Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0024543404880
Format: Collector's Edition
Label: 20th Century Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: 20th Century Fox
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2006-05-23
Running Time: 108
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Theatrical Release Date: 2000

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Spotlight customer reviews:

Customer Rating:

Summary: a few thoughts...
Comment: When Tarantino made Pulp Fiction he successfully created a movie both full of style and substance. While many people focus solely on Pulp Fiction's dialog and over-the-top violence, some people did take note of the true cleverness of Tarantino's film. Pulp Fiction is a movie about set-ups. Everything that happens in the first half of the movie - Vincent and Jules discussion about the foot massage, Vincent and Mia's conversation at the diner - is done to set up one griping scene; the shot of adrenaline to Mia's heart. Ask anyone who has seen Pulp Fiction about their favorite scene, and odds are they will talk about the adrenaline to the heart, the gimp, or the accidental death in the back of the car. Pulp Fiction's dialog is cleverly executed to build up suspense and add insight and humor into 3 specific scenes creating a far more clever movie than you might perceive if you just watched it once. Repeat viewing reveal just how clever Tarantino's Pulp Fiction is, and it shows how there really were not any wasted lines of dialog. Pulp Fiction is a witty and comedic without being too serious. It has some subtle insights, such as loyalty amongst gangsters and Jules spiritual epiphany. And, of course, cinema buffs will happily point out all the different types of angles and shots Tarantino used throughout the movie, and why they helped contribute to the film. All in all, what Taranatino accomplished with one movie was truly remarkable, and much more than the average viewer might pick up on with just one viewing or without reading some professional insight from a seasoned critic or cinema buff.

Given all the comparisons between Tarantino and Duffy's Boondock Saints, I was expecting a substantial and complex film. Unfortunately, Boondock Saints is everything but. The premise of Boondock Saints is two brothers have a spirtual epiphany and decide they need to take justice into their own hands through excess and reckless vengeance. They hook up with "funny man" Rocco, who knows all the important bad guys they can kill. And, in quite possibly the most laugh-at-able roll ever, William Dafoe plays the detective hot on the tail of our protagonists. Unfortunately, I had a hard time liking the protagonists, especially Rocco. His character is simply too destructive and violent to have any empathy or sympathy for. And I really like William Dafoe (he did an excellent job as the Green Goblin), but Dafoe's roll is so exaggerated it is impossible to not laugh at his character or believe that this guy could be a real-life detective.

There's nothing to enjoy about the Boondock Saint's dialog, and unlike Pulp Fiction, it is not put to good use. In one scene, "funny man" Rocco has to tell a joke. I felt like this scene was injected into this movie for the sole purpose of throwing the N-word around. There's nothing wrong with using the N-word, it has appeared in movies countless times without bothering me, but Duffy's effort is contrived and irrelevant to the movie's plot.

In one scene, our three protagonists are sitting at the table, and one of their guns goes off killing the cat, effectively painting the wall red in cat innards. This scene is strikingly similar to the Bonnie Situation in Pulp Fiction, only far less humourous or entertaining. I do not know if Duffy intentionally lifted that scene from Pulp Fiction or not, but there is no denying the similarity.

Then there is the movie's oh so empty plot, which attempts to convety this theme that justice in the hands of those who have been spiritually guided is fun and exciting. I really don't feel that I need to elaborate as other reviewers have already pointed out the flaws in this movie's theme. But, to contribute; justice through vengence is a flawed idea; this is especially true when our main characters (who we are supposed to relate to) are commiting these violent acts of vengence without any constraint or thought. Our heroes never experience any turmoil or confliction when they extract vengence in the most violent way possible. This is not a heroic act, not when zero consideration is given to the people they are killing. But who cares right? Why should we give thought to this subject matter when Duffy has created a stylistic movie that makes recklessly killing bad guys look super cool and easy.

For me, as a casual fan of Tarantino, I feel compelled to defend movie's like Pulp Fiction. The stylistic similarities between Duffy and Tarantino are only skin deep, if that. So, by comparing the works of Tarantino to fluff like Boondock Saints, people are really doing a disservice for Tarantino. This needs to stop. Duffy's film is a wannabe Tarantino film, it strives to achieve a balance in style and depth, but fails at both.

Boondock Saints might not have been such an abysmal affair for me had I not watched it after hearing all the comparisons to Tarantino. Unforunately, college hipsters have clung to this film elevating it to "cult status" (what does that mean? if millions of collge kids with no background in cinema love a film does that make it a cult film?).

The truth is, Boondock Saints is an overrated, meaningless film, with amateur dialog and cinematography. It's cool to like this film beecause it is stylistic and has "depth," but anyone who gives this film a little through will quickly realize just how little this film has to offer.

What is truly amazing is that so many people love this film. Why, we may never know.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Was Defoe that desperate?
Comment: This movie fails in every aspect. I don't know who it might appeal to? Perhaps it's the Irish Catholic principle thing? That sounds pathetic, but it's all I can come up other than some idiot frat guy who just loves the gore? It's a dumbed down, half witted, Tarantino film written by an egomaniac who doesn't realize that fact.

Customer Rating:

Summary: In Nomeni Patri Et Fili... Spiritus Sancti
Comment: (Spoilers included)

There are a TON of messages throughout this movie, probably the most prominent is the beginning:

"...and I am reminded of this holy day of the sad story of Kitty Geneviese. As you all may remember a long time ago, almost 30 years ago... This poor soul cried out for help time and time again but no person answered her calls. Though many saw, not one so much as called the Police. They all just watched as Kitty was being stabbed to death in broad daylight. They watched as her assailant walked away. Now we must all fear evil men but there is another kind of evil which we must fear most... and that is the indifference of good men."

So many times I've watched videos of people being robbed, beaten, shot, stabbed, and then heard stories of similar things on the news where NO ONE so much as helped or called the Police. A woman, bled to death on the emergency room floor, because no one made an attempt to help her.

This world is all about self preservation, and I think they noted that well in this movie. Throughout the hour and 50 minutes (give or take) the director made a point to really dig into the mentality of this world and show what two men that have had enough, can do.

Sure it delves a bit on the supernatural or "godly" when they receive their "message" while in the jail cell. But it doesn't go overboard. The director adds a ton of humor and light points and doesn't make the brothers appear to be unstoppable or invincible.

I have yet to find a movie that made me laugh as hard as this one did in the scene where Rocco slams his fist down on a table and shoots a cat. "Is it dead?" CLASSIC.

This movie ranks up with my top three all time movies. I can't give it enough stars. Classic script, direction, music, character development... there's EVERYTHING in this movie. The best lines from the entire movie for me, is the end:

"You people have been chosen to reveal our existence to the world! You will witness what happens here today, and you will tell of it later. All eyes to the front."

"Now you will receive us! We do not ask for your poor, or hungry. We do not want your tired or sick! It is your corrupt we claim! It will be your evil that will be sought by us! With every breath, we shall hunt them down! Each day we will spill their blood, till it rains down from the skies! Do not kill, do not rape, do not steal. These are principles that every man of every faith can embrace! These are not polite suggestions, these are codes of behavior, and those of you that ignore them will pay the dearest cost! There are varying degrees of evil. We urge you lesser forms of filth not to push the bounds and cross over into true corruption... into our domain. For it you do, one day you will look behind you, and see we three, and on that day you will reap it! ... and we will send you to whichever god you wish!"

CLASSIC.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Outstanding Selection
Comment: This is not a movie for everyone. It is gory with violence and murder being portrayed as good things. But, with that in mind, this movie is one of the greatest of all time. It is easy to see why this is such a cult-classic. The characters play off each other perfectly and the dialogue is hilarious. Willem Dafoe plays what is undoubtedly his best role in this film. Anyone who likes quirky films, such as any Tarantino movie, will find this film to be excellent.

Customer Rating:

Summary: Sometimes, when choosing a movie,
Comment: I want to see things blown up, a mounting body count and a bloody hero triumphing unrealistically over extreme evil. It was with such thoughts that I rented this movie. But....while this movie was obviously made with real enthusiasm and good humour, it was done so cheaply, and edited so badly that it becomes a game of count the goofs, rather than watch the movie. The plot was definitely thin, the dialog mostly fbombs, and the acting by Dafoe, one of my favorites, simply stunk. Too bad, the movie missed all the way around.

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Editorial Reviews:

Charismatic young stars Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus play two Irish brothers, Connor and Murphy, who believe themselves ordained by God to rid the world of evil men. Their first killing is in self-defense; but after that, they start killing with devotion, gunning down a summit of the Russian mafia. Willem Dafoe plays a gay FBI agent (he listens to opera while examining crime scenes) who knows what the boys are doing but feels that their vigilante tactics are necessary. There's not much plot to The Boondock Saints--it's mostly a series of violent scenes in which the boys are partially ingenious and partially lucky. The movie seems to want to provoke debate about vigilantism, but the scenario is too implausible to stir any real controversy. The peculiar mix of earnestness and machismo will not appeal to everyone, but it's certainly unique and may acquire a cult following. --Bret Fetzer