I've heard people criticize this movie for not showing "a true picture" of the DR Congo, but please, as if any Hollywood action ever gave a realistic picture of USA?Viva Riva is a funny and action filled movie, it is not your average sad deep heart wrenching story about poor Africans, but a movie that was created purely for your entertainment. It just happen to be so that this gangster movie is set in the DRC. It is a gangster thriller filled with humour at its best with an African flavor to it which makes it a nice breath of fresh air. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end and I look forward to seeing more movies by Djo Munga in the future.

I recently had the privilege of viewing Viva Riva and loved it. Viva Riva is full of plenty of violence and sex. However, this is not what the film is about, nor is it so strong that it consumes the story. It is a movie for those who love gangster violence, excitement, and sex in films. Yet, it is also for those who want to see a good movie with a great plot. The acting is excellent, as is the cinematography, and the storyline fits in between scenes of sex and mobster violence. Men will love this film, and women will be able to get into it due to its exciting story, filled with many twists and turns. This film may not be a completely accurate portrayal of the Congo, but this does not matter since it is not a documentary. Instead, it is a fictional, African gangster film. I am not saying to bring the entire family to this one, but I highly recommend mature individuals to see Viva Riva.

I got a chance to screen Viva Riva! recently and have to say that I had an incredible time watching this film. There are a lot of similarities to blaxploitation films of the 1970s which makes the film all the more interesting to watch. The film is action packed and suspenseful and really makes for a thrilling ride. Riva, played wonderfully by Patsha Bay, is full of grit and macho- ness that make him the most interesting character to watch. His chemistry with Nora (Manie Malone) is steamy and very sexually charged which is explored in a couple very seductive scenes. This film is somewhat of a guy's action movie with the overt sexuality of the characters and heavy use of fighting and gore. Overall, I would recommend this film to anybody looking for a truly gritty and bad ass film with a little more soul. The characters are strong and charismatic and ready to fight anyone who crosses their path!

He who has the gold, makes the rules. In Viva Riva!, the gold is fuel. Rising gas prices elicit moans and groans from Americans, but few understand the implications of a true fuel crisis. Especially one in a country subject to a rampant criminal element. I have no idea if this film is an accurate portrayal of the Congo or its people, but I don't care, because the setting is secondary to its completely believable sequence of events. When resources are scarce, the black market commodifies the catastrophe and violence ensues. Djo Tunda Wa Munga has created something Shakespearean and noirish here that is a gutpunch addition to the gangster genre. It's even more impressive for standing up against big-budget action fare while remaining driven by entangled ambition. These characters are ultimately all looking out for their own skin, but though their actions seem heartless, they also feel necessary. They've experienced the depths of an unforgiving world they're trying to escape. But hope for the future survives in the end, even if just about everything else doesn't. Gritty and sexy, strongly directed and acted with a solid script, this film will definitely be an addition to my collection at home.