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DVD Description
Elite Squad presents an astonishing and intimate look at Rio de Janeiro’s vast and intricate web of police corruption. It is 1997 and hundreds of thousands live in Rio’s notorious favelas – the volatile slums on the edge of the city. Drug trafficking militias have complete control within the slums while the police run their criminal enterprises outside. Being an honest cop in this environment makes you a target for both. The elite BOPE force (State Police Special Operations Battalion) fights to combat drug trafficking, but keeping order has its price and their actions blur the line between right and wrong, justice and revenge. Two of the force’s newest recruits, Neto (Caio Junqueira) and Matias (Andre Ramiro), are childhood friends: one is quick on the trigger to maintain order and the other forced to compromise his ideals. Together they are the perfect replacement for outgoing BOPE Captain Nascimento, but alone they may not have what it takes to survive.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Fans of city of god/city of men should check this out however the feel good factor is something that is missing. Set in the Brazilian shanty towns, the story focuses upon 3 individuals within the police force and BOPE (elite police force) who use as much force and ruthlessness as the drug dealers and criminals. Two of the main characters aspire to become soldiers of BOPE although both men have different characteristics and methods but slowly realize what they must do to succeed. The third character wants to leave BOPE to start a family but must first groom a replacement in order to do so. This is where the new recruits come in. As the film proceeds the viewer is increasingly shown the ruthless methods the police rely upon to get results. Of the two recruits, one is more engaging and academic whilst the other dreams of joining the elite. However things aren't quite that simple as more and more people are sucked into the cycle of violence ala city of god etc. The film's release in Brazil courted controvesy as many believed the film showed the authority for what they really are...corrupt, brutal and unforgiving. Definetly one for the dvd collection upon release but just don't think all will be rosy by the end.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is one of the best film's ive seen in a long time . Fast action , stunning visually and a brilliant story. I never usually review a film but had to give this a big thumbs up . watch it
28 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Look at our unit symbol, it is a skull with two handguns and a dagger, what do you think we do.
In my opinion this was the best movie in 2008. It is a roller coster ride of raw brutality and general badness. There are over 70 Favelas (ghetto districts) in Rio de Janeiro and there is another good film "City of God" that tells the story of the Favelas through a boy who grew up in one but the focus on this movie is far more brutal. Here it is BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais - Elite Squad) that is the central focus, and they can be called with justification a "Death Squad".
But the movie isn't as simple as that. We get to see the Favelas for what they are, the drug dealers and crime lords are the law and the regluar police is corrupt, walking a fine line between intervention and bribes. The crime gangs are armed to the teeth and with weapons of war rather than criminal weapons. Enter BOPE - sent in to fight the gangs and clean up the police if need be. And their policy is too shoot first or put the problem in the bag.
If you can handle the sheer brutallity then this movie has a lot to offer. If you wish to take the stand of condemning BOPE there is plenty of supporting evidence (but the real problem is the hell of the Favelas). But if there is a bias in the movie then it leans more to support BOPE - to battle a terrible situation maybe BOPE is the only way left deal with it. It is up to you to decide if they are the last remaining option or the worst of the worst.
City of God is probably a better movie in the strictest sense of movie making but I found Elite Squad to be more effective, probably because it is a much harder film and its focus is on the bad, very bad. It is based on a best selling book of the same name written by two former BOPE officers and draws more or less from real life. Of all the movies I saw in 2008 this was the one that affected me the most. It comes with my best recommendations.
In my opinion this was the best movie in 2008. It is a roller coster ride of raw brutality and general badness. There are over 70 Favelas (ghetto districts) in Rio de Janeiro and there is another good film "City of God" that tells the story of the Favelas through a boy who grew up in one but the focus on this movie is far more brutal. Here it is BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais - Elite Squad) that is the central focus, and they can be called with justification a "Death Squad".
But the movie isn't as simple as that. We get to see the Favelas for what they are, the drug dealers and crime lords are the law and the regluar police is corrupt, walking a fine line between intervention and bribes. The crime gangs are armed to the teeth and with weapons of war rather than criminal weapons. Enter BOPE - sent in to fight the gangs and clean up the police if need be. And their policy is too shoot first or put the problem in the bag.
If you can handle the sheer brutallity then this movie has a lot to offer. If you wish to take the stand of condemning BOPE there is plenty of supporting evidence (but the real problem is the hell of the Favelas). But if there is a bias in the movie then it leans more to support BOPE - to battle a terrible situation maybe BOPE is the only way left deal with it. It is up to you to decide if they are the last remaining option or the worst of the worst.
City of God is probably a better movie in the strictest sense of movie making but I found Elite Squad to be more effective, probably because it is a much harder film and its focus is on the bad, very bad. It is based on a best selling book of the same name written by two former BOPE officers and draws more or less from real life. Of all the movies I saw in 2008 this was the one that affected me the most. It comes with my best recommendations.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
BOPE
This is an awesome movie and in my opinion better than The Enemy Within. Make sure you watch it before you watch the sequel.
Published 1 month ago by Luther
Winner of the Berlin film festival 2008
This film deservedly won the Berlin film Festival in 2008. It never even got nominated for an oscar, and neither did the sequel. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tando
Gripping
I have seen the excellent 'City of God' and thought this film would be pushed to meet that standard. But my goodness it did. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jones the Film
Tough to view - very gritty and violent
A superb but tough film to watch about the BOPE - the Elite squad operating in some of the toughest and corrupt urban areas of Rio de Janeiro, it follows a captain named Nascimento... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Louise Roberts
Excellent movie Barebones Blu Ray
Well this is probably the best Brazilian movie that I have ever seen.
Great stuff. The Blu Ray video and audio is quite good.
However... Read more
Great stuff. The Blu Ray video and audio is quite good.
However... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Terence Tan Co
Intresting and watchable
I saw a trailer for this film and it showed this movie to be very hard-hitting, very tough, very intense, engrossing, 5 star movie. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ev
tough movie
There's a lot of violence in this movie - something I'm not usually a fan of watching. It can be very hard to watch some of the scenes, but - I absolutely loved the movie. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Nill
Elite and Brilliant Brazilian cops action
Another Brazilian masterpiece, Elite Squad (or BOPE) focuses on an elite police team fighting crime, rather than being it. Read more
Published 10 months ago by T. BROOKES
Brilliant!
To be honest, not my kind of movie, but I must admit that the realism and brilliant acting performance definitely makes this a must-seen movie! Read more
Published 12 months ago by Cris
Awesome!!
A great Blu-ray edition for such a Great movie!!
Brazilian people still don't have this Blu-ray available..
Brazilian people still don't have this Blu-ray available..
Published 12 months ago by Rodrigo Serrano
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