21 (Two-Disc Deluxe Edition)

Unless you're using math to design something, pure logic will serve you better in life. Everything in life makes sense, you may not see it right away, but that's the way it's designed and if you keep trying eventually you'll see it. Math can be so complex that the greatest mathematical geniuses that ever lived still haven't come up with a "Theory of Everything", but using common sense you can figure it out. Reason, logic, and spirit are God's gifts for us to use to find our way back to Him. They're our truth and lie detectors. Besides, pure logic and reason are math in conceptual form.So, trust yourself, take charge of your life, nobody else can do it for you. Don't give away your power.

An MIT Professor Rosa (Kevin Spacey) recruits the best and the brightest from his math classes and teaches them how to count cards and win big bucks playing Blackjack. He picks Ben (Jim Sturgess) who is desperate for money to pay for Harvard where he wants to go for medical school. There’s an added bonus for him that a girl he likes Jill (Kate Bosworth) is part of the team. Professor Rosa keeps telling Ben what they’re doing isn’t illegal, they’re just counting cards. When they go to Las Vegas however Ben finds out they are going to use fake identities and act like they don’t know each other. That’s an early warning that the house doesn’t appreciate card counters. There’s also the threat of greed destroying the team. Those are the issues that Ben faces amongst all the money and success he thinks he’s getting into.The film is told from Ben’s perspective. The first half takes the viewer through his anxiety over getting into Harvard and then the excitement of him gambling in Las Vegas and taking home thousands of dollars. It seems like a classic rise and fall story with Ben simply having fallen in with the wrong company. Then there’s a double twist at the end however. Basically the gambling brings you in and then the twists keep things interesting.C

The first time I saw 21 on video I really enjoyed it, and I didn't quite see all of the twists coming so I gave it a fairly decent rating (7/10). Coming back into it again on this re-watch on Blu-ray, I figured I'd be enjoying a clever little Vegas number that would entertain at the very least, because I remembered where the movie was headed. What I found is that this movie has not aged well, and in fact, may have never been that great to begin with. I'll admit that I also am a believer in separating the art from the artist, but watching Kevin Spacey on film for the first time since his whole controversy does not help this film in the slightest.The biggest problem with this film is the lack of emotion put in by Jim Sturgess. I've never been particularly fond of him as an actor, but during the late 2000s he was a big name in other movies such as Across the Universe, in which he's actually pretty decent. He's serviceable and believable as a young, somewhat quirky man, but something about his performance in this one doesn't seem genuine. Kevin Spacey also plays the type of "scumbag" character that he seemed to play so well, and now we all know why that may have been. Regardless, he probably is the driving character in the film, and I think his story with Laurence Fishburne should have gotten more play before the end of the film.I think Laurence's character, who is the enforcer in the chain of casinos in Vegas that keep falling victim to card counters, is probably the best in the movie and he has so little screen-time. The story of Kevin's Mickey and Laurence's Cole ends up being the driving force of the whole over-arching plot, and perhaps why it feels like it's just dropped in your lap at the most convenient time because the filmmakers wanted a twist. I would have sacrificed the twist for depth of story in this instance, because this movie has nothing going for it the second time around. Some of the other young actors in this group of players have their rare moments to shine, but Jim is left with the ultimate burden of being the "big player" in two ways.The real story is probably a lot more interesting, as this film is based on a book about a group of MIT students who hit Vegas hard using math and card-counting. It doesn't seem that challenging, but then you go and actually sit and play a game of Blackjack and find that it's much more complex. Due to the nature of the game and the way it's dealt in casinos, it can actually be quite awhile before you get to a count that's high enough for the big bets. I thought the Special Features were interesting in showing how card counting works, as well as one that shows how they filmed the opening bridge shot, which in the commentary they mention as one of their favorites and talk it up like it meant a lot for them to achieve.Overall, this movie is worth a rental viewing if you've never seen it before and if you're into movies about poker or casino games. I think of other movies like Rounders when it comes to purchase-worthy poker films, but ultimately it's not that bad of a movie. I bought this Used from a seller on Amazon and it even came with the original Blu-ray insert as pictured, so I was quite surprised with the condition of this item upon arrival. This movie is another example of how math can do so many extraordinary things, even if this case it's in relation to a casino game.The Blu-ray copy was in perfect condition and all features played exactly as they should. I tried to play the 21 Blackjack Game featured on here but it didn't work in my Blu-ray drive, though I can really play that anywhere so that is not contributing to the 3-star rating. I hope that this review serves you better than the top review on this page right now... Not sure how you can denounce math as essentially meaningless, and then state that logic and our God-given spirits are more definitive... And that logic is basically math in conceptual form, what? 2+2 will ALWAYS equal 4, but logic would state that two 3's make an 8 because they each look like one half of that number on paper. If anything, watch this movie to spite that review that somehow got through the Amazon censors.

99% of the viewers will love this tale of a socially inept math genius who discovers the exciting world of gambling victories and all the side benefits that accompany those winnings. If you did not scream at the genius who did not use a bank instead of his ceiling... As a gambling expert and former casino consultant, some minor irritations can be forgiven in the name of poetic license. The movie focuses on card counting and there is a nice extra that makes an attempt to explain why counting overcomes the house odds. However, don't assume that explanation will offer the viewer enough information to try it in a casino. Blackjack counting in Las Vegas is now considered illegal, but not in Atlantic City. For every deck in a shoe, the odds for the counter diminish, and the strategy is altered. The movie does not show the charts for the various changes. Shuffle-tracking is mentioned in passing, but never employed in the movie. A quick definition of shuffle-tracking is if one can identify a clump or cluster of cards unchanged after the shuffle of all decks, the order is known and allows a bettor to win without risk. This skill is also illegal to use in Las Vegas and the casino has software that can identify the groups faster than the player.

Okay I’m getting fed up with these movies that are supposed to have a digital code inserted inside and when I open it, I’m upset to find no digital code. It would be different if it wasn’t a Columbia Pictures movie but I know and have a Sony Rewards app that proves that this movie was supposed to have a digital code. And since Columbia Pictures is a part of Sony Pictures. Well that is just another way to prove it’s supposed to have a digital code. So can I exchange it for one with a digital code insert inside??

I'm a harsh critic, but I really enjoyed this movie. It did what so few movies are able or willing to do these days - it stirred emotions that are other than simple, base rage or lust. Or maybe it just brought memories of the 80's? lol - Anyways, the ending was perfect. sit back and enjoy the ride.

After Reading Ben Mezrich's "Bringing Down the House", upon which this movie is based, I was excited to the movie. I am usually let down by movies that are based on books, but that was not the case this time.Although there were a handful of cliché parts of the movie, all in all it was excellently done. The visual effects were well done, and the acting on the part of Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, and Kate Bosworth, was exemplary. Some people may criticize Spacey for his 'gusto', but I believe his portrayal of Mickey was stellar.The movie had suspense, a solid plot line, scattered funny scenes, and a good ending. The people I went with, none of whom had read the book, found it an even better movie than I did. If you like the movie enough, I recommend reading the book for a more complete story.

I have not read the book but this must be a light hearted / Diluted version of it - If you are expecting a faced paced movie with lots of Blackjack action - how they studied and mastered card counting and basic strategy then you will be disapointed - If you are a black jack player then still watchable but I found the documenteries on Black jack more interesting

All star, simple film with good geek vs gansta in vegas theme. A successful formula used in a lot that of other films that works well here too. Innocent geeks get the experience of their lives! It's fun, the fun is real, well paced and gripping. The ending is good. Won't offer any spoilers, it's too much fun to discover it yourselves!RECOMMENDED

Be right back in Las Vegas but 66 road is for my old indian reincarnation cycle...Meen's Vegas is still a good destination but matters doesn't finish in a desert death.Prove their intellegency explicating their rules, advertising cheaters to be carefull before they'll be consideratred are Pirates.Paradox of Vegas cause winners respect the US laws but are victims of casinos privacy.Lose or lose, just choose how.

The music, the plot, the film scenes.