Cape Fear (Widescreen) Laserdisc

Few motion picture remakes are as good as the film they're based upon. Director Martin Scorsese's 1991 version of CAPE FEAR is a rare example of a reworking that actually exceeds the original. Here's why:1.) Bernard Herrmann's glorious score is powerfully enervating in Dolby stereo.2.) The De Niro Max Cady has better reasons to torment Sam Bowden, an attorney who betrayed and helped convict his own client (Cady) by holding back exculpatory evidence. In the original version, Bowden's eyewitness testimony at Cady's assault trial helps to procure a "guilty" verdict. While stewing in jail, Cady convinces himself that Bowden is solely responsible for his eight-year prison term, rather than his own wrongful behavior. It's unsustainable illogic, thus a poor reason for revenge.3.) The family dynamic. In the '91 film, daughter Danielle is rebellious to both parents and even welcomes Cady's attention, to a point. In the earlier work, daughter Nancy is a good child who is simply terrified of her stalker. Nick Nolte's Sam is more 3-dimensional than Greg Peck's wooden lawyer; he's also a heel who cheated on his wife. The original movie has no hint of infidelity. Leigh Bowden (Lange) isn't a complete innocent, either. She's been psychologically torturing husband Sam over his indiscretion for some time now.4.) Max Cady himself. Robert De Niro plays him as a genuinely ferocious demon, while Robert Mitchum is sinister but far more low key. De Niro drew upon early efforts with director Roger Corman for the coarse mountain-accented Max. In Corman's  BLOODY MAMA  (1970), he was Ma Barker's psychotic son, Lloyd.5.) Superior special effects in Scorsese's picture make the climactic stormy river sequence a nerve-shattering experience, especially on the big screen. The freedom to depict graphic violence also means the newer film packs a more powerful punch.6) The finale. De Niro's demise is unforgettable; perhaps his best screen moment. In the original, Sam shoots Cady in the shoulder and the wounded Max quietly lays there while Sam crows that he's going back to jail for life. By contrast, the '91 Max gets everything that's coming to him, including a partial immolation at the hands of Danielle. Mitchum's bad guy doesn't suffer nearly enough for what he's put the Bowmans through.Watch 'em both and make your own comparisons, but by all means see this one first!Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 IMDb viewer poll rating.(7.3) Cape Fear (1991) - Nick Nolte/Jessica Lange/Robert De Niro/Juliette Lewis/Joe Don Baker/Robert Mitchum/Gregory Peck/Martin Balsam/Fred Thompson

Few motion picture remakes are as good as the film they're based upon. Director Martin Scorsese's 1991 version of CAPE FEAR is a rare example of a reworking that actually exceeds the original. Here's why:1.) Bernard Herrmann's glorious score is powerfully enervating in Dolby stereo.2.) The De Niro Max Cady has better reasons to torment Sam Bowden, an attorney who betrayed and helped convict his own client (Cady) by holding back exculpatory evidence. In the original version, Bowden's eyewitness testimony at Cady's assault trial helps to procure a "guilty" verdict. While stewing in jail, Cady convinces himself that Bowden is solely responsible for his eight-year prison term, rather than his own wrongful behavior. It's unsustainable illogic, thus a poor reason for revenge.3.) The family dynamic. In the '91 film, daughter Danielle is rebellious to both parents and even welcomes Cady's attention, to a point. In the earlier work, daughter Nancy is a good child who is simply terrified of her stalker. Nick Nolte's Sam is more 3-dimensional than Greg Peck's wooden lawyer; he's also a heel who cheated on his wife. The original movie has no hint of infidelity. Leigh Bowden (Lange) isn't a complete innocent, either. She's been psychologically torturing husband Sam over his indiscretion for some time now.4.) Max Cady himself. Robert De Niro plays him as a genuinely ferocious demon, while Robert Mitchum is sinister but far more low key. De Niro drew upon early efforts with director Roger Corman for the coarse mountain-accented Max. In Corman's  BLOODY MAMA  (1970), he was Ma Barker's psychotic son, Lloyd.5.) Superior special effects in Scorsese's picture make the climactic stormy river sequence a nerve-shattering experience, especially on the big screen. The freedom to depict graphic violence also means the newer film packs a more powerful punch.6) The finale. De Niro's demise is unforgettable; perhaps his best screen moment. In the original, Sam shoots Cady in the shoulder and the wounded Max quietly lays there while Sam crows that he's going back to jail for life. By contrast, the '91 Max gets everything that's coming to him, including a partial immolation at the hands of Danielle. Mitchum's bad guy doesn't suffer nearly enough for what he's put the Bowmans through.Watch 'em both and make your own comparisons, but by all means see this one first!Parenthetical number preceding title is a 1 to 10 imdb viewer poll rating.(7.3) Cape Fear (1991) - Nick Nolte/Jessica Lange/Robert De Niro/Juliette Lewis/Joe Don Baker/Robert Mitchum/Gregory Peck/Martin Balsam/Fred Thompson

Great movie.

Who doesn't like a nasty villain that sets the screen on fire? Mr Robert De Nero ignites this remake of the 1962 classic with a really stunning performance. Honestly for me it was hard to tell that he was 'acting' as his psycho rapist character came over so naturally and believable.Great actor but rarely do we see him delivering these days so I had to dig up this old performance to remind me of what he can do given the right script and direction. His mentor Martin Scorsese is the provider here.Wonderful to see two great stars of the original film, Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum, appear in cameo to add to this production. It's sexier and much more brutal than the 1962 masterpiece and I rate it very close to that film which looks so much gentler when compared to Scorsese's thriller even though it suggested so much more than it delivered graphically. Well, such were the climate and boundaries back in that day and we have clearly moved on but there will be many who see this remake as crass and ugly.I enjoyed it, it entertained me as much as the original as I make a 'mind adjustment' to befit a modern much more turbulent remake of a much loved older film. In truth the original film cried out for a display of wild violence from Robert Mitchum but that could never be shown under the restraints of the then 'code' practiced by Hollywood. Not so elsewhere such as in Japan and Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' for example amongst many others.English subtitles with the film.

The film opens with Max Cady, a cigar chomping psycho, played by Robert De Niro, walking out of prison after serving 14 years for rape. He then tracks down Sam Bowden, the lawyer, played by Nick Nolte, who defended him, and who Cady blames for him being sent to prison, after finding out that Sam Bowden buried evidence that could have got him acquitted. Soon he is making threats not only to Sam Bowden, but to his wife, played by Jessica Lange, and their young daughter, Danielle Bowden, played by Juliette Lewis. After meeting Cady at her school, who poses as one of her teachers, Danielle starts talking to him, unaware of who he really is. Soon after, she realizes who he really is and flees.This is the 1991 remake of the original 1962 version, directed by Martin Scorsese. It has been brought up to date with a lot more violence, and a more menacing Max Cady. Robert De Niro plays the part to perfection. It is not a scene for scene remake, but the story sticks pretty close to the original, just some scenario's have been changed to bring the film up to date with modern audiences. It has the same haunting music as the original by Bernard Herrmann.Picture Quality is good with sharp definition, and natural colours.This blu ray transfer has been transferred in the original aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and the sound is in 5.1.Recommended, especially if you are a fan of Robert De Niro, or Martin Scorsese.

This blu-ray presents the film in 2.35:1 cinemascope with a great lossless DTS 5.1 sound upgrade and it looks terrific. The added detail has an effect of adding beauty (the opening water ripples of Saul Bass and co's credits) or atmospheric detail (everywhere else!). The HD format has been a big benefit for the presentation.Extras are a whole 'nother story:There's a SD 1991 "behind the scenes" (ie. EPK video) which adds not much, except that Martin Scorcese rather disappointingly refers to the original as a "perfect B picture" and Wesley Strick turns out to be a mallflower teenager with a goatee - yikes!There's also a SD compilation of Saul Bass credit sequences, including Vertigo, which are pretty nifty but completely superfluous unfortunately.I love this film, for the record, but I think I prefer the original. This one aspires more to realism in characterisation, while the original used archetypes to tell more of a fairytale/fable kind of approach. However, this one adds some religious connotations, some of which works and some of which doesn't. I never really get a good feel of why Max Cady would want to (sort of spoilers) try Sam in a Book of Job fashion. I get that he got all up his own bottom in prison trying to make himself better than the rest of the prisoners and fixated on a higher kind of revenge, but it never really coelesces with his other actions, which remain those of a petty crook with an inflated image. You could argue that inflated image is what's given to delusions of grandeur, but the film seems to play up to the idea that Cady's trial has some grander, perhaps even spiritual value. The real reason all this stuff is here? To make the film seem, sigh, "deeper" than it really is. Scorsese mentions some of this stuff in the "Making of"/Behind the Scenes fluff, but he seems to have little to no idea most of the subtext in his film was there in the first place in the first movie.Very confusing stuff! The film, however, is still a Hell of a good watch. I suggest you do what I did, buy both Cape Fears on Blu-Ray and get The Simpsons Season 5 out of your cupboard (or buy it if you don't have it) and watch both Cape Fears, followed by "Cape Feare", the excellent Simpsons parody. Now THAT'S an evening of entertainment.

One of my favourite movies of all time.Robert De Niro is convincing in his role as a sadistic menace.He stalks and terrorises a lawyer, his wife and their teenage daughter. The reason why he chose to torment the lawyer and his family is not revealed fully in the beginning.There is a lot of violence in this movie and some stellar acting all round.

Worth watching the original for more impact