Raging Bull (Special Edition)

Raging Bull is undoubtedly one of the great boxing movies, others include Champion, Somebody Up There Likes Me and The Harder They Fall but my favourite is still Body And Soul with the great John Garfield. This blue ray transfer of Raging Bull makes the close up punches even more painful to watch but the film is overlong and it does drag in some scenes.

I saw this movie in my film studies class. At first I thought, "Boxing movie? Cool!" but only a few minutes into the film I discovered that it was miles away from exciting. Jake La Motta is an extremely unsympathetic character whose temper and jealousy don't give any motivation for the audience to like him. He alienates everyone close to him and I couldn't bring myself to feel sorry for his eventual fate. Robert De Niro's portrayal of La Motta was well done, but being well-acted doesn't make the film any more watchable. The boxing scenes were the parts I was most looking forward to, but again, I was sorely disappointed. I am well aware that the boxing wasn't the main focus of this film, but a director of Scorsese's caliber should have been able to make it slightly interesting.

The only thing that angers me more than the fact that my time was wasted by this film is the fact that so many hail it as a masterpiece.

Martin Scorsese is unquestionably a great director, and this is a fine film. I used to think it was a great film, but since the last time I watched, I've seen "GoodFellas". And the latter casts a bad light on the former. Hang on as I try to explain.

"GoodFellas" has an iconic scene, largely improvised, in which Joe Pesci's paranoid-psychotic character takes objection to another mobster's innocent comment that he finds Pesci "funny". Pesci pesters him about this -- "What do you mean, I'm funny?" -- amping up the tension until it's suddenly released, for no obvious reason. We don't know why Pesci is acting the way he does. But we are very much aware that we're watching stupid, illiterate, insane people argue for no good reason. And it works.

In crafting a biography of Jake LaMotta (who, as I write this, is still alive at the age of 89), Scorsese tried to get away from the clichés of Hollywood bopics, and succeeded. There are no portentous scenes, no "we have to sum up everthing that happened up to now" dialog. The film seems almost documentary, as if we're watching the events unfold in real time.

Unfortunately, in order to get this casual, unpretentious effect, Scorsese had the actors ad-lib some of the dialog -- and it just doesn't work, particularly in scenes where one character confronts another. It's hard enough for a screenwriter to pen high-quality dialog -- it's almost impossible for any actor to come up with merely /appropriate/ dialog on the spur of the moment.

"Did you f*** my wife?" "What do you mean by that?" "I mean, did you f*** my wife?" "I ain't gonna answer that." "You're my brother, I expect you to." "That's a crazy question, I ain't gonna answer." And so on, and so on, until you want to throttle both the characters and the actors playing them. As bad as it sounds "on paper", it's many times worse in the film.

And it doesn't happen just once, but in scene after scene, until it becomes an irritation. It seemed novel in 1980, but in 2010 it's a cliché. Scorsese should have used the ad-libs as a starting point and written "believable" dialog that came closer to the way the characters would likely have spoken in real life. (He could have gotten LaMotta's view, as he was an advisor.) As it is, we're not seeing the charactrers, but the actor ad-libbing.

This is the only reason I dislike "Raging Bull". It is otherwise a magnificent movie, with beautiful B&W cinematography that anyone who says "I don't like B&W films" has to see. If you're not bothered by (in my view) the poor improvised dialog, you will doubtless find it a masterpiece.

Raging Bull is probably the greatest movie about a boxer ever made. Jake Lemotta was NOT one of the nicest or smartest middleweight champions of all time, but Robert De Niro made the character understandable but not sympathetic. The picture is now more stunning that ever for home viewing in blu-ray. I give it my highest recommendation.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN. DENIRO AND PESCI ARE FANTASTIC. A+

Wonderful quality & Very Fast Shipping ~ 5 star seller ~ would buy from again ~ THANKS!!!

Now, THIS is what a blu-ray disc should be! Great movie. Excellent transfer. Jammed with special features, including three excellent audio commentaries and about two hours worth of documentaries about making the film.

First rate product.

it's a classic, haunting film that gnaws on you.

a horror film without any monsters, painful to watch the boxer live his life.

Great movie, Very Violent, well not very. But Pretty brutal, Yet you don't want to look away.Robert De Niro Is a genius,Joe Pesci is great,Black and white adds to the overall effect of a such movie. Raging Bull is a must to see for any De Niro Fan. Great Movie! Love it! A+

Raging Bull is for the one who loves boxing and all that boxing is about. Raging Bull portrays the sport in all its gory detail and aspects that affect a boxer. Robert de Niro is an excellent actor. This movie is highly recommended for boxing fans...

"Raging Bull" is aggravating to watch. As an enormous fan of Scorsese's pre-2000 work, the catalogue of innovative, dark, gripping, and overall classic works that he did seem to be given the most praise, yet the least rewards. Knowing that DeNiro won an Oscar for this film, knowing that Pesci was nominated (but lost) and knowing that Scorsese was also up for one of those prized trophies, yet lost - is extremely aggravating. Martin Scorsese is one of the most influential directors of my time, and probably my parent's time as well. His body of work ranges from angry Taxi Drive, to a suspicious boxer, to a documentary about a Band, and even a comedy about New York after hours. The list could go on, yet modern audiences only remember him as the guy that brought us "Gangs of New York" or "The Departed", two decent films, but nothing of the caliber that his work from the early 70s had. How can anyone say that "The Departed" was more of an Oscar contender than "Mean Streets"? So, upon watching "Raging Bull" for the first time - I was filled with anger and frustration. "Raging Bull" is one of those near perfect films that was released in the 80s, yet still seems powerful and relevant today. Perhaps it is the skill of Scorsese behind the camera to give us a non-linear biography of a man who has no trouble destroying his own life. Perhaps it is the sharp editing that takes, what could have been your average sports movie, and transforms it into this pioneering black and white, quick cut by quick cut, journey into the darkness of man. Or perhaps it is the actors, Pesci and DeNiro doing what was genius at the time (Pesci seems to have never let go of Joey La Motta in any of his future roles), and giving us lines, words, and actions that will remain in our minds long after the film is over? Perhaps. Everything about "Raging Bull" was perfect, yet the Academy turned away for "Ordinary People", thus Scorsese had to wait for the sympathy win to finally claim his victory. Anyone else find that aggravating?

Enough of me on my soap box trying to justify why Scorsese was robbed early in life, and let's talk about what made "Raging Bull" so exciting to watch. To begin, the casting of both DeNiro and Pesci was brilliant. The two of them had this chemistry (which would try to be duplicated again and again in "Goodfellas" and "Casino") which Scorsese could not have imagined. They brought to the screen a true presence of two brothers growing up in New York in the 40s, trying to cope with both fame and possible infidelity. There are points in this film where one has to question the sanity of DeNiro's La Motta and also be amazed by the way Pesci is able to keep up with DeNiro's rage. The two of them are the glue to this film. Their scenes are intense, yet delicate. They command the scene, yet give more of their character to you than most of today's actors. Then, like a pioneer in his trade, DeNiro does this amazing transformation from a guy hoping to make weight to a man gaining to demonstrate his downward spiral. It was like watching Bickle shave his head - you just cannot find determined actors like this in modern cinema.

To add to the amazing caliber of acting that Pesci and DeNiro commanded, "Raging Bull" demonstrated that Scorsese was a force to be reckoned with. Not only did he take the idea of a sports story and spin it on its head, but he also redefined the genre. Black and white cinematography, the slow-motion shots, the use of violence and language set in the 40s, and these brilliant moments where words make all the difference. One cannot watch a Spike Lee Joint today without seeing how Scorsese influenced them - his work, especially in "Raging Bull" can be seen through today's cinema releases. While my only argument with this film is the length of the picture versus the slowed scenes, I don't fault Scorsese for that. Schrader and Martin's screenplay wasn't perfect, but thankfully with DeNiro, Pesci, and Scorsese at the helm, the fuzzy edges were able to be cleared up.

I cannot say how influential this film was watching it for the first time. It is dark, it is depressing, yet the bold color of the characters - despite the black and white - come through stronger than other films watched this year. The acting is more than Oscar-worthy, they define this film and the early 80s era. My favorite scene was the shots of when La Motta was actually happy with his family - the shots filmed in color allowed us to see these characters as more than just celluloid imprints; they became real. My favorite sound - the flashbulbs going off during each match - this was just brilliant. Scorsese took an already iconic image and showed how his keen perception was able to make it better.

I cannot wait to watch this film again.

BRAVO SCORSESE, BRAVO!

Grade: ***** out of *****

Absolutely not any better than the 2 disc special edition standard version. Amazon is pissing people off lately.

I dont recommended it on Blu-Ray Because its NOT COLOURED
Its On Black&White ..

Raging Bull Is One Of The Greatest Sport Movie ever
But Blu-Ray Will Not Make any diffrence in this movie

Ofcourse Blu-Ray Make HUGE diffrence in the new movies but not in this one !!

Here's a gritty, film noir-type story of real-life former boxing champion Jake LaMotta, a film that has features some memorable aspects to it.

Perhaps most memorable is the physical transformation of lead actor Robert De Niro, who gained somewhere around 50 pounds to play LaMotta at the end of this film.

The story moves well with few, if any, lulls and each fight scene is fairly credible although a little too brief. I'd like to have seen more boxing but it's better than having to sit through the overdone action as we saw in the "Rocky" pictures. The black-and-white photography also is excellent in here and makes me wish more modern-day films were done in black-and-white.

Usually the Hollywood actresses are a lot better looking than the real-life people they portray but that's not the case here with LaMotta's wife, Vicki. Cathy Moriarity doesn't hold a candle to the real "Vicki," who was a knockout, a voluptuous woman feature several times in Playboy magazine.

A warning for families: there is excessive profanity throughout this film. If you can stand that constant profane assault on your ears, it's still a very watchable movie. I found this to be one of those films that kept getting better with multiple viewings.

Watching a black and white movie in blu ray is unbelievable. This is crisp, sharp and De Niro is as good as it gets.

Terrible. Never recieved the product. When I tried to contact the seller they never responed. I will not buy from this person again.

This is a blu-ray for film lovers. The film grain has been reproduced beautifully. There is some minor ringing on a few high contrast edges, but other than that nit-pick, this looks just like watching it at the movie theater, but with a pristine print. Looks just as Scorcese intended in gorgeous black and white. One of the greatest films has been given a great restoration and now looks its very best on blu-ray!

Of the eight films that Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese have made together, "Raging Bull" remains the GREATEST. Although all of them are GREAT. But how could they not be when you have a collaboration of America's GREATEST actor with one of the all-time GREAT directors.

Anytime there is a paring of Joe Pesci and Robert DeNiro it's DYNAMITE! They just work SO WELL together. They are one of the GREAT duos in cinema history. I think by now everybody knows all the stories behind this movie. Including Robert DeNiro's famous weight gain of about 50 pounds so he could more resemble Jake Lamotta.

I keep a list of my "50 Favorite Movies" and I MUST include one DeNiro film in it so I chose "Raging Bull". Premiere magazine said it better than I can when they said of DeNiro's performance: "DeNiro gives a performance that belongs in a museum".

"That's entertainment"

I haven't seen this movie since it opened. I think it was dark, confusing and overwhelming. I tended to avoid it over the years because of what I perceived as its length and how good the movie really was. Seeing it now is a revelation. I am able to comprehend it more and found it wonderful. (I was a teenager in 1980.) Robert De Niro does a wonderful job as Jake LaMotta, one of the great boxers but an ignorant man who was brutal in all areas of his life. The story is laid out without explanation from the filmmakers. We don't empathize with the character nor totally despise him. Jake LaMotta is who is and no one else. Still, the movie is a statement in itself for making films in a different way and as art. Martin Scorcesse deliberately makes a film that defies the rules in much the same way Jake La Motta found himself defying rules in order to box. He constantly breaks down barriers and walls and never gives up. People reject him and leave him but he doesn't stop. I think Scorcesse sees that in himself in making this film. Even to film in black and white would have caused problems with the film studios. What a wonderful film it is.

Raging Bull is an instant classic and is the best of the tandem of Scorsese and DeNiro's work. Now it's a must own blu ray. The picture quality is the best to be released for this film to this date and the sound quality is 4.5/5 starts. What an amazing emotional journey Raging Bull takes us through as we see all of Jake's demons as he tries to be the best of the best. A truly great charachter study of a controlling man struggling to reach his ideal. 5/5 and one of the top 15 films ever made. A true classic.

Version: U.S.A / FOX-MGM / Region A, B, C(?)
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
MPEG-4 AVC / BD+ / High Profile 4.1
Running time: 2:09:03
Movie size: 36,50 GB
Disc size: 45,01 GB
Total bit rate: 37.71 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 28.48 Mbps

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3829 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3829 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit
Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Turkish 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps

Subtitles: English SDH, Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Spanish, Thai
Number of chapters: 36

#Commentary by Director Martin Scorsese and Editor Thelma Schoonmaker
#Cast and Crew Commentary with Irwin Winkler, Robbie Robertson, Robert Chartoff, Theresa Saldana, John Turturro, Frank Warner, Michael Chapman and Cis Corman
#Storytellers Commentary with Mardik Martin, Paul Schrader, Jason Lustin and Jake Lamotta
#Raging Bull: Before the Fight (The Writing, the Casting and Preproduction) (26m:08s)
#Raging Bull: Inside the Ring (The Choreography of the Fight Scenes) (14m:49s)
#Raging Bull: Outside the Ring (Behind-the-Scenes Stories on the Making of the Film) (27m:19s)
#Raging Bull: After the Fight (The Sound Design, the Music, the Impact of the Film) (16m:01s)
#The Bronx Bull (Making of Documentary) (27m:52s)
#De Niro Vs LaMotta (Shot by Shot Comparison in the Ring) (3m:48s)
#La Motta Defends Title (Newsreel Footage) (0m:57s)
#Original Theatrical Trailer (3m:55s)

I'm a boxing fan and train often but I have no idea why people like this movie. It's a story about a cocky, arrogant jerk who likes to abuse the people around him both mentally and physically. Most of the movie is of him degrading women, screaming profanities to them and hitting them. In one scene he beats his own brother badly in a jealous rage, stomping him and then slugs his own 20 year old wife. The only thing I learned from this movie is that Jake Lamotta was one horrible person. This movie does nothing for boxing. It basically just shows boxers as violent wife beaters who can take punches. Even the fight scenes do nothing to showcase the art of boxing.

Alright the guy could take a punch and even give a few back but he beat women, was an overall f-up, and basically contributed nothing to society which should be remembered. The direction and acting are top notch but without a worthy individual to tell about the end result is a big "so what?" I know I'll piss off all the Italians who view this guy as some sort of hero but he represents everything that was wrong with this subculture during this time in American history. BRAVO for the realism!!

This definitely isn't your average feel-good, stereotypical, underdog boxing movie. After all, Sly Stallone was the sole owner to the keys to that kingdom four years prior w/ his beloved "Rocky". In fact, this film really isn't about boxing at all (although there's a plethora of savage, short fight scenes throughout), its intentions and focus are much more intricate. "Raging Bull" is a powerful, provocative, realistic work of art, a character study about an emotionally-disturbed, self-destructive boxer, who's indocile and violent nature take him to the top of his profession while at the same time completely destroying his personal life outside of the ring. Yes, sometimes a man's greatest strengths can be his own worst enemy.

Bobby DeNiro gives the performance of the century as the infamous, pugnacious pugilist Jake La Motta, a raging bull(y) if there ever was one. It was definitely a no-brainer the following year when DeNiro took home the coveted Oscar for best actor. The film also introduced us to Cathy Moriarty (Vickie Thailer, La Motta's wife) and Joe Pesci (Joey La Motta, Jake's older and wiser brother and manager), who both gave outstanding Oscar nominated performances as well. According to Hollywood folklore, Pesci was on the brink of quitting acting all together when De Niro, who had seen his only performance up to that point in the 1976 B-movie mafia debacle "The Death Collector", decided he wanted Pesci for this important role. A decision that turned out to be brilliant, for can anyone imagine "Goodfellas" and "Casino" without little Joe? Two other notable actors deserve mention here for their fine performances as well - Frank Vincent (Salvy Batts) most famous for his role as Phil Leotardo in "The Soprano's" and Nicholas Colasanto (Tommy Como) who of course we all remember fondly as "Coach" in the hit T.V. series "Cheers".

Martin Scorcese and DeNiro would again call upon writer Paul Schrader whom they teamed up with four years prior in the avant-garde classic "Taxi Driver" and the results were obviously duplicated. This collaboration once again produced an intense, gritty, often times seedy portrait of a lost, lonely, paranoid anti-hero, just another lost soul ensnared in the underbelly of New York society. Splendidly shot in black & white in order to enhance the malaise and misery of the turbulent era in which La Motta reigned, this violent and disturbing film pulls no punches. Although "Goodfellas" may be my favorite of all Scorcese's films, I would still have to say that overall, this was his magnum opus.

If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing this one yet, rent it today. Odds are that if you do, you'll be placing your order w/ Amazon as soon as the credits start rolling.

Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980) is the best boxing film ever. Adapted by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver) from Jake LaMotta's memoir, Raging Bull: My Story, Scorsese's crisp black-and-white film chronicles the middleweight champion's controversial life and temperamental personality both inside and outside the ring. Scorsese's film depicts LaMotta as an out-of-control, rage-filled fighter, a volcano ready to explode at any unexpected moment. De Niro reportedly wanted to play the title character so much that he moved to Paris for three months in order to gain 50 or 60 pounds to portray LaMotta in the latter part of the film, a role that earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor. There are at lest two things that make this the best boxing film ever: its raw, emotional intensity, and the fact that the boxing scenes were actually filmed in the ring, thereby capturing the raw brutality of every punch. Whether or not you're a boxing fan, the fight scenes are breathtaking. Joe Pesci plays LaMotta's brother, Joey. Cathy Moriarty plays LaMotta's wife, Vickie, the beautiful, Bronx sex object of LaMotta's irrational jealousy, whom LaMotta is only capable of seeing as either a virgin or a whore. (Dare I say Raging Bull is the closest Hollywood film I've seen to controversial French director, Catherine Breillat's films (Anatomy of Hell), which equate male violence with sex, leading some men to abuse women.) Scorsese's exploration into LaMotta's twisted psyche is a true Hollywood masterpiece (a word I rarely use when describing a film), and Raging Bull is a Total Knock Out.

G. Merritt

Considered by many to be the greatest film of the 80's, and ranking number four on AFI's top 100 greatest American films, `Raging Bull' has become a landmark in American cinema. Martin Scorsese will always be remembered for this film, and rightfully so, for `Raging Bull' is not merely a sports film or merely just a drama but `Raging Bull' captures something rare, something monumental. `Raging Bull' captures the essence of a man and the time in which he lived with such precise perfection that the audience is transported into this mans life, walking in his shoes and fighting his personal (as well as professional) battles.

There are many facets to this movie that help elevate it to `masterpiece' levels of brilliance. First you have the flawless direction by Martin Scorsese. In my humble opinion this is probably his finest moment behind the lens. Scorsese is often praised for his `gangster' films, most notably `Good Fellas', but in my eyes it will always be his weightier work that shines the brightest. Films like `Taxi Driver' and `Raging Bull' are truly Scorsese's crowning achievements. His decision to shoot the film in classic black and white film is another bonus to an already fantastic film. It adds layers of honesty and humanity that are at times lost in the glitzy colors flooding the screen. Stripping it down in this way allows the rawness and realness of these people to shine through ten fold. Scorsese is also responsible for capturing some of the greatest scenes of violence ever recorded on film. Of course this is violence within the ring, calculated and controlled violence, but Scorsese displays it in such a sporadic and brutal way that the audience is in a way pummeled mercilessly by the images attacking the screen. The only other director I've seen able to capture this same intensity was Ron Howard in `Cinderella Man'. Others have tried, and they have done so admirably, but truly none have reached this level of perfection. Scorsese was also able to capture the feel and mood of the era in which `Raging Bull' takes place. The way individuals interact with one another, the dialog and the emotional construction is a marvelous representation of the time period as well as the subject. Scorsese had a real grasp of what he was attempting to deliver, and the end result is nothing short of perfection. Couple this with Michael Chapman's glorious cinematography, rich and vibrant despite it's grit and lack of color, and you have a film that looks as brilliant as it plays out.

Honestly though, no matter how brilliant Scorsese was, `Raging Bull' would be nothing without Robert De Niro. As the tortured and violent boxer Jake La Motta, De Niro ignites the screen with fiery determination and complete control and understanding of his character. This is one of those moments where the actor is so lost within his character that you forget you are watching a motion picture. These are the moments that cement De Niro as one of the greatest actors to ever grace the big screen. Sure, his recent film choices have been less than desirable, but there is no denying that in his prime he was better than anyone has ever been.

De Niro has help in the form of Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci. Pesci is flawless as Jake's devoted brother Joey. From his very first scene onward you are drawn into his character and become invested in him. Pesci is always on top of his game when playing the scheming and loud mouthed gangster (i.e. `Casino' and his Oscar winning performance in `Good Fellas') but here he is more subdued and subtle and I think this adds a layer of realism to his performance. In my opinion, this may be his finest performance to date. Cathy Moriarty is also stunning as Vickie, La Motta's second wife. The blonde bombshell gives De Niro a run for his money and proves she is more than just a pretty face. Her attachment to her character is obvious and certainly pays off in the end.

`Raging Bull' masterfully interweaves La Motta's violent profession with his violent persona, giving us a glimpse into a man who took his work home with him in the most literal of senses. There is no flaw to be found here, for Scorsese crafts a marvelous portrait of a man destroyed by his own carnal weaknesses. Looking back, I don't think it can be stressed enough how marvelous the year of 1980 really was. All five Best Picture nominees were deserving of their nominations, and while `Raging Bull' is not my favorite of the five (in my humblest of opinions `The Elephant Man' was the Best Picture of 1980) there is no doubt in my mind that Martin Scorsese deserved that directing Oscar one-thousand times over. Regardless, there is no denying the fact that `Raging Bull' is a flawless film, a marvel, a spectacle and most definitely one of the greatest films ever made.

Jake LaMotta:one of the most talented and successful boxers of his time. Also,one of the most turbulent boxers of his time,who's personal life would,eventually,work its way into his career.

And,in "Raging Bull",all of that is covered here. Shortly after "Raging Bull" has opened(the opening scene may be in 1964,but that really doesn't take part until the end of the film),we are taken back to 1941,at the start of(Jake)La Motta's boxing career. Here,it all begins. Back and forth on "Raging Bull",we see several fights of Jake La Motta documented. Everything--the personal part of the fight--the violence and grittiness of the fight--and the fight itself--are rolled up into one. It's really quite impressive. It's like watching an actual fight,De Niro and all of the actors having their complete emotion rolled into it. The suspense and "beauty" really work well here. Not only did Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler(who won the Best Picture Oscar at the 1977 Academy Awards for "Rocky")produce "Raging Bull",the creativity/imagination of Martin Scorsese and the brilliant technique used by Scorsese(only one camera to film the boxing,as opposed to three,the usual method)really help a lot.

The parts that focus on La Motta's personal life stand out quite well,also. With the screenplay,direction,and acting of Robert De Niro,you get to see who Jake La Motta was as a person:violent,angry,and crude,how he preferred to be with people "he liked",and how he preferred to be with people he "didn't like". "Raging Bull" succeeds on focusing on every other person of Jake La Motta's life and giving them enough recognition,without forgetting who the film is about. Joe Pesci can get annoying at times,but otherwise,the acting in "Raging Bull" is richly executed and contributes to the beauty of the film.

It's worth noting that most of(minus about ten-thirteen minutes)of "Raging Bull" is shot in black and white. Some people may be iffy towards actions like this for a film. But,here,it's brilliant. Through the black and white,you get immersed in the 40's,50's,and 60's. You see what the life of Jake La Motta was completely like,the time period for which it was being documented the way it is helping a lot(history fans are in for a treat with this aspect of "Raging Bull"). "Raging Bull" actually has the characteristics of any "old" film from the time period in which it takes place. Yet,it still has the same,modern standards of any film made today.

As you may have noticed,this is the two-disc,special edition of "Raging Bull". The title lives up to itself. The extras(three audio commentaries--one from Martin Scorsese and Editor Thelma Schoonmaker,the Cast and Crew Commentary,and the Storytellers Commentary,four behind-the-scenes feauturettes,and "The Bronx Bull" making-of documentary)really do spread one issue--learning about the making of the film--out. It's a very successful method. The eight bonus feautures let viewers of "Raging Bull" learn every aspect of the film being made(thumbs up for letting the real Jake La Motta have a helping hand),and all offer a fair amount of interesting and intruiging facts. The newsreel footage of Jake La Motta defending his title and the shot-by-shot comparison of Robert De Niro and Jake La Motta are impressive touches. The booklet is also quite nice with fun trivia/facts and some pictures that happen to stand out,while the actual "case" that holds the DVDS has a lot of creative and strong touches to it,as well.

If you are a harcore,American Film institute film fan,"Raging Bull" is one film not to miss.

The acting and the photography of the fight sequences are quite good. The problem lies in the quality of the DVD itself. The first copy I received was not playable and was returned. The second copy played ok, but the contrasts in volume between the conversation parts and the fight sequences were extreme. One could hadly hear the conversation portions and had to turn the volume up near its maximum. When the fight sequences occurred, the volume had to be turned back down. This soon became annoying. I am surprised that the anniversary edition had these problems.
The special features disk was trouble-free and well worth watching.

Raging Bull is directed by Martin Scorsese. The film stars Robert De Niro and co-stars Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, and Theresa Saldana.

The film tells the story of Jake LaMotta, a legendary boxer from the 1940s. Despite his being an excellent fighter in the ring, all other aspects of his life are just the opposite. He can't control his anger, and is prone to violent outbursts on a regular basis. Lacking dedication and wanting to do things his own way, his friendships and relationships are strained. The only truly positive relationship he has is with his brother, and even that one is severely shaken in later years. Through the course of his life he endures divorces, heartbreak, thrown fights, and even jail time. From his heyday as a boxer to his later years as a stand-up performer, he is never truly able to take control of his life - suffering all the while because of it.

Raging Bull is a well-crafted Scorsese masterpiece. From start to finish, with a brilliant filming style, and De Niro's excellent portrayal of LaMotta, this is a truly great film. Despite its initial mixed reviews and opinions, it has long since gained favor in the eyes of moviegoers and critics alike, and is now widely regarded as one of the best films of all time. And rightfully so.

Robert De Niro's acting in this film is some of his best ever. Through the years the picture covers, he truly makes you believe he IS LaMotta. His violent outbursts are believable, and all the while you will both loathe and sympathize with him. There isn't one De Niro scene here that doesn't feel authentic. He plays the character perfectly, in his early years as a violent, reckless boxer, right down to his later, slightly more mellowed-out years in his nightclub life. Scorsese had previously directed De Niro in Taxi Driver, and this film is even more impressive. Quite a comment considering that film was a masterpiece in its own right!

The supporting cast is also impressive. Next to De Niro, the best actor this film has to offer is Joe Pesci. Frequently pissed and spouting out the F-word like there's no tomorrow, but undeniably loving his brother, this is one of many memorable performances from Pesci. In many ways, this is LaMotta's strongest relationship, and the person he can relate to best. Despite the two brothers loving each other, there is serious tension late in the film that causes them to become distant, only adding to the depth of the storyline. The other supporters are impressive, but amongst the supporting cast, it's Pesci that steals the show. This wasn't the last time he and De Niro would appear together in a film - and their other films together would be no less excellent.

Scorsese creates a movie all his own with Raging Bull. Shot in glorious black and white, it looks like no other film of its era. The pacing is just right - despite the run time of over two hours, this movie never gets boring and always holds onto your attention. Although LaMotta was a boxer, very little time is actually spent in the ring. Scorsese made the wise decision of focusing on his more-interesting personal life. There are boxing scenes and they are well shot, but they occupy a very small portion of the film. This is a dramatic story above all other things.

I should probably point out to potential viewers that this film is NOTHING like the Rocky series. Just because it's about boxing and it has the same producers as Rocky (Chartoff and Winkler), don't be expecting something along those lines. This is a gritty, disturbing, and often disgusting film that never has a positive message - it's a portrait of LaMotta as he lived his life day-to-day. More likely than not, the initially-mixed reviews were because people were expecting a Rocky-esque picture - which this film is certainly not.

Scorsese didn't hire a composer to create original music for the film, but instead opted to use previously-existing music that suited the themes and the times in which the film is set. This is an uncommon move to make as far as film music goes, but it actually works quite well here. There are tunes that help to paint a picture of the era in which the movie was set, and emotional, orchestral ones that stand for LaMotta's suffering. The music ends up working in the film's favor more than you'd think.

A two-disc DVD set of the film was recently released, containing a plethora of bonus features, including commentaries. There's no better time to retire your old VHS copy and upgrade to the DVD version! But be sure you get the two-disc version, for all the extra features.

It's hard to review a movie like Raging Bull, since it's on a plane all its own. This is a gritty, realistic portrait of a distraught man who can't take control of his life. Scorsese and De Niro created yet another classic with this film. It's a great film that deserves its critical acclaim. Just don't come in here expecting something uplifting. This isn't Rocky. And it certainly doesn't try to be.

Thumbs up

Raging Bull directed by Martin Scorsese is probably his best film to date. Filmed in gorgeous black and white, Raging Bull tells the story of true-life boxer Jake La Motta played brilliantly by De Niro. He gained a lot of weight for this role, he is truly unrecognizable towards the end of the film, but besides that his blistering performance earned him his second Oscar, his portrayal is both frightening and riveting. This is one film every aspiring filmmaker should see, one of the essentials. Enjoy!

Raging Bull, is a good period piece, it shows why Boxing lost popularity. From the kitchen scene near the start till the end Raging Bull is emotional and believable. The worst beating doesnt come in the ring. The way the fights went made me hate the promoters and Ray Robinson. Its hard to like Jake but....

If there was ever a better film to be included in AFI's 10th Anniversary Top Ten list, I wouldn't believe it. This is filmmaking at it's best. Let me begin with the greatest actor working today.

Whenever Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese get together it's cinematic gold. Only years prior they created the iconic character of Travis Bickle. Now, in 1980, they create another iconic screen character: Jake La Motta. Jake La Motta was a New York boxer known as The Raging Bull and Scorsese and De Niro brought him to screen better than any other boxing character in history. Robert De Niro's dedication to this role really shows as, even to this day, I look past the actor, as legendary as he is, and only see Jake La Motta, a troubled but talented man.

I highly recommend this movie. It shows a character study second to almost none. Each one of Scorsese/De Niro's characters leave you with a different feeling. For eight movies now, (Mean Streets (Special Edition), Taxi Driver (Two-Disc Collector's Edition), New York, New York, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, GoodFellas (Two-Disc Special Edition), Cape Fear (10th Anniversary Edition), and Casino), Scorsese and De Niro have created memorable characters. Jake La Motta just may well top the list.

Plus, you can't go wrong with this DVD. Just as with the Two Disc Edition to Goodfellas, there's a commentary with Jake La Motta himself. And the featurettes are wonderful. Higly recommended

This is more than a 'sports' movie. Robert De Niro's Oscar performance as Jake LaMotta is still one of the best movies made. Scorsese helped bring out a very human side of a temperamental boxer who can't keep it together. The trouble in his personal life soon spills over into the ring. Cathy Moriarty and Joe Pesci also give wonderful talent to this story. The crumbling relationship between the brothers is especially heartbreaking when we realize Joey seems to be the last thin thread keeping LaMotta from unraveling. When that thread is lost, all hope for the brother's emotional recovery is lost as well.

Chrissy K. McVay - Author

Based on LaMotta's memoirs and filmed in gorgeous black-and-white, Martin Scorsese's gritty, no-holds-barred drama--possibly his greatest--tackles the familiar theme of redemption with blunt force. Oscar winner De Niro, who famously packed on 50 pounds to do the "fat" scenes, is riveting as the brutish Jake, whose primary talent lies in the amount of punishment he can take in the ring. The fight sequences--raw, sweaty, and savage--are bravura pieces of filmmaking. "Raging Bull" may be hard for some viewers to sit through, but Scorsese ultimately leads his protagonist, and us, to a state of grace.

I don't think I could say a single thing about "Raging Bull" that someone else hasn't said before me. Even though it's acclaimed frequently as one of the greatest films of all time (rightfully so), it's unjustly billed as a sports film. A boxing movie. It's because of this that it took me so long to see it in the first place. Sure, it's a biopic about a boxer and boxing plays a big part in the film but it's not a sports film. It's a film about a troubled man and his sexual insecurities disguised as a boxing movie. Robert DeNiro (who won the Oscar for the role) plays boxer Jake La Motta; a man who lost a few matches but was never knocked out. A man who would take hundreds of punches just to land one. La Motta, who is vying for the championship, soon meets the 15-year-old blonde bombshell Vickie (Cathy Moriarty) whom he soon marries. Problem is, Jake doesn't trust her (or really anyone around him) and is constantly paranoid about what his wife does. In one pivotal scene, when Vickie mentions that a boxer Jake is about to fight is cute, he beats the boy to a pulp causing a man to lean over to his friend in the audience and say "he ain't pretty no more." Even Jake's brother Joey (Joe Pesci, who should've beat Timothy Hutton for the Oscar) falls prey to Jake's paranoia. Anyone who says DeNiro's performance is incredible is understating it massively. This film displays the best performance I've ever seen by DeNiro and, easily, one of the best performances ever. The things he does for this role are absolutely incredible; From the way he makes his body look from the beginning of the film to the end of the film, to his fake nose, just everything about it...Tour de force has never been a used more appropriately than to describe his performance. Martin Scorsese is a magnificent director who has a long filmography filled with masterpieces, but I wouldn't be stretching the truth by suggesting that "Raging Bull" may very well be his best film. It's no wonder The American Film Institute ranks it as the 24th best film of all time and the reason it is still talked about today. It seems that even though "Ordinary People" beat it out for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, I'm almost positive that years from now "Raging Bull" will most be remembered. If you've never considered seeing "Raging Bull" because it doesn't seem like your type of movie, than you have no idea what you're missing. If you hadn't had a chance to see it yet, but want to, you should see it not. It's a masterpiece of cinema and truly deserves to be called one of the one hundred best films of all time.

GRADE: A

"Raging Bull" stands out as an all-time classic, easily director Martin Scorsese's greatest work. The film chronicles the life and times of 1940's middleweight boxer Jake Lamotta. In stark contrast to Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky", this film is more visceral and even ugly at times. LaMotta's personal demons are exorcised in gritty black-and-white, his struggles and rage fleshed out with unflinching realism.

The performances in this film are so relaxed, the viewer sometimes feels as if he/she is watching a documentary, a black-and-white reality show set in 1940's Bronx. Frequent improvisation on the part of the actors also contributes to a sense of captured reality. This style of film-making has been widely imitated ever since; such realism in film was virtually non-existent at the time "Raging Bull" came to the screen.

Robert DeNiro gives the performance of his career as the iconic LaMotta. His performance earned him an Oscar for Best Actor. As the "Bronx bull", DeNiro is tough and passionate. The viewer is drawn to care about this character primarily because of the strong personal connection formed as a result of the realistic, and totally original Scorsese exhibition. Witness the brutal odyssey of a struggling fighter, shot through with flashes of rage and violence. Jake's condition is all too human, his personality illustrated through various conversations and fight sequences. It is an angry and impatient portrayal, Jake simply wants to win, and to do so with his two fists and burning heart. Outside the ring, Jake is restless, impatient and defiant against the rigged establishment that keeps him from getting his title shot. Respect is paramount in Jake's world, any perceived sleight against him is returned with fiery anger. These issues of respect and retribution are instinctive to male viewers, every man can identify with another's struggle for respect and identity, as well as adolescent testosterone flare-ups and territorial immaturity in relationships. All of these essentially male experiences are magnified by Jake's boiling anger, which he unleashes in the ring with nothing short of ferocity.

This film avoids clear-cut resolutions. Jake's struggles continue long after his exit from the ring, through physical decline as well as divorce, his peace and happiness remains elusive as he plummets to a variety of lows throughout his retirement. The Mascagni score is passionate and this music provides a steady comfort throughout the peaks of Jake's life, creating an emotional and bittersweet counter-balance to his sad decline.

Joe Pesci's portrayal of Jake's brother Joey is also memorable. Joey's own bursts of anger echo those of his brother and Pesci's brilliant performance is a preview of his character Tommy in Scorsese's "Goodfellas".

Cathy Moriarty also shines as Jake's girlfriend (and later wife), Vickie. Scenes between Moriarty and DeNiro reveal genuine, and crucial chemistry between the two.

Above all, "Raging Bull" is a biopic brought to life by Scorsese's genius as a filmmaker. Alongside film editor Thelma Schoonmaker, Scorsese's cuts are imaginative and clever, action in the ring is captured up close and personal and shots are beautifully interchanged to create the right mood for each sequence. As mentioned before, the theme music for this picture is the Intermezzo by Mascagni, a gorgeous Italian piece which accents the bittersweet nostalgia of Jake's career and personal peaks, as well as underlining the sadness of his low points.

"Raging Bull" continues to endure as a classic film as well as a milestone in movie-making. This picture is all heart.

This movie is beyond brilliant, it's so intensely piercing, so bone-chilling, so dynamic. Deniro engulfs every fiber of his being into the main character, the cantankerous former boxing champ Jake "the Bronx Bull" LaMotta.
Robert showed a fierce determination just by bringing this stark portrayal to the big screen. After reading LaMotta's autobiography and developing an intense desire to tell his story, Robert finally convinced a skeptical Scorsese to direct it, five years later.
Deniro's body went through some drastic changes throughout the making of this in-depth film. He went from the lean, chiseled middle-weight fighter, to the slightly out-of-shape champ, and finally gained 60lbs as the middle-aged nightclub entertainer. Talk about getting into character, this caused some health concerns and issues with stamina.
This movie is shot with B&W film, which really adds a dark and gritty feel to the telling of Jake's life. Deniro flawlessly radiates with the same anger and energy the fighter had. There are several overwhelming scenes. Early in the movie he gets in a heated argument with his first wife. As she overcooks his dinner, he upends the dinner table screaming "You botherin' me aboutta steak?!?" Some other great scenes--he orders his brother Joey(played by Joe Pesci) to punch him repeatedly in the face. He laughs as his face bleeds, screaming "Harder! Hit me harder!" As the viewer, there are many times you're blown back in your chair, half-expecting to get jacked in the jaw with a right hook. It's so unbelievably enthralling and captivating.
This movie was immaculately directed by Scorsese as well. There are some beautifully choreographed fight scenes that put you right in the heat of the battle. Martin pulls no punches anywhere with the script, brilliantly capturing all the triumphs and failures of the boxer's tortured soul. He even uses some color sequences when filming Jake's life at it's happiest moment, outside the ring with his beautiful new wife. I thought that was an extremely nice touch.
You are appalled by Jake LaMotta as he falters through the extreme turmoils of his own consciousness. But still you can't help but feel a weird sort of kinship with this violent man as his life goes spiraling downward. It is impossible(at least for me)not to get wrapped up in every single aspect of this story. It's got superior acting, dialogue, exciting boxing matches w/great make-up effects, some excellent camera angles and visuals...man, it's such a great, great story.
Raging Bull is an engaging adventure into the depths of an intense but fragile human psyche.

Good movie ... unfortunately one of the many good movies brought to screen by hollywood but ruined with a script brimming with obscenities & filthy language. Makes you sick - very annoying why a good story cannot be told in a manner that will allow you to enjoy it with kids & the entire family. Now that requires a rare talent that big name hollywood directors are yet to master. I may be wrong but to the best of my knowledge such obscenties & language would not be permitted in most american homes. But maybe it is for film folks from Hollywood where broken marriages and dysfunctional familes are the norm.

Good Movie but I cannot allow such filth into my home ...

I only rate this 3 stars because although the movie is great, a classic, we purchased this through Amazon and when it arrived, opened the dvd and there was no special edition disk 2; only two Disk 1's were included. We thought it was a fluke, so we sent it back to Amazon, who promptly sent us another, but when the second one arrived and we opened it, it was the same deal...2 disk 1's and no disk 2!?!? We contacted Amazon again, but they told us that it must have been some sort of manufacturing error, and they asked us to send it back. They did not want to send us a new one because they had no control over what was inside the case.
We haven't repurchased this, but after reading the reviews, it does not look like anyone else had this issue...maybe we'll try it again.
Hope this helps!

Generally I try to avoid a lot of critic reviews except to get an overall feel of the movie. Did a whole lot of people outright pan or is it split in the middle and it becomes one of those "watch and see what you think" deals? So when you have a lot of critics proclaiming Raging Bull as not only Martin Scorsese's best, not only the 1980's best but cinema as a whole's best (some people do), you hope that the film isn't that easy to dismiss because it's been built up so much. And so we have Raging Bull, which if I had to pick, is easily my favorite film that Scorsese's done. Is it for everyone? You would think it would be but it's up to you.

Real-life boxer Jake La Motta (Robert de Niro) is a boxer who wants it all: to fight the big league guys and win the championship. His brother Joey (Joe Pesci) helps him out, as well as the object of Jake's affections Vicky (Cathy Moriaty) who later becomes his wife. However, Jake starts to get increasingly paranoid, especially concerning his wife who he thinks might step out on him and we see his fall from stardom resulting in a huge weight gain and a run-in with the law.

Even though it is a great film, what kind of dragged Goodfellas was as soon as the mobster world started to lose control and people were getting off, the film kind of meandered a little bit and it felt a little sluggish. That problem doesn't really hit this film but those looking for tons of action might not find it that apparent. The boxing scenes, brutal and exciting, take up largely 10 minutes of the 2 hour running time. In between that we see Jake and his growing paranoia about everything so those looking for a big inspirational movie a la Rocky or exciting sports stuff every 10 minutes probably won't find it here. But that doesn't mean the film's uninteresting either since the drama's great and there's enough to warrant a watch but it's hard to say exactly what you might be looking for when you watch it.

Of course the big draw here is the acting, especially de Niro. Whenever an actor bulks up or gets ugly for a role (like Charlize Theron in Monster) there's always a "oh they must be pulling a Raging Bull". When he's at his prime, de Niro looks tiny but has the athletic ability to pull off being a powerhouse and then he gains 60 lbs to play La Motta when he's a nightclub owner/entertainer and it's quite striking since you almost can't even recognize him. Then we have Joe Pesci who seems to have a knack for playing guys who really snap at people and go psycho. And we have Cathy Moriaty who, like Lorraine Bracco in Goodfellas, doesn't play the weak housewife role but someone we can sympathize and wish she'd leave but know she can't.

Scorsese has a weird career I must say. Steven Spielberg has hits and misses throughout his career and then there's Francis Ford Coppola who, let's face it, hasn't really made an excellent film since Apocalypse Now in 1979. Scorsese on the other hand has a whole career of making films but certain ones just get noticed more. After making a big splash with Goodfellas he did largely ignored Kundun and Bringing Up the Dead and get a bit of attention with the Aviator before getting tons of attention with the Departed. Raging Bull to me is his first masterpiece and his best and while I did like the Departed, it doesn't have as much staying power and certain things just nagged me.

I'd heavily recommend you try this out even if you think it sucks. You can at least say you tried it out rather than ignore or outright dismiss but since it's such a well-known film, it's kind of hard to do both.

Deniro is one of the best actors of all time. Most all of Scorcese's films are jewels. But...
I couldn't get through this film in one sitting. An overdose. The script seemed ad-libed and overfull. It was boring. It was depressing from start to finish with no sense of salvation for any of the characters, nor did they deserve it.
I bought the special edition and absolutely enjoyed the special features, though it won't drive me back to watch the film again.
"Mean Streets" and "Taxi Driver" did the same thing to me,,so perhaps I'm peculiar.

One of my favorite movies. great acting, great directing, and great story. The true story of La Motta who is played by Robert De Niro who is possibly the best actor of his generation. Co-starring Joe Pesci as De Niro's brother; he has a great performance. Great film. Highly recommended!!!!

You have a great screenplay, great direction, and some outstanding actors. All together, it makes one of the greatest films of the 80's and a top ten of all time for me. The story of Jake LaMotta is fantastic because Jake is such an interesting character. Brutal and sad at times, you never know whether you should hate Jake or feel sorry for him. This is Deniro's finest performance. The actual boxing scenes aren't always as realistic as I would like, but that is the only minor quibble I have.

This is with out a doubt a good movie. the direction is amazing and the actors are at the top of their game. But the protrayal La mota's and his brother's treatment towards women is bluntly misogynist and difficult to watch. While i like the fact that they did not sugarcoat anything, there are times when the film threatens to become tediously over the top. In some intereviews with scorsese he states that " it felt like we were making the movie for nobody but ourselves" at it shows. It makes sense that movie critics would love this movie so much but i found it self indulgent at times, like the whole film was an excuse for de niro and scorese to display thier skills rather than make a movie the veiwer will get anything from.

I went into this film expecting a lot, since it was voted the best movie of the 80s, not to mention that it had Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. But I can't say that was all that impressed with this film. First off, I couldn't find myself rooting for De Niro's character in the film. Maybe that was the point that the Scorsese was looking for, but I found myself not really caring for the Jake La Motta character. The character almost seemed like a schizophrenic at times, becoming angry, paranoid, and abusive for no apparent good reason. If this was the way the real Jake La Motta was, then I think he should've been in an insane aslyum. Also, I must say, that I think that Pesci has the better performance out of the two, in the film. But props to De Niro for gaining all that weight to play an out-of shape, aging boxer towards the end of the film. I seriously was shocked with De Niro's appearance. I also give credit to the filmmaking by Scorsesse. The choice to film in black and white was a good one. Their are some excellent shots during the boxing sequences, the one that stands out in my mind the most is the blood dripping off the rope of the ring. But to say that this movie is one of the best movies ever made is a huge overstatement. Really, its good, but not THAT great. I don't really understand what separates the "classic" films from just the "average" films. How do some many people connect to a film that I feel was maybe a bit better than average? Maybe you have to have an aquired taste to really appreciate movies like this one, maybe I need to watch it a few more time, or maybe I was just overexpecting too much, whatever the reason, at this time, I just don't see why this movie is so greatly praised.

Voted best film of the 1980s', Martin Scorsese's 1980 boxing tour de force "Raging Bull" is indeed one of the best movies ever made. Covering the life of famed boxer Jake La Motta (portrayed by Robert De Niro, whose physical transformation throughout the movie is as impressive as his performance, which is a contender for his best). Spanning 25 years through Jake's life, we see his rise and fall well documented. We see his struggle to keep his title, to stay fit, to maintain a solid family life as well as his relationship to his brother Joey (Joe Pesci). This is what true filmmamking is all about.

The two disc special edition dvd is excellent, and I recommend this movie to all major film buffs, as it is a must have.

I made it 20-something years without seeing this film, and I finally caved and bought it on the cheap. It's good enough to spend $10 on, but I can't see anybody watching it more than 2 or 3 times, tops.

The film follows the life and career of an Italian boxer in the 40's and 50's. It is filmed in black and white, and the visual style is solid. The boxing scenes (and one of my biggest disappointments is that there aren't enough of them) are very exciting. Although I have no idea if this played a part in Scorcese's decision to film in b&w, I suspect that if it were in color the boxing would have been too gruesome for most viewers. LaMotta is basically squirting fluid all over the place in his last fight against Sugar Ray.

In addition to covering LaMotta's career, the film follows his relationship with his brother, Joey, and his wife. His levels of jealousy regarding his wife border on the inconceivably insane, and consequently that entire dimension of the film is unbelievable. Quite frankly, LaMotta would have to be mentally disabled to act that stupid.

The film also suffers from a slow start. We eventually do care about LaMotta, but it takes awhile.

But ultimately, why do we really care? We never see a single scene that shows us why he loves his wife, nor one that shows why his wife loves him. They date, they fool around, they marry (in a montage), they fight, and then after all the bad times are apparently behind them she does something she should have done years ago. Their relationship makes absolutely no sense.

In the end, we see LaMotta (in a scene most younger viewers will think was lifted from the end of "Boogie Nights") quoting verbatim a lengthy monologue from a much better movie, "On the Waterfront". That's a good point, I must admit... why didn't I spend the last 2 hours watching "On the Waterfront" instead?

This movie is mad crazy! De Niro's best movie produced.

the bully bull got to face the consequences by himself. his tragedy was originated by his own self-centered, self-developed clueless suspicion and jealousy. jake la motta is a tragic person but not a great tragic character whose stupidity and narrow-mindness pushed himself into the point-of-no-return. his self-doubting-thomas syndrome ruined his family, his brother's loyalty and his wife's love and himself. a stupid young person/boxer won fights with his blind passion but ruined by his self doubts, he never learned the lesson, never got faith in himself and never put faith in others. he is the typical modern day copy of 'macbeth', endless suspicions and self guessing and self doubts. a pathetic person doomed to end up in tragedy and loneliness. this is a very sad movie, not just about a once-upon-a-time boxing champion....

Raging Bull is #24 in the 100 Best American movies ever, and it is among the 1000 Best Movies on DVD by Peter Travers. Later on was named the best movie of the decade (80's), which I think is true. I rate this movie 5 stars or 9.5/10. It was nominated for eight 1980 Oscars, but won only two: De Niro for Best Actor, and Thelma Schoonmaker for her editing (the Academy seems to have a problem with Scorsese). Schoonmaker appears on one of the audio commentaries of the movie, along with Martin Scorsese, producer, the real LaMotta and others. This DVD is exactly what we collectors like about special edition DVDs. The package is beautifully done (Yes! The package matters a lot), containing a small booklet with some short essays and pictures of the movie. Then, this special edition comes with a second DVD full of special features, such as 4 behind-the-scenes featurettes, a making of documentary, trailers, and some other very interesting stuff.
This movie is a masterpiece. The acting is perfect, and I don't only mean De Niro, who got the Oscar for this role and is in my opinion one of the best actors ever, but Joe Pesci, who is as always sensational, and Cathy Moriarty in the role of Vickie. The shooting in black and white is a very wise decision, the photography by Michael Chapman, the music (Cavalleria Rusticana fits perfectly), the editing that got an Oscar is also a great job well done, the story, the screenplay, and even the fight scenes are just absolutely amazing (and I just hate violence ...). As The New York Times put it "Though it's a movie full of anger and nonstop physical violence, the effect or Raging Bull is lyrical".
I recommend this movie to absolutely everybody. You will like it for sure. If you can, get this special edition (though while I am writing this review, it looks it is not available anymore at amazon).
P.S. If you like my review vote YES. You can read all my other reviews if you wish to. I modestly write them to help people form an opinion about movies, music and books, but if nobody reads them (if you don't vote I do not know if you did) there is no point in writing them :-)