Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11573 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-03-26
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL
• Original language: English
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 95 minutes

Amazon.com
In Jamaican patois, a gangster is a "shotta" or "shot-caller." Like The Harder They Come and Third World Cop, Cess Silvera choreographs his crime drama Shottas to a reggae beat. Bob Marley’s son Stephen provides the music, while Wyclef Jean drops by as a dealer. The saga begins in late-1970s Kingston. Teenagers Biggs (J.R. Silvera) and Wayne (Carlton Grant Jr.) have had their fill of poverty, so they get a gun and start looting and shooting like the shottas they idolise. Flash forward 20 years and Biggs (Stephen’s actor/musician brother, Kymani Marley) has just been deported from the States. He picks up where he left off, joining Wayne (DJ Spragga Benz) and the psychopathic Mad Max (Paul Campbell, Dancehall Queen) in the thug life. As with Pacino's Tony Montana, Miami is their ultimate port of call. Silvera acknowledges the debt to Brian De Palma's Scarface, but there isn't as much drama here--just a lot of violence (spurting blood is a running motif). Cinematographer Cliff Charles uses all manner of visual trickery to lively up the joint, like grainy black and white, slow motion, and jump cuts. The soundtrack also helps to keep things moving, but it's hard to feel sympathy for those who feel no sympathy for anyone but themselves. Vicious as he was, Montana still had a smidgen of sensitivity. As with The Harder They Come, this English-language production is subtitled due to strong accents and pervasive slang. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Synopsis
Two criminals from Kingston, Jamaica, travel to the United States and continue their drug dealing exploits in Florida in SHOTTAS.

Customer Reviews

AT LAST ITS ON DVD!!!
Think Scarface but based in Jamaica!!!!

This film is an underground classic, who's delay to DVD has only enhanced it/s cult status. I won't give the gangster story away but it perhaps one of the best authentic Carribean gangster films ever made and sits well alongside classics like Scarface, Goodfellas, The Warriors, New Jack City, Jason's Lyric and Boyz n the Hood.

Enjoy 5/5

Are Jamaicans ALL criminals as this film implies?
Once again, thanks to the media, Jamaicans are shown as being corrupt criminal filth. From Police to Gangster, this film portrays Jamaicans as criminals only fit for execution. Spraga Benz and K Marley should be totally ashamed of themselves. Accepting payment in return for scandalizing their kindren. Hand back your citizenship you judas traitors. enjoy your 30 pieces of silver while it lasts. This film is a travesty, glorifying all evil.

Shottas
Shottas [DVD] [2006]

product came on time and in very good condition.