Ghetto Dawg 2

When you first glance at the cover-art, your expectations drop below average. But only moments into the film, you're pulled into this real-life story of reluctant revenge, played out with supreme storytelling ability and highly competent direction. Though this is listed as a drama, it often reaches moments of hilarity, but it's often subtle. (Pay attention to the pornographer's scene, which is actually performed by both Joshua and Jeff of the Crook Brothers.) Each actor obviously poured their soul into their roles, and the Crook Brothers suck you in with their stylized yet unobtrusive shots. Doesn't look like it by the cover and the dumb ass name, huh? Don't be fooled. Go out and rent this raw and stylish ghetto masterpiece right now.

After my divorce,my friends have been trying every thing to cheer me up. I have been depressed for months. I have now watched this movie 9 times. It inspired me to get on with my life and forget that cheating wife ever existed. Thank you creators of Ghetto Dawg 2, you have saved my life.

"Ghetto Dawg 2" is surprisingly just as good as the first one. I can't believe it. This time, Dante (Daniel Outlaw) has to fight for his life when his pitbulls lose in an illegal fight. A hit-man with a cold heart of gold, if that makes any sense, named Jojo (Campbell) helps him, and it turns ugly for all involved.

Paris Campbell as Jojo is fantastic, and reason alone to see this. Outlaw also puts in a decent performance. The writing and directing are top-notch for a DTV effort. Lionsgate has been known to put out urban garbage (State Property 1 & 2, Gang Tapes) so this was a surprise. The dogfights are brutal and so are the killings by Jojo, and it was cool to see this intact and not cut up like a rap music video. Don't roll your eyes at this one. It's actually worth seeing.

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The choices that people in a violent society have to face is the subject of this movie. The acting is great: Young talent in the main character and truly believable thugs. Packed with stunning and meaningful shots in what could be an uninspiring urban landscape. The story is unpredictable, because you're not sure how the main character is going to get out of his situation or if he will at all. I watched this movie on a tip from a friend who is into this genre (which I'm usually not) but I was not disappointed: it is refreshing and for what could seem like a low-budget movie, it looks great and is entertaining. Not for those sensitive to violence, but little of the violence is gratuitous or exploitative. It shows a rough world that we generally don't acknowledge.

Judging by the title, I thought this would be pure exploitation junk, but I couldn't have been more wrong. It's an excellent movie about a ghetto teen who is obsessed with avenging his older brother's death in a shoot-out between members of a Latino crime boss' gang. He doesn't have what it takes to kill a man -- in fact, his first attempt almost gets him killed when he finds himself unable to pull the trigger -- so he starts tagging along with a veteran hit-man who shows him the ropes, and in the process gets a lot more than he bargained when he begins to see death close-up.

It's almost like something a young Martin Scorcese might direct today -- there's a MEAN STREETS/TAXI DRIVER/GOODFELLAS vibe to much of this urban gangster story -- but his influence only shows itself overtly in one or two scenes. The violence is shocking, but presented matter-of-factly in a realistic, non-stylized way (no slow-motion, no fancy editing). The entire cast does a great job bringing their characters to life, aided by Christine Conradt's excellent script, and the Crook Brothers (Jeffrey and Joshua), who appear briefly in the film as porn-movie makers, demonstrate much style and skill as directors.

If you like this genre, or even if you don't, GHETTO DAWG 2:OUT OF THE PITS is about as good as it gets.