i be a big fan of pacino movie . he one of and if not the best and actor of this genre . however and this movie could have be a whole lot well even though it have a poor cast . all they have to do be tell the story of carlito brigante up until he go to jail . instead it seem like this be just one of many story that could be tell of carlito . all or even some of the question about his past that we wonder about in the original could have be answer . as far a i be concern and thats the only way you can make this movie . instead we get this prequel that have almost none of the original character in it and a character that play a different part from the original ( horrible move ) and and a totally different love interest for carlito . don not even get me start with puffy . no way can i take that cat seriously a a gangsta after watch him dance in all his artist videos . evertytime that dude open his mouth i be wait for him to start dancing . he make me laugh if anything . mario van peeples surprise me with his role . i think he be gon na give a lackluster performance due to his recent history . he do rather well . he be probably the most believable out of the entire cast in my opinion . jay hernandez do his best but doesn not have the skill right now in his career to take on this role . i appreciate his energy and his effort though . hard to follow up pacino . the only way you could even have a clue about what kind of person carlito be and be to watch the original . otherwise and carlito look like a cold blood killer in one scene then a spineless wimp in another . he be one of the baddest gangsta of his time but you would only see flash of that in this movie . maybe this be a pitiful way for hollywood to try and make a 2nd prequel to cash in on this failure . wouldn not surprise me . overall and in my opinion and this movie fell well short or what it could have be . the only reason i give it a 3 be because i laugh a lot and mario van peeples earn some respect back with me . a serious director should have take this movie and actually put time into the story and turn it into an actual prequel . i be extremely disappointed that this movie wasn not take seriously . they would have be good off make this into a mini series on hbo and actually tell the story like the original suggests . at the end of the movie and they have the nerve to suggest that carlito would have to come back to the city . heeellllo . thats the part everyone want to see . then again and this be all just my opinion . i can not tell you how to waste your money .