All though the story reflects on something serious, which to me is mainly the way too easy access to guns teenagers have in the big cities in the states it just doesn't work. There are so many annoying things about this flick. Mainly the lousy action from all the black kids in the movie. And I'm not a a racist or anything but they really do suck. The only one of them that does a half-descent job is Bokeem Woodbine. But his character is so dumb and makes so many stupid decisions that screws up his life more and more until he finally goes to jail for a murder he didn't commit, that it makes it very hard for the viewer to feel any sympathy for him. He might never have had a chance because hes black and poor and blah blah blah but that doesn't excuse complete ignorance.The only actors that does a good job is the always wonderful Michael Biehn as Mathhew Macrae and Craig Wasson as the disgusting arms-dealer that sell guns to kids on the street. And also all the other white actors in the film. But again, this is not because I'm a racist, there are many great black actors, but not in this film. And the soundtrack is sooo annoying. That rap-music that pops up every time Diquan meets some of his homies+ the lousy acting from all of them makes it impossible to take those scenes seriously.And some people might see Biehns character as a bad-guy but I see him as a hard-working, honest cop, who might be using Diquan but really just wants to stop the gun-dealing on the streets but unfortunately gets the moron Diquan as his informant. And thats how real cops work.

I thought this was a superb hood movie. I don't know why it isn't up their with all the other good ones.It has an original story. Plenty of good plot development. The acting was good most of the time. Sometimes it would seem a tiny bit bad but all and all it was pretty good. Bokeem Woodbine who plays the main character stands out, as does Fredro Starr who plays his friend. Also good acting by some of the younger members of the cast.One thing that stood out was the soundtrack. Not just because it was rap music and this is a hood movie, the songs were appropriate to what was happening at the time in the movie.Another good thing was the directing. Great job Forest Whitaker! That stood out as well. Overall it should prove to be an entertaining, exciting and powerful movie with a powerful message. Another must see for hood movie fans.

I wish this movie was put on DVD, i do however own the VHS copy of it .. It stars Fredro Starr from ONYX and has many cameo appearances of hip hop celeb's including BUSTER played by none other than Bustah Rhymes -- and the one (or was it two) hit wonders Das Efx..Also look for Sticky Fingaz also from ONYX in the line-up scene...The soundtrack, the clothes, the sets (Graffiti) ... They will all take you back to 93...Nyc hip hop..BUY THIS MOVIE!.I'm not judging this movie on the content of the script, nor the direction. (Frankly the story is kind of weak and the end is truly baffling) I'm coming from a Hip Hop historian point of view , this is definitely worth owning.

Although this is a credible story with good directing, I found the characters not very believable and some of the acting over done. Bokeem Woodbine as Diquan Mitchell is okay, but the turnaround in his state of mind at the end of the show is quite astonishing.The ending leaves a sour taste in the mouth. Sure, it may be intentional but it unravels the whole point of the movie. What I thought was the story of a ex-con trying to make good his life suddenly ends in a socio drama reflecting the sad situation of the black community in Brooklyn. Everything seems to be a wasted effort -- there's just no conclusion.