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zingy
College Boy Z
Joined: Mon Oct 11, 2004 8:40 pm
Posts: 36662
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 Cidade de Deus [City of God] City of God Quote: City of God (Portuguese: Cidade de Deus) is a 2002 Brazilian crime film directed by Fernando Meirelles and co-directed by Kátia Lund, released in its home country in 2002 and worldwide in 2003. All the characters existed in reality, and the story is based on real events. It was adapted by Bráulio Mantovani from the 1997 novel of the same name written by Paulo Lins. It depicts the growth of organized crime in the Cidade de Deus suburb of Rio de Janeiro, between the end of the '60s and the beginning of the '80s, with the closure of the film depicting the war between the drug dealer Li'l Zé and criminal Knockout Ned. The tagline is "If you run the beast catches, if you stay the beast eats."
The cast includes Alexandre Rodrigues, Leandro Firmino da Hora, Jonathan Haagensen, Douglas Silva, Alice Braga and Seu Jorge. Most of the actors were, in fact, residents of favelas such as Vidigal and the Cidade de Deus itself.
The film received four Academy Award nominations in 2004: Best Cinematography (César Charlone), Best Directing (Meirelles), Best Editing (Daniel Rezende) and Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay) (Mantovani). Before that, in 2003 it had been chosen to be Brazil's runner for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but it was not nominated to be one of the five finalists.
Meirelles and Lund went on to create the City of Men TV series and film City of Men, which share some of the actors (notably leads Douglas Silva and Darlan Cunha) and their setting with City of God.
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| Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:55 am |
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publicenemy#1
Extraordinary
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:25 am
Posts: 19413
Location: San Diego
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I enjoyed it a lot, but not quite the masterpiece a lot say it is. - B
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| Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:15 am |
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MovieDude
Where will you be?
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:50 am
Posts: 11675
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A+ The second best movie of 2003, after The Return of the King.
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| Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:29 am |
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Joker's Thug #3
Extraordinary
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 2:36 am
Posts: 11130
Location: Waiting for the Dark Knight to kick my ass
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This one grabs you by the neck and won't let go. A vivid and powerful story about growing up wild in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, City of God is filled with brutal violence and gut-wrenching realism. Dazzling, passionate, intense, and absolutely brilliant. This movie is a classic
Grade - A
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| Mon Apr 18, 2005 4:37 am |
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Dr. Lecter
You must have big rats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm
Posts: 92093
Location: Bonn, Germany
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B+
As the movie itself it was good, pretty good. But seeing the big picture, I think this is being insanely overrated by some. The cinematography is great and I liked the gritty feel and the authencity of it, but it always felt more like it should have been a documentary and not a fictional movie...
_________________The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!
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| Mon Apr 18, 2005 10:55 am |
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FILMO
The Original
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:19 am
Posts: 9808
Location: Suisse
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9/10
You have the feeling you are right there in that slums. Perhaps it is a bit to long so I dont give the 9/10. But in some way the movie is pretty unique.
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| Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:23 am |
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dolcevita
Extraordinary
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 11:24 pm
Posts: 16061
Location: The Damage Control Table
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Eh, perhaps because it was set in Brazil people assumes it to be a realistic depiction...about as realistic as Kids, or Thirteen. I couldn't get into this movie despite it more valueable contributions to the filom world than either of the two aformentioned movies (or so it seems. I have not seen thirteen, but have heard enough, and I am still trying to force Kids from my memory). I was impressed with the movie stylistically, and it had a much better line to follow through the young boys sight. There were some sympathetic characters, or should I say characters that have experiences we would be sympathetic towards. OUt side of that though, I took it more as a theatrical piece than a docu-drama, and as such, it didn't quite mesh.
B
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| Fri Apr 22, 2005 3:30 am |
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neo_wolf
Extraordinary
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2004 10:19 pm
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A masterpiece,the best film depicting life in latin american slums.When i saw this film my first thought was damn,i guess every slum in latin america is the same,its so similar to life in the ghetto here in Puerto Rico.
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| Fri Apr 22, 2005 11:30 pm |
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Dr. Lecter
You must have big rats
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 4:28 pm
Posts: 92093
Location: Bonn, Germany
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dolcevita wrote: Eh, perhaps because it was set in Brazil people assumes it to be a realistic depiction...about as realistic as Kids, or Thirteen. I couldn't get into this movie despite it more valueable contributions to the filom world than either of the two aformentioned movies (or so it seems. I have not seen thirteen, but have heard enough, and I am still trying to force Kids from my memory). I was impressed with the movie stylistically, and it had a much better line to follow through the young boys sight. There were some sympathetic characters, or should I say characters that have experiences we would be sympathetic towards. OUt side of that though, I took it more as a theatrical piece than a docu-drama, and as such, it didn't quite mesh.
B I absolutely agree and I thought in a similar way of Thirteen, only that I found it to be worse. _________________The greatest thing on earth is to love and to be loved in return!
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| Sat Apr 23, 2005 6:42 am |
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kypade
Kypade
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 10:53 pm
Posts: 7908
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The difference is Thirteen was basically trash, while City of God is indeed a masterpiece. Whether it is an accurate depiction of growing up in the slums of Brazil, l do not know. (l'd lean much farther towards yes, though, from what l've read.) Even if it's not, though, l don't see why that should matter - it is, after all, a fictional film. And as a film, it's breathtaking. Technically, the film is near perfect, and the story is one of the most engaging of the decade thus far (if not at the top - l watched it twice the first day and was on the edge of my seat both times.) The violence is intense to the point of being hard to watch, but it's not overblown or exploitative. It all just works so perfectly for me and comes together into an amazing film (and for that matter, film watching experience.)
Very possibly my favorite/the best of the 2000's.
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| Sat Apr 23, 2005 10:33 am |
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Goldie
Forum General
Joined: Wed Oct 20, 2004 12:38 pm
Posts: 7286
Location: TOP*SECRET ******************** ******************** ******************** ********************
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Anyone who liked City of God - maybe another movie to see would be Pixote from 1981 dealing with some similar topics.
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| Sat Apr 23, 2005 11:11 am |
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Shack
Devil's Advocate
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 2:30 am
Posts: 40520
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A
Well, City of God is a terrific movie. I was surprised by how strong the storyline was, I was half expecting another foreign movie where it just drops you in their lifestyle for 1 hour 30 minutes, but no, this one's was great. I actually think that the plot in this movie works better than in The Godfather, it's more exciting and easier to follow. The narration was great, it really anchored the film. I loved all the "stories", and how they all flowed into each other, everything connecting. The characters were all well done and developed, from Li'l Ze to Benny to Knockout Ned to the narrator, the acting was all strong, and the direction and cinematography was of course brilliant. The best foreign film I have ever seen, though my repetoire in that area isn't huge, ha.
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| Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:45 pm |
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MadGez
Dont Mess with the Gez
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:54 am
Posts: 23352
Location: Melbourne Australia
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Absolutely brilliant film. An easy A+
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| Mon Aug 07, 2006 3:16 am |
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zennier
htm
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2005 2:38 pm
Posts: 10316
Location: berkeley
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Re: City of God Another flawed masterpiece. Stylistically gorgeous and grand, real and poignant... but suffers slightly (imo) due to an underdeveloped, underutilized protagonist(s). We, the audience, need someone with a bit more foundation to walk us through this story. It's a bit chaotic without that - without a main or properly developed character, the film struggles to pull it all together (Though I'm uncertain the director could have maintained the honesty of the film by pulling such a contrived move. Still, I'm not sure the film is as cohesive as it could've been). I can't think of any reason that this makes the film stronger. Having trouble justifying that leads me to struggle when assigning this a score, but I think that it's so memorable and so refreshing that to give it a score any less than perfect would be unfair.
A cautious ****/****.
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| Sat Aug 04, 2007 11:54 pm |
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Gulli
Jordan Mugen-Honda
Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 9:53 am
Posts: 13403
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Re: City of God The best film ever made.
I shall say no more.
A++++++++++
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| Sun Aug 05, 2007 12:01 am |
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The Steeeve
Star Trek XI
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:40 pm
Posts: 331
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Re: City of God Very realistic. I forgot I was watching a movie.
A
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| Sun Aug 05, 2007 12:03 am |
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snack
Extraordinary
Joined: Mon Oct 18, 2004 9:18 pm
Posts: 12159
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Re: City of God Amazing amazing amazing film that somehow (fortunately) became nearly mainstream in its popularity.
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| Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:21 am |
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Bradley Witherberry
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:13 pm
Posts: 15197
Location: Planet Xatar
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Re: City of God I don't have my original written review for it, but I was unimpressed. Visually interesting, but same old patronizing story...
2 out of 5.
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| Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:36 pm |
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Gulli
Jordan Mugen-Honda
Joined: Mon May 01, 2006 9:53 am
Posts: 13403
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Re: City of God Bradley Witherberry wrote: I don't have my original written review for it, but I was unimpressed. Visually interesting, but same old patronizing story...
2 out of 5. Did you watch the old Documentary that came with the DVD from the late 90s? The film as pretty much one of the most authentic depictions of reality around. First forgetting about the Dodgeball review and now this, I suggest a doctor at once Bradford, don't want you collapsing due to a hemorrhage. 
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Rosberg was reminded of the fuel regulations by his wheel's ceasing to turn. The hollow noise from the fuel tank and needle reading zero had failed to convay this message
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| Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:43 pm |
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Bradley Witherberry
Extraordinary
Joined: Sat Oct 30, 2004 1:13 pm
Posts: 15197
Location: Planet Xatar
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Re: City of God Gullimont wrote: Bradley Witherberry wrote: I don't have my original written review for it, but I was unimpressed. Visually interesting, but same old patronizing story...
2 out of 5. Did you watch the old Documentary that came with the DVD from the late 90s? The film as pretty much one of the most authentic depictions of reality around. First forgetting about the Dodgeball review and now this, I suggest a doctor at once Bradford, don't want you collapsing due to a hemorrhage. I'm just not into authentic depictions of reality, because authenticity is a fairy tale and reality is a crutch...
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| Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:48 pm |
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Chris
life begins now
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 9:09 pm
Posts: 6480
Location: Columbus, Ohio
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Re: City of God Wonderful, brilliant, amazing. One of the best foreign films I've ever seen.
A
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| Sat Aug 18, 2007 1:06 pm |
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Diesel
Motherfuckin' sexual
Joined: Wed May 10, 2006 4:38 pm
Posts: 1830
Location: Orange County, CA
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Re: City of God Very good movie that makes me glad that I do not have to grow up in the rough parts of Latin America.
Neo Wolf, where in Puerto Rico do you live?
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| Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:41 pm |
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trixster
loyalfromlondon
Joined: Wed Oct 13, 2004 6:31 pm
Posts: 19697
Location: ville-marie
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Re: Cidade de Deus [City of God] A definite masterpiece.
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| Sun Jun 05, 2011 6:49 pm |
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jmovies
Let's Call It A Bromance
Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:22 pm
Posts: 12333
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Re: Cidade de Deus [City of God] This is a truly great piece of film. The contrasting images with loss of innocence against brutality/cruelty of the main gangs is captured beautifully. Definitely one of the best composed/shot films of the 2000's. Leaves the right impact in a large way.
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