I saw the preview for this and thought it looked horrible, and my friends all wanted to see it cuz it looked so good. I saw it and it was OK. I won't rent or buy it. The side story with Benicio Del Toro was the best part of the movie. They tried so hard to get the message of the movie across, they beat you over the head with it. Would've have been better if it wasn't so watered down. Think shocking but safe.

;)

I dunno, Chimp... it seemed to me that Traffic really avoided trying to come up with any sort of "message" per se. I think, rather, that it basically presented the hard and fast truths of the drug world/trade, and left it up to the audience to come to their own conclusions.

That was the idea.

definitely buy it

TRAFFIC is probably one of thee best films of 2000-2001 as we speak.

All of you people keep saying it was grueling and boring to sit throug -- are you blind. I bet the same people who are saying these things about traffic are people who like those very un-cinematic and teen thrillers.

TRAFFIC was true portayal of drugs through 3-4 different view-points. TRAFFIC was demonstrating a powerful film withouts some flashy music or HIGH-OCTANE explosion.

People who don't understand films like traffic are your tipical viewers who'd rather go see: I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, URBAN LEGENDS, SAVING SILVERMAN and crap like that.

TRAFFIC is a film for people who loves music. People who liked, THE FRENCH CONNECTION, THE GODFATHER, THE LONGEST DAYS, GLADIATOR, GLORY, JFK, THE DOORS, BRAZIL.

People who like, HITCHCOCK'S WORK, OLIVER STONE'S, TERRY GILLIAM, MICHAEL MANN, MICHAEL CIMMO, JOHN McNAUGHTON, AND WILLIAM FREDERKIN.

Again, TRAFFIC is a great movie worthy of a good DVD release and worthy of buying.

People who don't like, again, or those who love the typical teen movie. The "DEMOGRAPHIC" people as I like to call them. The ones who like the typical characters, color, camera angles, story, expectations.

TRAFFIC IS THE BEST.

(OH YEAH, OZ on hBO rocks!)

Agreed....It'll be on my shelf the day it comes out...that is of course after it spends a couple of hours in the 'ol Sony player.

TRAFFIC, don't get caught in the jam!
 

clearly one of the year's worst films!
rent this one, if you dare!

make no mistake, the film's cast is top-rate, and Michael Douglas gives his best performance since "Wall Street."
So what's wrong with the film, you may ask. It's not a what, but instead a whom. Riding high off his success of "Erin Brockovich," director Steven Soderberg has clearly taken an erroneous diversion with "TRAFFIC." Visually, the film is an awful piece of filmmaking. What could have been the year's most influential film, turns out to be the most
disappointing.

Again, HOW was the direction messed up by STEVEN SODERBERG. Are you mad because he didn't use some fansy 35mm PanV camera so the colors would look all perfect like most every film that is released. Are you mad because the camera was held at every position.

Have you ever heard of artistic direction.


"QUIT EXPECTING THE USUAL AND EXPECT THE UNUSUAL"

film guy's "TRAFFIC REVIEW"
 

Hey, wait one minute...I am insulted that you have sterotyped me as someone who has no appreciation for artistic filmmaking. As a digital filmmaker, artistic direction and visual acuity are job one. All that I am saying is; the film's director could have gone avant garde and still created a film that moved and influenced a commercial market as well as one interested in nontraditionalist production techniques. How about DAVID FINCHER, RIDLEY SCOTT and SPIKE JONZE?

Buy.

Traf..zzzzzz (j/k)

Honestly, I wanted to see this movie because of the hype. When I went to the theater to watch it, I honestly fell asleep. I thought it was pointless and bloated (not trying to be mean here).

So what's the Tally?
 

Has anyone been keeping track of the tally?

Rent: ?
Buy: ?

I haven't seen the film yet. Everytime I go to the theater to see it something happens that prevents me from seeing it. Is this a rental or a pre-order? :confused:

Re: So what's the Tally?
 

Do you like Soderbergh films? if yes, then this is a preorder in my opinion.

Did you know that one of Soderbergh's first projects was a concert video for Yes? It was called 9012Live.

Re: So what's the Tally?
 

Glad to see my post brought up some good thoughts...again to each his own! If I got them all correctly the tally thus far:

Buy= 16
Rent or not= 12

Fairly close. So if you haven't seen it maybe rent it first...

I'm on the fence. I think it will depend on the extras on the DVD. I caught a late night showing last weekend, not realizing how long the movie was. They could have trimmed several scenes to give it a faster flow. Not sure it has a whole lot of potential for repeat viewings.

since the DVD seems to be pretty bare bones i'd say if you haven't seen it or don't like it, then don't buy it because you won't get a special edition treatment with it. the DVD will be as bare as the opening title sequence you could say. i've seen it and i love this film, and i will
definitely buy it, i've already pre-ordered it.

from image-entertainment.com:

<font size=1><b>Traffic</b>
ID: 9630601812DVD - $26.98 - R
UPC: 696306018124 - 147 min. - 2000
Preorder: 4/10/01 - USA
Street: 5/29/01 - Drama
16X9 - 1.85:1 - Color - English - 5.1 Dolby Digital, Stereo - Sub: French, Spanish - CC

• Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, Dennis Quaid, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzman, Amy Irving - Dir:Steven Soderbergh

• The critically acclaimed thriller nominated for 5 Academy Awards, "Traffic" is an entertaining and informative ride through the high stakes, high risks life of the drug trafficking trade, as seen from both sides of the law and the U.S./Mexican border. It's the contemporary story of three separate, yet intertwined sets of lives illustrating the movement of illegal drugs and the lives affected by them along the way. Lives from all social levels, whose boundries are unknown to the illicit trade. A powerful and intense view into the drug world, presented in the unique and original vision of director Steven Soderbergh.

• Making Of and Electronic Press Kit; Trailers and TV Spots</font>

Rent
 

I consider Traffic a good made for TV movie(edited of course). Very slow paced and predictibale. Acting was good but a waste. I do not have the urge to see again.

Great to watch once. I thought it opened up a lot of eyes down here.

I wouldn't buy it though.

buy buy buy buy buy