MovieChat Forums > Cidade de Deus (2004) Discussion > 6/10. Here's why:

6/10. Here's why:

posted 10 years ago by IMDB_Vits
22 replies | jump to latest

CIDADE DE DEUS is well-acted and very well-filmed. By the time it's over, it has the viewer emotionally invested in the story, but there are 2 things that ruin the impact of the movie:
1) It's so repetitive that I was able to predict some of the characters' actions, which were obviously supposed to be surprises.
2) The narrative structure would've been better if script writer Bráulio Mantovani hadn't try to separate the subplots by segments. I say "try" because he failed. Every time a new segment starts, the movie goes back in time to show who the character we're gonna hear about is and then it returns to the present and continues all the subplots simultenously. Look: Either you create a story with many characters but one plot or you make something like PULP FICTION. With every new flashback I was rolling my eyes, because I knew that those flashbacks could and should have been placed in other scenes, and I knew that it was slowing down the movie for no real purpose.
The only plot twist I didn't like was the one with OTTO wanting to kill MANE GALINHA to avenge his father, because it was contrived and a lame excuse for a Deus ex machina.

Read more at: http://vits-ingthemovies.blogspot.com/2015/03/comments-round-up-februa ry-2015.html

Any thoughts?

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] IMDB_Vits 10 years ago


Well, you should read my comments first.

[–] jcmiddel 10 years ago

i agree, a 6/10 is a more deserving rating.
if this was a film from 1980 than this is a masterpiece.
But it's from 2002. And other gangster movies before this one are at a 7.5 or 7.8.

Menace II society : 7.5
Boy'z in the hood : 7.8

I prefer those movies over City of God.

[–] Perfect-Spirit 9 years ago

I gave it 7 !!! Fair enough !!!

[–] kmags84 9 years ago

City of God is FAR SUPERIOR to either of those films.

[–] jcmiddel 8 years ago

What is more superior?
The bad editing and camera work City of god has.
Or the lazy writing for death of characters in this movie?
Death used for lazy writing?

That's just giving something a 7 at best.
The 8.8 rating is very overrated.

[–] kmags84 8 years ago

It's stylized, the editing and writing is just fine.

Menace II Society is literally a bad rip off of Goodfellas (Literally admitted by The Hughes Bros) and has the WORST Lead Actor in a Film I've ever saw. He's awful, the story is old and cliché and it only appeals to the Youth. Idk one Grown Man who enjoys the film thru Adulthood.

Boyz N Tha Hood, man... Talk about an "After School Special"... Not my words, just Ice Cube and Co, all admit it's a joke. It has its moments but it's another Cliché Film. Tough Single Father, Weak Single Mother, Yard full of Leaves with No Trees. Cuba Gooding Jr is almost as bad as Tyrin Turner. Singleton is one of the most overrated Filmmakers of all time. The Hughes Bros actually went on to make some GOOD FILMS. Ignoring the same topic in Every Film. Singleton is a bad version of Spike Lee.

Not only is City of God the better film. Here's a list of a few more...

-New Jersey Drive
-Clockers
-South Central
-Fresh
-Paid In Full

If I were to go to my collection and hit up the "Urban Genre" or whatever people want to call it, those films are the Top Tier.

[–] danzogreen 9 years ago

Those two issues, which are ultimately subjective, aren't nearly bad enough to dock 4 points off of a movie that does countless things right.

[–] danzogreen 9 years ago

I personally think this is one of the few films that is flawlessly paced.

[–] kmags84 9 years ago

Its literally an ALMOST Perfect film. A few minor issues but that's about it. 10/10 without question. It's a High 9 and I rate up, not down.

[–] Lostman_815 9 years ago

Actually that quote is wrong. When we first see Knockout Ned he's on the bus and we're told we'll see his story later. Then later when he gets involved and it moves to his segment it DOESN'T go back in time...it continues on from Lil Ze bumping into his woman in the street. This is something I noticed in particular while watching it the first time

[–] gabrielcruvinels 9 years ago

You guys do realize its based on a true story, right? You can't complain a lot about plot twists or obvious course of actions in true-story based movies.

[–] IMDB_Vits 9 years ago

It's not a documentary. Besides, like I said, I was able to predict the things that the makers wanted to be surprises while I was watching the movie.

[–] PicoFemtoAtto 9 years ago

You should really start your posts with a huge IMO, because none of it makes sense.

IMO, I thought the jump cuts were excellent. Didnt disturb the unfolding of the story for me, I actually enjoyed them.

And giving a 6 out of 10 rating to city of god while movies like the 40 year old virgin, sherlock holmes, or Troy have a higher rating, its ridiculous.

[–] IMDB_Vits 9 years ago

What are you talking about? I rated SHERLOCK HOLMES lower and I haven't rated TROY.

[–] A_Race_Car_in_the_Red 9 years ago

Great. Now, the only reason you put your review here to be discussed instead of just reviewing it and moving on is because you either want validation for your opinion, or just to get a reaction out of the movie's fans.

Now, here's your attention,

1) I'm not going to rebut this because when you say "repetitive" I have no idea what you are referring to. I'm inclined to disagree with you, but since you're not more specific I have no idea what you mean.

2)IMO the movie had a unique and interesting story structure. The reason it stops to tell these different character's stories is because this particular side character or side plot has become prominent in the overall story story. I think that more standard structuring would definitely have detracted from the story, esp if the viewer has to remember the backstory of a certain character when they become prominent in the story.

Lastly, the whole Otto twist was not contrived at all and certainly wasn't a deus ex machina. I'm not sure how, in your mind, that it's a deus ex machina, but let me explain to you why it's not: a deus ex machina is when something unlikely comes out of the blue to save a person or situation that seems impossible to overcome, so going by that definition, Otto killing Ned could only be considered a deus ex machina if the death of Ned was a positive thing that helped Z's gang overcome impossible odds. It was neither.

 I second that motion... with a vengeance! 

[–] IMDB_Vits 9 years ago

the only reason you put your review here to be discussed instead of just reviewing it and moving on is because you either want validation for your opinion, or just to get a reaction out of the movie's fans.

Ummm... No. It's because this a discussion forum.

I'm not going to rebut this because when you say "repetitive" I have no idea what you are referring to. I'm inclined to disagree with you, but since you're not more specific I have no idea what you mean.

I meant that similar events and characters' actions were being repeated.

a deus ex machina is when something unlikely comes out of the blue to save a person or situation that seems impossible to overcome

Actually, it can be to solve any kind of situation.

[–] A_Race_Car_in_the_Red 9 years ago

Ummm... No. It's because this a discussion forum.

Yes, but since IMDB also offers the option of simply reviewing a film, don't you think that's a better outlet for your displeasure?

I meant that similar events and characters' actions were being repeated.

Alright, I can see where you're coming from; there definitely is a pattern: person is in charge of the drugs/crime in the city, conflict of some sort, old gang dies, new gang takes over, new gang is in charge, etc. I would say to you, though, that this repetition conveys one of the movie's themes: a sort of never-ending cycle of crime in the City of God.

Actually, it can be to solve any kind of situation.

Not quite. If a deus ex machina was meant any type of development that is used to resolve any type of situation it would not be considered lazy writing; it would be considered just writing. The fact that a deus ex machina is both improbable and convenient is why it treated as a negative thing.

 I second that motion... with a vengeance! 

[–] IMDB_Vits 9 years ago

Yes, but since IMDB also offers the option of simply reviewing a film, don't you think that's a better outlet for your displeasure?

Because I want others do give me feedback the same I way I give them feedback in the threads they create. Even my blog (which some also use the way you say it) has a comments option.

I would say to you, though, that this repetition conveys one of the movie's themes: a sort of never-ending cycle of crime in the City of God.

Hmmm... Interesting.

Not quite. If a deus ex machina was meant any type of development that is used to resolve any type of situation it would not be considered lazy writing; it would be considered just writing. The fact that a deus ex machina is both improbable and convenient is why it treated as a negative thing.

a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty

any artificial or improbable device resolving the difficulties of a plot.

an unnatural or very unlikely end to a story or event, that solves or removes any problems too easily

[–] A_Race_Car_in_the_Red 9 years ago

Because I want others do give me feedback the same I way I give them feedback in the threads they create. Even my blog (which some also use the way you say it) has a comments option.

Okay, I apologize, then. I misunderstood your motivation behind the post.

a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty

any artificial or improbable device resolving the difficulties of a plot.

an unnatural or very unlikely end to a story or event, that solves or removes any problems too easily

If you're referring to the definition I think you are (third one), I was unfamiliar with that particular usage. Though, now I see where you're coming from, I would still disagree that Otto killing Ned was all that contrived or unlikely.

 I second that motion... with a vengeance! 

[–] Technomage001 9 years ago

I liked it and thought it had a good flow. It managed to grab and hold on to my attention. I'd give it an 8.

[–] IMDB_Vits 9 years ago

Glad to hear that.