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 enlarge | Director: Martin Scorsese
Actors: Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $7.02
You Save: $12.96 (65%)
New (53) Used (42) Collectible (3) from $6.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  219 reviews
Sales Rank: 4085
Format: Ac-3, Black & White, Collector's Edition, Dolby, Dubbed, Dvd-video, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 129
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 1007431
ISBN: 0792863321
UPC: 027616915122
EAN: 9780792863328
ASIN: B00062IVKS
Theatrical Release Date: December 19, 1980
Release Date: February 8, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new, still in shrink wrap.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good acting /Bad quality control February 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The acting and the photography of the fight sequences are quite good. The problem lies in the quality of the DVD itself. The first copy I received was not playable and was returned. The second copy played ok, but the contrasts in volume between the conversation parts and the fight sequences were extreme. One could hadly hear the conversation portions and had to turn the volume up near its maximum. When the fight sequences occurred, the volume had to be turned back down. This soon became annoying. I am surprised that the anniversary edition had these problems.
The special features disk was trouble-free and well worth watching.
 The best Scorsese/De Niro collaboration? December 8, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Raging Bull is directed by Martin Scorsese. The film stars Robert De Niro and co-stars Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Frank Vincent, Nicholas Colasanto, and Theresa Saldana.
The film tells the story of Jake LaMotta, a legendary boxer from the 1940s. Despite his being an excellent fighter in the ring, all other aspects of his life are just the opposite. He can't control his anger, and is prone to violent outbursts on a regular basis. Lacking dedication and wanting to do things his own way, his friendships and relationships are strained. The only truly positive relationship he has is with his brother, and even that one is severely shaken in later years. Through the course of his life he endures divorces, heartbreak, thrown fights, and even jail time. From his heyday as a boxer to his later years as a stand-up performer, he is never truly able to take control of his life - suffering all the while because of it.
Raging Bull is a well-crafted Scorsese masterpiece. From start to finish, with a brilliant filming style, and De Niro's excellent portrayal of LaMotta, this is a truly great film. Despite its initial mixed reviews and opinions, it has long since gained favor in the eyes of moviegoers and critics alike, and is now widely regarded as one of the best films of all time. And rightfully so.
Robert De Niro's acting in this film is some of his best ever. Through the years the picture covers, he truly makes you believe he IS LaMotta. His violent outbursts are believable, and all the while you will both loathe and sympathize with him. There isn't one De Niro scene here that doesn't feel authentic. He plays the character perfectly, in his early years as a violent, reckless boxer, right down to his later, slightly more mellowed-out years in his nightclub life. Scorsese had previously directed De Niro in Taxi Driver, and this film is even more impressive. Quite a comment considering that film was a masterpiece in its own right!
The supporting cast is also impressive. Next to De Niro, the best actor this film has to offer is Joe Pesci. Frequently pissed and spouting out the F-word like there's no tomorrow, but undeniably loving his brother, this is one of many memorable performances from Pesci. In many ways, this is LaMotta's strongest relationship, and the person he can relate to best. Despite the two brothers loving each other, there is serious tension late in the film that causes them to become distant, only adding to the depth of the storyline. The other supporters are impressive, but amongst the supporting cast, it's Pesci that steals the show. This wasn't the last time he and De Niro would appear together in a film - and their other films together would be no less excellent.
Scorsese creates a movie all his own with Raging Bull. Shot in glorious black and white, it looks like no other film of its era. The pacing is just right - despite the run time of over two hours, this movie never gets boring and always holds onto your attention. Although LaMotta was a boxer, very little time is actually spent in the ring. Scorsese made the wise decision of focusing on his more-interesting personal life. There are boxing scenes and they are well shot, but they occupy a very small portion of the film. This is a dramatic story above all other things.
I should probably point out to potential viewers that this film is NOTHING like the Rocky series. Just because it's about boxing and it has the same producers as Rocky (Chartoff and Winkler), don't be expecting something along those lines. This is a gritty, disturbing, and often disgusting film that never has a positive message - it's a portrait of LaMotta as he lived his life day-to-day. More likely than not, the initially-mixed reviews were because people were expecting a Rocky-esque picture - which this film is certainly not.
Scorsese didn't hire a composer to create original music for the film, but instead opted to use previously-existing music that suited the themes and the times in which the film is set. This is an uncommon move to make as far as film music goes, but it actually works quite well here. There are tunes that help to paint a picture of the era in which the movie was set, and emotional, orchestral ones that stand for LaMotta's suffering. The music ends up working in the film's favor more than you'd think.
A two-disc DVD set of the film was recently released, containing a plethora of bonus features, including commentaries. There's no better time to retire your old VHS copy and upgrade to the DVD version! But be sure you get the two-disc version, for all the extra features.
It's hard to review a movie like Raging Bull, since it's on a plane all its own. This is a gritty, realistic portrait of a distraught man who can't take control of his life. Scorsese and De Niro created yet another classic with this film. It's a great film that deserves its critical acclaim. Just don't come in here expecting something uplifting. This isn't Rocky. And it certainly doesn't try to be.
Thumbs up
Robert De Niro does his magic. October 27, 2007
Raging Bull directed by Martin Scorsese is probably his best film to date. Filmed in gorgeous black and white, Raging Bull tells the story of true-life boxer Jake La Motta played brilliantly by De Niro. He gained a lot of weight for this role, he is truly unrecognizable towards the end of the film, but besides that his blistering performance earned him his second Oscar, his portrayal is both frightening and riveting. This is one film every aspiring filmmaker should see, one of the essentials. Enjoy!
 Raging Bull My Review August 20, 2007
Raging Bull, is a good period piece, it shows why Boxing lost popularity. From the kitchen scene near the start till the end Raging Bull is emotional and believable. The worst beating doesnt come in the ring. The way the fights went made me hate the promoters and Ray Robinson. Its hard to like Jake but....
The Greatest Film of the Decade August 20, 2007
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
If there was ever a better film to be included in AFI's 10th Anniversary Top Ten list, I wouldn't believe it. This is filmmaking at it's best. Let me begin with the greatest actor working today.
Whenever Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese get together it's cinematic gold. Only years prior they created the iconic character of Travis Bickle. Now, in 1980, they create another iconic screen character: Jake La Motta. Jake La Motta was a New York boxer known as The Raging Bull and Scorsese and De Niro brought him to screen better than any other boxing character in history. Robert De Niro's dedication to this role really shows as, even to this day, I look past the actor, as legendary as he is, and only see Jake La Motta, a troubled but talented man.
I highly recommend this movie. It shows a character study second to almost none. Each one of Scorsese/De Niro's characters leave you with a different feeling. For eight movies now, (Mean Streets (Special Edition), Taxi Driver (Two-Disc Collector's Edition), New York, New York, Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, GoodFellas (Two-Disc Special Edition), Cape Fear (10th Anniversary Edition), and Casino), Scorsese and De Niro have created memorable characters. Jake La Motta just may well top the list.
Plus, you can't go wrong with this DVD. Just as with the Two Disc Edition to Goodfellas, there's a commentary with Jake La Motta himself. And the featurettes are wonderful. Higly recommended
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