True to the Game 3

What an unexpected gem! Those long, static shots, overwrought seriousness and ludicrous plot devices of 2 were tossed aside in favor of energetic scenes, actors freely embodying more realized characters, and, dare I say, a delicious pulp flavor! Whether Shoog gives cops the cold shoulder, someone is being pressed for information or an assassin is on the move, the deliveries are rollicking and tucked in with humorous innuendo. Really, keep your ears perked. While a heartbreaking scene between Gah-Git (Starletta DuPois) and Shoog (Vivica A. Fox) steals the show, special mention to Saleem's (Jeremy Meeks) absolute flourish in this pulp environment! It felt like the cast was given license - at long last - to truly bring their characters to bear. That showcase of talent, coupled with a far more intense presentation gives the impression of a more generous budget than the last installment. Wish the whole series had this feel (a testament to the directing and writing)! It's a perfect fit for the themes presented - leaving the viewer with a desire to watch 3 again, as there were surely some awesome bits missed. (And if anyone launches a Gah-Git and Shoog road trip movie, I am here for it.)

The last addition to this series is probably the most tension filled. Per usual, the "main" character in the film Gena takes a backseat to the assorted characters and their stories involved in the criminal underworld. Bodies start dropping left and right, including a couple the audience might not have expected. Direction keeps pacing and tone the most level of all three installments. Acting still decent at best from the cast of performers. However, Kris D. Lofton as the main villain in this sequel is a standout. True to fashion in the series, production value remains a high point, with decent camerawork, editing, sound design, and music/score. The ending was bizarre on one front (I assume the books made certain things more clear than the films did) and offered an annoying trope on another. Recommendation? Anyone invested this far will probably want closure to the series. As a standalone crime thriller, nothing new is given to the genre here.

Hated the ending because one it made no sense and two they didn't really make this about gena and quadir which I hoped to see overall bad ending to this trilogy.

I love the split screen transistions! This is a great film to continue the trilogy. Low rating is a lie! Produced by several actors in the films. I want more!!! 😎

I've been following this franchise and other movies by this producer for a minute. The stories he chooses to produce aren't bad and this highly anticipated third installment of the True To The Game series was very disappointing. The actors are still mediocre due to extreme over acting which draws from its realism. But the biggest problem with this movie as his others is lense quality. I mean it's impressive to see untrained film makers create these productions but that lack of training shows because cinema quality lenses are never used. The "stock" lens look cheapens this movie and it's a simple fix. If Haley springs for cinema quality lenses, it would sharpen the performances of the actor's and give the viewer a more realistic feel instead of that video look that they have sit through. Taking some classes in cinematography would be a great investment to make these movies into true classics.