Search - Dick Tracy on DVD

A Great Movie with Amazing Picture and Sound Quality

Michael Crane | Orland Park, IL USA | 09/02/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The DVD may not be fully loaded with extras or special features, but the outstanding picture and sound quality makes up for all of that..."Dick Tracy" is an incredible movie and can be enjoyed by everyone of all ages...Warren Beatty stars as Tracy; a tough detective who is determined to fight crime at any cost. One of the main bad guys he is trying to get off the streets for good is none other than Big Boy (Al Pacino). But Big Boy isn't going down without a fight, and is willing to put a stop to Tracy's career with his gang of colorful hoodlums... I really did enjoy this movie, and it is a classic. There are still elements of danger and suspence... The actors did a great job. Beatty is awesome as Tracy, but I have to say this; as always, it is Pacino who steals the show. He is so alive and colorful in this movie. Had it not been for his famous voice, you would've never known it was Al...Warren Beatty also directed the movie and did an awesome job at doing so. Everything about the movie was convincing and believable. Had this project been given to someone else, chances are that the results wouldn't had been as good.This is a movie that you can watch with your kids, being that the rating of the movie is only PG. There is violence, but it is not graphic and is even really cartoonish at times. There is some sensuality in it...As I said, the DVD isn't loaded with any special features, but the crystal clear picture quality and phenominal sound makes up for it. The movie can be played in DTS, which sounds really fantastic...But the picture is the show stopper. The colorful and dark settings really stand out like never before. There is no way in the world that any VHS could do this movie the justice it deserves."Dick Tracy" is a great movie that continues to entertain people of all ages. Filled with action, suspence, and a lot of humor, this movie does not disappoint. If you have not seen the movie already, check it out as soon as you can."

Well, not bad!

Fruit Loop | Down South | 06/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The script lives up to its subject, a cartoon strip, but fans of the old Dick Tracy won't be disappointed. Our old favorite characters are all there and the soundtrack, especially Madonna's sexy "Sooner or Later" is fabulous. The production values are great, with a definite comic book feel and appearance, and even if we didn't get all these great items to enjoy, there's the cameo and casting with some of Hollywood's brightest stars. Definitely worth adding to your DVD collection"

Campy, Overblown And Mindless Fun!

Anthony Nasti | Staten Island, New York United States | 09/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When Tim Burton released "Batman" in 1989, producers at major movie studios were scouring for a film based on a comic strip character that would cash in on the success of that previous movie. In 1990, Warren Beaty produced, directed and starred in "Dick Tracy", a movie based on the popular 1930's detective series. Surrounding himself with some great setpieces and a barrage of well known names, "Dick Tracy" was released to a somewhat underwhelming response. However, 15 years later, the film has aged remarkably well.

Before I go any further, just let me state one thing. This film is campy. Extremely campy. However, this is one of those cases where camp actually works. The hideous makeup worn by the villians of the movie may have seemed rediculous then, but now, however, they seem almost funny. And they were indeed rather creative, as it won an Oscar. Seeing a bevy of famous faces buried beneath the layers of goo smattered upon them only adds to the enjoyment.

The film's plot? Well, to be honest, there's no actual plot, so to speak. Dick Tracy (Warren Beaty) is the top detective in town (never caught the name), and he's out to take down the top crime boss in town, Big Boy Caprice (Al Pacino). That's pretty much it. There's no elaborate scheme, no heist or anything like that. A wide variety of colorful characters pop up throughout the movie, such as blonde bombshell Breathless Mahoney (a surprisingly convincing Madonna), Dick's gal Tess Truehart (Glenn Headly), The Kid (Charlie Korsmo), dull witted mobster Mumbles (Dustin Hoffman) and a host of others. But the film never really developes an actual plotline. And that's the film's charm.

The cast assembled for this film stands as one of the greatest ensembles ever assembled for one movie. Beatty leads a cast that includes, in addition to cast members I already mentioned, Paul Sorvino, James Caan, Kathy Bates, Dick Van Dyke, Mandy Patankin, Charles Durning, Henry Silva, Catherine O'Hara, and William Forsythe. The real star of the show, however, is Al Pacino. Like Jack Nicholson when he played The Joker, Pacino absolutely steals the movie, chewing the scenery like a piece of gum and enjoying every minute of it as he gets a chance to lampoon pretty much every role he's ever done. It's no surprise he got a Best Supporting Actor nomination from the Academy that year.

The songs by Steven Sondheim are fantastic, including the Oscar winning "Sooner Or Later (I Always Get My Man)", sung with sultry flair by the material girl herself. The set design made the comics leap off the pages and come alive (the film used the same main coors from the comics). "Dick Tracy" may not be a masterpiece, but it's definitely worth owning."

No Special Features

Ramser | Santa Cruz, CA United States | 02/17/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I remember being intrigued by this movie when it first came out (when I was young and had not seen it yet). So I bought the DVD, saw it a few times and my verdict is in. I'm impressed with the effort put into it, such as the cartoon-like cinematography, art direction, legendary music by Sondheim, and all those cool cameos in the film (check the cast listing). Al Pacino did a good job as Big Boy Caprice and his Oscar nomination for supporting actor is well deserved. Although Beatty's performance as Dick Tracy is a bit dry, I believe the part called for it, the same goes for most of the characters. There is not much character development here with only one exception. This exception being the Kid (Charlie Korsmo), who starts out as a homeless-orphan-street-thief, but ends up being taken under Tracy's wing and becoming Tracy's sidekick. Korsmo acting seemed authentic, and some of the most emotional scenes in the movie are between him and Tracy. Such as when the Kid receives an honorary badge for saving Tracy's life, and when he chooses Dick Tracy Jr. for a name. Madonna looks really beautiful (perhaps the best she has ever looked on film) and does a decent job as Breathless, but her best parts are when she sings or her one-liners (but again I think the part called for it). Also I was pleasantly surprised that Madonna actually has two roles in the film (you would have to see to find out). Overall, though I was intrigued by the movie as a youngster, I must say that despite the considerable effort put into the film, I feel that it lacks charm and intrigue. But again for the third time think the comic strip origins of the movie called for it, and because of this it may leave viewers without any afterthoughts, and what adds to this is the fact that there is no special features at all on the DVD!"