| | | Loyalty is bought, betrayal is a way of life.
Features: DVD, Pan and Scan (TV Format), Widescreen, French, Subtitled
Robert De Niro stars as an American intelligence operative adrift in irrelevance since the end of the Cold War--much like a masterless samurai, a.k.a. "ronin." With his services for sale, he joins a renegade, international team of fellow covert warriors with nothing but time on their hands. Their mission, as defined by the woman who hires them (Natascha McElhone), is to get hold of a particular suitcase that is equally coveted by the Russian mafia and Irish terrorists. As the scheme gets underway, De Niros lone wolf strikes up a rare friendship with his French counterpart (Jean Reno), gets into a more-or-less romantic frame of mind with McElhone, and asserts his experience on the planning and execution of the job--going so far as to publicly humiliate one team member (Sean Bean) who is clearly out of his league. The story is largely unremarkable--there is an obligatory twist midway through that changes the nature of the teams business--but legendary filmmaker John Frankenheimer (Seconds, The Manchurian Candidate) leaps at the material, bringing to it an honest tension and seasoned, breathtaking skill with precision-action direction. The centerpiece of the movie is an honest-to-God car chase that is the real thing: not the how-can-we-top-the-last-stunt cartoon nonsense of Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon), but a pulse-quickening, kinetic dance of superb montage and timing. In a sense, Ronin is almost Frankenheimers self-quoting version of a John Frankenheimer film. There is not anything here he has not done before, but it is sure great to see it all again. System Requirements:Starring: Jean Reno, et al. Director: John Frankenheimer Edition Details: Region 1 encoding (for use in US and Canada only) Color, Widescreen, Dolby, Closed-captioned Commentary by director John Frankenheimer Never-before-seen alternate ending 8 page booklet featuring insights into the making of the film Full-screen and widescreen anamorphic formats Number of discs: 1 Format: DVD MOVIE
"A top-notch thriller!" The New York Times
"Two thumbs up!" Siskel & Ebert
"A sly masterpiece." Time Magazine
Editor's Note
David Mamet wrote this screenplay under the name Richard Weisz, as a gun for hire, much like the masterless samurai of the film's title, who roamed Japan in the 19th Century, loyal only to themselves. A group of men with highly developed skills are called to a meeting in a deserted warehouse in Paris. Sam (Robert De Niro), an American, may be ex-CIA. Vincent (Jean Reno), the terminally cool Frenchman, is a mystery. Russian computer whiz Gregor (Stellan Skarsgaard) is presumably ex-KGB, and Spence (Sean Bean), a British demolitions man, and Larry (Skipp Suddith), another Yank, round out the team. They've been hired by the IRA, through liaison Deirdre (Natascha McElhone), to steal a briefcase of unknown contents somewhere in Europe. As the unit races from one spectacular location on the French Riviera to another, the body count mounts, some Russian gangsters get into the act, and the betrayals come fast and furious. In a rare comic moment, Sam stitches up his own bullet wound, and asks a friend to finish before he passes out. RONIN features an exceptional cast, sumptuous locations, and the kind of realistic car chases and action scenes that one expects from a director of John Frankenheimer's skills.
| Features | Audio: English, French 5.1 Dolby Digital | | Subtitles: English, French | | Never-Before-Seen Alternate Ending | | Feature-Length Audio Commentary By Director John Frankenheimer | | 8-Page Booklet Featuring Stunning Insights Into The Making-Of The Film |
| Entertainment Reviews
 | Ronin - DVD Review By: James Brundage - filmcritic.com DVD Reviews Published on: 2/13/2009 5:25 PM | |
Ronin is one of the few action movies that I can chew on without having to regurgitate. Normally, the action film fills me with a sort of dread. In fact, per my recollection, Ronin filled me with a sort of dread the first time around (despite Robert De Niro being in the film). You see, the action film is a sort of black hole for the industry. Money gets sucked into the film but it passes a sort of event horizon, at which point no matter how much money is poured in, the movie is still terrible. Sure, it is so absolutely dumb that you can sit back and enjoy it anyway, but the fact of the matter is that by the time the action movie has passed this point of no return you know you are watching trash....read the full review |
| Technical Info
|
Release Information
| | Studio: MGM |
| Release Date: 5/22/2007 |
| Running Time: 121 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1998 | | Catalog ID: 907439 | | UPC: 00027616743923 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English | | Available Subtitles: English, French | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew
|
| | Professional Reviews | Rolling Stone
"...RONIN represents an exhilarating return to form for Frankenheimer....The real deal in action fireworks..." 10/15/1998 p.133-4Entertainment Weekly
"...Bracing sequences....A welcome throwback....[De Niro] makes most recent action-movie figures look like callow jocks..." -- Rating: B 03/05/1999 p.70 USA Today
"...This throwback to director John Frankenheimer's vintage international thrillers has an attractively old-fashioned feel..." 10/23/1998 p.6E New York Times
"...An extraordinary cast of actors, all on the same formidable wavelength, match wits most impressively....Mr. De Niro shows off a brooding, hard-guy panache with its own brand of international appeal..." 09/25/1998 p.E15 Uncut
"[R]uthlessly constructed, hugely entertaining..." 11/01/2004 p.157 Rolling Stone 8 of 10
That Ronin is the real deal in action fireworks owes much to a first-rate cast that can toss a quip as deftly as a firebomb. It's a kick to watch De Niro in James Bond mode--revving it up with cars, babes and bang-bang...
Los Angeles Times 9 of 10
...an old-fashioned thriller brought efficiently up to date. It's a welcome throwback to the days when the world didn't have to end or tanker trucks explode to get an action audience's attention... Frankenheimer brings his experience to bear on a scenario that has been smartly pared down in order to ratchet up the tension, especially in the film's series of heart-stopping car chases. - Kenneth Turan
|
| |
|
|
| |
__USERID__
http://www.buy.com/prod/ronin/q/loc/322/40107136.html
|
|
|
| Customer Reviews | ![]() | | Cinematography |  4.5 | | Plot |  3.5 | | Acting | 4.5 | | Overall Satisfaction | 4.5 |
| |
5 of 5 Excellence Sunday, March 12, 2000
A Viewer from Arlington, TX
Great movie with a great cast. French landscape is beautifully pictured. The car chases were my favorite part of the movie! Overall, Great movie! Was this review helpful?  
5 of 5 Hands down the best car chases ever Wednesday, January 26, 2000
A Viewer from Ames, IA
So maybe the plot wasn't all that strong, the acting ok...but: this is the only movie in a long time in which the chase scenes literally got my pulse racing while watching it on the big screen. Was this review helpful?
4 of 5 First-class spy flick Sunday, January 02, 2000
A Viewer from Wichita, KS
Plot is hard to follow, some might not get it... That being said, the eye candy (both the Audi S8 car chase/evasion as well as the beautiful Ms. Natascha McElhone, and later, both in the BMW M5 chase) are best i've seen since 'Rendezvous.'
But with
Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Good movie Tuesday, December 28, 1999
a Jean Reno fan from St. George, Utah
Go watch this movie widescreen, it has very nice car chase scene. Seriously, it's a very good action movie Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 a must see movie of the 90's Wednesday, December 22, 1999
storm from NY, NY
A movie well put together with action and drama displaying ethics and morals. One cannot have asked for a better cast. I first saw the 'brief' trailer in early 98 and automatically knew it would be great. 'Ronin' was beyond my expectations. A must see for oneself. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 An intelligent spy mystery Monday, December 20, 1999
A Viewer from Spring, TX
This is an intelligent and sophisticated spy mystery, not a shoot-‘em-up splatter movie. Yes, the movie has great original car chase scenes, but the reason why we watch it again and again is because of its realism, tight direction and editing, great acting all around, and one clever scene after another. Highly recommended! Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Best Car Movie for 98 Thursday, October 07, 1999
A Viewer from Golden,CO
This movie is awesome- it's one of the best car movies of the year (98). The M5 looks great... Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Action/Spy thriller Wednesday, September 01, 1999
Justin from Boulder, CO
The movie had a very 'Manchurian Candidate' feel to it, which was pulled off very well. On a side note, the 'headlight flashing' alluded to by another review was not to choreograph stunts, but was rather indicative of the setting (Europe) where drivers often flash their lights to get slower cars to move out of the way and (in the case of the movie) alert oncoming traffic (a good portion of the chases take place on the wrong side of the road). Was this review helpful?
4 of 5 Very good and suspensful movie Friday, July 30, 1999
Sam from San Jose, CA
the story is very good, and immerses you in an underground world of high-tech espionage, assasination, and greed. It's a great post-Coldwar spy movie. The movie runs slow in some places,But overall, Robert Dinero is awesome. unless you hate him, go watch this movie. Was this review helpful?
3 of 5 What plot? Who cares about this stupid case! Thursday, July 29, 1999
A Viewer from California, MD
I really didn't see any plot or point in this movie. Ok. in the beginning, u don't know what is in the stupid case fine. But u never do even in the end. At the end it seems like one chase after another with a few people getting killed but it does not seem to lead anywhere. Who cares about the case if u don't know the significance of it? The car scene chase seems contrived probably made as an advertisement for European cars. Total disappointment in my opinion. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Been a long time since a good car chase ... Thursday, July 29, 1999
SB from Boac Raton, FL
Excellent car chase scenes. Remember De Niro saying in an interview that they had FORMULA ONE drivers, not stunt drivers for the car chase scenes. On top of the car chase scenes, it has De Niro .. Yeah !! Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Intense. Captivating. A must see! Sunday, July 25, 1999
A Viewer from Schaumburg, IL
The most intense car chase scenes I have ever seen in any movie. After it was over, I was sweating. Highly recommended for action / spy fans. Was this review helpful?
4 of 5 Best car chases Tuesday, June 15, 1999
A Viewer from Chicago, IL
It may not be the best movie overall, but I know it has the best car chase scenes I've ever seen...that's why I bought it. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Excellent Movie for Film Lovers Monday, June 14, 1999
drbocci from Palo Alto, CA
Excellent cinematography - you'll love the camera angles and the development of Ronin's character through lighting and varied scene changes. This film is more like a foreign film in the development of characters yet the chase scene is one of the most exciting in a long time. Strongly recommended for film lovers. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 What a thrill ride! Tuesday, May 25, 1999
A Viewer from Chicago, IL
I saw this movie in the theater. I walked out of there shaking, as it contained the most intense car chase scene I have ever seen in any movie. That alone was worth the price of admission. On top of that, the plot unravels piece by piece, so pay attention. This movie requires thought as well as providing a thrill. Was this review helpful?
4 of 5 Great for full-range theater systems Sunday, May 23, 1999
A Viewer from Ft. Wayne, Indiana
I agree with the guy from Florida. Not much of a movie in terms of script and acting, but if you have a good home theater audio system with DVD... man, oh man!!! Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 Not for the simple minded Tuesday, May 11, 1999
A Viewer from Mpls, MN
This film is unique in the fact that no time is wasted in a stereotypical fashion of trying to establish good guy / bad guy characters. You find out who's who, as well as the plot, only as it unfolds. I believe it was made like this by design. Too many movies do not give the viewer the benefit of the doubt or acknowledgement of intelligence that we can follow things AS they happen.
The characters are mysterious. You don't a lot about their backgrounds, but they appear to be ColdWar experienced, professional or mercenary like. They're somehow brought together. A goal is set. A mission is made. You see the plans being developed, you see the characters trying to anticipate any problems that may arise in this dangerous job; but we all know that no matter how much preparation one does, it will not guarantee a specific outcome. Only that if something does go wrong, which it always does, you're hard work will somehow pay off as you improvise your way through the worst trouble. Life is like this in many ways. That's what makes this film a good one.
If your the kind of viewer that needs some screenplay hand holding and must have everything comfortabley laid for you or if you have problems with situations taking a turn for the worse and don't or can't accept an unknown outcome, then you will not appreciate this sophisticated action drama.
Just let the film happen, I think you'll enjoy it. Was this review helpful?
4 of 5 Audio geeks take notice Sunday, May 02, 1999
nomadasses1 from Florida
I had the opportunity to see Ronin during it's theatrical release. Once this movie became available on DVD, I bought it for just the action and audio alone. I am an audio geek and this DVD will maximize your DVD home theatre. The action genre does not lend itself to a lot of substance and those seeking a strong plot may be dissapointed. If you have a high quality home theatre system, buy Ronin. Was this review helpful?
4 of 5 Good if you like spy novels. Wednesday, April 28, 1999
Bamfsog from Norman, OK
It was more like a classic Spy novel than an action movie. Was this review helpful?
3 of 5 2 1/2 out of 5 Stars Monday, April 26, 1999
Kurios from Midland. Texas
The Irish have assembled an assault team to recover a case before it is sold to the Russians. The team is not told what is in the case, just retrieve it. Among the mercenaries is a man named Sam (Robert De Niro). We eventually learn that Sam is ex-CIA a Was this review helpful?
|
Look For Similar Products By Category
|
