B5Erik

I thought that Gangster Squad looks like a fun movie. I'll definitely catch this one on blu ray - maybe even in the theater if I have the time.

fumanstan

I thought the trailer looked fun too, and something that I wouldn't take too seriously. The middling reviews make me want to wait for it to hit blu-ray as well though.

sauce07

Am I missing something? Was Dragnet known as a accurate representation of the LAPD in the 1950's?

Goat3001

I thought this movie would be great because of the cast but the more commercials/trailers I see, the less excited I am for this. I'll still watch because it doesn't look bad, just not as good as it could be.

DaveyJoe

I never thought this looked good, but I was also very underwhelmed by Zombieland.

Troy Stiffler

They lose me when they say, "this is what you wanted from Lawless". No, what I wanted from Lawless was a third Hilcoat/Cave collaboration. They did a fantastic job. Though it was more accessible than expected (after The Proposition and The Road).

This looks like a fun cops and robbers gangster film. But I'm not seeing anything high caliber. More Untouchables, less Miller's Crossing.

And I still think it's insulting that they worried about reshooting the theater shooting scene.

Shilex

Just got back from seeing an advance preview of Gangster Squad. I'll go into a quick review of it without spoilers. So before the title card comes up, the words "Inspired by true events" appeared on the screen. From that moment on, I knew that this was going to be completely sensationalized and mostly made-up version of somewhat actual events/characters. Gangster Squad is by no means a great movie, but I was honestly entertained the entire time. It's edited quite well and flows fairly quickly. But the characters are run-of-the-mill and the plot is pretty predictable. There are some idiotic and cartoonish plot elements that keep the movie more lighthearted than the opening scene of violence suggested. Acting-wise, most do a serviceable job, while Gosling seemingly starts out channeling a 50's mobster caricature and then slowly turns into a hybrid of his character in Drive. Penn really hams it up and chews the scenery. As long as you don't think of this as Oscar caliber material, and more like Hollywood fluff I think you'll enjoy it. It's more of a rental and one of those movies you watch and think "That wasn't bad", but then immediately forget about. If I had to give it stars, I'd give it twenty-three stars out of thirty-five. (it's my review and I can use whatever rating system I please)

Supermallet

Alright, but let's get to the important question: Is there any nudity?

Why So Blu?

Since I can't link to the article, I can post the intro that my friend wrote about it:

Gangster Squad is the R-rated, spiritual successor to Dick Tracy that nobody wanted. The film is a stylish exercise in action sequences, featuring a bunch of good actors that have decided not to do much acting, aside from Sean Penn, who attempts to devour every scene he is in and hopes to stop short of chewing on his own makeup. The film is exactly what I expected, stylish, “fun,” and terrible, all within the same breath. The good thing is that everyone is at least dressed quite nicely, but in the realm of gangster pictures, this one can simply sleep with the fishes, rather than sit on top of the world.

I'll rent it on Blu-ray.

Shilex

Nope. But you get like a half side-boob from Emma Stone in bed, and a fairly average stripper with tassle nipple covers shaking her assets. Up to you if that's worth the price of admission.

Supermallet

Osiris3657

Falling fast. 40 on Metacritic, 35% on RT. Oh well. Consensus that it's a shallow, overly stylized actioner with poor direction.

GatorDeb

I honestly don't get all the hate, I saw it today and really really enjoyed it.

Question, was it me or did it appear that skin tones had a kind of gloss on them? Interesting on the tinting technique for the film, it looked different than other films, and was wondering about the technical aspects of it.

Boba Fett

Well, this is making me think "Zombieland" was a complete fluke for Fleischer.

bluetoast

I dunno but the overall lighting from the trailer gives me a Sky Captain vibe.

Osiris3657

Not saying it would have been better, but those extensive rewrites to the script and reshoots done in response to the massacre at the Dark Knight Rises screening probably doomed it.

nickdawgy

My wife and I saw it last night. We liked it, but nothing we would buy or watch again.

The lines were mostly cheesy, the action a bit over the top, and it felt like it was a three hour movie.

I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5.

foofighters7

I seriously started doubting this movie when I seen the first trailer and there was rap music in it.

Sorry, but if you're sticking rap music in a film's trailer when the film is meant to take place in the 30's it tells me they know they have problems and are trying to appeal to a demographic that might actually fall for it.

I planned on seeing it anyway to validate my previous assumption yet I hoped I was wrong. I mean, Sean, Ryan why?

Jackskeleton

So you're not going to watch the great gatsby?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sN183rJltNM

Hell, did you get pissy at Django for the same crime? If it fits, it fits.

Did I think this was a good film? Man, I was cracking up half way through it. Wait, it wasn't a comedy?! I mean, it was entertaining in that sort of Tom Hanks Dragnet film. And yeah, the acting was completely absent. But man did I like the look, feel and the completely and utterly predictable plot didn't bug me as much as I thought it would.

Rocketeer meets Dragnet. Yup.

nickdawgy

I heard people saying it was awful as they walked out.

Wasn't that bad.

Dragon Tattoo

You know when the idiots who went to see it say its bad, it must really be terrible.

stingermck

I enjoyed the hell out of this movie today. It was lean, kicked ass, and pretty brutal at times.

mdc3000

If you can take stupid dialogue and are willing to check your brain at the door, this is a fun, slick and entertaining action picture. It is nothing more or less than that.

fitprod

He will not be alone in not watching that pending mess... Everyone keeps waiting for Baz Lurhmann's next hit. This is not it. (There's a reason it was delayed from the Christmas season...)

WB has strategically set this between Iron Man 3 (May 3) and Star Trek into Darkness (May 17), and it's not to improve box office, it a built in excuse for the the numbers that come in. - It will be buried it opening week (May 10) by week 2 of Iron Man 3, and then on May 17th when Star Trek opens.

Hell, I'd be surprised if it beats the Tyler Perry movie opening against it.

fitprod

IIG

How does a movie with this level of talent involved come out so hokey and mediocre? I'd love to know what lured Penn, Brolin, Gosling, etc. to this project. I highly doubt it was the script. I guess I somewhat enjoyed it for what it was though, but I wouldn't dare recommend it to anyone.