Benjames800 Same as the other reviews! Many better films like this are available. ROTF, The Business, The Football Factory. Even cockneys VS Zombies gave this film a run for its money! Same old southern crap, even the camera angles are off putting! There are quite a few parts where I think they ran out of ideas so decided to get the actors to say c@nt repeatedly just to make it sound more edgy! Crap film. With the actors used this could have probably been a half decent film! (Even though it has been done to death) All in all, rubbish film. A poor performance from most of the cast and many faults with the plot so as not to be entirely watchable! To be honest this film would make me ashamed to be "one of them cockneys" Luckily I from up north and try my best not to associate with people further south than Chesterfield.

catstewart07 I was really looking forward to watching this film, having very much enjoyed Bernard O Mahoney's book of the same name upon which the film is based.Unfortunately, Craig Fairbrass is conspicuous by his absence; having nailed the role of Pat Tate in Rise of the Foot Soldier, one would have thought he'd be alongside Terry Stone once more. Instead we have Tamer Hassan, who snarls and curses his way through the role in a somewhat unconvincing fashion. Stone, who played a blinder as the bullying Tucker in ROTFS, is reduced to a sidekick not dissimilar to Muttley from Wacky Races, in a cheap shiny suit but thankfully minus the mullet wig.Interestingly though, Neil Maskell steals the show in places as Craig Rolfe, with an understated dignity and presence; the other Craig Rolfe seen in ROTFS with Roland Manookian in the part was an entirely different character, however Maskell's portrayal was equally convincing and perhaps the best performance of the film. Except for the genius turn of the girl in the nurse's outfit travelling with Tate later in the film. (Genuinely funny scene, I actually thought it was Catherine Tate in a cameo role.) This film runs at a much slower pace than the slick Rise of the Foot Soldier, and the highly anticipated murder scene at the end is nowhere near as chilling and atmospheric either- something of an anti climax.

a_3 Didn't know a third film had been made about this subject but whilst stuck indoors waiting on a delivery (DHL late again) I just watched Bonded by Blood. First impressions after having just viewed the film are that it was not very good. Not totally terrible but only really worth watching if you have absolutely nothing better to do and want something to occupy your interest.As has been picked up by one of the better revues of this film on here my main criticism is that the actor portraying Darren Nicholls (Adam Deacon) is annoying and unconvincing throughout. You spend a lot of the movie wanting to smack the petulant little fake scowl off of his face (the character not the actor) and you certainly don't empathise with him or indeed anyone else in the film.I also concur that Craig Fairbrass's portrayal of Pat Tate was more convincing and accurate than that of Tamer Hassan. Hassan's Tate seemed too considered (albeit still a bully, steroid using f##k up) at times when the reality is he was far from that. Not a terrible performance just not as good as the one that Fairbrass did where he nailed the character in Rise of the Footsoldier.The actresses used all seemed out of their depth if they were called upon to do more than be giggling fluff. I don't personally have a problem with that as this is a bloke's film and don't particularly want it ruined with dialogue about the wife's/girlfriends perspective. Suffice to say though the little acting that was required by any of the actresses was poor to awful. The only actress who was convincing at all was the "tart" in the nurse's outfit who was passenger in the car crash with Tate (Hassan). I liked Neil Maskell's performance as Craig Rolfe, and this was a lot closer to reality than the one portrayed in Rise of the Footsoldier by Roland Manookian, although I don't necessarily think that was down to bad acting by Roland, just that the character was different (inaccurate?) in that script. Terry Stone rocks up once again to play Tony Tucker and although his first attempt in Rise of the Footsoldier was a bit too cartoon this version seems a little undecided? To be fair I'm not going to criticise the fella as he is still learning his game in the acting world and how many different ways can you portray a one dimensional character like the fictionalised Tony Tucker? I'm sure the script called for more of the same but lose the wig.Finally the Bernard O'Mahoney character played by Johnny Palmiero seemed totally miscast? It's not that it was a terrible performance by Palmiero but that it bore absolutely no resemblance to the real Bernard O'Mahoney in accent or stature. I much preferred reading Bernard O'Mahoney's books than watching this film. I give the film 4/10. Just my opinion and I suggest you watch it yourself and make your own mind up. If you have the time spare of course.

beatleblack NOT as good as ROTFS! However... If you are interested in the now notorious story of the so-called Essex Boys, you will want to see this for completist reasons.This film presents the relationship between Mickey Steele & Pat Tate/Tony Tucker with the ultimate build-up to the Range Rover killing in a way that ROTFS missed. That's because the narrative comes from the perspective of the 3rd member of Mickey's gang. This is a perspective which you can't help but doubt having watched Rise & which even this film admits with a post-script is a dubious account.Documentary evidence aside, two questions arise: do we have some more great anecdotal evidence of their out-of-control behaviour? And, is this anywhere near as good a film as Rise?Firstly, yes AND no. Despite the lack of Craig Fairbass there are moments showing Pat's traits which are memorable but NOTHING like the Pizza scene. Secondly, yes AND no. This film felt like a more artistically professional job but left me feeling less satisfied and entertained than by the gloriously over-the-top Rise.