Rating: 
Summary: Cheesy and Cute
Review: I saw Xanadu in the theaters in 1980 when I was around 15 years old and is one of my favorite weird movies, it was one of the cheesiest movies I have ever seen but it was a cute cheesy movie and being fans of both Gene Kelly and Olivia Newton-John I throughly enjoyed this delightful cheesefest and of course Michael Beck was good too! Having grown up in the 70's and part of the 80's with that being where I spent the majority of my teen years I just love the music from Olivia, and ELO, I especially love the songs, Magic and Don't Bring me Down. This movie is great for anyone but especially for people who grew up in the 70's and 80's and have fond memories of seeing it in it's original theatrical release and then seeing it too many times to count on HBO. I used it have the soundtrack but it was a vinyl record and I wore it out!
Rating:
Summary: Still one of my favorites
Review: First off, let's get one thing clear. The acting in this
movie is dismal. Michael Beck couldn't act his way out of
a wet paper bag in this thing (he did a better acting job
in "Megaforce", which should tell you just how bad he
was in this movie). Gene Kelly was wasted. At least Olivia
Newton-John had one or two moments where she let a believable
reaction slip out. In fact, the best acting performance in
this movie was probably turned in by Michael Beck's boss.That having been said, I highly recommend this movie. Why? One reason: it's a sensual extravaganza. Both musically
and visually, it's a feast. If you can sit through the
bad acting, you'll be rewarded with lush production numbers,
incredible visuals, and fantastic musical treats by ELO. If you're a fan of late-70's/early-80's music, by all
means get this movie. If not, if you're a Gene Kelly
fan, steer clear; it'll break your heart to see the
acting job Mr. Kelly put in. If you're looking for story,
depth, or acting, forget it. If you're looking for a good time that's not intellectually
demanding but is a lot of fun, this is a good choice.
Rating:
Summary: Ooohhh man.....
Review: .....just how can it be that something this "bad" be this good?! Xanadu was one of the greatest guilty pleasures in cinematic history. So hokey, corny, and silly, you'll watch the movie bewildered and with a big goofy grin on your face. Probably the ultimate tribute and swan song to '70s pop culture - a confused, overwrought, overdone mishmash of neon, disco, rollerskating, classic Hollywood musical (with a cameo by Gene Kelly), ancient Greek mythology, and even a touch of Disney style animation by Don Bluth (An American Tail) - in other words, a total mess! But yet, somehow it never fails to entertain! Now that's REALLY amazing! Featuring probably THE absolute best music ever by Olivia Newton John, it was a movie that perhaps best defined that confused cultural era we call the '70s - ridiculous, but a lotta fun!
Rating:
Summary: ELO
Review: I saw this movie when it first came out. I thought it was phenomenal. I loved the childlike innocence of it all. Of course, in hindsight, I have to say now... to call it dated is an understatement. I am going to recommend this movie though... if for only one reason. It introduced me to the music of The Electric Light Orchestra. As dopey as this movie seems... I keep comming back to it.
Rating:
Summary: Like Witnessing a Train Wreck
Review: This movie is absolutely unbelieable. It's like witnessing a train wreck. You don't want to watch it but you can't help looking at the carnage. That being said, it's terrific in a bad sort of way and you'll find yourself engrossed with it, waiting to see what else could possibly happen. Oliva Newton-John actually looks like she's having a good time in her first post-"Grease" film. She paired with an Andy Gibb clone (Michael Beck) who can't act his way out of a paper bag but he was probably hired because he looked great on the covers of teen magazines. Gene Kelly (in one of his last movie rolls) is also on hand. The plot involves a muse named Kira (Newton-John) sent down to Earth to inspire artist Beck. He falls for her and meets up with Kelly, who was inspired by Kira in the 1940s. The duo decide to open a 1940s-1980s fusion club in an abandoned building. The musical numbers are all way over the top. From the wall mural the comes to live during "I'm Alive', Beck and Newton-John skating through a recording studio where props magically appear during "Suddenly", a giant stage where the Tubes and a 1940's zoot suit band combine during "Dancin'", each performance tops the number before it. Just when you thought you've seen it all, there's a Don Bluth animated scene, and a number set in a funky early 1980s boutique during "All Over the World". But that's only the beginning. The finale will make you wonder how the producers of the film could make this movie with a straight face. Let's just say it involves circus acts, mimes, a giant rotating floor with lights and fountains, and lots of dancing and skating. The movie may not have done well when it was first released but soundtrack isn't half bad. It contains hits such as "Suddenly", "Magic", and "Xanadu". ELO contributed many songs with the mistaken assumption that this movie was the next "Saturday Night Fever" and they would become as rich as the Bee Gees. The film print is mostly good quality, and the disc is presented in widesceen. The extras are adequate but a film this campy should've had audio commentary from the people involved. "Xanadu" is the type of film tailor-made for the DVD format. Viewers can return to their favorite bad parts again and again with the touch of a button.
Rating: 
Summary: Now we are here, in Xanadu!!!!
Review: Like most of the other reviewers, I absolutely LOVE this movie. I was 10 years old when it came out in the theater, and watching ONJ on the big screen just about blew my mind. I wanted to be her, she had the best clothes, barettes, roller skates, etc....(Please remember rollerskating was VERY BIG back in the 80's). So, the acting, plot and so on are a little rough, but who cares?? This is 80's fluff and fold at it's best. This is a must for your cheesy 80's movie collection, and this is coming from someone who actually owns a copy on VHS of "KISS Meets the Phantom of the Park", "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt, "A Night in Heaven" starring Christopher Atkins, "The Warriors" starring, yup you guessed it Michael Beck! (By far THE best gang movie ever made.) Well, you can see where I'm headed. This movie was not made for the Oscar race, but for the fun of it. For the folks who are looking too deeply into the meaning of this movie, just stop it right now. Enjoy it for what it is. FLUFF FLUFF FLUFF! CHEESE CHEESE CHEESE! I have watched this movie about a million times, and I will continue to do so. At least every couple of months. It's a movie I can't be without and neither should you!
Rating:
Summary: Still Dreaming After All These Years
Review: I was 12 years old when I first saw Xanadu on the big screen in 1980. My friends and I were dropped off at the theatre and to our surprise the film we intended to see was no longer playing. After a short discussion we reluctantly creeped in to watch it. Olivia Newton John in bare knees and roller skates can have quite an effect on a 12 year old boy. After all these years I still watch the film but with a greater appreciation of its artistry. It is more of an inspiration than mere entertainment; the kind of story that can pull you inside to dream right along with Michael Beck and dance with Gene Kelly. The fads were a little wierd because Xanadu bridged the gap of the fading Disco era and approaching age of New Wave, stuck between wide collars and bell-bottoms, and narrow neck-ties and screaming orange hair. Some of the scenes were so corny that I wanted to sink under my chair and hide (namely the Muses running off at light speed). But overall this is a delightful classic that no library should be without. The DVD's video transfer is outstanding, but ELO's music tracks are too muffled and bass-ridden. There could have been a little more tweaking to get crystal clear sound out of ELO's songs (unless the master was in too bad of shape). I don't recall them being that muddy in the theatre. Still a vast improvement over VHS.
Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable piece of Fluff!
Review: It's not the best movie ever made and it would never win anything like an Academy award but it's not as bad as some people are making it out to be and it certainly isn't the worst movie ever made and it's certainly a lot better than Howard the Duck! Xanadu is just a nice piece of fluff you can enjoy on a rainy weekend sitting on the couch with a big bowl of popcorn.
Rating:
Summary: XANADU - A CLASSIC "SUSPENDED IN TIME"
Review: Xanadu is a great movie, no matter what anyone says!!! I say this as a ten year old and loved every minute of it!! It has Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly in two of their best roles!! The story, about a young muse who helps two men discover their dreams, is great, and the music, well, let's just say I have to buy a new one, mine's worn out. It is definately worth the [money] for the VHS!!! It's acting, story, and music will make you want to watch again and again!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: A classic... in its own way
Review: Well, in case you haven't already heard, Xanadu has a long list of bad qualities. The special effects are archaic and cheesy, the plot is weak and ill-conceived, the song and dance numbers are too long and at times tedious, the acting makes a typical episode of Baywatch look like Shakespeare in the Park, and whoever wrote that script was definitely not "kissed by a muse". And really, what was the point of that whole animated sequence? Plus the ending is really confusing, there's way too many loose ends and unanswered questions. Somebody must've mistakingly believed that Xanadu would be a box-office success and that there would be a sequel. There are only three good things about this film. One, the soundtrack album, of course. Two, this movie is great for instant nostalgia ("Rotary phones! Quad roller skates! Hey, I remember those!"). The whole movie is like a snapshot in time, the way they captured the essence of the early '80s into ninety minutes of celluloid is nothing short of remarkable. And three, Olivia is hot, hot, hot. She almost, but not quite, redeems this picture from being a total waste of time. Despite its many shortcomings, I still think Xanadu is worthy of the title "classic" simply because it is so jaw-droppingly bad. This is a "love it or hate it" movie. If you haven't seen it, I would suggest renting it on video first, or better yet, save yourself money and embarrasment and wait for it to be shown on TV.
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