This movie is the kick!

Rating: 9/10 (23 February 2004)

Makes Reservoir Dogs and Natural Born Killers look like Sesame Street. It is violent, yes, but there is no other way you could make a realistic movie about the Brazilian favelas. I had heard good things about the movie, but I didn't see it in the cinema. Yesterday I bought the DVD and I have already seen it twice! OK, it doesn't star Eliza Dushku, but that is the only negative thing you can say about it. Everything else is near perfect, be it direction, acting, script, etc. At times you do forget it is just a movie and that the people you are seeing are just acting. Great stuff, really ought to be in the top 10.
My only concern is regarding the English translation, as I feel it is extremely difficult to find equivalent terms for the names and expressions used throughout the movie. Non-Portuguese speaking audiences will probably miss out a good part of the cinematic perfection that is "Cidade de Deus" (City of God just doesn't give out the same feeling), but they will probably get enough of it to see what a great movie it is. I'm Portuguese, so I understood everything they were saying, and believe you me that I'm seriously considering watching it again today, just so I can stand in awe for two more hours. Do yourselves a favour and watch this flic, it's just too good for you not to.