The Rise of the Krays (2015) Reviews

• Offensive

  luke-249402015-09-24

  This film is terrible. Where to start? Poor acting, no idea where they got the guy who played Reggie from but I've seen more character in a wooden spoon. No proper research was clearly done into the Krays which makes the film hard to watch and cringe worthy in parts. The fact that the "twins" looked and acted a million miles apart pretty much sums it up. It's offensive that this film was even produced under the name of the Krays and I agree with other users that the logic behind the film was simply to milk the subject for all it's worth. Best advice would be to save your time and money and either watch Legend or read one of John Pearson's novels on the Krays, both of which at least do the subject some justice.

• A c grade movie of the twins

  mrrob-315322015-09-01

  There is an older version of this movie starring the Kemp brothers. At least they looked alike. These two actors bore no resemblance to each other. This is a cheap movie, badly acted, not true to the story and it jumps about all over the place. There is no chronological order to the Krays growing up and developing their psychopathic behaviour. The movie was a hard watch due to the poor character development. What we have here is a very loose film based around the twins with lots of violence. The twins mother was hugely influential on the boys but we don't see her. The drunken, wife beating and child beating father also doesn't get a mention. Save yourself 2 hours and read a book or go into the garden. Hopeless.

• Total Rubbish

  sqdb2015-10-09

  I have always been interested in the Krays. I have read most of the books about them and I also enjoyed the 1990 film with the Kemp brothers, which was flawed and left a great deal of things out, but became a cult film. The Rise Of The Krays, however, makes the Kemp film look like a masterpiece in comparison. I only watched it for half an hour and I thought it was absolute rubbish. It featured violence just for the sake of it, no coherent plot, was obviously made on a shoestring and featured no actors that I had actually heard of before. To make matters even worse, the two actors playing the Krays didn't look like them at all! The comment on the cover of the DVD states that this is, apparently, "The Best British Gangster Film Ever", which is complete rubbish. This is, without doubt, the worst film I have seen for a long time and anyone who knows anything about the Krays' story would soon spot glaring mistakes. It is a blatant rip-off of the 1990 film and an obvious cash-in on the new Legend film starring Tom Hardy as the twins. He looks more like the Krays than the two jokers in this film. Honestly, just don't waste your time or money on this rubbish. If you want to know more about the Krays, then I suggest you read one of the books about them, which are infinitely more accurate and tell a fuller picture than this film. You will thank me for it, trust me. Even the 1990 film is better than this.

• Ignore this, wait for Hardy, and stick with Spandau....

  FlashCallahan2015-08-31

  London, 1961: Ronnie and Reggie Kray begin a reign of terror that would endure and define London's East End for years to come. From protection rackets to members clubs, from brutal street brawls, arson via blackmail, extending all the way up to the Cabinet Office, the Krays rained red on anyone who crossed them...... So this is part one of a two part straight to Sunday night TV drama which has been given more recognition because the makers want to cash in on the forthcoming 'Legend' adaptation. And this is all the movie is, a blatant cash-in on the titular Brothers, and their notorious rise to power. But the biggest crime on show here is just how the makers have ruined such a rich and interesting source? Anyone from the age of thirty onwards would know the story of The Krays, and the Medak's version of accounts has become something of a cult since its release, even that awful mess 'Assassin' had The Kemps in minor roles as criminal siblings, referencing their casting. Even though they were criminals, The Krays have become cultural icons, referenced in Morrissey's Last Of The International Playboys, and always in the back of the mind of many gangster films made since the seventies. But here, they are depicted as spoilt brats who just go around giving people a few tasty slaps and quickly winning the monopoly of what seems to be one street in London. Credit where credits due though, it has a wonderful feel to it, but when anyone opens their mouth, we are into below sub Guy Ritchie territory, and I think I speak for a lot of people when I say these gangster films should be taking outside and given a Chelsea smile. All in all is a disgraceful cash in that will soon be forgotten. One to ignore.

• Find something else to do - go outside watch the grass grow

  alfredsmith2015-09-03

  This is another attempt at the story of the Kray twins who terrorised London's East End starting in the early 1960s. UK resident will know of the Kray twins as they had quite a reputation. Their portrayal in this movie is laughable. They come across as misunderstood, well meaning brats which they certainly weren't. As far as pure entertainment goes the movie is a first class clanger. The story of the Krays has been done before and was a considerably better effort than this latest version. Obviously made on a tight budget and full of historical inaccuracies, it is dull and at most times, embarrassing and painful to watch. I humbly suggest that you do yourself a huge favour, steer clear of this dud and wait for the release of "Legend" with Tom Hardy which I imagine will be infinitely better.