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| Director: Clint Eastwood
Actors: Clint Eastwood, Brian Haley, Christopher Carley, Geraldine Hughes
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $2.97
as of 9/10/2010 12:25 PDT details
You Save: $17.01 (85%)
New (30) Used (79) Collectible (2) from $2.97
Seller: vtheado1
Rating:  440 reviews
Sales Rank: 1082
Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, Subtitled, NTSC
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 116 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: WARD041155D
UPC: 883929033164
EAN: 0883929033164
ASIN: B001KVZ6F2
Theatrical Release Date: December 17, 2008
Release Date: June 9, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 26-30 of 440
 I Could Even Watch it Again April 18, 2010
!Edwin C. Pauzer (New York City)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
If watching a film over and over again is any indication of a great story, this one merits such praise.
Always playing a quintessential American, he repeats such a performance here as a recently widowed retiree and Korean war veteran who resents the HMong Asians that are taking over his neighborhood. His well-kept home and mannicured lawn adorned with an American flag represent his values, and stands as a beacon in a neighborhood that is being overcome by neglect and overrun by gangs. Wanting to be left alone, his contempt for customs, dress and language of his neighbors is palpable in word and facial expression. He shares almost as much contempt for his neglectful sons, and his granddaughter whom he despises for her dress and lack of manners.
A strange relationship develops when he finds out one of his neighbors attempted to steal his pristine, 1972, Gran Torino that he helped build in his assemly line career at Ford Motor Company. The boy's mother insists he make restitution for the family's honor. The man who just wants to be left alone is drawn to the would-be thief and the family he disdains. We see him as a curmudgeon who pays them compliments with insults such as "I could use some good gook food," when invited for dinner. In fact his charcter, Walt Kowalski uses all of them under the Sun (Yat Sen). Yet, their respect for such a disrespectful man grows, as he takes the boy under his wing and becomes the protector of the rest of his family.
This is where Eastwood's performance soars. He appears to be in constant conflict with his prejudice against his sense of justice and fair play. He goes over the edge when one of the family members suffers at the hands of a local gang. Justice must be served and sacrifices must be made. Their mutual devotion replaces the lack of the same with his own family.
Clint Eastwood has delivered such memorable characters as Dirty Harry and Josie Wales with great lines such as, "Go ahead; make my day" and "Dyin's not much of a livin'." Like a good wine or scotch improves with age, Eastwood becomes equally memorable as a director. When he directs and acts, it is topnotch entertainment from a very simple story of a complicated human being. His supporting cast is also superb, and this film may launch future careers to prominence. The score, if you can call it that, is mellow and almost haunting.
There is not a dull moment in this film in what starts off as a seemingly bland plot. With a penchant for a wandering mind for average stories, I was not only transfixed watching it, but watched it two more times to pick up nuance I might have missed. I was never bored.
I don't think you will be bored either. Order it here, or drive to your nearest outlet to rent or buy it, even if you don't have a 1972 Gran Torino to get there.
Great Movie! April 14, 2010
Chris Darrow (Oklahoma City)
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I enjoyed this movie immensely. My only complaint would be the close-ups of Clint as he would begin to get mad. It almost seemed comical, though I am sure that was not the intent. Overall, the movie was great!
 Have you met someone you shouldn't have F$#ked with? April 13, 2010
robb1138
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I had seen "Gran Torino" when it first came out in theaters: however, I took a second look at this film when it came to DVD, because my initial impression kept haunting me. I have to say that I liked this movie very much. I liked the story, a lost young man looking for his place in the world finding a mentor in the most unlikely of characters. Filmed on location in Michigan, Clint Eastwood, directed and stars as a crusty widower, Korean vet, detached from his adult children and their family's, living out his days in a neighborhood settled mostly by Hmong people. Newcomers to the screen are fledging actors, Bee Vang and Ahney Her, plus an appearance by Clint's son, Scott Eastwood has the small part of Trey (as Scott Reeves). This movie is about change and values, about knowing who you are, and who you want to be.
Walt uses just about every racist term he can think of in this film. His new neighbors consist of an Asian family consisting of a grandmother, her daughter, and her daughter's two children, Sue and Thao. One characteristic between Americans and just about any other race is the matter of family. Walter Kowalski, his two sons, moved out long ago, rarely visit, sits alone on his porch all day drinking beer and eating beef jerky. On the other hand, his Asian neighbors have family and friends constantly visiting, bringing food and having family celebrations. The movie focuses on Thao and his sister Sue as second-generation immigrants trying to find a niche in this country. Thao, around 16, living in a female dominated household, content to read and garden, activities considered in Asian society as woman's work, is visibly lost. His sister Sue, a few years older, describes their environment concisely, "the women go to college the boys, go to jail." Matters worsen for Thao when his cousin, Spider approaches him to join his gang and receive protection from the other gangs. The initiation to join the gang is to steal his neighbor, Walt's 1972 Gran Torino. Thao botches the auto theft and runs home. Too dark to see who was trying to steal his prize, Walt is unaware that it is his own neighbor, Thao. The next evening, Spider and his gang come to give Thao another chance, but the boy's sister, mother, and grandmother interfere. Spiders, gang of dropouts try to take Thao forcibly. In the midst of the ruckus, Walt, armed with his army issue M1 Garand comes out Dirty Harry style and saves the day. As the reluctant hero to the Hmong community, his neighbors shower him with gifts of flowers and food, arriving on his porch daily. Sue, her mother, and Thao insist that Thao repays Walt for trying to steal his car by working for him. Reluctantly, as Walt does not want anything to do with these people, agrees to the work arrangement and the two of them begin a journey together that make this an excellent movie. The other character to watch for is Thao's sister Sue, although a stronger, smarter character than her brother, she too is a victim of her environment.
Right away, the acting of two supporting characters will come in question. I say the supporting cast played their parts strong, and added a depth to the story, the human element. Bee Vang's portrayal of Thao at times seems awkward, out of place and lost. Teenaged boys, growing up without a strong male role model, are awkward, out of place and are certainly lost. Bee Vang is a natural for this part.
Like the Dirty Harry movies, the Spaghetti westerns of Eastwood's early films, or even Pale Rider, or "the Unforgiven," this movie stands out for the journey that each of the character make toward finding themselves. Walt, Thao, Sue, Sue's grandmother, Father Janovich, and even Spider and his gang. Each of the characters, making this journey of self discovery ties together throughout the movie by one thing, Walter Kowalski's 1972 Gran Torino. The 1972 Gran Torino that Walt installed the steering column as it rolled out of the factory. The Gran Torino that Thao attempted to steal, the Gran Torino that is the envy of the town, the Gran Torino that Walt's inconsiderate granddaughter asks for when he dies. The Gran Torino that Thao must wash as part of his penitence, the Gran Torino that Walt allowed Thao drives his first date to the prom. In the reading of Walt's Last Will & Testament, the Gran Torino does not go to his granddaughter, Ashley, who is an insensitive brat. Instead, Walt gives the Gran Torino to Thao. The Gran Torino gives Thao the opportunity for a new life. The car, like Walt is an antique, a reminder of the past.
I wanted my kids to see this movie in spite of the swearing and racial slurs.
Wow April 7, 2010
Peter Ingemi (Worcester County, Massachusetts United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Take a classic action hero years removed from his action days, a cast of people who have never acted in a movie before, an experienced director and a cleverly plotted and written picture and you get a classic.
Gran Torino works on every level. Eastwood absolutely shines as a old vet and autoworker who has two great pleasures in his life, his wife whose funeral begins the movie and his Gran Torino. As Detroit changes and falls apart and the neighbors are increasingly Hmong he refuses to move despite all the prompts from his family.
Even better than Eastwood's performance is Ahney Her playing Sue Lor the girl next door whose brother becomes both the foe, then the friend of old man Kowalski. Christopher Carley in his supporting role as the young parish priest also shines.
Unlike Across the Universe you get an actual sense of the cost of violence and war and what it can do to an individual and a community. It's a movie that actually has meaning.
Eastwood's direction isn't pretentious, it doesn't overshadow the message of the film or the purpose of the characters. It works with the audience instead of preaching to them. That's why one of the reasons why with a budget 12 million less than Across the Universe it managed to make 300 million more.
It's certainly worth $20 more.
 VERY White Man's Burden-y April 4, 2010
Sarah J. Perry (St. Paul, MN, USA)
3 out of 15 found this review helpful
Oh, boy, was this movie offensive.
I'm not even talking about the rampant Archie Bunker-esque racist remarks coming from the mouth of angry old Mr. Kowalski, either. I'm talking about the fact that this was yet another movie in a long line of movies in which the non-white characters bumble through their lives as utter childlike idiots with no clue how to live, until a white man comes along and sets them straight.
The fact that it was up to this man to teach Thao (whose name Mr. Kowalski wouldn't even pronounce correctly, and everyone was fine with that, including Thao and his family) how to be a "MAN" really angered me. Did Thao just step out of a big white balloon? Does he have no other adults influencing his life? We know that his father is dead, but I distinctly saw other males in his house during the ceremony at the beginning. That's implying that there is, in fact, only one way to be a man, and that way is to be abrasive, assertive with women, use tools, and be quick with the ethnic slurs and the profanity. Wow. Just wow.
Speaking of the ethnic slurs, why are they okay? Why does no one call him on them? Sue even jokes with him about how her family doesn't eat dogs, only cats. Why does she do that? Why are they seen as something almost noble, an art form?
Thao also talks about how he couldn't get a job. Why not? It's not explored. It seems to me that it's not explored because it's not seen as important. We see that Thao is quiet, meek, and likes to garden, but we don't see anything else. He is not really a character in the movie, rather a means to an end. He's just there so he can be saved, transformed, and so Mr. Kowalski can be redeemed through him.
His sister Sue fares little better. She has more to do, but it's abundantly clear through the movie that since she is just a girl, she too will need to be saved, or avenged. It's just ridiculous. She starts out as a strong character, but ends up as just a victim. The gang member cousins dismiss her as just a woman, and so does the film.
Indeed, the only character with any development is Mr. Kowalski. Yes, Thao supposedly became a "man", but I didn't see much difference in how he behaved throughout the movie.
It could have been really good, and parts of it are very entertaining and funny. The part where Walt is in the Hmong family's basement, has no idea what to do, and ends up fixing their washing machine, only to have no one notice, was hilarious. I think the depiction of the ungrateful family who wants Walt's house and car were very well-done and realistic. And I admit, it is a pretty good redemption story at least in theory, but I keep forgetting it takes place in 2008 because the ideals are so dated. I honestly have seen episodes of "Jonny Quest" that are less blatantly racist, and that's a cartoon from the 60s.
Showing reviews 26-30 of 440
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