Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: City of God (Cidade de Deus)

This is topic City of God (Cidade de Deus) in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 02-23-2003, 09:12 PM:

This is one of the better titles in current release. Despite the rather grim subject matter (gang violence, primarily) and nonlinear structure, the audience (myself included) enjoyed it. There was just enough humor to take the edge off some intensely violent scenes, but the message remained clear. Some might find the style a bit to "artsy," but I thought it was quite effective. Recommended.

Posted by Aldo Baez (Member # 790) on 02-23-2003, 10:33 PM:

I was also fascinated by this movie. My roommate grew up in Brazil and told me all about the "flavelas" after the movie. He said that alot was lost in the subtitle translation though [thumbsdown]

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 03-08-2003, 04:42 PM:

Great movie. This is the kind of movie I do not mind when digital filmmaking is used. The film was a lot more stylish than I expected. I thought it was going to be bare bones produciton like Central Station. Instead, it is a breezily paced hard hitting movie some of whose characters are based loosely on real characters in the brazilian ghettos.

A must see.

Posted by Brad Haven (Member # 954) on 03-14-2003, 06:42 AM:

I really enjoyed this film.
I avoided knowing too much about it before seeing it and was very suprised about how much i enjoyed it.
I found it to be quite a thrilling experience, very lively and without any obvious flaws. With the amount of characters this film has i was expecting to be confused, but i found i was able to follow it with ease, a mark of a great director!
I would definitely recommend this film.
A little violent, but dont be put off! [thumbsup]

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-14-2003, 08:55 AM:

Pravin Ratnam wrote:

quote:
Great movie. This is the kind of movie I do not mind when digital filmmaking is used.

"City of God" was shot on Kodak FILM by cinematographer Cesar Charlone:

http://www.abelcine.com/bodies/body131.php

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 03-14-2003, 05:33 PM:

great link, john. Maybe the writer of the review I read(forget where I read it) confused the use of digital intermediate
with digital filmmaking and worded the reference to digital in a misleading way because I swear being surprised when I read that City of God was made digitally.

In any case, this movie is a must see. Visually and narratively , a movie superior to most of the regular nominated movies.

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 04-25-2003, 10:55 AM:

This was a very powerful movie experience for me (and I saw it immediately after IRREVERSIBLE, ihn the same auditorium, no less).

Kids killing kids with seemingly uncaring detachment. Seemingly raised in total slum conditions with little home life (at least from what is shown). A real, gritty-looking film.