Anyone see the movie/video The Gangs of New York?

[baby_bear]

I rented it today. I really liked it until the character played by Cameron Diaz was brought it as the love interest. It seemed to lose its meaning at that point and (as it is still playing as I type), hasn't gotten its impact back yet.

Should I hang in there or turn it off?

s_m

[Guaranteed]

1. Well...the only thing I enjoyed

about that movie was the "political" aspects of it.....if you're not enjoying that, you're probably not going to enjoy much anything else of it....

There are some boob shots, if that's your thing...sounds like you're a woman, though. :P

[baby_bear]

2. Boob shots, hah!

No, they don't do anything for me, but more than that, I really resent contrived romantic interests inserted into movies when they would be better off without them. Almost like the director thinks no one would appreciate a work of art without some major and obvious sexual aspect to it.

And yes, I am of the female persuasion. :silly:

By the way, I agree that some of the political issues are well addressed, such as the ability of the rich to buy their way out of the military draft (at a cost of $300).

s_m

[Kat45]

3. I loved that movie!

The draft riot was really well done. And there's a scene before the riot involving prayer that I absolutely loved. And of course, Daniel Day Lewis was fun to watch throughout the movie.

[On the Road]

4. GoNY is Definitely Worth It

It's a flawed movie with some great local color, history, and visuals. I love 19-century New York, and this is one gorgeous movie which has the merit of being populist and showing the lives of the lower class.

[Syn_Dem]

5. I've seen it

58390589385903859 times actually since I saw it on a long-haul flight. I liked it, the gang fights did it for me. Maybe its because Im a 15 year old male?! :shrug:

[baby_bear]

6. Well, I wouldn't know much about being a 15 yr old male...

The video is just about to end now. I liked the first and last hours. I didn't like the middle- seemed contrived to me.

There certainly were a lot of stabbings with many types of implements!

It's really fascinating to think this stuff really happened in 19th century New York. And I never really knew about the draft issue during the Civil War, even though I studied that war quite a bit in school.

s_m

[JohnKleeb]

10. I am 16 and what I liked

was the natives vs the Irish immigrant thing, Go Irish, boo natives. I

[DivinBreuvage]

7. Tawny Tigers in Matted Shades

From Herman Melville's poem on the New York Draft Riots

The House-Top: A Night Piece

No sleep. The sultriness pervades the air
And binds the brain -- a dense oppression, such
As tawny tigers feel in matted shades,
Vexing their blood and making apt for ravage.
Beneath the stars the roofy desert spreads
Vacant as Libya. All is hushed near by.
Yet fitfully from far breaks a mixed surf
Of muffled sound, the Atheist roar of riot.
Yonder, where parching Sirius set in drought,
Balefully glares red Arson -- there -- and there.
The town is taken by its rats -- ship-rats
And rats of the wharves. All civil charms
And priestly spells which late held hearts in awe--
Fear-bound, subjected to a better sway
Than sway of self; these like a dream dissolve,
And man rebounds whole aeons back in nature.
Hail to the low dull rumble, dull and dead,
And ponderous drag that shakes the wall.
Wise Draco comes, deep in the midnight roll
Of black artillery; he comes, though late;
In code corroborating Calvin's creed
And cynic tyrannies of honest kings;
He comes, nor parlies; and the Town, redeemed,
Gives thanks devout; nor, being thankful, heeds
The grimy slur on the Republic's faith implied,
Which holds that Man is naturally good,
And -- more -- is Nature's Roman, never to be scourged.

[jus_the_facts]

8. It's great despite her being in it.......don't care for her much either...

.....but that is a GREAT movie regardless...keep watchin' it...you won't be disappointed! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: WAAAAAY UP!!

[Old and In the Way]

9. I really liked that movie.

I'm not usually much for blood and gore, but I think the film dealt with the subject in a brutally honest way. It was an amazing glimpse into 19th century New York that wasn't as distorted as many films of that timeframe.

I thought it was fascinating to see Irish immigrants debark on boat and get on another to fight in the Civil War. The caste system of NY politics was most interesting.

And, of course, Danial Day Lewis was phenomenal in the role he played...I mean, he was evil personified in my book!

Great film...if you can stand the violence.

[JohnKleeb]

11. The ending U2 song is so great

Oh my love
It's a long way we've come
From the freckled hills to the steel and glass canyons
From the stony fields, to hanging steel from the sky
From digging in our pockets, for a reason not to say goodbye

These are the hands that built America
Russian, Sioux, Dutch, Hindu
Polish, Irish, German, Italian

I last saw your face in a watercolour sky
As sea birds argued a long goodbye
I took your kiss on the spray of the new line star
You gotta live with your dreams
Don't make them so hard

And these are the hands that built America
These are the hands that built America
The Irish, the Blacks, the Chinese, the Jews
Korean, Hispanic, Muslim, Indian

Of all of the promises
Is this one we can keep?
Of all of the dreams
Is this one still out of reach?

Its early fall
There's a cloud on the New York skyline
Innocence dragged across a yellow line
These are the hands that built America
These are the hands that built America

[CanuckAmok]

16. It's Scorcese, so of course it's excellent. (spoiler)

I disagree with Mr. Kleeb, however. The inclusion of the U2 song at the end was the most tasteless, cloying event in the history of Scorscese's work.

First of all, the scene with the tombstones and the changing city skyline would have been far more effective if it had been left the way Scorcese wanted it to play; with the changing sounds of the city playing in the background, and no music.

Secondly, sticking a piece of modern music into a period piece before the visuals end (i.e. when the end titles run on a blank background), is confusing, disruptful, and a poor decision.

It so smacked of "product placement". I wonder how much the Weinsteins were paid to force that single on Scorcese.

[LTR]

12. I really enjoyed it

My ancestors came here from Ireland around that period, and it did give some interesting historical perspective.

The Cameron Diaz stuff was, for the most part, mediocre. There were times when the movie came to a grinding halt. Some of here scenes should have been cut, or better yet, recast.

If you have the DVD, check out the extras on the second disc. Sure, most extras on DVDs really suck, but there's a Discovery Channel documentary that gives background on the period and the history of the Five Points.

Also, get the book. The movie is loosely based on this, but it is also good background material.

I never thought I'd anticipate watching not one, but TWO Leo DiCaprio movies in one year. I couldn't wait to see "Catch Me If You Can" last year because I had read the book years ago and loved it. And I wasn't too disappointed either. I wanted to see GONY bacause of the Irish immigrant story, Scorcese, and because I'm a history buff. Despite its minor flaws, a pretty good flick.

[Orangeone]

13. I didn't see it

I have a question about the movie. Did they portray the Draft Riots accurately? A lot of African Americans got killed/injured by the rioters.

[LTR]

14. Sort of

African-Americans played a big part in the movie, and in its account of the riots.

Keep in mind, this movie is loosely based on people and events. There is quite a bit of literary license. But for general background, it's pretty good.

[proud patriot]

15. The movie is long enough to bring back the punch

I own it .. Really like the movie .