Gangs of New York dazzles with its design but disappoints with its story. While the sets, costumes, and performances were terrific, Gangs of New York's slow, plodding story ended with little satisfaction or resolution. The entire movie was building to this epic battle, but rather than the lead character's revenge that had motivated his whole life, the climax is deflated by an unrelated conflict. It was a reoccurring theme of the movie for characters to die rather unexpectedly and in ways that didn't ultimately serve the overall story. I found myself bored and frustrated as I sat through a bloated runtime, only to arrive at a conclusion that didn't conclude much of anything.