An amazing portrayal of the slums and gangster life in Rio De Janiero

Rating: 10/10 (7 August 2014)

I saw this movie on Netflix one night and decided to watch it, because I'm into gangster movies. This is the best gangster movie I've ever seen, (beside watching The Sopranos on HBO). It is based on a true story about a kid who strives to become a photographer and stay away from the dark side of drugs/executions/rape in the slums.
Rocket is the main character. His brother Goose is part of "The Tender Trio", which is a gang in Cidade de Deux, which is Portuguese for City of God hence the title of the movie.
Things go downhill from there, and many of the characters you see are killed either by drugs or killing. I also found out this is based on a true story.
The story also has two separate timelines: One is where Rocket is a little boy growing up in the City of God and how it affected his family and friends around him, and the other is Rocket as a teenager trying to survive in the slums.
There are a lot of characters. The directors did a superb job fleshing out these characters and making you feel for them. I will say that to not get attached to the characters, because every character has something horrible done to them or their family which fleshes them out more.
I would recommend everyone watch this. This is definitely NOT for children. It has graphic nudity, and scenes of graphic violence including young children murdering each other or being forced to murder each other.
Overall, it is just an amazing movie and City of God has one of the most amazing twists I've ever seen. I won't say when it happens, but you'll know when it happens.
And this really does happen in Rio De Janiero. It's sad but it's what these kids do to survive in the slums. There's two choices. Either you join a gang or you try to get out. Sometimes the latter doesn't always work.
It is rare that gang members get out of the slums.
Enjoy this movie. Take in one of the most realistic portrayals of slum life in Rio De Janiero.