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Is Goodfellas really all that violent?

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Is Goodfellas really all that violent?

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Old 07-16-04, 11:52 AM
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Is Goodfellas really all that violent?

Now i have only seen portions of the flick on lifetime, and the only real violence was stompings off screen. would most of the violence be cut by tv censors? also, what the hell is a movie like goodfellas doing on lifetime
Old 07-16-04, 11:56 AM
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I have no idea why "Goodfellas" would be on Television for Women, but yes, it's an R-rated movie and would have been cut to shreds in order to air on a basic cable network.

Like the "Godfather" films, the violence in "Goodfellas" isn't constant, but when it's there it's memorable.
Old 07-16-04, 12:00 PM
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also from what i understand, a few sopranos actors were in goodfellas, i requignized Michael Imperioli's name and the dude who plays paulie walnuts, are there any others?
Old 07-16-04, 12:06 PM
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Re: Is Goodfellas really all that violent?

Originally posted by Rypro 525
also, what the hell is a movie like goodfellas doing on lifetime
wild guess: Lorraine Brocco bandwagon?

And yes Goodfellas is violent, and I think it has the most brutal violence in any Scorsese pic, because of the context.
Old 07-16-04, 12:17 PM
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Re: Re: Is Goodfellas really all that violent?

Originally posted by sundog
And yes Goodfellas is violent, and I think it has the most brutal violence in any Scorsese pic, because of the context.
I alwas remembered Casino as being more violent, just because of the vise and baseball bat scenes alone.
Old 07-16-04, 12:31 PM
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There is a lot of implied violence. However, as poster above stated, it was given an R-rating so there must have been enough on screen to warrant it.
Old 07-16-04, 12:33 PM
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Re: Re: Re: Is Goodfellas really all that violent?

Originally posted by Matt Millheiser
I alwas remembered Casino as being more violent, just because of the vise and baseball bat scenes alone.
In terms of explicit violence I may agree (been a while since I've seen it). But Scorsese sets the violence in Goodfellas in a schizophrenic film-world that alternates from the identifiable warm family to frightening gangster violence.

Spoiler:
Tommy (Pesci) shooting Stax (Samuel L. Jackson) in the back of the head is much more unsettling than the vise scene in Casino. The former is senseless and brutal, the latter being more visceral and even humerous because of who we identify with.
Old 07-16-04, 12:47 PM
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Originally posted by wordtoyamotha
There is a lot of implied violence. However, as poster above stated, it was given an R-rating so there must have been enough on screen to warrant it.
and that peci uses the f word almost non stop everytime he's on screen
Old 07-16-04, 02:29 PM
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Originally posted by Rypro 525
also from what i understand, a few sopranos actors were in goodfellas, i requignized Michael Imperioli's name and the dude who plays paulie walnuts, are there any others?
Yep, Frank Vincent and of course Lorraine Brocco.
Old 07-16-04, 05:35 PM
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Goodfellas is PLENTY violent. Pesci's character is a loose cannon more often than not, and when he's ticked off he starts shooting. Shooting the servant and then later killing him are very violent scenes, and as was stated before the implications of violence are also unsettling, like disposing of, and then recovering, a dead corpse.
Old 07-16-04, 06:41 PM
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Originally posted by Rypro 525
and that peci uses the f word almost non stop everytime he's on screen
Pesci is so good in this movie. I love the "How am I funny, like a clown? What is so funny about me?" scene.
Old 07-17-04, 11:20 AM
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Homage to the soon to be release of "Goodfellas SE"...homage to violence.

"Goodfellas" is undeniably one of the best gangster movies ever created. It had a brilliant director, a brilliant cast, and some of the best dialogue of many gangster movies put together. "The Godfather" notwithstanding as I think that one is in a class by itself. But for the more modern epics, "Goodfellas" is and will remain and unmatched, unparelleled feet in movie entertainment.

Was it violent? Heck yeah. There are scenes that are so original
Spoiler:
almost death by pen
, so well crafted that it could only come from the mind of Martin S. The violence however is not gratuitous. It is very much in the vain of the mob and how things were most likely done. Sometimes sudden and most times graphic. Mob slayings are meant to be a means of anger, almost showmanship to protest to the fact that you don't cross, betray, or f*** with us in anyway. You do and you get bloody. And you get bloody so that your family, your friends, and all else are made to suffer because of it. Made to suffer so that sometimes even a mortician can't beautify you again for your funeral. That was the way of the mob and that was the perfect way it was done in this classic.

This movie created new levels of shocking violence that was also reminiscent in the very good "Casino", the incredible "Sopranos" as well as sub-par gangster flicks that have come since. The sudden disappearances of our favorite characters is how it is done and how it will be done for many moons.
While the violence may not have been blood spurting a la "Kill Bill vol. 1" it was graphic and in my estimation perfect.
Old 07-17-04, 11:35 AM
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Originally posted by scott1598
Spoiler:
almost death by pen
That scene was in Casino.
Old 07-17-04, 12:11 PM
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That scene was in Casino.
Yup.

Goodfellas is one movie I never get tired of seeing. Very violent however. You actually get the feeling while watching it what it would be like to be in the midst of these violent people where one look or word would get you killed.
Old 07-17-04, 12:12 PM
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Originally posted by El Gordo
Originally posted by scott1598


That scene was in Casino.
(spoilers)

what are you talking about...it was the scene where Pesci goes medieval on the guy in the bar who is also in "The Sopranos" right now. He was saying hi to his old friend Tommy from back in the day, but in a sarcastic way. Buys him, Jimmy and Henry a drink.
It was the backbone of the whole movie! He was the one in the trunk in the beginning. The one they had to re-kill when it went to present in film and they had to borrow the knife from Tommy's mom (Martin S. real mom). Please don't question me on this movie. Maybe rent it! I know he used a pen in Casino, but this is where it all began.

Last edited by OldBoy; 07-17-04 at 12:35 PM.
Old 07-17-04, 12:13 PM
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I don't think it is violent for a mob/mafia type of movie...That's the life!
Old 07-17-04, 12:18 PM
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what are you talking about...it was the scene where Pesci goes medieval on the guy in the bar who is also in "The Sopranos" right now. He was saying hi to his old friend Tommy from back in the day, but in a sarcastic way. Buys him, Jimmy and Henry a drink.
Spoiler:
That scene was in Goodfellas. But Pesci repeatedly stabbing a guy with a pen also at a bar was in Casino
Old 07-17-04, 12:19 PM
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Originally posted by Mr. Salty
I have no idea why "Goodfellas" would be on Television for Women
Likewise, Lifetime has been airing the Shawshank Redemption, a film whose biggest female character is a film poster.
Old 07-17-04, 02:04 PM
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Originally posted by Mr. Salty
I have no idea why "Goodfellas" would be on Television for Women
"ya treat 'em ruff, you get the muff"
Old 07-17-04, 03:39 PM
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It's comedic violence like when they're digging up the stabbed up corpse and start cracking jokes
Old 07-17-04, 04:42 PM
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Originally posted by scott1598
(spoilers)

what are you talking about...it was the scene where Pesci goes medieval on the guy in the bar who is also in "The Sopranos" right now. He was saying hi to his old friend Tommy from back in the day, but in a sarcastic way. Buys him, Jimmy and Henry a drink.
It was the backbone of the whole movie! He was the one in the trunk in the beginning. The one they had to re-kill when it went to present in film and they had to borrow the knife from Tommy's mom (Martin S. real mom). Please don't question me on this movie. Maybe rent it! I know he used a pen in Casino, but this is where it all began.
Methinks you need to watch these movies again, and spread them apart by a couple of weeks (so you don't start blending them even more).
Old 07-17-04, 04:43 PM
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Originally posted by greenknight
It's comedic violence like when they're digging up the stabbed up corpse and start cracking jokes
I found a wing, Henry!
Old 07-17-04, 09:18 PM
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Originally posted by scott1598

(spoilers)

what are you talking about...it was the scene where Pesci goes medieval on the guy in the bar who is also in "The Sopranos" right now. He was saying hi to his old friend Tommy from back in the day, but in a sarcastic way. Buys him, Jimmy and Henry a drink.
It was the backbone of the whole movie! He was the one in the trunk in the beginning. The one they had to re-kill when it went to present in film and they had to borrow the knife from Tommy's mom (Martin S. real mom). Please don't question me on this movie. Maybe rent it! I know he used a pen in Casino, but this is where it all began.


I'll accept your apology AFTER you have watched these movies again.
Old 07-17-04, 10:54 PM
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Re: Homage to the soon to be release of "Goodfellas SE"...homage to violence.

Originally posted by scott1598
"Goodfellas" is undeniably one of the best gangster movies ever created. It had a brilliant director, a brilliant cast, and some of the best dialogue of many gangster movies put together. "The Godfather" notwithstanding as I think that one is in a class by itself. But for the more modern epics, "Goodfellas" is and will remain and unmatched, unparelleled feet in movie entertainment.

Was it violent? Heck yeah. There are scenes that are so original
Spoiler:
almost death by pen
,

Originally posted by El Gordo
That scene was in Casino.


Originally posted by scott1598
(spoilers)

what are you talking about...it was the scene where Pesci goes medieval on the guy in the bar who is also in "The Sopranos" right now. He was saying hi to his old friend Tommy from back in the day, but in a sarcastic way. Buys him, Jimmy and Henry a drink.
It was the backbone of the whole movie! He was the one in the trunk in the beginning. The one they had to re-kill when it went to present in film and they had to borrow the knife from Tommy's mom (Martin S. real mom). Please don't question me on this movie. Maybe rent it! I know he used a pen in Casino, but this is where it all began

Old 07-18-04, 10:08 AM
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oops! so then what is the scene in Goodfellas I am talking about? i can't be that far off...


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