Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Like cinematic dynamite, City of God lights a fuse under its squalid Brazilian ghetto, and we're a captive audience to its violent explosion. The titular favela is home to a seething army of impoverished children who grow, over the film's ambitious 20-year time frame, into cut-throat killers, drug lords and feral survivors. In the vortex of this maelstrom is L'il Z (Leandro Firmino da Hora--like most of the cast, a non-professional actor), self-appointed king of the dealers, determined to eliminate all competition at the expense of his corrupted soul. With enough visual vitality and provocative substance to spark heated debate (and box-office gold) in Brazil, codirectors Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund tackle their subject head on, creating a portrait of youthful anarchy so appalling--and so authentically immediate--that City of God prompted reforms in socioeconomic policy. It's a bracing feat of stylistic audacity, borrowing from a dozen other films to form its own unique identity. You'll flinch, but you can't look away. --Jeff Shannon
Special Features
- 'News From A Private War' featurette
- Interactive menu
- Scene access
DVD Technical Information:
- Aspect Ratio: Widescreen Anamorphic
- Language: Portuguese
- Subtitles: English, English for the hearing impaired
- Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes approx.
- Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was disappointed that this film is being labelled the new Goodfellas. This film is in a different league to Goodfellas or any other 'gangster' film. I understand that many of the Amercian or English mob movies usually end with the death of the gangsters but I have always regarded them as sensationalising organised crime and making the life of the gangster look fairly attractive to persons with certain dispositions.
City of God is I think more representative of real street crime between kids and men in the slums of Brazil, Nigeria, Somalia, or even some streets in the more developed world.
City of God explains that criminality and murder is not a choice, it is a way of life; the only means of survival. In films like Scarface or Goodfellas the life of a gangster provided the option for the greedy and evil.
City of God is far superior because it shows that for some war is life, and no matter how good a person may be circumstances make people bad. I was astonished by the direction in the film and the way the story developed. The scenes were extraordinary and frighetening. City of God is faultless and the ultimate cinema exposition of criminality.
City of God is I think more representative of real street crime between kids and men in the slums of Brazil, Nigeria, Somalia, or even some streets in the more developed world.
City of God explains that criminality and murder is not a choice, it is a way of life; the only means of survival. In films like Scarface or Goodfellas the life of a gangster provided the option for the greedy and evil.
City of God is far superior because it shows that for some war is life, and no matter how good a person may be circumstances make people bad. I was astonished by the direction in the film and the way the story developed. The scenes were extraordinary and frighetening. City of God is faultless and the ultimate cinema exposition of criminality.
24 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
From the opening chicken chase to the closing, bloody gunfights, City of God is a wonder to behold. It will entertain and it will shock in equal measure throughout it's tragic 2 hour running time.
It tells the story of Rocket, who just wants to get by in life. He wants to earn money, lose his virginity and become a photographer. He doesn't want to become a hoodlum, which in the city of God is a hard thing to try and avoid. As we watch events unfold, the lives of a group of hoodlums interact and intertwine with each other.
The performances are brilliant, and as I understand it, all were unknowns. Each character is so detailed and humanised, they feel real. When someone is insulted, you feel insulted with them, when someone is put in a questionable situation, you feel the pressure and influences with them.
What is even more memorable is the tragic consequences the events in this film have on its characters. Some scenes are hard to watch - like when one character has to choose between two different children, and kill one of them to become a part of a gang. Others, like the misunderstanding of main hood Lil Ze and his right hand man which has fatal consequences. It's all vital, and hard to pull your eyes off the screen.
It's a Brazilian film, spoken in a foreign tongue, so you will have to read subtitles, but for a serious film watcher that shouldn't be a problem, as this is an essential film to watch.
It all leads to an expected gang land war - how else do these sort of films end, crime doesn't pay! - that is violent, brutal and soul destroying. It's hard to write the words to explain the vast emotions you feel while watching this film, and is thus indispensible.
The DVD comes with a vague, slightly interesting featurette. But most haunting of all is the words that crop up during the credits: Based on real events.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Recently, my venture to learn more about film and the history of Cinema has lead to world cinema and various other films that have glistening reviews. I decided to buy this DVD for many different reasons, mainly for personal satisfaction and to discuss it with other avid fans. My word was I impressed, not only is this one of the best movies I've ever seen, but has set a terrifying new scale for other films to beat, the acting is emotional and stunningly real despite the only actor being Carrot. The cinematography is perfect, there is absolutely nothing better than this in terms of realism. To finalise, a stunning movie that can be watched again and again which sums up modern World Cinema.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good conventional gangster movie
The film takes a look at the gangs of Rio DeJaniro in recent history by following a selection of characters who are knitted together in various ways. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ron Ishham
Foreign, yet Fantastic
I studied City of GOD in A level film.
It's gripping stuff, fast paced action glares at the audience, subtitle films can often be off putting; more common with... Read more
It's gripping stuff, fast paced action glares at the audience, subtitle films can often be off putting; more common with... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Lewis-essex
First Class
An excellent film- this is a classic- it's violent yes, but is a true reflection of the hard life faced by the kids in the Brazillian ghettos- a perpetual struggle which rolls on... Read more
Published 18 months ago by v o'meara
Definitely worth viewing
I purchased this on the basis of some excellent reviews. I thoroughly enjoyed it.....if enjoyed is the right describtion.
Published 20 months ago by David Gracey
the best of world cinema
World cinema is something that a lot of people are scared to try out, maybe its the subtitles or maybe it's people from countries like England and America refusing to admit that... Read more
Published 23 months ago by J. Armstrong
Interesting content but too amateurishly made
This is a movie about gangs of armed teenagers in Brazilian slums. It does give an excellent insight into the world of Brazilian low-life. Read more
Published on 24 April 2010 by Printul Noptilor
City of God
At it's most basic `City of God' is a film about inter gang warfare in the Brazilian slums. Two drug gangs fight it out over territory and for respect and innocent lives get... Read more
Published on 24 April 2010 by Spider Monkey
Astonishing example of cinemagraphy!
If you are remotely interested in film then you MUST see this. City of God is truly an astonishing example of cinematography at it's best. Read more
Published on 2 April 2010 by C. Britton
Unthinkable piece of story telling that makes shocking viewing
Aspiring photographer Rocket (Rodrigues) recounts the story of the Brazilian slums and the times run by Li'l Ze (Firmino) and his gang
When Slumdog Millionaire was... Read more
When Slumdog Millionaire was... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2010 by Stampy
A story of the human condition
City of God is a point-of-view movie about young criminals growing up in Brazil. When I say 'young criminals', I don't mean pickpockets or even housebreakers - instead, these guys... Read more
Published on 16 Sep 2009 by LXIX
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
