Product Details

• Actors: Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris, Chi McBride, Kevin Carroll, Esai Morales
• Directors: Charles Stone III
• Writers: Austin Phillips, Azie Faison Jr., Matthew Cirulnick, Thulani Davis
• Producers: Brett Ratner, Cha-Ka Pilgrim, Damon Dash
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Walt Disney Video
• VHS Release Date: August 5, 2003
• Run Time: 97 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00009Y3R5
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,924 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Movie, March 8, 2005

By 

GHoSTMuT - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paid in Full (DVD)

Wood Harris, Mekhi Phifer and Cam`Ron brought eighties back to life for me in this film. This film is almost like watching a documentary. I was sixteen in 86 and living in Harlem. I remember cell phones the size of bricks and beepers with no read outs. This was the age when only doctors and drug dealers carried beepers. I remember when "The Rooftop" was Harlem's hottest club. And if you had the dough Dapper Dan could make you a Gucci or Lois Vuiton jacket or suit. When Timbs were strictly an "uptown" thing. You could go to the club or "The Pro Rucker" (a famous harlem B-ball court where summer league games were held), and see these cats upclose and in person. Ghetto superstars Alpo (Rico), Richie Rich (Mitch) and yes the likable character AZ (Ace). Now remember im only sixteen broke and working at Mickey D's. So I don't know the story behind the glam. Just what I see and ofcourse the ghetto gossip. I say gossip because in the hood by the time the story reaches you, "he had a 38" some how manifests itself into "he had two chrome UZI's". I also remember the late model European whips. The truck jewelry and the wads of cash these dudes carried around as pocket change. I went to school with Alpo's lil sista. She had a gucci bag for every day of the week and wore a mink coat in the winter. It was crazy. In the Seventies Harlem belonged to Nicky Barnes. The eighties belonged to Alpo (Rico), Richie Rich (Mitch) and AZ (Ace). In closing, this movie isn't quite "Scarface". But a great gangster flick none the less, based on a true story as told by AZ.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Fullest Extent of Urban Life, May 12, 2005

By 

Latanya Collins "U Better Believe It" (Queens, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paid in Full (DVD)

I can understand many of the bad reviews that I have read surrounding this film. Many have refered to this movie as a typical hood film and it is; but, at a level that captures the realm of economic prosperity (due to the crack-cocaine epidemic) that saturated ghettos everywhere. Unlike New Jack City, it was more realistic. It opened the project doors and windows for America to see.
It was based upon a true story, and presented cameo of each of the 3 actual hustlers (drug-dealers)that conquered Harlem in the mid 80's. Excellent film.

In order to really be able to appreicate the film at a height, I think that it is beneficial to have some knowledge of that time period ... and maybe even some knowledge of the hood.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The American dream, their way, March 31, 2005

By 

Samario C. Oliver (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paid in Full (DVD)

The one thing I appriciate about this movie, is it's feel to realisim, and the feel of old harlem hood movies. It's not another State Property, Baby Boy or some horsecrap gangsta movie.

This movie is about Ace(Wood Harris) and his best friend Mitch(Mekhi Phifer) who get good buisness going out, but Mitch is put behind bars when he tries to get a nusience off his block. So Ace makes his move, and makes everyone happy becoming the top dog around.

But in the world of Harlem drug dealers, there's always a load of backstabbing snakes filled with envy. They try to get their way by kidnapping, jacking, and murder. And this movie tells that in a very balievable way.

This movie is highly underratted, and should be seen by everyone in the intrest of hood, or gang movies. Even Cam'ron's preformance is nice too. This movie delievers with actors who can act, and not crap like State Property run by rappers.

peace