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Amazon.co.uk Review
Fed up with the seemingly endless succession of Brit gangster flicks? Or just wish that someone would reinvent the genre? Either way, Sexy Beast is for you. While reintroducing some of the well-worn characters of recent years, the film at least attempts to take a sideways look at the genre. Centred on the lives of two ex-con ex-pats and their new lives in Spain, the story is one concerning the conflict between the past and the present. Ray Winston is Gel, who, enjoying his life of early retirement in the sun, finds his loyalties called into question when asked to return to Britain to take part in an audacious heist. There's not much else to say plot wise, but the script and cast is so strong that the film gets away with it. Eschewing the younger brat pack in favour of the likes of Winston, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman (sadly under-used) and Ben Kingsley (whose ultra foul-mouthed Don steals every scene) gives the film a calm authority. Quite violent--although more in language than action--but not without its moments of brilliant humour, Sexy Beast is an intelligent, enthralling and welcome addition to the gangster-film genre. --Phil Udell
Product Description
Ray Winstone, Ben Kingsley, Ian McShane, Amanda Redman, James FoxDirector: Jonathan Glazer
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
To begin with, in 1,78:1 you see more of the picture, since the movie was filmed in 16:9 and then cropped to 2,35:1 for the cinematic and DVD releases. I do not know which aspect ratio was intended for being the "true" one, but on this Blu-ray, you see everything you saw on DVD - and more. You'll find a comparison of screenshots on the DVDBeaver-Website, so you can decide which one you like better.
On the other hand, this release has some serious technical drawbacks - a 1080i-picture on a BD-25 is not what I expect from a release of a movie that was shot only about ten years ago. Although the image quality is clearly superior to the DVD, there's much room for further visual improvement. The audio is also not lossless, which may be due to the fact that the movie takes about 18 GB of space on the single-layered disc.
There's nothing to say about the movie itself - in my opinion, it's one of the best crime-comedys of all times. So if you do not own this movie on DVD, you can buy this Blu-ray and enjoy it - or just wait for a re-release with a 1080p-picture.
On the other hand, this release has some serious technical drawbacks - a 1080i-picture on a BD-25 is not what I expect from a release of a movie that was shot only about ten years ago. Although the image quality is clearly superior to the DVD, there's much room for further visual improvement. The audio is also not lossless, which may be due to the fact that the movie takes about 18 GB of space on the single-layered disc.
There's nothing to say about the movie itself - in my opinion, it's one of the best crime-comedys of all times. So if you do not own this movie on DVD, you can buy this Blu-ray and enjoy it - or just wait for a re-release with a 1080p-picture.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
Sexy Beast it is quite simply fantastic.
I would rate this movie as being in the top three British gangster films of all time, along with Get Carter and The Long Good Friday, way ahead of other recent splurges of cinematic mockney psychopaths running amok.
I would rate this movie as being in the top three British gangster films of all time, along with Get Carter and The Long Good Friday, way ahead of other recent splurges of cinematic mockney psychopaths running amok.
Ex-criminal Gary 'Gal' Dove (Ray Winstone) has built a happy life by the pool for himself and wife his Dee-Dee (Amanda Redman) somewhere in Spain. The idyllic bubble is burst one day by the arrival of 'old friend' Don Logan (Ben Kingsley), who is intent on persuading Gal to return to London to perform one last big heist. Drawn by the psychotic Logan into a battle of wills, Gal risks everything to protect his carefully constructed world and the woman he loves. Returning to London to take part in a sensational safe deposit robbery.
Beautifully directed by Jonathan Glazer (him of lone surfer Guinness advert fame). The genius stroke is the casting of Ben Kingsley, Shakespearian actor, winner of an Oscar playing the world's greatest pacifist as Gal's nemesis, Don. He is brilliant as, quiet frankly, an absolute nutter. There are also excellent, but warped cameos by James Fox and Ian McShane.
It is stylish, sexy and compelling.
It is a beauty.
Buy it.
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Sexy Beast is one of my favourite films, and as soon as I heard this was coming out in the UK on Blu-ray I had high hopes that it would be done right, since it's a British film. Instead, Film Four have made a direct port of their defunct Sexy Beast [HD DVD] [2000] which they put out in early 2008, with the only difference being that the Blu-ray is region-locked. This HD transfer is single-layered in 1080i and not full 1080p, with the film taking up only 18 GB of space, and is very likely in the wrong aspect ratio (I believe it should be seen in 2.35:1 as it is on DVD, but this Blu-ray is 1.85:1) which distorts the composition of the picture. The audio is DTS-HD High Resolution, meaning it is not lossless audio like DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD. The supplements duplicate the 2008 DVD edition Sexy Beast [DVD] [2000] with only the Kingsley/producer commentary, the short (less than ten minutes) behind-the-scenes documentary, and some trailers. 4dvd is just entering the Blu-ray market and they need to realise that consumers don't want bare minimum efforts on their Blu-ray titles. Send Film Four a message that you want them to use the Blu-ray format to its full potential, with full 1080p transfers in proper aspect ratios onto dual-layered Blu-rays, complete with lossless audio and maybe even some new extras. For now, stick with the Sexy Beast [DVD] [2000] or if you have an HD DVD player, go ahead and pick that up used. You can find each much cheaper than the price asked for this truly mediocre Blu-ray.
For the technically inclined, here are the specifications of this Blu-ray Disc:
Title: Sexy Beast [Blu-ray]
Length: 1:28:17
Feature size: 18,406,846,464 bytes
Disc size: 19,571,669,180 bytes
Video codec: 1080i VC-1 @ 23.64 Mbps
Audio codec: English: DTS-HR 5.1 (48 kHz/24-bit) @ 2046 Kbps
Subtitles: English, None
Region coding: Region B
For the technically inclined, here are the specifications of this Blu-ray Disc:
Title: Sexy Beast [Blu-ray]
Length: 1:28:17
Feature size: 18,406,846,464 bytes
Disc size: 19,571,669,180 bytes
Video codec: 1080i VC-1 @ 23.64 Mbps
Audio codec: English: DTS-HR 5.1 (48 kHz/24-bit) @ 2046 Kbps
Subtitles: English, None
Region coding: Region B
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Watch it now!!!
If not already a fan of the films main actors or Brit gangster flicks you will be after watching this. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ctwilliams
Ben Kinsleys portrayel of a psychopath"Don Logan," blew me away
(THE FILM):A contented ex-villain is forced to do one last spectacular robbery by a psychotic face from his past in this mould-breaking stylish thriller by one of the UK's hottest... Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. F. husseiny
What on Earth?
This film was on tv a couple of years ago, and at the time everyone around me raved about it, saying it was a must see. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Lucius Voltar
Great film, blu-ray case damaged
The package arrived and I received several blu rays that were in perfect condition although the case for Sexy Beast looked like it had been bitten by a dog. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr. C. I. Dean
Top notch British gangster movie
This is the business. In fact it's better than 'the Business' although it's similar and both are great. Ben Kingsley's performance is masterful. what a great actor he is. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Justice Peace
Great entertainment
There is not much to say about this film apart from the fact that its a very entertaining one in good old english ganster manner. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Templer
5 minutes longer
The Blu-Ray is listed as 89 minutes whereas the region 2 DVD is only 84 minutes (5 minutes cut?). The region 1 DVD is 89 minutes. So it looks as though the Blu Ray is uncensored! Read more
Published on 25 Feb 2010 by England
great entertainment
A wonderful film, not too heavy duty and easy to watch. Winstone shows himself to be multi-dimensional as the retired villain who justs wants an easy retirement until his worst... Read more
Published on 27 July 2009 by Re Shepherd
Awesome
Have seen Ray Winstone and Ben Kingsley in many roles, who can forget Scum (Ray Winstone)or Gandhi (Ben Kingsley) but in this film we have a more mature Ray Winstone, a retired... Read more
Published on 30 May 2009 by K. Higgins
THE LIMEY
Sexy Beast is a good movie regardless of the scenery munching by Ghandi Ben Kinsley.
However, The Limey (directed by brilliant Steven Soderbergh) is an insignificant little... Read more
However, The Limey (directed by brilliant Steven Soderbergh) is an insignificant little... Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2008 by Billy Ray Cyrus
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