Rating: 
Summary: It was...okay.
Review: At first when I saw this movie, I thought...wow! But after watching it on DVD and thinking about the movie inbetween, I realized it barely reached Best Picture qualification. I believed that Tom Hanks was pretty good but not outstanding. Paul Newman deserved his Oscar nomination and Jude Law was especially chilling. The major flaw of this movie was that it was incredibly long. There were parts of the movie that could have been cut down or left out. The second attempt at watching the DVD left me asleep in the middle of it. Although, I do beleive that some of the scenes were incredible, namely the beach at the end. Speaking of the end, that was the best and most moving part of the movie. The ending will be loved by everyone, if they can stay awake to get to it. Overall an okay movie, way too long for my tastes.
Rating: 
Summary: Visual Storytelling
Review: I won't rehash the other reviews, but I don't completely agree with any of them. This is a groundbreaking film, using a comic book premise, but without many of that genre's cliches. Very much like a comic book, it tells its story mainly through visual images, rather than by character development or dialog. Comic book dark characters, or heroes for that matter, rarely have much depth, so the development of the plot is mainly accomplished by creating mood and scenario. The success of those in this film is mostly a product of cinematographer Conrad Hall's talent. Hall was a distinguished veteran whose roots track all the way back to the 1960s Sci-Fi series, The Outer Limits, where also mood and scenario were keys to its success. Many of its best episodes were shot by Hall. I think the key to understanding this film is (as with many comic book characters) that the characters' souls are trapped in one-dimensional beings, inexorably hurtling toward an inevitible demise. They would like it to be otherwise, but it cannot be. This story is told almost exclusively via visual image, like the best of the 1920s silent films. This film breaks new ground because it opens up a whole new genre of movie storytelling with lots of fascinating possibilities and characters whose dimensions are very different from Hollywood stock. Earlier, 1940s Film Noir movies such as Out of the Past and They Live By Night made attempts, good ones, yet they lack a certain getting personal or identifying with the doomed characters, which Perdition achieves. They also had clear good guys and bad guys, which Perdition does not. For example, there are no Police in Perdition. It will be interesting to see if and how this new genre might be developed in the years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Not perfect like some say but a fine movie indeed
Review: I save the term "perfect" for a very few films (i.e. Saving Private Ryan, Unforgiven, Citizen Cane) and this movie wasn't "perfect". Probably the biggest flaw is that the Godfather would kill his favorite hit man just because his kid saw a killing. Come on, the mob isn't going to worry too much about a 12 year old kid.Otherwise, it is a very interesting and well done film. It keeps you in suspense through out the movie and the ending is very unexpected. Probably the best ending since "6th Sense". Both Hanks and Newman do a great job and the supporting actors are fine also. The period scenary is fabulous transporting you back to the 30's. It may not be perfect, but its in the top 5% of movies I have seen in the last couple of years
Rating: 
Summary: Everything I expected and so much more...
Review: I first heard about this film way back in the summer of 2001, and had been itching to see it for a whole year 'til I finally saw it in theaters exactly a year ago. And I must say it not only met my expectations, but it exceeded them. I was so afraid that I had hyped this movie up too much in my head, but I assure you I was NOT disappointed. Excellent directing on Sam Mendes' part, beautiful cinematography from Conrad Hall, and a magnificent and haunting score by the talented Thomas Newman (that I happened to buy weeks in advance of even seeing the film when it was first released!) And we most certainly can't leave out the superb acting by the very talented Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Daniel Craig, and of course Jude Law. I wasn't sure if I could buy Tom Hanks playing "a bad guy" in a movie, but he actually surprised me. I had been so used to seeing him in these roles as conflicted regular guys, and I wasn't sure I could picture him as a cold-blooded killer. But I think he pulled off the character marvelously. I've never really seen Paul Newman's work before this film, so I can't compare him to anything else. But I must say I do think he did a great job at portraying ol' man Rooney. I have to say the same for Daniel Craig. I never really saw his work before this (except in Tomb Raider, but he wasn't too memorable in that). I think he *really* stood out in this film. Much more than in Tomb Raider. And newcomer Tyler Hoechlin I was actually impressed with. I kinda just wrote him off as being just another new young actor with real no acting ability before seeing his performance, and I'll admit I was surprised. I'd say he did very well for his first big film with so many Hollywood heavyweights. And to save the best for last, Jude Law. One word can sum up his performance: FANTASTIC. I've known for years that he's a very talented and versatile actor, and when I heard he'd be playing a disturbed crime scene photographer who moonlights as a hitman, I could not wait to see him in this film. I knew he would be perfect for the part, and I knew he would bring such an incredible and enormous presence to the movie. My only complaint is that his total screen time probably only equals about 20 minutes, 25 tops. I really think he made Maguire interesting and appealing enough to have the storyline delve into some more character development on his part. But instead he was just kind of on the sidelines, which I wish he wasn't. I really would've liked to see his character play a bigger part in this movie. He was just so great to watch. But I do realize that the story wasn't focused on his character, so *shrugs*. All in all, wonderful film. A very nice comeback from Sam Mendes after winning the Oscar for 'American Beauty' 2 years prior. As for the DVD, it's a little skimpy on the extra features, but not bad. It's got some interesting deleted scenes, excellent director commentary, and an HBO first look documentary. If you've seen this movie before, but weren't sure if you wanted to invest in buying the DVD, I say it's worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Much Atmosphere - 2.5 Stars
Review: I don't know if this movie would have come across better in the theater, but I was more than a little disappointed after seeing several trailers and teasers before the movie.
Tom Hanks plays a professional "Hitman" and beloved "right hand" of Mobster boss, played (with more than a little panache) by Paul Newman, in the depression era. When his son stows away and witnesses Hanks making a "hit", and unwittingly becomes an eye witness to Murder, Newman turns on him (Hanks) and sets out to murder his family for the sake of "loose talk" possibly leading to a police investigation. The director sadly, has spent so much time building this depressing, grey and rain soaked backdrop to the movie, that it actually precludes the story from really coming across. Even fans of this kind of dark and brooding mobster style film, will find it implausible for the most part, and even great cinematics cannot unfortunately save it. You the viewer end up frustrated waiting for the story to gather momentum, but it seems to just stagnate, and plod along until the end, which itself is not particularly noteworthy. At just under 2 hours in length, it's also a bit of a trial to endure, and I found myself clock watching on more than one occasion. I don't want to overcritize this picture too much, and Hanks fans will probably enjoy this step away from his usual material, but this is not in the league of the Godfather, or even The Untouchables, I'm sad to say.
Rating:
Summary: A little disappointing and flat
Review: When the DVD was out on sale I, based on the previews and excited about another movie with Tom Hanks, ran to pre-order. Finally, I got the chance to see it and I have to admit: I was disappointed. Godfather has definetely not been beaten. Ok, it is a story about a mobster's son who discovers his father's true "profession". But, that his boss, who considers him (Tom Hanks) like a son, would turn against his favored "son" and put out a contract on him, is simply not believable nor logical. Only because the son has witnessed a killing, the "godfather" orders the extermination of the entire family of his favourite "employee"? Also, Tom Hanks is very flat and utterly unbelievable as a mobster. The killer that is supposed to get rid of Tom Hanks is indeed a joke. And Paul Newman as a godfather like mobster boss? Somehow, throughout the movie I missed the connection to the movie and I trapped myself looking at the watch. Not an ideal scenario for a movie of that genre. If you are a fan of Hanks, get the movie in order to complete your collection. If you expect yet another good movie in the line of Godfather or Untouchables you will be sadly mistaken.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best films of 2002.
Review: "Road to Perdition" is one film that I saw three times in the theater last year, and that's very rare. I was got up in the story, the mood it created, and the acting. The acting was perfect on almost all counts. The cinematography is beautiful and haunting. So is the music. This is director Sam Mendes' second movie, and it vastly improved upon his overrated film debut "American Beauty". That film was so smug and stupid. "Road to Perdition", however, is cinematic heaven.
Rating:
Summary: This movie put me in my place!
Review: I like to write fiction in my spare time and the writing in this movie is superb! To find out it was based on a graphic novel gave me a whole new appreciation for all of the comic book adaptions currently hitting the megaplex.
This movie put me in my place. The scene where Paul Newman tells Tom Hanks "I'm glad it's you." had me coming up with all sorts of responses and Tom Hanks showed the world what a brilliant actor he was by saying nothing and let it show in his eyes! What a performance! This is definitely one to own!
Rating: 
Summary: Road to Mediocrity
Review: This movie is nothing but a sad "Godfather" want to be. The story has more holes than can be imagined. Characters are sadly underdeveloped and make utterly no sense. Tom Hanks is the greatest over actor in the history of cinema and his constant yelling contends with that of the annoying Gene Hackman. Paul Newman gives an interesting performance but is way under used, as is Jude Law. Law's character is so underdeveloped that he is cartoonish at best. The villian in this movie being the son of a crime boss (Newman)is unjustified in everything he does. At no time does the audience care about these people the way they do in movies such as "the Godfather" or "Goodfellas." The power in crime dramas has always come from that portrait of the duality of man but here all we are given are black and white charicatures. This movie is destined to be lost in the drift of the most forgettable movies in history. Don't waste your time!!!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: ROAD TO PERDITION was an incredible movie. It is about a hitman in the 1930's, played by Tom Hanks and his family. However, something happens and his wife and one of his two sons are murdered. He, fearing for his life and that of his remaining son, Michael, go on the run. This movie is their story. The acting was awe-inspiring. Tom Hanks does an incredible job, along with Paul Newman, Jude Law, and the rest. This, perhaps, is one of Tom Hanks' best accomplishments.
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