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Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: warning: you can disfigure your life if you mistreat it
Review: I am so surprised to find 1 star reviews about this one. Well, different socks for different fox for sure.

I personally, I can't even say what's not perfect in this movie. Soundtrack is perfect, directing just as good, actors team is perfect, story is great... It's epic, full of action but still entertaining. And, at the same time -- I everything seems to be true, everything passes simple smell check.

With some painful insight, it delivers a warning of what happens if you dare to do certain things to your life, to lives of the people who happen to cross your path.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Brilliant
Review: When "Once Upon A Time in America" was initially released, there wasn't much of a stir in America due to the well-documented excision of around an hour and half of footage. But, on its release to home video, the restored, uncut version was suddenly available to American viewers. Thank God. This is a deeply moving, emotionally-wrenching film that deserves its ranks in the annals of some of the greatest motion pictures ever filmed. Movie lovers will delight in this film from frame to frame. Top-notch performances, extended sequences with attention to detail that rival the best Kubrick films, and plot twists told through inventive flashback sequences make this a movie-lovers paradise.

I remember when it first came out, I was mesmerized by it for three reasons. Firstly, when it was released there was possibly never a more violent film than this one, with the possible exception of Scarface. Thus, the action is first-rate. Secondly, the performances were all compelling. One performance that went overlooked, I think, was Tuesday Weld's volatile performance as the damaged and emotionally scarred girlfriend of the equally volatile Woods. DeNiro, of course, holds every scene he's in; there's a great sequence in the film involving crooked cop Danny Aiello and a sick practical joke played on him by the gangsters seeking to influence him; additionally, a young Jennifer Connelly gives a fine performance as the childhood sweetheart of one of the gang-members. Thirdly, the pacing of the film was deliberately extended in several sequences to allow for Ennio Morricone's haunting, melancholic, and most deeply felt musical score. When Morricone's music swells, so collectively do we, and the play on the screen becomes the ultimate tragedy that can never have a happy ending.

Some of the visuals of the film are especially striking, not the least of which is the aerial shot of DeNiro lying under a mesh cover on a mattress in an opium den, grinning goofily while he allows the opium to take its effect, and wipe away the memories of his betrayal. Other standout visuals include the shot of a frisbee flying through the air to introduce yet another flashback sequence, the opening sequences of horrifying violence, and a final sequence involving a garbage truck.

All of this together creates an unforgettable movie experience, one that will stay with the viewer for a long time.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: on the cutting room floor?
Review: Excellant movie starring deniro and woods,hoodlums growing up in old New York,You will swear that your actully taken back in time with the outside venders heavy steam rising from the streets and that trademark music score,that sergio leone is noted for like in the clint eastwood westerns,The problem I have is that I have seen three different cut versions and this puzzles me.The first cut I can see since television is limited although if it were up to me either they leave it entirly intact or don't show it on television.Now the other two cuts I don't understand and they really damage that magical riff of the film like taking a real good song and editing out the main riffs it is totally ilogical (1)cut:The opium scenes both at the start and at the ending scene.This is vital at getting across the enormous amount of pain Noodles(Deniro)is suffering mentally all through the years thinking he has killed all of his childhood friends numbing the enormous pain by visiting opium dens to smoke opium,this shows how he is learning to cope by using a narcotic,I think a key element,I mean this is the climax and main theme of the story and some idiot took it upond themselves to cut both the scenes from the film,Im speechless,fortunatly I have the entire uncut version however once again we run into two other cut scenes,(1) when Noodles comes back and visits Moe,The dialog is cut replaced by the music score,(2)The scene with them in the hospital in hospital gowns switching the chief of police's babey(Danny Aiello)Another dialog cut replaced with the score,I mean it's bewildering,and one of the ironic things about this film is that when you watch the film that was nearly hacked to death with nearly half of the movie on the cutting room floor,these both dialog scenes in the original that were cut are now ironicly put back I wonder if anyone can tell me was there an original film made which included everything such as not only the opium scenes but the added dialog put back in"~

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: BEST GANG MOVIE EVER MADE? BEST MOVIE EVER MADE!
Review: I don't say anything...Go and get it!Don't think , don't wait just get it...

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good solid film
Review: i really think this film is Good.Robert De Niro&James Woods work very well through out this film.the action is a must see.Burt Young is a trip in this film.very solid Direction through out.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Extra Noodles
Review: This is not a review as such, more of a desdperate plea, is there anybody in England or the rest of the United Kingdom with an original copy of this movie that they would be willing to sell. It must be in good condition with original sleeve. I will pay top price for it. My E-Mail address is chrisgotts@Hotmail.com Many thanks.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Life
Review: If any movie has the ability, the possiblity to shape lives, it is this one. I became a film student because of this movie. I have seen this movie, and particularly the last half hour so many times its hard imagining a count. This movie defines life, the one and only true epic. Telling us the whole life of the characters. When noodles returns to New York after 35 years the moment is brilliant, him making the phone call. Going back to see moe. "Going to bed early." James Woods' best performance ever, a powerful, ruthless character. Stunning cinematagrophy. Sergio Leone at his absolute finest. And of course, De Niro, a brilliant portrayal of a broken, ruined life. The last scene with De Niro and Woods is godlike. The dialogue, the music, the expression on their faces. Grief, happiness, betrayal and love all rolled into one. A movie of limitless interpetation and possibilities. A life changer.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A True Cinematic Classic
Review: This is the ultimate American Dream film. Leone creates a New York that almost smells real and the actors round out some fantastic set pieces. De Niro is superb as Noodles an ageing Jewish hoodlum who returns to his old haunts after receiving a mysterious letter. We then flash back to the 1900s and 1920s when Prohibition was in full flow and the mob ruled the city. James Woods is superb as Max in this fantastic movie. The theme tune is haunting pan pipe style music that stays with you long after the images have disappeared. It is violent and graphic - the two rape scenes are disturbing - but the beauty is on screen. Buy this film. I have only one question 'Why can't I buy this in the UK?'

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: a MASTERPIECE
Review: i was just read the novel and, i was very impressed when i was only 16. Then i watched the movie, this film is one of the bests of Sergio Leone, and story is really big, its a must to have for all movie archieves... I'm waiting for its DVD... Buy it, don't hesitate...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: look elsewhere
Review: Whenever you see Deniro, you expect quality...well look again. This movie is too long, too boring and was just plain terrible...I wish amazon reviews would let reviewers have no stars because that is what this movie is worth


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