Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)

 

 

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Sergio Leone's final masterpiece ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA is by far a unique and amazing piece of filmmaking by one of the cinema's greatest Italian directors since Fellini and De Sica.The story involves a ruthless gangster David 'Noodles' Aronson (played brilliantly by Robert DeNiro) who ends up fleeding away from his friends in the 1940's and returns back to them in the late '60's through many years of hardships as young kids growing up on the wrong side of the tracks to being successful in crime during the prohibition era of the '30's.Prior to its original U.S. release in 1984,this film recieved many great reviews and audience praise when it was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and The New York Film Festival.The film's distributor,Warner Bros/The Ladd Company,uncerimoniously cut out 90 minutes out of the original running time fearing that the movie would run too long and that they wouldn't get as many showings in a single day.The edited version totally changes the complete story continuity of the original film and therefore isn't even as good to watch ,even if you have already seen the longer version.In fact,this edited version of the movie has already been shown once on cable network television on the TNN network (now called SPIKE TV) in April,2003 and believe me,it isn't even worth watching! Warner's 2-disc Special Edition of the film is perhaps,in my opinion,one of the worst special edition DVD's I have ever purchased so far!!! Although the film is presented in its original 229-minute uncut version and in a beautifully preserved 1:85.1 aspect ratio,Disc one innapropriately stops in the middle of the Diamond Robbery scene,even though the disc jacket says it ends directly at the intermission title card!! But on Disc two,the intermission takes place nearly ten chapters into the second disc!! What a real travesty!!! Plus,there are no really great bonus features other than a terrific audio commentary by film critic/historian Richard Schickel,trailer,an excerpt from the hour-long documentary "Once Upon A Time:Sergio Leone" on the making of the film itself,and nothing else!!! However,the movie appears on HBO from time to time and is actually the same version that's on the DVD in which this version includes the Ladd Company credits and no intermission title card!!! I taped that version not too long ago and trust me,it's a lot better than this DVD mess,plus,I got the entire movie on one tape!!! Tape this longer version off of HBO and you won't be dissapointed and enjoy and appreciate this true masterpiece of Sergio Leone in its entirety!! Warner Bros could've done a lot better and nicer job on this DVD,but thankfully learned their lesson with better-selling DVD's after this fiasco!!!

This movie speaks for itself. We don't have to go into the content, performances, or controversial subject matter, since who hasn't seen this movie???

My issue is the DVD itself.

1) The cut from disc 1 to disc 2 is lousy. I would have done it where the "intermission" scene happens, but then I'm not in charge of these type of things, leave that to the smart guys.

2) The sound and picture were DVD? I thought I may have accidentally splipped in my VHS copy instead. Where did they remaster this thing, Radio Shack?

3) The bonus features are lousy. 229 minute movie and you couldn't come up with anything good?
a) an 18 minute documentary that looks like it was filmed by me
b) a "photographic journey" that you can't fast forward thru
c) Cast & crew section that just lists the names- no info on each name, except Leone, who really never did much except eat.
d) Deleted scenes: NONE
e) Alternate ending: NONE
f) Spanish & French: NONE
g) Booklet: NONE

4) And finally this informative commentary, that was worth including. Have you ever gone to a movie with someone who turned out to be "below your level" and just won't shut up??? He's here, on this DVD!!! And he won't shut up!!!

This is the Special Edition DVD, right? Tell you what, I found a greek version. Now it doesn't have subtitles (unless your greek), but the audio & picture is much better and IT'S ONE DISC! You don't have to turn it over or anything!!! ONE DISC!!

Save yourself a lot of heartbreak and don't buy this version, they must know that a lot of people are quite unhappy with it. Read the other reviews!!!

Now go get your @#$! shine box, and buy Goodfellas instead.

Yes, the film is four hours long, and yes, there is an hour and a half flashback sequence. But don't let this ward you way from what is truly a masterpiece of a gangster flick. The flashback itself is engrossing and endearing. If you love movies, if you love great acting, if you love history, this is the epic for you.

'Once Upon a Time in America' is a film about a group of four friends who have grown up together in New York City since the turn of the century. They grew up around crime and took part in it themselves. 'America' doesn't focus on the truly criminal aspects of the tale, though; nor does it glorify violence in any way. In a genius move, director Sergio Leone portrays how crime influences this tough, beautiful, but delicate friendship.

This brings me to the famously long flashback. Anyone who tells you it is boring, unimportant and relentless was obviously not paying attention. They must also have a short attention span, for the portrayel of the four main characters' childhood is at times beautiful, elegiac and hilarious. It tells a timeless tale of the central character in the film, Noodles (later played by Robert DeNiro), and his obsession with the local beauty (a young Jennifer Conally, later played by Elizabeth McGovern) who refuses to love him because he'll "always be a two-bit punk." It reminisces on the constant loss of virginities to the town prostitute who makes love for the price of one pastry (what accompanies this story line is a legendary scene where a young teenager succumbs to the temptation of his pastry gift). And it ends in one of the film's most emotional moments that proves you must have a strong stomach to really pay attention and/or appreciate the film to full extent. It is quite hard to watch not because of any sort of violence, but because of its emotional rawness ending in a near cataclysmic incident.

This carries over into the rest of the film, dotted with modern day looks at Noodles and his three friends who are dead at the beginning of the film. After his mental journey through the past, he searches in real life for the love of his life, played by Elizabeth McGovern. What ensues is a twist, one of the best in cinematic history (that I've seen, anyway). You won't be disappointed.

What is masterful about all of these storylines, flashbacks and flashforwards is the extent of their depth. Leone accompanies each detail with an unforgettable emotional truth that extends deep into each character's (and our own) psyche. And for those who love history, Leone sets this saga in the days of prohibition, which offers the four friends an occupation, of sorts.

Apart from the amazing depth in character and story, the production values are top notch, with glorious sets, cinematography and editing. And don't forget the delicacy of the writing and direction. It all works together so well on so many levels.

So to those who have strong stomachs (there are bouts of intense violence) and those who are not too young (this is definitely not a family film, as it portrays some graphic sexuality) and also those who are in love with cinema, I recommend 'Once Upon a Time in America.' Oh, and make sure you have a good attention span. This is not a short movie by any means, although it zips by in the best sense.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Don't make them like they used too.
What an amazing movie from the past. It is a well written classic that should be part of anyone's collection.

Published 9 months ago by Pathfinder Lover

3.0 out of 5 stars The Timeless Gangster Saga
Once upon a Time in America, is one of those movies, you never get tired of. The film aged gracefully and there are few if any clues it is not a contemporary movie. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Gheorghe Weisz

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece
Every time I watch this movie, I get closer to calling it my all-time favourite. It's a magnum opus in the truest sense, and many of the things people believe to be flaws in it... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Jimbo Jones

4.0 out of 5 stars a classic
his is an epic, episodic tale of the lives of a small group of New York City Jewish gangsters spanning over 40 years. Read more

Published on Aug 5 2007 by Francesca Jourdan

2.0 out of 5 stars Why this "director's cut" is still a muddled mess
One thing that you should know about this movie, according to the running commentary on this DVD set, is that Leone originally shot 10 hours of film. Read more

Published on July 11 2004 by Bliggick

3.0 out of 5 stars Betrayal of course
Okay of course someone saw that I love Gangsta movies, and books and suggested that this had to be one for the collection. Read more

Published on July 7 2004 by Nardsbaby

1.0 out of 5 stars Distastefully Grafic
If the movie had left out the offensive grafic sex scenes, especially with kids involved in sex acts, I could have enjoyed this movie a little bit. Read more

Published on Jun 17 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest movies ever made.
'Once Upon a Time in America', simply put, is the best gangster movie I've ever seen and is one of the greatest movies ever made. Read more

Published on May 7 2004 by Dhaval Vyas

5.0 out of 5 stars Too Grand For Words
No review can do this grandiose film justice, but i'll write one anyway. It is a sprawling, beautiful epic that (i cant beleive i'm saying this) really does deserve the title of... Read more

Published on Mar 4 2004

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Criminal Tragedy...
Once Upon a Time in America is an epic crime tale about two teenage friends, Noodles (Robert De Niro) and Max (James Woods), and their companionship which is surrounded by deceit... Read more

Published on Feb 26 2004 by Kim Anehall

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