Gangland S1 Comp

"Gangland: The Complete Season One (2007)", 4 disc set, A&E Home Video, Dist. by NEWVIDEO. ISBN 1-4229-0949-2. English, Color, 611 min.

This 4 disc DVD set provides more than 611 min. (extras)of over 10 hrs. of color video, mostly excellent quality footage, with narrated soundtrack and much original recordings of gang members, police and victims interacting. Each disc contains 3 to 4 topics dealing with Gangland culture and these include American Gangster Harlem, You Rat-You Die (MS-13), Mexican Mafia & LA County, Hells Angels, Race Wars (Latino vs Afro-American, Kings of New York, Chicago's Black P. Stones, Skinheads, Chicago's Ganster City, La Nuestra (Blood In-Blood Out), Basic Training (USAF skills), Blood Oath (Racism), Root of All Evil (100,000 member MS-13 in America).

Overall, this compendium of gangland footage is especially meaningful if you've had basic introduction into the culture of gangs via more recent publications as "A World of Gangs", The Gangs of Los Angeles" or "The Mexican Mafia" and are familiar with the deep-seated cultural aspects of street and prison gangs: their codes, signing, dress style, graffito, ghettos, rap music, drugs, and their allegiances.

Interestingly, if one were to confines one's knowledge of gangs to what is available in the press or radio, one would be almost totally uninformed and misinformed and naive on the subject. These DVDs are not a substitute for researched books on gangs but is a satisfying complement - and we are privy to seeing the youthfulness of its members, 'signing' of gangs, phlethora of tattoos and ghetto conditions that often, but not always, precedes gangland activity. There is some erratic edition of certain film clips which leads to some redundancy, but overall this is a relatively minor fault, but caused me to drop it by one star in rating.

The series is interesting in that it shows a life that most viewers have little idea about. The interviews with involved members, both inside and outside of prison paints a grim picture of the lifestyle that is tough to live but easy to glamorize.

When I watched the first season DVDs over a weekend I really began to notice the repeated use of some stock footage and audio. I realize that in a "documentary" style often they have to stretch still photos into moving images and use sound effects to liven things up but I think some are overused. I don't remember it being bothersome when episodes are watched individually over a longer period of time however so depending on your viewing habits you might not be bothered.

Many of the gangs are simply copy-cats of each other and therefore some of the episodes became rather blahh as a result. I would have rather had an episode or two on generic gang topics like how they acquire weapons and drugs to perhaps tags and symbology interpreted for a change of pace. As it is this series is sort of like a Who's-Who index of gangs rather than a look at the broader picture and what traits many of these groups share and why.

I saw some episodes of this on The History Channel...
Then I found the whole series on DVD.

...This is a collection of short documentaries featuring all manner of criminal gangs that infect OUR NATION like a foul disease. The presentation is a bit flambouyant and sensational, but its all based on ACTUAL EVENTS in the news. There is a plentiful array of actual film of these dregs, ...mostly surveillance-camera or police-footage, ...or the even film taken from the gangs as evidence. Yes, they are stupid enough to film their own crimes!

I follow the news rather closely, wherever I've lived, and the SAME type of people stand out REPEATEDLY, week after week. Its no longer "shocking", in regard to the particularly vile crimes they commit, but its STILL outrageous. Most people tend to ignore it, ...and thats stupid. Be aware of whats moving into YOUR neighborhood.

In general, the "people" featured here are just tattoo-encrusted ghetto-garbage and trailer-trash. These inferior and atavistic specimens of "humanity" are merely the feces of the species, nothing more. They generally target ONLY DEFENSELESS VICTIMS. Anyone who has had to deal directly with this particularly vulgar element realizes that NONE of them are really "tough", ...especially when its one-against-one. There is a reason that such "people" congregate in numbers, ...they are simply depraved cowards who need the safety of the herd.

A sample of whats on Disc #1:
-Two dirt-bags became the biggest heroin-dealers in New York City in the 1970s, ...mainly Harlem. The locals regarded these two degenerates as "heros", ...you know, the guys who became wealthy by exploiting their own neighbors by feeding their drug-addictions.
-MS-13: Theres lots of footage of these disgusting tattooed-pukes, strutting around, pretending to be "tough". Apparently they like to hang around without shirts on, and show off their scrawny, girly arms. They look rather gay...
They are present in at least 48 states, and are commiting a large number of the rapes, assaults, robberies, and murders in your area.
-The "mexican mafia": Another group of "tough guys" from south of the border. Closely affiliated with MS-13, they prove how "tough" they are by murdering women and children. In this episode, they shot a baby in the face.
-Motor-cycle gangs: Mainly concerned with fighting over territory to sell drugs and stolen property, ...or conflicts over "logos". Basically a bunch of shaggy, unwashed, adult-adolescents on motor-cycles, they largely seem to be entertained by killing and maiming others like themselves. They largely ignore the general populous. However, these are by far the most dangerous predators out there, even individually. Many of them have prior military affiliation, and some are combat-veterans. There is a reason why all the other gangs are afraid of them. The fact that they prey mostly on other criminals makes them the least contemptible in the menagerie.