the movie and act be not bad and jay hernandez do a good job play calito brigante but the movie forget it suppose to be a prequel to a hit movie . the maker of this prequel clearly do not watch the original carlito way or at least do not care about continuity . this movie be a prequel which mean the original movie have already lay out some history for u and this movie should end where the original begin or at least lead up to it . not one of carlito close old friend from the original make an appearance in this movie and theyre not even mention . luis guzman and pachanga in the original and be in the movie but he play a completely different character . the original take place in 1975 and the prequel take place in 1969 70. consider this movie take place less than 5 year earlier and wouldn not you think one of carlito long time friend would make an appearance . in the original and carlito start out be release from jail after spend 5 year in jail . that only a few month between the end of the prequel and the start of the original . semi spoiler we know from the beginning of the original and carlito have spend 5 year in prison so when the prequel give u this hollywood happy end it an insult to the intelligence of fan of the original . what happen to gail . it the lack of continuity that make this film go direct to video release .