Rating: 
Summary: A haunting, dizzying American classic
Review: Director Martin Scorsese (hot off of his critical breakthrough Mean Streets) directed this film that was destined to become an all time landmark in American cinema, and announced to the world the acting genius of Robert De Niro. De Niro plays psychotic cabbie Travis Bickle; an ex-Marine who takes a job driving a taxi because he can't sleep. He is driven to be a vigilante by seeing the ceaspool the city has become, while trying to protect a young prostitute (Jodie Foster) from her pimp (Harvey Keitel). Screenwriter Paul Schrader wrote the character of Travis Bickle so vividly, and De Niro perfectly captures the essence of this psychotic man living in a world decaying around him. Peter Boyle, Cybil Sheppard, and Albert Brooks also star, and look for Scorsese in a small role as a man following his cheating wife (the exchange between him and De Niro has quite a lasting effect). DVD extras include some interviews and trailers, but I would have loved to hear a commentary from Scorsese and/or De Niro. All in all, Taxi Driver may not be for everyone, but those who have never gotten the chance to see this should consider seeing it. The final ten minutes are some of the most gripping and chilling scenes in all of American cinema.
Rating: 
Summary: Terribly overhyped.
Review: After painfully sitting through this thing again for the last time all I can say is I'm tired, depressed, and befuddled at the high praise for this bleak, and darkly disturbing film. Or maybe that's the allure for some people. If you look at the votes for this thing people either love it or hate it. I'm mostly indifferent. One of the many problems I have with Taxi Driver is that there are too many unanswered questions about Travis' background, experience in the Marine Corp, etc. We know he was discharged while Vietnam was winding down but we don't have a clue what the source of his so-called "instability" is. Are we to assume that he had suffered some sort of trauma during the war...did he ever see any action...was he really discharged because of his instability? In fact, the guy seems perfectly normal other than a slightly obsessive compulsive complex which 70% of society is sporting, and he can't sleep. Awwww, poor thing... big deal. Does that alone make Travis a candidate for the nuthouse? NO! The truth is, we don't know what his alleged issues stem from and that is a major problem with this movie. His descent is so spontaneous when Betsy reacts about being dragged to an adult film, and he just snaps, we don't know why?!? (spoiler alert) Next thing you know the guy is buying guns like there's no tomorrow to feed his all-of-a-sudden John Wayne complex that springs from a source we can't, as an audience, connect with. Good individual performances don't make a film, and don't salvage the many holes that litter the canvas of this highly overated drama. And somebody please explain to me all this talk about Travis searching for "redemption", from WHAT?? Jeez! The campy final shootout is a little too reminiscent of the Wild Bunch where spurting blood and bad editing wooed critics all around. The popularity of which is a tribute to the end of Western Civilization. And you know if my illegitimate brother from BizzaroWorld, boydjt, likes this thing it's got to be pretty bad. 2 checkers.
Rating:
Summary: What's the big deal?
Review: I had heard so much about this film that actually seeing it was an anticlimax. One of the best films ever? I don't think so. I prefer De Niro's later work and found that parts of the film really dragged.
Rating:
Summary: Your Only As Healthy As You Feel
Review: Martin Scorscese introduces us with an epic tale about a New Yorker taxi cab driver. A brilliant work of art, to say the least. From the beggining of the movie to the very end, your eyes are glued to the television screen. One of the best movies done by Martin Scorscese. This is Hollywood at it's best.
Rating:
Summary: Psychological study of a vigilante
Review: Robert De Niro gives a brilliant performance of a man pushed to the edge in the corrupt big city, that he takes the law into his own hands. Travis is a taxi driver by night, and he encounters many different types of criminals: murderers, robbers, prostitutes, etc. He's getting more and more sick of it. He tries to start a relationship, but it fails, and he looses all hope of there being a decent human in the city. When he sees a young prostitute wasting her life away, he decides to try to help her, anyway he can, and he chooses the violent way. How will a violent world react when he strikes out? The film is masterly directed by Martin Scorsese, who has a unique style. The script is top notch, and deals with many contemporary issues, and posses great insight into the mindset of young angry individuals offended, and rejected by the world. If you like any other films with Robert De Niro you will love this film. People who appreciate top notch film making will get a lot out of this film. This is considered a classic, and I'm not surprised. Great story, great acting, and great directing, 5 stars. If your afraid of sensitive issues, such as violence, or negativity in the world, stay away.
Rating:
Summary: Master character study
Review: The importance of Taxi Driver cannot be overstated. More than a well made film, the movie is a genuine character study of the highest achievement. The absurdity of the decade in which the film was made lends an incredible amount of reinforcement to the presentation. The "conspicuous consumption" lifestyle of the 1970's makes the cheapness of human life depicted in the film (prostitution, exploitation, violence) seem all the more engaging. A few of the more important, albeit subtle scenes that I feel make the character study so realized include the following (I would ask that any viewer of the film pay close attention to these scenes and try to interpret the subtle importance of them as they relate to the character): - Travis is sitting in his apartment watching American Bandstand on TV. He is angered by the celebration of adolescent sexuality he sees and how "human" and accessible it is portrayed to be. In contrast, Travis is completely unable to conceptualize himself in this rite of passage, due to the self loathing image he has built up in his mind. Travis then sees an empty pair of shoes on the floor amidst the dancing couples, a stark metaphor for his inability to relate to the world he finds himself in. - Travis, although seemingly articulate and confident about his emotional convictions in his journal entries, recognizes the impending disintegration of his mental state and decides to seek the advice of his colleague Wizard, in a last ditch effort to make sense of his feelings. Travis's somber desperation is evident in his discussion with Wizard and an attempt is made to address the situation. However, Wizard, who shares none of Travis's chronic isolationism, is unable to offer any helpful words to Travis, who is ultimately frustrated one last time in his final effort to salvage his sanity. In the closing shot of the scene, Travis tries to articulate his inexpressible frustrations, to which Wizard casually replies "you know... you're all right, you're all right". With his last attempt to make a human connection an utter failure, Travis is now locked into his path of destruction, a path that cannot be positively influenced by outside individuals due to his inability to express his feelings. It is a particularly chilling scene, perhaps the definitive example in the film depicting Travis's final fate. - Travis is seen in his apartment room preparing for his confrontation with Senator Palentine. He speaks about his apocalyptic mission through his journal entries. However, his words portray a man unable to articulate himself even in his hour of destiny - "listen you f***ers, you screw heads, here is a man who would not take it anymore, who would.. not....." (starts over) "listen you f***ers you screw heads.....". This scene is very effective in that it illustrates Travis's inability to express his emotions with certainty, even when they concern convictions which he feels strongly about. - Immediately after his attempted assassination of Palentine fails, Travis is seen driving to the tenement house where Sport hustles. Dazed, Travis is utterly absorbed by his psychosis, his face a portrait of a concentrated, murderous obsession. A pedestrian attempts to flag down his cab, but Travis blows right by the would-be customer, occupied only with the slaughter he is about to engage in. I feel that this scene perfectly capsulizes Travis's complete descent into madness. This film was cheated out of the best picture Oscar by Rocky, which (although a fine film in its own right) is a film that anybody can love. In contrast, Taxi Driver is a film that many people would prefer to avoid due to its cynical portrayal of human life. However, it is often the ugly things in life which are the more relevant, more engaging, more compelling, more real.
Rating: 
Summary: Stars on the Rise....
Review: This review refers to the Collector's Edition (aka Special) of Taxi Driver by Columbia....
Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jody Foster and Harvey Keitel show us early on their special gifts to cinema, along with screnwirtier Paul Schrader.
Taxi Driver is the tale of Travis Bickle(De Niro), a lonley man,who drives a cab through the nighttime streets of New York. Although he is all but invisable to those around him, he witnesses all the disturbing events going on in the city.
Travis is not just lonely. He is obsessive and psychotic, and we slowly sees these traits arise in him through the film.
First he becomes obsessed with the beautiful Betsy(Cybill Shepherd) a campaign worker for a presidential hopeful, only to be rejected by her, and Travis goes after the candidate. He then turns his attentions to the 12 year old Iris(Foster), a prostitute working for a pimp named Sport (Keitel). He tries desperatly to save her from the streets and herself and when she doesn't respond he becomes extremly violent.
Throughout the story we see Travis' dessent into his psychotic behavior. De Niro really is superb at this. We first see it in his eyes,at one point he even talks to another cab driver(Peter Boyle) about the feelings he has, he purchases weapons, and prepares for battle like a warrior.
The movie is a classic and will stand the test of time.
The DVD has a host of bonus features, documentaries on the making and casting,it is in Widescreen(anamorphic), there are storyboard sequences among other things. The reason I gave this "Classic" film only four stars was the picture and sound, Although it is a pretty good transfer and is digitally remastered it just didn't seem up to par with other older movies espcially in the sound dept. The Score is great, but it is in 2.0 channel dolby digital, and I have even older movies(i.e. Gone With the Wind 1939) that have been remastered in 5.1. Also the color seemed a little dated. BUT!..... I would not trade this in for any other edition of this film, I am happy to have it as part my collection and those little details did not detract from the brillance of this film.
I would still reccommend this DVD to any Scorsese or De Niro fan.
"You talkin to me?"...from the famous mirror scene.......Laurie
Rating:
Summary: Taxi Driver. Does Life Imitate Art?
Review: Do you remember the name John Hinckley? Hinckley was the guy who attempted to assassinate Pres. Ronald Reagan. What does this have to do with "Taxi Driver?" The premise of this beloved film is, Travis Bickle, played by none other than "Bobby D," attempts to assassinate a presidential candidate in an attempt to gain the attention of "Betsy" (Cybil Sheppard), who works for this candidate, who Travis also has the hots for. There's a line that Travis narrarates, "I've got to do something big." While Jodie Foster, "Iris," (the 13 year old prostitute), was in college (at Yale or Harvard, I forgot), John Hinckley was "stalking" her and writing her all sorts of disturbing letters. Eventually, as we all know, or forgot, or are now learning, he attempts to assassinate Pres. Ronald Reagan. Hinckley apparenty does this in an attempt to gain Foster's attention, imitating the film. At the time of the attempt, he apparently was even dressed like "Travis," in that he was also wearing the army field jacket. And in the pocket? A copy of "Catcher in the Rye." The movie "Taxi Driver" went far beyond the cinema. Indirectly, this film has affected the federal firearm laws that are on the books today. For whatever disturbing reason, Hinckley in imitating this movie, thought that assassinating a president would gain him the attention of Jodie Foster. In his assassination attempt, he ended up shooting James Brady, who in turn had a hand in changing federal firearm laws, by implementing the "Brady Bill." The "Hinckley" case is one that really tested the "insanity defense." So, a little piece of useless movie trivia, where life imitates art.
Rating:
Summary: Great film, but DVD missing a scene
Review: This movie is great! But, I watched the DVD and it lacked a short scene that I remember from the theatre version when I saw it there when it came out. It was when D'Nero was walking along the street looking for Jodie Foster, and the whores kept trying to get his business. He got upset with them, and said, "Don't you know a fag when you see one?", to get them off his back.
It is a small scene, but is gone on the DVD even though it claims to be the original version.
Oh well, nothing can be done, I guess.
Rating:
Summary: The other side of the American Lifestyle.
Review: Normally, I would never take the time out to write an online review of any film, no matter how good I thought it. However, this film is so good that it is an exception. I list it as "the other side of the American Lifestyle" because Travis Bickle represents every single American who has ever felt alienated from society. Travis sees the world very realistically...to realistically perhaps. It's difficult to explain without watching the film, but I feel that every one of us can identify with Travis Bickle. Robert DeNiro gives probably the finest performance of his career. I don't know if there is another actor who could have given a more frighteningly realistic performance than DeNiro. Maybe it's because Bobby D, like the rest of us, could truely identify Travis' lonely view on the outside of the world, watching other people live out their lives unhappily without knowing what they truely want. On the back of the box it says "One of 100 best films of all time". This statement couldn't be more true. Even the shallow minded academy was able to recognize this and nominated it for Best Picture. If you have any appreciation for fine films, and have the stomach and mind to witness a very realistic take on life, do not hesitate to purchase this film! You will be interested to say the least!
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