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davideo-2 2013-05-22 16:49:17

Admirable, and distinctive gangster thriller

STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning** Sunday Night * Monday Morning Biggs (Kymani Marley) and Wayne (Spragga Benz) grew up together on themean streets of Kingston, Jamaica, and build up a huge drug dealingnetwork that extends from their home town to the streets of Washingtonand Miami. But as the stakes rise and the games turn deadly, their riseto the top could be followed by a spectacular fall.Having West Indian work colleagues, the particular lingo they use growson you after a while and you can pick up some of this particularmangling of the English language. But the 'patois' featured heavily inShottas would appear to be so heavy that subtitles are required throughout, even if you do try to get rid of them on the menu screen. Theirparticular phrases, descriptions and certainly insults will certainlymake an impression on you and so, even if this tale of young upstartsrising through the criminal underworld isn't particularly original orinspired, it's distinctive and amusing enough for this reason alone.Bob Marley's son Kymani Marley has presence in the lead role, andthere's other musical talent in the cast including Wyclef Jean in asupporting role. ***

2013-05-21 21:40:06

Shottas action film

Like the action and real live representation of people. But, sometime difficult to understand and captions move a little too quickly.

2013-05-20 07:00:13

Shottas

This review is from: Shottas (Amazon Instant Video) I love this movie. I saw it on netflix at one time. Which seems not to be there no longer. I found it on amazon. Com. It kept stopping but overall it was okay

2013-05-19 11:30:38

Pointless Jamaican shootup

Two poor Jamaican youths decide to rob a vendor to get some money. The rest of the movie is a mindless repetition of Jamaicans stealing and killing each other, both in Jamaica and America. It never rises above a third-rate in plot, acting, characterizations, or special effects.

2013-05-16 18:30:37

Biggups to Shottas

A Jamaican version of the Hype William's "Belly." A classic gangster movie and a must-see for all carribean people. A little unrealistic at times, but it was still a gret movie. Kymani Marley and Spragga Benz held their own with our great Paul Campbell (even though he played the rudest of rude bwoys). Louie Rankin was equally entertaining. My only disappointment was with the casting of Wyclef---he was horrible and irritating as usual. Without him, the movie would have been far more entertaining.

2013-05-16 10:24:33

Amazing Movie

This review is from: Shottas (DVD) I'm an American Woman who absolutely fell in love with this movie. I bought the movie at the suggestion of a friend, who said this movie would show a true depiction of life in Jamaica. My boss was not too happy that I viewed this movie because she always has something negative to say about American blacks as she calls us, like the black youths stand out on the streets doing nothing then go to jail. I asked her who fills the jails of Jamaica? Jamaicans...Who fills the jails in China? Chinese, so why is it so frowned upon that Blacks are in American Jails? When young people or people in general are not giving the right opportunities, they will find a way to survive whether it's on the mean streets of America, Jamaica, or Africa.I am looking forward to the sequel to Shottas!!! And hope many more movies come out that celebrate the rich heritage of Jamaica!!!

marvinpmcd 2013-05-15 21:36:01

The Good, The Questionable, The Bad and Why...

THE GOOD - Not much. Oddly, it was slightly entertaining for a badmovie.THE QUESTIONABLE - Lots of things.THE BAD - Where do I begin? Technical, cinematography, story, sound,character, plot, ending, the list goes on and on.WHY do I give this movie a 3/10 IMDb style or a very low 1 and a halfout of 4 stars? And, yes, I know IMDb has a bias against black filmswhen it comes to the rating department by user reviews. However, thisone is justified. Lots of things a miss with this movie, do yourself afavor and avoid "Shottas".

2013-05-15 17:43:43

Review of Shottas

The film was ok. But i was thinking that the history was more exciting. But it's a nice movie.

2013-05-13 21:26:15

Bluuudd Clot

This review is from: Shottas (DVD) I have netflix... I live in the hood. Grew up in the hood. I'm tired of the hood and tired of seeing movies about the hood... If i wanna see guys with guns, police, criminal activity I just look out the window... anyways like i said, i have netflix and i like to watch other culture movies... but I ran out of things to watch so I watched shottas on netflix out of boredom... Umm by the time the movie ended it was in my top 10 Hood movies with Boyz, Menace, and a few others. I actually purchased the movie cuz it just had to be added to my hood collection. I have watched this movie 5 times in less than 30 days. I was locked up with REAL Jamaicans and I must say Spragga Benz is Authentic.... I think the Jamaican dialect is referred to as Patwa.... Spragga BENZ is dead on... Probably cuz he's a Real Jamaican.... Every time i hear spragga benz say a line it reminds me of jail and the jamaicans i was locked up with. I get emotional when I watch this movie - I miss my jamaican jail mates... good dudes... Real Shottas. Get this movie, you will be surprised... especially if you dont expect much, you will be surprised by soundtrack too. Funny Scene: Kymani & Spragga pull up on Wyclef & his son in the middle of the day, they exchange hostile words... wyclef's son immitates wyclef. Upon leaving Spagga in his heavy jamaican patwa dialect says, "That little boy, why him not in school?" ...Kymani replies, "Cuz him plan to be a dunce just like him father" ....get this movie. period.

2013-05-13 04:03:47

You have to come better than this! Really disapointed despite the hype

Shottas was passed around more times in swap meets,flea markets,and your local corner store so much it became an underground ghetto classic. For all the hype its a big disapointment,and I am glad I did not waste my $19.99 or even $10.00 for the bootleg. I often wonder if everybody endorses this movie primarily because everybody else likes it. Certain tibits might be gleaned about street life and even the dope game, but its riddled with cliches to the point it becomes too over-the-top. How about making a realistic movie about Shotta culture without comprimising the quality? Even The Harder They Come,which I didn't particulary like, was done better with a smaller budget for the era. the saving graces of Shottas was both Louie Rankin and Paul Campbell. Paul Campbell who played Mad Max deserves more screen time and could should play chracters in better movies. Louie Rankin,although a punk in this movie, provided the few moments of comic relief and entertainment in the movie. The next Guy Ritchie produced film entitled RudeBwoy would benefit from the pressence of both actots,and especially Rankin.[just a suggestion if you reading this Mr. Ritchie which I doubt you are but whatever] I wish the director Cess Silvera much luck in the future but if you expect me to support your film projects please come better than this. We already have The Harder They Come,and there can only be one Scarface,so please make an original film. Otherwise, I will keep my hard earned $19.99 for much better movie choices.

Danny Moe 2013-05-12 21:24:13

Fun shootem' up movie

This is one of my favourite gangster flicks. It follows Biggs, from hischildhood in Waterhouse Jamaica, to being an adult in Miami that isdeported back to Jamaica, only to return to Miami with is life-longfriend Wayne who was once deported back to Jamaica himself and has madean empire there. Paul Campbell, Louie Rankin, Spragga Benz and KymaniMarley all do great jobs with their character. From the moment Biggswitnesses how his long time friend Wayne deals with business inJamaica, Mr. Chin scene, it is a non-stop shootem' up film that isthoroughly enjoyable if this is your flavourThe previous reviewer obviously doesn't like this genre of film, andeach to his own. But this film deserves to be reviewed by a fan of thegenre so others with similar tastes get a real picture of what thismovie is all about.If you like shootem' up gangster flicks this is a must see!!!!!

2013-05-12 12:33:33

Never got it.... :(

This review is from: Shottas (DVD) Wish the sender would have communicated with me or write me back but he says its going to be 6 weeks to send? Lol so I learned my lesson to buy cheap, buy new and through someone that has credit, and like to ship their products.

2013-05-10 23:28:20

Great movie

I loved this movie and I am so glad it will have a legit American release. It is violent at times but still entertaining and emotional. I recommend this to anyone who loves gangster movies.

2013-05-10 04:35:51

Ky - Mani was the best in Shottas

The movie was okay, It really didn't tickle my fancy. Every main character in the film obviously doesn't like a woman of colored - What was that all about? I am totally surprise multi-racial women weren't been betrayed as some type of trophy. Ky- Mani was the man for real though.

2013-05-07 23:21:46

good movie classic

This review is from: Shottas (DVD) one of my all time favorite movies i love reggee music danceing and action that keeps you tuned in .you will love this movie if you like reggee and gangsta movies like belly .

2013-05-07 09:13:53

Well needed, Well made!

The acting was outstanding. Very believable characters. This story needed to be told. I hope this discourages our Jamaican youth from a life of violence and encourages the powers that be to do something about the Shottas culture. The fact that Jamaican actors and musicians were utiliized was awesome! I love that it was shot on location in Jamaica! That certainly lends validity to the project! Ky-Mani Marley did a great job in his role and I was pleasantly surprized with Spragga Benz's performance. Well done cast and crew! Well done, Silvera!

jimmy_cawthorne 2013-05-05 08:42:22

must see Jamaican gangster movie

wow what can i say about this movie.IT IS A MUST SEE MOVIE.i cameacross this rare movie about six years ago.the story line is quite gooda lot better than i expected.the acting was good and it has a greatsound track.the only thing is the Jamaican accent is really heavy,youhave to listen very carefully or you won't enjoy this movie.it pays towatch it more than once to get how powerful this movie really is.thething i liked about this movie was the feeling of how real it felt.itsonly a low budget movie so its not a well known Hollywoodblockbuster.directed by cess silvera it follows the lives of two youngmale characters growing up in the ghettos of kingston jamaica.theydecide to go to America and the story unfolds from there.over all igave this movie 8 out of 10,DON'T MISS IT IF YOU CAN GET IT MAN.

2013-05-04 12:18:21

The American and Jamaican underworld opened up

Shottas (2002) is a movie that unfolds in the American and Jamaicanunderworld involving a kingpin with armed associates, clique,entourage and million dollar lifestyle. This is intended for amiddle-of-the-road, general audience with mass appeal, featuringgang animosities.Some will be taken aback from the frequency of Jamaican slang, suchas "bloodclot", or a reference to Day-O (Banana Boat song) or theshot caller (shotta.) There's also the matter of the pronunciationby the locals, incomprehensible, suggesting a style derived frommass illiteracy.Surprisingly, the release is not 16 x 9, which is unfortunate, asmany angles, the editing, the flow of the script and of the storyif often glossy, well chosen, filmed and delightful.There is nothing lost in the soundtrack, from an eclectic,balanced, diversified and eager for risk series of numbers.The story is food for thought, ranging from the characters - allmiscreants and juvenile delinquents that are trigger happy - suchthat the special F/X dept uses up dozens of blood packs over thecourse of 90 mins, to weighing the likelihood that a kingpin canmake $7 mil merely from shakedowns of other gangs and legitbusinesses.At not time is there any retaliation law enforcement. There is notension, either, among the gangsters, about the legitimacy of theirconduct, operations, rivalry, showing an euphoria from beginning toend, ranging from scenes at clubs to outdoor festivities and indoorscenes. A non-stop impunity for all conduct is the case, public andprivate, in terms of rubouts, gunplay, car jackings, andshootouts.Viewers are made to see a number of "toys" used by theprotagonists, ranging from a power yacht, a Lamborghini, MercedesBenz, Cadillac Escalade, Porsche, Rolex, etc.The director's boldness is clear, in exposing the underlyingviolence affecting much of Jamaica, and in expatriate communitieswho know of no other livelihood than crime, firing pistols andshotguns. The ugliness and senseless killing, is in plain sightand the darkness is juxtaposed tightly with hedonistic moments.The ghetto, as shown, comprises people who are one-dimensional,emotionally shallow, closed to cultural sources that normally,permeate people's lives, ( TV, sports, religion, politics, bookauthors.) The charactes seem to never have heard of those things,or been influenced by any of them. The exception is when apolitician, (mingling with gangs perhaps to gain an upper hand onrivals), turns against his underworld henchmen when they go rogueand become front page news.At the end, many will wonder how is it the characters are stillwalking the streets, and not in an asylum.The oversimplification of crime may also be a turn off, not leastof which because some of the biggest and most profitablemasterminds never show themselves, or commit violence personally,Finally, Ky-Mani Marley's acting is promising, as Biggs.

2013-05-02 20:31:23

keepsake flick

This review is from: Shottas (DVD) Ky Mani Marley is a natural actor. Outside of the movie I believe he has a pure heart. the movie is my guilty pleasure, a little bit of dangerous life.

2013-05-02 08:44:13

very good enjoyed the movie very good

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