Don't listen to the nay sayers! Cause it was great!

Rating: 10/10 (20 December 2002)

Seems to me like there are mixed reviews about this movie. Well being a fan of scorsese, a history buff, and film violence etc. I set out to see this at its first showing at 12:15 at my new local theater. Now for all you people that want awesome character development, deep motives that you cleary understand and are spelled out and a romantic story and some grand epic like something David Lean did. Well you can just not go see this... Its not that kindav movie. If anything this reminds me of how they use to make epic films like the early 50's . What this reminds me of is mostly Sergio Leone movies (my personal favorite director)and the first 10 minutes were outstanding. After the Dead Rabbits come out to fight and stand in the street there is this great shot of paradise square. All you hear is the wind blowing and the streets are empty like those older western movies. The camera stays in position and out of a run down/burnt down building one by one the Nativists gang slowly creep out lead by the awesome Bill the Butcher (Lewis in a great role). They all have on their top hats with royal blue hat bands and royal blue sashes. Snow covers the ground. Bill's foot steps down and digs into the snow covered ground then kicks it behind him like a bull about to charge. The camera pans up and there he is in his big overcoat and great hat. It reminds me of "Once Upon A Time In The West" how that gang wear their big overcoats. OUTSTANDING! just like Leone would have done it... accept this had less glances and no big close ups :( . The film cuts to 16 years later and there is Leonardo Dicaprio. He fits the part of a tuff irish guy who is in his early twenties. Cameron Diaz is fine in a part that anyone could have played. The art direction/set decoration was great! Should win the oscar. The editing alright, Costumes awesome. Cinematography has its lil moments but nothing too incredible. Acting is good overall. I can't complain I loved this movie and will see it again. People don't knit pick this to death. That will ruin any movie. Don't expect stuff like scorsese has done before. As for people who like to complain about Intrussive music. Don't watch a Sergio Leone film cause the music is a huge part of it. Scorsese was trying to go for the opera like story. Please people stop complaing I'd love ten movies like this a year instead of the crap Hollywood has been churning out. This movie is really a western ...that takes place in New York. I enjoyed it alot. Don't expect this to be like other Scorsese movies. And violent. Not really not guts spilling out or knifes entering wounds. Or any alot of blood. Too bad. This isn't as violent as Saving Private Ryan's opening scene or Braveheart. Go see this its definately worth a look and don't knit pick it to death enjoy the experience..cause its another world. Keep up the good work Mr. Scorsese!May you get your oscar.. even if it is a pity oscar (Like Newman for Color of Money)