You have to see this movie before you die!

Rating: 10/10 (31 May 2006)

City of God would have to be one of the most important films that has come out of this current decade. It is visually stunning and the acting is some the best acting to come out of non-actors. The film is in the mold of Goodfellas, just a chronicle of crime from youth to adulthood.
The film begins with a symbolic chicken hunt and a gang come across the young photographer, Rocket and his friend. They tell him to catch the chicken but the police come and then the flashback begins. It takes you to when the City of God was first built in the 60's and shows the first gang, The Tender Trio, a gang consisting of three teens including Rocket's older brother. You also meet the future criminals in the making Li'l Dice and Benny. Then is moves to the 70's when Rocket is a teen and starts to become interested in photography. At the same time Li'l Dice (Now Li'l Ze) starts to take over the all the gangs in the City of God with Benny. Their gang becomes big and they are at peace with rival Carrot's gang. Ironically this causes peace in the gangland until the sensational scene at a dance party where Benny is accidentally shot by one of Carrot's man. This sends the slum into an all out war and now Rocket wants out of the City and tries to make ends meet until a brush with Ze when he wants a photo of his gang to show the media not to mess with him, that this war is not about Carrot and his vengeance-seeking rival Knockout Ned. The movie continues with the war until its stunning climax of twists and it shock ending show that City will only get worse and worse.
The movie pleads to the viewer that even if the the people who started the violence are now gone, the descendants will continue it. Rocket can only have one explanation for this and he compares the whole situation to Vietnam, young men die each day but more sign up to join. It tells the viewer that violence will get you nowhere and you should take the right path to success, like what Rocket did. It is an outstanding film that is filled with color, fast action, interesting plot, brilliant acting, characters than will become part of movie history and shows the wonderful culture of the area. City of God is a must. You have to see this movie before you die!