Heat [VHS]

If you like shoot 'em flicks, this is, without a doubt, the best in years. The extended shootout after the doomed bank robbery is incredibly violent and actually has you rooting for the bad guys!Val Kilmer is peerless and Al Pacino's personal battle with DeNiro pits two great stars against each other.Not as much gore as you might expect but relentless fun and action.

Michael Mann came to the big screen with "Thief" in 1981. Very similar heist story, independent pro "undone" by becoming emotionally entangled. Very different ending, though. If you liked "Heat" for the story and the genre, you should check out "Thief".

In my opinion, it is the best movie alot of people have never seen. But once they do, they love it.

Movie is top drawer, but the 2nd tape jumps all the way thru. The jumping is a pain in the butt, but I'll keep it because I don't want to pay anymore to get it replaced. It was new when I bought it & I have watched it 3 times, and always regret having bought it. It's a shame the movie that is new has to come with one of the tapes defective. If I knew I wouldn't have to pay more $$$ I would have returned it. Every time I watch the movie, I regret having spent $$$ on it. Guess I'll have to buy DVD's from now on. Darn shame. Ralph Sherrow 510-397-0951

By virtue of the casting, this movie is further elevated to a new level above and beyond the already above average script, dialogue and fast paced action herein.Robert DeNiro as villain -vs- Al Pacino as detective on the case, a pairing that we've never seen before, is exciting. I'd love to see these two together again, because there is just something magical about seeing these two veteran talents together on screen.The best scene in the movie is the meeting that DeNiro and Pacino have sitting face to face at the restaurant table. The tension, and the mind games between the two seem very real. I also loved the final showdown which did make me sad, because I cared about the characters. I do think, that a quality movie will make you care about the characters. In "Heat" there are certainly plenty of interesting characters played by high profile talents such as Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, and Val Kilmer. They really enhance and support the Pacino and DeNiro roles well. Pacino and DeNiro always bring any script to it's pinnacle. While I find that Pacino tailors his acting to the roles he plays, while incorporating them into his own personality...DeNiro seems to always play himself. DeNiro is fascinating whether he's Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" or a "Raging Bull" Jimmy Conway in "Goodfellas" or even when playing comedy such as in "Analyze This." No matter what the film venue, Robert DeNiro's ordinary, is always extraordinary.I didn't find that the movie felt too long, certain stories can't be wrapped up in the average running time of most films. There were moments where the plot intentions became vague and confusing. I definitely recommend at least two viewings for an enriched understanding of all the elements in this complicated and engrossing story.Amazingly, this has, to date, been the only chance a movie buff who loves Pacino and DeNiro can get two great talents for one admission! For that reason alone, one thing is for sure, for real excitement with superb casting, you CAN'T beat the "Heat."

There are at least two main reasons why this movie is exceptional:1) Robert De Niro 2) Al PacinoTwo of the greatest actors in American cinema together in a film that isn't just a motion picture..it's a masterpiece!!Who do we have to thank for this? None other than Michael Mann.Al Pacino plays L.A. detective Vincent Hanna. Hanna is an expert crime fighter who's always at least one step ahead of his prey. His work is obsessive and he uses all of his energy to chase guys around the block and by the time he gets home to his third wife, Justine (Diane Venora), and suicidal step-daughter, Lauren (Natalie Portman), he unfortunately has no more energy to give. Thus, putting his personal life, or perhaps lack thereof, in jeopardy. In a nutshell, Hanna's life is a mess emotionally. There's no rationality whatsoever. As he says so himself, "My life is a disaster zone." He's the clever cat constantly chasing the mice of Los Angeles.Robert De Niro plays Neil McAuley, an ace thief whose obsession is taking scores. Vowing to never go back to Folsom, he ducks underneath L.A.P.D's radar and starts to put together the strategies he and his crew need in order to commit the 'perfect' crime. He's not a regular dumb criminal, but a highly intelligent one. In contrast to Hanna's life, Neil's life is completely under control. He has a 'coolness' about his personality and the way he handles things. In the midst of his drive to rob a bank, he meets a shy, young book clerk named Eady, whom he finds himself attracted to. His plan is to take down the bank and leave Los Angeles, taking Eady with him. However, he makes a fatal mistake of seeking out the man responsible for messing up a crime that takes place in the beginning of the film. And it all unfolds from there...This film is absolutely a marvel! The bank-heist sequence is perfectly staged and choreographed. The result? One of the most AWESOME action scenes to grace the screen in a good while. But perhaps the best scene in the film is the one in which cat and mouse, Hanna and McAuley, sit down and have a cup of coffee. The whole scene is hypnotizing. Here are these two men, both different in terms of who they are, and how they live their lives, exchanging secrets that they would never tell their collegues. What's revealed is a mutual respect and understanding of each other, but also the reality that if they get in each other's way, they'll have to take the other down. The ending is so moving. I'm not gonna give it away, but take my word for it! :)De Niro and Pacino give outstanding performances. They both play off each other very well and when you're watching this movie, it's difficult to get distracted. :) In my opinion, De Niro looks as handsome as ever and Pacino looks great in his suits. :)Supporting roles from Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, Tom Sizemore, Wes Studi, Diane Venora, and Amy Brenneman offer the icing on the cake.Michael Mann's direction, story-telling, and cinematography is top-notch and his use of an ambivalent soundtrack is breath-takingly beautiful.So..for those who haven't seen this film, I suggest you do! :)You won't be disappointed!

Unfortunately I made a mistake I wanted DVDs ?