April 24, 1991 -- ``New Jack City'' is the film that caused a few riots when people couldn't get into the theater in some cities. People weren't beating down the doors to see it here.

For the record, the film, starring Mario Van Peebles and Wesley Snipes, is not a film that glorifies gangsters or drug use. It is decidedly an anti-drug film. However, the film's drug lord, played by the handsome and smooth Snipes, seems to be more human than the supposed heroes.

One gets the feeling that a lot of the meaning of this film ended up on the cutting room floor. The editing is rough, there is little character development, except for the drug lord, motivation is lacking for some dramatic developments and in the end it is pretty tough to see much difference between the police and the crooks.

On the plus side, the acting is competent and the sound track is very good. On the minus side there is an awful lot of violence and some graphic sex and language. This is definitely not a show for the kiddies.

On a scale of one to 10 this film rates a five.

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