Rating: 
Summary: One of the Best Movies of the 1980's
Review: Oliver Stone will never be known for subtlety. "Wall Street" bashes you over the head with its message- getting to the top in society requires duplicity, dishonesty, and the willingness to destroy any obstacle. However, unlike Ayn Rand, Stone vilifies rather than lauds this dubious morality. Bud Fox is a fresh faced, innocent stock broker trying to get ahead through hard work and elbow grease, as he was taught by his father. Bud soon meets powerful, charismatic corporate raider Gordon Gekko, incapable of love, remorse, or empathy. Gekko, we are told, sold NASA short 15 minutes after the Challenger exploded (impossible since the shuttle was destroyed in 1986 and the film is set in 1985!). Gekko predictably seduces Bud with his world of "perks", and Bud's star rises dramatically the farther he falls into corruption.Throughout the film, Bud serves as a sounding board for the rival values of Gekko and his father. The speech most cited by critics and fans is the immortal "Greed is Good" monologue. While this speech, standing alone, is a vigorous defense of capitalism and selfishness, it is important to note that Gekko is using it at a shareholders' meeting against a lousy, entrenched, and greedy management! Inevitably, Bud is forced to decide whether to follow his father's philosophy or Gekko's, and to pay the price for his misdeeds. A slight complaint with the ending- the fate of Gekko is hinted at rather than displayed. Gordon Gekko has become something of a hero for young, wanna-be big shots, who are attracted to the glamour of his lifestyle and his "up your's, I got mine!" attitude much as Bud was. Perhaps seeing Gekko get his comeuppance could have made an impression. Overall, Wall Street is a tight, well done character drama populated with iconic characters delivering iconic dialogue that acts as an indictment of a decade. The movie and its message will stay with you long after viewing it. As for the DVD, the sound, although in 5.1, is relegated almost exclusively to the center channel. One does not hear the sounds of Manhattan from all directions as Bud navigates the concrete jungle. The video quality appears grainy in some areas. This is a great movie worthy of better treatment on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: one the definitive films of the '80s finally on DVD!
Review: WALL STREET has always been one of my favourite Oliver Stone films. it crackles with the same intense, acerbic dialogue as SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS. from his "Greed is good" speech to the way he handles day to day deals with ruthless efficiency, you can see how Michael Douglas nailed this role of the ultimate amoral insider and deservedly won the Oscar that year for Best Actor. after watching this film on a crappy pan and scam VHS tape, it is so gratifying to finally see this film given a proper DVD treatment. the transfer is crisp and clear with good sound but the real selling points are the fascinating documentary -- which features Douglas and Charlie Sheen and their views and thoughts of the film after all this time -- and Stone's informative and candid audio commentary. for someone like myself who has seen this film a zillion times, listening to Stone's observations on his movie was a real treat. great stuff. along with GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, this is one of THE best films about money, greed and the people who ruthlessly pursue it.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply awful.
Review: I can't find a positive thing to say about this film. The acting, the plot, the dialogue, it's all completely horrendous. Don't waste your life watching it.
Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT FILM!!!
Review: What can I say that hasn't all ready been said? This movie was great,it captured the greed of business to the T! I have been in sililar situations,and have dealt with people who were seemingly cloned from Gordon Gecko.So I am able to relate somewhat.
If you haven't seen this movie,do yourself a favor and check it out...GREED IS GOOD.
Rating:
Summary: Stone, Sheen, Sheen, and Douglas Before They Sucked
Review: ...way back in '87, created a little morality play called Wall Street that packs quite a punch. Some films become dated when they deal with relatively recent eras - this one is set during the 80's junk bond fueled bull market. This one doesn't suck, in fact it seems to have improved with age, somehow. Flash forward to the Enron, corportate CEO scandals, and its themes are as relevant as ever. Douglas creates one of the most memorable villans in recent film history in Gekko the Great, investment banker/robber baron. Great script, performances, and direction - and some classic one-liners from Douglas. If you don't like Douglas, Stone, or either of the Sheens, see it anyway. If you saw it back in the '80's it's a great film to revisit. Wall Street is a classic.
Rating:
Summary: Capitalist crime
Review: 'Wall Street' must have some authentic merit given the amount of brokers and actual convicted insider traders that worked on the film. Oliver Stone's father was a Wall Street broker from a previous era. In fact Oliver Stone has been a fan and a supporter of the Wall Street world in which he grew up if anyone had taken the time to read any interviews with him. The difference between his father's time and the 80's financial world he was documenting was a rise in the culture of speculation, a system which in relation to his father's business values, creates and produces nothing for society. Indeed Hal Halbrook's character is Stone erecting his father's ghost, the voice of old Wall Street, where capital brought industry, peace and reason.
Ironically the rise of high profile busts for insider trading in the 80's may have more to do with a more stringent form of policing rather than a rise in financial greed. Reagan took his eye of corporate mergers, allowing the SFC to concentrate on the brash yet ultimatly small fish of insider trading. As corporate mergers got larger and larger, hostile takeovers skyrocketed and the rise of the parasite financers living off the buying selling of others was here to stay.
Gordon Gekko's "greed is good" speech has been quoted in more T.V., newspaper and magazine retrospectives of the 80's than I care to remember. There are few characters in modern cinema who have had such a divisive response. Seen as a villain by many and a hero by many others. Gekko is a perfect symbol of the economic and political divide of the 80's
Rating:
Summary: Zeitgeist on Film
Review: Let's start with 2 definitions:
A. Economics as the rigorous analysis of incentive and utility in any social institution.
B. Game Theory as the calculus of conflict and cooperation between 2 or more parties.
Now let us take these precepts as the backdrop of a canonical film that scrutinizes the Reaganomics-fueled roaring 80s and corporate transgression and you get something called "Wall Street," an incredible epic that works because its creator knows that business is ultimately a long game of chess.
Rating:
Summary: Greed is good, and so is this movie!
Review: When Michael Douglas won his Oscar, he thanked the directors "Because most people thought this was a role I couldn't play." And it is, far different from fun like "Romancing the Stone" but he does it very, very convincingly. "Greed is good" says Douglas' Gekko, and proves it to his innocent understudy, Charlie Sheen as a stockbroker. It's also great to see Charlie and Martin together as...father and son. Darryl Hannah is hot as ever as Gekko's ex-mistress and Sheen's new love. This movie posts quite a question....how much money is enough and how far are you willing to go to get it? An interesting look as well into the financial wheelings and dealings of corporate America.
Rating:
Summary: Boring, confusing, lacking in character depth...
Review: I didn't like this movie. It was VERY dull and confusing, and it was nearly impossible to relate to, sympathize with or understand any of the characters. The acting was pretty good, but overall I just couldn't wait for the movie to be over!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Movies of the 1980's
Review: Oliver Stone will never be known for subtlety. "Wall Street" bashes you over the head with its message- getting to the top in society requires duplicity, dishonesty, and the willingness to destroy any obstacle. However, unlike Ayn Rand, Stone vilifies rather than lauds this dubious morality. Bud Fox is a fresh faced, innocent stock broker trying to get ahead through hard work and elbow grease, as he was taught by his father. Bud soon meets powerful, charismatic corporate raider Gordon Gekko, incapable of love, remorse, or empathy. Gekko, we are told, sold NASA short 15 minutes after the Challenger exploded (impossible since the shuttle was destroyed in 1986 and the film is set in 1985!). Gekko predictably seduces Bud with his world of "perks", and Bud's star rises dramatically the farther he falls into corruption. Throughout the film, Bud serves as a sounding board for the rival values of Gekko and his father. The speech most cited by critics and fans is the immortal "Greed is Good" monologue. While this speech, standing alone, is a vigorous defense of capitalism and selfishness, it is important to note that Gekko is using it at a shareholders' meeting against a lousy, entrenched, and greedy management! Inevitably, Bud is forced to decide whether to follow his father's philosophy or Gekko's, and to pay the price for his misdeeds. A slight complaint with the ending- the fate of Gekko is hinted at rather than displayed. Gordon Gekko has become something of a hero for young, wanna-be big shots, who are attracted to the glamour of his lifestyle and his "up your's, I got mine!" attitude much as Bud was. Perhaps seeing Gekko get his comeuppance could have made an impression. Overall, Wall Street is a tight, well done character drama populated with iconic characters delivering iconic dialogue that acts as an indictment of a decade. The movie and its message will stay with you long after viewing it. As for the DVD, the sound, although in 5.1, is relegated almost exclusively to the center channel. One does not hear the sounds of Manhattan from all directions as Bud navigates the concrete jungle. The video quality appears grainy in some areas. This is a great movie worthy of better treatment on DVD.
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