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Scarface (Widescreen Anniversary Edition) Customer Reviews (31 - 33 of 87 Reviews)
Deluxe Gift Set - The world is yours.
This big box, appropriately, is a gaudy and luxurious waste of space. Not a bad package at all for DePalma's controversial epic. While some of the extras are nice, it's too bad they couldn't cough up any trailers. Universal brags on a transfer that leaves something to be desired - but it is at least widescreen. The real selling point here (for me, anyway) is the long awaited DVD premire of Hawks' 1932 "Scarface," also with no trailer, but looking great and including a very interesting alternate ending.
A back to back comparison of the two films throws the DePalma film into a less than favorable light. Don't get me wrong. The remake is a great film. But the original is one of THE great films - a sophicated, crackerjack paced and dynamically realized little powerhouse of a movie. While far less explicit, it still manages to be a more emotionally powerful experience, even after many viewings - and the violence is somehow even more disturbing. The incestuous overtones of Tony's relationship with his sister are telegraphed loud and clear in their first scene together in Hawk's version. We don't need to hear her say, "Come on and f<@% me, Tony," although I have no objection to this approach. It's also easier to see what attracts the cool blonde in the original. The performance of Paul Muni is awseome, George Raft is also memorable, and on the side we get a very fine turn by Karloff as a rival gangster. His final bow in a bowling alley is a classic scene.
There are a lot of thing's in the later version that we don't actually need, but that's what we love about it, isn't it? Stone gives no end of quoteable lines, despite all the F-words, and Pacino delivers them unforgettably. The slack pacing adds to the atmosphere of opulent decay, and throws the splashes of outrageous carnage into relief. I wouldn't say it's DePalma's best work, but it deserves a place among his best. It's certainly one of the defining films of the 1980s, even if you hate it. Hearing Moroder's reptillian disco theme creep in over the eerily appropriate Universal globe is a little rush. It's cute when Tony says he learned to talk from Bogart and Cagney - I didn't know those guys said 'f<@%' so much. The movie is loaded with moments.
Incidentally, Hawks' film casts its shadow very consciously over "The Untouchables," as well - not just in the presence of a character based on Al Capone. Note that that film employs a circle motif that recalls the famous 'X' that haunts "Scarface"'s images.
"Say Hello To My Liddle Fren"
In this movie Al Pacino plays Tony Montana , a recently arrived Cuban immigrant to America. Tony is a very ambitious guy. He wants "The world and everything in it" as he puts it. Tony is considered to be a "peasant" by the Big Time Criminals and he is determined to prove them wrong. One funny scene in this movie is where Tony's sidekick, the not-too-bright Manny attempts to show Tony his "sure fire way" of picking up American women.This movie has dated horribly over the last 20 years. The "State Of The Art" televison sets are all 24 inches wide(!!!) , Tony wears Three Piece suits and all of the telephones have cords attatched to them!!! I saw this movie when it was originally released back in 1983 and considered it's gratuitous violence to be disturbing.Now I find this to be an (unintentionally !!!) funny movie.Tony has a girlfriend but he is in love with his sister!!! It seems like Tony could greatly benefit from some Heavy Duty Medication and Therapy.You could write a First Grade Reader on this movie. It would read'Here is Tony. See Tony Kill . See Tony snort ."It seems like every criminal in this movie speaks with an accent. This is reminiscent of the T.V. Police Shows of the 1970's where all the Bad Guys were either Hispanic or African American. I do find it sad that Hollywood continues this racist stereotyping in it's movies. I have recently discovered that there is a Drinking Game associated with this movie. You do a shot of Tequila every time Tony says the "F" word and you will be drunk within half an hour!!! I give this movie 5 stars because Al Pacino gives an (unintentionally again!!!) very hammy performance backed up by a ridiculous accent.
A Comedy of Errors
Words are not enough to describe just how bad this film is. The characters are one dimensional; the dialogue is comprised mostly of the "F" word; and gratuitously violent scenes are splattered from beginning to end. Mr. Pacino relies on a laughable "Cuban" accent and a perpetual sneer to bring the character of Tony Montana to life. His performance is pure ham, right of the bone and poorly cut. The direction is even worse - which brings me to the reason that I always try to catch at least some snippets of the movie when it plays on cable: the same reasons that make the film so unbelievably bad also make it incredibly funny. Some examples: Tony and Elvira's exchange regarding his "diplomatic status"; Manny's tongue-wiggling scene as he "teaches" Tony the fine art of wooing an American woman; Tony revealing to Sosa the two things he has in life; Tony and his Tiger-striped Cadillac arriving to pick up Elvira. I could go on and on. My only caution to prospective viewers (adults only, of course) is that there is so much violence and profanity used throughout the film that it may be difficult for some to get past the initial revulsion. However, if they can overcome this hurdle, the film will leave them in stitches.
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