Love it or leave it!

Rating: 10/10 (4 December 2005)

I really think this movie is a matter of perspective. Based on the ending, one could argue that this is not only a portrait of "a man", but more so - a serial killer to be. For example, little things that a normal person wouldn't be able to comprehend - taking a girl to a porno theater on the first date (LOL!), spending thousands of dollars on handguns, assuming protection of a 12 year old hooker...these are all psychological flaws that Travis cannot overcome! Something isn't right up there! And by the way - these things aren't so far removed from "normal" if you've lived in the Bronx, trust me. I'm not saying this as a knock, but NYC is about as honest as it gets.
This movie is incredibly focused (or boring, depending on how you view it). I've seen it dozens of times and get something new out of it each time.
The ending is so interesting. People will say "I can't believe he is celebrated as a hero!" ...well, wake up and smell the coffee. There's countless Travis Bickles that aren't documented in film all around us.
It is not a celebration of violence at all. If anything, it is a critique of modern media and of American culture's 30 second attention span.
I really can't get into exactly why I like the film, I would be here all day. But it is among my favorites and certainly one of the best and most important films of all time.