Reviews (23)

Highly recommended story about life on the streets
"Mi Vida Loca (My Crazy Life)" is an HBO movie about Hispanic girls growing up in Echo Park. Each main character was allowed to tell his or her story and the director effectively blended these lives into a tale about real people facing death on the streets. It shows what it means to belong to a neighborhood, how the neighborhood gangs provide support, and how people, especially women, cope with the deaths around them. There were no "bad" people here, just nice kids who accept murder as an effective way to solve problems in a dangerous environment. I highly recommend the film to anyone who has seen "Kids" for a more mundane but believable take on poor urban teens.

Not that accurate, but fun to watch
I work in Echo Park and I grew up here. I have friends in the movie. I don't think it was very accurate; Echo Park is not just gangs, but also artists, professionals, and people trying to make a difference. There are former Echo Park gangmembers who have professional degrees after attending universities on scholarship, just as there those who are still in jail or still banging.

Be careful watching any movie supposedly based on fact. Mi Vida Loca doesn't tell the whole story, but the movie is well-made and fun to watch.

One of a Kind
This movie is one of a kind. If your into the other movies like, Blood In Blood Out, American Me, Boulevard Nights, than you will definitley enjoy this film. I have it on VHS and I am very excited that it is FINALLY coming out on DVD. I highley recommend Mi Vida Loca to add to you gangster movie collection.

Why everyone must see this film...
...This film is amazing. It realistically deals with the problematic role of girls in a gang and the same girls as mothers (or a mother figure). Additionally, it realistally protrays the girl gang culture in L.A. (specifically in Echo Park). As a third generation California latina, I am shocked by the disparity of Echo Park as it was at the time of the film and now.

Love, Loss, and Friendship Beyond All Circumstances
Alison Anders did a wonderful job directing this movie. characters seem so real and alive. Women of all races and ages will appreciate this story of love, loss and friendship surviving all circumstances. I just love this movie. El Duran steals the movie in his brief role. The score was done by John Taylor of Duran Duran if you didn't know. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Shirley MacLaine in her greatest musical performance
This new DVD release of SWEET CHARITY is a welcome addition to any classic movie collection. Shirley MacLaine stars as Charity Hope Valentine in the celebrated film version of the Broadway hit.

Charity (Shirley MacLaine) works at the Fan Dango Ballroom, a dingy dime-a-dance hall where the girls give a lot more away than dances. Charity runs her heart like a hotel, and gives her love to one undeserving man after another. Her two best friends Nickie and Helene (Chita Rivera and Paula Kelly) are the ones who help Charity when she is ultimately betrayed by each boyfriend who comes into her life. Ever-hopeful (sometimes impossibly-so), Charity goes through life with wide eyes and wide dreams...

When Charity meets the mild-mannered Oscar Linquist (John McMartin re-creating his Broadway performance), she believes that she will finally be able to leave her sordid past and profession behind her. But will Oscar be as understanding?

Shirley MacLaine colors Charity more vividly than Broadway's Gwen Verdon did (or was permitted to do). MacLaine is especially affecting and heartbreaking in the final 15 minutes of the movie, and sings a plaintive "Where Am I Going?".

Bob Fosse's first big Hollywood film, SWEET CHARITY was a big, if not huge, success when it was first released. The choppy editing and artistic touches that audiences failed to appreciate then make much more sense now, following the success of MOULIN ROUGE. The impressive supporting cast includes Ricardo Montalban, Sammy Davis Jr. and Stubby Kaye.

This beautiful new Special Edition DVD presents the complete 'Road-Show' version of the film including Overture and Intermission. There are also many extras including the trailer, the original 'Making-of' featurette, a featurette where designer Edith Head takes us through her colorful costumes, and the alternate ending that was never used. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc).

You're gonna get up, get out, and buy it!!
I'm grateful for the comments before me which explain the enigma that is "Sweet Charity." It takes a book of a relatively sad, downtrodden character and turns it into a musical (and not a happy-go-lucky one either, as is often the assumption). The film comes at the start of the stylized, mod 70's- and while some of Fosse's visuals over-saturate this point, the story is so smart that it doesn't matter. (It was Fosse's first film direction and it has his signature all over it.) And I'm glad that the VHS presentation letterboxes the musical numbers, even if it standard-screens the nonmusical portions. There's no other way to view the dance hall girls sexily draped over the barre in "Hey, Big Spender," or the film's best number- the sensational rooftop dance "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This." (This may be the most theatrical moment in the film as it allows pure, full-bodied dance by Shirley MacLaine, Chita Rivera, and Paula Kelly.) And those who generally dislike musicals would be surprised at the film's bittersweet ending; it's not entirely happy but it is completely triumphant, and it never ceases to bring tears (well, just one) to my eyes.

For Serious Fosse Fans Only
Ok, this movie is a clunker. The story doesn't hold up well in today's feminist or post-feminist era and MacLaine's performance made me cringe.

However, here's the great thing about DVD: use the scene selector to skip right to the fabulous dance numbers! "Rich Man's Frug" and "Hey Big Spender" are two of Fosse's best on film, and big enough that you'll want to watch them several times to catch all the details and dancers. And as a special treat to Fosse fans, the extras on the DVD include some brief segments with THE MAN himself.

Fosse newbies, skip right over this and go straight to CABARET which is a brilliant musical AND a brilliant film.

I'm amazed
I'm amazed that some studio gave Fosse the chance to direct again after this downright failure. I do have to give some of the blame (ok, most) to Shirley MacLaine who is annoying, needy, and badly acted/sung/danced. I want to sock her Charity in the nose almost ceaslessly.

The only let up from her killing the part are Fosse's dance numbers. "Rich Man's Frug" lives up to its reputation, and "Rhythem of Life" are amazing. ( My friend and I were ready to burn the tape we were watching, and then "Rhythem" came on. We stayed for the rest of the movie.) Fosse as a director also seems to care only when his signature dances, or any dances, come on. That's when the camera usage that one gets to know so well in Cabaret and All That Jazz come in. During the naratives, he seems bored with the story and doesn't put nearly enough energy into it. One is left waiting for the stars, (preferably not Ms. MacLaine) to sing and dance for all they're worth for all the movie. It is also too long. I felt the ending was not harsh enough to Ms. MacLaine's Charity. An STD would have satisfied me.

Such Fun
Shirley McCain is wonderful in this movie. Kudos to Gwen Verdon, but unlike many other movie versions or broadway shows, this movie has the ultimate actress for the role. She is strong, naive, vulnerable and eternally hopeful as well as charming.
In additions there are great musicall numbers, of which, Rich Man's Frug is the worth the price of the dvd or tape. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This powerful production originated on the stage of the GlyndebourneFestival. It was restaged and filmed on location for the BBC telecast preservedin this video recording. Director Trevor Nunn takes full advantage of therealism, fluidity of movement, and precision of small details that are difficultto achieve when televising a staged performance but easy and natural in a movietreatment.

Nunn's vision, conveyed by an unusually talented cast, is constantly touchingand rises to overwhelming intensity at climactic points. For example: the crapgame and fight that end in Robbins's death, the hurricane scene, Crown's captureand abuse of Bess on Kittiwah Island, Porgy's fight with Crown, the comicallysinister antics of Sportin' Life, the double-edged pathos and absurdity of thescene in which Bess gets "divorced," and the electrifying conclusion, when Porgythrows away his crutches and sets out, naively, to find Bess in New York.

Musically, Simon Rattle and all the performers find the exact style for Gershwin's marvelous score--notonly such big numbers as "Summertime," "Bess, You Is My Woman Now," "I LovesYou, Porgy," "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'," "It Ain't Necessarily So," "I Hates YourStruttin' Style," and "O Lawd, I'm on My Way," but such smaller items as theexquisite cries of the street vendors of honey, strawberries, and crabs. Thereare no weaknesses in the cast. Willard White and Cynthia Haymon are ideal in thetitle roles, Gregg Baker is a terrifying, larger-than-life Crown, and DamonEvans is a properly slimy Sportin' Life. The white police officers aresplendidly repulsive. --Joe McLellan ... Read more

Reviews (105)

Did someone say "original" ?
I have read through the eighty-some posts here and was surprised to read over and over "I want to see the 'original' with Sidney Poitier..."

The "original" opera opened in 1935 and starred Todd Duncan and Anne Brown. Selection from this original production are available on Decca records (recently re-issued on CD). Also, on a CD entitled "Gershwin Plays Gershwin" there are excerpts from rehearsals of the original production!

In the 1950s, Porgy and Bess was mounted on Broadway as a musical as opposed to its original operatic form. All of the recitative was replaced with dialogue. So much of Gershwin's amazing score was cut. This is the form of Porgy that was used for the Preminger film. It is not the Porgy and Bess that Gershwin intended - but only a "Readers Digest" version.

At about the same time, Lyontine Price was touring in a new production of Porgy and Bess which brought the opera back to the public and which made her a star. There is an "excepts" version of this production which is nothing less than electrifying. It is a crime that Price never recorded a complete Porgy and Bess. She was a GREAT Bess.

The next great production would come in the 70s with the Houston Opera's production, which is still considered definitive.

I have seen the Glyndebourne Opera version when it was broadcast on TV, and I thought it was beautiful. The settings are very natural and the acting is quite good. One very unfortunate cut in this production (or at least from the DVD) is Porgy's "Buzzard Song", which is one of my favorite arias from the opera.

I now finally have the DVD version, and the sound is very clear and well balanced. Using Dolby Pro-logic, there is a good separation between voice and orchestra.

Try to get the Hollywood version out of your head and enjoy Porgy and Bess the way the Gershwins and DuBose Heyward intended it. It is THE great American opera and deserves nothing less.

As I have already said on Internet Movie Database......
this is an exceptionally well-done version of the opera and in many ways vastly preferable to the 1959 movie (of which I have only seen clips;I also have the movie soundtrack on LP-it also was my introduction to this work.) The Sidney Poitier movie is strictly an "adaptation" only---about a third of the work-maybe more-has been cut and replaced with spoken dialogue. All the important numbers remain,but they have been slicked up by arranger Andre Previn---the bell tolling for Robbins' wake has been replaced by a tremendous cymbal crash,and photographed on a setting that never suggests Charleston as much as it does Hollywood's idea of Charleston. The set on THIS videocassette,while also studio-built,conveys much more of the flavorful yet shabby ambience of a place like Catfish Row. As for those seduced into wanting to rent the Sidney Poitier version because of its cast,don't let sheer "Star Power" sway you. The cast here is mostly unknown(TV fans may recognize Damon Evans ,who plays Sportin' Life,as one of the two actors who played Lionel in "The Jeffersons"),but they are all splendid and familiar with their roles,having sung them onstage many times.The original Gershwin orchestrations are used,and only about 10 minutes of his music are cut. As for the viewer who was so inspired when Porgy dropped his crutches at the end and presumably walked under his own power---being disabled myself,that was the only false and condescending touch I found in this TV version---director Trevor Nunn,though,has argued that Porgy only TRIES to walk under his own power,and that the scene fades out before he actually falls---which makes a lot more sense,if you buy his explanation. All you negative viewers and first-time readers of these comments,give this 1993 "Porgy" a chance

It' s OK to change
This version has the undoubted advantage of containing most of the original score and is more faithful to the concept of the opera held ( we suppose) by the Gershwins. However, we have been denied for some 40 years the chance to see the Goldwyn version, which contains the Sammy Davis performance of Sportin' Life, arguably the role he was born to play. The review of the performance history of this important work will of necessity be incomplete as long as the Goldwyn production remains unavailable. Previous reviewers have referred to the presence of great stars in the Goldwyn version as distracting. I would counter that stars are stars because they bring something unique to the production, simply because of who they are. In closing, I personnaly am not offended by cuts and changes to the score of a work that bridges the classical and jazz worlds. Once you have invited jazz to the party, you have opened the door to personal interpretation that goes far beyond anything permissable in classical music, and this might be the best reason for such an invitation. One of the big obstacles to a real marriage of classical and jazz music is that classical music wants to make all the rules. I have no problem with a great arranger like Andre Previn with excellent credentials in both jazz and classical music reworking arrangments.

A Beautiful Movie of Gershwin's Opera
You must disregard many of the earlier customer reviews of this DVD; apparently a lot of people thought they were going to be seeing a straight movie, or a Hollywoodization of the opera made in the 1950s. This, kind readers, is the REAL opera as its creators [George Gershwin and his brother, Ira] intended it and the Glyndebourne Opera production is beautifully opened up, as they say, for the movie camera by the eminent British director, Trevor Nunn. It's all under the direction of that nonpareil British conductor, Sir Simon Rattle, who has since moved on to the plum job of the conductorial world as music director of the Berlin Philharmonic.

The cast is superb. Willard White owns the role of Porgy and his acting is superb as the cripple whose heart is broken. Cynthia Haymon sounds wonderful and looks terrific as Bess. Gregg Baker not only has the huge, sonorous bass that Crown requires, but he looks the part better than anyone I've ever seen in this opera-- and I've seen at least five productions, going back to Leontyne Price and William Warfield at the old New York City Opera. Damon Evans is a suitably oily Sportin' Life. Marietta Simpson, the eminent Mahlerian contralto, sings an absolutely riveting (and hilarious) Maria. Serena, Jake's widow, is ably taken by Cynthia Carey. Some of the 'minor' roles are portrayed by an actor while the singing is done by a trained singer; there is absolutely no problem with the lip-synching--indeed I didn't know until I saw the credits. Clara, the character who sings 'Summertime,' is acted by a beautiful young woman named Paula Ingram, and sung by the delectable Harolyn Blackwell. The ill-fated Jake is acted by Gordon Hawkins, and sung by the talented Bruce Hubbard.

Visually the production is as detailed and realistic as any I've seen. The videography is fluid and unobtrusive. The denizens of Catfish Row are sung superbly and their movements intricately, and realistically, choreographed.

I don't imagine I'll be wanting any other DVDs of this, one of my favorites operas (and certainly my favorite American opera) for a long time to come.

Scott Morrison

Portier and Sammy
I remember seeing this movie with Sidney Portier and Sammy Davis Jr. I enjoyed it very much and all my children were rocked to sleep to 'Summertime'. It ain't necessarily so, was probably sung no where else in town except in my house. I'd like to be able to get THAT movie. ... Read more

Reviews (77)

You Got Served
I bought You Got Served for our son and he absolutly loves it, I dont watch this kind of dvd movie but decided to watch this one and found it myself very good.
My son has watched it over 50 times so far and has recommended it to his friends, who at the moment are envious of him as they dont have it.
I would definitly rate it as a #1 hit with all break dancers and for kids who are wanting to learn more about it
Some very hard lessons were learnt by all who took part in the making of this fine dvd

Dis Waz Tite
YO man dis movie waz off da hizzle fo shizzle. Da dancin waz da shiznit. B2K iz da bomb at dancin. I luv dis movie. I rekommend it 2 evryone. Da bes movie eva

I Loveeeeeeee IT SOOOo Much!!!
First Of all I saw the movie in theaters about 6 times...I brought the DVD the day it came out because I loved it sooooo much. Omari, Dreux, Demario, And Jarell...Also Marques showed a great full of talent throughout the movie......PLzzzz go out and get it its hottt U wont regret it I promise.,..Also Pick up the soundtrack....Its Fire tooo

I like B2k but maybe they shouldn't do movies
At the time of the movie's release I was huge B2k and actually had some kind of false hope that this movie would be at least ok. This movie was very different from what I thought it was going to be, the dancing was of course great but everything else was...well...bad....The acting was horrible (mins into the film me and a friend were dying from laughter at the bad acting), the directing and editing was just so immature, random songs where just throwin in, the plot was nonexistence. The movie was horrible. The only good thing in the movie (besides the dancing of course) was learning that b2k member Jboog, though his very small role, is actually a really good movie and maybe him being casted as David rather than that other b2k member would have been a better choice and fixed at least one problem in the movie (Omari's horrible acting). If you like dancing, this is the movie for you, if you're actually lookin for a movie to watch find something else...killer part...their making a sequel

One of the worst movies EVER.
It's difficult to review this movie, because there wasn't much to review. There wasn't a plot, the characters possessed no depth - all that transpired was some disjointed dancing, and a very unannounced (almost a complete surprise) dance-off at the end of the film. The "Special Features" section on the DVD, frankly, was much more entertaining than the movie. To listen to the producers talk as if this were a serious film transcends comedy. And to hear "actors" talk about how easy it was for them to fall into character - that was priceless. There were no characters. There were cardboard cutouts that lip synched some dialogue, and then some line dancers, who looked suspiciously like the cardboard cutouts. Oh, and a bunch of sideline cheerleaders, along with Steve Harvey, Li'l Kim (who should be embarrassed by her choice of clothing - you shouldn't wear shirts like that unless you have something to show off), Jackee, Wade Robson (the guy who did choreography for N'Synch and others), and some other cameo appearances by names I didn't - and don't ever want to - recognize.

Easily one of the worst films EVER. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Although it featured songs by Debbie Harry, Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick, and Earth, Wind & Fire,Rock and Rule (Canada, 1983) never received a general US release. Set in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by mutants, the underdeveloped story centers on the rock star Mok and his efforts to summon a demon from another dimension. Only the voice of aspiring singer Angel can cross the dimensional barrier and free the monster. Mok pursues Angel through series of chases and concerts that produce complications involving her true love/singing partner Omar and his band. Clive Smith's direction is simply inept: the story plods along listlessly; the characters change motivation on a dime; the crude CG special effects are squandered in minor scenes, rather than used to punch up the climax.

Rock and Rule reflects the confusion of the animation industry in the early '80s. Yellow Submarine and Fritz the Cat had proved there was an audience for hip, edgy animated features. But nobody could make a good one, and a series of bombs caused animation to be labeled box-office poison. More than 20 years later, Rock and Rule holds a curiosity value for fans of old rock, but it's not a memorable film. (Rated PG: violence, grotesque imagery, brief nudity, alcohol, drug, and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (13)

What A Blast From The Past!
I can't believe that it's been so long since I saw this movie! I can still sing some of the songs, remember vividly some of the scenes, and can even recite some of the lines. Not too bad for a movie that came out when I was all of 13 years old, and only available at that time on HBO.

I'm a collector mostly of anime, a cause that came upon me later in my life, but I can remember when "The Devil And Daniel Mouse" and "Rock And Rule" were very visually stunning, and incredibly entertaining. It was one of the first animations to use the technique of shining light through the cells to cause 'illumination', like for electronic displays. It was also perhaps the first time I ever heard a 'cartoon' character say "...still, she pissed me off!", which was rather shocking in those days.

The music was great, and still is if you can forgive an original soundtrack its 80's style. These songs were never hits so you've never really heard these songs before; but they're still good enough to be remembered twenty years later from a 13-year-old's point of view who still loves punk and new wave: "...my name is Mok, thanks a lot...". And yes, I'm still waiting for real live rock-video holograms to this day.

And from the point of view of an anime collector who has over 600 DVD's of the stuff, no, this will probably not be technically impressive. I didn't see anything this good again until "Akira" which didn't come out for five more years. What was impressive is that this little un-known movie was not created in Japan, but back here in the West and for it's time was quite creative.

Buy this movie if you want to be entertained. If you are into animation you need this film in your collection for its historical value. If you like 80's music you will find great tracks that have probably never been released anywhere else (accept Iggy Pop's "Pain And Suffering"). The bonus "Devil And Daniel Mouse" is a nice extra as well.

I can't wait to see this movie again. I was afraid it was so unknown that I WOULD never see it again. It's been some twenty years and I can still see this movie when I close my eyes. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have.

Rock n Rule is a Maybe for Sure
I cannot be fully trusted to review this film. It has a great deal of sentimental value for me. I give it four stars but anyone watching it for the first time today just might not get it. It's a real early 80s treat. You've got the post apocolyptic stuff, the music, the hair, the language and images popping up from a point a moment in the past that is not likely to survive in our popular imagination the way "the 60s" or
"the 50s" have. Even now when we think of "the 80s," its like some trip to the mall. We tend to forget just how scared of nuclear war we were back then and just how much this influenced our movies. Rock and Rule was definitely one of those animated films that had that fear and tortured hopefulness as its source material.

I saw Rock and Rule for the first time back in 1986,late at night on HBO. It has just stuck with me ever since as a great piece of entertainment in the same vein as Wizards, Heavy Metal or Fritz the Cat. It's not hipster cool, it's more geek hipster fun. The music is so cool it almost defies explanation.What other film has Lou Reed, Debra Harry, Iggy Pop, Cheap Trick, and Earth Wind and Fire... they all make this movie go from about a C- to a A- without trying too hard.

There is a version of Debbie Harry's Maybe for Sure that is sung at the end of the movie once Angel and Omar figure out that they are two halves of the same whatever lovey dovey stuff you want to stick in here. But the song Rules. Ultimately, if there is a message in this flick, it's not all that important, but it would be that love is more important than the spotlight and that Rock and Roll will probably live on long after humanity is dead and animals have mutated into peole like us but with funny noses.

This movie is perfect for anyone stuck in the early 80s looking for a fix as well.

This Movie Rocks!!!(and also rules) hence the title
I must agree with the person who reviewed this film before me, Soloman refused to enjoy this movie.Sure the late 70's and 80's weren't a golden age for animation but this time period turned out wonderful films; "Heavy Metal", "Rock and Rule" and "Wizards" just being three.These didn't go down in history as Milestones underneath the animation genre but I believe the title of cult classic is not something to be sneezed at.I've been looking for this movie in absolutely any format since I saw it for the first time in the early 90's and now that it's on DVD and in time for my birthday, I CAN die happy!!!I'm sorry if my review had absolutely nothing to do with the plot of the film but that's what everyone else's input is for.I felt that i simply had to defend this lovely piece of art from those who would deconstruct it before enjoy it.Thanks for your time.

P.S.My name is Mok, thanks a lot!

Critics are SO sad!
Solomon was obviously so busy picking the movie apart that he forgot to enjoy it.To set the record straight, "Rock and Rule" is not great art.I obviously didn't die happy after seeing it.What it IS is entertaining.The animation was (is) stylish for the time.The storyline was good. The characters are likable (even the bad guys). The music is great.Twenty years on, snippets of the songs still surface from the murky depths of my poor mind.It's well worth seeing.I'd definitely place it within my top ten favorite animated films.

Great movie, well worth seeing
This was one of my favorite movies "back in the day" and I'm glad to see that it's available on DVD.It uses an animation style common to the period, has a great story and is well worth watching over and over again. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Party Monster is a curiosity: a fictional version of events already covered in documentary form (see Party Monster: The Shockumentary) by this film's co-directors, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, best known for The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Party Monster, theatrically released in 2003, also signals the return of Macaulay Culkin to films after a long absence. Culkin plays 1980s club kid-turned-killer Michael Alig, a small-town boy who arrives in New York in search of reinvention on the Ecstasy-fueled party scene. Alig ascends from rube to ringmaster, organizing Fabulous happenings and anointing, in Warhol-like fashion, various transvestites and studly naifs the era's new superstars. Seth Green plays Alig's arch but more reticent co-conspirator and roommate, James St. James. Green is more grounded in character than Culkin, though neither actor is convincing as a deluded drag queen. Despite interesting material, the directors never reveal what makes Alig a compelling figure in Manhattan's social history. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Parties, fantasy and shock value of indeterminate gender
It looks like the lovable little boy from "Home Alone" has grown up. Macaulay Culkin is now in his early 20s and stars in this outrageous and rather sick story of Michael Alig, a real-life club kid of the early 1990s, who is now serving a long prison term for murder. This 2003 film is not only his story, it is also the story of a time and a place and a world that it no more. It's about parties and fantasy outfits and the shock value of indeterminate gender.. But mostly, it's about a drug culture that catered to these party people, and how it destroyed Alig's life. Culkin does an outstanding acting job in the role, bringing a touch of humanity to the character as well as a great deal of ego and evil.

Based on a book entitled "Disco Bloodbath" by James St. James, who actually lived through these years, the author is a major character in the story. Seth Green is cast in this role and plays it to the hilt, a party person who likes to play but stops short of the excesses that push Alig over the edge. The rest of the cast is full of some of real party people, with Marilyn Manson playing a drag queen.

One of the scary things about this film is how real it feels. The small subculture of partygoers search for thrills, their makeup and clothing screaming for attention. Their brains are addled with drugs and their purpose in life is only to draw attention to themselves. It's fame without substance or meaning and its all mindless. But, with the exception of the Culkin character, their carryings on doesn't really harm anyone but themselves.

I didn't expect to like this film. I almost shut it off after the first 15 minutes. However, it was so intense that I just kept watching. And I was eventually swept into the story and the people and the world that it depicted, a colorful bubble world which inevitably burst and is no more. This film recalls that bubble, including all the horror as well as the fun. Recommended.

PARTY MURDER!!!
THERE ARE MANY THINGS I LIKE ABOUT THIS MOVIE AND SEVERAL THINGS I DON'T LIKE. FIRST OFF, THE ACTING (BY BOTH SETH GREEN AND MACK CULKIN) WAS ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS. THEY LOOKED GREAT, JUST LIKE THE CHARACTERS THEY PORTRAYED (AS SEEN IN THE FILM "PARTY MONSTER: THE SHOCKUMENTARY"), BUT THEY JUST COULDN'T PULL OFF THAT ELUSIVE "SOMETHING" THAT MADE THE CLUB KIDS INTO "STARS." THE ACTORS WERE STIFF AND AWKWARD. EVEN MARILYN MANSON'S ACTING, WHO MADE A SOMEWHAT LONG CAMEO APPEARANCE AS CHRISTINA, A DRUG-ADDLED DRAG QUEEN, WAS BETTER THAN THE MAIN CHARACTERS'.

CULKIN, AS MICHAEL ALIG, THE SELF-CONFESSED MURDERER OF HIS DRUG DEALER, ANGEL, WAS FUN TO WATCH--HIS COSTUMES, HIS GORY PARTIES, HIS STRANGE, SEEMINGLY BISEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIS "FRIENDS"..... BUT IN THE END, AFTER HE COMMITS THE MURDER, APPARENTLY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MIND-ALTERING DRUGS, HE IS JUST PLAIN SCARY.

THERE ARE SOME PRETTY GORY SCENES IN THE FILM, PARTICULARLY THE MURDER ITSELF, WITH MICHAEL'S ROOMMATE BASHING ANGEL'S HEAD IN WITH A HAMMER SEVERAL TIMES. AND THEN, FOR A HANDFUL OF DRUGS, MICHAEL ALIG AGREES TO CUT THE BODY UP INTO LITTLE PIECES AND DISPOSE OF IT. IT WAS REALLY VERY GROSS AND DISTURBING TO WATCH AND TO THINK ABOUT AFTERWARDS. FORTUNATELY, THEY KEPT THE DISMEMBERMENT MINIMAL.

OVERALL, I ENJOYED WATCHING THIS MOVIE. FOR SOME REASON, IT IS FRIGHTENINGLY FUN TO WATCH BEAUTIFUL, "FABULOUS," DRUG ADDICTS/DRAG QUEENS COMMIT MURDERS AND THEN JOKE ABOUT IT. (AND THEN THEY TURN AROUND AND MAKE MONEY OFF THE MOVIE, THE DOCUMENTARY AND THE BOOKS.)

A peek at club kids and the N.Y.C. club called Limelight
I had a hard time liking this movie, mainly because Michael Alig is such a likable guy and Macaulay Culkin is just so creepy to watch though he does play a gay man remarkably well. Seth Green acts his role but never comes off as comfortable in it and who could blame him. Alig lived life over the top and the movie plays everything over the top. The peek inside the infamous Limelight club is interesting and you'll laugh so hard you'll wet yourself at Marilyn Manson who has a minor role but in the end the documentary that chronicles Alig and the murder of "Club Kid" Angel is much much better.

Be FABULOUS!
To be honest, I watched this movie for one reason: Seth Green. However, I found the movie quite enjoyable. Not a perfect film--Chloë Sevigny's and Dylan McDermott's characters felt underdeveloped to me and some of the character intrusion and narration seemed unnecessary--but a fascinating, entertaining and funny movie, nonetheless.

Seth Green did not disappoint me. His portrayal of James St. James is excellent and his passion and devotion to the role apparent. I am undecided about Culkin's performance. Michael seems shallow to me, but that is actually appropriate to the role, as Michael Alig seems void of humanity in the interviews I have watched. Culkin's Alig seems a mere poseur to Green's St. James, who lives and breathes fabulousness. But again, that aspect could also be essential to Michael's character who seemed to be a club kid just because it would lead to attention. Mostly, though, I was wishing that Kieran was on the screen instead. Chloë Sevigny is underused in her role of Michael's girlfriend and I could have done with seeing more interaction between Michael and Angel. And some boy-on-boy intimacy. The directors were willing to show such outrageous costumes, copious amounts of drug use, and yet no affection between men despite the heavy homoerotic overtones between the actors. The lack of homosexual interaction wouldn't bother me as much if Michael and his girlfriend weren't shown in intimate moments as well.

This DVD is a pretty good disc. The print of the film is good, capturing the brightness of the costumes and parties and the changing color tone of the movie. The special features are decent. The commentary is pretty heavy with historical information about the accuracy of the events, but the directors share information about the production as well, usually concerning how disgusting the location smelled. I would have preferred more of the latter, but that is just my preference. The featurette was interesting, but the behind the scenes footage was rather dull for the most part. I appreciated having the interview with Michael Alig on the disc and an interview with James St. James would have been a welcome edition.

All in all, the movie is interesting to watch and the disc is worth the purchase.

Realistic, Energetic, and Extremely Entertaining!
This movie is best suited for those who are at least interested in the club kid lifestyle and tolerant of homosexuals. I've read a couple harsh reviews, but they seem to have been written by people who have no clue what the party scene or NY club scene was about and are more concerned with judging than understanding this vastly different sub-culture. Some reviewers have even called the movie unrealistic, but this couldn't be further from the truth.

The parties are portrayed with incredible accuracy. The movie not only depicts what you could expect to have seen inside a club of this type, it makes you feel as though you are actually there taking part in the event. The lighting and colors used create a slightly dazed feeling, as though you're walking through the middle of a huge party, surrounded by a sea of eye-candy. The party goers are true to life as well. After all, they used old club kids as extras and featured some of them in their real outfits.

The drug sequences are almost too accurate sometimes, especially the come down. (At one point, they even show Alig sitting on the toilet saying, "I can't pee." For those who've been there, this totally hits home.)

Honestly, if your plans for the weekend include sitting at home with the kids and watching a movie, this probably isn't your best bet; but if you're looking for an adventure (or if you were once a part of the scene and would love a nostalgic reminder of your past experiences) you really should see this film! ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Hans Christian Andersen not quite, but very entertaining
Hans Christian Andersen (1805-75) was an Ugly Duckling. He lived in the third largest town Odense, in Denmark. The son of a cobbler he was poverty ridden and a failure as an actor and it wasn't until he moved to Copenhagen and won the patronage of Frederick VI, through his poetry, that he wrote his fairy tales and developed into a swan. Like many artists he wasn't particularly happy, and never did marry, although he was very fond of Jenny Lind (1820-87) the Swedish Nightingale a soprano given the name by P.T. Barnum during her tour of the United States between 1850-52.) Charles Vidor's film does state at the beginning, This is not the story of Hans Christian Andersen but a fairy tale about the great spinner of fairy tales. The Danes objected to the way Hans Christian Andersen was portrayed even though Goldwyn had rejected 21 previous manuscripts, so the film company inserted this statement in the credits.

Danny Kaye with his chiselled features does resemble H.C.Andersen when looking at his profile, but apart from this facial feature that's where it stops. Kaye had dark hair but Hollywood soon changed that and he became a blonde, Andersen also had dark hair but he kept it that way.

Unlike some earlier musicals, this film does have a strong story line with loads of songs written by "Baby, It's Cold Outside", Frank Loessen, such as Thumbelina, Ugly Duckling, No Two People, and of course Wonderful Copenhagen. The scenery is very clever, the backgrounds look like illustrations from fairy tale books, but as the camera zooms in to the foreground the buildings and props become three dimensional similar to a pop-up-book.

There are four ballet scenes that I probably found boring back in '52, but revisiting them now, they are visually very interesting, technically I wouldn't know if they are good or mediocre but for a Hollywood musical film, four ballets must of taken an enormous amount of consideration seeing as the film is really for kids. Once again the backdrops for the ballets also resemble fairy tale illustrations and pop-up-books.

Instead of a soprano, Andersen falls in love with a ballet dancer and here's a musical that doesn't have a very happy ending because poor Hans gets mixed up with a married woman. The ballet dancer Doro, is played by Zizi Jeanmaire, and is married to Niels played by Farley Granger. During the last part of the film, the audience is taken behind the scenes of the ballet company playing at the Royal Theater in Copenhagen, but this isn't a film of a show included in a show, similar to earlier musicals, but an uplifting musical film with lots of music with catchy tunes helped by a ton of children.

The last ballet scene takes 17 minutes, quite long for a popular movie. In the film Hans writes a story especially for his love Doro, unfortunately Niels locks him in a cupboard so Andersen never sees her perform but has to use his imagination.

The ballet takes place on land and under the ocean. The surface waves are pop-up so that the dancers can be seen dancing in between the swells, it's really very clever visually, and there's no trickery here. Under the sea filled with monsters and witches, the heroine is probably attached to a pulley so that she can be seen swimming for the surface. There are no blue screens in this film, all effects are up-front and work perfectly similar to a staged ballet. Once again the technicolor process is used and this enhances the fairy tale effect with vivid colors.

Hans Christian Andersen fairy stories are not violent when compared to the Grimm brothers, but the themes usually have a lesson, and in the story written for Doro's ballet, "The Little Mermaid," it is saying that aiming for the stars does not always bring happiness, but then of course Walt Disney hadn't yet arrived on the scene and he soon changed that philosophy.

A good kid's movie
HAns Christian andersen is a good movie. Andersen (Danny Kaye) is a cobbler who can't stop telling stories for the little kiddies. This gets him in trouble with the top bananas in town, who vote to have him run out for making kids miss school. Andersen moves to Copenhagen, falls in love with a beautiful french ballerina, and gets himself famous for his stories, all the while going from song to song with true Kaye spirit. It was a good movie, but not one to be overly thrilled about.

Delicious performer, wonderful introduction to ballet!
I fell hopelessly in love with Danny Kaye when I was 8 years old, and I'm still crazy about him many years later. . . no other performer of whom I'm aware has ever shown his unique combination of comic virtuousity, tenderness, silliness, physical bravado and dramatic depth.

He could also really sing, not just comically but straightforwardly, in his naturally rich, sweet lyric-tenor voice. If you really listen to the "Inchworm" song, you will hear just how fine his voice really was.

The ballet sequences in the movie transfixed me as an eight-year-old ballerina wannabe. Maybe they look hokey to present-day grownups, but I bet most kids would immediately understand.

One of the best movies ever!!!!

Correction
I'd just like to make a correction on another customer review that I read of this movie. This was not Danny Kaye's last movie. I don't know what was, but in 1954, he did "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby, Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney. It's not a really important thing, I suppose, but I just wanted to make sure that the information was correct.

Delightful Children's Musical
Danny Kaye plays the Danish cobbler-storyteller, Hans Christian Andersen. At the beginning he is said by the schoolmaster of the village of Odense he is causing trouble. The trouble is he tells stories to the village children, and they learn things like numbers falling in love and marrying each other. One town person said of his stories: They asked their daughter what time it was? She said "the minute and hour hands weren't speaking to each other. They were in love with the second hand. So they wouldn't make up until they met at 12 o' clock." After all the commotion with the village officials, Hans goes back to his cobbler shop. There his apprentice friend, Peter talks him into getting away from the village and going to Copenhagen.

Reluctant at first Hans agrees to go to Copenhagen with Peter. There Hans meets and falls in love with Doro (Jeanmarie), a beautiful French ballerina. But later learns that she is married to the demanding Niels (Farley Granger). Overwhelmed by his love for her, he is inspired to write, 'The Little Mermaid' for Doro. The story of the Little Mermaid, like Doro goes-that she looked for love from the wrong man. Hans becomes popular with the people of Copenhagen and his gift in telling stories to the children. So Andersen's fame grew out of his plays and stories. Some of the musical scores that stand out are the most known of Andersen's best loved works. Those most memorable numbers are from 'Inchworm,' 'Thumbelina' and 'The Ugly Duckling.' Hans later finds that the ballerina truly loves her husband, so Hans returns home to his village of Odense. There he tells his stories to the children who loves to hear his fairy tales. You may not find Kaye's usual comic flair here. He extends his more poignant side of the famous storyteller. This was Kaye's final film of his career beofre embarking on his life's love of working with Unicef. If you like to read about Andersen, he wrote his auto-bio, 'The Fairy Tale of My Life.' The film itself is a delightful children's story that the whole family can love. ... Read more

Description

Ingmar Bergman puts his indelible stamp on Mozart's exquisite opera in this sublime rendering of one of the composer's best-loved works: a celebration of love, forgiveness, and the brotherhood of man. The Magic Flute (Trollflöjten) stars Josef Köstlinger as Tamino, the young man determined to rescue a beautiful princess from the clutches of parental evil. Criterion's edition features the film's glorious soundtrack in the original stereo format. ... Read more

Reviews (39)

a magnificent adaptation
As the film opens with the overture, it focuses on the face of a beautiful child in the audience, and it is as if we see this fantastic production through her innocent eyes; it's an adaptation that captures all the playfulness and enchantment of Mozart's glorious last opera, and brings it to life with renewed vigor.
The attractive cast, though occasionally vocally uneven, is a total delight; Josef Kostlinger is superb as Tamino, Hakan Hagegard shines as Papageno, Ulrik Cold impressive as Sarastro, and Elisabeth Erikson is adorable as Papagena.

The sets, which sometimes seem to shift like smoke, as well as the costumes, are masterful, and include everything from lovable fuzzy creatures, to a brilliant vision of the "dark regions", with dancers writhing and wrestling as its tortured inhabitants.
I also enjoyed the backstage views during intermission; Tamino and Pamina playing chess, Sarastro looking over a score of Parsifal while a chorus member reads Kalle Ankas (a Donald Duck comic book), and especially the formerly fire-spewing dragon trudging past a doorway.

I never fully appreciated "The Magic Flute" until I watched this film; it's strange that Ingmar Bergman, more known for his somber films, should bring out so much light and joy from this magnificent opera.
It would make a perfect introduction for young people to opera, and the singing in Swedish seems quite natural and enjoyable (especially for us older folks who have listened to the great Jussi Bjorling for decades), and the subtitles are excellent and easily to read.
Those who like filmed opera, will surely find this to be an imaginative, wonderful production. Total running time is 135 minutes.

The Drama Of Mozart's Magic Flute
The Magic Flute, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's last opera, is a multi-layered Singspiel opera that is accessible to children as well as adults. It is an allegory of good versus evil, layed with Freemason ideals, and scored by Mozart's most sublime music. Ingmar Bergman filmed a live performance in a Stockholm theater in Sweden. The singers are singing in Swedish, not its original German, and the camera provides glimpses of going ons backstage and shots of the audience, focusing especially on a red-haired girl who is deeply engaged in the opera. This way, Bergman makes opera a dramatic experience. At times, it feels as if we are not watching an opera at all, but a play. The Swedish cast is fresh, energetic and engages the audience in the fabulous story. The story should be familiar to opera buffs. Tamino, a lost prince, finds he has been commissioned to save a beautiful princess, Pamina, from the clutches of a supposed evil wizard, Sarastro, and return her to her mother the Queen of the Night. As the opera progresses, we discover that Tamino has been deceived and he is, in essence, "shown the light" of truth through the aid of the enlightened religious order of Sarastro's men. The Queen, Pamina's mother, is the villain, bent on dominating the earth, and Sarastro, Pamina's father, is a benevolent holy man who intendes to foil the dark queen's plans. The custody battle over Pamina is true to the Mozart allegory. He had Pamina represent Austria, Sarastro, the "father", was the wise ideals of Freemasonry, while the "mother" Queen of the Night is the suppression and censorship of Freemasonry by imperialist autocrats like the Empress Teresa, whom the Queen is modeled after.

Superb singing. The arias "Dies Bildnis", in which Tamino looks at a portrait of Pamina and falls in love, is well made. Papageno's character is sharply defined as comic, earthy and human. In this film, he wears no feathery costume or plumage, and is instead an actual human man with earthy appetites for food and lovemaking. The Queen of the Night's two arias "O Zittre Nicht" and "Der Holle Rache" are full of dramatic prowess and coloratura technique, both escalate to high F's. Pamina's "Ach Ich fuhls" which she sings in a backdrop of utter darkness, is melancholic and moving. Finally, Sarastro's character is divine, with a sonorous bass-baritone voice, and a final scene almost likens him to Jesus or God. As a bonus, this film presents us a view of the going-ons backstage during intermission. Tamino and Pamina play chess, the Queen of the Night puffs away on her cigar and Sarastro reads the manuscript to Wagner's opera Parsifal, all the while the interlude "March Of The Priests" plays in the background. This is superb performance, quality drama and on DVD, this is a must have for all opera fans who put opera DVDs on their collection.

a major classic
This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film.

This film which can best described as an operetta, is based on the opera of the same name by Mozart. The only difference is that the libretto is in Swedish. The origianl Swedish title of the film is Trollflöjten. The movie is well known and has remained popular to this day.

Disappointingly, the Criterion DVD has no special features on it.

Sublime
No other director is the history of the medium had the balls to something like that.And no other director in the history of medium broke all the rules,so often,like Ingmar Bergman.In a time of his life that he did everything that someone could do with film ,(The Seventh seal,Wild Strawberries,Persona etc etc)this very pleasent work was born.The rest is history...

Worst Magic Flute Ever
I have watched several live Magic Flute productions and a few other video productions. And this is THE WORST EVER. First, I would like to mention that I love imaginative interpretation. But this one tries to be different and look avant-garde, but yet lacks imagination and artistic quality.
Musical performance. Very bad. Pick up any Magic Flute CD randomly. It cannot be worse than this. Technical sound quality. It sounds very archaic. So bad. It is worse than the good quality LP mono recording that I have. Besides, why should I
watch Magic Flute in Sweedish ? If it's not original German, I would rather choose English. And I am sure that if there is an another Magic Flute produced in China and sung in Chinese, that DVD will get billions of 5 star rating. This Amazon rating system is simply ridiculous.
In the beginning of the opera, while Overture is being performed, it shows the face of a girl in audience for a long time. What is this ? Why should I watch this girl's face so long time ? Why ? If her expression, harmony with back ground, different angle, etc.. create artistic quality, I would understand. But it's not like that. ... Read more

Reviews (156)

A MOVIE WITH EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK!!
am 36 years old and I never saw this movie until this year..
I have to say that I thought it was FANTASTIC!! I have a 3 1/2 year old and she loved it !!
The actors did a Great job!! especially Lesley Anne warren who in my opinion is Cinderella... no hype or overdoing it, she did the part simply and classy, taking her scenes beyond what most actresses would do. (you really feel sorry for cinderella with all the amount of neglect she gets,I enjoyed the fact that she tries to remain good natured and happy spirited with the situations that were given to her). Beautiful singing voice and a great dancer! ("In my own little corner", "Impossible","A lovely night" are wonderful songs).
. Her together with the prince were a match made in HEAVEN!, BRAVO to the both of them!! they look, act and sing VERY well and speaking of Stuart Damon....(where do I start) He is SO HANDSOME in this movie my jaw dropped!! I thought he was very humorous in many scenes,(He new what he was looking for in a woman and test ran all the maidens at the ball, maybe he was a little harsh with the step- sisters but he had an idea of who wanted him for her "prize"). . His singing voice is Excellent (especially with his songs "loneliness of evening", "10 minutes ago" and "do I love you because your beautiful". I loved how he would look at her especially at the ball when he saw her at the top of the stairs(one will never forget that gaze along with the silence that followed as they walked toward each other...aaaaah!)and the end when he realized that this poor gal was his true love, and when he tried the slipper on her, My gosh where did they find him! -A GREAT CHOICE OF A MAN FOR THE PRINCE.
The rest of the cast is great!... Pat Carol was quite funny as Prunella especially at the ballroom,and when the prince tried on her slipper!) she has alot of humor (especially her little laugh) and with her wicked sister they make quite a pair( I thought the sisters were supposed to be Anastasia and druzella??) Unfortunately Walter pigeon and Ginger Rodgers didn't have enough "Air time"(I thought) but made a grand King and Queen when they were shown. Jo van fleet's version of the wicked stepmother was very interesting (she really does not like cinderella) and the interplay between her and Cinderella was very good, her facial expressions are priceless, you have to pause your vcr and have a good laugh!!. Celeste Holmes was a very convincing Fairy god mother(a very silly one)her singing voice was good.
The sets/ special effects are totally fake but you tend to overlook that and concentrate on the story. The movie rolls right along ,(no time for boredom). There are parts in the original "Cinderella" children's book/film (the WALT DISNEY version) that are not shown in this film (examples: the mice that help Cinderella, her trying on the dress the mice made for her and having it ripped by the stepsisters, and getting helped at the end to get out of her room to try on the glass slipper.)etc
I TOTALLY recommend this classic movie to anyone.. I have the VHS version and It's GREAT!!(picture and sound) I also have ordered the soundtrack cd!! Do your family and yourself a favor and buy this!!It is sooooooooo romantic... I have actually cried at some scenes, I wish I could have seen this as a child but I APPRECIATE this now.....

Do I love you because you're beautiful?
As a lover of the fairy tale "Cinderella," I have watched this over and over again since I was a child. I can't remember a time when I didn't know the songs in this musical. I used to go around singing "Impossible" all the time as a young girl.

The story is simple and straighforward, we all know it, so there's no need to go into any plot details. This story does not deviate from the story we all know and love.

What makes this particular rendition a bit unique is simply that it's filmed as a play, rather than as a movie. The sets are very stage-y, and the acting is overdone and a bit cheesy for a movie -- but you'll find that it works well on the stage.

The reason it works in this is because they didn't TRY to film it like an ordinary movie -- because it wouldn't have worked. They filmed it as though they were just video-taping a play, and it was charming.

Leslie Ann Warren is positively adorable in the role of Cinderella. The rest of the cast is wonderful as well; the stepsisters can be a riot sometimes, I can't help laughing at "The Stepsisters' Lament." This is a movie any fairy tale lover will enjoy.

lamp lady
i saw this film a long time ago, when I was 3 or 4. Of course I didn't know who Ginger rogers was, and the only thing I really remember about her performance is that she puts a lamp shade over her head. well, no wonder I'm not surprised that she brings a smile to my face in all her movies. she's a natural.

great musical
One of the best "Cinderella is great and a wonderful romantic story starring Leslie Ann Warren its for children and adults a must see film.

Is the JULIE ANDREWS Version Available for DVD or NOT???
I read or heard that the 1957 JULIE ANDREWS version of Cinderella was not saved, but I've just seen lots of scenes from it on a PBS special about Rogers and Hammerstein. And it looked great! Sadly, the 1965 color version with Leslie Ann Warren is not nearly as good. Try listening to the CD with Julie Andrews and then watching the Leslie Ann Warren version. You might agree. Lets have the Julie Andrews version on DVD!!! ... Read more

Description

A gripping murder mystery. A lavish musical. An intense psychological thriller. A warped romance. Dennis Potter's legendary, award-winning mini-series is all this and more. Hailed by the Chicago Sun Times as "The greatest production in the history of television," this genre-deying masterpiece is soon to be a major motion picture starring Robert Downey Jr. and Mel Gibson. ... Read more

Reviews (72)

An Absolutely Brilliant Adaptation Of Potter's Screenplay!
I'm hesitant to call this a musical, though that's precisely what it is. Dennis Potter wrote several musicals over the years, using different eras of music. This one is, by far, the best! The music here is from the 1940s. The drama, however, is actually a contemporary one. A (failed?) mystery writer named Philip Marlowe is hospitalized with a severe case of psoriasis...more corrrectly, psoriatic arthropathy (which Potter also suffered from). He has this one great novel in his past, though..."The Singing Detective." Marlowe's illness is terribly severe, and throughout the film we join his delirium as he relives events from his childhood, falls into a fascinating fantasy based on his novel, and comes back (from time to time) to the events currently happening in the hospital. These three streams are brilliantly intertwined, and the resulting story is absolutely THE BEST THING *EVER* TO HIT TELEVISION! This is *not* hype or exaggeration! The other reviewers are completely correct in making this same claim. If you've never seen this one...well, it's your loss....

Dennis Potter died a few years ago from pancreatic cancer. He was simply a GREAT writer. He wrote *many* screenplays...dramas for both TV and film, as well as the "musicals" noted above. He also wrote novels. His best, I think, are brilliantly detailed studies of a mind either gradually breaking down, or gradually coming back from some kind of breakdown. "The Singing Detective" falls into the latter category. That alone would be enough to recommend this video...but the fact that it's *also* a "musical" is what makes it utterly remarkable! I honestly don't think I have the words to be able to say just how it transcends to the level of something almost divinely inspired. At the risk of saying it one too many times, folks, this one is TRULY GREAT!

If you're able to find it, there's an interview with Dennis Potter that was originally broadcast on the Bravo channel shortly before his death. He was quite sick at the time, and he took occasional sips from his flask of pain medication during the interview. He talks some therein of "The Singing Detective." Yes, Marlowe shares the diagnosis of psoriatic arthropathy...but, he's an entirely different personality than Potter himself. Based on truth...expanding into the realm of the literary. It's an interesting insight into the brilliance of Potter as a writer.

Meanwhile, "The Singing Detective" is something you really *must* see! *VERY* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Heartrending - compelling - brilliant - THE BEST EVER
For some years, I've been bending my friends' ears about "The Singing Detective". I entirely concur with those other reviewers who called it the greatest television production of all time. Potter used everything he had, most notably the long running time of the series, to create a one-of-a-kind masterwork that may never be topped. I've visited London many times since first seeing TSD, and every time I'm in the Tube, I find myself looking towards the tunnel entrance and hearing, "PHILLLLLLIIPPPP!!!" Aside from that, Michael Gambon may have many years of brilliant performances left in him, but this will be his monument. Robert Downey Jr., indeed. It is to laugh.

Release this film on DVD now! Are you listening, BBC Films? Give it to Criterion and let them do the job they do best - give us a "Singing Detective" set on DVD with a ton of extra material on Dennis Potter, too!

If you haven't seen this, drop what you're doing and order it. You definitely won't regret it.

Unbelievably good.
Marred only by it's curiously rushed ending. You need to stick with this because the story and its complexity grows slowly through the first few episodes. What it becomes is a complicated psychological thriller intertwined with hallucinations, a detective story and the goings on of the hospital ward denizens around our protagonist. Philip Marlow is revealed as a highly sensitive shell-shocked man residing within the physical body of an angry severe psoriasis patient. His return to humanity is the story that is detailed. This is a film for adults in the best sense of the word, exploring the complexities of what it means to have the accumulated experiences and wisdom that only come with time.
Excellent. Highly recommended.

Well Deserved Praise - A Masterpiece
Like all great masterpieces of television and film, "The Singing Detective" is not simple, one-dimensional, or thin-plotted. It is vastly complicated and often strange with it's several interwoven stories that reach monumental heights of suspense and intrigue. I say this because I have read too many reviews from people who stopped watching after the first or second episodes.

For my part, I barely understood anything at all until nearly half way through the series when all the pieces started coming together. As you get further along more is revealed to you, and thus the more rewarding each episode becomes. It is sad that American movies and television have sapped not only the intellectual substance right out of it's audience, but apparently the patience as well. Of course it is strange and confusing...it is a detective story! You aren't supposed to understand everything from the first frame.

So, for anyone who can sit still for more than twenty minutes without computer generated monkeys attacking exploding trucks or whatever makes it's way to the theatres these days, I strongly recommend spending a few days immersed in this fascinating mini-series.

Potter and Lynch?
I often see Dennis Potter's work compared to David Lynch's, so I'll weigh in: Dennis Potter was the artist that David Lynch wants to be when he grows up. Potter knew how to bring bizarre and even grotesque elements into the service of his story in a way that Lynch tried to do in "Twin Peaks," with uneven results. In Potter's work, every jarring image and odd tangent has a job to do. When you see, for example, an entire hospital ward break into a minstrel version of "Dem Bones," you can assume it reflects the protagonist's view of the British health care system. (Plus, it's hilarious.) If Lynch meant for us to learn something from the backwards-talking midget in "Twin Peaks," well, it went over my head. Potter's screenplay for "The Singing Detective" is funny, unsettling, heartbreaking, sweet and maddening, often all at once.

"The Singing Detective" may not play well in Fort Wayne: it's true, this isn't "Touched By An Angel." (Neither is it "Irreversible," by the way: you have to be pretty thin-skinned (so to speak) to find this material genuinely offensive.) But if you believe that art can be both shocking and thrilling, can provoke as it evokes, can and should take outrageous risks in order to take us someplace completely new, then you've got to find a way to see this series. If you love words, if you appreciate originality, if you want to see acting that ranges from excellent to relevatory, then rent or borrow "The Singing Detective." Once you've seen it, you'll want to own it. ... Read more

Description

John Singleton’s award-winning portrayal of social problems in inner-city Los Angeles takes the form of a tale of three friends growing up together in the ‘hood’.Facing tough lives, two succumbto the crime surrounding them in their environment, but one learns to have the strength of character to do what is right and to always take responsibility for his actions. Academy Award ® nominee for Best Director and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (1992). Stars Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix Reloaded), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Boat Trip), Ice Cube (Barbershop), Morris Chestnut (The Break Up Handbook), Angela Bassett (How Stella Got Her Groove Back). ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Larenz Tate Proves His Star Quality Once More
I don't know what it is about this guy but Larenz Tate can mesmerize a screen. Lackluster films like " Love Jones " and " Love Come Down " would have surely fizzled out if it hadn't been for his strong screen presence. This is one actor who deserves an Oscar ( but realistically will probably never get one ). If you're a Larenz Tate fan I am sure you've already seen " Dead " a thousand times. You won't get tired of it because Larenz brings his natural freshness to the film each time.

The movie begins in the late 60's where Anthony ( Tate ) and his friends, Skip ( Chris Tucker ) and Jose are riding to school on their bus. We quickly realize there is a war going on and this gives Anthony his golden opinion, which controls the direction of the film: Anthony wants to fight for his country. Anthony seems to be the perfect citizen by his innocent face and polite quality but has done some wrong things in the past like help the ongoing pool hall hustler cash in on illegal gambling money. After Anthony declares his love for Juanita ( the delightful Rose Jackson )he's off to fight. Anthony and the audience is thrust into some realistic yet vicious war segments. Let me warn you that this film is one of the most violent I've seen in a long time. It is not for those who can't stand blood. After learning he's become a father Anthony finally returns from the war. This is where the story gets emotional. As if it wasn't bad enough Anthony was fighting for his country, he comes home to a " country " that still sees blacks as less than human. He finds a dinky job cutting meat and loses it. If that wasn't a kick in the head he finds his woman has been seeing the local mobster/pimp Cutty. Meanwhile he and Juanita are struggling to keep their relationship together with a young daughter. After a violent confrontation with Juanita, Anthony storms off and finds Juanita's sister ( the lovely N'Bushe Wright ) who guides him to the " latest " war...the ongoing revolution for the militant black brothers and sisters to reclaim what's righfully theirs. Anthony's got other plans. A plan that stems from his pals. They decide to heist a money truck and half of them ( including N'Bushe ) end up murdered to death. This scene was graphic and incredibly violent. When Anthony thinks he's gotten away with something, he ends up meeting his destiny.

Larenz Tate was wonderful in this film. I have the feeling if this had been for the " Saving Private Ryan " audience he would have won recognition, but only the black community seems to appreciate Tate and films like " Dead Presidents ". The supporting characters were believable with the exception of Chris Tucker ( who I love ) but he needs to learn how to act less like himself in his roles and more like the character. He acts the same way on everything. He seems to be hired for his real-life persona instead of his acting ability. But Chris is always entertaining. Rose Jackson was who I especially enjoyed. She was lively and strong just like Anthony's lady would have been. The direction was slow at parts but realistic. The violence was a bit much but hey...that's life. This is a truly good film and it was screwed of mainstream attention like so many other good black films. It seems to me that if you're not Eddie Murphy, Halle Berry, Samuel L. Jackson or Denzel Washington, you stay in the " black " forest of the cinema industry and that's unfortunate. Because our commmunity has turned out some of the most versatile actors in the world.

Larenz Tate Kills It ! Great Film!
Dead Presidents is a well plotted drama that grabs your attention from beginning to end. Larenz Tate's killer performance definitely makes this film worth while. Honestly, i've haven't seen much Larenz Tate movies but watching this makes you more interested in his other works. I won't give you a whole plot summary of the film but "Dead Presidents" is very gory especially in the war scenes. It's basically about a young man trying to find himself fresh out of high school. HE decides to fight in Vietnam but comes back havin to care for his baby girl which causes him and his buddies to try to make some quick cold cash, robbing a federal reserve bank. Chris Tucker even brings some humor to this outstanding drama. Keep an eye out for this movie and other works by Larenz Tate. In my opinion he could be the next big thing. You'll believe me when you see it.

Great Cast....
The movies is very good, You follow a young man growing up durining Vet Nam. He enlist the Marines Corps which shows him and his high school buddie, Skippy( Chris Tucker). I like what the preacher son gets as a good luck charm.
Tates character then returns back to his home town after 3 tours in Nam to find things have change alot. My heart goes out to him , but this is were the movie even gets better. Like I said the cast adds alot to the movie, when you watch the movie you will see what I am talking about..

Good Movie
This Flim Was A 10 out of 10 in my book. great actors and screenplay.

~*~ The BaG~*~

Good Film
This film was really good. By the end of the movie, I did not condone what was done, but I understood. How many of us know people who came back after fighting for their country, and they are working jobs that suck, and living a tough life. That's pretty much the message I got from the film. I watch this movie about once a month, I like it that much. Chris Tucker had a role in this film that makes you stand up and take notice. I would love to see him in more dramas in the future. He could do the roles. ... Read more

Reviews (207)

Superb
A fantastically well-written T.V mini seires that explores the troubled lives of each of The Temptations and their rise and fall on the music scene. The Temptations were one of Motowns hottest and most versatile acts with their carefully planned chorography on stage and their diverse ranmge of shimmering harmonies on record. An interesting aspect of the series early sequences are when they are first introduced to Motown Records and its fun to see portrayals of the great Motown legends such as Diana Ross, Martha Reeves, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson. Interestingly enough Diana Ross' daughter, Rhonda Ross makes an apperance in the film playing the troubled Paul Williams wife. The sequences where the group are seen performing Papa Was A Rolling Stone and Paul Williams is about to shoot himself are moving and the funeral is sure to get a lump in your throat (where Smokey Robinson himself appears). The film also carefully chronicles David Ruffins fall from grace as he steadily declined into cocaine addiction andalso continually mentally and physically tortued his wife, Tammi Terrell. The ending sees the grop reunirted when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
The performances are excellent, the 60's ambience such as the nightclubs and drug culture are superbly evoked and the stage performances are mastered to perfection. Recommended.

Engrossing, enl;ightening, bittersweet...The Temptations
The Temptations on VHS or DVD (we recommend DVD becasue of its great advantages and special features) is one of the better made for TV miniseries to come along in a long time.

Although its 3-hour length still leaves many unanswered questions, the spectacular songs (of which all on stage performances except for "My Girl" and "Cloud Nine" were sung by the actors) and excellent perfomances by the actors make this movie one that you can enjoy time and time again.

The actors who portray Paul Williams, Eddie K., David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams have all done their homework and then some. The DVD is only $13.99, cheaper than the video, so opt for the DVD.

This film highlights the life of the Temps from the eyes of its founder, Otis, and from the very beginning,when Otis meets Al (Eldridge Bryant--one of the first Temps prior to his dismissal)at a hop in Detroit, the movie kicks off in high gear. Excellent performances by "The Cadillacs,' ("Some people call me Speedo"), Leon (Johnson) of "Cool Runnings" Fame, Christan Payton and an unforgettable performance by Eddie Kendricks--so well done it seems like the real Kendricks--means you will this DVD watch again and again. Our favorite parts include the Copacabana scenes, "My Girl," auditioning for Berry at Motown's Hitsville USA, the whole Ruffin performance by Leon, "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was A Rolling Stone," Otis & The Distants at St. Stevens Hall with the Primes and the Primettes (Paul, Eddie and the soon to be Supremes) and a great performance by Smokey - both the actor and the real life Smokey himsel