Gangs Of New York DVD

Advantages: Great performance from Day-Lewis, fast-paced, exciting
Disadvantages: A bit lengthy at nearly 3 hours, but not too bad

...in the mid 1800s, where gangs rule the neighborhood, Amsterdam Vallon (Leonardo DiCaprio) is driven to attempting to avenge his fathers death, which he witnessed at an early age, courtesy of Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis) His father, 'Priest' Vallon (Liam Neeson) was leading a gang called the 'Dead Rabbits' against Cutting's 'Natives' in a battle being fought on racial grounds as well as for power. When he sees his father killed by ...
...pick up the story, with Amsterdam's release from Hellgate. His identity for now a secret, he gradually infiltrates The Natives, and earns the respect of Bill. But will he be able to defeat the most cunning, tough and dastardly gangster in the whole of New York, or will the challenge prove too tough? Leonardo DiCaprio acts pretty well as Amsterdam, he does everything required from him, but adds little extra. The same can be said of Cameron Diaz, ... Read review

Advantages: Enthralling Plot, fantastic action
Disadvantages: Not long enough!

...I'd been looking forward to this film ever since I saw it advertised, and I was totally impressed with this film when I actually got to see it. Fantastic acting, fantastic scenery, and of historical importance too. I actually went on some websites looking for information on the real 'Five Points' in New York and learnt some fascinating facts. I would never have believed this sort of thing ever took place in America. It starts with the story of thousands of Irish Immigrants to New York (15,000 a day!), the gangs that are formed and the reaction to them from the native New Yorkers. It's well worth spending your money on, and believe me - once you start watching, you won't want it to end. Quite bloodthirsty in places!... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Historically this movie may be helpful.
Disadvantages: The up close fighting may be distateful to some viewers.

...The 'gangs of new york' is a moving account of some heroic people, nevertheless I found it disturbing. The fact that the fighting occurs person to person rather than down the lense of an automatic weapon makes it rather personal and painful to watch. I also felt, inspite of this movie seeming too real in relation to the fighting, that many of the scenes seem a little fantasy in colour useage, and so it seemed to flit between the two. As an artist I appreciated the scenes which were a little 'moulan rouge'ish', however it didn't seem to always flow properly from scene to scene as a result, personally I felt it was a little clumsy. Men may well take a fancy to this movie, however women may not be so easily won over.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average not helpful

Advantages: A flawed classic, disjointed but well made.
Disadvantages: Badly edited.

...If ever there was a film which justified the description 'flawed classic' this is that film. If, as has been rumoured, Martin Scorsese was forced to cut around 90 minutes of this film to get it released, then those cuts show. As it stands, the film has too many jumps and intuitive leaps to work coherently. A character disappears for half an hour then reappears as a key character. If, Mr Scorsese is able to insert the missing footage on the DVD release, then I'll put my money down now. Incidentally, the book is much better, this movie covers less that a tenth of the book. And the death of the real Bill the Butcher was much much different to the Scorsese version.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful