Once Upon A Time ...The Sergio Leone Thread
 

I saw this on its original theatrical release and like it a lot, although I don't think I've watched it again in its entirety since, despite having the DVD release. Definitely a film you have to be in the mood to watch, and one that you have to pay close attention to. I've always loved the Morricone score, one of his very best.

Perversely I've always wanted to see the US theatrical version just to see what it was like - here's Roger Ebert's review of both.

I prefer Leone's westerns, they're more fun.

I've never been able to watch "America" all the way through.
Too long, too slow.

Then again I'm not really into Gangster films anyway apart from The Untouchables.

I do like this film and in fact have yet to see one Leone film I haven't liked though ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST is strictly a mood only film and could have been shortened a touch. AMERICA is another one you have to be in the mood for due to its meandering plot. But stick with it and you're rewarded. There's something about the last 10 minutes which is really special in my opinion.

Yes,it would be interesting to see the original cut.....

Fantastic movie :cool:

It's good with some fine acting but it's an hour overlong as it is IMHO.I prefer Leone's westerns too.

Been reading more on this sprawling epic.Leone's original vision for the begining of the movie was to have the camera pan into the Hudson river,continue to the bottom,pan across a history of cars and dead bodies,pan back upwards,out the water and focus on the Statue of Liberty.But apparently some other director nicked this before shooting began.:rolleyes:
What an opening that would have been!:cool:

Leone is my favourite director and I love "Once Upon A Time In America", but no, I prefer his Westerns - well the "Dollars" trio and "West" anyway.

Indeed, "Once Upon A Time In The West" is my all time favourite film - has been since I was about 15 or so.

Nonetheless, "America" is a masterpiece. The man was an astonishing artist, in my opinion.

I have to say I too prefer the westerns, America is great but a little over long for me only seen it one all the way through.

I like America but like most people i prefer his westerns.

It's cool that Argento co-wrote it!

I watched this recently, good stuff.

...America is a classic movie. I've nver thought of it as overlong, though. i love the ambiguous ending that still creates debate even today.

I do prefer the Westerns though, especially Fistful of Dynamite.

Good to see new members having a right good trawl through the forums.:cool:

Guilty as charged m'lud!;)

I must pick up Fistful of Dynamite! What;s the best edition to get?

Same here.

Once upon a time in the west is my favourite film btw.

Unless a Blu-Ray is on teh cards, this is the best version on Region 2;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fistful-Dyna...6814663&sr=1-4

Check out the reviews. I agree with those that say it's possibly Leone's best. It's got a sense of humour but the restored version with re-inserted scenes is actually quite moving too.

Get the German Region 2 release, you can get it in a nifty steelbook too:cool:, the U.K. one is cut by the BBFC.

6 seconds for horsefalls. I can live with that. If it was something intregal to the plot, I'd be pissed off.

Once Upon A Time In America was my favourite gangster movie for years. I must've gone to see it on the big screen at least 5 times. It's probably between that or Godfather Pt. 2 now. Somehow, despite really ending up being a complete a-hole, there's still something slightly redeemable in De Niro's character.

Very slightly redeemable, me thinks:lol:

A veritable saint compared to Michael Corleone.. :lol:

True!:nod:

I'm absolutely CHOKING to see this on Blu Ray!:nod:

And now I've choked and gone to heaven.Arrived yesterday from the U.S.

So come on,who else is picking up this classic on BD?

I will be soon, without question.

Perfect Sunday afternoon viewing.
Let's hope it's dry so I can send the weans oot tae play! :happy:

I'm waiting for the UK version of OUATIA. I love it but there's so much else to buy I can probably wait for a bit. I almost feel like I know the film off by heart anyway after seeing it in the cinema quite a few times and countless times on VHS and dvd. :)

All we need now is "The West" and "Dynamite"

Surely West won't be long now....

Paramount.. don't they release about 1 catalogue BD per year now?

What the world really needs is THE COLOSSUS OF RHODES in HD.

More concerened about the westerns mate, especially OUATITW as it is my favourite film ;)

This is a masterpiecex but I'm really not sure where it fits in with Sergio Leone's best films -- I have the BD but I'm waiting for a time when I have four hours spare one evening before watching it as I don't want to watch it in instalments; it's in one viewing or not at all!

I'm still yet to buy it.. all in good time but I just saw this at blu-ray.com:


The Bologna Cinematheque, through its prestigious L'Immagine Ritrovata laboratory, is going to fully restore Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in America and add 40 minutes of original footage to its 229-minute running time. There is no information about a Blu-ray release, in Italy or elsewhere.

This extended version, commissioned after Leone's children acquired Italian rights to the film, is being supervised by the film's original sound editor and will be screened in 2012 at film festivals and possibly in theaters.

Personally, I love the film as it is but it'll be interesting to see.

Same here and, with those extra 40 minutes, it will clock in at a mammoth 270 minutes!

I'm intrigued to know what the 40 minutes will add to the movie. It could kill it like the extra footage added to Apocalypse Now killed that movie.

A question to those of you who bought the Blu-Ray of "...America" - what is your verdict on PQ and AQ?