Product Details

• Actors: Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek
• Directors: Oliver Stone
• Format: Color, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed: French, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Universal
• DVD Release Date: November 13, 2012
• Run Time: 273 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (529 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B005LAII94
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,074 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Savages" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A frenzied ground bloom flower of a novel, Don Winslow's Savages is an ultra-black amorality tale that's saved from nihilism by some unexpectedly lovely character notes and the sheer rocketing force of the prose. This cinematic adaptation (directed by Oliver Stone, who knows a thing or two about raising a ruckus himself) captures much of the propulsive energy of its source material but can't quite get a handle on the human element. Kicking off with a grisly demonstration of how not to handle power tools, the story follows lifelong friends Ben (Aaron Johnson), Chon (Taylor Kitsch), and O (Blake Lively), who benevolently run a top-tier marijuana enterprise in Southern California under the protection of a crooked cop (John Travolta). Once the quality of their product attracts the Mexican cartel, however, the not-so-heroic trio find themselves forced to confront the dirtier aspects of their business. Stone, in his first film since 2010's Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, keeps his more excessive tendencies in check for much of the running time, with his trademark kinetic style serving to support rather than overwhelm the already-lurid plot. Unfortunately, the film's gonzo pace gives little space to illuminate the complicated relationship among the main characters, which gave the novel its tragic backbeat and, perhaps more importantly, kept them a moral notch or two higher than their opposition. Here, no matter how game the leading performers are, their lack of substance makes them quickly pale next to Salma Hayek's weirdly sympathetic drug lord, Travolta's gleeful weasel of a policeman, and the magnificently bedraggled Benicio Del Toro, as a henchman with an agenda of his own. Viewers in the mood for a guilty rush should find Savages more than satisfying, but don't be surprised if your eyes keep sliding over to the bad guys. --Andrew Wright

Product Description

Three-time Oscarr-winning filmmaker Oliver Stone returns to the screen with the ferocious thriller Savages, featuring the all-star ensemble cast of Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Emile Hirsch and Demian Bichir. The film is based on Don Winslow's best-selling crime novel that was named one of The New York Times' Top 10 Books of 2010. Laguna Beach entrepreneurs Ben (Johnson), a peaceful and charitable Buddhist, and his closest friend Chon (Kitsch), a former Navy SEAL and ex-mercenary, run a lucrative, homegrown industry-raising some of the best marijuana ever developed. They also share a one-of-a-kind love with the extraordinary beauty Ophelia (Lively). Life is idyllic in their Southern California town.until the Mexican Baja Cartel decides to move in and demands that the trio partners with them. When the merciless head of the BC, Elena (Hayek), and her brutal enforcer, Lado (Del Toro), underestimate the unbreakable bond among these three friends, Ben and Chon-with the reluctant, slippery assistance of a dirty DEA agent (Travolta)-wage a seemingly unwinnable war against the cartel. And so begins a series of increasingly vicious ploys and maneuvers in a high stakes, savage battle of wills.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 74 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Much better than I expected based on the negative Amazon reviews... November 17, 2012

By Judicious

Format:Amazon Instant Video|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed all 132 minutes of this film, although I was reluctant to rent it at first based on some of the negative reviews here. It was one of the better films I've seen in a while. Without getting into the plot (do we really need long, amateur interpretations of the plot?), it was also better than what I expected after viewing the trailer. If you're considering renting it don't hesitate. I'm not recommending purchasing it since it's not the type of movie someone would watch more than once. The entire cast did a great job of making this movie highly entertaining. The supporting roles played by Travolta, Hayek, and Del Toro were superbly done. Most of the negative reviews seem to be from people having higher expectations from Oliver Stone, or from having read the book, but I was simply looking for something worth watching. Thank you for taking the time to read my review.

38 of 49 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Has Stone lost his edge? August 10, 2012

By wexgate

Format:Blu-ray

I was very excited when I saw that Savages was being made into a movie. The book is so dark funny and exciting all at the same time. I could think of no one better to direct than Oliver Stone. He has the perfect sensibilities for such material.
I left the theater wanting to ask for my money back. It was very clear that Stone phoned this one in. The majority of the dark humor, that was so prevalent in the book, has been erased from the movie. A perfect example of this is the exclusion of O's mother from the movie. That character is wonderfully amusing and gave great insight into the character of O. The one exception to this is John Travolta as Ben and Chan's FBI contact. He turns in a wonderfully wacky and entertaining performance that I feel is on par with his Pulp Fiction turn. Travolta seems to be the only one who looked at the source material.
I also have to address the ending. There has never been a more blatant example of a studio forcing a director to change an ending. It is weird awkward and just plain embarrassing. What happened to the Oliver Stone who directed Natural Born Killers? This material was in desperate need of that edge and humor. Does Stone not have final cut approval? I certainly hope he did not have it on this piece of junk. Read the book and don't waste your time on the movie.

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Grisly cat and mouse thriller July 8, 2012

By M. Oleson TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Blu-ray

Oliver Stone returns to his most violent movie since "Natural Born Killer," this time focusing on a couple marijuana entrepreneurs and their shared girlfriend. Chon (Taylor Kitsch in his best movie role yet) is a former Navy SEAL who manages to bring back potent marijuana seeds from his tour in Afghanistan. His lifelong friend Ben (Aaron Johnson) is hooked on Buddhism and doing charitable work in Africa. His college degree is in business and botany. How perfect. Together they amicably share a love interest in Ophelia (another surprising performance from Blake Lively), who is known as "O."

As the story centerpiece "O" is the glue that holds things together. She's also the chief weed sampler. The story suggests that this relationship may be a bit more than two boys liking a girl but that question is never quite answered. Hmm. All is well until they get an "invitation" to join a powerful Mexican cartel headed by Elena (Salma Hayek). Saying no is not a good idea, as the guys are exposed to the grisly beheadings of cartel foes. Elena and her California chieftain (an iniquitous Benicio Del Toro) need the secret to the THC-rich strain of pot so they kidnap poor "O" on the eve of trio's departure to a secret location in Indonesia.

Here is Elena's deal. She gets 30% of the revenue, $13 million up front and they keep "O" under wraps for 1 year. After that, the business venture ends. Naturally Ben and Chon don't like the arrangement. Especially Chon who realizes, the ruse will never end. Added to the fun is John Travolta who plays a senior DEA agent. He is on the take from Ben and Chon and may be playing all sides. Stone gets strong performances from his cast in this savage thriller. I can't help but wonder however why Stone decided to go with two endings.... The first one was fine. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than I thought it would be May 2, 2013

By Dan E. Jennings

Format:DVD

I was expecting to be disapointed after reading all of the negative reviews. While I can't say that it was a great movie I do think it was very entertaining and I will probably buy the DVD.

17 of 23 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars I've gotta say, this was pretty bad November 17, 2012

By Brian Baker VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD

I'd read the book. I've seen many of Oliver Stone's movies. So it's fair to say I approached this movie with some reservations. Unfortunately, it lived down to my every expectation.

First the book. The first Winslow book I read was The Power of the Dog, which I thought was simply terrific. Based on that book, I've read several of his other works, and in my opinion he hasn't matched the level of that achievement in anything else of his that I've read. I thought Savages was simply okay. A bit too much of the Winslow-patented surfer vibe, and the over-the-hill "dude" stuff for my taste. But when I read that it was being made into a movie, I thought it had some good potential, with the visuals and twisted plot and all.

Enter Oliver Stone, a guy with about the most uneven record in Hollywood. When he's hitting his marks, he can make a pretty good flick; "Platoon", "Wall Street". When he's off, his stuff is ridiculous; "JFK" and "W." come immediately to mind.

And unfortunately, this is a complete misfire.

Stone seems to have taken every opportunity to explore the weaker elements of the book while completely ignoring or perverting its strengths. Some of the performances are completely over the top. I don't know if he was trying for some kind of sarcastic humor approach, or failed satire, or what.

Then, to add insult to injury (and why I detracted one star), he gave us the ending that was in the novel.... and then "Oooops! Only kidding!!"... he throws in a SECOND ending, too, that made absolutely no sense at all, and destroyed what little he'd managed to achieve to that point!...

I mean, what the hell was that all about???

I'd have thrown something hard at the screen, but I was watching it on my own plasma big sreen, so that would have been a bit of an overindulgence.

"Savages"? Do not bother. Read more ›