Rating: 
Summary: Total BS, but great music
Review: ok ok this movie had great music and the dancing was the real star. I remember seeing this movie with my mother, who was a real construction worker. we both laught. No way she could do construction all day and dance all night, but its a movie right. Jennifer Beals was so hot when she did this movie, why didn't she do more films? Oh yeah, she can't act to save her life, but never mind that lets get back to the dancing. The Choreography was so cutting edge for the 80's. If you can choke down the bad acting and the weak story this is not such a bad film. If you like good dancing,and some of the best 80's music see it.
Rating: 
Summary: Is the DVD edited or is it just me?
Review: I have been waiting forever for this movie to come out on DVD. I have to respectfully disgagree with those who say Jennifer Beals isn't a good actress. See her in the movie "Four Rooms" if you don't believe me. She was really good in this movie, and it's a shame she didn't become a bigger star because of this. There was urban legend maybe that Madonna was up for this role. I love the Material Girl, but I can't imagine her in this role at all. Jennifer was an excellent choice. I'm still not happy with the ending, and I'm still a bit confused as to who exactly Hannah was to Alex. I wish they would have explored their relationship a bit more.My question for anyone who has seen this on DVD is this. There are some scenes missing. The first scene, and I remember this, is the scene where she goes to the dog Grunt, (not Brute as I previously wrote) "Grunt, you're getting fat. You're going to need to work out" or something to that effect. The scene where Alex and Jeanie are watching the breakdancers is also shorter than I remember. Is this a case, as with Fast Times at Ridgemont High where you got one version on TV and one on video or DVD. I never had a chance to see it in the theaters, as I was about 3 or so when the actual movie was released. I'm just confused here. Other than that, I'm glad this was finally put on DVD, although I'm also a little bit disapointed by the lack of extras and the possible editing. Not even a trailer for the movie was included. Hopefully another version will be released sometime in the future.
Rating: 
Summary: The dream is eternal
Review: The film is an image of what the 1980s were, of Pittsburgh in the 1980s, this temple of heavy industry coming to an end and starting to look for a new future, due to its industrial crisis. Yet this film has not lost any charm and meaning. The young Alex, an 18 year old girl, is the symbol of this city, an industrial worker during the day and a dancer at night, with a dream : to join the ballet company of the city. Industry producing art. Industrial work producing the dream of art. Alex is a willful young woman who follows the road of her desire, if not ambition, but keeping her ethics pure all along. Pure by looking for love and not pure pleasure. Pure by refusing any favor in her quest and longing for a victory that can be called her own because it owes nothing to anyone and any help from outside herself. Pure because she salvages her friend from becoming a gogo girl in a shady place where dancing is just some kind of dressing for enticing prostitution. Pure because she finds her energy in an old friendship with an old dancer who is encouraging her in getting started and competing for an audition that could open the door to a new artistic life. Pure because she is not soiled by all those who would like to drag her down into the mud of selling her young beauty and art to the gloating eyes of perverse and lustful males. And she can succeed because she never lets her dream die. In life the dream is the almighty sign on the road to epiphany and Alex will meet with this epiphany of hers, the one she has dreamed of for years and she can find only in the energy that comes from her mind and her body, from her unconquerable soul. This film has not aged in spite of all the changes that have occurred in our societies. The dream is the energizing force that leads the way, too often of some Cross, to transcendency. Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
Rating:
Summary: Best Welding Movie Ever!!!
Review: I'm a connoisseur of fine welding films, and Flashdance is the all time best! Jennifer Beals really knows how to work it! Apparently, there was some controversy over the dancing credits. But no one filled in for Jennifer's welding scenes, let me tell you! Jennifer's torch lighting technique is quick and effective. And once it's lit -- watch out! She can move that 627I series spot welder with amazing strength, yet with deft efficiency! Yes, the music in this film seems quite dated -- for retro fans only. And the Romeo meets Juliet plot seems to get in the way of the welding. Still, I've never seen such great welding cinematography. And the certified Beals can really work a great vertical, horizontal, and overhead weld! Also recommended: Charlie's Angels Full Throttle has a great Flashdance welding homage; also try "Winky the Welder Says Safety First"; "White Hot -- New Welding Brazing and Cutting Processes"; and "Welding Flux Bloopers."
Rating:
Summary: Great Cinematography and directing
Review: This movie has some good music and dancing, in a sappy plot. But the music and dancing are not integral to the plot development; they do not carry the film in the way dancing carries "Dirty Dancing" or "The Turning Point" (both of which have better dancing, by the way.) But it's one of my favorite movies. Why? The director, Adrian Lyne, got his experience directing TV commercials, where the entire message has to be conveyed in 60 seconds, and in Flashdance every moment is contributing something. The key is the cinematography. Leonard Maltin calls Lyne a "visual stylist", and he is, but he's more. He takes Roman Polanski's cinematographic innovations and pushes them to new limits; the camera tells the story. When you watch "Flashdance", watch how light and camera angle are used. Light: Pittsburgh light, hazy, smoky, dull, reflecting off puddles, blazing from lamps, dim, bright, strobe, whatever; lighting carries the mood of each scene. As for camera angle, in most movies we are observers, outside the movie, watching the actors. In some of "Flashdance" that is also true, but then in many places the camera angle shifts so we are inside the movie, seeing what one of the actors, or several of the actors, see at that moment. It just pulls you in. If you're not familiar with the film, the first time you watch it wait for the final "audition" scene, and watch how the camera is first an observer, before the dancer enters the audition room, then sees from the dancer's view as the audition begins, and then shifts to show us what the judges see, as the dancing becomes compelling. I don't know about you, but this grabs me and pulls me in; I could watch that scene five times running. And there are many other scenes in which camera angle is used similarly but not quite as obviously. I give this movie four stars; I would give it five if the music and dancing were as well integrated with the plot as in some other movies.
Rating:
Summary: A Believable story that any dreamer can identify with.
Review: Flashdance is one of the most remembered films of the 1980s. It is full of rythym and fast paced tempo that most people were used to seeing in the popular dance movies like Footloose and Dirty Dancing. Jennifer Beals plays her best role as the young wannabe ballet dancer who strives to make it in a rough neighborhood. This film whould be nothing without its music or dancing. It is one of the best date movies too. I highly reccomend this film to anyone with a dream or anyone who is a fan of films from the 1980s.
Rating:
Summary: Jennifer Beals- thank you!!
Review: Of the top five or so movies that have had the greatest impression on me, no movie had the personal impact as did "Flashdance." I was going through, what I like to call, a "character building" period in my life after having moved to California a little less than a year before this movie came out. Long story short: no job, no car, no money when a friend of mine called and said he wanted me to go see "Flashdance," with him- his treat. After a little coercing, I gave in. Yes, the movie has a typical or predictable plot, but I would not call it weak because of the actors and the memorable characters they created. The viewer is bonded to the characters in this movie- one cares what happens to them. The cinematography in this movie is great, especially the opening credit scenes of Pittsburgh as Alex is riding her bike to work. No, this movie doesn't have "5-star" acting... I think that would have ruined this whole movie. It has, what I would call, "real-life" acting: not that polished and maybe stumbles a bit here and there. It gives this movie its strength, not a weakness. Not only are the musical scenes great, the background musical interludes chosen also help set the feeling in many of the scenes... "Lady, Lady, Lady," sung by Joe Esposito playing during a tender romantic scene between Alex and her boss, and- my favorite- "I'll Be Here Where The Heart Is," sung by Kim Carnes played during one of Alex's low-points in the film. The highlight of the film is its finale when Alex is auditioning in front of the Pittsburgh Dance and Conservatory Company's selection committee. I would call it one of the greatest movie moments of all time. I stepped out of the theatre feeling I was walking three feet above the ground back to the car. I have never left another movie sensing that level of enthusiasm, exhilaration, and energy. I made myself a promise at that moment that things would get better... and they did too... in ways I never could have imagined at the time. Thank you, Jennifer Beals, for the motivation and inspiration you gave me at that time in my life! This was one of the most influential movies of the '80's. The DVD picture is clearer and the sound incredible compared to my ol' VHS tape. GREAT movie! If you haven't seen it, buy it and see what positive effect it has on you!
Rating:
Summary: typical 80's flick
Review: Alex is a welder by day and an exotic dancer by night, her true passion is dancing and she dreams of being accepted into a professional dance school, except that she lacks the confidence to go after her dream. This type of story, Cinderella goes after her dreams and makes it, is cliched and I love it. Instead of seeing glossy characters with ravishing careers, how about those of us who actually live in the real world and are very much like Alex, we want to see characters like her who are struggling and actually make it! Its a very encouraging and inspiring film for those of us pursuing our dreams. I really like it, I could have done without the naked bar scene later on in the movie. Jennifer Lopez recently did a video based on flashdance and I got to say she was really good. There was a rumor a while back that there might be a flashdance remake with her, and I think that she should do it. J.Lo is perfect for the part! It'd be awesome if she did it.
Rating:
Summary: What a song! It carries the movie
Review: You just keep waiting for that Oscar-winning title song to come around again; it's gotta be the most joyful, uplifting, foot-stompin', head and hip swinging tune ever written for a movie. Jennifer Beals works as a welder by day, but does sexy dancing in a club at night, practicing constantly for a chance to audition for the formal dance school, tho she'd never had formal training and feels inferior to the others in the audition lines.
As reality, it won't float. But as an energetic and boisterous vehicle for a sweet story and some of the best music and dancing ever seen on screen, it's a five-star winner.
Rating: 
Summary: "When you give up your dream, you die."
Review: Music videos changed the pop culture landscape forever in the early Eighties. So popular did the music video become that it was just a matter of time before some film studio would utilize its format for its own interests. Thus, here we have Exhibit A - Adrian Lyne's "Flashdance." As a film, "Flashdance" is dismal. Yet, there is no denying that it did make some notable contributions to the cultural mindset. The story of "Flashdance" is as paper-thin as you can get. Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) is a welder by day and a quasi-exotic dancer by night. She enjoys wearing oversized tops while at home and has a thing for her boss Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri). Alex eventually decides that she wants to move beyond dancing on strobe-lighted stages. Wanting her dancing to be more artful than being doused by water while sitting on a chair, Alex enrolls in a dance school. Knowing that the odds of her succeeding as a serious dancer are against her, Alex is plagued by self-doubt but still doggedly pursues her dream in order to provide the needed filler to occupy the time between music video sequences. "Flashdance" is one of those strange films that deserves to be forgotten but still endures to this day. It endures not because of its technical craftsmanship or because of its deep philosophical musings. It endures because of its nostalgia value. The "Flashdance" look ignited a craze that caught many a young woman in its wake. These young women are now adults who are swept back to their youth every time they think of their zany outfits. For those not caught up in the fashion craze, the soundtrack from "Flashdance" is the catalyst that reminds us of the wild and fun times we had during the Eighties. Irene Cara's "Flashdance. . .What A Feeling," and to a lesser degree, Michael Sembello's "Maniac" are still radio staples to this day and are also frequently heard or mentioned in current film and television productions. Therefore, "Flashdance" remains popular because of its ability to remind us of simpler times. It is nothing more than a series of music videos connected together by minimalist dialogue but it is a powerful nostalgia mechanism. If anyone needs further convincing of the lasting impression made by "Flashdance," just ask yourself how many other actresses who appeared in only one high-profile film in their career can still be easily remembered by name?
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