Yavuz Turgul who is one of the best directors in Turkey. Here he is the script writer of the movie. I just watched it and we were shocked how late the time was. We didn't know the length of the movie but although it is 140 minutes the film flows like a butter in the pan. This film is amazing, the script and the work of all crew is good. Şener Şen is as good as always, and the other characters are pretty good but the character Sürmeli is one step beyond them. Rasim Oztekin steals role even from Şener Şen many times. Although this story tells the story of hard man's hard actions, the main story stands on love and in this movie even the bad character has a reason for what he does... Friendship, love, and courage. If you want to watch a good film about these and many deep feelings go and watch this. In this dustbin of crap movies this will be a fresh breath in your speedy life.....
20 Reviews
Everything is for love or honor..
gungoresen1 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Is it only for love or is it for honor also? Devran fights for his immoral photographs that are kept by police chief. Ali Osman fights for keeping innocence girl- Karaca from mafia. I would prefer another catchword rather than "Love is a killer reason" like: "Everything is for love or honor." By the way, I appreciate the social messages in the film: Do not keep it as a secret! Ali Osman's wife has the secret that she has son from him. Death bed declaration to Ali Osman releases the truth, which causes in tragedy between Ali Osman and his son. Devran plays a double game: He works both for police and mafia. That ends in death of main characters from both sides. You will be warned with social messages. Watch it!
Sener Sen and Kenan İmirzalıoglu meets in a Masterpiece
powerofstorm19 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was really great..It's the 2th best Turkish movie in my life..First was ESKIYA..You need to watch this if you wanna see what true love is.. A psycho and an old gangster..Very common but the screenplay and acting is magnificent..Especially Kenan Imirzalıoglu.. I think you should watch this movie before it's too late.You will remember this movie because it has unique scenes.. It will effect your vision to Turkish movies.Because Turkish movies are rising now like south Korean movies.. don't miss it.. by the way they are my favorite Turkish actors..Kenan Imirzalıoglu and Sener Sen...And I almost forgot Fikret Kuskan :)
Finally, a Turkish cinema exists!
hbarbarossa17 December 2007
I proclaim that, from the day this film was released on, Turkish cinema exists! Monumental acting (Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, first time in his decade old career, is an actor in this one, and perfectly so), consistent storyline with all taboos hitherto nigh untouchable (corrupt Police, state relations of organized crime, torture and humiliation in prison and under custody etc.) turned upside down in a gentle and natural way not over-pressing things in a fist waving manner, a very well done final scene in which you swing between tears and laughter and overall bright regie... No Shakespearean heroes/villains cliché of Turkish films/TV; crafty and in depth character building and realization with an antagonist whom you almost pity.
Especially a gem if you wish to hear the Istanbul dialect of Turkish, which is mostly fading into memories with the older generations, spoken with character and attire.
Most recommended. (Heavy swearing and mild sexuality warning)
Especially a gem if you wish to hear the Istanbul dialect of Turkish, which is mostly fading into memories with the older generations, spoken with character and attire.
Most recommended. (Heavy swearing and mild sexuality warning)
Excellent performance from 2 artist...
FeeLeR_FiQ8 March 2008
Because of his son, a retired honest bully (Sener SEN) have to be against to young one (Kenan IMIRZALIOGLU). Ali Osman (Sener SEN) has chosen a peaceful life and started to wait death. But after an unexpected news from his old lover, he have to become a man he wouldn't like to be. As he struggle with desperate illness, he wants to safe his son from badness.
When you look at the subject choice, your expectation from the movie becomes too much.
Two performances differs from remainder of the film. Alive legend of Turkish cinema Sener SEN and shining star of that kind of movies Kenan IMIRZALIOGLU.
By the choice of better artists/actresses and dialogs, i think this movie could have been much more powerful and effective...
When you look at the subject choice, your expectation from the movie becomes too much.
Two performances differs from remainder of the film. Alive legend of Turkish cinema Sener SEN and shining star of that kind of movies Kenan IMIRZALIOGLU.
By the choice of better artists/actresses and dialogs, i think this movie could have been much more powerful and effective...
Greatest ever!
antisarikanarya30 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I was waiting for this movie. This is pure cinema. This is fantastic. The actors are great, cinematography is great, script is fantastic, messages are very well and dialogs are great. You must see it, if you want to see a Turkish movie. This is great entertainment and sad story. Yavuz Turgul is one of the best filmmakers of the world. The film criticizes many things. I don't want to give spoilers. This is one of the best movies, I have ever seen. Ferenc Pap is a real good cinematographer. The pictures and the quality are great. Kenan Imirzaliogul has done the greatest role in his career. Sener Sen was like always: GOOD. Rasim Oztekin is a very good actor and played perfect. The others were great too. You must see it. It's not a popcorn flick.
This movie was magnificent
joker_saygoodbye28 April 2008
Great actors in this movie just nailed me on my sit & carried my mind me to end of that.That last scene that almost made me cry. I still remember those strong phrases and mean-full looks. ..... .......... ....... ....... ....... ........ ..... ... ..... ............ ....... ......... ........ ....... ...... ..... ..... ..... .......................... ........ .... ....... ........ ..... ...................................... ........... ........... ....... ........... ..... .......................... ................. ......... ..... .... ..... ........ ........ ............... ......... ............ .............. ............... .................... ..... ........ ........ ......... ....... ....... .... ....... ................. ..... ....... ...... ....... ..... ............ ....... ..... ................. ......... ............... ................ ........ ...... ................. ....... ......... ............ ........... ..... ....................... ...... ....... ........ ......... ..... ......... ....... ..... .......
He played well bad characters
kalay25 December 2007
Kabadayi was made very close to Eskiya. After the success of Eskiya, I think Yavuz Turgul tried to catch an opportunity with the same concept. If he use different story, I bet he would signed a signature on better movie.
Sener Sen was artistic indeed, he can play every kind of character with an accomplishment. I got astonished with the performance of Kenan Imirzalioglu. I did not think that he would play successfully bad tempered characters, bu he proved that he could. As always Rasim Oztekin did great performance. Performances of Ismail Hacioglu, Asli Tandogan and Süleyman Turan were not on the attic, I can say that they were distributed in the middle level.
Typical from 1970's Turkish movies cliché's were used in Kabadayi. There were humor also in the body of the movie. When the action goes on, we can hear funny jokes from characters. That makes smoother the story.
On the whole Kabadayi is a good movie but do not build your expectations on the peek.
Sener Sen was artistic indeed, he can play every kind of character with an accomplishment. I got astonished with the performance of Kenan Imirzalioglu. I did not think that he would play successfully bad tempered characters, bu he proved that he could. As always Rasim Oztekin did great performance. Performances of Ismail Hacioglu, Asli Tandogan and Süleyman Turan were not on the attic, I can say that they were distributed in the middle level.
Typical from 1970's Turkish movies cliché's were used in Kabadayi. There were humor also in the body of the movie. When the action goes on, we can hear funny jokes from characters. That makes smoother the story.
On the whole Kabadayi is a good movie but do not build your expectations on the peek.
good fiction
karakurtburak-2450910 July 2021
Good
jack_o_hasanov_imdb14 August 2021
The Turkish Godfather
snncy200022 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I know the subject line is very much pretentious. I must tell this two movies (The Godfather and Kabadayi) have two completely different stories (yet they both are about tough guys). I've chosen this subject because Kabadayi holds the same place in Turkish cinema what The Gotfather holds in Hollywood.
Before I tell you a little summary of the plot, let me explain what Kabadayi means (şarkının burası turistler için). I think English word for Kabadayi is "rowdy" but I'm not absolutely sure of that since it holds some cultural meaning in Turkey too. Nowadays, we all know the mafia is everywhere. They do all the dirty business, drug dealing, blackmailing and so on. But in the old times, they were guys who were called Kabadayi. Those guys were big brothers of the neighborhood, they "solve" the problems among people in their own way but they were honest and kind. They also support the poor and the weak.
You might call them sort of Robin Hood (that is actually mentioned in the movie ironically).
Ali Osman (played by Sener Sen) is a Kabadayi. He's old now, taking care of his legal business but still helping the poor and sometimes getting together with old mates who were kabadayis once. They chat and have jokes about good old days. Ali Osman recently suffering from short-time memory losses. He knows his and his friend's time has passed.
One day he learns that his love of life Afet(played by Selma Kutlu) is in deathbed. He hasn't seen her for years but never forgot her. He goes to visit her to learn surprise of a lifetime. She tells Ali Osman that he's got a son from her that he never know.
She never told him that before, because when they were in love Ali Osman was actually married to another woman (whom later died and Ali Osman also lost his other son from his wife - Ali Osman considers all these loses as a punishment of god because he did so many bad things in the past). Afet didn't want to disturb Ali Osman's family life. When she learned her pregnancy, AliOsman was in jail, she didn't visit him and they never seen each other afterwords. Afet raised her son and told him that his father is Surmeli(played by RasimOztekin) who is actually a gay man who was Afet's helper when she was a famous singer.
Ali Osman goes and finds his son Murat(played by Ismail Hacioglu) and tells him that "I'm your father your mom just told me that and now she is dying". But Murat is denying his mother and doesn't want to see her let alone his "new" father. He's working at a bar/night club as a DJ together with his amazingly beautiful girlfriend Karaca(played by Asli Tandogan).
Here we're introduced to villain: Devran (played by Kenan Imirzalioglu). This guy is a full featured modern mafia. Drug dealing, blackmailing and taking tribute from nightclubs is his business. We later learn that he's actually serving to much bigger "boss" while playing double-sided with secret service. The nightclub that Murat works is one of places which Devran wants to take. But real trouble is that Devran loves Murat's girlfriend Karaca like crazy. This love is the key of the movie actually.
Devran tries everything to get Karaca, will Murat cope with that, is there a last clash waiting for Ali Osman before he leaves the "underground world" ?
Well I'm not going to tell you the whole story line by line here, I just wanted to give you sense of it. This is actually ground building parts of the movie. Later on it develops quickly and give you as much action as drama.
I like the movie mainly because it never makes you think "hey this is stupid, why he/she did that ?? pointless....".
It's plot is very well written. Nothing more nothing less. Characters are quite believable. Cast and acting is awesome. The movie never tries to hide anything and reveal it later to shock you or something like that, you just watch it and enjoy it. At first it looks like a cliché story but it is very well suited to Turkey's life style and doesn't look awkward. There is even very nice sense of humor placed smartly in the movie piece by piece. Sener Sen (Ali Osman) giving another great performance supporting cast deserves real appreciation too.
One could argue that there are very few battle/skirmish scenes as a mafia story (I should have said Kabadayi movie - you'll know why when you watch it). And those scenes are not "emphasized". I mean guns, shooting scenes and blasts could have been much better. The quality of these scenes actually reminded me Eskiya, another great movie also featured Sener Sen and Yavuz Turgul. I think director and story writer didn't want the action scenes to steal the movie. That's why those scenes are not very strong except the last slamming scene (pls see: Osmanli Tokadi).
Camera man's work is above the average but at some scenes we see a little bit of raw lighting. Editing is OK, long runtime is not a problem here.
Story telling is flawless. At no point I lost the story line or felt bored. If you push it hard you can find some small holes like how on earth you cut someone's throat and even one drop of blood doesn't splash on you suit?
The movie delves into mafia, torture at jails, politicians's corruption even the secret service's work. At the end of the movie we learn some interesting stuff like what has driven Devran so out of his mind and he is just the outcome of what have done to him.
If you have chance to see it, don't miss.
Thank you everyone who made or contributed to this movie.
Before I tell you a little summary of the plot, let me explain what Kabadayi means (şarkının burası turistler için). I think English word for Kabadayi is "rowdy" but I'm not absolutely sure of that since it holds some cultural meaning in Turkey too. Nowadays, we all know the mafia is everywhere. They do all the dirty business, drug dealing, blackmailing and so on. But in the old times, they were guys who were called Kabadayi. Those guys were big brothers of the neighborhood, they "solve" the problems among people in their own way but they were honest and kind. They also support the poor and the weak.
You might call them sort of Robin Hood (that is actually mentioned in the movie ironically).
Ali Osman (played by Sener Sen) is a Kabadayi. He's old now, taking care of his legal business but still helping the poor and sometimes getting together with old mates who were kabadayis once. They chat and have jokes about good old days. Ali Osman recently suffering from short-time memory losses. He knows his and his friend's time has passed.
One day he learns that his love of life Afet(played by Selma Kutlu) is in deathbed. He hasn't seen her for years but never forgot her. He goes to visit her to learn surprise of a lifetime. She tells Ali Osman that he's got a son from her that he never know.
She never told him that before, because when they were in love Ali Osman was actually married to another woman (whom later died and Ali Osman also lost his other son from his wife - Ali Osman considers all these loses as a punishment of god because he did so many bad things in the past). Afet didn't want to disturb Ali Osman's family life. When she learned her pregnancy, AliOsman was in jail, she didn't visit him and they never seen each other afterwords. Afet raised her son and told him that his father is Surmeli(played by RasimOztekin) who is actually a gay man who was Afet's helper when she was a famous singer.
Ali Osman goes and finds his son Murat(played by Ismail Hacioglu) and tells him that "I'm your father your mom just told me that and now she is dying". But Murat is denying his mother and doesn't want to see her let alone his "new" father. He's working at a bar/night club as a DJ together with his amazingly beautiful girlfriend Karaca(played by Asli Tandogan).
Here we're introduced to villain: Devran (played by Kenan Imirzalioglu). This guy is a full featured modern mafia. Drug dealing, blackmailing and taking tribute from nightclubs is his business. We later learn that he's actually serving to much bigger "boss" while playing double-sided with secret service. The nightclub that Murat works is one of places which Devran wants to take. But real trouble is that Devran loves Murat's girlfriend Karaca like crazy. This love is the key of the movie actually.
Devran tries everything to get Karaca, will Murat cope with that, is there a last clash waiting for Ali Osman before he leaves the "underground world" ?
Well I'm not going to tell you the whole story line by line here, I just wanted to give you sense of it. This is actually ground building parts of the movie. Later on it develops quickly and give you as much action as drama.
I like the movie mainly because it never makes you think "hey this is stupid, why he/she did that ?? pointless....".
It's plot is very well written. Nothing more nothing less. Characters are quite believable. Cast and acting is awesome. The movie never tries to hide anything and reveal it later to shock you or something like that, you just watch it and enjoy it. At first it looks like a cliché story but it is very well suited to Turkey's life style and doesn't look awkward. There is even very nice sense of humor placed smartly in the movie piece by piece. Sener Sen (Ali Osman) giving another great performance supporting cast deserves real appreciation too.
One could argue that there are very few battle/skirmish scenes as a mafia story (I should have said Kabadayi movie - you'll know why when you watch it). And those scenes are not "emphasized". I mean guns, shooting scenes and blasts could have been much better. The quality of these scenes actually reminded me Eskiya, another great movie also featured Sener Sen and Yavuz Turgul. I think director and story writer didn't want the action scenes to steal the movie. That's why those scenes are not very strong except the last slamming scene (pls see: Osmanli Tokadi).
Camera man's work is above the average but at some scenes we see a little bit of raw lighting. Editing is OK, long runtime is not a problem here.
Story telling is flawless. At no point I lost the story line or felt bored. If you push it hard you can find some small holes like how on earth you cut someone's throat and even one drop of blood doesn't splash on you suit?
The movie delves into mafia, torture at jails, politicians's corruption even the secret service's work. At the end of the movie we learn some interesting stuff like what has driven Devran so out of his mind and he is just the outcome of what have done to him.
If you have chance to see it, don't miss.
Thank you everyone who made or contributed to this movie.
Disappointing apart from Sener Sen
ya19739 January 2008
Warning: Spoilers
After some glorious reviews I was very curious to watch this movie. I must say I was quite disappointed all in all, but there were some positive elements as well: Sener Sen is fantastic in his performance, very convincing and his character truly shines. But that does not save the movie. I thought the main problem was an unfortunate mix of genres, which weakened the movie: it is supposed to be a drama, but there are (mainly unintended, almost ridiculous) "slapstick"-like scenes or moments in it, that makes it like a caricature of itself. Of course drama and comedy can be very close but I am not talking about true comedy here. Slapstick elements in such a serious piece of work just simply ruins it. Since I felt like laughing in some of the supposedly most serious moments, the drama in it did not truly catch my full attention. The homosexual character was so exaggerated (like a persiflage), sympathetic but very calculated jokes, then Devran is still talking and saying odd stuff whilst he is almost about to die, generally people have very dramatic expressions in there faces once they are shot dead (this could be slapstick, truly!) or the girl's comment about Devrans "best male piece" not being as big as Murats, and Devrans reaction to it (slapstick pure!) and this unfortunate mixture just took so much away from the movie. I got distracted and even noticed some minor imperfections in editing or logic of scenes(which I normally don't tend to notice). For example, Ali Osman uses Murats mobile phone to call his friend and just presses one button (like a repeat call) but it is impossible that his friends number is saved in Murats phone as he does not even know him! Karaca is seriously injured by the shooting in the bar, she is in hospital etc and suddenly the injury seems to be gone, she is back to normal! All of this is a pity, as Sener Sen truly shines in his role, but alas this is not a solo performance.
Sener Sen at his best !!
canozcannn19 May 2022
Best Turkish movie till the date. Sener Sen again proves that he is god tier actor. Kabadayi is the best drama movie I have ever seen. Additionally, side characters did amazing job too. Especially Kenan Imirzalioglu did wonderful job playing villain. Sener Sen is the greatest actor alongside with Kemal Sunal and his one of the best job is lying there.
Turkish Godfather
ekaan-1046428 January 2022
A good one
archraist12 March 2022
Are you Kidding! A masterpiece?!!
mustafa-tozsun18 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I don't understand how people review this film so highly, it just didn't do it for me. It has no story to tell, same old, same old...(Boy loves girl, girl loves boy, good guy vs bad guy).
I was expecting something entirely different from Yavuz Turgul and Omer Vargi, specially after releasing a classy looking trailers and posters. From what it seems they were brainwashing the audience by getting them to believe that they are awaiting something different and unique.
The only way to sum-up my opinion about this film, is to write the good and bad of this film:
BAD: Story (Cliché), Directing (Amature),Dialogue (Do they ever shut up!!), Acting "Asli Tandogan, Ismail Hacioglu" (Fake), Paste and Visuals (doesn't exist! Again too much dialogue!), Length (140 minutes, are they gone MAD!!!), Makeup/Hair/Costumes: very unrealistic "Murat - Bob Marley?!!")
GOOD: Cinematography (Professional), Sener Sen (Great performance as usual),Kenan Imirzalioglu (convincing, not as good as his previews film "Son osmanli", but OK), Music (lyrical & Moody, very Hollywood, but debatable wither fits this film or not), Sound design and effects(obviously a very professional work, but not suitable, made the film sound like an action film), Editing (Decent).
What also botheres me, is the lack of continuity: halfway through the film, girl gets shot(crucial surgery), few minutes later as if nothing ever happened.
Overall it's a disappointment, save your money for a better film.
2/10 a wake up call!!!
I was expecting something entirely different from Yavuz Turgul and Omer Vargi, specially after releasing a classy looking trailers and posters. From what it seems they were brainwashing the audience by getting them to believe that they are awaiting something different and unique.
The only way to sum-up my opinion about this film, is to write the good and bad of this film:
BAD: Story (Cliché), Directing (Amature),Dialogue (Do they ever shut up!!), Acting "Asli Tandogan, Ismail Hacioglu" (Fake), Paste and Visuals (doesn't exist! Again too much dialogue!), Length (140 minutes, are they gone MAD!!!), Makeup/Hair/Costumes: very unrealistic "Murat - Bob Marley?!!")
GOOD: Cinematography (Professional), Sener Sen (Great performance as usual),Kenan Imirzalioglu (convincing, not as good as his previews film "Son osmanli", but OK), Music (lyrical & Moody, very Hollywood, but debatable wither fits this film or not), Sound design and effects(obviously a very professional work, but not suitable, made the film sound like an action film), Editing (Decent).
What also botheres me, is the lack of continuity: halfway through the film, girl gets shot(crucial surgery), few minutes later as if nothing ever happened.
Overall it's a disappointment, save your money for a better film.
2/10 a wake up call!!!
a clumsy work of cinema art
mhmt_korkmaz26 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
As a movie goer I was expecting at least reasonable performance in this movie taking account the reputation of the director, screenplay writer, actors etc. but the movie was totally disappointing.The story is like something written by a child, meaningless and redundant dialogs. Acting is awful especially by İsmail Hacıoglu(Murat), Aslı Tandogan(Karaca: a name probably made up by a moron),Rasim Oztekin (he was inadequate in GORA, worse in this movie as a gay character). All I can say about this movie is that it would be better if there were no dialogs at all. My general recommendation to such screenwriters, directors and producers: first make your movie as a silent movie and never add a dialog unless you have something original or crucial to say. Simplicity is always less risky and less annoying.
First rate disappointment
ruhi-yaman11 April 2008
Unbelievable, exploitative and often downright silly, Kabadayi is a disappointment of the first order. One of Turkish cinema's best loved actors, Sener Sen, reprises his character from Eskiya (1996), without bothering to add a single nuance to his performance. Yavuz Turgul, writer/director of Eskiya, is also responsible for this script. However, where Eskiya managed to convey serious social messages within a rousing tale of violence and its consequences, Kabadayi never rises above the level of a second rate Hong Kong tale of revenge. Kenan Imirzalioglu, a reliable if limited leading man, overacts to the point of caricature as the villain of the piece, Devran. A number of stalwarts of modern Turkish cinema bravely try to inject some individuality into their clichéd characters without success. Young leads, Ismail Hacioglu (Murat) and Asli Tandogan (Karaca) look good but act with the vivacity of a couple of shop window mannequins that were given temporary lives. Editing is a disaster and the script appears to have run away from its writer to be completed during the shoot. There is plenty of unintended comedy especially during the final climax
If it weren't preceded with fanfare that raised expectations and invited obvious comparisons to Eskiya (one of the most involving Turkish films of recent times) the disappointment would not have been that great. As it stands, the film is a disgrace on all fronts. Comparisons to works of Coppola and Scorsese would have been insulting if they weren't so outrageously comical. 1/10.
Sener Sen's performance doesn't save the movie
utkukaynar25 December 2007
Clearly a disappointment.
First of all, this movie is a bad mix between godfather and eskiya. Also, all the actors are playing the roles that they've exercised in their previous ones. No add-on to characters, no personal interpretation. Nothing.
Additionally, editing was done as a cheap job, which is killing a potentially good script. Plans add-up to each other like sticked with a glue.
Characters are not giving deep, satisfactory make believe performances, which convinces you that you've actually come to a 2nd class TV movie.
Not advised, but if you like the godfather like movies, or a power slave which adores empty power show offs, then buy the DVD.
First of all, this movie is a bad mix between godfather and eskiya. Also, all the actors are playing the roles that they've exercised in their previous ones. No add-on to characters, no personal interpretation. Nothing.
Additionally, editing was done as a cheap job, which is killing a potentially good script. Plans add-up to each other like sticked with a glue.
Characters are not giving deep, satisfactory make believe performances, which convinces you that you've actually come to a 2nd class TV movie.
Not advised, but if you like the godfather like movies, or a power slave which adores empty power show offs, then buy the DVD.
if you don't hope for much, nice 1-2 hours to watch.
islamsivri-11 October 2008
with having not so complicated plot, Kabadayi has authentic figures in it which are mostly related to Middle East. Anybody who saw the movie probably asked himself what would it be like if Turgul directed it. although he is the screen writer everybody may agree that he' d add a lot of his special motives to this film. not that Vargi is not a good director but Turgul has so much specific talents which adds the unique taste to his films. the movie -Kabadayi- may be summarized with a single line: if a director writes a movie he/she ought to direct it also to keep the originality. other then the direction; cast is just fine. Imirzalioglu who had a not so successful but highly noticed TV past promises for being a terrific actor. Nothing much to say for Sen, he is just gorgeous.
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