Just rewatched this movie since it came out

Back in the day I remember lots of people praising it for its giddiness and "realism" but after seeing again almost 30 years later it comes across as an outsider's POV of Blacks and Hispanics and what they perceive is wrong with the 'hood. That perspective definitely changed in the 90s with John Singleton's and The Hughe's Brothers, as well as Olmos' "American Me" films which brought more of an inside looking out perspective.

Furthermore, I would argue that "Colors" provided the blueprint for the GTA/Vice/San Andreas video games so many suburban teens flock to when they need their urban fix.