[llabb]

bender: Thanks in advance, I'll rent it sometime. I think Damon's great.

RDH: The "IA's better" comparison only came after for me. I thoroughly loved The Departed, no moping at any point. In fact, I think I enjoyed the ending more than most people who did not see the original. As evidenced in this thread and elsewhere, lots of people hated the ending, or just didn't think it fit. If you saw the original, you know it fits, so you appreciate the ending. If you just see this movie, it's a little "WTF?", although it's still cool, just a little over-the-top.

Ending-haters: As long as you can stand subtitles, do yourself a favor and see the original. It gives everything more meaning, and the ending makes sense. Actually, not just ending-haters, but anyone who enjoys reading a great book after seeing the good movie version, should see IA. If you don't like seeing things twice, don't bother.

All: I've revised my opinion on the ending, in and of itself it was fine, it was something else that made it wrong. Scorcese f'ed up Damon's character. Too one-sided. You already have one out-and-out villain in Jack, as well as a bunch of criminals. Damon could use a little depth to the character instead of being solely a scumbag.

And Marky Mark needs to get ambushed or something and go into a coma or die. Otherwise, as people have said, Leo's a friggin idiot for not going to Dignam, and trying to make a "citizen's arrest" on Damon.

And none of this should take away from the enjoyment of the movie, just the depth. I still loved this movie for what it was. With no comparison to the original, a 9 (or 5 or whatever scale you use). With the original in mind, an 8 (4). Very very good, probably not great. Although the acting brings it close. And it should definitely be in rotation as a guys being guys movie, for the comic moments in the first half alone.