Scarface/Carlito's Way/Casino (Box Set) (DVD)

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Good
Soundtrack	Outstanding

Advantages:	3 legendary Movies !
Disadvantages:	NONE !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Scarface, Carlito's Way & Casino are 3 of the greatest movies of all time! When you get a combination of actors such as Al Pacino, Sean Penn and Robert De Niro - then you know that you are in store for a movie that you will remember for the rest of your life. I am going to review each movie separately as a potential buyer would like to know about each movie to know if there is only one decent movie out of the three, but I can assure any buyer that every single DVD in this package is worth its price and is a must have in every household!

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Scarface:

The worldwide phenomenon of Tony Montana is unbelievable! Since Pacino starred in the movie, there has been almost a cult following towards the movie. You can't go anywhere now without seeing a T-Shirt, poster, cap, DVD Box set of the legendary movie! There is even a game that has come out only a few days ago as the Movie is so popular!

The Movie itself is based upon a ruthless gangster called Tony Montana who has come from Cuba to America and 'guns' his way to the top of Miami's Cocaine Empire. The movie depicts Miami's Latin Lifestyle in the 1980's and shows that to one man, that the world is HIS.

The cast of Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and many others is a reason in itself to buy this movie, and the fact it is directed by Brian De Palma makes it even more so worth its weight in gold.

This Movie is watched by all and everyone loves it as they can all in some way relate to Tony Montana and see him as an idol in some way or form.

If you want to know just how popular this movie is, watch MTV Cribs as almost every person will have the DVD and some posters situated somewhere within their home. Also look at the game, GTA Vice City. This game was inspired by the movie when looking at the choice of music and weapons used in it.

This movie itself is worth the price being asked for the 3 disc DVD package and so it is obvious that the package is a great deal! Hence the reason why I personally bought it myself.

Scarface: 10/10

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Casino:

This has to be one of my favourite Robert De Niro movies of all time! At first, I was unsure of the movie and I hadn't read any reviews of it, but as it was in the box set I thought I would buy it as I already knew of, and loved Scarface and Carlito's way. However, once I had watched the movie I was asking myself how I hadn't heard about it before as it is a great movie that doesn't usually get 'paid its dues' in the critique department.

Taken from the blurb of the DVD:

"Las Vegas 1973 is the setting for this gripping, fact-based story about the Mob's multi-billion dollar casino operation. Academy Award winners Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci star with Sharon Stone in Martin Scorsese's riveting look at how blind ambition, white-hot passion and 24-carat greed toppled an empire."

The movie is very interesting while at the same time, keeping to a storyline that not only gave the audience an image of what it was like to be there, but also a storyline that kept the audience entertained and sticking to the roots of its genre. The Blurb explains everything that happens in the movie in just a few short words and gives a clear image of what may happen.

The Movie reminds me of a cross between Scarface and other movies such as Oceans 11 and Goodfellas (as De Niro and Pesci were both in that also). It is good to see how things are done (like oceans 11) and keeps the audience enticed throughout the entire movie, letting them get to know the characters and connect with them all in some shape or form. I feel that this also is a must have to anyone that loves the Gangster films, as well as any Robert De Niro fan as he is fantastic in this movie.

Casino: 9/10
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Carlito's Way:

Brian De Palma has made another great movie with Al Pacino as the starring role. This 1993 movie about Carlito Brigante a man who has served his time and it trying to get back onto the good side and out of the gutter where he was left after being convicted of drugs. However, Carlito's cocaine addicted attorney (Sean Penn) is in a lot of trouble and 'anchors' Carlito into helping him with his problem.

(You will get the joke once you watch the movie! lol)

I feel that this movie is vastly underrated! I think this movie is up there with Scarface and is just as good as it in terms of storyline and acting skills. I feel that the only reason that this movie is not seen as one of the best movies of all time is because Scarface was made before it and so always lived in its shadow and was criticized as being a wanna-be version to try and appeal to the same audience to try and make more money. I don't know the truth to that statement but I have to personally disagree with the critiques - It seems like a good idea to try and do something again once the first version has made a lot of money (look at Gladiator and then Troy followed) but Carlito's way is an amazing movie which has a little more humour and more romance in the movie. The movie also lets the audience get to know Carlito a lot more than what Scarface allowed us to know about Tony Montana, and so it is as though Carlito's actions in the movie can be justified as we get to know him and the reasons why he is doing these things.

I feel that all the stars in the movie; Pacino, Penn, John Leguizamo & Penelope Ann Miller play their roles fantastically and that this movie is a great movie to have in your collection!

I also want to point out that there has been a prequel made about this movie which is also a good movie, however it does not include Pacino or Penn but was merely made to give the audience some information into how Carlito got in prison and how he rose to power. The Original Carlito's way is much better than the prequel and in my eyes is a very good movie.

Carlito's way: 9/10
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Valuable information/Overall:

- All 3 moves are of the 18 certificate and have a lot of strong language. If it is a present for someone who is not 18, then do be aware that the language is quite bad, however the movie Scarface has the worst language and so a parent or guardian must watch the movie first if they are considering letting their children watch that movie in particular. Personally I would say that compared to what children in today's society watch, anyone who is almost 15 or over is able to watch this movie without being too affected by the language.

- Running times:
Scarface - 2 hours 44mins approx
Casino - 2 hours 51mins approx
Carlito's Way - 2 hours 18 mins approx

Combined - 7 hours 53 mins approx

Overall Opinion of Movie package - 9.5/10 --- Well worth its price!!!

I Hope this review has helped any potential buyers!
Thanks for reading

Liam Brown.