted talents here. Their anger, sadness, and fear are performed to the fullest, giving audiences the added emotional value. The physical backgrounds wonderfully blend with the brutal plot events, though most of it was filmed in the actual City of God. However, the camera work offes a deeper glimpse, offering the reality that can only be beaten by traveling there. The music and the sounds accent the events' brutality beautifully. Such efforts give added viewing pleasure. "City of God" is a great film for those looking for something unique. This is sure to please audiences for a long time. Those interested in a deeper history should watch the interesting documentary shown in the special features. Such combination makes a great viewing experience.
Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece. You must not miss City of God.
Review: This is a great movie, a masterpiece, a heart-breaking adventure. It is everything a film should be. City of God surges with majesty, love, hate, death, life and greed, a chronicling of two decades in the slums of Rio; an accurate, honest chronicling. Director Fernando Meirelles does not hesitate to share with us the truth surrounding a hidden world unknown to most before they'd seen or heard of the film. And thank God such a masterful auteur was given this sprawling epic. Otherwise, the violence and the horror could have been exploited for pure entertainment. But Meirelles does not entertain. He tells a story to open eyes, not to wow with special effects. Technically, the film triumphs. But not with prototypical summer-blockbuster CGI. It amazes with its editing and cinematography, two aspects of film making not often recognized by the common person. But when one watches City of God, one realizes how crucial they are to the delivery of a story. The cinematography is colorful, beautiful; the tones and colors change with each decade, with each place. And there are shots so innovative you will have to rewind and watch them again to realize that what you'd just seen is reality. For instance, at the start of the film, the main character, Rocket, is in between a gang and a small battalion of police. But before the battle or outcome is explored any further, the camera swirls around his head, he shrinks, everything deteriorates into a beige wasteland, and the clock is visually turned back to the '60s. I was amazed after having watched this shot. It was so unique and full of substance, like nothing I'd seen before. The editing underscores the life the people in the "Cidade de Deus" must live. The film centers around the development, establishment and clashes between two gangs: one lead by Carrot, another lead by the insane, death-obsessed Li'l Ze, who murders and kills those who stand in the way of his drug business, or those who simply annoy him. Every inhabitant of the slums is constantly vigilante. And the editors cut back and forth between eyes, feet, guns, and bullets so quickly and cleanly that a gauranteed sense of persistent paranoia is achieved with utter grace. Another strong aspect of the film is its writing. The narrative structure allows for a unique explanation of each important gang or character that roams the City (at times, there is a non-linear play with time itself, introducing specific characters, such as Li'l Ze, with chilling imagery and completed sequences). The narrator himself, Rocket, grows from a young boy to a teenager inside the borders of the chaotic district, thus knowing the ins-and-outs of every part of the social and physical life within the region. He politely introduces himself, some dangerous family members, and even distant thugs, such as the Elementary-aged Runts. His know-how is sensed and becomes very casual, but adventurous, even breath-taking. One monologue in particular resonated with me: A young woman of the slums is being seduced by a member of the Tender Trio, one of the earlier gangs found at the beginning of the film. Despite his numerous courses of action, she at first pushes him away for being a "hood" (short for hoodlum), saying, "Hoods don't stop, hoods take breaks...hoods don't love, they desire." She continues with some of the most mesmerizing words of the entire film, remaining in your heart and your head for days after the credits roll. Some of the performances in City inevitably spark your interest. The main characters -Benny, Li'l Ze and Rocket- are played with charisma and soul; in the case of Li'l Ze, Douglas Silva manages to discover his inner being. There are scenes when the ruthless Ze lets go of his "boss of the slums" persona and breaks down in tears, revealing darker regions of his already shadowed-over psyche. Silva's performance is, by far, the best in the film. Overall, City of God is most certainly the greatest film in years. Apart from being creative, visually stunning and intelligent, it is honest, telling us, "We're not going to censor this violence, because then we would not be sharing the real core of the Cidade de Deus' existence. Children do kill. Children are killed. Drugs are rampant. It is chaos, not a PG-13 adventure flick." Again, I commend Meirelles for allowing this film to remain in raw form. City of God has invaded the cinema with its genius portrayal of a City that has become a sort of myth among those who live far, far way. Our eyes have been opened. And as the president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has clearly established, we need to act. City of God is a banner demanding change.
Rating:
Summary: A Frightening, yet Uplifting Masterpiece
Review: City of God is disturbing. It gave me chills seeing coked up juvenile kids putting bullets through other kids' heads, and a ghetto neighorhood which offers no hope whatsoever to any of its occupants. The cinematogrophy is lush, the story, told by a famous photogropher, "Rocket" Rodrigues, is layered and candid. The acting is frightengly excellent, and it contains many scenes which will remain sketched on your brain (unless you grew up there, maybe). An emotional rollercoaster ride, City of God succeeds in transporting the viewer to probably one of the worst areas that has ever existed on this planet, and making us not want to leave.
Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: What "Gangs of New York" Should Have Been
Review: Similar in subject matter to Scorsese's disappointing "Gangs of New York." Fortunately, however, this Brazilian movie is much fresher, smarter, tighter than the old master's confused, overblown bore-fest. "City of God" tells the story of two generations of child gangsters growing up in the favelas, the violent shanty towns on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. It's mainly about the rise and fall of the psychopathic drug lord Lil Ze, as told by another favela youngster, Rocket, who eventually goes on to become a famous photojournalist. Structurally, "City of God" closely resembles Scorsese's masterpiece, "Goodfellas," with its extensive voice-over narration, flashbacks, quick-cutting multiple-angle shots, and ample use of vintage pop music on the soundtrack (mostly 70s disco). As the once-great Scorsese fades into bloated irrelevance, we may have to look elsewhere for vital movies about important subjects. "City of God" is a hopeful sign of cinematic life.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: you should definitely see this movie... it shows the real of what goes on in the favelas. From Benny to Rocket to Knockout Ned to Carrot to the Tender Trio to Lil' Ze. this movie had it all. The cinematic tricks in this movie were wonderful.
This movie shows that in "Cidade de Deus" that instant death was the law for anyone who dared to go against the drug lords.
I reccomend this to anyone whom wants to see a movie they won't soon forget.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie
Review: This movie was awesome. Seeing how some people in the world live makes you appreciate how easy some of us have it here.
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