Rating: 
Summary: WELL DONE Martin Scorsese!!!
Review: Definitely a great 19th century epic movie and one of my personal favorites, Gangs of New York, brings to the screen two main stories which are unfolding simultaneously: Gang warfare in NYC between nativists and immigrants with the Civil War taking place in the background. In addition, the movie portrays superbly and in great detail, both the corrupt politics as well as the attitudes and mentality of New Yorkers during the Civil War, thus providing insight into a very important period of US History. There is one scene in particular in which newly arrived Irishmen are getting off the ship that brought them to "paradise" (America) only to be drafted within minutes into the Federal Army in order to be sent down south to fight against the Confederacy. A great movie indeed which shatters several misconceptions, deliberate and not, surrounding northern attitudes towards the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation i.e. northerners were anti-slavery and yet very racist, something which is difficult for people today to comprehend, and the fact that most northerners did not want to keep the southerners part of a country that they did not want to be part of, (needless to say going to war was not even an option for the average northerner and they had to be forced to sign up). Lincoln's decision to order the bombardment of the Northern "jewel" city of NY by the US Navy in order to put down the NYC Draft Riots also provides for historical truths which had been suppressed for long years in the name of "patriotism"...
Rating:
Summary: Suprisingly good
Review: After hearing such bad things about this film , I decided I would wait until the DVD came out.Once again the critics steered me wrong!The movies acting and direction are superb.Dont be fooled by these bad reviews.Anyone who likes action movies will love this film.Daniel Day Lewis should have won an oscar for this film.To all you so called critics , this movie was up for 10 academy awards.
Rating: 
Summary: Day-Lewis gave up shoemaking for this mess?
Review: I was really looking forward to seeing this movie, having grown up in NYC & steeped myself in its history. So I was very disappointed when I finally saw it. For one thing, it's very choppy & seems to spend most of its time getting started, orienting the audience, establishing some sort of exposition. As a result the Amsterdam character has far too many voice-overs, Leonardo DeCaprio not being the most forceful of vocal actors. There seems to be little flow or continuity in this film. There's no feel at all of the locale being New York City - it could just as well be Baltimore or Toronto or a Hollywood backlot & there's also very little *historical* sense in this film, either, other than in the sets & costumes. The staged brawls & celebrations & street fights & festivals seem a broad attempt at establishing a period atmosphere, but the scenes between any 2 characters could be from any period & any place, especially other movies. Jim Broadbent & Daniel Day-Lewis, otherwise admirable actors, seem lost in their characterizations & their accents are laughably strange, as though appropriated from old Bowery Boys movies. I thought that perhaps the Bowery Boys gang references in the movie were an inside joke because that's who they most sounded like: Muggsy & Satch. Too bad. Just think what someone like David Lean could have done with this material.
Rating:
Summary: It was just too long to love
Review: As I said this movie was too long! I liked it but after 2 hours I was ready for them to get it over with. I would not recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Burdened by its own weight....
Review: Some directors thrive on big budgets and big canvases. One such director was David Lean, whose most distinguished works were also his largest. His vision needed the money, the locations, the numerous extras. Others, like Martin Scorsese and the Coen brothers, seem to perform better on a lower budget. Otherwise, they just can't seem to resist the urge to indulge themselves a little too much. Such was the case with the Coens' Hudsucker Proxy, and so is the case with Scorsese's Gangs of New York. I bought this very well-produced DVD blindly, not having seen the film, first. I don't regret the purchase; Scorsese has made some of the best American films of the past 30 years, and his commentary track alone is worth the price. I only wish he had lent his voice to Taxi Driver or Raging Bull or GoodFellas, instead. These films were smaller, more focused, and just plain better. Slight production values in these films led to tight, tough, clean stories that reached as deep psychologically as technically. Scorsese's flamboyant camera style blended smoothly with gripping, dramatic stories and memorable characters, fusing a sculpted whole. Gangs of New York, by contrast, is undernourished at heart. For all of his technique, Scorsese cannot disguise the humdrum revenge story and lifeless "romance" at its center. It's a shame, since the efforts of many very talented people - not least Scorsese himself - seem wasted a good deal of the time. But not always. There are individual sequences in Gangs of New York that almost justify the colossal effort and expense of bringing it to the screen. Daniel Day-Lewis holds the screen magnificently as Bill the Butcher in every scene he's in. The biggest mistake of the film is not making him the main character. His ascent to power, flirtations with the politics of Tammany Hall and Boss Tweed, and eventual death at the hands of a young man looking for revenge - THESE are the elements that would have made a great film, were they not frustratingly pushed into the background by the tedious, lackluster character of Amsterdam Vallon. Leonardo DiCaprio is an interesting actor, but his character as written is just not compelling enough to carry the sheer weight of this film. Perhaps he was seen by the studio (or Scorsese himself) as more "bankable". Perhaps the heroic/romantic aspects of his character were deemed "safer". But if there is one lesson big studios seem to insist on learning over and over again, it's that nothing fails quite as spectacularly as "tried and true". Gangs of New York, like The Godfather, is a film that cries out for a compelling villain as its hero. In Day-Lewis' character, it could have had one. It's a shame. For students of history, though, this DVD is must. Though fictional, the film's tepid story is nonetheless based on historical fact. The extra material provides a wealth of data to support this, which is invaluable to anyone wishing to disabuse themselves or others of silly romantic notions about our country's roots. Most civilized societies are founded on a bedrock of violence and conquest. The United States is no exception. Most American conservatives would take exception to that statement, but it is demonstrably true. It requires no less than an act of willful self-delusion to think otherwise. The truth, that at least part of our history is marked by savage struggles and bloody turf wars, is a hard pill to swallow, but one that we should endeavor to, nonetheless. That is the real value of this DVD, and of this film. As an entertaining movie, it is merely so-so. As a history lesson, it deserves your attention.
Rating:
Summary: Four Stars for Movie..but extra Star for Daniel Day-Lewis!
Review: This is a pretty good historical film on gang wars during the middle and late 1800's. It may not be totally historically accurate, but the feel and look of this time period is dead on. Leonardo and Cameron are okay, but nobody can compare to the brute force and flat out great acting ability of Daniel Day-Lewis. His portrayal of the ruthless Bill the Butcher should have won him the Oscar last year, not that human twig Adrien Brody who only had about twelve lines of dialogue in "The Pianist." DDL has always been good at totally changing his look and accent to fully become the character, much like Johnny Depp. DDL was in retirement from acting for over five years before he decided to do this film. If this indeed is his last on screen performance, he will be remembered for it forever. Not only because it was his personal best, but because it is one of the best overall performances in the history of cinema.
Rating:
Summary: NOT AS BAD
Review: I did not expect much from this film because I don't like the cast much, and the story is also not within the purview of my own interests. Usually I avoid things with stories that don't have much redeeming value to me personally, but in this case, I thought I might as well watch. The DVD fell into my hands, and I figured it could not hurt. I can say I was impressed with the film... grand scale, interesting... but overall, it seemed a bit much. This is why I just think it was average or a bit above average. The grand scale in essence was too over the top for my liking, but I did find myself entertained and engaged in the story enough to stick with it through the whole length. It was gory, bloody and dramatic, also not my favorites, but I think the film is worth seeing.
Rating:
Summary: Great Cast - No meaning
Review: I found little meaning in this movie. I enjoyed the idea and the historical setting, yet it seemed a little surreal. It was much like 'Once Upon a Time in America.' If you like that type of movie, you would like this. The senseless gore of the film was what irked me the most. DiCaprio is not too believable, yet Lewis rocks as a the archetypical villain. He is utterly believable. It is a story of revenge. DiCaprio's character at least did not give up his quest to avenge the death of his father.
Rating: 
Summary: Take a bow, Daniel Day Lewis
Review: This movie is about New York city durning the civil war years. The citys 5 points were run by a gang known as "The Natives" lead by historical figure, William "Bill the Butcher" Cutting. The son of Bill the Butchers last real opposition, Amsterdam Vallon (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) returns to the 5 points with revenge on his mind. One of the greatest performances ever was turned in by Daniel Day Lewis as "Bill the Butcher"; truely unforgetable. Even though many seem to want to bash DiCaprio, he does a excellant job in this film as well. If you are looking for a film that will leave you feeling all warm & cozy inside...Look someplace else. This is a grim tale of power, coruption and vengence.
Rating:
Summary: Barely watchable
Review: Other than Daniel Day-Lewis' good performance there is little to recommend this movie. Both Dicaprio and Cameron Diaz are brutally miscast and the story falls apart after the first hour. Good cinematography and Scorcese's vision of Manhattan in the 1800's may be worth a look but ultimately this is a huge disappointment.
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