Boulevard Nights

One of the most underrated movies of all-time. The granddaddy of all "street-gang" movies. If your a fan of Colors, Boyz in the Hood, etc. you will see that this film trumps them all. This movie is under-appreciated because of the seclusive nature of the genre it explores. But if you have ever lived, experienced or known someone who was ever lost in the world of street life then you have to see this movie. Many can't relate to the emptiness of Chuco or the inner struggle of his older brother but these stories are ones that have played out for years and are still relevant today. Don't listen to any biased review of this movie, it is a jewel.

I was eleven years old when this movie came out. Further, I think my dad took my brother and me to the Golden Gate Theater in East L.A. to see it. My parents used it as an example of what not to be like when we grew up. I was born in East L.A. (Santa Marta Hospital) and grew up near East L.A. I saw in life what I saw on the screen with Boulevard Nights. On the street that I grew up on there were some vatos with low-riders and I remember the hopping competitions and the oldies music. One particular vato who was very nice to the local kids ended up getting stabbed (although I cannot recall if he died). They were most likely 18th Street gang bangers, which was the most notorious gang in L.A. back then. My dad moved us out of that area when I was 14 which may be a big part of why my brother and I didn't end up like our former neighbors.

I have to say that for me, Boulevard Nights was authentic. It was like the real thing. My dad never took me to Whittier Boulevard in East L.A. nor Pacific Boulevard in Huntington Park nor Valley Boulevard in El Monte on cruising nights during this era, but I imagine that it was like in this movie. I've only seen the movie twice. Once when it was released in theaters and again when I was 16 or 17 on VHS. Colors could not compare, at least not on a personal level for me. Now at 42 years of age, I'm going to have to check it out again.

The movie depicts the spirit and lifestyle of the USA from a specific area. The reflective understanding to be learnt from profiling very rich cars in style and form proves that the individuals are reflective that cars are a living where no one truly owns a home. It would make the most sense to reflect what the one dollar bill in the USA reflects which would be to build pyramidal styled homes which can be truly owned individually or within a family affordably. In true as the reflection portrays in profiling the rich cars in style which amounts to be able or to match near identically as to have as affordable homes as the cars they reflect which amounts to near $50,000. The film depicts street justice as a motivational reflection of the nature of the individual spirit which all can relate since all matters have to be done in the spirit of understanding in a country in constitution by God such as the USA has. In summary the high spirited profile of styled cars reflects their persona as it is forced to move continually which causes spirited conflicts as the cars don't necessarily crash but the people do.

Boulevard Nights brings back childhood memories of watching VHS tapes on a bulky Magnavox VCR. You know the kind that has a remote control that you plug in and load the tapes by popping off the top. Thoses were the days. Well, the movie is the usual "homeboy" film filled with stereotypical Chicano youths. The actors were either overacting or didn't know how to act (with the exception of Danny De La Paz and "Big Happy"). The lead actor look liked he was going to laugh several times for no apparent reason. I haven't seen this movie in awhile, but I can still picture it in my mind.

A Tale of two Chicano brothers, one a young rapscallion and the other is a former gang member trying to live the straight life. Both of them belong to a local street gang called VGV. The younger brother longs to be a full time member and in the process take his brother's spot in the gang hierarchy. But like most movies of this ilk nothing ever seems to go according to plan. The movie is full of clichés and the directing is lackluster. I wouldn't mind owning this movie if it was available on DVD however. Not bad but not very good either.

Cheesy, mediocre "street gang" flick.

this is the greatest movie ever made. i have seen other movies but none are as authentic to the times as boulevard nights. no stereotypes or exaggerated characters. no movie ever made on any budget with any great actors pulled off such a believable urban setting. no m-16 toting ninjas, no nortenos and surenos kicking it together. a common mistake, back in the day, vatos didn'thave gang signs it must take a low budget chicano movie made in the time to be more authentic then hollywood can buy