A twisted, violent and dramatic ride. The scenes with Hoffman and George talking and being a lovable couple are enjoyable and believable.
You have no idea you're about to embark on such a graphic, violent journey. It all seems so peaceful. The...
- 25.November.2009
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- by: Jam
- Jam rated this movie
 0/10
A twisted, violent and dramatic ride. The scenes with Hoffman and George talking and being a lovable couple are enjoyable and believable.
You have no idea you're about to embark on such a graphic, violent journey. It all seems so peaceful. The ending sequence is one of the most intense pieces of film I've ever seen.
- 25.November.2009
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- by: Jam
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What Jaws did for sharks and Deliverance did for inbred southerners, Straw Dogs did for Englishmen. It's quite probably Sam Peckinpah's most disturbing film, and that's saying something for a director who always had a perverse obsession with...
- 22.March.2009
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- by: coolerking
- coolerking rated this movie4/10Disappointing
What Jaws did for sharks and Deliverance did for inbred southerners, Straw Dogs did for Englishmen. It's quite probably Sam Peckinpah's most disturbing film, and that's saying something for a director who always had a perverse obsession with depicting grisly violence in his work. I've never really appreciated his films. Peckinpah clearly wanted to disgust his audience over the idea of violence and yet insisted on wallowing in it to the point of glorification. "Violence porn" I believe is the term for it. His moral in this film seems to be that violence is sometimes the only option for a man willing to defend his principles to truly become a man. This is especially true if, deep-down, that man is kind of an abusive jerk whose immature tart of a wife provokes all the sick, limey lechers in town into raping her - an act which she clearly half-enjoys. That's right, somehow this film manages to be both misogynistic and misandristic. Nobody comes away looking good in this film, least of all the English. It's the kind of movie that makes you despise humanity in general, which isn't exactly a favorite sub-genre of mine. Only Hoffman's impressive performance makes it bearable to watch.
- 22.March.2009
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- by: coolerking
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How does a man of small physical stature react when challenged? If he is wise, and it is merely his pride at issue, he steps aside, or at most makes only symbolic gestures. If there is a real question of morality and he is courageous, he stands his...
- 17.March.2009
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- by: John Kelly
- John Kelly rated this movie
 8/10Great
How does a man of small physical stature react when challenged? If he is wise, and it is merely his pride at issue, he steps aside, or at most makes only symbolic gestures. If there is a real question of morality and he is courageous, he stands his ground. This is the point of the story. The violence portrayed is not central. Rather, it helps drive home the point.
Other reviews speak of transition. Dustin H's character goes through no transition. He is always a pacifist and a lover of good. Hurting and even killing others that try to force him to do ill notwithstanding. Defense of home, of innocent life, of his own ability to remain a good person--these are his values. His "rage" is better described as urgency. He MUST NOT allow evil to win.
One reviewer notes the seminal nature of this film. I say this is true, but just because Reservoir Dogs has a similar name, and violence, it doesn't inherit the central point of goodness. (Maybe it does in some way. Warrior code and all.) I liked RD alot. But SD is a morality play, dressed in violence, as the highest test of morality.
It's not too flattering of women. Susan G's character casually sets in motion many if not all the dangers in the film, in spite of the fact that she is violated.
- 17.March.2009
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- by: John Kelly
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amazing
Sam Peckinpah maintains a tense atmosphere through the entire film, and it all drains out in the final bloody half hour. All of Peckinpah's movies are very violent, and sometimes you feel it's not necessary, but here the violent final scene is an...
- 28.August.2008
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- by: barak gilon
- barak gilon rated this movie9/10Amazing
amazing
Sam Peckinpah maintains a tense atmosphere through the entire film, and it all drains out in the final bloody half hour. All of Peckinpah's movies are very violent, and sometimes you feel it's not necessary, but here the violent final scene is an unforgettable one that stays in your memory. Dustin Hoffman is very convincing here, first as the geek who tries to please everybody, stay out of trouble and avoid confrontations, and later as the bloodthirsty avenging killer. It's disturbing to watch, but it's a very powerful movie that raises some interesting questions. Would you kill if you felt your family was in danger?
- 28.August.2008
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- by: barak gilon
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