Romper Stomper is actually a fairly new addition to my "absolute favorites" in film. I got interested in this movie when I saw the trailer for it on one of the public computers in college, and after watching it, quickly bought a copy on the internet just because it looked so gritty and uncompromising. As the title says above, it shows you don't need super confusing storylines and multimillion dollar special effects to make a great movie. All you need is believable characters living believable lives and acting out believable situations.
STORY
Romper Stomper focuses on a gang of neo-Nazis in Footscray, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Leading the gang is Hando (Russell Crowe) and his right-hand man is Davey (Daniel Pollock), where they lead brutal street attacks against the growing Vietnamese immigrants in their community, seeking to preserve the "racial integrity" of their community. However, things start to change when a troubled, seizure-prone girl named Gabrielle (Jacqueline McKenzie) comes between Hando and Davey, and their friendship begins to splinter as the love triangle is formed.
CHARACTERS
This is one of Romper Stomper's best traits since the characters feel very real. Since this movie focuses on a group of neo-Nazis, you see them as vile people, but not in a one-sided way that the politically correct folks in Hollywood would want you to see them as. Even the characters that are there to "push the story along," don't detriment the quality of the film since their believable personalities add to the quality of the film. Of course, Hando and Davey are the stars in this arena. Hando is the leader of the neo-Nazi gang and to me, is the most menacing neo-Nazi I've ever seen on film. He's really maniacal when in street combat and has a grip over his subordinates as to where they not dare defy him. Within the first several minutes, Hando and his cronies ambush a group of Vietnamese immigrants and Hando grabs one of them, and tells him "I'm gonna tell you something, and I want you to listen to me. This is NOT your country." Then proceeds to ruthlessly beat the helpless fellow. Hando's appearance adds to his menacing personality since he's covered with Nazi tattoos and on his left arm, has the skeletal structure of his arm tattooed in black ink and it makes him look like he has claws on his hand as well. However, Hando isn't a one-sided maniac. After the first night he spends with Gabrielle, he explains to her why he believes what he believes for pretty understandable reasons, particularly with how the Vietnamese immigrants are "cheap labor," and renders a chunk of the white populace unemployed (though this doesn't justify his awful actions). Davey is also an interesting character because while he believes in the Nazi ideology, he feels ostracized within Hando's gang and starts to feel that Gabrielle is his key out of that type of life. A good example of Davey's doubts about the gang are shown in a party scene where all of his pals are getting drunk and beating each other while listening to racist punk rock; Davey breaks away from the mosh pit and pummels a punching bag. Gabrielle shows some complexity because while she's a troubled "sex kitten," she's had a troubled life with her mother's death and implications that her father has sexually abused her in the past. Also, since these people aren't exactly "good people," I'm glad that there's no quest for these people to redeem their morality because in reality, these people don't conveniently "find the light" towards the end of reality, adding another layer of realism to the experience.
LACK OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
Writer and director Geoffrey Wright did a bold move by taking a neutral stance to the characters' Nazi ideology. Instead, Wright makes a gritty drama focusing on the decay of a group of violent hooligans who happen to be neo-Nazis. I'm really glad that Wright didn't bash the audience over the head with a "OMG!! Racism is evil!!" message like in American History X because I think most people old enough to watch this type of movie have enough cognitive capacity to make that decision for themselves. Another aspect to the lack of political correctness is that Wright immerses the audience into the neo-Nazis' world, which I find pretty refreshing since not many films did that prior to Romper Stomper's release in 1992 (with an exception being Made in Britain, which came out in 1982), and that it's not common that you get to see why they think the way they do. Partial spoilers ahead, what I love about this movie is that none of the characters break away from their racist beliefs at the end because in real life, hate-filled goons don't quickly change their ideology like in films such as Crash and the previously mentioned American History X.
APPEARANCE
It's pretty obvious that Romper Stomper is a low-budget film given how it looks. The film was shot with that was probably either a small or standard low quality camera, which causes the picture quality to look pretty grainy and hazy. I LOVE the picture quality in this movie because the visual grittiness adds a layer of uneasiness that's already present within the ultra-violent lives of the neo-Nazis. Since many of the locations take place in abandoned car shops and warehouses, it adds another layer of uneasiness to the viewing experience by showing how rough these troublemakers have to live.
SOUNDTRACK
John Clifford White did a fantastic job writing the music for RS because it further immerses the viewer into the neo-Nazis' world. The soundtrack itself is a mixture of racist punk rock and simplistic instrumentals. The racist punk songs do a great job in really making you feel like you're in Hando's gang because not only for their racist messages, but also for the fact that they really sound like music played by a bunch of racists in someone's garage, though I think the instrumentals are the best part of the music. Towards the psychotic end of the movie, there's a really creepy and psychedelic track with only the words "Fourth Reich Fighting Men" (taken from a racist punk song with the same title) being screamed in the background as the madness in the movie unravels. The ending theme "Dead Nazi March" is a simple and dark instrumental tune that perfectly complements the movie.
ACTION SCENES
Romper Stomper isn't by any stretch an action film, but it has probably one of the most intense street fights I've ever seen in a movie. After the Vietnamese immigrants get fed up with the neo-Nazis' ruthless actions, they retaliate. When Hando and his cronies assault the sons of a Vietnamese businessmen who just bought the local bar (which was the skinheads' hangout area), dozens and dozens of Vietnamese people swarm the skinheads and raging battle ensues. You see the skinheads and Vietnamese people stab, punch, and kick the snot out of each other. A really intense part of the fight is when a skinhead downs and proceeds to repeatedly kicking a Vietnamese guy in the belly, two Vietnamese people on a motorbike knock the skinhead down and a bunch of others swarm the skinhead and beat him to death. This makes the sparse street fights in Akira look like shorts from Sesame Street.
MATURE CONTENT
This is not a movie for the kids. The previously stated street fights are really violent and this movie has some pretty intense (for not being x-rated) sex scenes between Hando and Gabrielle and later on, between Davey and Gabrielle. However, the violence and sexual content aren't at all gratuitous because they add to the grittiness of the main characters' lives.
FINAL WORD
Romper Stomper really is an intense film and if you want THE skinhead movie, don't hesitate to watch RS one bit. If you want more after this, check out Made in Britain as well.
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Romper Stomper (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Russell Crowe
(Actor),
Daniel Pollock
(Actor),
Geoffrey Wright
(Director, Writer)
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IMDb6.8/10.0
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| Format | Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DTS Surround Sound, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC |
| Contributor | Ian Pringle, Daniel Pollock, Dan Wyllie, Leigh Russell, Phil Jones, Chris McLean, Ron Hagen, Russell Crowe, Samantha Bladon, Daniel Scharf, Eric Mueck, Frank Magree, Bill Murphy, James McKenna, Josephine Keen, Geoffrey Wright, Jacqueline McKenzie, Alex Scott See more |
| Language | English |
| Runtime | 1 hour and 33 minutes |
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Product Description
OOP 2000 TCFHE 2-Disc DVD release.
Product details
- Aspect Ratio : 1.85:1
- MPAA rating : Unrated (Not Rated)
- Package Dimensions : 7.1 x 5.42 x 0.58 inches; 7.2 Ounces
- Director : Geoffrey Wright
- Media Format : Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DTS Surround Sound, Special Edition, Widescreen, NTSC
- Run time : 1 hour and 33 minutes
- Release date : November 21, 2000
- Actors : Russell Crowe, Daniel Pollock, Jacqueline McKenzie, Alex Scott, Leigh Russell
- Subtitles: : English
- Producers : Daniel Scharf, Ian Pringle, Phil Jones
- Language : English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (DTS 5.1)
- Studio : 20th Century Fox
- ASIN : B00004YZEN
- Writers : Geoffrey Wright
- Number of discs : 2
- Best Sellers Rank: #166,280 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
- #17,645 in Action & Adventure DVDs
- #31,686 in Drama DVDs
- Customer Reviews:
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4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
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worst Russel Crowe movie ever....
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2010
19 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2020
A group of skinheads led by Hando (Russel Crowe) beat up on Vietnamese immigrants in Melbourne, Australia. According to Hando there’s a plot by rich men to bring in Vietnamese and other immigrants as cheap labor to denigrate the white working class. He believes that he and his gang are standing up for the common man whites against the system. It’s this ideology that drives Hando and his friends to get Nazi tattoos and attack Asians. They’re a bunch of thugs with dangerous ideas about a race and class war going on in their country.
The movie is a bit like A Clockwork Orange with the gangs and the violence but much more realistic and scary. It also raises the question of whether the group can deal with any situation without resorting to violence including how they treat each other.
In the end it’s a very nihilistic picture about white supremacy. At the same time it’s enlightening. With feelings of economic dislocation, a belief that the system is against them and xenophobia all mixed together you can get violent groups like in the movie which is happening in real life across the world right now.
The movie is a bit like A Clockwork Orange with the gangs and the violence but much more realistic and scary. It also raises the question of whether the group can deal with any situation without resorting to violence including how they treat each other.
In the end it’s a very nihilistic picture about white supremacy. At the same time it’s enlightening. With feelings of economic dislocation, a belief that the system is against them and xenophobia all mixed together you can get violent groups like in the movie which is happening in real life across the world right now.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2018
Pretty good movie, there's a lot of work and things in this movie that most people never stop to notice or appreciate. If you gave it less then 3 stars you should watch it again and pay extra attention. I guess the majority think they can write a story and produce a movie as good or better.
I found the opening scene hard for me to watch because I don't believe in that type of violence. My race has nothing to do with that belief. I have absolutely no oriental blood in me and by the way the oriental race behaves, I have grown to my wise old age with no respect for that race, same as the terrorist and mafia, all power thugs. But I can understand why a gang of homeboys would see them outlanders as a threat. The orientals in the movie moved into the town without respect or regard for the folks that had lived there for decades. They weren't invited or welcome but still they arrived without even saying Hello. A little communication could prevent a war you know. This movie is true to that fact.
I found the opening scene hard for me to watch because I don't believe in that type of violence. My race has nothing to do with that belief. I have absolutely no oriental blood in me and by the way the oriental race behaves, I have grown to my wise old age with no respect for that race, same as the terrorist and mafia, all power thugs. But I can understand why a gang of homeboys would see them outlanders as a threat. The orientals in the movie moved into the town without respect or regard for the folks that had lived there for decades. They weren't invited or welcome but still they arrived without even saying Hello. A little communication could prevent a war you know. This movie is true to that fact.
Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2015
I purchased this DVD movie, Romper Stomper, used, just to get a look at the young Russell Crowe, in something I had not heard of before or seen listed in the movies he had been in. It is not for everyone and I truly hate what is represented in this film, as the subject matter is ugly and mean. I will give anything a try to see if it is done well and the presentation is artfully professional. This is well presented to the audience, if you can truly present this type of people well. The acting, as is most of the work I have seen done by Crowe and Pollock, writer director Geoffrey Wright has driven this perception of the ultra right element of these Fascists to the point of scary reality. Well done and I recommend it to those who would like to view this material and not the squeamish.
9 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2020
You would think that I would have at least seen a skinhead at some point in my life. We are supposed to believe white gang violence is a BIG problem somewhere. I guess the media are covering it up? Ha Ha!!!
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2020
A lot of global controversy surrounding this film (look it up on Wikipedia) with detailed sequences of brutality, racism, and anarchy. However, if you look at it from a cinematic viewpoint its a really strong film with a lot to say. Recommend it, just be advised...brutal material.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2021
Disk arrived quick and like new condition , no scratches or marks. thank you!
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2019
There was one guy in the skinhead gang with a busted lip who looked inbred to the fifth generation - also his head looked like a giant rock. Where do they get these people? I couldn't see him in the credits. But here in NY in 2019, it doesn't seem that there are too many white gangs doing racial crime or skinheads or anything like that - just made up hoaxes about it. Evil whitey movies are getting a little tiresome IMO but the songs were pretty funny. All in all, it was pretty entertaining.
12 people found this helpful
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Notre_Shuggie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Romper Stomper (2 Disc Special Edition) DVD Widescreen
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2011
Most of the reviews below detail accurately the film itself. All I would say in addition is, if anyone thinks this is a racist film, then they're mistaken.
This is a short review of the widescreen version.
This 2 disc version is in the original ratio, there are parts of the film where it isn't too important, the hand-held fight sequences for example, but it comes into it's own in the intimate close up work and particularly in the final scenes. The transfer is good, sharper than the single disc and colours are more natural and vivid. On the Audio side there is Dolby Digital 5.1 with DTS plus a stereo option. There is also a director's commentary.
The extras on disc 2 are fairly meagre, there are interviews with:-
Russell Crowe 12mins
Geoffrey Wright 29mins
Jacqueline Mackenzie 12 mins
Tony Lee 10mins
Paul McDonald 18 mins (an outreach worker with street people)
There are also two galleries and a short clip of a photo-shoot.
If you've the cropped version, is it worth buying again ? Yes, if you love the film.
If you're thinking of buying for the first time, it's the only version to buy, trust me. ;O)
This is a short review of the widescreen version.
This 2 disc version is in the original ratio, there are parts of the film where it isn't too important, the hand-held fight sequences for example, but it comes into it's own in the intimate close up work and particularly in the final scenes. The transfer is good, sharper than the single disc and colours are more natural and vivid. On the Audio side there is Dolby Digital 5.1 with DTS plus a stereo option. There is also a director's commentary.
The extras on disc 2 are fairly meagre, there are interviews with:-
Russell Crowe 12mins
Geoffrey Wright 29mins
Jacqueline Mackenzie 12 mins
Tony Lee 10mins
Paul McDonald 18 mins (an outreach worker with street people)
There are also two galleries and a short clip of a photo-shoot.
If you've the cropped version, is it worth buying again ? Yes, if you love the film.
If you're thinking of buying for the first time, it's the only version to buy, trust me. ;O)
21 people found this helpful
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garry smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent release from 88 films
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 16, 2022
Three Decades on it still holds up and impacts with its violent an visceral look of this skinhead gang on the streets of Melbourne....and of course a young Russell Crowe shows early signs of the excellent actor he would go on to be in years to follow.The blu ray print is superb...this boxset is well worth your money.
Fitsha
3.0 out of 5 stars
Read once to add to the conversation.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 23, 2020
Not entertaining but needs to be viewed to join in the conversation
One person found this helpful
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Baz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 19, 2020
Brilliant film well acted stars Russell crowe
One person found this helpful
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MonkeyMann
5.0 out of 5 stars
One for any collection
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 30, 2018
Very raw gritty film. A true classic with shocking scenes but what a story
4 people found this helpful
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