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Road to Perdition (Widescreen Edition)

Road to Perdition (Widescreen Edition)

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $11.99
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The 'new' Godfather
Review: Road to Perdition is a very good drama, documenting a father and son's six-week rampage across America, being chased by an assassin.
Tom Hanks is Mike Sullivan, hit man for an important businessman until his son witnesses him commit murder. Hanks is very well suited to this role, even if 'gangster' isn't a word you often associate him with in films. He is wonderfully heartless and unemotional, not flinching as he kills men in cold blood. Hanks manages to murder so many people on his own, even the Terminator would be jealous! It is a very good drama, combining your typical mafia movie with big-budget Hollywood quality, and coming out on top.
Now, why is it the modern Godfather you ask? Characters and their attitudes. Hanks' son is a character similar to that of Michael Corleone in the Godfather, the child who didn't want a life of crime, but is forced into one. As with Michael, he finds that this life is his destiny and becomes on eof the best in the business. Hanks is brilliant in a role he deserved an Oscar nomination for, playing the Vito Corleone-like mentor teaching his son the ways of the mobster. He is convincing in this manner, showing that this life was the one he chose, but hadn't wanted for his children.

Road to Perdition is a very good movie, as you would expect when Tom Hanks is involved. A solid storyline, strong casting, and the 5-star video & audio standards DVD's offer. If you like Hanks' style, or gang flicks such as The Godfather, check Road to Perdition out today.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great film, great DVD
Review: This movie is nice. A great performance by Tom Hanks and a very good filmmaking effort by Mendes.

The Quality of the DVD is superb. Sound and Picture are reference quality.

This DVD is worth every penny and should be part of every movie fan's DVD shelf!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Gorgeous Imagery, haunting soundtrack, solid cast
Review: It's all so f*cking hysterical.

A cinematic triumph here. Not the most action packed of the ganster genre, but one of the most beautiful to watch since Miller's Crossing. I think the younger crowd will not appreciate it as much as the over age 25 film buff would.

Set in the 1930's, The story is slow to begin, but eventually you are sucked into the plot and the characters. I think it's a great addition to my DVD collection, and more so on widescreen than the fullscreen that I rented, which was my first viewing of the film.

It is one I shall watch again at least once a year.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: 'ROAD' TAKES YOU NOWHERE.
Review: IT SEEMS LIKE NO MATTER HOW BAD A FILM IS IF IT CASTS BIG NAME LIBERAL ACTORS LIKE HANKS AND NEWMAN EVERYONE RAVES ABOUT IT.

WELL I CANT CONCUR. 'ROAD' STARTS OUT LIKE IT IS REALLY GOING SOMEWHERE, BUT IT NEVER REALLY DOES. HANKS IS AN ORPHANED GANGSTER WHO OWES ALL TO TOP MOB DADDY PAUL NEWMAN. WHEN HANKS AND NEWMANS REAL SON, A PUKE OF A PSYCHO COWARD GO TO 'EVEN A SCORE' ONE OF HANKS BOYS UNBEKNOWEST TO HANKS IS A CASTAWAY FOR THE RIDE AND WITNESSES A NEEDLESS KILLING. WORRIED THAT THE KID WILL 'TALK' NEWMANS SON ORDERS A 'HIT' ON HANKS FAMILY.

HANKS AND HIS ALL SEEING SON ESCAPE DEATH AND GO ON THE RUN TO RIGHT THE WRONG. AT THIS POINT WE ARE PUMPED UP READY TO ENJOY A JUSTIFIED VENGANCE FLICK. BUT WHEN IT COMES, IT IS SO CARELESSLY DONE THAT IT ISNT BELIEVABLE. ITS LIKE A GREAT BIG BAND NUMBER THAT CLIMAXES IN A ROSEANNE SUNG SOLO.

AT ANY RATE WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG BUDGET, BIG NAME OSCAR WISHING FILM GOES AWRY. IT COMPLETLY RUNS OFF THE RAIL AND IN THE END WE ARE LEFT WITHOUT REDEMPTION, WITHOUT REALISTIC JUSTICE AND ULTIMATELY WITHOUT A CLUE.

PASS ON 'ROAD TO PERDITION' IT WONT TAKE YOU ANYEHERE.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wow...That's all I can say!
Review: When you step into the movie theater, you hope you're going to view a movie that is moving, or entertaining, or possibly just pure adventure and action. Well, this movie packs all three of those qualities into one classic film. I believe this movie was robbed of a Best Picture nomination and possible win. The award it did win was Cinematography, which is great, because that was the best thing about this movie. Every scene was like a comic book panel. It just pulls you in. The key point of this movie is to tell most of the story through pictures rather than dialogue. For example, the scene where Edward Rooney (Paul Newman) and Micheal Sullivan (Tom Hanks) perform a piano duet for the families at a funeral demonstrates their love for one another as father and son, despite the fact that they are not blood relatives, rather Rooney is Sullivan's surogate father. It is simply moving.

The synopsis is as follows: After some character development, the story begins to pick up as Sulliven's son, Micheal (not sure who plays him, a young and great actor) sees an entire killing scene that took place in a wherehouse. Because of this, events occur that lead to him and his father fleeing the mob. It is about their new found connection and love for eachother as they speed down the bloody road to Perdition, a small town where their relative lives. Perdition is also a metaphor for Hell.

The actors that stand out in this film are Paul Newman and Jude Law, who plays a photographer/hit-man hired to hunt down Sulliven. Unfortunately, Tom Hanks did not play his character well. I believe this could be because of his focusing on roles that are much more expressive or normal (i.e. Saving Private Ryan and You've Got Mail respectively). I was suprised to find that the young actor playing Micheal, Sulliven's son, was great and has a lot of opportunities ahead of him. Daneil Craig played Rooney's real son and depicted his extreme jealousy and power-hungry disposition outstandingly well. The acting was in a word superb.

Bottom Line: This film should have been nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and will acheive its title as a classic in time for its outstanding acting, cinematography and moving story. (I give it an A+ and it is number 4 on my Top Ten Favorite Movie List).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Very well done
Review: Great casting makes for great movie. Set back into the 30's, Michael Sullivan(Tom Hanks) is a cold blooded murderer, hitman, but also a loving father and loyal husband. He must save his son, Michael, from not continuing in this business. Some twists in it and nice fighting scenes, and a brief appearence from Harry Groener(The Mayor on Buffy, About Shmidt, appeared on Star Trek(don't know which, obviously not a fan)) as Mr. Mcdougal. He really brought alot of joy to the screen like he did on Buffy, too bad he couldn't have been in it more. Tom Hanks can act, which is something I learnt. Here's my review:

Plot: 4/5 Much different then your average movie these days, father protects his son from being a hitman.

Acting: 5/5 Great acting from Hanks, Newman, Jude Law and Harry Groener. Not a problem in this movie.

Characters: 4.5/5 Nothing special, just a hitman.

Cheapness: 4.5/5 Not too cheap, very well done.

Overall: 4.5/5 Great movie, see it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Film, But What Happened To The Cover?
Review: Sam Mendes is truly a genius, visually in particular because he's worked side by side in his only two films with the late Conrad L. Hall to attain Best Cinematography Oscars for each of them. Yet, rather than share mementos of that glorious camerawork on the cover (there is a smaller picture of Hank's character and his character's son at left, but it's not dominant), there's a still of Tom Hanks that does not do justice toward the skill of the Great Conrad. Why not show a still of the haunting opening shot, with Tyler Hoechlin in front of the water, or of Jude Law's introductory "Vertigo shot," or of Hanks and Hoechlin walking in Chicago seen through a small depth of field? There are many other brilliant scenes optimized for stills that I haven't mentioned, and none of this rant goes against the film itself, but after all of Conrad L. Hall's amazing work, which earned the film's sole Oscar, why not showcase it on the film's display box?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: An emotional rollercoaster!
Review: Road to Perdition is about a hitman named Mike Sulivan who works for crime boss John Rooney during the Prohibition in the early 1930's. When Mike Sulivan's 12 year old son witnesses his father and Rooney's son Conner commiting a murder, Sulivan must decide where his loyalties will be. Should he turn on the crime boss who raised him as his son, or should he stay loyal which would probably mean the death of his own son? Road to Perdition does an outstanding job capturing the violence and the "code of ethics" of the mob scene for this era. Tom Hanks (Mike Sulivan) and Paul Newman (John Rooney) give very convincing performances in their roles. Tyler Hoechlin (Mike Sulivan's son Micheal Jr.) plays an inoccent but curious 12 year old who will win over the hearts of viewers. Jude Law (Maguire) does an outstanding job playing a morbid but interesting hitman/photographer who is hired to kill Sulivan and his son. The plot moves quick enough to keep you on the edge of your seat but also alows some pauses to show the human side of all of the characters. This is rare in most mob movies where the characters are usually made out to be monsterous villans. The cinematography greatly enhances the already emotionally charged plot.
Although the ending is somewhat predictable and chliche, the movie is a must see for anyone who enjoys mob movies such as Scarface, or has an interest in organized crime during the prohibition era..

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Waste Of Money and Time
Review: My wife and I think Tom Hanks is a superb actor. My wife and I looked forward to seeing this movie, but found it dreadfully slow and boring. There were too many dark images and too dark emotionally. Give us some bright lights and vibrant colors. After 45 minutes we gave up and watched something else. Needless to say, we will not be watching the rest of this movie. This movie would definitely not be calssified as entertainment in our book. Only an idiot would consider this film to be a masterpiece. It is pure trash!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Tom Hanks' best movie yet.
Review: In a stunning meld of cold-hearted mafia revenge and the emotional development of bonds between a father and his son, Road To Perdition manages to be both startlingly picturesque, and emotionally captivating at the same time.

To say that the characters are well played is an understatement. Virtually every single actor/actress in this movie (regardless of the size of their role) is completely believable and emotional. These are people who know how to use both their dialogue and their actions perfectly to convey feeling. The viewer often understands them the most when they aren't saying a thing.

The characters are complimented by a host of suitable settings, many of which manage to be both grungy and beautiful at the same time. Use of the weather and uniquely selected camera angles helps bring things to life. The realism of the times is very accurate.

I have to say, however, that nothing else in this movie moved me as much as the soundtrack. While many scenes were wisely left without background music, the music that is there is wonderful. I can't remember the last time I've heard a more ABSOLUTLEY PERFECT theme tune in a movie (I'm talking about the piano piece that plays several times during the movie, and at the credits). It is one of the greatest pull factors which keeps drawing me to this movie because I can't get it out of my head.

Overall, this is a film that lived up to it's hype and then some. As a fan of mobster movies like The Godfather and Goodfellas I was extremely happy with this movie which managed to add a uniquely powerful shade of emotion into the mix along with the usual betrayal and murder. One thing I will never forget is the bluntness with which the main villian looks up from his cup of coffee and states "I shoot dead people." It's something I will never forget, and the same goes for the rest of this movie.

A masterpiece.


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