Reviews (291)

'The Rocky Horror Show' Movie
There is one reason why everyone should see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show": it is the best cult film ever made. There are also three reasons why everyone should want to watch it: 1) It is one of the only 'R' rated musicals in existence. 2) It has strong science-fiction overtones. 3) It is very funny. The movie starts Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon (before they were stars) as the recently engaged Brad and Janet. However, they are upstaged in nearly every scene by Tim Curry who plays Frank N. Furter, the mad doctor. The cast delightfully performs many memorable songs including "Over at the Frankenstein Place" and, of course, the "Time Warp". To fully enjoy RHPS, one must not be closed minded or the picture could prove to be quite offensive. Don't think it's gratuitously violent- it isn't. Merely, the situations the characters find themselves in could shock or appall overly sensitive viewers. If you think you won't enjoy RHPS, going to a midnight screening might be your best bet. The live audience participation will guarantee you a good time, despite your opinion of the actual film. So overall, RHPS is quite a good adaptation of Richard O'Brien's original concept, which always honors its roots on the stage.

DVD = Perfect format to truly experience "Rocky" at home
I loved going to "Rocky Horror" when I was in college, but watching on home video just wasn't the same. I'm probably committing heresy but there's a reason why this sci-fi, horror, B-movie satire, rock musical didn't really make it big until theaters started showing it as a midnight movie and fans started attending in costume and talking back to the screen. The 25th anniversary DVD, with several audience participation options, really is the next best thing to being there.

For the uninitiated, "Rocky Horror" tells the story of two clean-cut American youths, uptight Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick of "Spin City") and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon of "Dead Man Walking") whose car breaks down on a dark, deserted road in the middle of a storm--the classic beginning to many horror movies--and who seek help at a nearby castle. Castles, as Rocky fans know, don't have phones! What this castle has instead is a cross-dressing mad scientist Frank-N-Furter Tim Curry, in perhaps his finest performance), two very creepy servants, Riff-Raff (Richard O'Brien, who wrote the musical) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and various other hangers-on, including lovers Columbia (Little Nell) and biker Eddie (Meat Loaf). Brad and Janet walk in on a party celebrating the creation of Frank-N-Furter's muscle-bound boy-toy "Rocky." Bed-hopping chaos soon ensues, until the servants reveal their true identities and take control.

Punctuating this wacky plot are some of the wildest rock-musical songs ever written. In addition to the classic "Time Warp," there's O'Brien's salute to cult-classic B-movies, "Science Fiction Double Feature," Meat Loaf's "Hot Patootie," and Sarandon ode to sexual self-discovery, "Toucha Toucha Touch Me!"

So much for the "Rocky virgin" portion of the review... What makes the DVD so exceptional is the chance to experience "Rocky Horror" at home nearly like you would in the theater. The DVD has the option of turning on the audience screen comments as well as another option for viewing members of the Rocky Horror Fan Club performing select scenes before returning to the main movie. For those less familiar with audience participation, the DVD can prompt when to throw toast, toilet paper, rice, etc., light a match, put your newspaper on your head, etc.

The second disc contains fascinating interviews with cast members, where fans can find out about their reaction to starring in this cult classic. Meat Loaf's description of not realizing what "Rocky Horror" was going to be about and running out of the theater when Tim Curry entered wearing fishnet stockings, spiked heels, a merry widow, and a leather jacket and singing "Sweet Transvestite" is hysterical. Patricia Quinn talks about how her fondness for the opening song, "Science Fiction Double Feature" made her want to take the role even though she hadn't read the rest of the script. What? Don't remember Quinn singing that number? In the stage versions she did, but the song got reassigned in the film version--and Quinn makes her feelings about that QUITE clear. Sarandon makes the interesting observation that "Rocky Horror" probably kept a lot of art house theaters in business over the years, since they could count on good revenue from the midnight movie, even if the latest regular-hours offering flopped. In Bostwick's interview, however, the actor sounds a bit like William Shatner giving his anti-Trekkie diatribe on "Saturday Night Live."

The only disappointments on the DVD are that the outtakes really aren't that interesting and actor bios aren't provided. I would have liked to see what else the "minor" cast members did after Rocky, but that information is limited to a few lines in the companion booklet. Also, some of the audience-participation comments are nearly impossible to understand because fans are talking over each other. But then that's part of the modern-day theater experience. Even Sarandon noted in her interview that talking back to the screen has gone from the more unison catechism approach to a loud free-for-all.

What seemed so risqué and shocking a few decades ago seems much more innocent today, but it was great when it all began and it's still great! If you've never ventured into the theater to experience "Rocky Horror," this is the best way to experience it at home.

Mesmerizing film.
This is a very outrageous movie. The rock is the background to tell us a horror movie but also spiced with sex , ransvestism and above all a splendid tribute to the movies specially King Kong .
One couple strands in an old house full of weirdos . This movie (here between you and me)could have inspired for Tim Burton in Beetle juice .
In this decade there were great visuals films too . Sherman built a magnificent story absolutely free , intelligent and sarcastic, irreverent and bitter . You might state that Fellini's influence (dressed of english manners and clothes) is present all along the film .
Inmediatly after its release this one acquired the status of cult movie.

The original is still the best!
Don't bother with the play, or the music from the play. The original is still the best. Nobody can fill the shoes of Sarandon, Curry, etc. They originated the roles and have been associated with them for far too long for anyone else to come in try to change them so many years later and attempt to redo them. Stay with the best.

Those Gold Shorts!
Ahhhhh...Rocky had such a lovely outline showing in his gold lame shorts. ... Read more

Reviews (149)

Merely the Ultimate Musical
I've watched "Xanadu" probably about fifty or sixty times - or more. I've worn out two VHS videos, and am now, even while typing this, watching my Xanadu DVD. I can't believe that anyone would call this undiscovered wonder of the world "wimpy" or "anemic". This movie deserves its current status as a cult classic.

The Stars. I'll have more to say about Gene Kelly later. Olivia Newton John, still on the top of her conversion from Country Western to Pop Rock, never sounded or looked better. Her ability to seemingly switch back and forth on a moments notice from her old image of sweetness and nice to her new image of almost a dominatrix was great. Her combination of any boy's fantasies with a girl you could take home was wonderful. Mike Beck does a good job as "Sonny" - the modern-day version of Danny McGuire, although, in comparison to Kelly and Olivia, he looks kind of flat. But who could hold a candle to that caliber of actor or actress?

The scenes. The scene where Danny dances with Kira and ends up with her in his arms ("Whenever You're Away from Me"), followed by a similar scene with Sonny and Kira minutes later in the movie ("Suddenly"), only help to reinforce the Deja-Vu like sense of wonder that permeates this entire film. We are treated to this sense of deja-vu over and over again. The scene where the Big Band era meets the rock-and-roll era still gives me a thrill. Olivia Newton John's singing blends virtually perfectly with Electric Light Orchestra's symphonic sound, but heavy rock influence.

The musical numbers. Done by Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton John, they include the pop hits "Xanadu" and "Magic", as well as: "I'm Alive", "All Over The World", "Dancin' Round and Round", "Suspended in Time", "Whenever You're Away from Me", "Don't Walk Away" and "Suddenly". Imagine, if you can, a blending of the best of the 30's and 40's Big Bands with the best of the 70's and 80's rock and disco. Now imagine it on the same stage - blended almost perfectly. That =is= what happens in this movie.

The dancing. What can anyone say about Gene Kelly that hasn't been said already? Watching Gene trip the light fantastic with Olivia was worth the price of admission all by itself. This was, I believe, Gene Kelly's last movie, and it is a fitting send-off to his long career. It was kind of fun to see him as a clarinet player and construction company boss. He doesn't look the least bit "silly" - it's easy to see where he could have been Kira's love interest back in the 40's. It was appropriate to see Gene's character called "Danny McGuire" as that was actually the name of one of Gene's characters in another movie.

In addition, to cap off this film, Don Bluth did the animation for a wonderful sequence ("Don't Walk Away") where Kira and Sonny are transformed into fish and birds. This provides a perfect sense of surreal to Sonny's and Kira's developing love.

This movie means more than its outer shell of "a muse is sent from 'heaven' to help with the creation of a disco roller derby". It means it's OK to have dreams - because a dream is a wish your heart makes. The emphasis, told in various ways, that you should always follow your dreams, is a message that needs to be emphasised today. Both Danny's dream of opening a new club, and Sonny's dream to do something more than his boring job of painting recreations of album covers are fused together by Kira (or should I say "Terpsichore"? :-) into a single dream that they, with her help, make a reality. Do a search on the Greek Muses and you'll find a lot of the inspiration for this movie.

If there really is a real Xanadu, I would love to go there. If there never really was a real Xanadu, there should be. This still ranks as one of the most underappreciated musicals ever. Get it. You will not be disappointed.

The movie bites big time - but the music is awesome!
Xanadu is a hard film to review, because, as a movie, it is a terrible piece of dreck. As a music video it works just fine and even succeeds immensely at times.

Originally conceived as a disco movie, the producers decided to cash in on the popularity - at the time - of roller skating, so they made the movie - at the last minute - a roller disco film. Throw in Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelly and you've got: DISASTER!

The plot of the film is so transparently thin that it falls apart several times throughout. The dialogue is so agonizingly bad that even Gene Kelly (a man not known for his acting but his dancing) must have been embarrassed by it.

As the male romantic lead, a little known actor by the name of uh, just a minute I'll think of it.....was cast on the heels of his turn in the highly successful fantasy gang film: The Warriors. Michael Beck (the actor's name) can't act, can't sing, and can't dance...... so he was cast in the lead of a musical? Huh?

Newton John plays a Muse (of the old Greek mythology variety) who comes to life off of a wall painting - why we just don't know. She decides to glom onto Michael Beck's character (an architect who wants to create the most fabulous nightclub ever - Xanadu). And that, folks, is the plot of the movie. Oh, that, and apparently John's Muse was once the inspiration for Gene Kelly's character back in WWII. Huh?

Anyway, if it weren't for the producers wisely employing Electric Light Orchestra, The Tubes, and Newton-John, then this would have been insufferably bad. As it is, the movie has some really fantastic moments of musical fun. There's an interesting mixture of styles when The Tubes performs with a pseudo-swing band from the 1940's. Then there are Newton-John's songs throughout, which were orchestrated by ELO. The title song is possibly the most fun because it is where Newton-John met her former husband Matt Lattanzi (he was a dancer in the sequence). However the sequence employs the whole roller disco thing (not terribly effectively) and feels forced and just looks terrible!

However, as I said earlier - Xanadu works as an extended music video - something that was not in true existence at the time - it would happen about a year later on MTV.

Xanadu was made in the very late 1970's and released in 1980 and just happened to hit theatrers when disco was becoming reviled and New Wave was the latest sensation. Also by 1980 roller disco was VERY passe. Xanadu laid a big old egg (although I've read that it did fairly well at the box office on Newton-John's Grease fame and general popularity alone).

Get the DVD and select the song chapters and you'll have a great time watching this. Don't bother actually watching the film.

Love the movie, but DVD transfer quality is so-so.
I really enjoyed this as a kid (10 yrs old when it was in theatres). I even have the LP soundtrack somewhere. So I was excited to buy the DVD. On the nostalgia level, it doesn't disappoint. Great scenes with Gene Kelly, Olivia Newton John, and the real star of the movie -- the Pan Pacific Auditorium in LA, an art deco landmark that burned down years ago. But technically, I think Universal did a lazy job. The sound is wimpy and muddy, which is disappointing. These awesome ELO songs should jump out of speakers, not struggle out of them. The picture quality is also substandard: it looks like a 3d generation videotape (except with the ability to freezeframe). If you're like me, you'll hold your nose and buy this, because it's the only game in town. It's unlikely that Universal will go back and remaster this for another DVD release (but who knows?). Overall, it was a great late-night, flashback DVD to watch, and I'll definitely watch it again, as time goes by. One final thing: don't expect toooo much from the DVD extras. Other than the film trailer, all you get are static text bios to flip through.

A CULT CLASSIC and an EXCELLENT SOUNDTRACK
When this big budget Olivia Newton-John vehicle hit the silver screen, it actually did make money at the box office. However, because of the high expectaions of the film's star, Olivia Newton-John's performance in "Grease", it was called a bomb, which, financially it wasn't. It also became one of the top selling videos in 1981 in days when Vhs and Betamax both ruled the markets! The soundtrack went #1 and has 5 hit songs spun off of it, and it later gained a bigger following when it hit the movie channels! Critics hate this movie, but I don't care! I LOVE IT! Olivia Newton-John is so gorgeous and sings some great tunes as well as dances it up with Gene Kelley(in his final movie role). Michael Beck, however, falls flat on his face, showing no charisma and terrible acting chops. But Olivia and Gene pick up the slack, thankfully, and the end result is a very glitzy, campy,yet dazzling old fashioned musical tinged with 80's songs by Olivia, E.L.O. and The Tubes.Light on plot, heavy on song and dnace and special effects, Xanadu is fun for the entire family. Just don't expect anything more than to be entertained and you'll love it!

Roller-Disco epic from the 70's! Outrageous!
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You have to wonder what they were thinking when they decided to re-make the Rita Hayworth film "Down to Earth" as a roller-disco musical epic starring Olivia Newton John.

It's interesting, but when you realize that the running time of this film itself lasts longer than the actual fad of roller-disco did, you have to wonder why they bothered!

Gene Kelly seems lost in a musical nightmare, and the production numbers seem to scare him silly. It's as if he wonders how he got on the soundstage at all.

The music is cute, the production numbers are a perfect example of 70's excess, and the story is ridiculous.

All in all, I think it's a guilty pleasure to watch. Just don't tell anyone you enjoyed it, because they'll probably make fun of you.

A perfect double-feature evening would be to watch this along with "Can't Stop the Music" starring the Village People. (Read my review on that one!)

To quote Olivia Newton John: "Xanaduuuuuuu, Xanaduuuu-uuu-uuu!" ... Read more

Reviews (185)

Redefining the Rock Musical.
I've been a fan of musicals ever since I saw Dorothy go Technicolor in "The Wizard of Oz" when I was about five - but I had just about given up hope of a modern day musical. The last popular musicals were done in the seventies (Tommy, Rocky Horror, The Wiz), and they weren't really emotionally moving. Entertaining, yes - but thought provoking and touching, not exactly.

Hedwig has given me hope. Based on a play that became a cult hit in New York and other big cities, now it's been put on DVD with great care by its creator John Cameron Mitchell. He's done an excellent job of bringing Hedwig's energy and intimacy to the screen. I'd love to see him direct and star in more films.

The music is excellent and the lyrics surprisingly insightful. You have to watch this movie more than once to fully appreciate the intricate story, but the music will grab you right away. Stephan Trask is an amazingly talented writer.

Although not everyone may think of an East German transsexual punk rock whore as a heroin - I do. This is the story of her self-discovery, how she finds completeness within herself. She wants love and acceptance ' just as we all do.

Not bad. But ROCKY HORROR is better.
I have a feeling that in later years this movie will be as big a cult classic as ROCKY HORROR or BLOODSUCKING FREAKS. No, its not a great movie, but it has just the right amount of weirdness, pomp and some pretty good rock music to become one of the first major cult sucesses of the 21st century. It centers around a German transexual who after a sex change op gone wrong leaves him with the "angry inch" of the title, is appalled when his secret gay lover steals credit for his music and becomes a number one chart success and sets out to get his music back. The music is pretty good, but the movie itself isn't completely sucessful. That said it works better as a film because the visual elements including animation add to what is a rather bizarre, unique viewing experience. Naturally, I haven't seen the musical on which it is based (typical of me, I know) but I recommend it if you are in the mood to watch something a little different, though personally I think ROCKY HORROR stands head and shoulders over HEDWIG any day.

Rock N Roll & Passion, Truth,Sadness,Loves found & Lost
This movie -- I can watch it each and every day. The characters captured me and they were real people with their faults, genius, heart and soul. Anyone who enjoys Rock and a fabulously written script exploring Transgender relationships, the transgender mind will fall in love with Hedwig. ^5 to all connected with this brilliant movie. It is passion, grit, soul, heart, double cross, greed, and a search for love, acceptance. This movie is so great and moving I do not possess the vocabulary to describe the emotional journey the viewer travels. FANTASTIC

Ladies and Gentlmen the best movie you'll ever see
To say the least i am a fag hag, thus, i love musicals and anything remotely gay. albeit i am neither a boy nor a gay boy but rather a female whose only form of male friends are queer, gay, fagets etc. and i have to say this is one of my favorite movies of all times when i first viewed this movie i couldn't believe it i thought "yes, i'm not a freak someone took two of my favorite things Rock and Roll and Transexuals and rolled it into one great movie" and not only did i completely fall in love with the movie the directer, writer and star of the movie but also the soundtrack which by the way you the soon to be viewer should definetly get because its the best. Hedwig or Hansel as that was his name before his transformation or rather confusion, he and his mother lived in a cramped apartment in Communist Berlin, before the wall came down that is, They were left by his American GI father and it was just his mother and him. THe apartment was so small that the only place for Hedwig slash Hansel could find refuse to listen to his American Rock and Roll music was in the oven. The two lived together sleeping in the same bed until around Hedwig slash Hansel was into his late twenties and was discovered sunbathing on ruins by his semi perverted prince charming, an American military black man the two decides to get married and get the hell out of berlin. the only thing that stands in their way is Hedwig slash Hansel's little bishop between his slash her's legs but Hansels mother whose name by the way is Hedwig convinces him that its just a simple cut and paste job and she'll be on her way to america. but little did they know what they were into unfortunately for Hansel Berlin did not have the best plastic surgens around and instead of a female genitalia or even male genitalia he was left with a inch of skin where something was supposed to be there. thus the title angry inch. But to cut a good story short He took on his mothers name Hedwig and was then known throughout the movie as hedwig and referred to as her or she. and after a few months of wedding bliss she was left by her GI husband for a younger more tight boy. left by her husband and with an inch to work with she took all her anger and fustraion into making a remarkable band with beautiful songs in which she meets tommy gnosis or rather makes tommy gnosis this psuedo rockstar whom was created and shaped into a rockstar by none other Ms Hedwig herself and then like her father and husband left her in the dumps. but this time she wasn't going to let anyone take what she worked so hard at, her music and her heart. you see first Hedwig meet tommy while babysitting for his family tommy was just a christian rock nerd before ever meeting Hedwig and the two hit it off they were more in love than ever the problem tommy was sadly not into the whole inch thing and couldn't work it out so like the dish and the spoon he ran away with her heart and the songs in which she wrote and made him famous rather than herself. the underlining of this movie is all about find yourself and accepting who you are once you've found yourself and its about love and how sometimes you just have to let that one person who feel you can't live without, go. but enough about the film i command you to watch it listen to the soundtrack and be in love.

incredulous
There are people on here that do not think that Hedwig is very good, and that is okay. The next time somebody mentions that they do not think the "story is good!!1!!" or that "all of these transies are weird, omgggg!!!!1", I might vomit.

If you think that the metaphors John Cameron Mitchell employs are silly or trite- news flash, he didn't make them up. If you want to disagree with Plato, however, be my guest (it'll just validate your stupidity). Since Hedwig and the Angry Inch was based upon The Speech of Aristophranes from Plato's Symposium (a foundational text which deals with greek mythology and is really just another version of Genesis which includes room for people of all sexual orientation) you might want to think twice about what you call silly.

People know Plato's name for a reason. Mitchell is a genius.

Bravo. ... Read more

Reviews (291)

'The Rocky Horror Show' Movie
There is one reason why everyone should see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show": it is the best cult film ever made. There are also three reasons why everyone should want to watch it: 1) It is one of the only 'R' rated musicals in existence. 2) It has strong science-fiction overtones. 3) It is very funny. The movie starts Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon (before they were stars) as the recently engaged Brad and Janet. However, they are upstaged in nearly every scene by Tim Curry who plays Frank N. Furter, the mad doctor. The cast delightfully performs many memorable songs including "Over at the Frankenstein Place" and, of course, the "Time Warp". To fully enjoy RHPS, one must not be closed minded or the picture could prove to be quite offensive. Don't think it's gratuitously violent- it isn't. Merely, the situations the characters find themselves in could shock or appall overly sensitive viewers. If you think you won't enjoy RHPS, going to a midnight screening might be your best bet. The live audience participation will guarantee you a good time, despite your opinion of the actual film. So overall, RHPS is quite a good adaptation of Richard O'Brien's original concept, which always honors its roots on the stage.

DVD = Perfect format to truly experience "Rocky" at home
I loved going to "Rocky Horror" when I was in college, but watching on home video just wasn't the same. I'm probably committing heresy but there's a reason why this sci-fi, horror, B-movie satire, rock musical didn't really make it big until theaters started showing it as a midnight movie and fans started attending in costume and talking back to the screen. The 25th anniversary DVD, with several audience participation options, really is the next best thing to being there.

For the uninitiated, "Rocky Horror" tells the story of two clean-cut American youths, uptight Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick of "Spin City") and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon of "Dead Man Walking") whose car breaks down on a dark, deserted road in the middle of a storm--the classic beginning to many horror movies--and who seek help at a nearby castle. Castles, as Rocky fans know, don't have phones! What this castle has instead is a cross-dressing mad scientist Frank-N-Furter Tim Curry, in perhaps his finest performance), two very creepy servants, Riff-Raff (Richard O'Brien, who wrote the musical) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn), and various other hangers-on, including lovers Columbia (Little Nell) and biker Eddie (Meat Loaf). Brad and Janet walk in on a party celebrating the creation of Frank-N-Furter's muscle-bound boy-toy "Rocky." Bed-hopping chaos soon ensues, until the servants reveal their true identities and take control.

Punctuating this wacky plot are some of the wildest rock-musical songs ever written. In addition to the classic "Time Warp," there's O'Brien's salute to cult-classic B-movies, "Science Fiction Double Feature," Meat Loaf's "Hot Patootie," and Sarandon ode to sexual self-discovery, "Toucha Toucha Touch Me!"

So much for the "Rocky virgin" portion of the review... What makes the DVD so exceptional is the chance to experience "Rocky Horror" at home nearly like you would in the theater. The DVD has the option of turning on the audience screen comments as well as another option for viewing members of the Rocky Horror Fan Club performing select scenes before returning to the main movie. For those less familiar with audience participation, the DVD can prompt when to throw toast, toilet paper, rice, etc., light a match, put your newspaper on your head, etc.

The second disc contains fascinating interviews with cast members, where fans can find out about their reaction to starring in this cult classic. Meat Loaf's description of not realizing what "Rocky Horror" was going to be about and running out of the theater when Tim Curry entered wearing fishnet stockings, spiked heels, a merry widow, and a leather jacket and singing "Sweet Transvestite" is hysterical. Patricia Quinn talks about how her fondness for the opening song, "Science Fiction Double Feature" made her want to take the role even though she hadn't read the rest of the script. What? Don't remember Quinn singing that number? In the stage versions she did, but the song got reassigned in the film version--and Quinn makes her feelings about that QUITE clear. Sarandon makes the interesting observation that "Rocky Horror" probably kept a lot of art house theaters in business over the years, since they could count on good revenue from the midnight movie, even if the latest regular-hours offering flopped. In Bostwick's interview, however, the actor sounds a bit like William Shatner giving his anti-Trekkie diatribe on "Saturday Night Live."

The only disappointments on the DVD are that the outtakes really aren't that interesting and actor bios aren't provided. I would have liked to see what else the "minor" cast members did after Rocky, but that information is limited to a few lines in the companion booklet. Also, some of the audience-participation comments are nearly impossible to understand because fans are talking over each other. But then that's part of the modern-day theater experience. Even Sarandon noted in her interview that talking back to the screen has gone from the more unison catechism approach to a loud free-for-all.

What seemed so risqué and shocking a few decades ago seems much more innocent today, but it was great when it all began and it's still great! If you've never ventured into the theater to experience "Rocky Horror," this is the best way to experience it at home.

Mesmerizing film.
This is a very outrageous movie. The rock is the background to tell us a horror movie but also spiced with sex , ransvestism and above all a splendid tribute to the movies specially King Kong .
One couple strands in an old house full of weirdos . This movie (here between you and me)could have inspired for Tim Burton in Beetle juice .
In this decade there were great visuals films too . Sherman built a magnificent story absolutely free , intelligent and sarcastic, irreverent and bitter . You might state that Fellini's influence (dressed of english manners and clothes) is present all along the film .
Inmediatly after its release this one acquired the status of cult movie.

The original is still the best!
Don't bother with the play, or the music from the play. The original is still the best. Nobody can fill the shoes of Sarandon, Curry, etc. They originated the roles and have been associated with them for far too long for anyone else to come in try to change them so many years later and attempt to redo them. Stay with the best.

Those Gold Shorts!
Ahhhhh...Rocky had such a lovely outline showing in his gold lame shorts. ... Read more

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If you've ever wanted to hear Jack Nicholson sing (or try to) or marvel at the sight of Ann-Margret drunkenly cavorting in a cascade of baked beans, Tommy is the movie you've been waiting for. As it turns out, the Who's brilliant rock opera is sublimely matched to director Ken Russell's penchant for cinematic excess, and this 1975 production finds Russell at the peak of his filmmaking audacity. It's a fever-dream of musical bombast, custom-fit to the thematic ambition of Pete Townshend's epic rock drama, revolving around the titular "deaf, dumb, and blind kid" (played by Who vocalist Roger Daltrey) who survives the childhood trauma that stole his senses to become a Pinball Wizard messiah in Townshend's grandiose attack on the hypocrisy of organized religion.

The story is remarkably coherent considering the hypnotic dream-state induced by Russell's visuals. Tommy's odyssey is rendered through wall-to-wall music, each song representing a pivotal chapter in Tommy's chronology, from the bloodstream shock of "The Acid Queen" (performed to the hilt by Tina Turner) to Nicholson's turn as a well-intentioned physician, Elton John's towering rendition of "Pinball Wizard," and Daltrey's epiphanous rendition of "I'm Free." Other performers include Eric Clapton and (most outrageously) the Who's drummer Keith Moon, and through it all Russell is almost religiously faithful to Townshend's artistic vision. Although it divided critics when first released, Tommy now looks likes a minor classic of gonzo cinema, worthy of the musical genius that fueled its creation. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Ann-Margret in a Rock Opera? I guess so!
A visually spectacular and colorful adaptation of The Who's 'rock opera,' Tommy features an all-star cast including some of the greatest names and performances in rock music and a score written by Pete Townshend that was released six years prior to the film's release.

he story is about a young boy named Tommy (Roger Daltrey) who sees his father (Robert Powell) killed by his stepfather (Oliver Reed) while Tommy's mother (Ann-Margret) watches in shock. After the incident, Tommy's mother and stepfather tell him in song, "You Didn't See Anything, You Didn't Hear Anything." Traumatized by witnessing this horrendous deed, he becomes psychologically blind and deaf i.e. His brain won't let him see or hear. In the course of growing up, he proceeded to become a "Pinball Wizard" of the world and had a strong following of admirers. During this time, he endured years of manipulation and abuse by his family. Eventually Tommy breaks "free" of his world of silence and darkness and becomes aware of the world around him, his mental capacity has only evolved to that of a child. At the end of the movie, Tommy's followers finally realize that they have been brainwashed by him.

'Tommy' opened with critical acclaim from virtually everyone who saw the film. The film, costing three and a half million dollars, was produced by Robert Stigwood (of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Grease' fame) who took a backseat in the publicity of the film to director Ken Russell (of 'The Boyfriend' and 'Lisztomania' fame). Russell was commended for bringing the rock opera to life by using spectacular visuals and special effects to enhance the re-recorded soundtrack. "Technically the film is astounding...Russell has fused a kaleidoscope of images that pulsate with the incredible precision of a rock drumbeat in visual counterpoint to the music." (Newsweek March 24, 1975) This is the first of two reasons for the film's appeal. The second is the fact that the film used popular rock stars in cameo appearances to attract the 20-24 year old audience, who already had an awareness of the rock opera in its original form. Those who were not aware of it were wooed via promotions on the radio using the rock stars names such as Elton John, who was at the peak of his success. The rock stars had produced more interest in the film than the already established stars such as Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed, but by using these stars it gave "...the project more legitimacy among movie fans without dulling anticipation amount rock purists significantly..." (Variety February 26, 1975)

The film utilized the two different parts of the entertainment world, rock music and established film stars and used their talents to the fullest making the film appealing to the older audience as well as the younger one.

After reading various glowing, positive reviews and watching "Tommy" I found myself neither liking nor disliking it. By using songs and no spoken dialogue is a most effective and creative way to tell a story. The characters must express in song feelings of joy ('It's a Boy'), the covering up of a crime ("You Didn't Hear It'), joyous holidays and the sadness of Tommy's problem ('Christmas'), the evilness of relatives ('Cousin Kevin' and 'Fiddle About'), a story about one of Tommy's fans ('Sally Simpson'), Tommy breaking out of his world of silence and darkness ('I'm Free'), and the realization of being brainwashed ('We're Not Gonna Take It'). The film also contained great renditions of The Who's songs such as Eric Clapton as the Preacher ('Eyesight to the Blind'), Tina Turner ('The Acid Queen'), Elton John ('Pinball Wizard') and Jack Nicholson as the doctor ('Go To the Mirror Boy'). The use of special effects and colorful visuals helped to relay the story to the audience who only had envisioned it while listening to the original record by The Who.

The one fault I found with this movie was the use of Ann-Margret. She does not fit into this rock-opera or any rock opera for that matter. Her vocal ability does not permit her to sing these songs and consequently she screams them out, for example "Do I Smash the Mirror?" Her voice is very soft and sings some of the other songs without feeling like "Christmas" and "Tommy Can You Hear Me?" Ann-Margret's voice "...works better after you've seen the film and have an image to associate with the sounds." (The New York Times March 21, 1975). After viewing this film several times, it is still difficult for me to associate her with The Who's music and I feel someone else should have been chosen for the part.

**cdk

A bizarre and wonderful film
Tommy is easily the most disturbing movie I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of disturbing movies. It chronicles Tommy's life from birth to the death of his father to his traumatic adolescence and spirtual entry into adulthood. The scene where Tommy endures sexual abuse (at the hands of Keith Moon, no less) is a particularly unsettling one. While the cause of him being "deaf, dumb, and blind" is never really explained, along with other unanswered questions, Tommy is definitely a work of art.

The cameos by Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John, and Jack Nicholson are brilliantly done. Ann-Margaret, whom I had previously dismissed as just another singing piece of eye candy, shows incredible acting skill as Tommy's mother. The only flaws in the film (besides Tommy's miraculous change from a brown-eyed boy to blue-eyed Roger Daltrey) are the ambiguity between symbolism and reality, which can make the story hard to follow, and the last quarter of the movie, in which Tommy becomes a Christ-like figure of worship. The movie really should have ended with Tommy's final realization of himself, at least in my opinion. However, a child rock star in this sequence eerily resembles Marilyn Manson circa 1996, which should entertain music fans.

Keep in mind, though, that just because this movie is rated PG does not mean it is suitable for children.

COUSIN KEVIN IS DA BOMB!!!
Why doesn't anyone mention him? This DVD is worth the price just to see that scene!!! I love everything else too but I like to watch the Cousin Kevin scene over and over again. The movie version is WAYYYY better than the dull, slow version on the album!!! Same thing goes for many of the songs. All in all, this is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable musicals of all time!!!

Unique, but as senseless as Tommy
When I first read of Tommy, I found the premise intruiging. A "rock opera" based on music by The Who... starring Roger Daltrey? I knew that the term "cult classic" would be applicable here. And being a fan of rock music, and 60's rock/pop in particular, I knew that I had to see this film. One mediocre review in a newspaper didn't put me off: I felt the combination of The Who and 70's cinema would make for great entertainment. How wrong I was.

With the opening sequences of "It's a boy", an embarrasing and awkward singing performance by a nurse, I was left with my jaw hanging open that this material was not destroyed by a later Government order. Songs often collapse into repetitiveness (I'm Free) just as they border on the great. Potential is repeatedly wasted - and at times, you can almost feel how good Tommy's music COULD have been - but alas, each song, without exception, feels both overblown and underwritten at the same time. It's a shame.

Not that the movie is devoid of artistic talent - it isn't. There are visually stunning sequences everywhere. Set peices become gradually more and more impressive (the Marilyn Monroe idols, Tommy's religious land) and special effects, crude as they are, are used to music video effect - an impressive precursor to MTV.

But the plot is loose, very loose - and scattered. Tommy's plight, his childhood trauma, and the theme of religious exploit all earn marks for originality, and maturity. But there really is very little continuity going on - and though the theme of Tommy's degredation becomes quite dark, his exploitation becomes repetitive. And tiresome. That said, the film's most energetic peak, "Pinball Wizard", is a colourful, memorable and bizzare game of pinball featuring Tommy and Elton John playing head to head before a theatre audience. Even the music shows flashes of inspiration. Without a doubt a proud climax for any film.

But at the end of it all, Tommy cannot be saved by a single scene, and with a plot so light and music so abominably poor (sorry, but it is), the film is rightly one of the smaller cult classics. The imagrey is good, but in the end, it all seems rather pretentious. Perhaps it needs to be, to fill the huge, gaping holes in the story. Yes, I "get" the film, and no, this is not the first musical or rock movie I have seen. Tommy displays both maturity and style at times - but neither are ever subtle, and that is the film's downfall. Only through the rose-tinted view of a fanatic could Ann Margret wallowing in baked beans ever be worth watching. Yes, I know that this is slander, and 0 of 37 people will find this review helpful as a result, but I can't help my honest opinion.

It has Elton John. In 10ft platforms. But this alone is Tommy's entry into rock history.

Bring on the special collectors edition!
The five star rating is purely for the content of this marvelous and sometimes misunderstood masterpiece from director Ken Russell. But in the U.K. right now (June 2004) they are being treated to an amazing 2 disc collectors edition DVD! The Superbit DVD with DTS sound is fantastic but we want extras!!! Please, Columbia Home Video! Let us Americans have it too! ... Read more

Reviews (52)

A Nearly Perfect Fun Camp Film
This movie is a definate visual treat. From the beautiful and fun Valerie Perrine to the spectacle that is Bruce Jenner in short shorts which are so tight that my eyes watered for him and then there's Steve Guttenburg....who is so hyper and manic in this movie that one wonders what he was on that kept him so perky and wide eyed? :o) It was after all 1980 and I don't even think Betty Ford was thought of as anything but a former first lady at that point in time. Then there's The Village People without whom this film would never had been made at all. Now I was a pre-teen when this came out and I wasn't a huge fan of their music but I still remember the David Hodo musical sequence and thinking to myself....Yikes. And then there's the ode to the "Milkshake" and I ask you, Got Milk? How ahead of it's time! In a strange note, since buying this video I had an erotic dream about Felipe, the Indian, and to this day I can't explain that one? So if you like a fun, frilly, fluffy, and Fabu film....PLEASE buy this movie A.S.A.P. P.S. Valerie Perrine is still a goddess, why isn't she making movies anymore, where is the justice in this world?

OH, YEAH....SO BAD, IT'S *GOOD*!
OK, first of all, completely ignore Leonard Maltin's taking-himself-far-too-seriously review of this film. Like a pug that's so ugly it's cute, this movie, like so many others have pointed out, is deliciously bad -- horrible acting; cheesy special effects (no doubt state-o'-the-art way back then); riduclous plot; oh, and did I mention *horrible acting*? -- so bad it's wonderful. Like a horrible auto accident you can't tear your eyes away from, this movie is so dreadful that you can't stop watching, if only to see how badly any of the actors (except the ever-perky/pro Valerie Perrine) will deliver their lines. The musical numbers are a delight, though, and it's obvious THAT is where most of them money went. Poor, poor Nancy Walker (that's right, Rhoda's mom) directed this and she'll be remembered for this if nothing else. You haved to wonder WHAT she was thinking, though....

You don't have to be gay or into disco to enjoy this: just sit back and let the horror (and the fun) wash over you. It's THE perfect movie for a group of people to watch and groan together.

BUY THIS MOVIE!

Relentlessly incredible
This film is one of the best musical movies ever made. The Village People are incredible. I highly recommend this film to everyone that likes to watch a bunch of fun people having a great time.

Can't stand the movie
There are some movies so horrible that you watch them, not out of guilty pleasure but rather with the same interest as rubbernecking a 20 car pile-up on a major highway.

Nothing works about this movie. It is bad, bad bad, not even Valerie Perrin can make it good. As for Bruce Jenner, what was he thinking. The rumour is that a lot of coke was used in the making of the movie, the reason, they all wanted to dull their senses it is that bad. I'm surprised anyone had a career after this.

I appeared in this movie, and I think it's great!
.
OK, so I wasn't exactly a "star" in this epic, but I was in the final scene, filmed in San Francisco. It was a HUGE disco-bash filmed at The Galleria, and I was on one of the balconies hanging over the dancers below. We all kind of wondered what the heck was happening; what they were filming. No one was really sure at the time. (And NO ONE could figure out what Gypsy Rose lee's little sister "Baby June" (June Havoc) was doing at a gay dance bash... sing OUT, Louise!)

When the film came out (inside joke here, as the gay aspect of the movie was closeted within the context of the film itself), I went to the San Francisco premiere. The film continued to play for about a week before fading into oblivion. It was a HUGE BOMB!

I always thought the best part of this film (besides the over-the-top production numbers) was Bruce Jenner's fabulously sexy belly in the scene where he wears a half-shirt and cut-offs. However, when I saw this on DVD and kept my finger on the freeze-frame button, I was amazed to see more than I ever remember seeing in the theatre during the "YMCA" number. Hard to believe this film has a "PG" rating with what they show in the shower scene! (I thought I was at a hotdog stand!)

A few years after this film bombed in theatres world-wide, I remember meeting Bruce Jenner in San Francisco and telling him that I thought his belly in that scene was the best part of the film. He said that if that was the best part of the movie, he now understood why he and most of the other actors in that film never made another film!

Well, since this film effectively killed the careers of everyone who appeared in it (except for Steve Guttenberg), his words proved true.

Anyway, it's a fun movie to watch, just don't take it seriously. It's just a big disco joke. Enjoy it for what it's worth. This ain't "Gone With The Wind", it's a different kind of epic!

Oh, I remember disco, and the glory of the BOOM BOOM BOOM when we all saw our faces reflected in the spinning mirror globes high above the dance floor, and thinking it would never end. This movie is an effective reminder of the good times, bad taste, and sweet excess of the disco era. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

OK animation, iffy movie
The animation is good, especially considering when it was made, but "American Pop" is never quite successful. Once again Bakshi probes the sordid underbelly of his subject, in this case pop music, but nothing here ever comes off quite convincing enough. And his dismissal of punk and rush to embrace the bland beardo post-hippie commercial rock of Bob Seger and Heart betrays Bakshi's age, and maybe a lack of good taste as well. It comes off a bit old-fogeyish.

Like a lot of Bakshi's work, this has to be taken as it is, and the viewer has to bear in mind when and how it was made. Computer animation was in its infancy, and animation was at a low point in the United States, so the fact that this was made and distributed in mainstream theaters at all was a minor miracle at the time.

In short, the musical spots provide the bright moments, but the plot is labored and the characters, particularly the ridiculous "rock star" he invents at the end of the film, are unconvincing. As a historical document of where animation was in the United States at the time, it's viewable; as entertainment, well, it's better than "Heavy Traffic" but certainly not any kind of a classic animated film. See it if you want, but it's not indispensable.

One of My Favorite Movies of All Time
I watched American Pop for the first time after seeing a promo for it on the Anniversary Edition DVD of Heavy Metal. I loved Heavy Metal so I figured why not try this one out since it seems to be of a similar genre. Boy was I glad I did...

Not only did I have no clue the movie was made in the early 80's wheh I watched it in 1999, but I was absolutely floored by the fluid animation that was produced by Bakshi's technique of Rotoscoping that was also used in Heavy Metal, Wizards, and Lord of the Rings...

The animation and story line were some of the best I have seen...in any movie!! I never watch many dvd's more than once but this one I have gotten through at least 5 times. It is an absolute masterpiece in animation and Bakshi's best work to date.

Rotoscoping animation is largely misunderstood and doesn't get enough credit. If more animation was done this way, adults would probably enjoy more non-Disneyesque type features geared towards older audiences.

Don't miss this flick if you are a fan of excellent animation...

Hubby Loved It & Hates Animation; I Loved It Period
I usually like animation, especially when it has an art house spin to it like Bashki's work does. I've never been able to convert hubby to it though, with only a few exceptions. This was the first animation that I ever screened for him that he enjoyed from beginning to end. In fact, he watched it twice. Since it came out (many years ago), the only animation he's liked as well is "Waking Life." Bashki does an incredible job of covering the rock world and its stars, although he never explicitly names anyone. The story flows effortlessly (it seems) and takes us for a kaleidescopic ride along the development of rock and roll set in the USA. The art and music are outstanding. Well worth buying since you will want to watch it more than once. It will appeal to a wide variety of ages too.

A Brilliant underrated masterpiece.
From Ralph Bakshi ( Director of "Lord of the Rings" 1978 version, "Fritz The Cat" and "Wizards) has crafted a highly entertaining and moving animated feature using Rotoscopic technics and great script too.

This tells four stories of four generations of one family under the influence of American music, from Vaudeville era to the 80's, it's a animated flick that is serious for once without no goofy sidekicks but does entertain and is quite a fun flick, if you like " Heavy Metal", "Secret of NIMH", "Flight of Dragons" and "Last Unicorn" then check out this movie.

Still a classic!
This movie was released when I was 19. I watched it over and over again. Something hard to do before VCRs or DVDs were popular. I was worried that it would stand the test of time. Well, this evening I showed it to my 18-year-old niece who has a scholarship to the animation track at the Art Institute of San Francisco. I was worried she would find it too dated. She really loved it. And I still enjoyed it too! ... Read more

Description

The Superbit titles utilize a special high bit rate digital encoding process which optimizes video quality while offering a choice of both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. These titles have been produced by a team of Sony Pictures Digital Studios video, sound and mastering engineers and comes housed in a special package complete with a 4 page booklet that contains technical information on the Superbit process. By reallocating space on the disc normally used for value-added content, Superbit DVDs can be encoded at double their normal bit rate while maintaining full compatibility with the DVD video format. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Ann-Margret in a Rock Opera? I guess so!
A visually spectacular and colorful adaptation of The Who's 'rock opera,' Tommy features an all-star cast including some of the greatest names and performances in rock music and a score written by Pete Townshend that was released six years prior to the film's release.

he story is about a young boy named Tommy (Roger Daltrey) who sees his father (Robert Powell) killed by his stepfather (Oliver Reed) while Tommy's mother (Ann-Margret) watches in shock. After the incident, Tommy's mother and stepfather tell him in song, "You Didn't See Anything, You Didn't Hear Anything." Traumatized by witnessing this horrendous deed, he becomes psychologically blind and deaf i.e. His brain won't let him see or hear. In the course of growing up, he proceeded to become a "Pinball Wizard" of the world and had a strong following of admirers. During this time, he endured years of manipulation and abuse by his family. Eventually Tommy breaks "free" of his world of silence and darkness and becomes aware of the world around him, his mental capacity has only evolved to that of a child. At the end of the movie, Tommy's followers finally realize that they have been brainwashed by him.

'Tommy' opened with critical acclaim from virtually everyone who saw the film. The film, costing three and a half million dollars, was produced by Robert Stigwood (of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Grease' fame) who took a backseat in the publicity of the film to director Ken Russell (of 'The Boyfriend' and 'Lisztomania' fame). Russell was commended for bringing the rock opera to life by using spectacular visuals and special effects to enhance the re-recorded soundtrack. "Technically the film is astounding...Russell has fused a kaleidoscope of images that pulsate with the incredible precision of a rock drumbeat in visual counterpoint to the music." (Newsweek March 24, 1975) This is the first of two reasons for the film's appeal. The second is the fact that the film used popular rock stars in cameo appearances to attract the 20-24 year old audience, who already had an awareness of the rock opera in its original form. Those who were not aware of it were wooed via promotions on the radio using the rock stars names such as Elton John, who was at the peak of his success. The rock stars had produced more interest in the film than the already established stars such as Ann-Margret and Oliver Reed, but by using these stars it gave "...the project more legitimacy among movie fans without dulling anticipation amount rock purists significantly..." (Variety February 26, 1975)

The film utilized the two different parts of the entertainment world, rock music and established film stars and used their talents to the fullest making the film appealing to the older audience as well as the younger one.

After reading various glowing, positive reviews and watching "Tommy" I found myself neither liking nor disliking it. By using songs and no spoken dialogue is a most effective and creative way to tell a story. The characters must express in song feelings of joy ('It's a Boy'), the covering up of a crime ("You Didn't Hear It'), joyous holidays and the sadness of Tommy's problem ('Christmas'), the evilness of relatives ('Cousin Kevin' and 'Fiddle About'), a story about one of Tommy's fans ('Sally Simpson'), Tommy breaking out of his world of silence and darkness ('I'm Free'), and the realization of being brainwashed ('We're Not Gonna Take It'). The film also contained great renditions of The Who's songs such as Eric Clapton as the Preacher ('Eyesight to the Blind'), Tina Turner ('The Acid Queen'), Elton John ('Pinball Wizard') and Jack Nicholson as the doctor ('Go To the Mirror Boy'). The use of special effects and colorful visuals helped to relay the story to the audience who only had envisioned it while listening to the original record by The Who.

The one fault I found with this movie was the use of Ann-Margret. She does not fit into this rock-opera or any rock opera for that matter. Her vocal ability does not permit her to sing these songs and consequently she screams them out, for example "Do I Smash the Mirror?" Her voice is very soft and sings some of the other songs without feeling like "Christmas" and "Tommy Can You Hear Me?" Ann-Margret's voice "...works better after you've seen the film and have an image to associate with the sounds." (The New York Times March 21, 1975). After viewing this film several times, it is still difficult for me to associate her with The Who's music and I feel someone else should have been chosen for the part.

**cdk

A bizarre and wonderful film
Tommy is easily the most disturbing movie I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of disturbing movies. It chronicles Tommy's life from birth to the death of his father to his traumatic adolescence and spirtual entry into adulthood. The scene where Tommy endures sexual abuse (at the hands of Keith Moon, no less) is a particularly unsettling one. While the cause of him being "deaf, dumb, and blind" is never really explained, along with other unanswered questions, Tommy is definitely a work of art.

The cameos by Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Elton John, and Jack Nicholson are brilliantly done. Ann-Margaret, whom I had previously dismissed as just another singing piece of eye candy, shows incredible acting skill as Tommy's mother. The only flaws in the film (besides Tommy's miraculous change from a brown-eyed boy to blue-eyed Roger Daltrey) are the ambiguity between symbolism and reality, which can make the story hard to follow, and the last quarter of the movie, in which Tommy becomes a Christ-like figure of worship. The movie really should have ended with Tommy's final realization of himself, at least in my opinion. However, a child rock star in this sequence eerily resembles Marilyn Manson circa 1996, which should entertain music fans.

Keep in mind, though, that just because this movie is rated PG does not mean it is suitable for children.

COUSIN KEVIN IS DA BOMB!!!
Why doesn't anyone mention him? This DVD is worth the price just to see that scene!!! I love everything else too but I like to watch the Cousin Kevin scene over and over again. The movie version is WAYYYY better than the dull, slow version on the album!!! Same thing goes for many of the songs. All in all, this is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable musicals of all time!!!

Unique, but as senseless as Tommy
When I first read of Tommy, I found the premise intruiging. A "rock opera" based on music by The Who... starring Roger Daltrey? I knew that the term "cult classic" would be applicable here. And being a fan of rock music, and 60's rock/pop in particular, I knew that I had to see this film. One mediocre review in a newspaper didn't put me off: I felt the combination of The Who and 70's cinema would make for great entertainment. How wrong I was.

With the opening sequences of "It's a boy", an embarrasing and awkward singing performance by a nurse, I was left with my jaw hanging open that this material was not destroyed by a later Government order. Songs often collapse into repetitiveness (I'm Free) just as they border on the great. Potential is repeatedly wasted - and at times, you can almost feel how good Tommy's music COULD have been - but alas, each song, without exception, feels both overblown and underwritten at the same time. It's a shame.

Not that the movie is devoid of artistic talent - it isn't. There are visually stunning sequences everywhere. Set peices become gradually more and more impressive (the Marilyn Monroe idols, Tommy's religious land) and special effects, crude as they are, are used to music video effect - an impressive precursor to MTV.

But the plot is loose, very loose - and scattered. Tommy's plight, his childhood trauma, and the theme of religious exploit all earn marks for originality, and maturity. But there really is very little continuity going on - and though the theme of Tommy's degredation becomes quite dark, his exploitation becomes repetitive. And tiresome. That said, the film's most energetic peak, "Pinball Wizard", is a colourful, memorable and bizzare game of pinball featuring Tommy and Elton John playing head to head before a theatre audience. Even the music shows flashes of inspiration. Without a doubt a proud climax for any film.

But at the end of it all, Tommy cannot be saved by a single scene, and with a plot so light and music so abominably poor (sorry, but it is), the film is rightly one of the smaller cult classics. The imagrey is good, but in the end, it all seems rather pretentious. Perhaps it needs to be, to fill the huge, gaping holes in the story. Yes, I "get" the film, and no, this is not the first musical or rock movie I have seen. Tommy displays both maturity and style at times - but neither are ever subtle, and that is the film's downfall. Only through the rose-tinted view of a fanatic could Ann Margret wallowing in baked beans ever be worth watching. Yes, I know that this is slander, and 0 of 37 people will find this review helpful as a result, but I can't help my honest opinion.

It has Elton John. In 10ft platforms. But this alone is Tommy's entry into rock history.

Bring on the special collectors edition!
The five star rating is purely for the content of this marvelous and sometimes misunderstood masterpiece from director Ken Russell. But in the U.K. right now (June 2004) they are being treated to an amazing 2 disc collectors edition DVD! The Superbit DVD with DTS sound is fantastic but we want extras!!! Please, Columbia Home Video! Let us Americans have it too! ... Read more

Description

This DVD, over 120 minutes, specially imported from the UK , playable on USA systems features the underground cult mov ie & music star Divine and includes both video albums. The DVD features a complete Divine discography and filmology, a s well as details of the complete Cherry Red & Visionary ca talogs. Songs include several versions of Shoot Your Shot, Gang Bang, Jungle Jezebel,lots more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

DIVINE AT THE HACIENDA IN MANSCHESTER!!!
I really like this DVD of Divine live from the Hacienda. This was a must buy for me because Divine performs the classics of the 80's. This was filmed in 1983 when Hi-NRG was at its peak, and when Hi-NRG was still very underground. This is great for anyone who likes Divine or Hi-NRG music. Although, Divine does some tasteless things throughout the show, it's still a gem to add to the Divine Collection. Any Bobby "O" fans also need to buy this. Bobby "O" isn't in the video, but just knowing that Bobby "O" produced most of Divine's classics is another reason to purchase this video. Buy this and keep it. One of these days it will be out of print, so get it while you can. In case you did not know the Hacienda is owned by New Order.

The Late Great DIVINE sings!!!
This is a rare filmed concert of Divine Live in the 80's. This was filmed in London. I own this on video ,and it is a fun and racy concert. It shows Divine at her/his best in a Gay club with a live audience. Divine of John Waters cult films of the 70's and 80's shows off his er ample talents and performs some of his dance hits of the era. This is a great piece of history for all John Waters/ Divine fans!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

He will be forever remembered as a former Monkee (and son of theinventor of Liquid Paper), but Elephant Parts is a reminder that MichaelNesmith was also a pioneer in music and long-form videos. Produced in 1981, thesame year MTV made its debut, the hourlong program consists of 41 comedy bitsand videos for Nesmith tunes. Of the former, most star Nesmith himself and areshort and silly in an inoffensive, slapstick kind of way, poking fun at TVcommercials, rock stars, drug use, and more in a style reminiscent ofSaturday Night Live or the now-defunct SCTV. The music videos,which include "Rio" (one of Nesmith's best songs) and four others, are cleverand visually rich, making skillful use of the medium well before the advent ofcomputers and other modern techniques. Monkee business? Sure, but darnedamusing, and the first video Grammy winner to boot. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (25)

Classic nonsense, great music.
Since Amazon lists two versions of this disc, let me make it clear I'm referring to the Anchor Bay release. Everyone else's reviews hit the high points; for me the music videos were always the shining stars in this program. Let me add that the picture quality is indeed a bit "soft" but that's the way this program has always looked (I've had it in various formats since it was first released--anyone remember CED discs?). The commentary is indeed pointless, but I can't think of any other DVD commentary that isn't pointless. But no one has mentioned that this release has an extra comedy bit that wasn't in previous releases! That alone should make this DVD just a bit special. Now we need a complete Television Parts set.

Loved the film, BUT.......
I just recieved the DVD of "Elephant Parts" & have just finished watching it, I haven't laughed soooo much in years!!. I used to own the VHS version a long time ago & watching my new copy tonight, it reminded me how funny it was. Mike Nesmith is trully a genius when it comes to not only producing music, but video as well & it's a big pitty that he didn't go further with his "back-to-back" video concept (MTV format) that he sold to a large television company, it could have been so much more interesting!!. I do have ONE slightly small complaint, I found the video quality it's self, to be poor. I remember seeing the video version I had having a much clearer picture, has the video deteriorated over the years, or was it sourced from an inferior master tape?. Apart from that I loved watching it again for the first time in years & hope that his follow-up T.V. series "Televison Parts" will also be released on DVD in the near future!

Great blast from the past
When I learned this was out on DVD, I had to get it!
I first saw this when I went off to college in the early 80s and loved it. Always remembered several of the skits, like "Nachos? We don't need no stinkin' nachos!" and "margengrena".
Later on, when Nez did "TV Parts", I watched it religiously (and wished I had taped it). Sigh. I wish they'd bring that out on DVD too, like so many other TV shows are doing.

Can't believe no one mentioned "the fish ate my furniture"
I have loved this collection of videos and short skits since I was a teenager in 1980. The other reviewers are correct in that you have to have the right sense of humor to enjoy it, though. If you like your humor on the bizzare side, (and trying to think of the right analogy here is not easy, because it's really not like anything else I know of), then you will love this DVD. I'm thinking "Repo Man" is a movie that has a similar feel, and since Nesmith produced that movie, it's no surprise.
The skit in "Elephant Parts" where he "interprets" the words to a song sung in Spanish for his date is my favorite. "My wife's biscuits edge closer...No running by the pool...." I am laughing just writing this.... The music videos are fabulous, as I think it can be argued that some of the best music videos came out of the '80's, and Nesmith, being the visionary behind MTV, and having all the experience with the Monkees, obviously would likely have great videos for his tunes.

Bogus Audio Commentary
I was very dissapointed with the nonsense that passed as audio commentary. If the NEZ wanted to puiblish new work he should not do it in the disguise of audio commentary that is SUPPOSED to relate to what we see on the screen. Should have just been satisfied with the VHS I have already. ... Read more