Customer Reviews

Scarface: The Beginning (v. 1)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Scarface is one of my favorite movies ever. I picked up this book for about $1. I guess I got my money's worth.

Overall, I enjoyed it. If they made it into a movie (which wouldn't surprise me given Hollywood's reputation for remakes and unnecessary sequels/prequels), it would probably be mediocre.

If you're a die hard fan of Scarface the movie or Tony and Manny, then pick this book up. Just try to get it around the same price I did...who knows...you may even buy it from me!

The film Scarface comes across as a serious drama with the exception of the over the top ending. I was hoping when I bought this book, it would be the same and the violence would be like the chainsaw scene or the hit in the club. Unfortunately Banks decided to try to make it all like the last five minutes of the film and fails to have even the slightest bit of congruity with the film. It starts with a deal going bad in a hotel room just like in the movie. However rather than have a rational explanation for how Tony and Manny escape, they just kill four guys doing stuff like ducking while their opponents idiotically shoot each other.
The action doesn't get any different, Tony and Manny even manage to wipe out the entire male population of a town by themselves. There is a brief love story where Tony manages to seduce a hooker into falling in love with him by buying her two drinks (the sex scene which follows is even worse). Banks decided that rather than follow the movie, where Tony has the scar since he was a kid, for him to get it in prison. But perhaps the worst part of the book is at the end of it he's a made man in the Cuban mob with several hundred thousand dollars, but the connections and money are none existent in the movie.
If you liked the movie, then you'll hate the book. If you didn't like the movie, you'll hate the book. My advice is to stay away from it, the reviews giving it five stars must be friends of the author.
Edit: I also want to add that there was supposed to be a volume 2 of the beginning, the fact that it was never released (or possibly never written) says a lot about how terrible this book is.

L.A. Banks, could be the only author to even attempt this book and succeed. I couldn't put it down and have passed it on to my close friends and family. L. A. is famous for her Vampire Huntress Legend books. Read them if you haven't. I have always thought she was a brillant writer, but this just proves it. This should truly be made into a movie, right along with the VHL series. Why not, hollyweird waste money on making flops every year. Why not give the people what they want from this brilliant talented lady with the golden pen. Stay in the light, peace! Oh you can pre-order the next installment she is writing about Tony Montana. GET IT!!!!!

What more can be said about this character a lot more. I was truly amazed at how Leslie made him from scratch and gave him a Cuban soul more than what the movie did. I truly can not wait for the next installment. Whew from the beginning to end action, action la actiones?? LOL and a delivery that kept you on the egde of your seat.(((Viva Cuba)))Keep this series going Mrs. Banks Glen a.k.a. PhatGesus....

Por desgracia no tiene nada que ver con el guion original ni siquiera la calidad del papel es buena. El autor ha colaborado en la destruccion del mito de Tony Montana.