It's an awesome epic worth your time and patience. Some viewers complain that this an American Me rip off and its way too long, yes there are similarities but it is told in a different manner, I thought the 190 minutes(Directors cut) flew by. There are numerous cheesy lines, racial stereotypes and the acting can be over the top, sometimes wooden but its what makes this epic work and enjoyable. A must watch for those who enjoy hood/barrio movies.

At first glance one feels this is a TV movie, starting with a sunny day somewhere in east LA and a guy coming in and greeting anyone in Spanish, with colorful Mexicans all over. You may think, based on the movie title as well, that it will be one of those gang action movies where the hero beats up everybody. It certainly starts that way, but the movie is not like that.

After a while, when the plot expands a little more, you find that the white dude that comes to greet his "Chicano" friends is a halfbreed American Mexican who hates his white father and considers himself "brown on the inside". He is also on parole and only days until he gets to be 18 and be totally free. Then he makes a stupid move. Now you think it is going to be one of those prison movies, with the misguided youth and the corrupt system. Perhaps he is going to go to prison and beat up everybody. That ain't it, either.

It takes maybe a little to see that the movie isn't even close to being over so you look to the length of the film. It's 3 hours long! The fact that it starts showing the year in which things happen gives the final clue: it is an epic story. The complexity of the characters hint at a book or something like that and, indeed, the story is written by poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, based on his personal experience. It's almost a biopic.

And look at the cast! Damian Chapa is pretty known, but also Benjamin Bratt, Delroy Lindo, Victor Rivers (can't have a movie about Mexicans without Rivers - I really think he should have gotten more main roles),Billy Bob Thornton, Ving Rhames, Danny Trejo and even Jimmy Santiago Baca himself as "Gato", who I don't really remember.

About the movie itself, its main strength is the characters. Each of the lead characters is being carefully sketched and then transformed by the story. The ending, most of all, explains the feelings and reality of the people involved. There were criticisms that the movie was overacted sometimes. Perhaps, but most of it was actually in character. Miklo is someone who is desperately, so desperately, trying to belong. Of course he overacts. His whole character is made up in his head.

So, as a conclusion to this too long review: this is not a masterpiece, but it is a movie about the truth of people in those times, and it is well done. Truthful films are more and more scarce as the time goes by. If you find the time and mood to watch this white Mexican biopic, I don't think you will be disappointed.

I don't like catchy summary lines, but I used one here. I just love this movie. There are many movies that I like and love, but if someone asked me about my favorite movie of all time, than I always say it is "Blood in Blood out".

And that kind of sounds awkward, if the other person doesn't know the movie. It sounds like a horror movie or something. But then again I can't think of another/better title to this film (apart from "Bound by honor" under which it is also known). It's a movie about life.

What makes it so great for me? Although I heard from some people that they don't like the acting, and maybe in some parts that's true (after all there's no one like Al Pacino or *add a favorite actor name here*). But it's more than appropriate for this movie and it's not distracting at all. In fact I was hooked by the movie from beginning to end.

The story that is told here needs the film to be long and not one minute of it seems boring. The characters grab you from the very start and you feel with them the whole movie. Everything that happens to them, you are there to witness it and feel with/for them. That makes a good drama.

I love every aspect of the movie. The only thing that I could complain about is, then whenever this movie is on somewhere (on TV) and I see it, I can't switch the TV off or change the channel. I have to watch that movie and take the emotional ride once again. :o)