Gangs of New York (DVD, 2003)

The first time I saw this film was right after 9/11/02. The themes hit too close to home. It was a shock and dismay. It is meant to help you purge your emotions, and you will cry, regardless. I thought it was a good run, but it also made me sick to my stomach. I wasn't sure how I felt about it as a piece of film. I now think of it now is a classic. It ranks right up there with the rest of great American cinema. I have never been to New York, but I feel inspired to visit and learn more about this dynamic city.

It's now 2008... I watched this film a second time today. Still it goes right to the core of some very human issues. DeCaprio is pure and intense. I love his consistency, his gentle, yet masked and powerful emotions; all the while he is available to the viewer. Day-Lewis plays a tainted bully who is controlling the 4-corners as the town butcher. Slowly, the town begins to compromise its spiritual roots and grow and evolve around the fear (and the need of) the butcher. Young "Amsterdam" is there from the beginning; it becomes his story. A story in which he describes how people often have to beg for help, food, and assistance - in this case, they are immigrants. The town butcher is murderer who places everyone in a subservient position. He does this with name-calling, intimidation, displays of power, teaming-up against smaller clans of people and slam-blasting anyone who is in position of leadership, with murder and blood. This goes on for years!

I would recommend this film for anyone who has to deal with a bully. It has the power to help any person reevaluate one's own priorities when it comes to depending on another. The historical aspects of the film are also very well-done and informative. It's too bad the length of the film had to be cut. Even as it is, it's necessary to pause it in several spots, just to catch your breath. Sometimes, pause to take a break and replay it, as the actors build a dynamic throughout the film that is non-stop and vital to its message. It is not a film to watch with teenagers late-night, but on a late afternoon.

"Gangs of New York" will make you take another look at your personal freedom, and get you thinking about the history of America, and the costs your freedom involves. It's a valuable story for discussion with teens, friends, neighbors and colleagues. It should be included in your collection!

seller reccommeneded..............................................................................................................

Both flawed and delayed, Martin Scorcese’s Gangs of New York still emerges as his most vital work since “GoodFellas.”

The story’s bedrock conflict is between gangs of self-proclaimed “Native Americans,” mostly English-descended and Protestant, and the growing tide of immigrants, mostly Irish and Catholic. Upon this foundation Scorsese builds subplots personal, municipal and national. The personal conflict emerges between a young Irish immigrant named Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio) and William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis, doing a fine Robert De Niro impression), leader of New York’s Nativist gangs. Fifteen years earlier, as shown in the film’s gory prologue, Bill the Butcher killed Amsterdam’s father, “Priest” Vallon (Liam Neeson), during a melee in the Five Points neighborhood.
Upon his release from reform school, Amsterdam aims to murder Bill. But as he grows close to the charismatic leader, Amsterdam, like Hamlet, finds himself unable to avenge his father’s death. The characters don’t miss the parallels. “It’s so bloody Shakespearean,” says Amsterdam’s companion, Johnny (Henry Thomas).

Besides keeping Manhattan’s Lower East Side in order, Bill has greater aims. Mayor “Boss” Tweed (Jim Broadbent) has a vision, a city that creates infrastructure and provides municipal services. Currently, rival firehouses fight for the right to put out a tenement blaze, giving looters plenty of time to slip in.
But Tweed’s grand civic plans requires muscle to keep city workers and immigrants in line, so he invites Bill the Butcher to Tammany Hall. Bill asks why not use the cops as enforcers. “The appearance of the law must be upheld,” Tweed replies, “especially when it’s being broken.”

While New York tries to evolve from brawling burgh into major city, far away the nation tears itself in two. Upscale New Yorkers try to ignore the Civil War, but down at the docks the poor watch as coffins come off Navy ships and recruits walk aboard. Young men step off the boat from Ireland and immediately are conscripted into the Union army. “Welcome to your new country, now go fight for it,” are their welcoming words.

Echoes from the Vietnam War are unmistakable as immigrants believe they are fodder in a war of economics. “Let the sons of the rich go and die,” they say, “let the sons of the poor stay home.” Abraham Lincoln is as hated in Lower Manhattan as he is in Atlanta. This sentiment explodes during the Draft Riots of 1863 as the mob turns against the government. Freed slaves unfortunate enough to be on the street that day are beaten or lynched.

As this tension builds, Amsterdam realizes his inability to kill Bill the Butcher has turned him into Bill’s surrogate son. The one living person who comes between them is Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz), a pickpocket who is Bill’s protégé and Amsterdam’s new love. Should Amsterdam break from Bill, whom would she follow?

Even at two hours and 45 minutes, “Gangs of New York” never feels overlong, but occasionally it is overstuffed. Influenced by Dante Ferretti’s marvelous production design, which brings entire neighborhoods of old New York to life in a studio outside Rome, Scorsese occasionally pauses to make sure we are appreciating the history. Marveling as an Irish jig absorbs African rhythms, the otherwise racist Bill proclaims, “This is a new form of music!”
Apart from moments of showboating, “Gangs of New York” bursts with energy in a way no Scorsese film has.

A really good action flick at the same time telling you a little bit of history.I thought it was very well made & directed!

Sort of a corny love story but a great action movie about the history of the New York City Irish immigration problems with the Civil War draft law that Abe Lincoln implemented in 1863. The riots shut down the city for a week, burned a bunch of houses, was very racial killing many minorities, created class warfare between the poor Irish immigrants and the established "Nationalists". burning down the "colored children's orphanage", and generally changed the politics of New York City and the State of New York for many years afterwards.

There are lots of knife stabbing, head bashing, bloody scenes.

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/317749.html

Read the book "The Devils Work Work" then watch the movie.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0802715087/ref=sib_dp_pt/104-8088263-2896749#reader-link

This movie was awesome. Not a family movie by any means.I am Irish, so it touched home for me. Great movie for the history buff. But dont let the kids watch it. It has some pretty violent parts.Great movie though.

exciting, dirty, raw, gritty, sexy, violent. that just about sums this film up. Set in early America comes a story about a boy who's father is killed in a gang fight right in front of him. The boy grows up with one thing one his mind, revenge against his father's murder. He then infiltrates the rival gang...you see where it is heading, but you still need to see it. Good acting, good directing. this one is sure to please.

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I remember seeing it on t.v. a long time ago and i liked it So i found it on eBay for a very reasonable price. Also i needed the movie to make an essay for my history class.

Was a good movie. and under 5 $$$. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

gorie but it really tells the story of the founding of the big five burroughs of new york. could be a little brighter in color but i am sure they wanted to set the atmosphere of the movie.

This is a story about America. It is about the 5 points or 5 street corners that come together in the city of New York. While the Civil War was being fought over slavery, in New York it was the Natives born & raised in the 5 points & the Irish immigrants coming each & everyday to America. Thus being emptied in the city of New York after arriving on Ellis Island. My family came over here the same way. This movie invokes all the rage & passion involved as the Irish claws their way into America. Everyone should watch this movie & witness how America was made. America was still so young. We are spoiled with what we have now. It took a lot of deaths to get me here alive. I appreciated this movie & the acting by DiCaprio & Day-Lewis. Their passion for the art of acting came through beautifully. I highly recommend this great piece of cinematography. Truly a classic!

I needed to buy this movie for a English 101 research paper. This movie is very good and probably the best movie of 2002. It was directed by Martin Scorsese and he is great.

Will buy again from seller, thanks for the great product! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bought Gangs of New York for a Research paper for my History class. I didn't know what would be cheaper if to rent the movie or just buy it. I received a good price here so i decided to give it a try. I won the bid and received my movie very fast.

I bought the dvd because I have always loved Leonardo DiCaprio; he truly is one of the best actors of this generation and I can't find one legitimate reason from any of the people who don't like him <3 Also, two friends of mine said this was an excellent movie and I had always meant to see it but never had. I gave it a good rating because I only had time to watch about half of it so far, and I don't really feel like doing a detailed review nor do I think I could at this point, but it's a very good movie so far and I'm not disappointed.

This movie is an excellent movie. The first, second and third time I saw the film it never ceased to amaze me.

great service, fast shipping. the product was in excellant condition upon arrival. I would recommend this seller to everyone.

This movie tells the stories that no one wants to talk about. This is what it was like for the immigrants getting off that boat to the new world and freedom, just to find out what they were running away from was there at the dock waiting for them; to put them in their place before they get the notion that they can start a new life just that easy!

its a great movie if you haven't seen it but it its great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I PURCHASED A DVD ON 4/24/09 AND I'M STILL WAITING FOR IT. I'VE EMAILED THE SELLER A FEW TIMES, WITH NO RESPONSE. INITIALLY, I GAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT BECAUSE I IMAGINED HOW BUSY THE SELLER MUST BE. BUT NOW IT'S GOING ON TWO MONTHS! NOW, UNLESS THERE WAS SOME SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUE, THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT TO TAKE THIS LONG. I'VE CALLED AND CHECKED AT MY POST OFFICE TWICE. I CHECKED THE ADDRESS I GAVE. I'M HOME ALL DAY AND I CAN SEE WHEN MY MAIL IS DELIVERED. I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE IT'S A DELIVERY ISSUE. I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO BELIEVE THE SELLER NEVER INTENDED TO SEND IT. IT'S SO SAD HOW NASTY SOME PEOPLE ARE!

A very long and slow way to tell a powerful story. Though my heart did race in the thrilling scenes of raw violence and barbarity, when the monologues were long and the action was lost I was unconvinced by the performance of lead antagonist Daniel Day-Lewis. It was nice to see Diaz out of her usual roles and naturally Leonardo Di Caprio was a treat to watch evolve. Scorsese is responsible for another good film, just nothing more.

Great story line keeps you going the whole way thru. Very good acting and costumes. Liked Cameron Diaz's performance as well as other actors. Would very much recommend it if you like this kind of movie.

GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!