Elite Squad: The Enemy Within [Blu-ray] [2010] [US Import]

After a prison riot calls for BOPE assistance, Col. Nascimento gets into trouble, when their heavy handed tactics are exposed by a supporter of human rights. But instead of sacking Nascimento, he is promoted by the politicians wanting to further their political power by taking a hard line against crime. From there Nascimento puts BOPE into over drive and smashes the drug dealers in the slums, but far from remedying the situation it just creates a gaping hole, ready to be exploited by the dirty cops who now run the streets. Not only this but corruption is rooted firmly within the system, meaning that before long, Nascimento is forced to fight some very personal battles for justice...
A good follow up to the first film, with plenty of violence and brutality peppering the political storyline. This time out we get to see that Nascimento isn't quite the fascist we all thought he was in Elite Squad, which if I'm honest is a bit of a shame but probably necessary for film popularity and character development! If you were being picky, you could say that some of the time~lines don't quite add up (his 16yr old son etc) but as far as I was concerned, similar with the original outings social comment, it didn't bother me and I just went with it.
When the dust settles, I have to say that I probably didn't like this quite as much as its predecessor but don't take that as a warning, because this is still highly entertaining, especially if you liked Elite Squad or for that matter enjoy world crime cinema.
The blu ray is ridiculously cheap at the moment (£2.50ish) meaning that even with its lack of bountiful extras (just a trailer and making of) its still a steal..
Went onto the BBFC website after watching this, with an inkling that a murder may have been cut but they said not, unless it was cut before submission which I doubt.
4/5 stars.

I saw this film earlier in the year at the cinema....absolutely amazing. Easily the best ever foreign film I've ever seen you can't help but be dragged in to the story of the film. Unlike most other films that have been piling up recently this film is brilliant from start to finnish, there are no wasted characters the plot is constantly unraveling as you move from scene to scene and you have exactly the right emotional connection to each character that the director has planned.

It's the first ever film that I've pre-ordered that says it all

This follow up to the excellent Elite Squad movie of 2007 veers a little too much into imaginary scenarios rather than portraying the gritty reality of today's Rio slums as the first offering did so magnificently.

The ever reliable Wagner Moura returns as Lieutenant-Colonel Roberto Nascimento, but he is relegated to a desk for much of the film. Andre Ramiro as Aspirante Matias also has a smaller, almost inconsequential role. Thus much of the action scenes lack the tension that comes with relating closely to the main protagonists.

Nevertheless the direction far exceeds what we have to put with from mainstay Hollywood films. The screenplay is raw and unforgiving, portraying Rio's corrupt underbelly to perfection.

This is not Sylvester Stallone or Jason Statham territory. This is intelligent 'fly on the wall' drama.