I love this movie so much

SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

Excellent, a Must See

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

When the violent gangster James "Animal" Allen (Ving Rahmes) is arrested and sent to prison, his teenage son Darius (Terrence Howard) is left with his mother, but she is assassinated and the boy is raised alone on the streets, becoming a criminal. While in the corrupt prison, Animal works for the powerful prisoner Kassada (Chazz Palminteri), but when he meets the revolutionary Berwell (Jim Brown), his view of life changes. Animal is released on probation and tries to have a straight life, but his past and his fame haunt him, while he sees that Darius is following his path in a criminal life."Animal" is a good movie, but the story has no surprises, showing the difficulties of a middle-age man that spent half of his life in jail to regenerate. His environment and his friends doom him to a low life. The cast is great and Ving Rhames has an amazing performance in a role tailored for him. My vote is five.Title (Brazil): "Animal"

Wow. I was glad I rented this movie. Actually it just so happens that my teen boys and I sat down and watched this movie together. We don't do that often, but "Animal" gave us a lot to think about. Ving Rhames' performance was his best, thus far! I like the fact that we see the side of the criminal that most films don't show, a person who really truly wants to change from what he used to be and into what his true purpose is in life. Terrence Howard, of course, always breaths life and realness into his characters. I felt sorry for his character as, again, we see the reality that young African-American men, although urged to grow up real fast in the face of taking the big responsibility of heading the household (forgive the run-ons), still have this little kid inside of them who thirsts/screams to be a young child, held and loved. All of the actors were great, the script was great, and Ving Rhames'crying scene in which he goes back into his childhood, is superb. I know my sons were so effected by "Animal" because we talked about 20 minutes after the movie ended about the Willie Lynch letter and the boys asked questions and I answered as best I could. I was so impressed with "Animal that weeks later I searched to buy a VHS version for at least one hour at a local movie rental house. I was disappointed I couldn't find it on VHS. Go see Animal, it's great.

I saw the movie in class and I have to right a paper on how I perceived it. I have taken the time to read a lot of your comments and a lot of you are right, it is an excellent movie. The part that got me is that a lot of people don't understand why things happen the way they do. You have the right to say that the upper collar worker doesn't go to the inner cities to buy drugs. I would have to disagree with you. I am from the city and see it everyday. I have lost so many friends to the streets. It is sad to say the least. But, the true sad part is this way of life is called "survival" where I come from. This film is to show us that it starts at home, to want better for yourself and your children.

I'm shocked that this movie and it's cast didn't get more recognition or get nominated for Academy Awards. Terrence Howard, was magnificent in his roll as Darius. He showed TRUE emotions as James' son in this flick. Terrence was so REAL. Hunter Howard who played young Darius in the beginning of the movie -- Is he Terrence Howard's real life son? I believe Terrence has a son named Hunter, and this young man sure did look just like his Daddy. I loved this movie. I'm so stoked to see Terrence Howard finally get the respect and attention he's having now in Hollywood. Terrence deserves an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal as DJay in Hustle & Flow. If they had nominated him as Best Supporting Actor in Animal, he would have had a good chance of winning it as well.