Rating: 
Summary: Great film reduced to unwatchable
Review: One of the most enjoyable films ever, begging for repeated viewings, unfortunately reduced to unwatchable for lack of a widescreen version.
Rating: 
Summary: This was NOT filmed in widescreen!
Review: A lot of reviewers are bemoaning the fact that this is not a widescreen release. Well, The Sting was not filmed in widescreen! It was filmed in standard Academy ratio (to keep its "1930's" feel, perhaps). I know that most movie databases list this movie as 1.85:1 (as most films were in the 70's), but I just saw this movie at a summer movie festival, and it was projected at 1.33:1 (academy ratio). If the DVD states that the picture was modified to fit your TV screen, then Universal really blew it with this notice! If a widescreen version is ever released, the top and bottom of the picture will have to be cropped to do it. That said, this transfer is the same as the laserdisc version, and that dates back to 1989. It wasn't a good transfer then, and it certainly is not a good one now. Universal needs to do a new transfer, but not in widescreen! Still, a wonderful and clever movie.
Rating:
Summary: Not widescreen?!?!?
Review: This is one of the greatest, classic movies of all time. As a movie I would rate if 5 stars. As a DVD production, I give it 1 star...until a widescreen version is available.
Rating:
Summary: A GREAT Movie, but not WIDESCREEN
Review: This is one of the great movies of the 70s. Perfect all around (screenplay, acting, music, direction...). So where's the 30-Year anniversary WIDESCREEN edition??
Rating: 
Summary: A Quintessential American Movie
Review: This is one of the most entertaining movies to come out of the "Golden Age" of American cinema, if not one of the greatest. Thoughtful, quick witted, and authentic, this unpretentious caper is one of the few films that can be watched time after time without becoming tiresome. Beyond the effortless charisma of stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford, there are delightful supporting performances by the likes of Ray Walston, Charles Durning, Eileen Brennan, and, of course, Robert Shaw (ya falla?). The Chicago of 1936 presented is both mythic and realistic, with detail down to blue plates for the blue plate specials, and authentic green glassware. This film will be a delight for both young and old. My main issue with the DVD release is that it is full frame only. I think a film with this much critical and financial success deserves a widescreen release. How about it, Universal?
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining .... BUT
Review: Film was entertaining, but I don't see why all the accolades (7 academy awards, including best picture)Watch it for fun, but don't expect anything more.
Rating:
Summary: Pan & Scan DVD
Review: George Roy Hill took full advantage of the entire screen when shooting The Sting. This Pan & Scan edit is noticably detrimental to the overall presentation. Not only is the panning blatantly evident, there are scenes where critical action is taking place offscreen and totally missed. This movie is hurt by the Pan & Scan process more than most movies. A widescreen version exists on VHS; I would recommend sticking with that until a widescreen DVD is issued.
Rating:
Summary: Winner of Seven Academy Awards, yet widescreen on VHS only?
Review: This fast-moving and enjoyable film hasn't aged or lost any of it's allure in the thirty years since I originally saw it. Others have described the plot, I'll review the DVD. This film, lensed in Panavision anamorphic widescreen is, sadly, still only available in this country as a Pan/Scan version. Widescreen DVD's are available in England (Region 2) and on VHS here in the USA. It's a shame, too, because this is a classic film that deserves to be seen exactly as it was shown in theaters. The DVD gets three stars for the quality of the movie alone. The lack of any extra's whatsoever, as well as the pan/scan presentation almost make the experience lackluster. I purchased simply to have SOME version of The Sting to watch over and over. Please Universal, release this in a full featured widescreen version.
Rating:
Summary: WTF? Pan and scan?!?!
Review: I've never seen the Sting. I rented it tonight, without, unfortunately, looking over the details of the DVD. Back home, I took my shoes off, got comfortable on the couch with a beer and my dog, commenced watching of the Sting, and was quickly horrified to discover that it was presented only in Pan & Scan format. I became upset. I shut the movie off. I made obscene comments. My roommate/gf made fun of me, called me a film snob, which, maybe she's right, but dammit, I don't wanna watch a movie with its sides cropped off. I don't want some transfer lab monkey making crucial framing decisions for me. It makes me claustrophobic. DVD is supposed to be a refuge from the stupidity of Pan and Scan. That's the main reason why I ever bought my DVD player in the first place. And now, as I highly doubt my local video store carries the widescreen VHS, I probably won't be seeing the Sting, and certainly not buying it, until/unless the studio sees fit to release it in a proper widescreen format.
Rating:
Summary: No Waste in this movie
Review: THE STING gives us another example of the excitement Paul Newman and Robert Redford can generate when they work together. George Roy Hill who directed them in BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID duplicates his earlier feat with this highly acclaimed movie. The story is about two confidence men who seek revenge and profit from the wily gangster who is responsible for the death of one of their buddies. Robert Shaw is superb as the East Coast mobster who is the target of the big con game being pulled off by Newman, Redford and their pals. The plot has enough twists to keep the viewer interested right up to the surprise ending. THE STING won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Director (George Roy Hill), Original Story and Screenplay, Art Director, Adapted Scoring, Editing and Costume Design (Edith Head). Nominations were received for Best actor (Robert Redford), Cinematography and Sound. The Oscar for Best Actor in 1973 went to Jack Lemmon for his performance in SAVE THE TIGER.
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