Living the Life (2001)

Kata (Katrina Marie Gibson) has lived her first fifteen years beleving that, although she has an amazing ancestry, the only thing that lies in her future is a broken heart, the symbol of the Ninth Street Gang. She and her lifelong friend Ana (Melida Prado) are two of the toughest members of their gang, fearing nothing but the loss of each other. Car-jacking, fights, and running from the cops are a daily routine as the girls fight to protect their territory and their reputation. Performing as "Outrageous Chaos" in local dance contests provides their only relief, but each night they must return home to the sad reality of their lives.

Good Enough

The movie was good enough to get the point across. There was a few things that didn't seem to mesh as far as the age issues and a couple of other things that went down. Although I do think that the realistic lifestyles made up for the parts that seemed to be almost filler.
The girls were great they made the story move and you could really see the different CHOICES that they were making.
I have to say that I did appreciate this one just as much as Mi Vida Loca for the different story that took into account the school aspect and really brought the families into the film. Familia is important and they are apart of the struggles that our kids go through and often are why our kids get involved in the gang life.
Effectively put things in a perspective opening up the conflicts that one would go through after the glammer of the Life begins to fade. I also appreciated that there were two gang members who realized that they need to change things and talk to kids about getting out of the life.
Unfortunately many dont get the chance to retire from the life. It's positive that they were able to see that at a younger age and not have to learn it later in prison, like so many of our brothers and sisters.
C/S February 5, 2008

I can't say enough good things about this film

To put it simply, I thoght this movie was outstanding. Which suprised me a little because I had heard A LOT of negative opinions about it, so when I sat down to watch LTL I wasn't expecting much. This is what I call a story film. A movie made to make you feel and think, and not so much to entertain. I have not read the novel that this movie is based on, Party Girl by Lynne Ewing. So I don't know if the film is true to it. but to me this movie was so good, i'm not sure it matters. Katrina Gibson, plays fearless and explosive Kata, who believes there is nothing in life beyond the endless cycle of death and retribution that is gang life. Kata has no one in her life that she can count on except for her best Friend Ana(Melinda Prado) who's gentel yet determined spirit is being crushed by the life, not to mention secrets that she's keeping even from Kata.

The story is about the depths that friendship can reach, and what your left with when you lose what matters most. there several stand out perfomances here beyond the two main leads.The beautiful Angela Alvarado plays Pilar, Kata's emotionally absent mother who's been sinking in a sea of alcohol and disappointment for years. Abel Soto Plays Pocho who was abandoned by his mother and uses his gang leadership to hide his pain. and Jay Hernandez who plays the gentle and intense Kikicho. Who wants out of the life But desperately wants to be with Kata, she wants him as well but cannot let her guard down.

Like I said I can't say enough about it, if you liked Mi Vida Loca this is similar. it's addictive Needless to say I recommend Living The life as one you'll want to own. August 28, 2007

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