CommentsXp Best movie ever!

Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Deanna There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Jeneefra OK...I was surprised at all the positive reviews...I really expected to see more reviews panning this movie. Now even though I think this movie is BAD (mainly due to horrible acting by pretty much everyone EXCEPT Marília Pêra, who is completely whacked and SO good at it.) I do have to say that I love the soundtrack, the disturbing poverty of the neighborhood with it's dilapidated buildings and drug dealers at every corner, crude dialog kind of intrigues me...and what's with Tiago?? I still cant figure out if he has a mental disorder or if his accent really is just as bad as his acting! Whatever the heck is up with this movie, I cant keep myself from watching it!! If you are a fan of "bad 80s" then you will love this movie! I may even have to buy it to add to my collection...which includes Roller Boogie...is that wrong?

vmeveryware Yes it was cheesy throughout many parts, but a great deal of this movie was authentic! The fearlessness of the kids, the clothing (from lumberjack coats to RUN-DMCish leather fur hooded bombers). The abandoned buildings, prostitution on dirty mattresses in an empty lot, people getting thrown off roofs, wild random shootouts, disrespect of the police, dirty police, the music, everything was just authentic! One poster on here tends to think that a lot of what went on in this movie was far-fetched, I have news for you my friend, it wasn't!!! That's how crazy it used to be in the ghettos of NY (although I never knew Alphabet city was just as bad as the Bronx or Uptown Manhattan) before Rudolph Giuliani came into office. It's like an unrated, more violent version of the movie Beat Street, lol. I tell ya, I caught this flick late at night on Showtime and I was immediately taken back to the old neighborhoods that I grew up in (bronx & uptown manhattan, Spanish harlem). Many of the scenes brought back crazy memories of the violence and just plain ghetto activity that used to take place back in those days. The bodies outlined in chalk, the casual demeanor when someone you knew got shot dead, aggggghhhhh, this movie was just crazy. If you want a glimpse of what the Bronx and Spanish harlem (and I suppose Alphabet City) were like pre-mayor giuliani, watch this movie. For those of you who have been there, you know what I am talking about. Cypress Avenue, 141 street, stand up!

cwilson-46 I am on the fence with this movie. A lot of it made sense - the community of family sticking together and defending their home (or gang territory).What I didn't understand was the complete lack of fear these "kids" had. I mean - the majority of them were teenagers - babies - and they are going around selling drugs, shooting at each other and throwing kids off rooftops. It was totally insane.Also, in every scene - everyone had their hands in their coat pockets while they were walking down the street - or just leaning against a building. It was like the director told them all the same thing and they did it the same - in every scene.Also the tight a*(&^ jeans on these kids. I just don't get it. With kids these days - it's either the tightest jeans you could wear so that every bulge you have shows or the complete opposite, where they wear the low rider jeans and they are so dropsy at the waist line, that you see their underwear or their butt crack and the jeans are half way to their knees. Then when they want to run from the cops - their jeans are either to tight or too dropsy that they can't run properly.I will have to watch this movie again to understand it a little bit more, before I can truly judge it.

carmie-3 I can't help it - I love to watch this movie - I love the cheesy soundtrack (salsa rhythms played on an old Casio keyboard). I love the way Marilia Pena delivers her lines. (This is the wonderful woman from Pixote!) If there is anyone out there who actually liked Spike of Bensonhurst - you would also enjoy this - I own both movies - They are both by Paul Morrisey (He made many of the Andy Warhol films) - It's a hard sell, recommending this movie - I imagine it could outrage a lot of people - It is alternately a dark comedy and a bittersweet drama - Hard to find people who appreciate both -