Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33608 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-11-27
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Black & White, Colour, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish
• Dubbed in: French, German, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 124 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
While every Martin Scorsese fan has her or his favourite movie, few would argue that Raging Bull is one of his very best. It strikes a near-perfect balance between formal experiment (it's shot in black and white and features heavily stylised, slo-mo fight sequences) and emotional content, delivered through the compelling true-life story of heavyweight boxer Jake La Motta (on whose autobiography it was based), and frequently scores high on critic and audience polls of the best films of the 20th century.

The traditional rise-and-fall biopic structure serves as a vehicle for a brutally tender distillation of most of the director's favourite themes (male violence, sexual jealousy, ambition and failure). Onscreen, it features two of his favourite leading actors, Robert De Niro (whose intense physical exertions and pasta diet for the role won him an Academy Award), and Joe Pesci, as La Motta and his brother Joey respectively. Trapped in a bubble of emotional and verbal inarticulacy, Jake and Joey's constant, repetitive bickering ("Did you fuck my wife?" La Motta asks over and over again in one scene, undaunted by however many times Joey denies it), is counterpointed by Jake's eloquence in the ring, manifestly the only place where he can express himself. As the title suggests, the guy's an animal, a real antihero in satin shorts.

The smouldering, statuesque Cathy Moriarty is on hand as Jake's long-suffering wife Vickie, as are a whole posse of Scorsese regulars. All are aided and abetted by several of Scorsese's most gifted and vital off-screen collaborators: screenwriter Paul Schrader (co-author of Taxi Driver), cinematographer Michael Chapman (Taxi Driver), and the indispensable Thelma Schoonmaker, editor of almost every Scorsese film since his feature, Who's That Knocking at My Door?. They don't come much better than this. --Leslie Felperin

DVD Description
DVD Special Features:

'The Film That Became A Legend' beautifully illustrated 16 page booklet offering a detailed insight into the making of the film
Interactive menu and chapter search
Original Theatrical Trailer
Set of 3 collectors' postcards
Plus a second disc containing exclusively commissioned material :-
'The Bronx Bull' 26 minutes (approx) In-depth Documentary exploring the making of this film
Jake's Jokes - a selection of jokes from La Motta's cabaret act
Plus two hidden special features
Widescreen - 1.85:1 version
Dolby Digital Surround
Soundtrack: English/German/Spanish/French/Italian*
Subtitles: English/German/Spanish/Dutch/Finnish/Swedish/English for the hearing impaired*
* applicable to Disc 1 only, Disc 2 English only.

Synopsis
With RAGING BULL, Martin Scorsese's personal approach to filmmaking is taken to a whole new level. Shooting in a crisp black and white, Scorsese tells the story of middleweight boxer Jake La Motta, played with incredible intensity by Robert De Niro, in an Oscar-winning performance. As La Motta rises through the ranks to earn his first shot at the middleweight crown, he falls in love with Vickie (Cathy Moriarty), a gorgeous girl from his Bronx neighbourhood. Jake's inability to express his feelings pours out in the ring and eventually takes over his life in his dealings with his brother, Joey (a brilliant Joe Pesci). Irrational jealousy over Vickie, as well as an insatiable appetite, sends him into a downward spiral that costs him his title, his wife, and his relationship with Joey. As the out-of-control fighter, De Niro delivers one of the screen's most unforgettable performances. Pesci is just as intense as Joey, who finally realises that he is unable to tame his animalistic brother.


Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Chapman shoot the film with a stylish flair that fills the boxing scenes with boundless energy and adds immediacy to the endless arguments that erupt whenever Jake is outside the ring. Coupled with Thelma Schoonmaker's breakneck editing and the film's audacious sound design, said scenes are the most brutally realistic depiction of the sport the cinema has ever seen. Simply put, RAGING BULL is one of American cinema's masterworks.

Customer Reviews

De Niro at his Best
This is by far De Niro's best performance, and that is saying something. The performance is raw and he depicts the boxer La Motta perfectly. The film shows the highs and lows of the boxer Jake La Motta, and the film is a real roller-coaster ride, De Niro takes you through all the emotions, and put together with Scorsese's brilliant direction, this film is well worth its title of 'Best film of the 80s'.

Raging Bull is the best sports film ever made, the sheer emotion it puts you through, the detailed fights scenes, the first-class sound, this has never been repeated on big screen. Rocky may be fans favourite, but this is the best.

It is hard to believe that De Niro trained for the part for over a year, fought in three fights, then shot the film, take a few months out of filming to put on 50 pounds and then finished filming. Not only the best actor, but also this shows commitment to the part.

I loved Raging Bull from the first time I saw it, I am sure I am not the only one.

Art in a Box
This is Scorsese's masterpiece and no doubt De Niro's best performance. Much can be said about this film; But one thing that comes to mind is the use of powerfull imagery that is now regarded iconic in the film industry as being art on film.
It's not hard to believe why this film was voted 'The Best Film Of The 80's' as u sit through every last minute of the film in awe and respect for its genius script and performances.
The dvd does little for the film in terms of extras but makes up for it through the crisp picture quality and sharp score.
I recomend this film to anyone who wants to be entertained in ways that only films of this caliber han achieve. Purely inspirational.

Scorsese's finest hour
Quite simply this is an amazing film. Charting the rise and fall of boxer Jake La Motta, the film is a triumph from start to finish. Scorsese has created the greatest film of the eighties. And Robert DeNiro puts in one of the great acting performances of all time. Scorsese seems to bring out the best in all of his actors. Pesci is once again superb in the 'supporting' role and puts in a performance that can match DeNiro's. However, it is De Niro that shines, and shows us what a good character actor he is. The technical aspects of the film are also spot on (Thelma Schoonmaker won the oscar for best editor). Scorsese brings his usual visual flair to proceedings (it is not easy to film in black & white). I'll also praise the fight scenes (seen as everyone else probably already has): they are, put simply, the most realistic fight scenes you could have, without having an actual boxing match put to film. This is one of the few films I call a true masterpiece.