Reviews (222)

It is about time!! GREAT MOVIE
Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America" was released almost 20 years ago, and it is still one of my all time favorite films. The film spans over a period of 20 years. The characters - Max, Noodles, Cockeye, Patsy, and Fat Moe, all grew up in the violent immigrant ghetto of New York's lower east side. The tough streets forced the group of friends to grow up fast, which in turn forces them to fight their way to the top. All of them vow to stick together. The story fastforwards 20 years into the future where childhood friends Max ( James Woods) and Noodles (Robert De Niro) form a partnership to run a powerful crime organization along with the rest of their childhood buddies -Cockeye (William Forsythe), Patsy ( James Hayden), and Fat Moe(Larry Rapp). However as time passes, things start to spin out of control, and the partnership between Max and Noodles unravels in death and mystery...

"Once Upon a Time in America" utilizes the four basic traits of human nature - friendship, crime, love, and betrayal, to create one of the most dramatic and rich stories ever captured on screen. The entire cast - Robert De Niro, James Woods, William Forsythe, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Larry Rapp, James Hayden, Joe Pesci, and Danny Aiello were all unbelieveable and each helped to bring the story to life. However, the best performances given in my opinion were by the young actors that were chosen to play the characters as children. Their performances meant the most to the film, because that was the age when the tragic pattern of the characters lives were set. This film marked the first time appearance of Jennifer Connely, and even then at the age of 14, you could tell that she was a fantastic actress. Sergio Leone drew inspiration from the New York ghetto photographs of Jacob Riis. The authenticity that the photos provided to the settings was absolutely outstanding, and were the film's best feature.

The actors, well developed story, and stunning authenticity really provide for a wonderful film. "Once Upon A Time in America" offers a look at the dark side of the American dream that you can watch time and time again. Not to mention the fact, that this film finally came out on DVD!! If there was ever a film that deserved the special treatment of a DVD, it was this one. The movie is finally available with the best picture and sound quality available and we don't have to sit through the grainy picture of a videocasette either. This 2 Disc DVD set truly is a must buy!!

Great Film,VERY Dissapointing DVD!!!!
Sergio Leone's final masterpiece ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA is by far a unique and amazing piece of filmmaking by one of the cinema's greatest Italian directors since Fellini and De Sica.The story involves a ruthless gangster David 'Noodles' Aronson (played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro) who ends up fleeding away from his friends in the 1940's and returns back to them in the late '60's through many years of hardships as young kids growing up on the wrong side of the tracks to being successful in crime during the prohibition era of the '30's.Prior to its original U.S. release in 1984,this film recieved many great reviews and audience praise when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and The New York Film Festival.The film's distributor,Warner Bros/The Ladd Company,uncerimoniously cut out 90 minutes out of the original running time fearing that the movie would run too long and that they wouldn't get as many showings in a single day.The edited version totally changes the complete story continuity of the original film and therefore isn't even as good to watch ,even if you have already seen the longer version.In fact,this edited version of the movie has already been shown once on cable network television on the TNN network (now called SPIKE TV) in April,2003 and believe me,it isn't even worth watching! Warner's 2-disc Special Edition of the film is perhaps,in my opinion,one of the worst special edition DVD's I have ever purchased so far!!! Although the film is presented in its original 229-minute uncut version and in a beautifully preserved 1:85.1 aspect ratio,Disc one innapropriately stops in the middle of the Diamond Robbery scene,even though the disc jacket says it ends directly at the intermission title card!! But on Disc two,the intermission takes place nearly ten chapters into the second disc!! What a real travesty!!! Plus,there are no really great bonus features other than a terrific audio commentary by film critic/historian Richard Schickel,trailer,an excerpt from the hour-long documentary "Once Upon A Time:Sergio Leone" on the making of the film itself,and nothing else!!! However,the movie appears on HBO from time to time and is actually the same version that's on the DVD in which this version includes the Ladd Company credits and no intermission title card!!! I taped that version not too long ago and trust me,it's a lot better than this DVD mess,plus,I got the entire movie on one tape!!! Tape this longer version off of HBO and you won't be dissapointed and enjoy and appreciate this true masterpiece of Sergio Leone in its entirety!! Warner Bros could've done a lot better and nicer job on this DVD,but thankfully learned their lesson with better-selling DVD's after this fiasco!!!

be warned.........
If you're like me and you are thinking of buying this film because it's a Deniro/gangster movie, think twice. Despite some of reviews, this is NOT a materpiece. It is true that the cinematography is brilliant and the production design is top-notch. It is a very authentic-looking, well-made made film. However, those things do not make a masterpiece. The story is so convoluted and moves at such a glacial pace you lose interest. The climactic scene is anything but climactic. Nothing happens. Literally. Deniro and Woods' characters have a conversation and just walk away. Whatever emotional impact thier words are supposed to have has long been drained away by the four-hour running time. The packaging declares that Deniro "smolders" and a New York Times review anoints it as "the definitive gangster picture". Neither is true. You can count on two fingers the number of times Deniro changes facial expressions. He practically sleepwalks through the film. The worst flaw of the movie is that you cant identify with, or even remotely like any of the characters. At the end we are supposed to be moved by the tragic turn of events between two life-long friends, but after witnessing four hours of sexual perversion, graphic murder, etc., you end up having no sympathy at all for them. It has all the emotional impact of seeing Saddam Hussien and Adolf Hitler holding hands and running down the beach in slow motion. As a Deniro fan I really wanted to like this movie, but his character is repulsive. He's a serial rapist who takes his one true love out on a long awaited date and then forcefully rapes her in the back of a car. That scene alone is hard to watch. The Godfather films triumph because the characters have redeeming qualities that balance out thier evil deeds. This film wallows in dirt and excess from the very beginning and gives you no reason to care about these people. Almost the entire first disc is taken up by child actors who arent believable. When you see scenes of them walking around in fedoras and zoot suits acting like pint-size gangsters who intimidate the local cop and make deals with adult mobsters its almost comical. If they were'nt trying to trade cup-cakes for sex it would almost be Disney-ish. By the way, the four scenes that have been "restored" to this director's cut include the two rape scenes and two dialouge extensions. The added dialouge does flesh out the characters a bit, but it slows down an already slow pace. I wish that I had not seen the rape scenes. I hate to be so negative, but I wish I could get my money back. If you have an interest in seeing this movie, rent it- dont buy it. Dont believe the hype and the gushing declarations of being a masterpiece. Its altogether forgetable. The scenes that do stick in your mind do so because they are disturbing, not because of any great acting or artistic reasons.

A masterpiece no matter what anyone says
Yes, the film is four hours long, and yes, there is an hour and a half flashback sequence. But don't let this ward you way from what is truly a masterpiece of a gangster flick. The flashback itself is engrossing and endearing. If you love movies, if you love great acting, if you love history, this is the epic for you.

'Once Upon a Time in America' is a film about a group of four friends who have grown up together in New York City since the turn of the century. They grew up around crime and took part in it themselves. 'America' doesn't focus on the truly criminal aspects of the tale, though; nor does it glorify violence in any way. In a genius move, director Sergio Leone portrays how crime influences this tough, beautiful, but delicate friendship.

This brings me to the famously long flashback. Anyone who tells you it is boring, unimportant and relentless was obviously not paying attention. They must also have a short attention span, for the portrayel of the four main characters' childhood is at times beautiful, elegiac and hilarious. It tells a timeless tale of the central character in the film, Noodles (later played by Robert DeNiro), and his obsession with the local beauty (a young Jennifer Conally, later played by Elizabeth McGovern) who refuses to love him because he'll "always be a two-bit punk." It reminisces on the constant loss of virginities to the town prostitute who makes love for the price of one pastry (what accompanies this story line is a legendary scene where a young teenager succumbs to the temptation of his pastry gift). And it ends in one of the film's most emotional moments that proves you must have a strong stomach to really pay attention and/or appreciate the film to full extent. It is quite hard to watch not because of any sort of violence, but because of its emotional rawness ending in a near cataclysmic incident.

This carries over into the rest of the film, dotted with modern day looks at Noodles and his three friends who are dead at the beginning of the film. After his mental journey through the past, he searches in real life for the love of his life, played by Elizabeth McGovern. What ensues is a twist, one of the best in cinematic history (that I've seen, anyway). You won't be disappointed.

What is masterful about all of these storylines, flashbacks and flashforwards is the extent of their depth. Leone accompanies each detail with an unforgettable emotional truth that extends deep into each character's (and our own) psyche. And for those who love history, Leone sets this saga in the days of prohibition, which offers the four friends an occupation, of sorts.

Apart from the amazing depth in character and story, the production values are top notch, with glorious sets, cinematography and editing. And don't forget the delicacy of the writing and direction. It all works together so well on so many levels.

So to those who have strong stomachs (there are bouts of intense violence) and those who are not too young (this is definitely not a family film, as it portrays some graphic sexuality) and also those who are in love with cinema, I recommend 'Once Upon a Time in America.' Oh, and make sure you have a good attention span. This is not a short movie by any means, although it zips by in the best sense.

Why this "director's cut" is still a muddled mess
One thing that you should know about this movie, according to the running commentary on this DVD set, is that Leone originally shot 10 hours of film. Then from this 10 hours of film he apparently did an original 6 hour film cut. Realizing this length was not practical for a single movie release, and opting not to split his work into 2 seperate films, Leone then got out his scissors once again and cut his film down to this 3 hour 49 minute version. This, I think, is where the problems begin. For instance, Leone chose to leave in the now legendary 5 minute scene of a kid eating a piece of cake. However, Noodles' girlfriend Eve who gets wacked at the start of the movie, never gets properly introduced into the story after the film goes back in time, she just is suddenly there with Noodles in Florida. Even at almost four hours I got the feeling that the movie was over edited like the original US release. A lot of times in the second half of the movie I felt like I had to try and catch up with the story and figure out what had happened- i.e., suddenly the gang is backing up the trucking union, and we're thrust right in the middle of this intense situation.
And then there's the part of the movie where it's supposed to be 1968. The film critic doing the running commentary says that the film "works best" if you assume that the 1968 scenes are just Noodles' opium dreams in 1935. To me this just seems to be a cop-out to excuse the holes and confusing story telling. I don't see how Noodles in the 1930's could have a dream about watching a TV in 1968 when the television hasn't been invented yet at the time he was "opium dreaming".
Then there's the business of Mr. Bailey and the garbage truck at the end. I'll not spoil it for you, but James Wood says himself in the included documentary that he doesn't know what happened at this point and that was Leone's intention. I can accept what Lennon and MacCartney said about their song lyrics meaning whatever you interperate them to be, but in my own opinion this style doesn't translate for me when I'm watching a movie. I like a definate outcome to be evident, but if this is okay with you, well, I warned you. And if you don't mind being irritated by 20 loud rings of a telephone for artistic style, same thing applies.
I could go on and on but, hey, I already wasted 3 hours and 49 minutes of my life. Don't get me wrong. I've got all of Leone's spaghetti western's and I'd give them all 5 stars. There is some good stuff in this movie like the acting of the leads and cinematography but they don't make up for the other problems I mentioned. Like the Beach Boys ill-fated Smile album Once Upon A Time In America seems to be a project that "sank under the weight of it's own lofty ambitions". Maybe Leone was just ahead of his time. If he had filmed this story today perhaps it would have been a success as a one-season HBO series. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Excellent true life World War II suspense story!
Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer give outstanding performances as Monsr. Hugh O'Flaherty(Peck) and SS Col. Herbert Kapler(Plummer). The action and suspense of the movie keeps it going at a brisk pace. The story follows Peck as a Vatican official trying to save Italian Jews and Allied escaped POW's from the hands of the German SS. Plummers portrayal as Col. Kapler is both chilling and frightening, especially when he personally executes a Catholic priest who was caught helping the Resistance. Peck's portrayal of Father O'Flaherty is very moving to watch. The intelligence and compassion of this man truly shows through and shows how much Father O'Flaherty deserved the awards and decorations he received from the Allies after the war. And the ending is very surprising as well! It is also a plus having the movie shot in Rome where the actual events took place. A truly classic movie. I highly recommend it.

Excellent true life World War II suspense story!
Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer give outstanding performances as Monsr. Hugh O'Flaherty(Peck) and SS Col. Herbert Kapler(Plummer). The action and suspense of the movie keeps it going at a brisk pace. The story follows Peck as a Vatican official trying to save Italian Jews and Allied escaped POW's from the hands of the German SS. Plummers portrayal as Col. Kapler is both chilling and frightening, especially when he personally executes a Catholic priest who was caught helping the Resistance. Peck's portrayal of Father O'Flaherty is very moving to watch. The intelligence and compassion of this man truly shows through and shows how much Father O'Flaherty deserved the awards and decorations he received from the Allies after the war. And the ending is very surprising as well! It is also a plus having the movie shot in Rome where the actual events took place. A truly classic movie. I highly recommend it.

amazon bias
erik reitz review is incredibly bigoted and hostile toward catholics - however i wrote a review pointing this out and incredibly you don't post my review but retain his - another thing i've noticed that amazon allows bigoted views against western civ, christianity, catholicism, anglos, men, heterosexuals etc to be posted & while some people will reply exposing this bigotry amazon runs the double standard of allowing unrestrained bigotry on one side while censoring the other side - you claim to moderate fairly yet what you do is allow left wing bigotry unchecked and the rest censored - amazon has presented a hostile evironment to the above mentioned censored majority of which i am a part - i cringe everytime i shop amazon's reviews that my sensibilities will not only be ignored but trampled and violated

The Scarlet & The Black
Great Job ... Acting, Location & Story. Its nice to see one more positive telling of the Church during the war. Not too many people know that the Chief Rabi of Rome during and immediately after the war, Israel Zolii, was so impressed by the Christians in Rome who tried to protect Jews from nazi persecution, that he was baptised as Catholic shortly after the end of the war. He took for his Christian name Eugene ... the same first name as Pope Pius XII, whom he especially admired as a friend and protector of Jews. He died as a devout Catholic.

One of the best!
This movie never gets enough credit! This is one of the best war time movies ever and with Mr. Peck's passing this is a must see for Peck fans who have not seen this movie. Gregory Peck and Christopher Plummer in one of his best roles play a cat and mouse game during WW2. The acting is fantastic and there is a lot of suspense! A must see! ... Read more

Reviews (58)

A classic film. A poor DVD.
I don't think there's a Prince fan alive who hasn't seen this movie, so if you already have it on VHS save your money. There are no special features and it's formatted not letterboxed as it should be! The DVD's Prince bio cites his birth date as 1960. While all Prince fans know he was born in 1958.

Now for those of you who haven't seen this movie: well now's your chance to see one of the greatest films ever made. Unlike so many rock stars' movie debuts Purple Rain has a very powerful story about a confussed and abused young man who faces alienation in the music world he wants to break into. Very emotional. But it also has Prince and the Revolution bringing the house down with their very original brand of music and flashy stage acts.

Bottom line, if you Prince, you'll love this movie. If you don't like Prince you won't.

PS Where is the 'Under the Cherry Moon' DVD already?

The Soundtrack of 1984
"Purple Rain" is a great film to commemorate Prince's career, which he stars and writes and performs the songs. Most people remember this film mostly for its catchy songs that changed music history forever. Its plot is also something worth remembering. Its combination of storylines within The Kid's life blends wonderfully: his struggle to stay employed in the Minneapolis club where he performs, falling in love with Apollonia, and confronting his demons of frequently witnessing his abusive father in action. Certain scenes give it edge and drama that keeps audiences interested and that accent the characters' surroungings. The emotional impact is always present, namely the fight scenes. Therefore, the film is more than just a long music video. Such film quality makes it worth watching multiple times. The actors offer their own emotional theme to the film. Though certain roles were not demanding, Prince's role as The Kid is his acting best of his career.

The music featured in "Purple Rain" has since become instant classics. Though every Prince hit is genius, these songs remain his best in his career. Its soundtrack stayed at #1 for 24 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts, sold 11 million copies in the US, and spawned four smash hits. Prince earned two Grammys and an Oscar for his song "Purple Rain". These songs combine pop, R&B, funk, rock, and soul beautifully. They alone make the film worth watching; yet, they don't distract from the plot. There has since not been a music-based film like it, not even "8 Mile" (2002).

"Purple Rain" is a great film for music and/or Prince fans for viewing pleasure. Those looking for more should also buy the soundtrack. Such combination gives fans great entertainment pleasure.

The last 20 minutes are musical genius!
I just recently bought Purple Rain on dvd. It is now my all-time favorite movie!! Prince is one of my favorite artists and I love the messages behind his music. I had the soundtrack way before I saw the movie. So it was more enjoyable to sing along with the songs. I am also going to see Prince in Atlanta on 8/10. I can't wait!! If his performances are anything like on PURPLE RAIN I can't wait. They are completely mesmerizing. I have to say though his music more than made up for his acting skills. Apollonia was delectable and Morris Day was funny and is quite talented himself. But the last 20 minutes after Morris Day performs the Bird is where the real magic happens. I finally understood the message behind the music. PURPLE RAIN was already one of my all-time fave songs, but after his father whot himself in the head, it made it that much more emotional. The guitar riff in that song is the heavens opening up! THere has never been a song more beautiful than PURPLE RAIN then he goes into another one of my faves I WOULD DIE 4 U its also a beautiful song with some of the best lyrics I have ever heard. Even if you're not a Prince fan, watch this movie. It is one of the most important musical movies ever!! You know Prince won an Oscar for the score, plus Grammys so you know it was good. I mean this movie is in a class all by itself just like Prince, in a class all by himself!!

Princely treatment for a pop classic
Condemned for years to a truly mediocre DVD version, Prince's epochal 1984 effort Purple Rain has finally been awarded the reissue it was waiting for. With commentaries, previously-unseen documentaries and numerous pop videos, this 20th anniversary edition has more than enough bells and whistles on it to compensate for the failings of its DVD predecessor.
All of which, of course, wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference if the film itself wasn't up to scratch. Purple Rain, fortunately, doesn't have this problem. It is, quite possibly, the Greatest Vanity Picture Ever: a monumental edifice to the ego, excess and brilliance of the little man on whose life it is very loosely based. Prince plays The Kid, a talented musician who must rise above his turbulent family life and self-obsession if he is to get with the hot chick and have everyone love his ass forevermore. It's contrived stuff, but surprisingly well-played: Prince himself is pretty effective, Clarence Williams III delivers a nuanced turn as his dad, and Morris Day and Jerome Benton do a neat comedy double-act as The Kid's rivals.
That said, the drama is pretty incidental to the musical set-pieces: Prince's place is on stage, and he doesn't disappoint here - be it getting jiggy with a speaker stack in "Darlin Nicki", or putting his heart on his spangled sleeve for the title track. Whilst parts of the film may now seem hilariously dated - dig the motorcyle, the formation dancers, and the "tough" fellas in the crowd - there's no denying the impact and vitality of the stageshow itself. And, as a period piece, this one beats the competition hands down.

Wait for the 20th Anniversary Edition
This is a great movie. No doubt about that.
But wait. This is 2004 ~ and a 20th Anniversary Edition is slated to be released in August. From the looks of the new edition, I will then give this the five stars it deserves (it already deserves five stars as a film....just not as a DVD release).
Hold on to your money until then.
(...) ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Lucio Fulci's genre classic Zombi 2, the dead rise once again to terrorize and consume the flesh of the living, this time Caribbean style! Those new to Fulci should note Island of the Flesh-Eaters, Zombi 2, and the more commonly known Zombie all refer to the same film. Though there is no Zombi 1, Fulci's film was titled Zombi 2 to capitalize on the commercial success of Romero's Dawn of the Dead. Though marketed as a sequel in Italy, the only similarities to Romero's classic are the title and the fact that the dead rise to eat the flesh of the living. Instead of being a metaphor for consumerism, Zombi 2 is a straight-out adventure story that ends in a horrific, apocalyptic nightmare. The plot is fairly straightforward, and more or less exists simply as a structure to hang scenes of extreme gore and terror on. Dr. Bowles's boat floats into New York Harbor missing its crew and carrying an undead passenger. The doctor's daughter (Tisa Farrow), dead set on finding out what happened to her father, teams up with journalist Peter West (Ian McCulloch) and heads to the cursed island of Matool, where a zombie epidemic is growing and Dr. Bowles's friend, Dr. Menard (Richard Johnson), is desperately trying to find a cure. Will Anne find her father? Will Dr. Menard find a cure? Will our heroes escape? In all honesty, who really cares? Because those in the "know" already know you don't come to a Fulci film looking for Shakespeare.What Zombi 2 lacks in plot development and continuity, it more than makes up for in atmosphere, intensity, and of course the trademark Fulci gore. Some of the unique high points are the never-duplicated zombie-versus-shark vignette, the rising of the Spanish zombie conquistadores, and Fulci's trademark eye shot. Fans of Italian/apocalyptic/cannibal/zombie films should not miss Zombi 2. Along with The Beyond, it defines the genre. --Rob Bracco ... Read more

Reviews (235)

Classic Horror Film; Not So Classic DVD Release Here's Why
Repeated.

First, this movie from an entertainment value from 1 to 10 is a 10 plus.
Second, this movie from a technical visibility and technical audibility release value on DVD from 1 to 10 is a 4.

Reason for the first critique: The PROS
1. Director Lucio Fulci directs a fast paced nail biter from start to finish.
2. Excellent film scoring as the music really accentuates the drama.
3. Excellent casting, the actors are solid for this type of film - no phonies.
4. Excellent locations - from New York City to the exotic Carribean where the two main characters meet up with vacationers who agree to charter their boat and take the main two characters to the island of Matool where the horror begins - you'll know why there going there as you see the film.
5. Excellent makeup effects for zombies and the gruesome and great death scenes.
6. Excellent cinematography to heighten the tension during the film.

Reason for the second critique: The CONS
1. Anchor Bay Entertainment's DVD release of this movie is poor. This critique of poor DVD quality is rare when it comes to Anchor Bay Entertainment releases as their remastered-from-the-good-old-cellar-movie reputation normally puts out excellent quality DVDs with full frame-by-frame color correction, removal of original picture blurriness, and excellent audio track remastering, but this movie somehow slipped through the cracks as perhaps there was a rush to get this movie out on DVD due to its immense popularity among gore hounds and Fangoria Magazine fanatics. The rush job to DVD certainly shows. And below are the main points to look out for on this particular Anchor Bay Entertainment release.

2. Poor picture clarity. The picture from start to finish is viewable, but not at all crisp and without blur. This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

3. Poor color management. The color from start to finish lacks vibrance and richness. The color frame-by-frame is as dead and bland as the zombies themselves. The opening scenes especially as the abandoned yacht( or so you think ) sails into New York Harbor as it is coralled by the New York police, you will see that the city buildings including the World Trade Center towers look more purple/grey in tone, the harbor looks dark brown-grey in color, the sky looks grey in color, and the facial tones of the characters look more fuscia-pinkinsh-beige. The color on this release is horrible and will be corrected. The most frustrating aspect of the poor color is when the movie shfts to the Carribean as two main characters meet up with two vactioners and the four somehow agree to sail for the Island of Matool, after some hesistancy, you will see that the color really suffers here. The exotic locations - the beautiful water, the green of the palm trees, and the like are painfully lacking the vibrant standout color correction needed to make every film frame standout with crisp clear picture quality and life like color. This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

3. Muddled audio track. The sound is clear, but not at the level of a remastered audio track with either DTS or THX Sound treatments. The musical score periodically steps on the sound effects This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

4. From the original uncut full-version, there are some scenes missing on this DVD. This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

5. Periodic purple outlines on the edges of the widescreen black bars.
This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

-----> ALTERNATIVE DVD <------

Coming from Media Blasters Entertainment, another respected DVD Production Studio in the same ilk as Anchor Bay Entertainment and Blue Underground Studios a two new releases of this film are on thier way.

The first will be a Special 2-Disc Fully Remastered ( Picture and Sound ) 25th Anniversary Edition Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer due out as Amazon.com states on the web page hosting this title as July 27, 2004.

--This DVD has 2 hours of Extras including Director commentary, Film Trailers, TV-Spots, Cast and Crew interviews and audio options. This version is the one to buy and as of this review is only less than two months away.

The second will be Single Disc Fully Remastered ( Picture and Sound ) Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer due out I would suspect around the same time as the 25th Anniversary 2-Disc Edition in late July 2004.

Final Thoughts:

1. Avoid buying the Anchor Bay Entertainment release if you can wait less than 2 months from todays date June 13th. The wait will definitely be worth it. If you own this version already as I do, then I would recommend donating this release to the local public library for a tax break when the new versions, especially the 2-Disc set, come in.

Expect from the newer versions as a recap.

1. Excellent Frame-to-Frame Picture Quality from start-to-finish and Full Elimination of Film Blur.
2. Excellent Frame-to-Frame Color correction bringing the movie to life.
3. Excellent Sound Treatment for fully enhanced dialog clarity, punchy sound effects, and a robust musical score getting more crisp.

If these do indeed happen as Media Blasters Enterainment Studios are indicating, then this film goes from a 4 to a 5 plus.

I have revised my opinion of this movie
The first few times I saw this film ,I hated it. I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about,but I really wanted to see this film as others saw it(only because so many people love it). So,it was a really hot,dark evening with a thunderstorm threatening to knock the power out,and I was really bored and regretting not buying Torso at the mall earlier, so I pulled out my copy of Zombie and set out to watch it. Lo and behold, I was very entertained and managed to scare myself silly(storms and Italian horror movies make a scary combination). The beginning is somewhat slow, but does a good job setting up the story. There's a zombie here, a zombie there,just enough to show you something's up. By the time they get to the island,though,things really start heating up. All of a sudden,there's zombies everywhere, and these aren't the shambling, blue-skinned ghouls of Dawn of the Dead. These are friggin nasty looking suckers. They have worms crawling through their eye sockets,and their flesh is all rotted and hanging from their bodies. Fulci got the throat-rippings right too, with pulsing blood spurting all over the place. The gore is absolutely superb,especially for 1979, and makes Dawn(another film I was never fond of) look like a sunday school picnic. That said, many people will be bound to hate this film. Some will be bored, some will be nauseated, and some will just laugh. But it's still worth checking out, and if you hate it, you can always scare your friends with it(I have a friend who is deathly afraid of zombies;I already showed her Dawn and Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things,now this...hehe...fun...). I also love Italian horror now, I have no clue why I said before that I didn't (bad brain...bad! Lying is bad, you get a spanking now...hehe... :)).

THE VERY VERY BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 100.000.000 STARS!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST ZOMBIE FLICK EVER MADE IN MY OPINION!!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION 2 DISC SET TO BE RELEASED ITS ABOUT TIME THIS FLICK GETS THE RESPECT IT DESERVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE IS NOT MUCH ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT THAT FULCI IS GOD!!!!!!!!! later on fellow horror fans!!!

ZOMBIE
EVERYTHING A ZOMBIE MOVIE SHOULD BE! VERY GORY AND SCARY. ONE OF THE BEST ZOMBIE FLICKS AROUND.NICE AND MOODY FEELING.DEFINITELY WORTH THE PURCHASE. GET IT!!!!!!!!!

AWESOME ZOMBIE FLICK!!!
When you think of the all time great zombie movies George A Romero's trilogy "Night of the Living Dead" , "Dawn of the Dead" and "Day of the Dead" most likely come to mind. Lucio Fulci's "Zombie", which has been called a sequel to the above mentioned "Dawn of the Dead", doesn't seem to be as popular and not as well known (at least around here) as Romero's trilogy. However, I believe Zombie is almost as good as the above mentioned

Plot is simple; Tisa Farrow plays Ann Bowles, when Ann discovers her father's boat to be abandoned in the New York Harbor her and reporter Peter West(Ian McCulloch) go searching for answers. Their search takes them to the small island of Matool where an unknown virus makes the dead stand up and walk, and of course they do much more than just walk. The plot is so simple yet extremely effective. The movie does move a bit slowly and the acting isn't very impressive but everything that makes a great horror movie is presented, creepy score, spooky elements, extreme gore and the most realistic, best looking zombies of any zombie movie I've ever seen.

This was only the second Fulci film I've seen but from seeing those two movies and reading other reviews it's easy to see a couple of Fulci's trademarks, bad dubbing and extreme gore. The killing scenes were awesome!! A big splinter through an eyeball, zombies feasting on dead woman's guts (that's pretty nasty!) and my favorite, a zombie tearing at the jugular of a woman as blood squirts out and shoots everywhere. If you haven't seen this movie yet and your a fan of horror movies add this one to your collection!! ... Read more

Reviews (235)

Classic Horror Film; Not So Classic DVD Release Here's Why
Repeated.

First, this movie from an entertainment value from 1 to 10 is a 10 plus.
Second, this movie from a technical visibility and technical audibility release value on DVD from 1 to 10 is a 4.

Reason for the first critique: The PROS
1. Director Lucio Fulci directs a fast paced nail biter from start to finish.
2. Excellent film scoring as the music really accentuates the drama.
3. Excellent casting, the actors are solid for this type of film - no phonies.
4. Excellent locations - from New York City to the exotic Carribean where the two main characters meet up with vacationers who agree to charter their boat and take the main two characters to the island of Matool where the horror begins - you'll know why there going there as you see the film.
5. Excellent makeup effects for zombies and the gruesome and great death scenes.
6. Excellent cinematography to heighten the tension during the film.

Reason for the second critique: The CONS
1. Anchor Bay Entertainment's DVD release of this movie is poor. This critique of poor DVD quality is rare when it comes to Anchor Bay Entertainment releases as their remastered-from-the-good-old-cellar-movie reputation normally puts out excellent quality DVDs with full frame-by-frame color correction, removal of original picture blurriness, and excellent audio track remastering, but this movie somehow slipped through the cracks as perhaps there was a rush to get this movie out on DVD due to its immense popularity among gore hounds and Fangoria Magazine fanatics. The rush job to DVD certainly shows. And below are the main points to look out for on this particular Anchor Bay Entertainment release.

2. Poor picture clarity. The picture from start to finish is viewable, but not at all crisp and without blur. This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

3. Poor color management. The color from start to finish lacks vibrance and richness. The color frame-by-frame is as dead and bland as the zombies themselves. The opening scenes especially as the abandoned yacht( or so you think ) sails into New York Harbor as it is coralled by the New York police, you will see that the city buildings including the World Trade Center towers look more purple/grey in tone, the harbor looks dark brown-grey in color, the sky looks grey in color, and the facial tones of the characters look more fuscia-pinkinsh-beige. The color on this release is horrible and will be corrected. The most frustrating aspect of the poor color is when the movie shfts to the Carribean as two main characters meet up with two vactioners and the four somehow agree to sail for the Island of Matool, after some hesistancy, you will see that the color really suffers here. The exotic locations - the beautiful water, the green of the palm trees, and the like are painfully lacking the vibrant standout color correction needed to make every film frame standout with crisp clear picture quality and life like color. This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

3. Muddled audio track. The sound is clear, but not at the level of a remastered audio track with either DTS or THX Sound treatments. The musical score periodically steps on the sound effects This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

4. From the original uncut full-version, there are some scenes missing on this DVD. This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

5. Periodic purple outlines on the edges of the widescreen black bars.
This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

-----> ALTERNATIVE DVD <------

Coming from Media Blasters Entertainment, another respected DVD Production Studio in the same ilk as Anchor Bay Entertainment and Blue Underground Studios a two new releases of this film are on thier way.

The first will be a Special 2-Disc Fully Remastered ( Picture and Sound ) 25th Anniversary Edition Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer due out as Amazon.com states on the web page hosting this title as July 27, 2004.

--This DVD has 2 hours of Extras including Director commentary, Film Trailers, TV-Spots, Cast and Crew interviews and audio options. This version is the one to buy and as of this review is only less than two months away.

The second will be Single Disc Fully Remastered ( Picture and Sound ) Anamorphic Widescreen Transfer due out I would suspect around the same time as the 25th Anniversary 2-Disc Edition in late July 2004.

Final Thoughts:

1. Avoid buying the Anchor Bay Entertainment release if you can wait less than 2 months from todays date June 13th. The wait will definitely be worth it. If you own this version already as I do, then I would recommend donating this release to the local public library for a tax break when the new versions, especially the 2-Disc set, come in.

Expect from the newer versions as a recap.

1. Excellent Frame-to-Frame Picture Quality from start-to-finish and Full Elimination of Film Blur.
2. Excellent Frame-to-Frame Color correction bringing the movie to life.
3. Excellent Sound Treatment for fully enhanced dialog clarity, punchy sound effects, and a robust musical score getting more crisp.

If these do indeed happen as Media Blasters Enterainment Studios are indicating, then this film goes from a 4 to a 5 plus.

I have revised my opinion of this movie
The first few times I saw this film ,I hated it. I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about,but I really wanted to see this film as others saw it(only because so many people love it). So,it was a really hot,dark evening with a thunderstorm threatening to knock the power out,and I was really bored and regretting not buying Torso at the mall earlier, so I pulled out my copy of Zombie and set out to watch it. Lo and behold, I was very entertained and managed to scare myself silly(storms and Italian horror movies make a scary combination). The beginning is somewhat slow, but does a good job setting up the story. There's a zombie here, a zombie there,just enough to show you something's up. By the time they get to the island,though,things really start heating up. All of a sudden,there's zombies everywhere, and these aren't the shambling, blue-skinned ghouls of Dawn of the Dead. These are friggin nasty looking suckers. They have worms crawling through their eye sockets,and their flesh is all rotted and hanging from their bodies. Fulci got the throat-rippings right too, with pulsing blood spurting all over the place. The gore is absolutely superb,especially for 1979, and makes Dawn(another film I was never fond of) look like a sunday school picnic. That said, many people will be bound to hate this film. Some will be bored, some will be nauseated, and some will just laugh. But it's still worth checking out, and if you hate it, you can always scare your friends with it(I have a friend who is deathly afraid of zombies;I already showed her Dawn and Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things,now this...hehe...fun...). I also love Italian horror now, I have no clue why I said before that I didn't (bad brain...bad! Lying is bad, you get a spanking now...hehe... :)).

THE VERY VERY BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 100.000.000 STARS!!!!!!!!!
THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST ZOMBIE FLICK EVER MADE IN MY OPINION!!!! I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION 2 DISC SET TO BE RELEASED ITS ABOUT TIME THIS FLICK GETS THE RESPECT IT DESERVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE IS NOT MUCH ELSE TO SAY EXCEPT THAT FULCI IS GOD!!!!!!!!! later on fellow horror fans!!!

ZOMBIE
EVERYTHING A ZOMBIE MOVIE SHOULD BE! VERY GORY AND SCARY. ONE OF THE BEST ZOMBIE FLICKS AROUND.NICE AND MOODY FEELING.DEFINITELY WORTH THE PURCHASE. GET IT!!!!!!!!!

AWESOME ZOMBIE FLICK!!!
When you think of the all time great zombie movies George A Romero's trilogy "Night of the Living Dead" , "Dawn of the Dead" and "Day of the Dead" most likely come to mind. Lucio Fulci's "Zombie", which has been called a sequel to the above mentioned "Dawn of the Dead", doesn't seem to be as popular and not as well known (at least around here) as Romero's trilogy. However, I believe Zombie is almost as good as the above mentioned

Plot is simple; Tisa Farrow plays Ann Bowles, when Ann discovers her father's boat to be abandoned in the New York Harbor her and reporter Peter West(Ian McCulloch) go searching for answers. Their search takes them to the small island of Matool where an unknown virus makes the dead stand up and walk, and of course they do much more than just walk. The plot is so simple yet extremely effective. The movie does move a bit slowly and the acting isn't very impressive but everything that makes a great horror movie is presented, creepy score, spooky elements, extreme gore and the most realistic, best looking zombies of any zombie movie I've ever seen.

This was only the second Fulci film I've seen but from seeing those two movies and reading other reviews it's easy to see a couple of Fulci's trademarks, bad dubbing and extreme gore. The killing scenes were awesome!! A big splinter through an eyeball, zombies feasting on dead woman's guts (that's pretty nasty!) and my favorite, a zombie tearing at the jugular of a woman as blood squirts out and shoots everywhere. If you haven't seen this movie yet and your a fan of horror movies add this one to your collection!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Prince's dazzling and dynamic Purple Rain (movie and soundtrack album) and the hypnotic hit single "When Doves Cry" exploded onto the pop-culture scene in 1984, it seemed there was nothing the purple one couldn't do. The film is basically a feature-length music video, but no musician has ever had a better big-screen showcase for his many talents.The plot is really just a theme (about the son of an abusive father struggling not to continue the pattern) upon which to hang some of Prince's most dazzling songs (including "Let's Go Crazy" and the title tune), and some sizzling live-concert numbers.Apollonia Kotero is ravishing as the romantic interest, and Morris Day and the Time provide some terrific musical competition. Purple Rain is an essential artifact of the mid-'80s pop Zeitgeist. Prince took home an Oscar for the song score. --Jim Emerson ... Read more

Reviews (58)

A classic film. A poor DVD.
I don't think there's a Prince fan alive who hasn't seen this movie, so if you already have it on VHS save your money. There are no special features and it's formatted not letterboxed as it should be! The DVD's Prince bio cites his birth date as 1960. While all Prince fans know he was born in 1958.

Now for those of you who haven't seen this movie: well now's your chance to see one of the greatest films ever made. Unlike so many rock stars' movie debuts Purple Rain has a very powerful story about a confussed and abused young man who faces alienation in the music world he wants to break into. Very emotional. But it also has Prince and the Revolution bringing the house down with their very original brand of music and flashy stage acts.

Bottom line, if you Prince, you'll love this movie. If you don't like Prince you won't.

PS Where is the 'Under the Cherry Moon' DVD already?

The Soundtrack of 1984
"Purple Rain" is a great film to commemorate Prince's career, which he stars and writes and performs the songs. Most people remember this film mostly for its catchy songs that changed music history forever. Its plot is also something worth remembering. Its combination of storylines within The Kid's life blends wonderfully: his struggle to stay employed in the Minneapolis club where he performs, falling in love with Apollonia, and confronting his demons of frequently witnessing his abusive father in action. Certain scenes give it edge and drama that keeps audiences interested and that accent the characters' surroungings. The emotional impact is always present, namely the fight scenes. Therefore, the film is more than just a long music video. Such film quality makes it worth watching multiple times. The actors offer their own emotional theme to the film. Though certain roles were not demanding, Prince's role as The Kid is his acting best of his career.

The music featured in "Purple Rain" has since become instant classics. Though every Prince hit is genius, these songs remain his best in his career. Its soundtrack stayed at #1 for 24 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Charts, sold 11 million copies in the US, and spawned four smash hits. Prince earned two Grammys and an Oscar for his song "Purple Rain". These songs combine pop, R&B, funk, rock, and soul beautifully. They alone make the film worth watching; yet, they don't distract from the plot. There has since not been a music-based film like it, not even "8 Mile" (2002).

"Purple Rain" is a great film for music and/or Prince fans for viewing pleasure. Those looking for more should also buy the soundtrack. Such combination gives fans great entertainment pleasure.

The last 20 minutes are musical genius!
I just recently bought Purple Rain on dvd. It is now my all-time favorite movie!! Prince is one of my favorite artists and I love the messages behind his music. I had the soundtrack way before I saw the movie. So it was more enjoyable to sing along with the songs. I am also going to see Prince in Atlanta on 8/10. I can't wait!! If his performances are anything like on PURPLE RAIN I can't wait. They are completely mesmerizing. I have to say though his music more than made up for his acting skills. Apollonia was delectable and Morris Day was funny and is quite talented himself. But the last 20 minutes after Morris Day performs the Bird is where the real magic happens. I finally understood the message behind the music. PURPLE RAIN was already one of my all-time fave songs, but after his father whot himself in the head, it made it that much more emotional. The guitar riff in that song is the heavens opening up! THere has never been a song more beautiful than PURPLE RAIN then he goes into another one of my faves I WOULD DIE 4 U its also a beautiful song with some of the best lyrics I have ever heard. Even if you're not a Prince fan, watch this movie. It is one of the most important musical movies ever!! You know Prince won an Oscar for the score, plus Grammys so you know it was good. I mean this movie is in a class all by itself just like Prince, in a class all by himself!!

Princely treatment for a pop classic
Condemned for years to a truly mediocre DVD version, Prince's epochal 1984 effort Purple Rain has finally been awarded the reissue it was waiting for. With commentaries, previously-unseen documentaries and numerous pop videos, this 20th anniversary edition has more than enough bells and whistles on it to compensate for the failings of its DVD predecessor.
All of which, of course, wouldn't make the slightest bit of difference if the film itself wasn't up to scratch. Purple Rain, fortunately, doesn't have this problem. It is, quite possibly, the Greatest Vanity Picture Ever: a monumental edifice to the ego, excess and brilliance of the little man on whose life it is very loosely based. Prince plays The Kid, a talented musician who must rise above his turbulent family life and self-obsession if he is to get with the hot chick and have everyone love his ass forevermore. It's contrived stuff, but surprisingly well-played: Prince himself is pretty effective, Clarence Williams III delivers a nuanced turn as his dad, and Morris Day and Jerome Benton do a neat comedy double-act as The Kid's rivals.
That said, the drama is pretty incidental to the musical set-pieces: Prince's place is on stage, and he doesn't disappoint here - be it getting jiggy with a speaker stack in "Darlin Nicki", or putting his heart on his spangled sleeve for the title track. Whilst parts of the film may now seem hilariously dated - dig the motorcyle, the formation dancers, and the "tough" fellas in the crowd - there's no denying the impact and vitality of the stageshow itself. And, as a period piece, this one beats the competition hands down.

Wait for the 20th Anniversary Edition
This is a great movie. No doubt about that.
But wait. This is 2004 ~ and a 20th Anniversary Edition is slated to be released in August. From the looks of the new edition, I will then give this the five stars it deserves (it already deserves five stars as a film....just not as a DVD release).
Hold on to your money until then.
(...) ... Read more

Reviews (222)

It is about time!! GREAT MOVIE
Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America" was released almost 20 years ago, and it is still one of my all time favorite films. The film spans over a period of 20 years. The characters - Max, Noodles, Cockeye, Patsy, and Fat Moe, all grew up in the violent immigrant ghetto of New York's lower east side. The tough streets forced the group of friends to grow up fast, which in turn forces them to fight their way to the top. All of them vow to stick together. The story fastforwards 20 years into the future where childhood friends Max ( James Woods) and Noodles (Robert De Niro) form a partnership to run a powerful crime organization along with the rest of their childhood buddies -Cockeye (William Forsythe), Patsy ( James Hayden), and Fat Moe(Larry Rapp). However as time passes, things start to spin out of control, and the partnership between Max and Noodles unravels in death and mystery...

"Once Upon a Time in America" utilizes the four basic traits of human nature - friendship, crime, love, and betrayal, to create one of the most dramatic and rich stories ever captured on screen. The entire cast - Robert De Niro, James Woods, William Forsythe, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Larry Rapp, James Hayden, Joe Pesci, and Danny Aiello were all unbelieveable and each helped to bring the story to life. However, the best performances given in my opinion were by the young actors that were chosen to play the characters as children. Their performances meant the most to the film, because that was the age when the tragic pattern of the characters lives were set. This film marked the first time appearance of Jennifer Connely, and even then at the age of 14, you could tell that she was a fantastic actress. Sergio Leone drew inspiration from the New York ghetto photographs of Jacob Riis. The authenticity that the photos provided to the settings was absolutely outstanding, and were the film's best feature.

The actors, well developed story, and stunning authenticity really provide for a wonderful film. "Once Upon A Time in America" offers a look at the dark side of the American dream that you can watch time and time again. Not to mention the fact, that this film finally came out on DVD!! If there was ever a film that deserved the special treatment of a DVD, it was this one. The movie is finally available with the best picture and sound quality available and we don't have to sit through the grainy picture of a videocasette either. This 2 Disc DVD set truly is a must buy!!

Great Film,VERY Dissapointing DVD!!!!
Sergio Leone's final masterpiece ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA is by far a unique and amazing piece of filmmaking by one of the cinema's greatest Italian directors since Fellini and De Sica.The story involves a ruthless gangster David 'Noodles' Aronson (played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro) who ends up fleeding away from his friends in the 1940's and returns back to them in the late '60's through many years of hardships as young kids growing up on the wrong side of the tracks to being successful in crime during the prohibition era of the '30's.Prior to its original U.S. release in 1984,this film recieved many great reviews and audience praise when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and The New York Film Festival.The film's distributor,Warner Bros/The Ladd Company,uncerimoniously cut out 90 minutes out of the original running time fearing that the movie would run too long and that they wouldn't get as many showings in a single day.The edited version totally changes the complete story continuity of the original film and therefore isn't even as good to watch ,even if you have already seen the longer version.In fact,this edited version of the movie has already been shown once on cable network television on the TNN network (now called SPIKE TV) in April,2003 and believe me,it isn't even worth watching! Warner's 2-disc Special Edition of the film is perhaps,in my opinion,one of the worst special edition DVD's I have ever purchased so far!!! Although the film is presented in its original 229-minute uncut version and in a beautifully preserved 1:85.1 aspect ratio,Disc one innapropriately stops in the middle of the Diamond Robbery scene,even though the disc jacket says it ends directly at the intermission title card!! But on Disc two,the intermission takes place nearly ten chapters into the second disc!! What a real travesty!!! Plus,there are no really great bonus features other than a terrific audio commentary by film critic/historian Richard Schickel,trailer,an excerpt from the hour-long documentary "Once Upon A Time:Sergio Leone" on the making of the film itself,and nothing else!!! However,the movie appears on HBO from time to time and is actually the same version that's on the DVD in which this version includes the Ladd Company credits and no intermission title card!!! I taped that version not too long ago and trust me,it's a lot better than this DVD mess,plus,I got the entire movie on one tape!!! Tape this longer version off of HBO and you won't be dissapointed and enjoy and appreciate this true masterpiece of Sergio Leone in its entirety!! Warner Bros could've done a lot better and nicer job on this DVD,but thankfully learned their lesson with better-selling DVD's after this fiasco!!!

be warned.........
If you're like me and you are thinking of buying this film because it's a Deniro/gangster movie, think twice. Despite some of reviews, this is NOT a materpiece. It is true that the cinematography is brilliant and the production design is top-notch. It is a very authentic-looking, well-made made film. However, those things do not make a masterpiece. The story is so convoluted and moves at such a glacial pace you lose interest. The climactic scene is anything but climactic. Nothing happens. Literally. Deniro and Woods' characters have a conversation and just walk away. Whatever emotional impact thier words are supposed to have has long been drained away by the four-hour running time. The packaging declares that Deniro "smolders" and a New York Times review anoints it as "the definitive gangster picture". Neither is true. You can count on two fingers the number of times Deniro changes facial expressions. He practically sleepwalks through the film. The worst flaw of the movie is that you cant identify with, or even remotely like any of the characters. At the end we are supposed to be moved by the tragic turn of events between two life-long friends, but after witnessing four hours of sexual perversion, graphic murder, etc., you end up having no sympathy at all for them. It has all the emotional impact of seeing Saddam Hussien and Adolf Hitler holding hands and running down the beach in slow motion. As a Deniro fan I really wanted to like this movie, but his character is repulsive. He's a serial rapist who takes his one true love out on a long awaited date and then forcefully rapes her in the back of a car. That scene alone is hard to watch. The Godfather films triumph because the characters have redeeming qualities that balance out thier evil deeds. This film wallows in dirt and excess from the very beginning and gives you no reason to care about these people. Almost the entire first disc is taken up by child actors who arent believable. When you see scenes of them walking around in fedoras and zoot suits acting like pint-size gangsters who intimidate the local cop and make deals with adult mobsters its almost comical. If they were'nt trying to trade cup-cakes for sex it would almost be Disney-ish. By the way, the four scenes that have been "restored" to this director's cut include the two rape scenes and two dialouge extensions. The added dialouge does flesh out the characters a bit, but it slows down an already slow pace. I wish that I had not seen the rape scenes. I hate to be so negative, but I wish I could get my money back. If you have an interest in seeing this movie, rent it- dont buy it. Dont believe the hype and the gushing declarations of being a masterpiece. Its altogether forgetable. The scenes that do stick in your mind do so because they are disturbing, not because of any great acting or artistic reasons.

A masterpiece no matter what anyone says
Yes, the film is four hours long, and yes, there is an hour and a half flashback sequence. But don't let this ward you way from what is truly a masterpiece of a gangster flick. The flashback itself is engrossing and endearing. If you love movies, if you love great acting, if you love history, this is the epic for you.

'Once Upon a Time in America' is a film about a group of four friends who have grown up together in New York City since the turn of the century. They grew up around crime and took part in it themselves. 'America' doesn't focus on the truly criminal aspects of the tale, though; nor does it glorify violence in any way. In a genius move, director Sergio Leone portrays how crime influences this tough, beautiful, but delicate friendship.

This brings me to the famously long flashback. Anyone who tells you it is boring, unimportant and relentless was obviously not paying attention. They must also have a short attention span, for the portrayel of the four main characters' childhood is at times beautiful, elegiac and hilarious. It tells a timeless tale of the central character in the film, Noodles (later played by Robert DeNiro), and his obsession with the local beauty (a young Jennifer Conally, later played by Elizabeth McGovern) who refuses to love him because he'll "always be a two-bit punk." It reminisces on the constant loss of virginities to the town prostitute who makes love for the price of one pastry (what accompanies this story line is a legendary scene where a young teenager succumbs to the temptation of his pastry gift). And it ends in one of the film's most emotional moments that proves you must have a strong stomach to really pay attention and/or appreciate the film to full extent. It is quite hard to watch not because of any sort of violence, but because of its emotional rawness ending in a near cataclysmic incident.

This carries over into the rest of the film, dotted with modern day looks at Noodles and his three friends who are dead at the beginning of the film. After his mental journey through the past, he searches in real life for the love of his life, played by Elizabeth McGovern. What ensues is a twist, one of the best in cinematic history (that I've seen, anyway). You won't be disappointed.

What is masterful about all of these storylines, flashbacks and flashforwards is the extent of their depth. Leone accompanies each detail with an unforgettable emotional truth that extends deep into each character's (and our own) psyche. And for those who love history, Leone sets this saga in the days of prohibition, which offers the four friends an occupation, of sorts.

Apart from the amazing depth in character and story, the production values are top notch, with glorious sets, cinematography and editing. And don't forget the delicacy of the writing and direction. It all works together so well on so many levels.

So to those who have strong stomachs (there are bouts of intense violence) and those who are not too young (this is definitely not a family film, as it portrays some graphic sexuality) and also those who are in love with cinema, I recommend 'Once Upon a Time in America.' Oh, and make sure you have a good attention span. This is not a short movie by any means, although it zips by in the best sense.

Why this "director's cut" is still a muddled mess
One thing that you should know about this movie, according to the running commentary on this DVD set, is that Leone originally shot 10 hours of film. Then from this 10 hours of film he apparently did an original 6 hour film cut. Realizing this length was not practical for a single movie release, and opting not to split his work into 2 seperate films, Leone then got out his scissors once again and cut his film down to this 3 hour 49 minute version. This, I think, is where the problems begin. For instance, Leone chose to leave in the now legendary 5 minute scene of a kid eating a piece of cake. However, Noodles' girlfriend Eve who gets wacked at the start of the movie, never gets properly introduced into the story after the film goes back in time, she just is suddenly there with Noodles in Florida. Even at almost four hours I got the feeling that the movie was over edited like the original US release. A lot of times in the second half of the movie I felt like I had to try and catch up with the story and figure out what had happened- i.e., suddenly the gang is backing up the trucking union, and we're thrust right in the middle of this intense situation.
And then there's the part of the movie where it's supposed to be 1968. The film critic doing the running commentary says that the film "works best" if you assume that the 1968 scenes are just Noodles' opium dreams in 1935. To me this just seems to be a cop-out to excuse the holes and confusing story telling. I don't see how Noodles in the 1930's could have a dream about watching a TV in 1968 when the television hasn't been invented yet at the time he was "opium dreaming".
Then there's the business of Mr. Bailey and the garbage truck at the end. I'll not spoil it for you, but James Wood says himself in the included documentary that he doesn't know what happened at this point and that was Leone's intention. I can accept what Lennon and MacCartney said about their song lyrics meaning whatever you interperate them to be, but in my own opinion this style doesn't translate for me when I'm watching a movie. I like a definate outcome to be evident, but if this is okay with you, well, I warned you. And if you don't mind being irritated by 20 loud rings of a telephone for artistic style, same thing applies.
I could go on and on but, hey, I already wasted 3 hours and 49 minutes of my life. Don't get me wrong. I've got all of Leone's spaghetti western's and I'd give them all 5 stars. There is some good stuff in this movie like the acting of the leads and cinematography but they don't make up for the other problems I mentioned. Like the Beach Boys ill-fated Smile album Once Upon A Time In America seems to be a project that "sank under the weight of it's own lofty ambitions". Maybe Leone was just ahead of his time. If he had filmed this story today perhaps it would have been a success as a one-season HBO series. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

My favorite western ever.
This movie surpasses even the Leone trilogy. It is indeed very diferent than those other ones but they seem to be the benchmark when it comes to westerns. It is entirely unique and Franco Nero hasn't made another movie that even comes close to this.
I truly can't stand the music that goes through this movie but somehow even that can't detract from it.
The story is completely absorbing and enjoyable. The casting of the three brothers is great and I especially liked the flashbacks without the use of effects. Pretty cool stuff.
The final showdown is phenomenal and makes me want to watch it again and again.
Give this movie a try but don't go expecting anything resembling an Eastwood western...or any other for that matter. You won't regret it.

Music detracts from the movie
First let me say that the quality of the DVD is on par with most other Spaghetti Westerns out there on DVD. I don't know, maybe I'm just too used to Morricone scoring this genre, but the music in Keoma is aged. Don't give me an lyricized story song with a mysterious movie -- I want a haunting soundtrack, like in For a Few Dollars More, or The Good Bad & Ugly. Keoma seems to be a decent guy, but at times he come across as almost savage.

You have to survive
Being a veteran of very few spaghetti westerns (I was on National Guard Duty at the time, so to speak), I wasn't sure what to expect from this one. I've seen KEOMA listed on a couple of top-100 westerns and decided to give it a go.
It's opening, atmospheric and a little over-the-top, fulfilled my expectations. A bearded, unidentified man (Keoma - Franco Nero) slowly rides into a desolate landscape. It looks like a town that has cantered over onto its side. The winds blow and small fires burn here and there. An old crone (The Witch - Gabriella Giacobbe) confronts Keoma, it turns out, is no stranger here. "I changed destiny," the Witch says, "when I decided that you alone would survive that useless massacre."
"Aren't you tired of killing?" The Witch asks the first of many questions thrown at Keoma throughout the movie. Keoma, thick bearded with hair down to the bare chest under his white duster, doesn't answer. His eyes flash, he gallops off a short way, turns and yells back to her: "You have to survive."
Keoma is back home from "the war" (the American Civil War, I think) and home has changed drastically. A plague has hit town and those who aren't dead are carted off to a internment center by the evil mine-owner Caldwell (who doesn't allow anyone to leave town to get food or medicine.) Keoma intercepts a cart loaded with plague-infected victims and rescues a pregnant woman, (the drop-dead gorgeous Olga Karlatos).
Keoma has to protect this woman and her unborn child, and defeat the evil Caldwell. It's a heavy task, but Keoma can throw a knife through the palm of a man drawing his gun from a half-mile off and shoot three men dead before any one of them has the chance to draw their gun from their holster. If he goes down, he'll bring a lot down with him.
Keoma will also have to deal with his three evil step-brothers; the massacre the Witch spoke of must have happened in an Indian village. Keoma is a half-breed, adopted and best beloved by his father and George (Woody Strode), and his half-brothers hate him for it.
KEOMA revels in its excesses and isn't to everybody's tastes. Dust is ALWAYS blowing through the broken down town unless a raging night thunderstorm rolls through. Keoma plays a savior of sorts and to show their appreciation the townfolk tie him down on a large wheel that is an obvious and heavy-handed reference to a crucifixion. When a bad guy is shot, he tumbles backward in a slow-motion shot that would make Sam Peckinpah blush. You'll either love or hate the soundtrack (I hated it. Hated it, hated it, hated it.)
This one wouldn't make my top 100 list, but it wouldn't make a worst-of list, either.

Turn the sound back on!!
This film is just great in its category -- and I think it is far from being any kind of western. You need a little intelligence to get the point, otherwhise you overlook it. And the music is just very good (if you are not made of wood or stone) -- it fits the film excellently. I suggest it to everyone who lives his life in at least more than two dimensions... :o)

Definitely not over-rated.
This is a haunting, mesmerizing film. It's a totally unique film. The plot is typical, yes, but it does things with style, imagery, insight and atmosphere that made me look at this age-old story in new ways. It's true what they say about the music, or at least the vocals/lyrics to the music: they're annoying as hell. But the music itself is wonderful, especially certain pieces without vocals utilizing banjo and wierd, snaky guitar and overall it only adds to the wonderful atmosphere of this Spartan, Nietschzean, Apocolyptic Christian from Hell philosophical masterpiece.

There are some slow parts, some villains doing conveniently stupid things to accomodate the poetry of certain scenes and like I said the annoying as hell vocals. That's why I said 3 stars (maybe more like 3 and a half) but I would not tell anyone NOT to see this film, and I'd be surprised if anyone watching it once won't want to do so again.

The back of the box says something about a man in a wasteland massacring his way to redemption; that's pretty accurate. The atmoshere is so powerful at some points that I forget it's a western and not some Robert E. Howard, post-nuclear or medieval fairy tale-type fantasy. Neat, neat, neat. ... Read more

Description

Robert De Niro and James Woods star in Sergio Leone's award winning epic about a ruthless criminal empire. The original director's version of a timeless movie masterpiece. ... Read more

Reviews (222)

It is about time!! GREAT MOVIE
Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America" was released almost 20 years ago, and it is still one of my all time favorite films. The film spans over a period of 20 years. The characters - Max, Noodles, Cockeye, Patsy, and Fat Moe, all grew up in the violent immigrant ghetto of New York's lower east side. The tough streets forced the group of friends to grow up fast, which in turn forces them to fight their way to the top. All of them vow to stick together. The story fastforwards 20 years into the future where childhood friends Max ( James Woods) and Noodles (Robert De Niro) form a partnership to run a powerful crime organization along with the rest of their childhood buddies -Cockeye (William Forsythe), Patsy ( James Hayden), and Fat Moe(Larry Rapp). However as time passes, things start to spin out of control, and the partnership between Max and Noodles unravels in death and mystery...

"Once Upon a Time in America" utilizes the four basic traits of human nature - friendship, crime, love, and betrayal, to create one of the most dramatic and rich stories ever captured on screen. The entire cast - Robert De Niro, James Woods, William Forsythe, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Larry Rapp, James Hayden, Joe Pesci, and Danny Aiello were all unbelieveable and each helped to bring the story to life. However, the best performances given in my opinion were by the young actors that were chosen to play the characters as children. Their performances meant the most to the film, because that was the age when the tragic pattern of the characters lives were set. This film marked the first time appearance of Jennifer Connely, and even then at the age of 14, you could tell that she was a fantastic actress. Sergio Leone drew inspiration from the New York ghetto photographs of Jacob Riis. The authenticity that the photos provided to the settings was absolutely outstanding, and were the film's best feature.

The actors, well developed story, and stunning authenticity really provide for a wonderful film. "Once Upon A Time in America" offers a look at the dark side of the American dream that you can watch time and time again. Not to mention the fact, that this film finally came out on DVD!! If there was ever a film that deserved the special treatment of a DVD, it was this one. The movie is finally available with the best picture and sound quality available and we don't have to sit through the grainy picture of a videocasette either. This 2 Disc DVD set truly is a must buy!!

Great Film,VERY Dissapointing DVD!!!!
Sergio Leone's final masterpiece ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA is by far a unique and amazing piece of filmmaking by one of the cinema's greatest Italian directors since Fellini and De Sica.The story involves a ruthless gangster David 'Noodles' Aronson (played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro) who ends up fleeding away from his friends in the 1940's and returns back to them in the late '60's through many years of hardships as young kids growing up on the wrong side of the tracks to being successful in crime during the prohibition era of the '30's.Prior to its original U.S. release in 1984,this film recieved many great reviews and audience praise when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and The New York Film Festival.The film's distributor,Warner Bros/The Ladd Company,uncerimoniously cut out 90 minutes out of the original running time fearing that the movie would run too long and that they wouldn't get as many showings in a single day.The edited version totally changes the complete story continuity of the original film and therefore isn't even as good to watch ,even if you have already seen the longer version.In fact,this edited version of the movie has already been shown once on cable network television on the TNN network (now called SPIKE TV) in April,2003 and believe me,it isn't even worth watching! Warner's 2-disc Special Edition of the film is perhaps,in my opinion,one of the worst special edition DVD's I have ever purchased so far!!! Although the film is presented in its original 229-minute uncut version and in a beautifully preserved 1:85.1 aspect ratio,Disc one innapropriately stops in the middle of the Diamond Robbery scene,even though the disc jacket says it ends directly at the intermission title card!! But on Disc two,the intermission takes place nearly ten chapters into the second disc!! What a real travesty!!! Plus,there are no really great bonus features other than a terrific audio commentary by film critic/historian Richard Schickel,trailer,an excerpt from the hour-long documentary "Once Upon A Time:Sergio Leone" on the making of the film itself,and nothing else!!! However,the movie appears on HBO from time to time and is actually the same version that's on the DVD in which this version includes the Ladd Company credits and no intermission title card!!! I taped that version not too long ago and trust me,it's a lot better than this DVD mess,plus,I got the entire movie on one tape!!! Tape this longer version off of HBO and you won't be dissapointed and enjoy and appreciate this true masterpiece of Sergio Leone in its entirety!! Warner Bros could've done a lot better and nicer job on this DVD,but thankfully learned their lesson with better-selling DVD's after this fiasco!!!

be warned.........
If you're like me and you are thinking of buying this film because it's a Deniro/gangster movie, think twice. Despite some of reviews, this is NOT a materpiece. It is true that the cinematography is brilliant and the production design is top-notch. It is a very authentic-looking, well-made made film. However, those things do not make a masterpiece. The story is so convoluted and moves at such a glacial pace you lose interest. The climactic scene is anything but climactic. Nothing happens. Literally. Deniro and Woods' characters have a conversation and just walk away. Whatever emotional impact thier words are supposed to have has long been drained away by the four-hour running time. The packaging declares that Deniro "smolders" and a New York Times review anoints it as "the definitive gangster picture". Neither is true. You can count on two fingers the number of times Deniro changes facial expressions. He practically sleepwalks through the film. The worst flaw of the movie is that you cant identify with, or even remotely like any of the characters. At the end we are supposed to be moved by the tragic turn of events between two life-long friends, but after witnessing four hours of sexual perversion, graphic murder, etc., you end up having no sympathy at all for them. It has all the emotional impact of seeing Saddam Hussien and Adolf Hitler holding hands and running down the beach in slow motion. As a Deniro fan I really wanted to like this movie, but his character is repulsive. He's a serial rapist who takes his one true love out on a long awaited date and then forcefully rapes her in the back of a car. That scene alone is hard to watch. The Godfather films triumph because the characters have redeeming qualities that balance out thier evil deeds. This film wallows in dirt and excess from the very beginning and gives you no reason to care about these people. Almost the entire first disc is taken up by child actors who arent believable. When you see scenes of them walking around in fedoras and zoot suits acting like pint-size gangsters who intimidate the local cop and make deals with adult mobsters its almost comical. If they were'nt trying to trade cup-cakes for sex it would almost be Disney-ish. By the way, the four scenes that have been "restored" to this director's cut include the two rape scenes and two dialouge extensions. The added dialouge does flesh out the characters a bit, but it slows down an already slow pace. I wish that I had not seen the rape scenes. I hate to be so negative, but I wish I could get my money back. If you have an interest in seeing this movie, rent it- dont buy it. Dont believe the hype and the gushing declarations of being a masterpiece. Its altogether forgetable. The scenes that do stick in your mind do so because they are disturbing, not because of any great acting or artistic reasons.

A masterpiece no matter what anyone says
Yes, the film is four hours long, and yes, there is an hour and a half flashback sequence. But don't let this ward you way from what is truly a masterpiece of a gangster flick. The flashback itself is engrossing and endearing. If you love movies, if you love great acting, if you love history, this is the epic for you.

'Once Upon a Time in America' is a film about a group of four friends who have grown up together in New York City since the turn of the century. They grew up around crime and took part in it themselves. 'America' doesn't focus on the truly criminal aspects of the tale, though; nor does it glorify violence in any way. In a genius move, director Sergio Leone portrays how crime influences this tough, beautiful, but delicate friendship.

This brings me to the famously long flashback. Anyone who tells you it is boring, unimportant and relentless was obviously not paying attention. They must also have a short attention span, for the portrayel of the four main characters' childhood is at times beautiful, elegiac and hilarious. It tells a timeless tale of the central character in the film, Noodles (later played by Robert DeNiro), and his obsession with the local beauty (a young Jennifer Conally, later played by Elizabeth McGovern) who refuses to love him because he'll "always be a two-bit punk." It reminisces on the constant loss of virginities to the town prostitute who makes love for the price of one pastry (what accompanies this story line is a legendary scene where a young teenager succumbs to the temptation of his pastry gift). And it ends in one of the film's most emotional moments that proves you must have a strong stomach to really pay attention and/or appreciate the film to full extent. It is quite hard to watch not because of any sort of violence, but because of its emotional rawness ending in a near cataclysmic incident.

This carries over into the rest of the film, dotted with modern day looks at Noodles and his three friends who are dead at the beginning of the film. After his mental journey through the past, he searches in real life for the love of his life, played by Elizabeth McGovern. What ensues is a twist, one of the best in cinematic history (that I've seen, anyway). You won't be disappointed.

What is masterful about all of these storylines, flashbacks and flashforwards is the extent of their depth. Leone accompanies each detail with an unforgettable emotional truth that extends deep into each character's (and our own) psyche. And for those who love history, Leone sets this saga in the days of prohibition, which offers the four friends an occupation, of sorts.

Apart from the amazing depth in character and story, the production values are top notch, with glorious sets, cinematography and editing. And don't forget the delicacy of the writing and direction. It all works together so well on so many levels.

So to those who have strong stomachs (there are bouts of intense violence) and those who are not too young (this is definitely not a family film, as it portrays some graphic sexuality) and also those who are in love with cinema, I recommend 'Once Upon a Time in America.' Oh, and make sure you have a good attention span. This is not a short movie by any means, although it zips by in the best sense.

Why this "director's cut" is still a muddled mess
One thing that you should know about this movie, according to the running commentary on this DVD set, is that Leone originally shot 10 hours of film. Then from this 10 hours of film he apparently did an original 6 hour film cut. Realizing this length was not practical for a single movie release, and opting not to split his work into 2 seperate films, Leone then got out his scissors once again and cut his film down to this 3 hour 49 minute version. This, I think, is where the problems begin. For instance, Leone chose to leave in the now legendary 5 minute scene of a kid eating a piece of cake. However, Noodles' girlfriend Eve who gets wacked at the start of the movie, never gets properly introduced into the story after the film goes back in time, she just is suddenly there with Noodles in Florida. Even at almost four hours I got the feeling that the movie was over edited like the original US release. A lot of times in the second half of the movie I felt like I had to try and catch up with the story and figure out what had happened- i.e., suddenly the gang is backing up the trucking union, and we're thrust right in the middle of this intense situation.
And then there's the part of the movie where it's supposed to be 1968. The film critic doing the running commentary says that the film "works best" if you assume that the 1968 scenes are just Noodles' opium dreams in 1935. To me this just seems to be a cop-out to excuse the holes and confusing story telling. I don't see how Noodles in the 1930's could have a dream about watching a TV in 1968 when the television hasn't been invented yet at the time he was "opium dreaming".
Then there's the business of Mr. Bailey and the garbage truck at the end. I'll not spoil it for you, but James Wood says himself in the included documentary that he doesn't know what happened at this point and that was Leone's intention. I can accept what Lennon and MacCartney said about their song lyrics meaning whatever you interperate them to be, but in my own opinion this style doesn't translate for me when I'm watching a movie. I like a definate outcome to be evident, but if this is okay with you, well, I warned you. And if you don't mind being irritated by 20 loud rings of a telephone for artistic style, same thing applies.
I could go on and on but, hey, I already wasted 3 hours and 49 minutes of my life. Don't get me wrong. I've got all of Leone's spaghetti western's and I'd give them all 5 stars. There is some good stuff in this movie like the acting of the leads and cinematography but they don't make up for the other problems I mentioned. Like the Beach Boys ill-fated Smile album Once Upon A Time In America seems to be a project that "sank under the weight of it's own lofty ambitions". Maybe Leone was just ahead of his time. If he had filmed this story today perhaps it would have been a success as a one-season HBO series. ... Read more

Reviews (235)

Classic Horror Film; Not So Classic DVD Release Here's Why
Repeated.

First, this movie from an entertainment value from 1 to 10 is a 10 plus.
Second, this movie from a technical visibility and technical audibility release value on DVD from 1 to 10 is a 4.

Reason for the first critique: The PROS
1. Director Lucio Fulci directs a fast paced nail biter from start to finish.
2. Excellent film scoring as the music really accentuates the drama.
3. Excellent casting, the actors are solid for this type of film - no phonies.
4. Excellent locations - from New York City to the exotic Carribean where the two main characters meet up with vacationers who agree to charter their boat and take the main two characters to the island of Matool where the horror begins - you'll know why there going there as you see the film.
5. Excellent makeup effects for zombies and the gruesome and great death scenes.
6. Excellent cinematography to heighten the tension during the film.

Reason for the second critique: The CONS
1. Anchor Bay Entertainment's DVD release of this movie is poor. This critique of poor DVD quality is rare when it comes to Anchor Bay Entertainment releases as their remastered-from-the-good-old-cellar-movie reputation normally puts out excellent quality DVDs with full frame-by-frame color correction, removal of original picture blurriness, and excellent audio track remastering, but this movie somehow slipped through the cracks as perhaps there was a rush to get this movie out on DVD due to its immense popularity among gore hounds and Fangoria Magazine fanatics. The rush job to DVD certainly shows. And below are the main points to look out for on this particular Anchor Bay Entertainment release.

2. Poor picture clarity. The picture from start to finish is viewable, but not at all crisp and without blur. This will be corrected see ALTERNATIVE DVD below.

3. Poor color management. The color from start to finish lacks vibrance and richness. The color frame-by-frame is as dead and bland as the zombies themselves. The opening scenes especially as the abandoned yacht( or so you think ) sails into New York Harbor as it is coralled by the New York police, you will see that the city buildings including the World Trade Center towers look more purple/grey in tone, the harbor looks dark brown-grey in color, the sky looks grey in color, and the facial tones of the characters look more fuscia-pinkinsh-beige. The color on this release is horrible and will be corrected. The most frustrating aspect of the poor color is when the movie shfts to the Carribean as two main characters meet up with two vactioners and the four somehow agree to sail for the Island of Matool, after some hesistancy, you will see that the color really suffers here. The exotic