fucking great movie
I just saw The Gangs of New York and it ROCKED! I had read about the anti-conscription riots during the Civil War in New York, but there's nothing like seeing history played in full, blood-and-fire-drenched Martin Scorcese style to make it come alive. Also, this flick shows how the police force in NY grew out of gangs -- quite literally, certain gangs became various police groups. A similar thing happened in San Francisco, where roving militias called "vigilance committees" became the, erm, peacekeepers of the city by doing nice things like killing Chinese people and prostitutes. Urban history really ought be related by directors like the ultra-violent Scorcese. But I yearn for a movie about 19th century San Francisco now . . . just think how cinematic the great gunpowder race down Market St. would be!