25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Apocalypse in Rio, November 27, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Boca [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This action/mystery set in Brazil several years ago is a bit dated but still gripping. The writers seem to have been very troubled by the well-publicized abuses of the street children in Rio and looking for a story that would make the problem real in the minds of American film viewers. They came up with an obvious but believable plot line--an American journalist (Rae Dawn Chong) travels to Rio during Carneval determined to find out who really is behind the murder of these innocents. No one wants to tell her anything until she comes in contact with a shadowy local boss named Boca (Mouth, which is short for Mouth of Gold, because his teeth are all gold). As she continues to dig, she becomes increasingly immersed in the Carneval state of mind, with not entirely happy results. The story builds up to a stunning plot twist, followed by an apocalyptic shootout--at which point, I'm sorry to say, the writers seem to have run out of inspiration and have to introduce a character from some other movie (played by Martin Sheen) to bring the film to its conclusion without everyone in Rio getting killed. The ending really disappoints, but nevertheless this is an engaging and entertaining film, featuring Rae Dawn Chong at her best (how an actress of her ability wound up doing network TV is beyond me). She dominates every scene she is in, which is almost every one. She looks great too, and I should add that by the time the film is done we have seen just about all of her--if nudity offends you, you definitely don't want to rent this video. Again, this is a very intriguing and engrossing film, marred only by the writers' failure to come up with quite enough ideas to get to the end of it.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Powerful, March 8, 2002
This review is from: Boca [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This is a different and interesting film that involves the viewers emotions. Chong's performance is outstanding. Her talents are often underated.Watching this film that mistake is almost impossible to make.The film has weak points,but is certainly worth watching.At times touching,brutal,erotic--it can take you for a ride.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Movie, November 26, 2003
This review is from: Boca [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Very stylish melodramatic movie. I wish they would put this movie on DVD already. Superb acting. There is a great love scene from the incredibly gorgeous Rae Dawn Chong. Other than Quest For Fire this is her best movie.
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