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| | Salesrank: 101691
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| Our Price: $5.97 |
| Used Price: $3.73 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
On the surface, David Cronenberg may seem an unlikely candidate to direct A History of Violence, but dig deeper and you'll see that he's the right man for the job. As an intellectual seeker of meaning and an avowed believer in Darwinian survival of the fittest, Cronenberg knows that the story of mild-mannered small-town diner proprietor Tom Stall (Viggo Mortensen) is in fact a multilayered examination of inbred human behavior, beginning when Tom's skillful killing of two would-be robbers draws unwanted attention to his idyllic family life in rural Indiana. He's got a loving wife (Maria Bello) and young daughter (Heidi Hayes) who are about to learn things about Tom they hadn't suspected, and a teenage son (Ashton Holmes) who has inherited his father's most prominent survival trait, manifesting itself in ways he never expected. By the time Tom has come into contact with a scarred villain (Ed Harris) and connections that lead him to a half-crazy kingpin (William Hurt, in a spectacular cameo), Cronenberg has plumbed the dark depths of human nature so skillfully that A History of Violence stands well above the graphic novel that inspired it (indeed, Cronenberg was unaware of the source material behind Josh Olson's chilling adaptation). With hard-hitting violence that's as sudden as it is graphically authentic, this is A History of Violence that's worthy of serious study and widespread acclaim. --Jeff Shannon
A History of Violence Reviews:
Good thriller, well directed. 
2009-11-27 - It goes to show you that people have different tastes, there are some terrible reviews of this well directed thriller which also features a couple of sexy scenes. Very entertaining and I liked the story line of a guy who tries to leave his violent past behind but is dragged back in. I haven't seen the Blu Ray version yet but I'm going to buy or rent it.
A life after death
2009-11-14 - I love this movie, bought it, and have watched it many times. The main character went through a painful transformation to have a life he loves. He "killed" himself. He was thrust back into his old world by his act of bravery. His life will never be the same again no matter what else he does. He has to be both the family man and the killer in the end. His son may have the same natural violent "talents". No organized religious redemption but, he does take a cleansing dip before going back to his family. In the last scene, he looks up at his wife searching for the love in her eyes that he spoke of earlier in the film.
A History of Violence [Blu-ray]A History of Violence (New Line Platinum Series)
Worst Movie Ever 
2009-10-30 - If it were possible for a movie to be rated negative five stars, I'd do it. This was so far past awful, you couldn't even see awful from where this movie was.
I had high hopes for the movie since I like many of the people in it. However, the writing is so bad that the talent can't do anything with it.
The collection of acting talent, unfortunately, is no more able to become a good movie than a heap of building materials is able to become a house.
Conflict and Violence
2009-10-27 - Two men walk out of a motel and get into a convertible. [No seatbelts?] What are they up to? Next we see a family at home. Tom Stoll works in a small restaurant in a small town. There is conflict in the boys gym. [Believable?] The parents spend time together when the children are away. [Does the film slow down afterwards?] Then those two men show up in town and start trouble in Tom's restaurant. Tom finishes it. This makes the newspapers and brings in more business, and unwanted attention. Three men show up, one claims to know Tom from Philadelphia. Sheriff Sam checks them, they have records. What's up? "Get the shotgun!" Is the family threatened? [Why does Tom have to run to his house far out of town?] Why did Sarah leave her Mom Edie when shopping? [Believable?]
Jack is a chip off the old block, he knows how to handle Joey. [Too good to be true?] Will a court order keep Carl Fogarty away? There is action that was telegraphed in the earlier scenes. [Is this believable? The scenes seem to be concocted for violent dramatic scenes.] Will Edie and Tom get along? Will a voice from the past call Tom? [This is a new story that drags in spots.] his brother has a complaint. But Joey is like "Rambo", he is hard to kill. Can he wash away his sins in a pond? Back home in Indiana life returns to normal. [Believable?] This story just stops, there are no after effects from the action in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.
The violent scenes seem to be the sole purpose of this film, like some kind of pornography of violence. Its as if the writers concocted graphically violent scenes then wrote a story to link them together. Some scenes would have made this X-rated back in the 1970s. Other reviewers pointed out the logical flaws in this story.
Good Movie 
2009-08-05 - This movie is proof that no matter how long you know somebody, there is a good chance that you never really know them. Tom Stall is a family man. Loved by his town and his community and his family. But, one day changed all that and brought back the true meaning of Karma. Good watcher and for all you guys who love Maria Bello like I do, she worth the watch alone.
