Once Upon a Time in America (DVD, 2003, Special Edition; 2-Disc Set; 229-Minute Version)

Okay, a four hour gangster movie is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially when the pacing is absolutely glacial and DeNiro and Woods aren't on-screen for about half that time because of a childhood flashback that's longer than some full movies. But, if you take this movie on the terms director Sergio Leone sets, it's a richly rewarding cinemeatic experience. I've heard the film described as "an opium dream of a gangster movie" and the pacing seems to justify such a response. But it's slow and richly detailed, and a little odd at times, for very good reasons that pay off in spades by the film's emotionally titanic (though slightly anti-climactic} finale.DeNiro smolders throughout, while James Woods delivers a teriffic scenery-chewing performance. The story is friendship (and betrayal, of course)Godfather parts 1 and 2 rolled into one film? Yes, and more. And viewers familliar with Leone only through his spagetti westerns are in for a surprise: Leone is a world-class film-maker here, capable of stunning beauty and cruelty, often within the same frame.

When this movie first came out in theatres it was ruined. Over an hour was sliced from it making it hard to follow and blotchy. But the full version (out now on DVD) shows why this movie belongs in the top 100 of all time.

Great character development from 10 yrs old to 60 yrs old. It follows the lives of several Jewish mobsters beginning in the roaring 20's. Robert Deniro, as usual, is at his absolute best as Noodles. James Woods is also at his best. The sub plots, cinematography and direction is spell binding.

Do youself a favor---see the original uncut version of this movie and be mesmerized.

hard to find but worth the money! robert D. at his best! the costumes and old cars are worth the time to watch ! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA++++++++++++++++++++++

THIS IS CLASSIC DENIRO, AWESOME MOVIE. SEEN IT MANY YEARS AGO, DECIDED TO HAVE IT IN MY DVD LIBRARY. HAVE OVER 400 DVDs IN MY COLLECTION. THIS IS A MUST SEE..IF YOU ARE A DENIRO FAN...

50 years of underworld rivetting history. Offers incredible actors Robert Deniro, James Wood, Joe Pesci, Burt Young,and Bruno Iannone. Excellent setting in Brooklyn during the prohibition years. it reflects on there lives growing up poor stealing there way to the top vs. the mob currupt cops and companys trying to chissle unions. Sergio Leone moves you with this story its definately a collectible highly recomend. actor Bruno Iannone deserving of better roles top of his class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one of my favorite movies of all time. Also, this is my, absolute, all time favorite pick for best blend of direction, cinematography, art direction, and, without a doubt, the most perfect, melodic, and haunting, musical score ever written and intergrated so intensely and with such emotion into a movie.
The "director's cut" dvd, or, long version, is the only way to go.
I highly recommend this Movie and have nothing negative to say about, the movie, or, the DVD.

i agree with previous reviewers that this movie may well be one of the best, if not the best, of the gangster movies. the story line is superb, the settings capture the essence of the earlier new york scenes, the music evokes a romantic and empathic tone to the story and the acting is excellent. though i have seen this movies literaly dozens of times on commercial tv, i had to finally own it so that i could dictate its viewings in the comfort of my living room without commercial interuptions and other distractions

This is a movie that I had long wanted to buy because I saw it when i was young and it seemed poetic to me. Over the years I kept reading reviews over the film, this guy saying this and that guy saying that about it. I could never find it in stores when I had the money and when I did find it it was way too expensive. What is it about this movie that makes it worth twice as much as any other movie, new releases no less, this movie was over twenty years old. Anyway, as soon as I got a small amount of dough in my paypal account that was the first thing that I went after. I found it, placed my bid and won it. One week later I received it in the mail, brand new, for a fraction of what I would have payed. As soon as I got the chance I sat down and saw it in one sitting. It was just as I remembered. I have always been a De Niro fan, this is the first movie of De Niro that I remember seeing. The story is great. Some people might call it boring and a bit confusing, because you go back and forth in the timeline. And I have never been a mobster fan, I have never even seen "The Godfather" in it's entirety. The story is simply about a group of friends growing up in depression era New York and what they have to go through to earn a living. The De Niro character "Noodles" is the focus of the story. He is the one that sacrifices the most for his friends and ultimately his big heart causes the death of some of them. He passes up the opportunity to be with the girl of his dreams more than once, and eventually looses her for ever. At the end of the film we are shown how Noodles' closest friend Max betrayed him, faking his own death and later marrying the girl that Noodles loved, in essence he took everything away from Noodles. Max tries to make ammends but Noodles explains how he has gotten over everything and forgives him. Max had gone into politics under an assumed name and had made a lot of enemies that now wanted to kill him. Rather that have then execute him he wanted Noodles to do it as a way of paying him for all the hurt he had caused him. Noodles would not do it so Max took his own life. The last scene of the film shows us Noodles getting drugged at a Chinese theater where earlier in the film he is shown visiting frequently. It was his way to deal with all the bad things in his life; the heartbreak, the murders, the jail time , the loss of his friends. When he was high he was happy.

Great item, communication and delivery
Thank you A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Great item, communication and delivery
Thank you A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank you I gave is movie as a gift.He said is was great.Thank you.It need to be clean ,but,when he cleaned it it played great.

I SAW THE PICTURE YEARS AGO AND LIKED IT VERY MUCH BECAUSE IT IS SO LIKE MY OWN LIFE WHEN I GREW UP IN BOSTON SO I DECIDED TO BUY IT.

This is a great movie. It is very educational and informative. You can learn a lot from this movie. This movie is a good depiction of life in New York City at a very troubling time.