Gangs of New York

Phugg_Innay · Post by **Phugg_Innay** » September 22, 2003, 9:53 am

I watched this last , was NOT dissapointed in anyway. Just a very enjoyable movie all the way through. The fact that it was based on real historical persons and events was good , but I think a little overblown (per the normal Hollywood way)

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » September 22, 2003, 2:27 pm

I could have done without the Cameron Diaz character.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » September 22, 2003, 3:30 pm

I thought it was worth a watch but I wasn't really that impressed. I too could have done without Cameron D.

Marb

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » September 22, 2003, 4:45 pm

it was a cool film, but i found myself looking at my watch after about the 2 hour mark. sort of like how i felt at about the 2 hour mark with magnolia...

from what i read, this is one of those "inspired by a true story" films rather than "based on", read: nothing is really based on history other than the existance of a few people. interesting story though.

Gangs of New York is not a true story, not literally anyway. It is, however, an interesting fiction woven with actual historical figures, places, and some genuine events. Bill the Butcher, Monk, the True Blue Americans, The Dead Rabbits, and all the other gangs depicted in this film were real people, many of their exploits quite factual. Bill and Monk actually missed being direct rivals by around 50 years.
....
William Poole (Bill the Butcher) was a member of the Native Americans (not to be confused with American Indians) did in fact have deadly accuracy with a knife at up to 20 feet and he and his thugs fixed elections. Monk Eastman was a later figure, not associated with The Dead Rabbits, who served in World War I with distinction and was, indeed, head of the gangs in the Five Points area at the turn of the century.
....
Scorcese takes these loose facts, creates a tougher and more dangerous Five Points neighborhood than in fact existed, and weaves a tale that is, in spite of its deviations from fact, true. And there is, in fact, an old Irish saying that just because something isn't factual doesn't mean it isn't true. Because what Scorsese captures in Gangs of New York is the essence of New York's beginnings, its genesis, and to some very great extent, the beginnings of American Culture as it exists today. America was, as the ads say, born in the streets.

more

masteen · Post by **masteen** » September 25, 2003, 5:49 pm

Gangbangs of New York was better.

Xzion · Post by **Xzion** » September 25, 2003, 7:22 pm

would have been a great movie if it did not have the worlds shittyest storyline ever composed, he waits to try to kill the guy in a crowded theatre after befriending him and getting his trust, giving him several opportunitys beforehand, his reation to it and its uncreativity
...but the cinimatography and direction was pretty badass

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » September 27, 2003, 11:08 am

The reason he tried that is because the Butcher was celebrating the anniversary of killing his father. I thought the movie was very well done. A little more bloodier than I had expected, but that isn't a bad thing.