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Actor-turned-director Edward James Olmos set out to spread the word against the destructiveness of gang violence with this 1992 gritty drama. Set in the barrios of East Los Angeles, he attempts to cover 30 years in the life of a family with strong gang ties. This brutally realistic story may not intentionally glorify violence, but it offers no answers. (Olmos actually shot the prison scenes in Folsom, which explains their harsh reality.) Great performances though, especially by Olmos and William Forsythe. Olmos plays a gang leader released from prison who is finally in touch with himself, only to realize it is too late. The one major problem with this well-intentioned flick is that it is rated R for violence, nudity, and profanity. Therefore, the kids who most need its message are not, in theory, the ones who will see it. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Powerfully depressing
For a film about prison life, this was okay, and for a film about the consequences of behavior which are anti-social, this film is powerful. It was really depressing, and if you don't want to get sick, find another movie.

American Me
This movie (or should i say film) is a wholesome documentary. It really portrays gang and prison life the way it was and is. Even though the time frame was in the earlier stages of america. If seeing things like killings, rapes, and stuff like that (goes on in prison or the outside) bothers you I would suggest that you do not see this film because it does have some disturbing parts in it. The movie basically moved me the first time i saw it.

Beautiful
This is the most brilliant film I have seen about East Los Angeles. It's about consequences which follow action, and about those victims that fall between them. It's about the true struggle that Mexican-Americans face in the Barrio and about the air of violence and hatred that these children grow up in. Violence conceives violence, and creates a cyclical conundrum in which escape is futile. I see that the Editorial Reviewer on this page wanted to see a solution to our problem. Well miss O'Gorman, if we could find a solution, trust me, we would fix it. As for now, things stay as it is (to some extent) portrayed on the film. The film uses juxtapositions of scenes of love with scenes of violence and creates an aesthetic captured only by great story tellers (such as Tolstoy which you see the main character reading in the film). This film is beautiful and Olmo's life's work. A must see for those interested in ELA culture.

Chicano Power
This is the best movie l have ever seen Olmos throws it down for la Raza about our struggle at the time I cant say this was bad it was interesting to watch and understand our culture at the time. Olmos should do a another of these movies again.

B 8776
This movie captures the real gang banging life within the walls of prison. Folsum Prison is accurte in all the scenes. What is most chillinging is the values that are so intense in the prison system. Never show weakness, ride behind pride and violence without thought are tools for survivial. I highly recommend "Blood in Blood Out" to compliment the California Depatment of Corrections life style. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

what a show!!!
This was the best show to ever hit tv. It had the best producers and writers. Miami Vice is a legend. It cann't be said enough about Don Johnson and Phillp Michael Thomas as they teamed up to make this amazing tv series. To bad it only runned for few years.It could of been a big hit in the big screen. Thanks for the memory for everyone that was part of Miami Vice.

Sex & The City----male version
As pure action adventure, this suffers somewhat---it's WAY too slow compared with some other VICE episodes.... But its fun is not there---this is basically the teststrone version of the current hit cable show, SEX AND THE CITY, where a bunch of women have sexual/romantic adventures in the Big Apple every week. Here, it's vice cops Sonny Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs, traveling out of sunny South Florida to catch a NYC-based drug cartel, but, along the way finding themselves trying to score---Tubbs with his old flame, played by Pam Grier (long before Quentin Tarantino utiliezed her talents), who's undercover---quite literaly---with a Manhattan gangster; and Crockett, who does it with a mystery woman who gave him the eye in a bar. Oh, yeah, there are the obligitory gunfights, including one set in the plaza of the World Trade Center....

Miami Vice-AWESOME
I just recently purchased this Miami Vice-Prodigal Son Video. It was AWESOME AND INCREDIBLE Experience that I relived. I am remmbering how wonderful, suspenseful and highly charged series this was. I was captivated all over again. This was the 80's but a good series is timeless not matter how old it is. Good Directing, Acting and good plot series this was. No Cop or Suspenseful Drama show can even compare to the Miami Vice Series even today. I was a fan in the 80's in still will always be a Fan. I wish there were more videos regarding this series. Please go get the Video you will enjoy not only the music but the plots the twist the action and drama will keep you in suspense. I Love MIAMI VICE- The Series/The Movies. PLEASE whomever has the ability to GET the entire series in Video/DVD please do. You will be truly blessing a loyal group of fans and also gain new fans. It you want my opinion BUY THE VIDEOS and MUSIC. ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE!!

The Start Of The 2nd Season
A nice, effective start of the 2nd season of Vice, and the action picks up where the 1st season had ended. This episode goes back a little to show us some of where Tubbs had been in before he came down to Miami. Crockett proves he can handle The Big Apple. Look for KISS singer Gene Simmons in a small part of a drug dealer who directs Sonny and Rico to head to NYC.

Columbian drug busts are "sniffed out " by Sonny and Rico
Miami Vice :The Prodigal Son. 1985 ,94 mins Dir, Paul Michael Glaser, Starr, Don Johnson, Phillip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago and Edward James Olmos. Score by Jan Hammer . One year TV holdback Extract courtesy of the VHS copy. Crockett and Tubbs (Miami Cops ) are assigned to a mission in Bogota , Colombia; a third world country whose exports are illegal, and where a 2 billion dollar industry is run by a couple of crazed indians. However, when it is discovered that the contraband from their carefully planned ambush has mysteriously failed to arrive at the police lock up . Crockett and Tubbs find themselves in the high-tech world of New York City. Definitely good action packed fun. It is not surprising however that this full lenghth feature film was held back for TV release . The plot is regretably drawn-out and forgotten in the endless soap styled romances between Sonny and Rico's chick flings. The score and cinematography are the highpoints.I especially found the ambient lighting effective for a show such as Miami Vice and all credit goes to Director of Photography James A. Contner. The well chosen sountrack features the likes of Ex- Eagle Glen Frey , Roxy Music, Bob Seeger and The Silverbulletband, Phil Collins and Virtuoso Jan Hammer who is famous for his work with Stanley Clarke, Al Di Meola and Jeff Beck Ex- Yardbird ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Powerfully depressing
For a film about prison life, this was okay, and for a film about the consequences of behavior which are anti-social, this film is powerful. It was really depressing, and if you don't want to get sick, find another movie.

American Me
This movie (or should i say film) is a wholesome documentary. It really portrays gang and prison life the way it was and is. Even though the time frame was in the earlier stages of america. If seeing things like killings, rapes, and stuff like that (goes on in prison or the outside) bothers you I would suggest that you do not see this film because it does have some disturbing parts in it. The movie basically moved me the first time i saw it.

Beautiful
This is the most brilliant film I have seen about East Los Angeles. It's about consequences which follow action, and about those victims that fall between them. It's about the true struggle that Mexican-Americans face in the Barrio and about the air of violence and hatred that these children grow up in. Violence conceives violence, and creates a cyclical conundrum in which escape is futile. I see that the Editorial Reviewer on this page wanted to see a solution to our problem. Well miss O'Gorman, if we could find a solution, trust me, we would fix it. As for now, things stay as it is (to some extent) portrayed on the film. The film uses juxtapositions of scenes of love with scenes of violence and creates an aesthetic captured only by great story tellers (such as Tolstoy which you see the main character reading in the film). This film is beautiful and Olmo's life's work. A must see for those interested in ELA culture.

Chicano Power
This is the best movie l have ever seen Olmos throws it down for la Raza about our struggle at the time I cant say this was bad it was interesting to watch and understand our culture at the time. Olmos should do a another of these movies again.

B 8776
This movie captures the real gang banging life within the walls of prison. Folsum Prison is accurte in all the scenes. What is most chillinging is the values that are so intense in the prison system. Never show weakness, ride behind pride and violence without thought are tools for survivial. I highly recommend "Blood in Blood Out" to compliment the California Depatment of Corrections life style. ... Read more