alantas
I have nothing bad to say about editing, like others do. It is how today's documentaries are done. They have to be catchy, attention grabbing. It's a trend, get over it. In my humble opinion this film stands out because of the really good background explanation. Knowing the circumstances reveals, that the birth of such entities as Crips and Bloods was almost a necessity. If you are a thinking person, you can comprehend the difference between propaganda and revealing causes. I live in Hungary and I have really small knowledge of life in L.A.. What scares me is to see all the same mistakes made, only in smaller size. There is a growing crowd of unemployed, uneducated and regularly ignored gypsies. Instead of a real resolution the government constantly makes cheap promises, and the radical right wing is rapidly growing and getting stronger as the media helps to fuel the hatred towards the minority. Their solution is to keep them in fear, not solve, but to "attack the problem". I hate to see the Americanization of my country mixed with the low self respect and the minority complex of the post-communist region. If your eyes are open you can see the parallels with other countries. At first glimpse you may think this film is about a specific problem in one city, but it's much more than that. It shows where stupidity, ignorance and segregation leads, how extreme conditions this kind of behavior can create. I think our all mighty leaders could learn a lot form this documentary. Highly recommended.
Seymour Asses
This documentary is about how white people are evil, and responsible for all black problems. Every word spoken in this film is complete and utter garbage.Throughout the film we learn how white people manipulated the poor, innocent blacks into creating the Bloods and Crips. We are taught how the evil white people forced the gangs to go to war with each other and sell drugs. Everything is white people's fault. Everything.This "documentary" is quite possibly the greatest work of fiction of all time. Only militant blacks, or guilty white people will derive anything but anger and disgust from this bravo sierra.
cdowning423
I would like to start right off by saying that those of you who have criticized this film for being one sided propaganda, flashy, too much like a music video, exaggerated, etc. etc. have no idea what you are talking aboutFor the past 10 years I have worked as a bartender in nightclubs in the LA area. I got to know a lot of people from South Central LA, including a lot of gangsters and gang bangers, both black and Hispanic, and I have a few friends that live in that area. Unless you have been there yourself, you do not know anything about South Central. It is a no man's land, miles of run down houses and buildings, blocks of empty lots, liquor stores and pawn shops, as the film indicates. The schools are in shambles, with over crowding, no music, no art. There are no parks, no museums, no nothing. You try living like that. A few weeks ago, I found a stray dog there on the corner and I took it home, a week later there was a gang shooting on the same corner, A 19 year old had been shot and killed with an AK47.I used to think people were exaggerating, but clearly I was wrong. We're all a product of our surroundings, and this truly is a kill or be killed environment, and it's not just the gang bangers that own guns. I do not condone their behavior, but I have to say that most of the guys I have met, were good guys that ended up in a terrible way of life. And don't forget most of them got involved in gangs when they just kids, usually about 10 years old. So it's easy to see how they can get caught up in this violent, oppressive, hopeless, maze, that our society doesn't care about. Add to that any personal challenges such as a dysfunctional home, low self esteem, addiction, etc. etc and you have a recipe for disaster. Oh, and let's not forget about how many guns and assault rifles are on the street, thanks to the NRA.Also, I saw this film on PBS which is a network known for quality programming, so I highly doubt they would have aired it if it were not an authentic documentary. I also doubt Forrest Whitaker would have narrated it, and he is from there, he would know.Again I don't think the gang thing is OK, but this problem did not come out of a vacuum, and that's the point of the film, that there are events and circumstances that have created this problem.Growing up I faced a lot of challenges, a crazy family, problems with drugs and alcohol, depression, low self esteem, and I am a white female who lived in a nice neighborhood. I cannot imagine adding to it all of the above, I think it would have pushed me over the edge.This film is the real deal no matter what the critics say.
