How sad is this?

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Simply stated, a great stage play, on film, complete with audience, on film. Olmos is very good,yes,yes. Tyne Daly? Interesting casting choice, not a bad one; it was 1981 after all. Yet I keep asking myself (and of course those darlings at the MPAA) "WHY IS THIS FILM RATED R?" WHY!!!!??? (really, why?) Spanish swearing? 2 naked male actors in fetal positions? A reference to W.R. Hearst? Come on! Make sure to see THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED for the skinny on the MPAA. But seriously folks, WHY is it rated R? LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD is rated PG 13 because they only say F&&K twice- three times makes it R - Jeez, go figure! I saw nothing blew up in this film, I did see some under pants on the female dancers but those were tap pants and not close up....

First off, Luis Valdez is a genius, he managed to take a real life story, and make it into a musical, not only was its the best kind of musical, with great acting and symbolism, but with meaning to the Chicano race.This film is about Chicanos and their history during the 1940's, and even though it's about the gang, the actual Zoot Suit and the ending are all very symbolic, and this movie should be credited for all the creativity and work put into this brilliant masterpiece.The songs were good, but what I really enjoyed was the acting, James Omos is talent behind measurement, yet he receives no credit for such a role. He doesn't play the role, he is the Zoot Suit. All around the acting from everyone was excellent, I wouldn't change a thing about the film.

Great movie. Racial tensions were vivid in both the Mexicans and Americans. To say that Americans were racist to a group of people just because of what they wore is incorrect. Anyone knows that where there are parties and alcohol, there tends to problems. The sleepy lagoon group needed to respect what peace is about and keep their knives at home in their kitchens. Notice: nobody had a dislike for these boys until after they associated themselves with gang members. Gang members wore zoot suits. So why would a person wear a zoot suit and not expect to be thought of as a gang member? The movie shows how naivety is a disadvantage that any person can falter from.

Luis Valdez does a great job directing one of my favorites, Zoot Suit. This film is coming to DVD on March 4th, '03 and is a must see. Valdez should be making lots more movies (He also directed La Bamba...) The music is great and the staging is very good. James Edward Olmos does a great job. Don't miss this one.