Why I think Scarface is tad overrated

Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan. But I talk to alot've people about the movie and they all seem to think Montana was the highest level of gangster around. The best there could be, no one can aspire to any better than Monatana in real life OR movies.

I disagree with this very much. Tony was just a regular gangster, he got coked up and arrogant when he got all the money and power and that one woman (then you get the Women, whatever, I only ever saw him with Elvira). Thats it, in the end he was ranting and taunting but didn't really know what was going on, I honestly think most gangsters would be that way. Ok maybe not grenade launcher shotgun tot he back of the head. But definitly dellusional and arrogant till the end.

tad very

Come on now, it's not *that* bad.

I agree. It's overrated and over done in general, but I think that's why I like it. Tony Montana is very intimidating so he makes a good gangster no matter how unrealistic it is.

I've been led to understand that Scarface when it initally came out in 1983 it was not popular, but increased in popularity when it came out on DVD.

I like the movie and I own it on DVD, however I certainly know where the author of this thread is coming from as I can understand how certain people might find this movie overrated.

Hmm... that makes sense actually. I bet most cult classics can be seen as overrated by those who don't like the movie and haven't fallen in to the hype.

Well I didn't mean I didn't like the movie. My real problem is with how theres all this hype going around saying that somehow Scarface is the end all be all of gangster flicks (and I really don't think ANY gangster movie is) and that The character Tony MOntana itself is the epitome of a drug dealing gangster. The best they can aspire to.

And when I look at it in that context I vehemently disagree.

Not to mention all the bloody merchandise annoys the hell out of me.

"Hey man, I got you a scarafce lighter for your birthday!"

"Great! Another one *throws it out*"

I love how all these wannabe tough guys imitate Scarface.

Yo, Idiot, Scarface dies at the end.

Heh yeah. Remember though that every cult gangster flick has it's wannabes. I was always more irratated by the Vito Corleone jerokoffs than anyone who took scarface way too seriously.

Ahh yeah true, the Vito puppets are always really annoying.

Basically any try hard posers are fucking annoying.

True, but being a white kid that goes to school everyday I'm more prone to run into the ones who watch movies too much.

I think you hit it on the head, Ludovico:

Whatever its other qualities, "Scarface" is a phenomenon: a one-of-a-kind collaboration among three hot properties--De Palma, Stone and Pacino--all going completely, totally over the top. I think of other films that went over the top in how they were produced or directed, ranging from the silent "Birth of a Nation," to DeMille's "Ten Commandments," to Carpenter's "The Thing." They were not only judged on their content, but became cult films precisely because they were over the top. Kids in school often are the most devoted to cult films.
Also, a lot of white schoolkids take their cues from African American hiphop stars and "gangsta" rappers, among whom "Scarface" is the absolute ultimate.

All fine examples, TB. But BIRTH OF A NATION was especially disturbing. Maybe not so much almost a hundred years ago, but today, people will find that the movie is a horrifying reminder of the systemic racism of yesteryear, and they will be grateful that, though prejudice is still with us, a film like "Birth" would be roundly condemned by the religious and secular alike.

I'd agree with that.

Made it easy to be popular though all the other kids wore white tees and baggy jeans, I was in a suit everyday.

Like I said though I'm still a fan, but the fanbase is really annoying. I mean has anyone ever played the Scarface game all the way through? The writing is just... epic fail.

Dude, I couldn't make it past the first scene in the Scarface PS2 game. Crappy Game! Now, The Sopranos: Road to Respect is another story. I absolutely fell in love with that one. AWSOME!