Linbeymusol Wonderful character development!

Interesteg What makes it different from others?

Ploydsge just watch it!

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

ecbarth This story is a very true character study that I can attest to of the freedom that everyone grants you when you maintain a scholarly and overachieving front, maybe not as to the extremes of the murder as shown in this movie but still very real. This shows the lesser characterized side of intellect, how you use it when your bored and you realize you can outsmart everyone around you and expand into drugs, scams, etc. Operate with impunity and because your keeping grades and appearances up no one suspects a thing. I'm not saying its true for everyone but this movie is a very real look when your bored, stuck in suburbia , and decide to make the rash jump into more "interesting" pursuits and figure your smart enough to get away with.The film itself never leaves you bored even though its not flashy. The characters themselves are very believable and conceited in their own greatness. The story is well paced and shows the gradual progression into the dark underbelly when temptations meet brains that think they are beyond limitation. And despite what others try to slap on as a detractor to this film, race really doesn't have anything to do with it, its just the group of kids portrayed in the film. Their grades, immorality and decisions they make have nothing to do with race

Brakathor The biggest flaw with this film is that all the main actors are ridiculously too old, all anywhere from 10-13 years older than their characters are supposed to be, which was hard not to think about while watching the film, and it made all of them not very believable.Another flaw was how NONE of the parents of any of the main characters were depicted whatsoever which caused the film to be very strongly lacking of a human element. This, though a considerable detriment, was not extremely significant.What hurt the plot line the most, was how they were able to pull a gun on one of the popular kids at a private residence in front of dozens of people and NO ONE called the cops on them. All it would have taken was one of the witnesses to call the cops, and they would have 12 witnesses standing against them in court along with depicted injuries of the person who they severely beat, and in an instant they would be off to juvi, all of their suburban study oriented dreams shattered, but instead, they were able to somehow use this incident to gain notoriety, and begin a whole sting of criminal schemes.The worst thing about this is how they were suddenly able to become serious drug dealers as a result of one, in normal cases, extremely stupid prank. This made no sense, and wasn't explained whatsoever. It's not impossible, but the fact that it wasn't explained and the main character says "oh and then switching to drug dealing was the obvious next move." proves that the writer had no idea what he was doing and no idea where to begin filling in this plot hole. Why would a drug supplier share his supply with 4 punk teenagers without instead moving into the territory with his own faction. Basically if they DID become drug dealers in this way, they would have become someones subordinate and have to answer to them, whereas in the movie, no drug supplier at all was spoken of or depicted, and they apparently answered to no one.In the end it's a poorly conceived plot line with average to trite writing and stagy clichéd plot setups. This film really does not have much original to offer, but for the undiscriminating viewer who enjoys crime dramas, it's not without entertainment value. It's sad to say that the only original thing in this movie that I've never seen before is an all Asian cast in an English speaking film.

Angelus2 Ben is an overachiever who does a little petty crime on the side with his friends; this petty crime begins to expand and soon he finds himself way over his head and must make a vital decision...The film explores various relationships between the characters and pays close attention on Ben and Stephanie.I found the rise of the gang very amusing and there lack of 'gangster' skills funny and how they rise so high....The whole geek gangster thing was a little far fetched but its a movie......So I'll let it slide...I also kept thinking is this the Han from Tokyo Drift....same director, same actor.....Anyway....a satisfying gangster movie...

Desertman84 This movie is about Asian teen-agers growing up in America,particularly in California,who breaks all stereotypes of being "nerdy",industrious and overachievers.They can always have the tendency to become amoral when growing up without family influence and people whose values may lead them to criminal paths as they become influenced by a American society marked by crass materialism which makes the amount of money that one possess as the marker for success.The movie has Ben Manibag as the main character.He is an Asian that obviously comes from a family of suburban affluence.He achieves good grades,a junior varsity basketball team member who has the ability to play and a food drive worker of the school - credentials and qualities which makes him locked in any Ivy league school for College such as Stanford,Princeton and Harvard.He is a typical stereotype of what Asians growing up in the United States are all about.But as the movie progresses,we later find out that he lives a life that is characterized far from being a model Asian by selling cheat sheets to other students,losing his virginity by hiring a prostitute,stealing,selling drugs,indulging into pornography and committing murder.He breaks away from what Asians are perceived to be.It is explained in the movie that somehow these kids are affected by an American society that somehow lacks guidance from parents who work too hard to obtain material progress which in turn neglect their children and by a group of Asian friends who have somehow been influenced by the ill effects of an industrial and modern society marked by lack of morality and guidance from adults.The movie is a dark film that includes a comedy and romance.It was well-directed by newcomer Justin Lin.Also,it is well-acted by English speaking and talented Asian-American actors.Despite of criticisms by some people of the Asian community,I highly recommend this film for sends the viewer a message of what lack of moral guidance can do even to a group of people like Asians who are perceived to have good qualities such as industry and ambition.It is a must see not only for Asians in the United States but for everyone who loves good film alike.