“Scarface” opens us to the world of Tony Montana - gangster, drug lord and Cuban refugee. Director Brian DePalma knows how to spin a yarn and does a decent job with this crime tale that’s chocked full of violence, vengeance and surprisingly a lot of humor sprinkled in its almost 3 hours.
“All I have in this world is my balls and my word. And I don’t break them for no one”. Al Pacino does his typical over the top performance of a man that even in his skewed world view has values. The dichotomy makes for an interesting character but even with that said the one flaw in the movie lays in the fact our main character just isn’t really that likeable. Throughout the years Hollywood has released plenty of movies with likeable bad guys or bad guys you love to hate. Everyone from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid to Bonnie and Clyde and even Hannibal Lector are those characters that you find yourself rooting for no matter what they have done. However, I can’t say the same thing for our Tony Montana. Pacino’s portray of Michael in “The Godfather” movies or even Malcolm McDowell in “A Clockwork Orange” are sympathetic characters but I can’t say I ever feel sorry for what happens to the Montana character. Perhaps you are not supposed to yet I feel the movie suffers as a result.
Regardless, if you are picking up this DVD it’s because it’s that guilty pleasure film that you love to watch over and over and you can recite the classic lines by heart. This is one of those films that although it’s not quite up to par as say to “The Godfather” films it has still reached the cult classic level.
In fact this movie owes much to the Godfather movies as it does to the old “Miami Vice” TV series with its look and style. Also interesting to note, for a movie known for its violence it’s often what you don’t see that makes it all so powerful. One such example is the now famous chainsaw scene where you never see the grisly moment and instead it’s all in the sound. Still, the body count is as high as the blood sprays and there are plenty.
So is it worth dropping more money for the new Platinum Edition? Well if you are a fan then you going to love what they have done. First up is the sound, it has been completely re-mastered with every sound effect replaced for a bigger bang of guns and explosion that will make you think they are shooting down your door. The sound is awesome and I recommend the DTS 5.1 if you have the right system. The picture on the other hand to me was a bit on the grainy side but it’s very possible it is just how it was originally shot so I’m not going to nit pick.
Now let’s get to the extras, this one has everything from deleted scenes, documentaries and even a scorecard. That’s right you read it right a scorecard option that you can turn on that will keep a tally of every “F-word” spoken and every bullet fired. So by the end of the movie you can find out the results and they might surprise you.
The deleted scenes offer up a few more insights into Tony Montana. They add up to over 20 minutes of footage. For good or for bad they are only dialogue driven scenes and no extra violence for your buck.
There are several documentaries offered up in this collection. There are documentaries on the making of the movie but you also have one on the real Tony Montana’s of the world and even one on the making of the video game. They are all well made and well worth your time.
Plus, last but not lease there is a montage of clips comparing the theatrical version and the one that later appeared on television. Not only is the editing obvious but the words they choose are often comical. The first scene when Montana is getting interrogated he is asked, “Where did you get that beauty scar tough guy, eating pussy?” In the television version it is now “Where did you get that beauty scar tough guy, eating pineapple?” It’s unbelievable how bad of a job they do on editing and dubbing but it’s worth a laugh or two.
Scarface is one of those films you either love or you don’t and Universal has done an amazing job with the 2-Disc Platinum Edition. Buy it for the sound, buy it for the violence or just buy it to find out how many times they drop the “F-bomb” - you’ll be happy you did.
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Hmmm Written by Guest on 2006-11-24 05:01:34 I'v all ready got Scarface on DVD, is it worth getting this new one? |
Um... Written by publisher on 2006-11-27 02:40:02 Not to be rude but did you at least read the title of my review? |
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