Rating: 
Summary: Where's Sideshow Bob?
Review: I just watched this movie for the first time in a number of years and I'd forgotten how truly great it is. I'd been waiting for the DVD to come out. Cape Fear is a movie that needs to be seen in letterbox. In the documentary, Scorsese says it was the first time he filmed anamorphic because he'd hoped that widescreen televisions would soon be coming out.What makes the DVD great is the long "making-of" documentary on disc 2. In it, Scorsese, all the actors, and the great screenwriter Wesley Strick go into great detail of every facet of the film and how the project evolved over the years (including the notorious "thumb-sucking" scene). I've read the book "The Executioners" upon which the movie is based, and I'm familiar with the original Peck/Mitchum version and I have to say that this film is the best of the three. Don't get me wrong - the original Cape Fear is a great movie and this version couldn't exist without it. However, this film is exponentially more complex and disturbing. The original story was a straightforward Good Guy/Bad Guy conflict. Nowhere was there a villain like the tattooed, Bible-quoting, Henry Miller-reading Max Cady as portrayed by DeNiro. Another especially inspired touch was to retain Bernard Herman's original score. Whereas a zillion "psychological thrillers" have come and gone since Cape Fear came out, they have been forgotten and this remains a classic.
Rating: 
Summary: The Same But Different
Review: Martin Scorsese's '91 remake of the 1962 original is a classic in its own right. It has wicked performances from Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Jessica Lange, and Juliette Lewis. The script, by Wesley Strick, keeps the basic plot of the original intact. However, there are now several other layers added that make the characters harder to figure out. While it is clear that Max (DeNiro) is the "villian", none of the other main characters are the picture of "squeaky clean" either The tension in the film starts out slow, but by film's end, reaches an almost fever pitch. The film keeps a good pace. It pays homage to its predecessor by having original cast members in cameo roles. The remake also owes a lot to the movies of Hitchcock by using several touches that he did. Scorsese is able to blend the elements together, while still keeping things fresh. There is no mistaking that this is a Scorsese film. The 2nd disc has an above average documentary. It also contains a number of deleted scenes and a fitting tribute to title sequence designer, the late, Saul Bass. I wonder why there were no tributes to Robert Mitchum or Martin Balsam? After all, the two men had roles in both versions, a minor quibble. The DVD set is worth renting or buying
Rating:
Summary: Cape Fear
Review: I think this is a really good acted out movie. I like the screenplay, the music, the chemistry between the actors, the whole bit, except several scenes in which they go overboard. I don't think it was just another remake of a classic movie, I think (other then a few scenes)that it was put together really good!! Deniro's portayal of Ex-con Max Cady, was very good and scary, and funny at times. Nick Nolte was great as the lawyer Sam Bowden, as well as Jessica Lange and Juliette Lewis' performances as the wife and daughter. I also liked how Scorsese put the original actors (Mitchum and Peck) from the original film in cameo scenes. Basically giving credit where credit is due, I think. I remember when this came out, my parents thought it was so horrible, and said I wasn't going to see that.....but I did anyway!! The story takes place in the summer, which also creates a great warm southern mood for the film, especially the ending hearing the night sounds during the credits. I liked the ending showdown, contrary to other opinions, but the original ending is just as good. They are both great films in my opinion. I haven't seen these two DVD'S yet.....but I will....VERY soon!! I know they will be good. In This particular remake, Marty really pushes the actors to they're limit......Pure Scorsese!!
Rating:
Summary: Awsome! A must have for any DVD collection!
Review: In my opinion this movie is Robert DeNiro's best performance, and best movie. Rob plays Max Cady, an ex-convict that is bent upon revenge against his lawyer and his family for having held back evidence in a rape case that could have made him walk. I cant even begin to describe how awesome this movie is. No Dvd Collection is complete without it. If you liked Silence of the Lambs, Psyco, American Psyco, then this is for you. Although the movie is very gory, the main reason why it is so chilling is because Max Cady is the worst nightmare of society. Not only is he purely evil, and violent, he is also highly intellectual and brilliant. He is the most dangerous types of men. And Max Cady's are out there.
Once again, increadable film, awsome cast, get it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Scorsese throwaway
Review: If director Martin Scorsese ever made a throwaway film, this is it. Cape Fear is a remake of a 1962 film of the same name. The story begins when a violent ex-con (Robert DeNiro) plots revenge on the lawyer (Nick Nolte) who put him behind bars. He begins harrassing the lawyer, but soon develops other plans when he sees that Nolte has a wife (Jessica Lange) and teenage daughter (Juliette Lewis). Good premise. The problem is that Scorsese's film is a remake in the most literal sense of the word, and he goes so far as to use identical shots, dialogue, and even Bernard Herrmann's music from the original film. Like they said to Gus Van Sant when he remade "Psycho": Why bother making a film that's already been made? DeNiro, of course, is great even when in mediocre films, and Cape Fear is no exception. With his over-the-top Southern accent and overly tattooed body, he is funny and chilling at once. He also gets the film's best scene: at a screening of "Problem Child", he puffs a cigar and yuks it up, to the chagrin of others in the audience. He's a vicious killer AND he talks during movies -- it doesn't get any worse than that, does it? Viewers who don't mind the violence might get a kick out of DeNiro's performance. Everyone else would be well advised to get the original.
Rating:
Summary: Pmo's Analysis
Review: I Love This Movie! I Truly Do..But I Cant Help But Wonder Why The Makers Behind This Film Just Let It Go To The Birds In The Final Act. Seriously, A Very Tense Film Indeed, Up Until The Unbelievable, Yet Some-What Entertaining, Finale. I Am A Huge Fan Of Juliette Lewis Who Snagged An Oscar Nod For Her Roll, But They Should Have Changed The Ending, For It Just Doesnt Fit Into The Rest Of The Movie. I Dont Mean To Spoil It, But I Would Have Liked To See DeNiro's Character's Demise Be A Bit More Tense, Than Just Sinking To The Bottom Of A River (Cape Fear). All In All, A Tense, Entertaining, Visually Captivating, And Beautifully Acted By All, Except That DeNiro's Performance Does Veir Towards Parody At Some Unintentionally Laughable Moments, But It Just Doesnt Work. As I Said, Better Ending With More Tension And Less Focus On DeNiro & His Ego By Having His Character Max Cady Go Down Like A Hero.
Rating:
Summary: "Cape Fear" updated for a '90's audience
Review: While serving time for a sex crime, Max Cady (Robert De Niro) discovers that his disgusted lawyer (Nick Nolte) buried evidence that could have reduced his sentence. Released after 14 years, he starts using a psychological jackhammer on Nolte and his wife and daughter (Jessica Lange and Juliette Lewis) while becoming increasingly dangerous. Story and characters are expanded a bit from the 1962 version, and a terrifying performance by De Niro, but a lot of gratuitous violence and unpleasantness thrown into the mix. A nail-biter to be sure, but more and better aren't the same thing. Original stars Robert Mitchum, Martin Balsam, and Gregory Peck make cameos here.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie. Poor packaging.
Review: The movie is great but all the DVD cases I've shaken have plastic rattling around in them. This appears to have been a production problem that no one seems to want to admit. The hinges for the 1st disc are broken, thus the pieces rattling around in them. I say this is a production problem because, after I realized the problem and returning one, I couldn't hear any pieces in the one I decided to take home. Well, mine had broken hinges too but no pieces floating around. Seeing it was sealed, I assume it happened in production. I decided to keep the movie anyway because I like it so much. Hope I can find a replacement case someday. Do you think Universal will replace them all?...
Rating:
Summary: Return to the "Cape"
Review: Martin Scorcese's remake of the 1962 thriller is every bit as chilling as it was when I saw it back in theatres during my senior year in college in 1991. Robert DeNiro gives a great performance as Max Cady, who got the slammer for rape, and, upon his release, harrasses the lawyer who shabbily represented him (Nick Nolte). Scorcese uses great camerawork, fine performances, and a reinterpretation of the original Bernard Hermann score. It's a great thriller that shouldn't be missed, and the DVD gives "Cape Fear" the royal treatment it deserves. The picture and sound are excellent, and the features include the trailer, storyboards, and a 1-hour-plus documentary. The only thing missing is a commentary, but you can't always have it all, can you? All in all, this DVD gets a firm recommendation from me.
Rating:
Summary: On Overlooked Masterpeice!
Review: Only Scorsese(and DeNiro)could take a masterpeice from 1962,and remake it into a more curent(29 yrs later)terrifying, claustrophobic white knuckle ride, that keeeps you wondering about the outcome, EVEN though you know the outcome!
While the plot has been changed enough to keep up with the times,Scorsese's complete love & his "awe" for the original, shine through, & while it's unfortunate that the original composer of this film's music, Berhnard Herrman was not alive to score this film(he died right after finishing Taxi Driver)the 1991 score is treated with such reverence, it could be thought to have been done by Herrman...what compelling music!
Some critics originally thought DeNiro's performance of Max Cady was a bit over the top, I feel it is one of his finest performances...completely believeable, & staggering in it's horrifiying deranged nature. His Southern accent was perfected by another of DeNiro's "method acting", time consumming approach, which he recently used in the fine, "Men of Honor". How could such a brilliant actor EVER be considered to be "over the top" in any of his performances?
While I 1st veiwed this film in a theater, the way it must somehow be veiwed, Scorsese's use of the camera's in many close-up's,(to make the viewer feel like the actor's are made to feel)& the total claustrophobic feeling that the viewer is meant to experience is "almost" accomplished in the DVD.
This Special edition DVD, is very similar to the fantastic, "Taxi Driver" Collector's Edition, in the regard that the Capr Fear documentary, and actor's & director's commentaries are superb and enough of a reason to buy this DVD.If you feel as I do about Scorsese's directorial abilities(no-one is better)then we can only hope he will also release "Special Edition" DVD's of his other incredible work!!(Mean Street's-Raging Bull-Goodfella's-Casino-King of Comedy-NY,NY-ect.)Please Mr. Scorsese, give us faithful more...you MUST do a Special ED. of "Raging Bull"
Summing it up, there is not a medicore performance in this film, in fact every actor's role here was Oscar worthy, and it was the breakthrough for young Julia's career.(Much Like Jodie Foster's was in "Taxi Driver"!!)
Let's face it, while most critics feel Speilberg is the greatest director of the last 30 year's(possibly he IS the HOLLYWOOD version of our finest director)it is Martin Scorsese's shorter body of work that will historically hold him as our most talented movie artist.
DeNiro is without a question the finest actor we have ever seen...Buy this DVD.
|
