Al Pacino's Scarface.

MOVIE TITLE: Scarface (Double Disc, Collector's Edition)

GENRE: Action

RATING:

RUNNING TIME: 2 hours 50 minutes (over two discs, movie is 170 minutes)

BONUS FEATURES: The Making of Scarface; outtakes; theatrical trailers; publicity and production photographs; production notes; talent bios; film highlights.

WHO'S IN IT: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia, Paul Shenar.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Scarface is the quintessential gangster movie, with sharp suits, short tempers, deals and double-crosses, loads of cocaine and bloody action which is actually relevant to the plot and does not go overboard into 'Rambodom'. For those who did not know, the 1983 remake that is a legend is a remake of the 1932 original. Unfortunately, Scarface is often reduced to two lines, both spoken by Pacino as Tony Montana (who is Scarface, but not to his face). The first is "all I have in this world is my balls, and my word, and I don't break 'em for no one, you understand?", which he says to Bolivian druglord Alejandro Sosa when his loyalty is questioned at what turns out to be the turning point in his life, when he makes the big decision that starts his rise from hired thug to independent druglord.

The other is "say hello to my little friend", which comes when Montana faces down the small army Sosa sends after him when Tony kills a hitman sent after a journalist writing about the Bolivian government's corruption. The 'little friend' is an M-60. Montana, sky high on his own supply, takes bullets but takes out many until 'The Snake' gets him in the back with a shotgun blast, sending him tumbling off a balcony to a bloody fountain around a sign 'The World is Yours'.

It is a climatic end to a gritty, well-told tale, which starts with Montana and friend Manny Ribera (Steve Bauer) in 'Freedomtown', a detention camp for Cuban refugees in Miami. They earn green cards through a sponsored murder and go through the ranks of 'Mobdom' together, Manny saving Tony's life as he is about to be given the chainsaw treatment.

After trying hard (including getting a new car after she dismisses 'that' leaopard seat covering in the old one) Tony gets in with Elvira (Pfeiffer), the girl of his old boss. But Tony breaks the rule even those who don't sell coke know: don't get high on your own supply.

It is all downhill from there and he kills Manny when he thinks he catches his only friend banging his sister, not realising that the two had had a secret wedding. Then comes the final shootout, a hell of a climax to a tale of low to high to die, where honour among thieves is a curious combination of pride and cynicism.

LONG STORY SHORT: Another gangster movie in a world full of them, but so well told it stands out.

REEL LOWDOWN: Remember that shootout in Belly ("me kill fe fun!") and the cold calculation in Goodfellas? This one has it all - and more.

DVD review rating guide.

Save your money ,

Poor ,

Average,

A+ ,

Must see.