Raging Bull (DVD)

I've heard so many great things about this film but have never experienced it... I think I may have to change that now. Thanks, Jim!

Justin,



It's the only Scorsese movie that I like, and it's amazing.



Eddie

YES YES!! I LOVE SCORSESE AND CAN'T WAIT TO GET THE BOX SET NEXT WEEK! THIS IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOVIES OF ALL TIME!! DENIRO IS THE MAN!!!

Thanks for the objective review, San Jose Shark. Now go back on strike.



Eddie,



I know we've discussed our dislike of Scorsese before, I'm glad this movie gets your approval, it makes the purchase decision easier.

Surely your I-hate-Scorsese club doesn't include "Goodfellas" and "Taxi Driver," does it? I can see where the others are subject to criticism and dislike, but "Raging Bull," "Goodfellas" and "Taxi Driver" seem beyond criticism.

Sadly, no. I absolutely cannot stomach "Taxi Driver." I experienced it in film class in College and, perhaps because it was built up so heavily, couldn't stand it. Goodfellas... well, let's just say there was an incident with a flipper where I watched the scond half before the first and haven't seen it again since.

"...let's just say there was an incident with a flipper where I watched the scond half before the first and haven't seen it again since." --Justin Cleveland



But you know, Justin, that may just prove how very good "Goodfellas" is. I mean, with most movies these days, if you showed the second half first, you wouldn't even notice.



John

Jim,



"Taxi Driver" was so boring to me that it took five tries to even finish watching it. I thought that "Goodfellas" was merely mediocre (hey, at least I watched it on my first try, lol).



Eddie

"Thanks for the objective review, San Jose Shark. Now go back on strike."



HARSH! I'm struggling as much as it is without any hockey, I wouldn't wish this pain on anyone, it's horrible.

:.(



Also I can't understand how anyone couldn't like Goodfella's or Taxi Driver, it's insanity, Sa Da Tay.

Taxi Driver is one of the greatest films ever made. It's definitely in my top 10. It's one of the few movies I actually have a physical response to every time I watch it; it's so tense my fists curl up and I have to look away as the energy just builds and builds and builds until...



Forgive Eddie, he has the attention span of a rabid hamster.

Chris,



The attention of a rabid hamster? If that is the case, then why do I prefer watching "Lawrence of Arabia" ten times in a row to watching "Taxi Driver" once?



Eddie

Eddie,



Becasue Lawrance is epic film and we all know how you like commercialized, big budget, American epic films. I mean, after all, look how much you love Starship Troopers! Taxi Driver may not be epic but it is one of the best films of its time. It's probably not my favorite MS film, but come on! It is a pretty good flick.



:p

Eddie, maybe you have a "thing" for Omar Sharif!



And don't hate, reciprocate...... ;)

Tim,



I like plenty of smaller-budgeted movies.



Don't hate--mate. ;)



Eddie

Eddie,



Oh, I don't hate. I just like to tease you whenever I get the chance.



Tim

Okay fellas, let's try to put Scorsese's genius into perspective for all you non-conformists here. Just because everybody respects the guy doesn't mean you have to say you don't. You're like Oliver Stone raging against "the man" or something, it's really quite sad to deprive yourselves of the uncontrollable, enthralling chaos that is a Scorsese film.



Goodfellas vs. Every Mob Film



Scorsese is not a director that storyboards in detail, gets on set, yells ???action??? and lets the D.P. do all the work from there directing via blueprint. Every centimeter the camera moves is for a specific reason. The film is not made great solely based on scenery like The Godfather, or by one actor by himself like Scarface (which are both great films as well by the way). The film is wrought with all sorts of techniques that are unconventional not just for the sake of being different, but to tell you something about the characters and invoke the viewer with very specific, orchestrated emotions.



Example: Freeze frame on Henry each time he is being convinced of the goodness of the path he is being lead down as a child. It only happens when he???s young, and only when he is doing or seeing things that make him want to be a part of the life. And in turn, you want to be part of it. You see these people doing all the things you wish you could do and he forces you to stare at the screen and contemplate the ???what-ifs???. Running from the scene after blowing up cars without consequence; being congratulated for being pinched for the first time outside a courthouse; seeing a man enter a room that is rich and powerful beyond his wildest dreams.



You give any other director this script and it???s just another mob movie with people doing bad things that you are observing while completely detached. Goodfellas has you completely convinced (up until the murder of Spider) that this way of life is completely acceptable. And that???s what???s so great about it. I challenge anybody to watch 5 minutes of this film and be able to step away for anything but an emergency.



It???s that good, and the same goes for Raging Bull as well as Taxi Driver. In that order of course, but they???re all in the same top-notch category. And anybody that can be responsible for the development of THREE films of this stature in ONE career is worthy of mass acclaim.

Scorsese in my mind in the greatest director of all time, and as of today I have every movie of his available on dvd in my collection, can't wait to watch the special edition of Raging Bull tonight!

Just bought this DVD and the packaging is awesome

lucboone,



your rant of a post shows how little you know. scorsese is a modernist director who often makes mannerist stylistic choices--meaning, his camerawork is NOT motivated by any reason other than to call attention to itself. furthermore, not liking scorsese has nothing to do with what people in general think but with what individual persons think. you making blanket generalizations about non-fans makes you guilty of the irrational reasoning of which you accuse others of using.



finally, who cares about mass acclaim? if a director is good, then he's good. the general population does not know who kieslowski is, but it's sufficient that those in the know appreciate kieslowski's movies while others see michael bay's "pearl harbor".



eddie

I wasn't presuming to "blanket" a statement to everybody who is discounting Taxi Driver in these comments. I'm simply trying to illustrate my educated opinion as to why many of Scorsese's pictures work as well as they do.



His films have incredible style and subtext. That's more than I can say for most directors.



Lastly, stating that he deserves "mass appeal" doesn't mean that I care either way. It means just that, he DESERVES it. Whether he actually gets it or not is no skin off my nose. I like the guy, and that's all there is to it. This is a freedom of a opinion society and I respect yours............I just respect mine more.



Thanks for the feedback Eddie, nice to hear a non-Scorsese fan's take. I don't get that side often from an intelligent movie lover.

I'm buying some posters to frame to decorate my pool room. If only they had a poster of this dvd cover

Oh yes they do:



http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=15282&item=938851



When you get to that address, find the serach engine at the top of the page and type in "taxi driver" and you'll get a shit-load of move posters. There is actually some better stuff than even the DVD cover.



Tim ;)

Tim, I love you like a brother, but he's talking about Raging Bull, my man, and there's no poster of this cover.

Oh yeah, D'oh!



I meant to say "raging bull", however, being the same actor and director can get a person confussed. Guess I should stay clear of that Irish Whiskey, eh?



Tim