Casino - a safe bet.

Introduction

This is another great Scorsese film. This man really knows how to make movies. But I don`t really need to tell you that do I?

Clocking in at just under 3 hours long, this is a big film. But time flies when you`re watching this one, it doesn`t drag at all. Films of this length are well suited to DVD.

This is a violent film, and some parts are definitely not for the squeamish. There are plenty of savage beatings, lots of blood flying around, and quite a few executions to add to that. But these are all integral to the plot !

Video

The 2.35:1 transfer is not an anamorphic transfer (the R1 version is). There are plenty of flashing lights (this is the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas after all) but (as others have commented) the picture can be a little soft at times.

Audio

The sound (a full 5.1 mix) is great, lots of bullets flying, lots of big crowds in the casinos, plenty going on. And the music is excellent, not cliched 70s (and early 80s) stuff, but good music like the Stones, some good blues tracks and plenty of other good music which really adds to the atmosphere.

Features

Unfortunately not much in the way of extras, but again the amount of film that is here compensates in a small way for this. What you do get are some production notes, cast bios and a trailer.

Almost every review of a Scorsese film that I have read asks for a commentary - maybe one day we`ll get one! Martin, if you`re reading (highly unlikely I know), please do one for us. Some of us would like to know what`s going on in your head when you make these films!

Conclusion

This is a long, violent film. That`s not a criticism - it is a very good film, and as I said earlier, time flies when watching it - it is engrossing. Definitely not one for curling up on the sofa with someone to watch though!

I was probably most surprised by Sharon Stone`s performance, which was very good. I`ve never really been a big fan of her acting work, but she really was good in Casino.

If you like your gangster/mob type films, you`ll enjoy this. If you`re not too sure, then maybe this film might sway you a bit.