I'm not sure what I expected out of City of Men.. and I really did no research on the movie like I would normally do on a movie review that I previously knew nothing about. I took on the review as I had heard rave things about City of God, but for some odd reason I kept thinking City of Men was a war movie. Its really nothing of the sort.
City of Men is really a story of youth gone wrong on the poverty and gang stricken streets of Rio de Janeiro. The young Acerola at 18, and barely a man himself, is left to raise his young son in a world full of gang activity. Not knowing his own father and feeling lost while a gang war is brewing, its a story of survival and growing up however you can find a way.
I found City of Men almost unbearable to watch as a mother myself. Just the thought of my own son even remotely having to endure even an ounce of what the young men are going through in the movie was almost too much. Call me a bleeding heart but from the moment Connor was born even the thought of a young man suffering mentally, physically, however it happens, is enough to bring me to tears. And to see Acerola struggling with his own son was almost enough to make me just want to turn it off. I just couldn't do it though as once you start you really have to follow it through. City of men is a great movie but I think the mom's out there will find it difficult.
City of Men is available right now on Amazon!
I have two copies of City of Men to give away to our readers!
To enter :
- Leave a comment on this post. Check out City of Men and tell me sort of movies are most painful for you to watch now that your a parent. Or tell me why you really want to see this movie!
- No "i want to win" stuff without a little effort (and I do mean little!)
- Make sure there is a way for me to contact you - if your email address is not on your profile or you are not a blogger you may leave it in your comment or email it to me directly (angelaandconnor at gmail dot com) We have had to disqualify a lot of potential winners as of late as many people do not have emails available in their profiles or leave anonymous posts without any way to contact you.
- Please US entries only.
- To get extra credit :
- For an extra entry :
- Bloggers - Blog about this contest and leave me the link on your comment, or add me to your sidebar and let me know its there.
- Non Bloggers (or bloggers) subscribe to my mailing list/RSS feed and earn another entry!
- One extra credit per person. Please post your extra credit in a separate post.
- This contest will end July 15th at midnight!
85 Comments:
Thank you for the City of Men Contest. The most painful movies for me to watch are horror movies.
I watched Monster's Inc. last week and I didn't remember that one being such a tear jerker last time I saw it (before having kids). Something about Sully having to leave Boo, it was like he was having to leave his baby and I couldn't hold back the tears.
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I can't think of ny titles in particular but any movies that deal with ill children or children losing their mother to illness are very hard for me to watch.
Its odd how movives/tv shows are different once you are a parent. The one that sticks out in my mind was an Oprah show where a mother was talking about how she was in a car accident where her daughter died and was decapitated. Just too graphic, too sad, too much. my husband came from a very tough background, growing up in a war-torn african country so a lot of stuff is not as shocking... but he admitted to me last night that he would never pay a ransom for me or my son. :(. he says it would just encourage them to kidnap again. how sad
The only movies that have become hard to watch since I became a parent are those in which the subject involves an illness or death of a child. I can't help but become a little teary eyed at some of those.
bmorin54@excite.com
It may sound funny, but it was really painful for me to watch a documentary about the Galapagos Islands recently. Specifically the part where the blue-footed boobies hatch two eggs and let one one of the chicks die. Survival of the fittest and all that, but it was really sad to watch this chick struggle for life right next to the parents.
By the way, I watched City of God, which is an incredibly powerful, but incredibly difficult film to see. My husband and I love foreign films.
hannademaster@yahoo.com
Yes, some movies are just painful to watch, but I also think that it is important that these movies get made and that we see them. Life is pretty rough for many people, and those of us who have it nice and secure need to be aware of the suffering of others.
Schindlers' List, Playing For Time, Hotel Rwanda, Blood Diamond... these movies come to mind at the moment
I already subscribe to your feed and I have blogged about your contest at...
http://randomthoughtsandsuggestions.blogspot.com/2008/07/movies-that-are-important-to-see-if-not.html
I find it difficult to watch any movie that deals with the sexual or physical abuse of children. Whether or not I actually watch the movie or documentary depends on how it is filmed and the level of graphic content.
gkstratos@ yahoo.com
Also a subscriber. Thanks.
gkstratos@ yahoo.com
I cannot watch any movies where a child gets physically or mentally abused, hurt or killed. I just feel there is no need for that. That is NOT entertainment. Nor is any kind of abuse to animals in films either.
Kimberly
HunnyV "at" Optonline "dot" net
Wow this movie sounds really interesting. The most difficult movies to watch as a parent is anything where the child is abducted or something like that. Great giveaway, thanks!
I have a hard time with any movie (or song!) with a strong father daughter theme. My dad pretty much abandoned me when I was in 8th grade.
Now we have a new baby girl, and I get choked up for a whole different reason because she is such a little daddy's girl. ;)
I would love to win this, I think my husband would really like it. Thanks for the chance.
The most unbearable movies for me, now as a Mom, is the one's where children are being abused in any way. I just can't hardly bear it.
Hi,
I have your button on my sidebar. I love your site. Thanks for the extra chance.
It is tough for me to watch movies that seem to make light of having children - so I avoided Knocked Up and Baby Mama....maybe wrongly
horror movies they frighten meren especially if they have kids in them
the pursuit of happYness was really hard to watch! so sad!
I am so excited about this movie, Cidade de Deus is my favorite movie of all time and I am so very excited to see this one! The hardest movies for me to watch now are definitely movies that have a mother/daughter relationship and tragedy - for example, Steel Magnolias touches me like never before, it makes me sob for an hour after.
lovelyluckymegs@yahoo.com
I teach many students who have a history of gang involvement. I also teach many students who have come here from other countries. I have wanted to see this movie to get a better idea of what these young people have faced and continue to face on a daily basis
The type of movies that are the most difficult for me to watch as a parent are the ones that show an apocolyptic future. I don't want to think of my children having to constantly worry about whether the world will kill them before they die of old age (if that made sense).
I would love to win this for my hubby!
I recently watched The Myst and the ending about killed me. My husband had already seen it but didn't warn me about the sad ending involving the son.
movies about abducted or dying children are tough for me to watch, thanks for giveaway
It's painful for me to watch any movie where kids and animals are abused
war movies
pursuit of happyness
I'd like to watch this movie because I've heard people say things about it being a powerful, heart-wrenching movie. The only movies I have a hard time watching are those where it shows children being harmed.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Hi, This is a movie my husband an teen sons could watch, but I could not. I can't stand to see anyone hurt or beaten in a movie or television show. Even articles about abused children affect me. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
The Pursuit of Happiness
The hardest movies for me are anything that is brutally violent, or the death of a child. My girl did me in. :(
Thanks for the giveaway!
I don't like to watch movies where children get hurt. City of god looks to be thrilling and interesting.
The pursuit of happyness is a hard one.
Any film that depicts young children in violent, horror films. Like the Shining. Kids should be kept out of those films.
City of Men got good reviews. This is why I wouldn;t mind viewing it.
I simply cannot stand any movie where a child dies anymore...it is not enjoyable to me. Even Little Women...I've lost the ability to sit through that kind of scene!
I think that the most painful movies involving kids are the ones that show children trapped in a violent life they can't escape or a child that is needless hurt by parents or illness. Please enter me in your giveaway.
pintolinda (at) hotmail (dot) com
I am Sam really struck me hard! Also Reservation Road is a tough one too now that I am a parent!
I cringe at any "funny" movies that make taking drugs seem enjoyable or that drinking (also drugs) is the only way to socialize when you're in your teens.
I just don't like ultra-violent moviess
i want to win
Anything with child abuse is awful to watch! It use to not bother me that much but now it does. Or a child even being hurt!
kristilb19@yahoo.com
I cannot bear the thought of a child being mistreated or abused, so I do not watch these types of movies.
Any movie that children suffer are hard to watch, and I have never seen ths movie but would love to. thanks.
any involving child abduction
I would love to win this because my husband runs an inner-city non-profit ministry in Chicago that focuses on high school teens. This movie would hit home with many of our kids.
I'm already a happy subscriber to your feed!
I love DVD wins, and watch them all. I like science fiction and comedy. All types. Thanks for the contest.
Wow! I have to see this film, even though the violence is hard to take, like in City of God. My husband is Brazilian and now we have two little girls and go to visit. You don't stop at red lights late at night in Sao Paulo! Since having kids I can't watch slasher films or films that even allude to child abuse, especially sexual- Mystic River for example.
I subscribed to your RSS feed before I read about the movie : )
I just can't take the movies that show children suffering from illnesses/diseases. That just completely breaks my heart.
doot65[at]comcast[dot]net
I can't watch movies where young children are kidnapped - it totally stresses me out! This movie sounds really interesting though.
illness or death of a child has always bothered me
tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com
I'll go a different direction here. I find it hard to watch "Kiki's Delivery Service", because witches have to leave home so young.
Anything dealing with the death of an infant as we lost our son as an infant. Really brings back the feelings of loss and hurt.
I have to say the hardest movie for me to watch is Sybil but its also a favorite of mine. It's my biggest crying movie and sometimes I need a good cry.
March of the Penquins or anything that deals with death of a child gets me the most.
Children involved in abuse bother me.
Any movie that involves abuse or neglect of children brings me to tears. It's so sad just knowing that thousands of children suffer from this everyday.
I can't and won't watch anything where harm is done to a child, or where a child loses a parent, or where parents have to deal with the loss of a child.
I'm subscribed via email to your feed:
belinda_streak(at)hotmail(dot)com
ALmost all horror flicks.
The worst one to me is The Hills Have Eyes.
It's tough to watch movies involving children that are tortured or killed - movies like Adam where a child is kidnapped and tortured. Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
The movies that really get to me now are: Bastard Out of Carolina, Not Without My Daughter, Sophie's Choice, Kramer vs. Kramer, Mommy Dearest, Radio Flyer, ect.
penguinchick@comcast.net
Wow, this is an interesting question. I thought I was the only one that went through this...It's hard for me to watch any movie now that has to do with children missing, murdered or abused. I actually ran out of the room crying two weeks ago while watching the scene where the soldier leaves the sick baby out in the cold right in front of the mom in Cold Mountain. I've never left the room sobbing before...Amazing how everything changes when becoming a mom! Great question!
its very hard for me to watch movies with crimes against children
I want to see this movie because it looks very heartwarming and moving.
I've heard many good things about this movie, I'd love to see it!
Those films that are classified as torture porn
theyyyguy@yahoo.com
I don't like to see anything where children have to suffer, even if they aren't the ones that are abused, they are still aware and know what is going on and it can affect them the rest of their lives!
This looks like a feel-good movie, and I could sure use that right about now! I don't like scary/horror movies - eewwww!
mtejen05@yahoo.com
I was a big fan of the "verite" style and gritty realism of the film "City of God" by the same directors and much of the same cast, so I'm very eager to see "City of Men," the spinoff of the earlier film. I enjoy movies in this genre, such as "Amores Perros," that blend dark themes with very human and relatable characters. Thanks for the chance to win this DVD!
gkaufmanss@yahoo.com
The hard ones for me to watch, are the ones that involve kids losing their parents. It always makes me think about how hard it would be for my kids, growing up without me around.
this sounds like a really interesting movie i'd love to watch it!
i'm also a subscriber!
Now that I'm a parent the most painful movies for me to watch are the ones dealing with drug use or gang activities in schools. I would like to see the movie because according to the reviews it sounds like a powerful movie dealing with a topical subject for today. garrettsambo@aol.com
i hate any child abuse movies such as ..american crime it was soooooooooo sad :(
any abuse to children or even a movie about child abductions, it's just too scary!
i heard some great reviews of this movie!
i subscribe! yay!
I hate those with sexual abuse, I would love to know what causes someone to do that!
I have not seen City of Men, But I am flying from Mississippi to Alaska and plan to bring my computer and watch movies. One time I went flight was 8 hours without stop. Movies would surely help!
It is hard to watch movies like Pet Sementary where children are possessed and hurt others.
Thrillers/horror flicks are very hard for me to watch!
I used to watch horror movies when I was a teenager. But I won't let my children watch that kind of movie. I am a subscriber.
illness or death of a child has always bothered me
Now that I am a parent it hurts to watch movies about child abuse. I always hated horror movies and still do.
kathleenyohanna@hotmail.com
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