terrible... so disappointed.

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

This movie is non-stop entertainment. All of the main characters are likable and easy to relate to, whether or not you are of Asian descent. The direction is pitch perfect, and basically subtle. This movie starts kind of slow and seems to be just a film about bored high school kids, until they start to abuse the power they have been given and it turns into an epic crime film. This is Lin's best feature, and although Fast 4/5 were good films (FF:TD was NOT), I would like to see Lin go back to this kind of story telling. Unknown actors giving amazing performances in a realistic movie filled with action and humor...what else could you ask for? This is one of my deepest sleeper picks, and I constantly show it to people who have not seen it. The movie also does a great job of both embracing stereotypes and shattering them, simultaneously.If you have not watched this film, go do it NOW.

Ben is an overachiever who does a little petty crime on the side with his friends; this petty crime begins to expand and soon he finds himself way over his head and must make a vital decision...The film explores various relationships between the characters and pays close attention on Ben and Stephanie.I found the rise of the gang very amusing and there lack of 'gangster' skills funny and how they rise so high....The whole geek gangster thing was a little far fetched but its a movie......So I'll let it slide...I also kept thinking is this the Han from Tokyo Drift....same director, same actor.....Anyway....a satisfying gangster movie...

This movie was a big joke. High school isn't like this. It was one of the worst films I have ever seen. I caught occasional glimpses of the movie between fits of laughter, and every second I watched disappointed me further. The supposed "high school" cast looked like 30 year old men. Virgil was the only developed character in the whole film.. and all he did was annoy me and make me wanna turn the movie off. Terrible movie.Terrible Actors. Terrible premise. Don't WATCH IT

This movie is about Asian teen-agers growing up in America,particularly in California,who breaks all stereotypes of being "nerdy",industrious and overachievers.They can always have the tendency to become amoral when growing up without family influence and people whose values may lead them to criminal paths as they become influenced by a American society marked by crass materialism which makes the amount of money that one possess as the marker for success.The movie has Ben Manibag as the main character.He is an Asian that obviously comes from a family of suburban affluence.He achieves good grades,a junior varsity basketball team member who has the ability to play and a food drive worker of the school - credentials and qualities which makes him locked in any Ivy league school for College such as Stanford,Princeton and Harvard.He is a typical stereotype of what Asians growing up in the United States are all about.But as the movie progresses,we later find out that he lives a life that is characterized far from being a model Asian by selling cheat sheets to other students,losing his virginity by hiring a prostitute,stealing,selling drugs,indulging into pornography and committing murder.He breaks away from what Asians are perceived to be.It is explained in the movie that somehow these kids are affected by an American society that somehow lacks guidance from parents who work too hard to obtain material progress which in turn neglect their children and by a group of Asian friends who have somehow been influenced by the ill effects of an industrial and modern society marked by lack of morality and guidance from adults.The movie is a dark film that includes a comedy and romance.It was well-directed by newcomer Justin Lin.Also,it is well-acted by English speaking and talented Asian-American actors.Despite of criticisms by some people of the Asian community,I highly recommend this film for sends the viewer a message of what lack of moral guidance can do even to a group of people like Asians who are perceived to have good qualities such as industry and ambition.It is a must see not only for Asians in the United States but for everyone who loves good film alike.