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When I first found out that this movie was finally on DVD I knew I had to go get it. "Dick Tracy" is a first rate action comedy classic with an all star cast that brings comic book characters to life in this entertaining spectacle that's fun for the entire family. As an active movie goer myself, after seeing it for the first time as a kid with my mom and my cousin it's still a joy to watch even after all these years. Looking back on that fun time in my life I was a big fan of the "Dick Tracy" franchise; so much so that I even got some of the action figures like "Dick Tracy" his partner Sam Catch Em' and of course Big Boy and one of his gangsters. And who can forget the Nintendo game and the Loony Toonish cartoon that followed the release of the live action film. Those were the days.
The film takes place in the long and forgotten era of the 1930's where sleek long hooded antic cars, extravagant suits and lavish party dresses were the exception and the outlawed necessity of the Tommy gun set against the backdrop of crime ridden streets was the rule of a menacing criminal element. The story follows the tense and sometimes romantic exploits of its hero, top cop detective Dick Tracy as he struggles to rid the city he has vowed to protect from the vice like grip of terror orchestrated by a belligerent and cunning mob boss known throughout the city as, "Big Boy" as he and his thugs launch a crime wave of racketeering, intimidation and murder. When the call comes over his wrist watch radio Detective Tracy is always on hand to answer it no matter where he is or what he's caught up in the middle of. It doesn't matter whether he's at the Opera or having a touching conversation with his love interest when duty calls Dick has to go. Actor and Director Warren Beatty plays the title roll opposite of Al Pacino who plays his arch nemesis, "Big Boy". Both deliver powerhouse performances in this movie, everyone else is also perfectly cast for their unique rolls as their characters begin to take on personalities of their own. Another unique character in this film is one that takes on a double roll throughout the story, "Breathless Mahoney" played by Madonna is a charming fire cracker of a character who often tries to manipulate Tracy during his investigation, covers Big Boy as the lead singer at a nightclub that his gang has taken over and shadows sinister criminal activities as her alter ego the mysterious "Blank" a trench coat and top hat dark figure that hides in the back alleys and dark corners lying in wait to spring a surprise attack that leaves those she encounters stumped as to the lone figure's existence.
I agree with what the previous reviewer posted about the film. This film was made for DVD simply because of the great sound that the stereo produces during some of the more action packed sequences in the movie such as, shoot outs, drive by shootings and a car bombing. In all, this film has something for everybody. A great storyline, character dialogue and development along with a good film score and soundtrack. For those who might worry about what their kids might get out of this film, this isn't your typical cop drama as opposed to some of the more violent films that have preceded it. There's very little in the way of foul language, graphic violence or censored sex. If anything its one of the more tame cop movies that's actually come out over the years and it makes for a great flick for the whole family to sit down and enjoy. As far as the DVD itself, I would have liked to have seen some behind the scenes features and cast interviews because it's always interesting to see how something that's now a classic got put together in the first place. For the critics I'll give this film a 9/10 but definitely worth the time to watch.
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Reviews with images
Great looking/sounding Blu-ray, but a shame we still can't get any extras.
Dick Tracy, probably the most unique comic book film I've ever seen. True to form, the costumes and sets come in bright, bold, primary colors like those found only in the comic strip, itself. Although the story is pretty standard good-versus-evil fare, the substance to the film's exemplary style are the engaging performances by Warren Beatty as Tracy and Al Pacino as his nemesis, Big Boy Caprice. Coming on the heels of Tim Burton's darker and slicker Batman, I believe people were quick to draw comparison, despite this being a different, more Saturday-matinee stylized film. Although critically not as well-received as Batman, it still apparently went on to win 3 Oscars.Although I owned it on DVD, I picked up the Blu-ray because the film's visuals are exactly the reason to watch this film on the HD-medium. As expected, I noticed the colors pop more vibrantly and with better balance thanks to being in 1080p. Although the image can be a little soft in terms of sharpness at times, I believe this may have been intentional on Beatty's part, as it's pretty prevalent throughout.Sound is appropriately bombastic in 5.1 DTS-HD. Most notably, the scene in the boiler room where the pipes burst with steam get some good rear-speaker activity. Sondheim's jazzy song-and-dance numbers have robust dynamics, and of course, anything involving Tommy-guns promises to be loud and lively. At least my incentive here for picking this up again were the additional language track options - French (which I want to learn), Spanish (which I am improving), and Russian (not at the moment, but maybe in the future?).Unfortunately, like with the DVD, we get a bare-bones Blu-ray, save for some theatrical/home video previews from 2012. Given the legal wranglings the Dick Tracy property has been under for some time, I presume maybe that has something to do with it. However, I was able to find some interviews and the like on YouTube. Still, given this was one of Beatty's pet projects, I'm surprised he hasn't been able to contribute a commentary track at the least. Overall, if you appreciate the film, the Blu-ray is the way to go. Casual fans may just want to rent, or get a digital copy.
Top reviews from other countries
gianluca
Versione regno unito... ma con audio italiano!
Reviewed in Italy on August 17, 2021
Adolfo Arauz (ado)
Gran película, que fue la precursora del Cine de Superhéroes.
Reviewed in Spain on April 9, 2021