lucasvigor

First let's start with the bad: the acting and karate. The acting and script really follows the typical soap opera and hallmark channel style. The constant twists and turns with the character's motivations is almost exactly what happens in the average soap opera. And based on the script and lines they have to say, it's very similar to the 3 Star Wars prequels. Good actors having to say mediocre lines makes the actors actually seem to be not that good.. next we have to talk about the unrealistic karate. It would be very difficult for new students to get that good ( and acrobatic ) that fast. For most karate and Korean karate styles, no full contact without pads and gloves and allowing strikes to the head would EVER be allowed, even back in the old days. This happened in the 3 original movies as well. It's very unrealistic. Now for the good! This is entertainment! The show is incredible fun and addictive to watch so all my previous nitpicking just does not matter! You'll find yourself binge watching just like I did! The characters are great! The story is great! So put aside your criticism of the acting , script and karate and just let the " suspension of disbelief " happen and you will enjoy this show immensely as I do !

Technically , this is a work of expert photography and filming and set design . The " beats " of the scenes are flawless. Perfect rhythm .

The actors are mostly perfectly cast . My favorite of course is " vinnie", a local jerkoff with zero redeeming qualities. John Leguzamo does a perfect job of making us hate vinnie. It's clear he doesn't deserve his wife, who is an angelic and beautiful as they come.

My only one tiny complaint is that the cop character just can't hide his Australian accent. He's a good actor , but he needs to work on that voice more, to play American parts .

Other than that, I've watched this movie over and over.

The good: Michael Pitt , Nina arianda, Michael Rispoli, yul Vasquez . Michael Pitt is great in everything he does. If you caught Arianda in the Lucille ball biopic playing Vivian Vance, you know she's got serious chops.

The bad; Andy Garcia and Cathy Gentile As much as I like Garcia , he was miscast as a boss of a crime family. First off, they don't wear beards. Second, he looks, talks and sounds like a college professor or a classical orchestra conductor...too cultured to be a mob boss, especially in the Gambino family, who were murderous thugs. It seems like they built dialogue for him, because none of his " backstory " is pertinent to the plot. There is a useless bit about making rice balls, and another useless bit about how he became a gangster . As far as Cathy gentile's character, there isn't much of a backstory at all. She's just angry at her son, but really really angry ...and that requires some explanation.. perhaps some scenes were cut that explained why she was so mad at him?

I'd rate this film as a "dramedy" , as there are some pretty funny moments . Griffin Dunne does a turn as the kid's boss , who is also a crime trial junky like they are and he's actually funny to watch.

Ive seen it a couple times, so it's not terrible . Not great. Not bad either..

The story is very good. But the acting is not great and the lines aren't realistic or well written.. if The Godfather is the original Star Wars then the last Don is the Star Wars prequels.

Having said that, the story is interesting and enjoyable anyway, and Kirstie Alley absolutely makes the movie.. she is GREAT.

Rory Cochran also real shines as the sociopath, Dante Clericuzio.