I couldn't take my eyes off the screen

Rating: Null/10 (11 February 2005)

I just saw City of God late last night. I don't think I'd ever even heard about this film before seeing it. What a surprise! Let me tell you, this is without a doubt one of the best movies I've ever seen. It jumps out and grabs your attention right from the very first frame of film. The backdrop, the images, the directing, the acting...all incredible! Watching the acting, I thought to myself "this is amazing how well they are acting." I suspected that most if not all the people they used in the film really did grow up in that environment. They just acted too good. They were just too natural with it.
One thing I kept thinking while watching this film was "I thank God I wasn't born and raised in this environment." The movie makes you realize how good you've got it. How would you like to live in a housing project where gangs of thugs walk around carrying "Rambolike" machine guns, with ammo belts hanging off them, openly without fear, ready to shoot and kill anybody just for the fun of it, having no remorse? How about kids 12, 13 and younger running around with real pistols out in the open, ready to blow you away for kicks? This is a housing project that truly is and looks like a war zone.
The culture of these people just jumps right out at you. It's exciting, depressing, thrilling, chilling all mixed up well. I thought Rio was mainly just a huge beach with a bunch of super exotic naked women walking around, guys staring, and a huge statue of Christ overlooking it all. This movie showed me different. A lot different! You've got to see it! Viv