Ghetto Dawg 2 - Out of the Pits

Great thugging movie, yeah. Thanks to Amazn, and the seller.

Well made .

GOOD!!!

TIGHT

ok

One element of this movie is the sad spectacle of vicious dogs fighting in a pit while people gamble on the outcome, hence the title -- but it can also refer to the people themselves, living in a world of guns and crime, fighting for their lives. It's no place for an inexperienced teenager like Donte (Daniel Outlaw) but he finds himself caught up in it when his older brother, a soldier for a gang boss named Big Daddy, is killed in a gun battle. Donte swears revenge, but when the time comes he finds himself unprepared to carry out the act, almost resulting in his own death. So he begins to hang out with one of his late brother's associates, Jojo (Paris Campbell), who can be deceptively easygoing one moment and a cold-blooded killer the next. Since killing is the main duty Jojo performs while working for Big Daddy, Donte tags along in the hope of acquiring this skill so that he can apply it against the man responsible for his brother's death. In the process he comes dangerously close to losing his soul, and becoming just another "dawg" struggling to survive in the pits.This is a very fine movie in all respects. There are good performances from the entire cast, an intelligent script, and highly-capable direction from the Crook brothers. There are bursts of violence, but it is realistic and non-operatic (no slow-motion, quick cuts, etc.). Everyone involved clearly wanted to use the low budget to make a thoughtful, engaging film rather than a simple exploitation flick, and they succeeded. The final scenes are tense and suspenseful. I found the entire movie to be a very satisfying viewing experience that went well beyond my expectations.

Not good

I had seen this movie getting bootlegged in Downtown Brooklyn for weeks before I actually rented it. While I wasn't sure what to expect, (the box cover made the movie look cheap) I knew it was hitting a nerve on the street. Word of mouth had that movie selling thousands of bootleg copies. When I watched it I found out why. While it is very violent, it also has heart. I'm not surprised Lion's Gate released this gem in the rough, I just wish they hadn't insulted it with such a cheesy title. I have a feeling this is going to be one of those movies, we're watching years from now. When I returned the movie to the video store I bought my own copy (legal, of course). I hope Ghetto Dawg 3 is as good as 2.