'American Gangster' – High-Def Digest Review

[DoubleJ]

Originally Posted by Liqwid

I always take reviews with a massive grain of salt.

Every movie I've watched that features Russell Crowe has never let me down. I don't expect this one to either.

Really? Even Virtuosity, Breaking Up, and the Quick and the Dead didn't let you down?

To each his own, I guess.

[Rishi]

Originally Posted by Blurry

His main gripe about audio was simply that it was not TrueHD, but stated it sounded just fine (I personally feel TrueHD is more about marketing anyways - but I understand some people insist for those specs - I really wish they would review how it sounds irregardless of codec, 1.5Mbps DD+ is plenty of bandwidth to faithfully reproduce the sound).

Yeah, I don't agree with rating based on codec either, but it seems the mix itself was also very front-heavy with very few channel pans or any other use of a 360-degree soundfield which probably contributed to the low mark for AQ.

I'll probably rent this one, as I didn't like the film too much when I saw it in theatres.

[vinnie97]

I've heard similar complaints about the movie itself from other sources, especially along these lines:

"...and a glorification of Lucas that borders on the same camp lunacy Brian De Palma brought to his fictionalized Tony Montana in 'Scarface' twenty-five years ago. Like De Palma's overrated film, what 'American Gangster' ultimately lacks is verisimilitude, favoring (admittedly entertaining) bombast over the gritty reality it purports to depict."

It's basically another effort to glorify hardened criminals no matter how wonderful the performances are. I might not run out and blind buy this either having not seen it in the theater.

[M. Bison]

Peter M. Bracke's review is fucking stupid. He actually gave American Ganster 2 and a half stars, wtf! I wondered what taste he had in movies guys and then I looked at his past reviews.

This is just a few of them that I thought was fucking stupid.

He gave these shitty ass movies 3 stars, one half star better then American Gangster mind you

Beerfest

The Covenant

Employee of the Month

hahaha, are you guys laughing yet, he thought these were better movies.

The big show stopper was he gave Night at the Museum 4 stars
So take this shrew review with a big grain of salt because his taste in movies makes me sick.

[kak]

This movie isn't the greatest of all time, but it is far better than he makes it out to be. This movie never attempts to be a modern 'Godfather' in any shape or form.

The only fault I found with this film (needed detail) was how Lucas was figured out. The movie shifted gears immediately and I found that highly unbelievable.

[ASIA911]

Meh, I no longer trust the reviewers from this site any longer. I still can't believe he gave Traffic 4.5 stars for the PQ and POTC: DMC 1.5 stars for movie. If I want a movie reviews I either go to rottentomato or IMDB. If I want to check for PQ, I go to AVSforum.

I can't no longer take WOM from just 1 reviewer here when it comes to PQ. The only way to do a proper PQ is a screen capture.

I will not be picking this one up. The PQ does look pretty disappointing.

[mswoods1]

Originally Posted by M. Bison

He gave these shitty ass movies 3 stars, one half star better then American Gangster mind you

Beerfest

The Covenant

Employee of the Month

hahaha, are you guys laughing yet, he thought these were better movies.

Damn, that is funny! The Covenant and Employee of the Month were two movies that I rented and ended up turning them off before I finished. I thought they were two of the worst movies ever made... and they got a higher rating than American Gangster.

[M. Bison]

Originally Posted by mswoods1

Damn, that is funny! The Covenant and Employee of the Month were two movies that I rented and ended up turning them off before I finished. I thought they were two of the worst movies ever made... and they got a higher rating than American Gangster.

The Covenant was decent in a highschool bullshit kind of way but my god man, He seems to actually have liked Employee of the Month! It has to be one of the worst attempts at comedy I have ever seen. Dani Cook sucks.

[NovaKane]

Originally Posted by kak

The only fault I found with this film (needed detail) was how Lucas was figured out. The movie shifted gears immediately and I found that highly unbelievable.

If it's at the same point that I'm thinking of, I liked how that all transpired. In fact it was the subject of much discussion amongst my friends.

Anyway, it might not be one of my favorite Ridley Scott films, but it was entertaining and featured some solid performances.

I might not agree completely with Peter's score on the film itself, but I do agree with him in that American Gangster really didn't bring anything new to the genre. Put it this way, I expected something more unique from Ridley Scott's creative vision.

That said, I do think this movie is still worth a purchase, or at very least a rent.

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by Centauri

Oh wow.

As somebody who has yet to see the film, I was expecting a glowing review of a glowing HD DVD offering.

You may have just saved me from a blind buy.

The worst part of this is that with studios watching the sales numbers of new HD DVD releases right now, the fact that this movie may not be buy-worthy is rather bad news for the entire HD DVD marketplace.

If movie studios gives crap to the customers how can they expect high sales numbers at the first place ?

[monsieurgadget]

I'm a little disappointed by what I read in the review, but as I haven't seen the film, I don't know if this tells the whole picture. The lack of supplements is disappointing also.

However, I am not going to cancel my HD DVD preorder - this is a key release which I feel I must support if HD DVD has any hope of continuing to survive.

[Swearengen]

Originally Posted by Blurry

His main gripe about audio was simply that it was not TrueHD, but stated it sounded just fine (I personally feel TrueHD is more about marketing anyways - but I understand some people insist for those specs - I really wish they would review how it sounds irregardless of codec, 1.5Mbps DD+ is plenty of bandwidth to faithfully reproduce the sound).

Sometimes it is, depends on the source. I've yet to hear a soundtrack in DD+ that just come close to the clarity, detail in ambience and overall soundpresentation of the top PCM and TrueHD tracks.

Anyway it's a pity, that Universal hasn't put on the extended version via seamless branching and a sin not to give us a lossless track. HD is NOT JUST about the best picture, but the best sound also. GOOD ENOUGH is just not GOOD ENOUGH!!!

Ridley is a master when depicting environments and the visuals from different periods and this was a great movie, far better than Departed.

[taygan315]

Originally Posted by don luprie

I'm still going to pick it up.

It will be a blind buy but I have heard only good things from my friends.

Same here. Look forward to seeing it. Been waiting anxiously for the release of this one and Sweeny Todd.

[ben1080p]

Really want to see it.
I heard good things about it.

[TaiwaneSTUD]

2.5 for the plot of the movie?

i thought it was at least 4 stars

great film and have oscars written all ove rit