Gangs of New York

[Broadsword2004]

This movie is a good movie, though I know many people may have shyed away from it since it has Leonardo DiCaprio. But I recommend at least watching the very beginning, because that has one of the most realistic fight scenes I have ever seen. Just pure brutality.

[cakegirl]

For me, I like the first part of it, but then it seemed to go "hang on, we have to end this", and the last 1/3 was like a completely different movie, and I didn't like it.

[Broadsword2004]

Yeah, it was a bit long, but it was still one of the better movies I've seen. Most movies made in America are "Ehhh" these days, and if you want true quality, you have to look to Europe or Asia, but Gangs was one of the true greats I think.

[Tee Sok]

Yes, good movie but definitely not Scorsese's best. I heard he will do the remake of Internal Affairs and that should be a great movie.

[Tom Yum]

Hi Broadsword, Gangs of NY was a pretty good movie. The opening fight scene was graphic to say the least, but the movie developed well. It slowed down in the middle.

Speaking of fight scenes, remember the one where DiCaprio fights with Bill's bodyguard? A little bit of bareknuckle boxing (marquis de queensbury stance) and catch/folkstyle wrestling if I'm not mistaken.

[Broadsword2004]

You mean where he fights that bald "Irishman turned Native" guy?? Yeah, that was pretty cool, but that was how Irishman fought I believe.

[Tom Yum]

I guess catch wrestling had origins in Ireland....I don't know for sure, but once it was practiced in the states, it had all kinds of submission moves. Maybe jubaji can shed light on it.

The boxing style was funny, but a sign of the times. Hands held outward from the body and legs kind of bow legged.

[HtTKar]

Ireland has it's own martial arts that people dont know about. Shillelagh (Irish stick-fighting) included a type of boxing, and wrestling. Through fighting with the Irish, the English learned some of these styles. The style is passed down from father to son through the generations, and is not open to foreigners. Currently I beleive the only person teaching outsiders is the Glen Doyle system in Canada. However, he mixes Irish stick fighting with Kung-fu stances. Many Irish that came to america brought this martial family tradition with them this is why they knew how to fight so well, and didn't take any crap.

[Broadsword2004]

I knew the Irish had a wrestling art, interesting to learn that about the stick arts. But I guess it makes sense. I mean even when you watch Braveheart (though they were Scottish), I seriously doubt they all just ran out there to clash swords; they knew how to use the weapons, which meant they had some kind of martial arts.

The Greeks I believe ran out and clashed with swords without knowledge of howto fight with them, but that I believe is because they didn't like the sword as a weapon (now that could also be one of those "old wives tales" too, not sure).

[TKDguy]

no offense broadsword but you gotta be kiddin me. the greeks had an advanced form of swordfighting and spearfighting. how do u think the scottish got martial arts. they got them from the romans who in turn got them from the greeks. also a lot of wrestling boxing and the first nhb (pancration) came from greece.

[Tom Yum]

how do u think the scottish got martial arts.

The Scottish have a martial art allright; its called fu-Kyew