3/4  A History of Violence
Is it a classic? I don't know, i think its on the border. The story is engrossing and simply told and there are some great scenes of violence, which work because they are shocking, as violence is and should be protrayed. The actors all do ... (read full)

3.5/4  A smart, absorbing thriller.
One of my top 'Best Films of 2005'.

The film is, simply put, amazing. Anyone who enjoys Cronenberg's other films will greatly appreciate this one. Viggo Mortensen proved he's one of the finest actors to come along in a long while. Mari... (read full)

4/4  How to push the envelope
Cronenberg pushes the envelope with his overture on violence and crime. This is a perfect example of how to push the envelope though as it is thought provoking, shocking, and disturbingly honest to its form. It is the best film from 2005. ... (read full)

4/4  Beautiful...and violent
A fantastic film about a man trying to forget who he really is while his past finally catches up to him. The final scene is perfect, it just shows that not every movie family is perfect and now they have to deal with the chilling reality ... (read full)

3.5/4  A History of Good Movies From Cronenberg
I love this movie. It inadvertently got me into Cronenberg. Great actors. Great story. Great director, duh. I don't know how a rewatch would fare. I need to finish watching my Cronenberg movies. I think I have one or two left to watch. Eit... (read full)

2/4  No Depth
Since this movie came out all I kept hearing from people was how incredible of a movie this was and that I would love it.

I'm going to have to re-evaluate my friends opinions in movies. :P

There was nothing really compelling to me t... (read full)

3.5/4  A History of Violence Quick Review
Deemed a hero when he wasn't? I love the story line and the acting. Best film of 2005.

3/4  A History of Violence Quick Review
A story of a hard-working father, living a simple life in a small town when one act of heroism brings his past calling; one he would as soon forget. For a film with violence in the title, it lives up to the name.

2/4  A History of Violence Quick Review
Nominated for a Golden Globe! How? Mortensen is like a wooden walking stick as he tries to pretend he is the not man that everyone says he is. The story line is interesting (though done before) but it can't save this bore of a film. So So.

5/5 A life after death
  by J. Kucinski
I love this movie, bought it, and have watched it many times. The main character went through a painful transformation to have a life he loves. He "killed" himself. He was thrust back into his old world by his act of bravery. His life will never be the same again no matter what else he does. He has to be both the family man and the killer in the end. His son may have the same natural violent "talents". No organized religious redemption but, he does take a cleansing dip before going back to his family. In the last scene, he looks up at his wife searching for the love in her eyes that he spoke of earlier in the film.
A History of Violence [Blu-ray]A History of Violence (New Line Platinum Series)

1/5 Worst Movie Ever
  by Robert A. Culwell (Denver, CO USA)
If it were possible for a movie to be rated negative five stars, I'd do it. This was so far past awful, you couldn't even see awful from where this movie was.

I had high hopes for the movie since I like many of the people in it. However, the writing is so bad that the talent can't do anything with it.

The collection of acting talent, unfortunately, is no more able to become a good movie than a heap of building materials is able to become a house.



1/5 Conflict and Violence
  by Acute Observer (North Jersey Shore)
Two men walk out of a motel and get into a convertible. [No seatbelts?] What are they up to? Next we see a family at home. Tom Stoll works in a small restaurant in a small town. There is conflict in the boys gym. [Believable?] The parents spend time together when the children are away. [Does the film slow down afterwards?] Then those two men show up in town and start trouble in Tom's restaurant. Tom finishes it. This makes the newspapers and brings in more business, and unwanted attention. Three men show up, one claims to know Tom from Philadelphia. Sheriff Sam checks them, they have records. What's up? "Get the shotgun!" Is the family threatened? [Why does Tom have to run to his house far out of town?] Why did Sarah leave her Mom Edie when shopping? [Believable?]

Jack is a chip off the old block, he knows how to handle Joey. [Too good to be true?] Will a court order keep Carl Fogarty away? There is action that was telegraphed in the earlier scenes. [Is this believable? The scenes seem to be concocted for violent dramatic scenes.] Will Edie and Tom get along? Will a voice from the past call Tom? [This is a new story that drags in spots.] his brother has a complaint. But Joey is like "Rambo", he is hard to kill. Can he wash away his sins in a pond? Back home in Indiana life returns to normal. [Believable?] This story just stops, there are no after effects from the action in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love.

The violent scenes seem to be the sole purpose of this film, like some kind of pornography of violence. Its as if the writers concocted graphically violent scenes then wrote a story to link them together. Some scenes would have made this X-rated back in the 1970s. Other reviewers pointed out the logical flaws in this story.


4/5 Good Movie
  by Ronald Stith (ERIE,PA United States)
This movie is proof that no matter how long you know somebody, there is a good chance that you never really know them. Tom Stall is a family man. Loved by his town and his community and his family. But, one day changed all that and brought back the true meaning of Karma. Good watcher and for all you guys who love Maria Bello like I do, she worth the watch alone.

3/5 Decent Drama
  by Dan Holt (San Antonio, TX)
I was expecting more action from this movie. It turned out to be more of a drama, with a couple minutes of violence. It was semi-realistic, and entertaining enough to not turn it off, which is a lot more than I can say for many of today's movies.

I don't really see the benefit in owning the dvd, as the best viewing is the first.