Rating: 
Summary: Extremely watchable, but I wanted to like it more...
Review: GANGS OF NEW YORK could probably never live up (or down) to the anticipation, hype and hyperbolic reviews preceding its release. Upon seeing an early trailer months before release, most of the theater was giggling at DiCaprio and Diaz's downright terrible Irish accents. I was expecting the worst, along the lines of 1992's laughable FAR AND AWAY...I was pleasantly suprised, then, when I bought the DVD out of pure devotion to all things Scorsese, and found a well-paced, well-made three-hour film that kept my attention and entertained without pandering to the lowest common denominator. By now, everyone knows Daniel Day-Lewis' William Cutter steals the show - almost to the point of caricature. Still, he ably transforms into a noble "villain" for whom the viewer cannot help but find themselves silently rooting for. After all, why do we like DiCaprio's Amsterdam, anyway? Perhaps because his father was murdered before his eyes at the hands of Butcher Bill Cutter? Or perhaps simply because he personifies the underdog Irish immigrant the nativist Cutter wants to keep out of the country? Only the latter reason holds any water, I suppose, as if one hopes to see the film as any more than a simple tale of revenge, one must find something noble in Amsterdam Vallon, who aside from being Irish, is the same filthy murderous thief (though not so deep an individual) as Bill the Butcher. DiCaprio's performance in the film is merely passable. Horrific accent aside, he still manages to look wooden and waxen simultaneously and never manages to evoke any real emotion from the viewer. This plainly competent performance, however, is made to look much grander in comparison to the utter incompetence of Cameron Diaz as Five Points' favorite pickpocket whore, Jenny Everdeane. A completely unnecessary character terribly played, Diaz/Everdeane added nothing in terms of interest to the story and provided little more than opporunities for the viewer to get up and grab another beer or pop a bag of popcorn while she was onscreen. Aside from Day-Lewis, then, the real star of GANGS OF NEW YORK was director Martin Scorsese, whose love for the subject was evident in nearly every sumptuous scene, perfectly dressed, shot and choreographed in such a way as to make the viewer step back and remember how fine cinema stands out from the usual dreck - how a camera move can say as much, if not more, than today's hottest actor or actress. GANGS OF NEW YORK is a fine DVD (save for the fact that an intermission is forced as the film is split across two discs) and the viewer would best be served to watch the excellent Discovery Channel documentary on the second disc prior to watching the film. Much insight into the history behind the film is provided and the viewer picks up on many tidbits that may be lost on (or even confuse) viewers who approach the film without this knowledge. All in all, an entertaining film on a fascinating subject that, approached from a different angle, story-wise, and with a better all-around cast, may have achieved true "classic" status. Still, as it is, this one is worth your money if you're looking to be entertained by something other than explosions, street racing or teenagers having sex with pies.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Bad
Review: Bad history and a bad movie all rolled into one. I could be a little more forgiving of the poor history lesson if the film had been a little more entertaining. If you want a great film that is historically accurate try God's and Generals.
Rating: 
Summary: Subtle, it ain't!
Review: Any time you notice someone acting, it's not necessarily a good thing! As I sat back watching Daniel Day-Lewis in Gangs of New York, I kept thinking to myself, "Wow, look at Daniel Day-Lewis do this," and "look at Daniel Day-Lewis do that," and "gosh, Daniel Day-Lewis has a lot of talent!" It suddenly dawned on me that I wasn't taking the chararacter of Bill the Butcher as seriously as I was DDL's skill as a performer. This to me is not perfect acting. If it had been, I wouldn't have noticed the "actor" at all. Don't get me wrong, DDL is still the most entertaining aspect of the film, but that's more a testiment to the film's failure rather than DDL's brilliance. I have loved Day-Lewis' past screen performances, but this one is best suited on stage where subtlety is not really a requirement. I never thought I'd live to witness a subtle, introspective Jack Nicholson (in About Schmidt) and a flamboyant, scenery-chewing Daniel Day-Lewis in the same year!
Rating:
Summary: great acting but.........
Review: This movie had outstanding acting by daniel day-lewis and leonardo (diaz was less so). The directing was good, but the film got caught up into its own importance. You would think that by reading the subtitle (America was born in the streets) that this was a story of how gangs rose up to control Washington. But that is not the case as the movie is about one suburb and focuses on mainly poor irish immigrants.Also, the overt use of of defaming religous symbols was really unnecesary and unhistorical. i did appreciate the discovery channel feature on the real gangs, and i recommend you watch this before the actual movie. it was watchable, but not a classic.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Movie, but Leo not right for the part
Review: Daniel Day-Lewis makes this movie as compelling as it is. This is a not to be missed career best performance. He has gone from Hawkeye in "Last of the Mohigans" to having a false glass eye with an eagle engraved on it for patriotism. He played "Butcher Bill" a real butcher and the toughest street fighter in the "five points" area of New York. This was the worst slum America has ever known where the immigrants got off of the boat to become Americans. This included thousands of "Micks," such as my own ancestors. Bill was against immigrants, as they were the cheap labor that took jobs away from "real Americans." There were gangs of every nationality and type in the five points, and there were gruesome fights. I was looking forward to seeing Liam Niessen in this film as the Priest Vallon. He was killed by Bill in the opening of the film. Poor Liam has gone from being shot in the head as Michael Collins to being stabbed in the spleen by Butcher Bill. Similarly, I had great expectations for all of the Celtic talent I wanted to see in the movie, and saw them killed off one by one. To counterbalance to all of this slaughter of good talent was Leonardo, a fine Irish name. He plays the Priest's son, Amsterdam Vallon. With a name like that, he should have grown up tougher than tough. On his worst day, Leo comes off as a spoiled rotten Hollywood brat. My daughter is still swooning after all of these years, but I am still unimpressed. Why not Edward Burns, someone of Irish descent, a New Yorker, or at least someone with real "'tude"? When she isn't swooning, my own daughter has more 'tude than Leo. In fact, I have a grand daughter that can compete also. This is the tallest of tales, and what is even more interesting is most of it really happened. Please don't miss the Special Features. Once again, the only thing stranger than fiction is the non fiction it came from. This is truly a side of American History you never read about in high school. I guess people that come from the worst slums in history don't write history textbooks. I would still recommend seeing this movie, especially if you are of Irish descent, as this is fascinating history you will find nowhere else.
Rating: 
Summary: Whitman's New York- with the blood and guts
Review: I didn't bother to see this film in the theaters because of all the hype. Then I watched it on VHS- twice. I love this thing! I've never seen a film that comes closer to catching the true 19th century urban reality. Sure, there are a few historical liberties taken, but I don't care. The director got the atmosphere of 19th century criminal and working class life right. I was immediately reminded that this was the raw, wild New York that Whitman knew. Sure, this is set in the Five Points in New York, but it also gives an insight into any number of other places from Chicago to the Barbary Coast. Comes right down to it, you don't have to care about history at all to appreciate this film. Have you ever hung around low, dangerous dives where you were taking your life into your hands? Ever rubbed elbows with thiefs, murderers, or worse? Ever walked streets or allys where the cops won't even go- with only a blade in your pocket and a prayer on your lips? Ever faced cold steel without flinching or looking away? Ever been in a situation where the blood didn't count and the pain didn't matter? Some things just don't change. The last New York film that I liked this much was Last Exit To Brooklyn.
Rating:
Summary: A dissapointing story but facinating history:
Review: Great depictions of 19th century New York. The sets are amazing and the topic is a great one. Unfortunately the story itself and many of the actors are a let down. Daniel Day Louis is excellent and deserved the academy award. Sadly, Leonardo Di Caprio and Cameron Diaz are not right for their parts or this movie. Particulary Diaz who just does not have the right look for this period piece (and is simply homely unless attired in a bikini). Some of the supporting cast are good but Liam Nielson is terribly under utilized. The film's storyline is not very enthralling and does a poor job of integrating the history with the tale being told. The whole film really needed some lighter moments despite the seriousness of the underlying facts and history. I enjoyed the DVD's background look at the sets and set design as well as the Discovery Channel program "The Real Gangs of New York" more than I did the actual movie. And oh yeah, it is pretty grissly and do not watch this if you have a phobia about knives or sharp objects. I would not say that the violence and gore stoops to the level of gross however.
Rating:
Summary: It's not all it's hyped up to be!!!
Review: I apologize for not agreeing with the masses here, but this movies was one of the biggest let downs for me this year.
The visuals were stunning, hence the 1 star. Aside from that, the movie was long....OK, really long, and instead of that time being used to draw you in and personalize you to the movie, it just kind of dragged on. I felt that ending was rushed and diluted (I don't want to throw out any spoilers hence my somewhat vague decriptions). Maybe it was that the story (or the way it was told) seemed shallow, transparent, and moodless, though the sets did help in the mood department slightly.
I think Scorsese had a pontential winner here, but he didnt pull it off, at least for me.
Rating:
Summary: Overblown and only vaguely based on History
Review: Gangs of New York is one of those films that the critics love because it is directed by a darling of the critic set: Martin Scorcese and stars a moody, self absorbed Acadamy Award winning actor: Daniel Day Lewis. It also stars the much ballyhooed Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. For a film that is set in 1800's New York - lower east and west side - it gets the MGM musical treatment for sets and set dressing. In other words, everything is very clean looking (for a slum) and the clothing is colorful and you expect at any moment the actors will break into song. The film "From Hell" is set in a later time in England (and it and New York would be much the same as London for the time) and it looks appropriate dismal and dirty. Day Lewis is playing to the back rows. In other words, he's really hamming it up - and that's not a good thing. DiCaprio is horribly miscast (remember this film started shooting not long after Titanic was released and he was the "it" boy at the time) and is completely unbelievable in the role. Likewise, Diaz is far too proper looking. These people all have their own teeth and even bright white smiles - this would not have been the case. The action around which this movie is centered is portrayed incorrectly and in doing so the entire point of the film is nothing more than a Hollywood version of history. This isn't a bad thing - Hollywood's been doing it for years - EXCEPT that the producers and director, in the DVD extras and the promotional material would have us believe that what they've crafted is historically correct. Watch this film if you want to see some of your favorite actors working their craft. If you're expecting a really good film with great performances and historical context - FA GHET ABOUD IT! It isn't here. Oh, yeah, though the promos tell you otherwise - this is so NOT an action film!
Rating:
Summary: Flirts with Greatness, at least for the first 2 hours...
Review: I almost said it. About 2/3rd's of the way through Gangs of New York, I almost said "this is the best film Scorcese has EVER done." But, I waited and alas the last 45 minutes proved me wrong. Hey, 4 stars is no small accomplishment and Gangs of New York is an excellent film, but not a great one. Out of the many reasons I could site for this picture being a resounding success, there is only one that matters: Daniel Day-Lewis. I could not stop thinking during the duration of this film how Daniel Day-Lewis was ROBBED of an Oscar this past year. Not only was his performance as Bill The Butcher great, but it will be remembered for years to come as one of the best roles ever played on film. It's not just the accent (which is cool) or the brutality (which is apparent) but the torment of this man's soul that you feel with every inhumane act he commits. Every other character in Gangs of New York stand as ants in comparison to Lewis' Butcher. Leonardo DiCaprio is less than adequate he cannot pull of the toughness needed of this role, he's too much of a pretty boy and this film ain't pretty. Cameron Diaz does a good job as a local thief and object of all mens' affection in the Five Points. Liam Neeson makes a brief but powerful appearance in the beginning of the film as Leo's dad, whom the film is largely centered around. The first 2 hours of Gangs is mesmerizing, fast-paced and intriguing. The Gangs are the main fodder. But as we near the end, Scorcese does not give us the ultimate payoff that we have so patiently waited for. Instead he chooses to push the central story to the backburner and shove down our throats the Civil War Draft Enaction and the violence that followed it's inception. Overall, Gangs of New York is a success in every sense of the word. It is certainly worth owning just for Daniel Day-Lewis' performance alone. But, Goodfellas still reigns atop my list of Scorcese films. Highly Recommended.
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