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Posted by TranceGiant on May-17-2003 22:16:

City Of God

Okay, I know this movie was already shown in most parts of the world a few months ago but since it just arrived in Austria I decided to open this thread (having *searched* for similiar ones, without any result).

***this should only be read by people who already saw it, since it surely contains spoilers***

So guys and girls, what did YOU think? I'm still undecided. I mean, some scenes are amongst the best ones I've ever seen in movies( the disco scne where ben� gets killed, the two little boys getting shot in the foot etc.), but as a whole I find myself a bit disappointed by how the film harms itself with unnecessarities. Cinematography and music is breathtaking. So are the actors and the editing. But what could have been a memorable, serious study of Brazilian favelas was at points turned into a hip Tarantino-esque gangster flick. All that bullshit about the weapons, those ridiculous shooting scenes were 30 people are lined up in the most stylish way imaganable, just the way they showed the violence and those try-to-sound-cool dialogues...I donno, sucks a bit. I guess you cant mix a serious subject like this with typical "American" film elements. I do however wanna see the movie a second time, give it a second chance.

Posted by Lira on May-18-2003 04:24:

Sorry for the bad language, but, although I don't usually talk this way, I've got to say that I fucking hate that film, as a piece of "art" and as a critic to the Brazilian society as well.

As a piece of art, it's utter shite! This topic has been seen over and over for the last 80 years in Brazil and the only thing that changes is the technique (although the first books were actually good). This film was batantly a pop-film, and it killed the "purpose" of its creation: every (Brazilian) person with a mind between the ears know what happens in the favelas... just turn on the fucking telly and watch the news for fuck's sake! What was all that violence in the film all about? People still see it as something spetacular, not as something that takes part in real life: and even when they do, they usually ignore it.

Brazilian society is far more complex than just some naked girls on the beach and poor people killing themselves in the favela. They're a reality but, bloody hell, don't artists know how to talk about anything else?! Every fucking film is about sensuality or favela... something heavy northeast or Rio-based and aimed for the gringo's. There are some other good Brazilian films (which talk about many of our problems), but Cidade de Deus (City of God) is not one of them, that's for sure.

Once again, sorry for my bad language and any confused thought but really... if you want to watch a Brazilian film, this is the worst possible choice

Posted by fastmp3 on May-18-2003 05:46:

this is the first time of my life is see Maaz cursing and using bad words OMG there is a beginning for everything mas que nada hahahahaha

Posted by fitom tiel on May-18-2003 08:38:

quote:
Originally posted by fastmp3
this is the first time of my life is see Maaz cursing and using bad words OMG there is a beginning for everything mas que nada hahahahaha

i agree, though
the whole concept is exploited....in a non-realistic, non-artistic manner...
the movie, it's just a product...and not much more
that's the essence of it.

Posted by TranceGiant on May-18-2003 08:49:

*still shocked by Maaz' outbreak*

I see where you're coming from though. I imagine I'd feel the same frustration and kind of hopelesness if the entire world would hype a movie which to my mind was showing my own country in a false stereotyped way. That's why I also had this scpetical thought in thr back of my head while watching:" Everyone in the western media hypes it, but how real is it to the average Brazilian?".

On the other hand it's also pretty difficult to portray the life in the favela in an adequate way, without drifting to a Pulp Fiction immitation. At some points it did touch me and get the point across. Also, the argument that this topic is old and overused can only be applied to the Brazilian audience. When was the last Brazilian film broadly screened in european & american cinemas? The idea itself, to make us aware of what's going on, is a good one.

Anyway, got some better Brazilian films that deal with the subject ? And how are things developing in this regard? Any positive changes in favela life?