Better with "Special Features"

Rating: Null/10 (31 March 2004)

I didn't think the movie sucked. How's that for a rousing start for a movie review?
Daniel Day Lewis was great. DiCaprio was OK. Diaz wasn't super annoying.
It took a LONG time to get from "Hellgate" to the actual revenge attempt, but that was well-used time that really got into some interesting struggles and character development, esp. for Amsterdam, his growing affinity for the Butcher, his becoming more like the Butcher, etc.
The opening fight scene's MTV music was a terrible way to start.
The DVD format has really revolutionized movie viewing, as I found myself skeptical about the open warfare portrayed in the city of that time. However, the Discovery Channel material included on Disk 2 of the DVD release answered alot of those questions and some. In fact, the closing riot even seems rather mild compared the historical reality of that time.
I would give this an 8 out of 10.