Customer Reviews

Raging Bull (Widescreen/Full Screen)

5 star:		(103)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

"Raging Bull" has been called the greatest film of the 80s. After seeing this film last night I would say it is one of the most powerful films of all time. De Niro, was also at the top of his game here, as Jake LaMotta, the infamous boxer known for his abusive life style and somewhat paranoid delusions during his reign as world middleweight boxing champion, 1949 - 1951. Throughout the film, he beats his wife (played expertly and convincingly by the 19-year-old Cathy Moriarty), convinced that she is cheating on him, and that is more or less what the film is truly about. The boxing is just what he does for a living, and could be considered as a way to release some of his deeper, harbored anger.

The film is most often compared to "Rocky," more than any other, apparently because they both concern a certain level of boxing. As much as I absolutely adore "Rocky," "Raging Bull" is a deeper, more realistic film. But whereas "Raging Bull" is raw, "Rocky" is inspiring. The only connecting thread is the apparently central theme of boxing, which is used as a theme in "Rocky," and a backdrop in "Raging Bull." They're entirely different motion pictures -- one uplifting, the other somewhat depressing -- and the people who try to decide which is better need to seriously re-evaluate their reasons for doing so. They both succeed splendidly well at what they are trying to do, and that's all I have to say about their so-called connection.

The boxing scenes easily rank with the most brutal and violent moments ever put on film, shot in stark, unadorned black and white and utilizing unlikely sounds including shattering windows and animal cries to great effect. Thelma Schoonmaker's jarring, discordant editing in these scenes also deserves special mention. The scenes of domestic violence are not for the faint of heart, but there is really no other way to tell this story.

This is certainly one of the most intense films Scorsese has directed, and one of the most important of his career. Along with "Taxi Driver," it is an iconic motion picture that will stand the test of time for years and years to come.

I think De Niro is excellent and this story is very human. I thoroughly enjoyed the film. However, if I am looking for a movie to pass the time or to enjoy with my wife, this isn't an option. It's a powerful drama but it has limited appeal for me.

There is one word for this movie, EXCELLENT!!!! This is a must see movie. This is movie does not rely on special effects to be a good. It has a good story line with excellent acting. I like the fact it was in black and white, it gives the movie a classic feel.

Director Martin Scorsese has a filmography filled with movies that are, unflinchingly realistic, sometimes not for the timid, and always an excercise in craftsmanship. These qualities are no more apparent, than in 1980's Raging Bull. As the film celebrates a milestone and beyond...it deserves to be reissued on DVD as a special edition.

The film tells the true story of middleweight boxer Jake La Motta, played with incredible intensity by Oscar winner Robert De Niro. As La Motta rises through the ranks to earn his first shot at the middleweight title, he falls in love with Vickie (Cathy Moriarty), a true "gal" from his Bronx neighborhood. Jake's inability to express his feelings pours out in the ring and eventually takes over his life and in his dealings with his brother, Joey (Joe Pesci). Irrational, consuming jealousy over Vickie, as well as an insatiable appetite, sends him into a downward spiral that costs him his title, his wife, and his relationship with Joey.

De Niro delivers one of the screen's most unforgettable performances. La Motta's smolder and and anger are played to perfection. De Niro plays it very unsympathetically, yet its graphic depiction is impossible not to see through to the end Pesci and Moriarty are just as intense as go toe toe with De Niro Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Chapman shot the film with a style that makes the boxing scenes overflow with a boundless energy and adds immediacy to the endless arguments that boil over whenever Jake is outside the ring. The use of black and white ends up, only enhancing the movie, was a masterstroke.

The current (and hard to find) DVD has very little bonus material on it. The theatrical trailer and MGM's hallmark, known as the "8 page booklet", with production notes and trivia, is all there is.

At the risk of repeating myself, Raging Bull--a masterpiece of the cinema--deserves the special edition treatment. Meanwhile, the current disc gets **** and a 1/2 stars

Robert De Niro is SPECTACULAR in this amazing 80's classic about boxer Jake La Motta. I really don't think I should discuss this film any further, all I can say is that if you haven't seen it yet, then you absolutely must see it now, and if you've seen it already, well, see it again and relish in the brilliance of the entire thing. From the perfectly profane and in your face script to the excellent supporting performances from Cathy Moriarty and ESPECIALLY Joe Pesci, this film is a masterpiece of a character study.

The ending scenes are some of the best you will ever see, and Robert De Niro gives us all some of the truest,most wrenching, and unbelievably powerful acting-EVER. This is a masterful drama that can be watched over and over again and still punch you in the gut.And this is the film which solidifies(at least for me) that Bobby D here is one of the greatest actors of all time.A wrenching,intense, powerful picture-and one of my favorite films of all time.

Robert De Niro is an actor of absolutely unquestionable and indescribable strength and power.There is no acting in this film.Robert De Niro is purely and simply Jake La Motta; famous 1940's boxer with uncontrollable rage and bouts of jealousy that eventually cost him the care and respect of his loved ones.Robert De Niro put on about 50 pounds towards the end of the film; you probably already know that.What you will not know, and simply MUST expeirience is the sheer power of De Niro's intense, yet realistic, ultimately stomach churningly wrenching performance.My title is a little inaccurate.De Niro, isn't the boss, he's the God, at least in this film.

Pesci is stunningly effective as De Niro's brother, and 18 year old Cathy Moriarty marks a very impressive debut as the sultry Vickie.The script is perfect and every bit as profane and vulgar and in your face as it needs to be.

True, this film tends to lose it's compellingness as a drama during the film's tiny dry spots.But it's a wondrous character study, one of the best of all time; and the mastery of De Niro's performance is earth-shattering.

If you've seen this film, then you know what I'm referring to in the line above!

Raging Bull is a driven and unforgettable character study of famous 1940's boxer, Jake La Motta. Jake La Motta was a rather pathetic figure.He had raging tempers and outbursts of jealousy and rage that he himself could not control.I'm not even sure he knew where he was coming from.He was violent and ridiculously controlling of everyone and eveything around him.He rode high when boxing was good to him, but when he gave up his career, his angry ways caught up with him and he was left with no one to care about him. And yet, despite Jake acting like an egotistical son of a b*tch,I sympathized with him, deeply.I sympathized with him because in the end, he liced his life the only way that he knew how.He loved the ones around him the only way that he knew how.He wasn't a bad man by choice; he was simply a weak man who wasn't capable of controlling his inner demons.The boxing scenes create the perfect atmosphere of blood and lust and sweat and rage.

Joe Pesci, who plays Joey, Jake's brother, and manager is excellent and could've easily been granted his academy award.He deftly moves through the film capturing all his character's many dimensions.In many ways, Joey is not much different from his brother-he was just able to control himself more.Every scene Pesci is in, is an unforgettable one, because he brings something new to each one.Cathy Moriarty is perfect as Jake's wife of eleven years.You witness her descent from a young beauty full of life and vitality into a world-weary housewife with barely any freedom or life of her own.

But this film belongs to a man called Bobby D. Robert De Niro is absolutely brilliant.He isn't acting, he is being(no matter how many times you may have heard it, it's true)>Every single word he says, every grunt he produces, every expression om his face is compelling and impossible to look away from.Towards the end, with 50 extra pounds on him, De Niro produces some of the most unforgettable scenes I've ever seen.He is absolutely wrenching and his performance is everything you've heard and more.

This film has a few rough spots in the middle;at times, it's not as compelling of a drama as it wants to be.But these moments are so rare, and so completely overruled by the brilliant acting, and script, that you'd be hard pressed to care. You gotta watch it, that's all I can say.

A stirring, gripping tale of a fighter's tumultuous life and times in and out of the ring. Robert De Niro gives an astounding performance as Jake Lamotta, the rampaging wild man who storms his way to the title and over damn near anything and everyone else. His gaining of 70 pounds to show how Lamotta appeared after he left the ring is without question the most devotion to a character in cinematic history. Deniro won a well deserved Academy Award for Best Actor for this one, and is hailed by fans and critics alike as his finest performance ever.

Scorcese of course derves special mention as Director....brilliant cinematography, lighting, terrific. Also, Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty were nominated for Academy Awards for thier gripping performances. Unfortunately they didnt win but thier performances are stunning as well.

Truly one of the greatest movies of all time, it will stay with you long after youve watched it.

We all know Robert DeNiro was magnificent in the role of Jake LaMotta but he's not the only remarkable aspect of this movie. Cathy Moriarity, played Vicky LaMotta and she's something to see. What a shame this talented young actress's career never took off. Joe Pesci, in his first movie role plays LaMotta's brother and manager and he probably should've taken home an Oscar for supporting actor.

Raging Bull is part Greek tragedy and part Othello. Jake in this movie wants so much, finally gets it and blows it. His jealousy and paranoia drives his brother, the one person who knows and loves him best, out of his life and turns his marriage into a tragedy. The higher the boxer rises (interestingly enough the most beautiful scenes in the movie take place in the ring) the lower the man goes. The movie ends with LaMotta retired, fat, divorced and finally figuring out in his own mind what went wrong. The movie also features one of the most memoriable trailers ever made. You'll never listen to Cavaleira Rusticana again without thinking of Robert De Niro. This was one of the great movies of the 80s.

While this movie is a true classic and is one of Scorsese's best, that can't be said for the far unacceptable DVD that is now out of print. A Special Edition w/ and Anamorphic transfer would help, but it can't come soon enough. Since the previous DVD has been out of print for quite some time, I assume a Special Edition is in the works and I expect an Anamorphic transfer. If not, I'm sure there will be more than one angry film buff.
The movie is flawless as you see Jake LaMotta's soul and career being torn apart by himself through an amazing performance from Robert De Niro. A performance that I would say is the best of all-time. With the help of Jake LaMotta himself, Martin Scorsese has delievered a movie with awesome black and white cinematography, great boxing visuals (some of the most powerful you'll see in film) and top-notch performances from the entire cast. A must-see film!