Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within

[spyzapper25]

Just back from a pretty empty Glasgow showing. Guessing about 30% in attendance though we had a bigger screen than RotPofA. Unsure why the cinema does this unless it think free screenings at weekends means another screen losing out in takings.

Minutes before the film I told OH it was both violent and portuguese. 6 walk outs in total. I liked the start of it and thought the story was pretty easy to follow. It reminded me sometimes of a computer game like those point and clicks especially when the BOPE were gunning down the criminals. However it does nothing for the advertisement of tourisms to Rio De Janerio. All I thought about everyone had guns, big guns. OH hated the film. 6/10

Thanks for the review i will now 100% not be going to see this film

[prettyxcool]

Great to see some FMUKers making this, Beate, soonforgotten and cliveas.

What a shame you did not perserve Beate, it did improve towards the end. I did think the same though, it was too loud and too violent. As soon as the sound came on, an old man at the end of the row in front of me got up and I thought he was going to tell them to turn it down, as he briefly spoke to someone at the door and came back and sat down, but the sound seemed to get louder!! I then plugged my ears!

Yes, the narrator was really annoying, not a good voice! And the first part of the film was so confusing and long that I did nod off a few times, but then when the story unfolded, it becomes quite an action thriller, and I was wide awake. It is well made with superb performances. It is also very powerful, fearless and honest with a plot full of clever twists, and it has a message. If you like City of God, I think you will like this too. 7/10

[cliveas]

Well I really liked it as well. I was with two friends and was a little worried before it started that it might be a bit violent for one of them (is it sexist to admit that it was the female one?); but no - they both really enjoyed it as well.

but I guess that I am not the target audience. I suppose the film is of more interest to you if you are Brazilian or know much about the Brazilian system

Well this is definitely not a film for everyone, with a relatively narrow target audience; but I think it is a bit wider than that! Certainly it would be of special interest to Brazilians - presumably why it is the most sucessful film of all time there. However there was much to admire if you (like me) don't mind the violent subject matter or subtitles.

Anyone watched Elite Squad 1?

Yes, I watched it online after getting tickets for this as I wanted to see it before the sequel. It was a much more straightforward film focusing on the unit and its fight with the drug cartels and the crooked regular police. It used a familiar technique of showing 2 new recruits going through the joining up process and their struggle to come to terms with the job and its demands on them.

The sequel was far more wide-ranging, more of a political thriller really but based around several of the same characters, set 12 and then 16 years further on.

On the subject of subtitles - the first version I found online was subtitled, but they weren't in English! The second one (which I watched) was dubbed. The subtitles in the sequel were far better than the awful dubbing of the first film anytime.

[prettyxcool]

Glad you liked it too cliveas. Glad it was not dubbed too! The lips never synch probably and the voices are not right either. Yeah, subtitles every time for me.

[TheDude]

On balance, I should have stayed home tonight. There were still some tickets left for the May Fair hotel, and that imdb rating spurred me on, so off I went. Shocking scenes outside, thousands of people out in the sun, getting on with their day as normal...

Anyway, the film was a disappointment for me. Not surprised several people walked out. Shouty and brutal story of police corruption in Rio, with too much violence, characters you hardly care about, no emotional impact, annoying voiceover and constant shaky camera action that just annoyed me. It did get somewhat more interesting in the last half hour, but all those great reviews are undeserved and were probably pa*d for by the "mafia" portrayed in the film. The human rights guy was the only actor with an ounce of personality and charisma.

Poor... 4/10

[shmile]

well im glad i did stay at home as it didnt seem like i missed out too much
also im glad that the rest of you brave fmukers were able to get back safely

[cliveas]

The lips never synch probably and the voices are not right either. Yeah, subtitles every time for me.

Well they are never really going to synch in a different language and yes, the voices are not right either. The ones I watched were American ones with completely the wrong tone and went up and down in the wrong places, awful. I still enjoyed it, but it would have been better with subtitles - tonight proved that. As if we hadn't already known.

characters you hardly care about, no emotional impact, annoying voiceover

I agree about the voiceover, but not really the rest - particularly if you treat it as the sequel it is. For example the character Andre had a much bigger role in the first film and if you had seen him join up and the things that he went through in that one then I think you would have been more affected by his circumstances in this one. Similarly although Fabio mentions at one point that Andre had saved his life if you had seen that incident and how Andre and another rookie had risked almost certain death you might have been more interested in their relationship in this one.

[McG]

I managed to get ticket for Braehead only this morning. Only after I got ticket did I realise film was subtitiled. After a short time, I didn't even notice the subtitiles as I was so engrossed in the film. Very violent but perhaps a very true reflection of life in some countries where the police and politicians are corrupt. Over the past few years, we did see some little glimpses of how that could be in the UK given arrests/sacking of politicians & police. BIG difference between UK and film is no guns! They had loads!!!!! I would recommend film to some friends who I know would cope with subtitles & violence. I'm glad I got to see it!

[ejwrank]

David, you might have liked this better but your Mum sure dodged a bullet here.

Oh I don't know Beate, I'm a great fan of The Wire! Sorry you didn't enjoy the film.

[evilzadi]

Glad all you brave FMUKkers got home safely!