Rating: 
Summary: A clever and enjoyable movie! One of the greatest!
Review: When I first saw this film, it was one of the best films that I've seen that took place during and early time of the twentieth century. George Roy Hill made the right choice in choosing to pack together Robert Redford and Paul Newman again, because both actors really know how to keep humor in a film. Brilliant aged look in the photography by veteren three time Oscar winner Robert Surtees, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, but one of the best things about the film is its music score. I had never heard of Scott Joplin until this film, and I finally figured out who wrote The Entertainer. Marvin Hamlisch magnificentally adapted the famous Joplin rags and written some of his own material, which fit the time of the film well, for which he also won and Oscar. I noticed in other reviews that most people are complaining all about one thing, how the DVD is released only in "PAN and SCAN". I put that in quotation marks because this film, if you take a closer look, was shot in a 35mm format that has a 1:33.1 ratio. You can tell by the way the screen usually looks so small, where if it was in a Panavision look, people would appear huge in a full screen format. If you guys bought that little paragraph you read before the film that this film was reduced from its "regular format", then you should tell Universal that not all movies were made in widescreen. Hill used this same process for Thoroughly Modern Millie. If you look closely before The Sting goes into the action after the credits, you can see bars that wouldn't really be noticeable, because the film was never meant to be that way. Even when you watch the credits, you can see a 35mm size square, and since DVDs never lie (it tells you what screen format) why can't you people notice this? So shut up, and stop thinking that the film was made in a 1:85 ratio or any other, because it wasn't filmed in a widescreen process. Universal has a tendency to say that certain movies are something else that they're not. If you don't understand what I mean, then take a look at the DVD, All Quiet on the Western Front, and keep in mind that the film was made in 1930. In the meantime, enjoy this movie, because its one that gets better each time you watch. You might have to watch it twice, because the film has so many twists that a couple of them are hard to see in time.
Rating:
Summary: The Quintessential Caper Flick
Review: "The Sting" is an extremely well written story by David Ward ("Major League", "Sleepless in Seattle") and David Maurer about some smalltime grifters who attempt to swindle a mob boss. The film was nominated for ten Academy Awards in 1974 and won seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director. It reunited director George Roy Hill, Robert Redford and Paul Newman four years after their blockbuster, "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Strangely, although Butch and Sundance made it to number 50 on AFI's top 100 of the century, this film did not make that list. This is even more surprising since "Butch" did not win the Oscar for Best Picture in 1970 ("Midnight Cowboy" won it that year).While I think "Butch" is funnier and more exciting, this film is more intriguing with interesting character studies and some unpredictable plot twists. Hill does a superb job of weaving the elements of the caper together and giving it a depression era feeling. The humor is more ironic than hilarious, but it fits the story well. The period props, locations, and sets are excellent, and the costumes are perfect. The costumes were done by the legendary Edith Head, who designed costumes for over 400 films in her 50-year career. She won an Oscar for best Costume Design for this film, which was one of eight she won in that category in a career marked by an astounding 34 Oscar nominations. The music by Scott Joplin and Marvin Hamlisch is also fabulous, bestowing an early twentieth century flavor on the film, and giving Hamlisch one of three Oscars he won that year (the other two were for "The Way We Were" also starring Redford). Where "Butch" was probably a little more Newman's film, this film clearly belonged to Redford. Redford, who was nominated for best actor for the role, is marvelous in the lead, giving his character a charming, lighthearted personality to go along with his scheming intellect. Newman plays almost a supporting role as the veteran conman Henry Gondorff, who assembles the team for the caper and oversees its execution. Despite the smaller part, Newman gives an electrifying performance with his conniving tough guy portrayal. Robert Shaw ("From Russia With Love", "A Man For All Seasons", "Jaws") is also terrific as mob boss Doyle Lonnegan. Charles Durning ("The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"), Ray Walston (TV's "My Favorite Martian") and Eileen Brennan ("Private Benjamin") round out a splendid supporting cast with fantastic character portrayals. This film is entertaining and fun with a tight plot and wonderful period renderings. I rated it a 10/10. If you have never seen it, you are in for a treat.
Rating: 
Summary: YEP - SAME AS THE OTHER "REVIEWS"
Review: They have the gall to issue a "new" edition and STILL NO WIDESCREEN?! Universal's gotta be kidding--
Rating:
Summary: Please Explain?
Review: This is a great movie, probably the all-time best of its genre. The 1 star is not for the content of the movie but for its adaptation to dvd. Now, several reviewers have argued that the film was originally shot in a 1.33 ratio instead of 1.85, which, if true, would make it superfluous to release a widescreen version. However, other reviewers have pointed out that a 1.85 ratio widescreen version existed at one time on vhs. Not being terribly familiar with film, I would ask those who say that it was originally shot in 1.33 how it was made into a 1.85 version...where would the footage that occupied the additional space have come from?
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, lousy transfer.
Review: Who in their right mind would release this movie in anything other than its original aspect? Let's just chop off two-thirds of the Mona Lisa so it will conform to television screens while we're at it. Movies are no different than any other form of art; it is unforgivable to chop them up for the sake of conformity. I'll wait until it's done right and urge you to do the same.
Rating:
Summary: Concerning the aspect ratio
Review: The movie was shot in widescreen, I own the widescreen 1.85:1 VHS, and own the DVD in standard, there are missing scenes to the left and right. While the movie may have been filmed in 1.66:1 or any other variations, it was not filmed 4:3/1.33:1 or 1.85:1. As other reviews state you lose image top and bottom too in 1:85:1, and 4x3/1.33:1 you lose the sides. (I have noticed both cases myself.) This leads me to believe it may have been shot in European standard 1:66:1. Why would they ever release a widescreen VHS, which were not tremendously popular at the time, if in fact it were not shot in widescreen? As one other reviewer stated the video case does say it is "presented in a widescreen format to preserve the artistic integrity." Skip this wonderful movie until Universal gets their act together, and releases the movie in the proper aspect ratio. I am glad I kept my VHS!
Rating: 
Summary: Mixed Feelings....
Review: "The Sting" is set in Chicago during the 1930's. Johnny Hooker(Robert Redford)and Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman)are a couple of con artists, that team up to gain revenge on mob boss Daniel Lonogan ( Robert Shaw), when a mutual friend of theirs is killed. "The Sting" is perhaps the best con artist film ever made. Robert Redford and Paul Newman team up again, and in my opinion have better chemistry in this film, then they did in "Butch Casidy and The Sundance Kid". Both of them are outstanding in their roles. Robert Shaw is perfect as Doyle Lonnegan. Gives the perfect portrayal of a ruthless mob boss. Watching Redford and Newman con him is extremely satisfying. The supporting cast was great as well, and included performances from Dana Elcar, Eileen Brennan, Ray Walston, Charles Durning, and Harold Gould. The musical score, is perhaps one of the best musical scores ever created. Played solely on the piano, it manages to go along perfectly with every scene. Also the set and costume designs are beautifully done. They are extremely authentic to the 1930's version of Chicago! But the best thing about the film, is the actual "Sting". It is one of the greatest double crosses in movie history! The film is shot brilliantly, because you see the events unfold one by one. In a film where there is a lot of twists and turns, you don't want to be confused, or be left asking "Why?". The reason "The Sting" succeeds, is because everything is laid out extremely well, and there are no loose ends. "The Sting" was the winner of 7 Academy Awards in 1973 including Best Picture, Best Director - George Roy Hill, and Best Original Screenplay - David S. Ward. If I was giving a review for just the film, it would be 5 stars hands down. However, I have to give a 3 star rating because of how bad the DVD is itself. I can't understand the horrible DVD treatment from Universal. There are no extras whatsoever, and it only comes in full screen format. Overall, this is a must own just for the film itself. But, you should probably go with the VHS version in this case.
Rating: 
Summary: Redford and Newman at it again
Review: I just rented this DVD and watched the whole thing, but I've seen this movie several times before. Johnny Hooker (Robert Redford) is a con artist who unknowingly swindles a lackey of crime boss Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw). After Hooker's partner in the crime is killed, Hooker vows revenge against Lonnegan and seeks Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman), one of the best cons in the game to help in the big Sting. Hooker would love to do more than just hit Lonnegan for a lot of money, but "doesn't know enough about killin' to kill him." It's not easy separating a crime boss from his money, especially when he owns half the politicians and police. They have to take him without him even knowing he was taken. What follows is an exciting deception, carried out with professionalism and ingenuity. I don't think the chemistry between Newman and Redford is quite as good as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but it's still pretty darn good. Lines like this: Hooker: "He's not as tough as he thinks."
Gondorff: "Neither are we" The story is classic. You don't exactly know who's who, and you wonder how they're going to pull it off in the end. Scott Joplin's ragtime music, although somewhat anachronistic, is effective at keeping the movie somewhat lighthearted. There are a couple of instances of swearing and a stripper with pasties on, which gives it a PG rating. The reason for four stars is the fact that the DVD has NOTHING other than the film, and that's in the full screen version. A movie as good as this deserves better, which is unfortunate. Overall, this is a great movie with great cinematography (transition wipe effects and some tracking shots) and phenomenal acting. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Widescreen?
Review: I love the film, but why is this not available in Widescreen on DVD? There's been a Widescreen VHS, and I've seen it in Widescreen on Turner Classic Movies. I know it was shot in Widescreen, so how about it, Universal?
Rating:
Summary: Full Screen Lobotomy Of 5-Star Film
Review: The great reviews of the theatrical experience of this film are true. So where is the W I D E S C R E E N version ?
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