Straight from the Barrio (2008)

Good movie but grossly overrated

Bad Acting and worse Bad Screenplay

Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

I can't even think how Daddy Yankee can do a movie, the movie have the worst performances in the Spanish-language cinema history, Gangs...thats something new?....The movie its a copy of classic gangs films like "Blood in, Blood Out", "8 Mile", "Get Rich or Dye Trying" and "American Me". Daddy Yankee only wants to make a film because he are lowing down, he pass away, i will remember him for doing this awful piece of crap. I simply don't want to see nothing like this again, i prefer to watch Battlefield on Earth and listening Justin Bieber new album for the rest of my life. This movie its nothing and its a shame. Latin-Americans are the bad guys in this films.. All Latinamericans have guns and are Criminals?...this movie need something...and that is a message that the other Gang movies have. Blood In, Blood Out and American Me shows us that Gangs are the way of Evil...oh i forget MI FAMILIA, the Chucho parts pff, that film really make us understand the danger of bad companies. This movie its nothing for me.

Excellent Movie. I enjoyed the end. Very symbolic because we know who Daddy Yankee is and where he is now, and it showed where he came from. It was a very strong film. I wanted to see more, and know more about his personal life. I'm glad he made this film for us to see. I felt very sorry for his family and his loss, if it is all based on a true story. I found it very upsetting and was routing for Daddy Yankee to get his revenge. I really felt that. It's an emotional story, and it left me admiring him more as an artist. I'm glad he made this film because he is one of the first(and one of the best) Reggaeton stars, and the music would not be the same without him. I'm glad he got out of that lifestyle and brought his talent to light for the world to see because even after all these years, although it hasn't been that long, he is still holding it down. His musical style, beats, and rap represent the lifestyle and you feel that it is coming from deep within his heart and soul that makes him an original that cannot be duplicated.

I saw the movie last night & I was completely blown away. DY's performance was great as well for the rest of the cast however for me that stole the show was Maestro {Jeico}. A man who is willing to take out his childhood friend to gain control of the barrio that DY ran. 2 major bichote's running different parts of Valle Verde & Jeico wants it all ... first he gets rid of El Domi along with his crew ... that is one bichote down now the next is Wichy {Edgar's best friend; almost blood brother; At this point Dinero left the drug world to continue his career as a rapero), which Edgar left the business to Wichy and Jeico, but with greed, Jeico kills Wichy.. He rapes and brutally beats Nata {Edgar's sister}due to her denying him constantly at the end when she finally had enough of being his "amigita" & constant threats of killing her brother.What I liked about Edgar {DY's character} even though he's a drug dealer he cares for his community .. for example; Edgar & his gang are at the corner waiting for man {I forgot his name} as soon as the man gets out of the car with his wife, he and his gang begin to beat him .. during the beating Edgar screams at him saying "you enjoy raping young girls etc" Its a bit violent and the beating is not necessary but here it shows that even though Edgar is a drug dealer he doesn't tolerate that in his Barrio. Edgar had mad luv for his crew as well, especially Wichy.. he was like a blood brother to him, growing up together en el barrio juntos.Maestro performance was so great it made me so mad that I wanted to give him a tiro .. He was just completely wicked and didn't care who got in his way .. up to the point where he would kill his own men if they ever talked or heard music from Edgar. Maestro got the sadistic killer to the point ... playing both sides of the field gaining each sides trust only to attack to gain control of the Barrio.Many probably won't enjoy it but what I really enjoyed about the movie is that you get to see what people don't want to see ... reality of the barrio. I've been to places like that and I give them snaps for toughing it out in those areas its not easy but they struggle to give a good life to their kids when they can't afford it. I would watch it again ... and I will.

I seen the movie last night 7/23/2008 at The New York International Latino Film Festival. Daddy Yankee was sitting 4 rows in front of me. He said a little speech before the showing of the film. He is a very humble dude. The film was great. It was full of action , great plot and great twist. I hope if comes on in the theaters. If not on DVD. Eddie D and Voltio were in the film too. It was just a great film. Try to see the film if you hear its playing near you. It will be worth every dollar. It took D.Y 2 years to make it but its a well put film. The film is all in Spanish. Its has its serious moments and funny moments. They didn't have subtitles so the English speaking view might have a hard time understanding what is going on. but for those that speak Spanish your going to truly enjoy it. I don't want to really go into detail of the film cause I just might mess things up for viewers. I just wanted to let those who are waiting to see it that they had it for the Film festival and there might be a chance that it would go straight to DVD but know one really know. I really hope they put it in the theaters cause i would love to see it again.