Tommy

Rating:
Summary: Tommy
Review: This movie is dated. It does not stand up to the test of time.

Rating:
Summary: Tommy: The Movie
Review: This movie is a must-see for anyone into music. After hearing lots of critisism of it's style, I have to say that it only adds to the nature of the movie. However, if you haven't seen it before, be ready for two scenes that are definately eye-popping: 1...Tina Turner injects drugs into Tommy and locks him in a metal costume wehere he turns ito a skeleton crawling with snakes and one nasty-looking cobra; 2...Ann-Margret goes insane and smashes the TV screen, and beans being advertised squirt out of the broken set and she rolls around in them. Both are shocking and funny at the same time. Watch for other such moments.

Rating:
Summary: Very few saving graces...
Review: The original double LP of "Tommy" by The Who blew me away! It was the first real rock album I'd ever listened to and it changed my life! When the film came out, I was one of the first in line to see it - boy, what a disappointment!! I agree, a film version of a rock and roll opera needs to be outrageous - but at what price? The music was absolutely butchered for this movie! Oliver Reed and Jack Nicholson singing? Please - pass me the earplugs! Tina Turner and Elton John stand out as the two saving graces of this movie - their performances and singing electrify! And I must credit Ann Margret for her nerve in rolling around in baked beans and chocolate (that scene is endlessly watchable). But director Ken Russell really should have preserved the integrity of the story by putting the music first - get some actors who can sing! There are a handful of scenes that work ("Cousin Kevin", "Acid Queen", "Sally Simpson", "Pinball Wizard"), but the rest should be dumped in the garbage! Anyone who has only seen this film version of 'Tommy' should buy the original rock opera to find out what an 'amazing journey' it was meant to be!

Rating:
Summary: Odd, but enjoyable.
Review: This movie/rock opera seemed very strange the first time I saw it a few years ago. It still seems a bit out of the norm to me, although that's not neccesarily a bad thing. Some of the scenes have no poinin the seemed to t, while the one right after it hit on the "whoah, cool!" factor. That and several of the songs from this movie get stuck in my head so easily. (Pinball wizard, for one.)

If you like movies that aren't what most people call normal or just want to try something new, get "Tommy."

Rating:
Summary: Best Bad Movie Ever
Review: This movie is the greatest movie ever made. In the most liberal of senses, of course. This movie is wretched. In that kind of "ow- my head hurts!" kind of way... oh, but dear lord, is it fascinating. I could watch it every day. I love Tommy for all its flaws. Tommy!

Rating:
Summary: Tommy the Best and First real Music Video!
Review: Wow this is a must for all DVD collections. When I got my first DVD player there were three DVD's that I had to have to start my collection (Tommy The Movie, Pink Floyd The Wall, and Animal House) Tommy the Movie when it first came out in theaters was recieved with mixed reviews because at that time it was considered a cult film and it was "Rock and Roll". This movie is the first and best rock video. The performances of Elton John, Eric Clapton, The Who, Tina Turner and Ann Margret were unforgetable! And how can you forget Uncle Ernie as he fiddles about.To view this movie today does it no justice for how much this movie was rejected because of its sex, drugs, and rock and roll theme. I think every colloection should have this DVD in it not only to review the movie but to just listen to the music! Watch the movie and see if you don't want to go to the nearest arcade and play pinball. Break out those ski hats with the big silver ball on top and relive those yester years this movie knows how to make you rock!

Rating:
Summary: Maniacle
Review: The Who's epic rock opera is brought to life in complete sight and sound for the first time in this 1975 Ken Russel Film. And it is amazing. the first time I saw it my emotions and opinions were torn apart. I have seen it several times since then and each time it get's better. The film works as both a steady storyline and a sort of anthology of events in Tommy's life. It strays from the original album in a few ways but most of the lyrics are intact. Anne Margaret's voice is perfect for her character, Tommy's mother, however, like Oliver Reed's character of the father, it also strays a bit from the original. This does not impair the film at all however, Tommy is still a camp as Hell parady of everything in modern society from organized and independant relion to. . . Pinball. And yes, I am the biggest Tommy fan alive, I own all six versions of the opera.

Rating:
Summary: 25 years and better than ever!
Review: As the five-star rating would indicate, I've loved TOMMY sincethe day it opened (and yes, I was there for its premiere). I've alsopurchased the movie in just about every incarnation that have been released: videotape, laserdisc, and now DVD.

What's most exciting about the DVD version -- and something which doesn't seem to have been mentioned in other Amazon reviews -- is that the soundtrack to the film has been completely restored. "Quintaphonic sound" may sound a little silly and may not even mean much in this age of digital sound, but TOMMY was the movie that saw the rebirth of multi-channel audio (most films of the late 60s and early 70s were either mono or 2-channel stereo). The enhanced 5-channel discrete sound was a perfect extension of Ken Russell's audacious visuals. The tag line to the movie was "Your senses will never be the same," and it perfectly described both the visual AND aural assault on audience members.

Well, this DVD is the first (and only) format to feature the complete "Quintaphonic" soundtrack. If you have a Dolby Digital decoder, you're going to hear the movie in a way that wasn't even possible back in 1975! All of the vocals are locked dead center while the score itself blasts out of the remaining four speakers. And there's absolutely no distortion, even when you jack the volume up (which you should, since it was intended to be heard that way). It's a wonderful - and quite unexpected - thrill to hear the movie this way. Previous editions had absolutely terrible audio tracks that were poorly mixed down from the originals. The result -- even on the laserdisc -- was a muddy mess. Not so with this DVD edition, which includes a written essay insert explaining the soundtrack's restoration.

The picture quality is also outstanding. One key moment: during the blackout section of "Fiddle About" the screen is absolutely dark -- not a speck can be seen, proof that this film was carefully transferred from a pristine source print!

This is an incredible film presented on an incredible DVD. If your home system isn't yet able to decode the Dolby Digital soundtrack, do yourself a favor and get a decoder at the same time you buy this disc. You won't be sorry.

I'd warn the neighbors first, though!

Rating:
Summary: Preety Good
Review: I had just seen the play and loved it so i wanted to see the movie. I wasn't as impressed with the movie. I was also surprised when the cast in the play I had seen had better voices then the movie. I thought it was cool how the movie was made in that freaky kind of way that music videos are made. I also love Elton John's glasses, outfit,and Shoes. Elton did great but I didn't like his voice in it. Also the movie's songs are slower then the play's. And what is up with that ending. There where some diffrences from the play that i hated. Let me know what you think of my review e-mail me at [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: Tommy and Messianic Tradition in the 20th Century 2
Review: I was told that my previous review was not detailed enough, so here is another try. Okay, the best part: Ann Margaret, Oliver Reed, Jack Nicholson singing? Ann has done some good work in the past, but in this production, all her numbers are forced and sound like they are poured through gravel and scotch, Almost an opera star tring to do Top 40. But she gives the best performance as a mother torn between love for her son and greed. Best halucination in a movie when her all white bedroom is filled with baked beans spewing out of the television set that she has just smashed with a bottle of Dom. Oliver Reed sounds the same, but as a successfull business man it works as camp in a big way. And camp? Jack Nicholson playing the doctor that may save Tommy (and seduce his mother) has not shown such honesty since Little Shop of Horrors (the original) or The Shining. Not a great voice, but the most interesting casting decision in a long time. Tina Turner,"The Acid Queen", trashy, sensuous, just perfect! Elton John, The Pinball Wizard, well the only single that I recall from the movie. Those glasses, those 27 inch platform shows. At least they didn't have to go beyond his closet for his costume. Sally Simpson is a young daughter of an Angican Minister and becomes smitten with Tommy to her parents dismay. This is the turning point in the film. From this scene on we must deal with our own ideas of belief, redemption, sacrifice, and atonement. Also watch for those great shots of Roger Daltry in wet white pant which happen more than you could wish for. Once more,other resources from this era: Jesus Christ Superstar, Kansas Greatest Hits, Godspell, Hair, Oh Calcutta.