Gran Torino [Blu-ray] [2008] [2009] [Region Free]

I had a little scan over the reviews and honestly I never met a larger collection of pompos know-it-alls who completely hated the movie based on its political view. The point was a avoided because of the high degree of racist comments and the attitude of the main character. I am writing this review because I feel I have to let people know why this movie is honestly one of Mr Eastwoods greatest movies. Lets get to it, First of the character is in an asian community, he is white, his wife is dead and he spent time in serving over seas. Now retired he is haunted with guilt and regret for his past life but is clearly showing a tough front. He has no hate for race and no hate for religion but he is in a place where is the odd one out and now that he is weary with age he wants to settle down and get over his past life. Over time you find out a little about him and the community around him. Now this is where people get very touchy as almost every thug in the area is either black or asian and seeing as how he is an ASIAN neighbourhood and he is one of very few white people that doesn't suprise me. A young asian boy - cousin to a gang of thugs - is being tomented and forced to do crime. When the young boy fails they gang start to drag him from his home and of course this is where clint's character comes into it. He saves the boy - though for selfish reason - and from this point onwards I'll reveal no more plot. Clint potrays a very stereotypical war vet retiree, he is grumpy, he is tired but he is honest and he is decent but above all humble. He holds no respect for himself but believes in a wholesome life:- work hard- be good to your family- find a woman and live happySimple, the main reason I love it is because we live in an age where kids are becoming spoilt, ruthless and irresponsible. Honestly he is a complex character but easy to relate to because he is such a decent person deep down. Makes you think about how you look at people. Back on the race topic the main character is very blunt with his racial comments, but in the end its only words, the faster people come to terms with that fact the sooner people can grow up and get along. I live in the UK and the 4 kingdoms love have a joke at each other and to be fair it gets brutal. This movie is no different people can be mean but in the end the people that care about you always have the best intentions. Honestly the values taught in this movie are very human and very real.I suggest to any person who loves a simple story with brilliant acting and great story line it is worth your time. Movies can be as good as books if done right. This movie comes pretty damn close. Man or woman the end will make you cry. I am a heavyset male who almost never cries and this movie managed to shed a few from me.Watch this movie.

I had seen the trailer for this movie and couldn't wait to see it - albeit in DVD form. If this is to be Clint Eastwood's swansong as an actor ( and I doubt it) then he has gone out in a truly memorable and excellent film.It is a film that doesn't pull its punches, dealing with issues of disfunctional families, the generation gap, cultural differences and race, gang warfare and bullying. It has one or two harrowing moments but is generally a happy film punctuated with a lot of humour. Unlike a lot of American film and TV, this film does not preach nor patronise. You are left to form your own opinions.The acting is excellent throughout the cast. Clint, of course, is his usual laconic self - his acting wonderfully paced. The two young Asian "leads" are excellent, too, putting in natural and effecting performances. The minor characters are all wonderfully played. The pace of the film (slow at first) allows character to develop. The young priest and the barber are two examples of this.I ought to mention the dog too. A sensitive and underplayed performance here as well!This film will leave you with much to mull over after viewing. It is a modern masterpiece with so much to commend it even after several viewings.Excellent is hardly a sufficient epithet.Mike, Stoupa, Greece

Having missed this in the cinema I decided to buy the DVD, wasn't quite sure what to expect. There was quite a lot of swearing and racist remarks, although they were all appropriate to the content of the story. Not as much violence as I expected which was good as far as I was concerned, violent acts occurred but you got enough idea without the need for glorification of the violence.Clever story line. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on that as there are a lot of other reviews that cover the story line pretty comprehensively. Having glanced through some of the 1* reviews I would agree it is fairly slow because it's focus is on the characters rather than an action film. I liked that, but I guess if you are looking for a standard action, shoot-em up movie, you would be disappointed. I definitely did not think it was predictable. It was a film that left me thinking over lots of issues - how to handle gangs, racism, cultural norms and how differing cultures live together, fatherhood (good and bad), roles, life and death and what it does to you to kill another, possibly even sacrifice and redemption.I was really impressed and would recommend it. Clint Eastwood clearly put his work in here as lead actor, director/producer and part of the writing team and to think I just saw him a a cowboy actor!

Clint Eastwood confirmed that this was to be his last starring role,but I believe he has starred recently in another film "The trouble with the curve",anyway......Gran Torino is a tale with many facets to it,such as the loss of male identity that was orginally brought about by working in skilled blue-collar employment which Eastwoods character did-he was a Ford auto worker in the movie and the male characteristics and bonding that this employment developed,and the repercussions regarding the decline and demise of these same industries.Also,the absence but importance of a guiding father figure within a young man's early stages of life and the negative consequences of none being present and the simultaneous rise of the gang culture......this is all dealt with in this brilliant film and lots more besides,but lets the viewer draw their own conclusions ultimately.It's both funny and serious at times and a film that asks as many questions as answers about society and its problems,but perhaps that's what Eastwood set out to do.Certainly one to watch and study.