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Summary: Colors look great, too!
Review: Also, the colors on the DVD are vibrant and crisp, definitely worthy of the Chris Olson library. And it's fun to see Elvis in the beginning of the film DRIVE ONTO THE BEACH at Hanauma Bay, now known as the world's most famous protected snorkeling beach!
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Summary: Blue Hawaii
Review: Anyone who has ever seen any of Elvis's movies know that they were made for the fan. You've got to love the King. Yes some of his movies were down right terrible but Blue Hawaii was not one of them. The scenery behind the man is breath taking. Elvis is really quite a good actor and alot of his talents come through this film. The army boy coming home to the family business and wanting to do anything but jump into a ready made job for the rest of his life is a good story, but like I said, the true Elvis fan is there to see Elvis and he could make anything look good. Who cares if he's a great actor or not, all he has to do is move his mouth and hips and the rest is history.
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Summary: THE Elvis movie.
Review: As bad as a lot of the movies Elvis made were (and let's be honest, they were AWFULLY bad), it should be noted that a number of the better ones could be compared stylistically to the James Bond movies that were made during the same time peiod.
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Think about it...you have a charismatic lead character who usually finds himself with some kind of problem (albeit of varying degrees) in some exotic locale surrounded by beautiful women and with only his charm and wit to get him through the situation (although James Bond had Q's gadgets, Elvis had his golden tonsils and any guitar that happened to be in the frame at the time he needed accompaniment to sing a song that could be sung by no one else...for whatever reason needed to advance the plot).
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Even though "G.I. Blues" established the prototype by which a seemingly endless run of Elvis/Hal Wallis movies would be copied after his release from his military obligation, "Blue Hawaii" seems to have been one of the defining moments in Elvis' life (his subsequest return there to make additional movies AS WELL AS the "Aloha" concert broadcast worldwide in 1973 seem to confirm that the Sandwich Islands always had a special place in The King's rather ample heart...and you can't convince me that the number of Elvis songs included in the "Lilo & Stitch" soundtrack would've been there without that same connection); although this movie does have occasionally painful spots as afar as the acting is concerned, I actually believe that Elvis' own performance is rather inspired. And his supporting cast seems to be enjoying their roles, as well.
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Of course, the film itself is just gorgeous to watch...well-photographed, and the collection of songs is particularly strong (the "Blue Hawaii" soundtrack was the biggest-selling pop music album during the entire DECADE of the 1960's, after all...and that beats anything that John, Paul, George & Ringo put out, as well), so overall this really is about as good as a total package as you could hope for.
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The cultural status of this film also stands the test of time...it is probably the first movie that comes to mind when "Elvis" and "movies" are mentioned in the same sentence; all I needed to accept this idea was seeing the result of the collabration between the two greatest post-Elvis icons of the entertainment industry during the 20th Century (Saturday Night Live and Wayne Gretzky) in a parody of "Blue Hawaii" called "Rock-Hula-Hockey" (or something like that)...truly a defining experience that crosses all boundaries!
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Summary: Blue Hawaii on DVD
Review: Blue Hawaii does not disappoint true Elvis fans and casual movie lovers. Top notch cinematography captures Hawaii at its best in 1961. The enhanced audio on DVD adds depth and soundstage to the original mono soundtrack, surprising is how I would describe the sound and a great example of what can be done to lackluster mono soundtracks. The transfer is first rate with excellent color fidelity, and great detail. I watched it in anamorphic 16:9 on a regular TV and enjoyed it better than in 2.35:1. In 2.35:1 you lose lots of detail and image brightness on regular TV's. I know the image gets squeezed vertically but it is not severe and the picture looks much better this way. Until a high-def TV sits in my living room this is how I watch 2.35:1 DVD's if they are available in the anamorphic 16:9 mode. Back to Blue Hawaii, as a fan of most Elvis movies, this one is my favorite. The songs are very well done and imaginative and fit well with the rest of the movie. The movie has at least 7 memorable songs. Elvis returns to Hawaii after a two year stint in the army. He is determined to follow his own dreams and not be forced by his parents to conform to their wishes about how he should live his life. He begins working as a tour guide with his girlfriend Mylei Duvall, his first assignment is to show four beautiful women around Hawaii with their equally beautiful chaperone.
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Summary: Elvis in Hawaii and in trouble again.
Review: Blue Hawaii has Elvis Presley on the island for the first time. And has returned home after a two years stay in the army. Chad Gates (Elvis Presley) has come home from the army. And while he was away he keep kept getting a letter from his mother and father every week reminding him of his home and his future in his father's pine apple business. And Chad doesn't want to hear "He's the boss's song be nice to him."So he decides to get his girlfreind to to drive him to the beach. And for 5 days he stays there. While his father named Fred Gates finds out that Chad is home he pays Chad's girlfriend a visit at her job. He has heard that Chad has been back but his mother Sara Lee doesn't know this. So his girl firend goes to the beach and Chad tells her "Oh Yes, I can, the G.I. Bill Of Rights Say I get my old job back this is my old job." But does go home any way.
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Summary: Great Elvis Film
Review: Classic Elvis Movie served OK on this DVD. The picture quality is pretty good, I just noticed a few digital gliches in in, it skips in a few places when changing sceens.The sound is 5.1, but it more or less seems just like dolby digital untill the musical sceens come on. That can be a bit distracting at first, but hey an elvis song in surround sound! sounds pretty good.
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Summary: Paramount presents Blue Hawaii. Beautiful music.
Review: Elvis was the age of 26 at the time of filming. This is his 8th film. Paramount Pictures presents Blue Hawaii. Everyone enjoys this film. Breath-taking locations and beautiful music. Elvis plays "Chad". He has been overseas for two years in the army and flys in to come back home to Hawaii. Waiting for him is "Maile" played by Joan Blackman. Elvis decides to head for the beach where he has a shack. Out for a swim, he meets the Hawaiian guys in their canoe that he was friends with and played music together. Later, he comes home to see his parents. Angelea Lansbury plays his mom. Lansbury was the age of 35 during filming. Howard McNear plays "Mr. Chapman". You'll remeber him as "Floyd, The Barber" on the Andy Griffith Show (1960-1967). Tiki Hanelot played "Ping-Pong". No special features or bonus on this DVD. Just the theatrical trailer. Film shown in squeezy Widescreen.
Rating:
Summary: Paramount presents Blue Hawaii. Beautiful music.
Review: Elvis was the age of 26 at the time of filming. This is his 8th film. Paramount Pictures presents Blue Hawaii. Everyone enjoys this film. Breath-taking locations and beautiful music. Elvis plays "Chad". He has been overseas for two years in the army and flys in to come back home to Hawaii. Waiting for him is "Maile" played by Joan Blackman. Elvis decides to head for the beach where he has a shack. Out for a swim, he meets the Hawaiian guys in their canoe that he was friends with and played music together. Later, he comes home to see his parents. Angelea Lansbury plays his mom. Lansbury was the age of 35 during filming. Howard McNear plays "Mr. Chapman". You'll remeber him as "Floyd, The Barber" on the Andy Griffith Show (1960-1967). Tiki Hanelot played "Ping-Pong". No special features or bonus on this DVD. Just the theatrical trailer. Film shown in squeezy Widescreen.
Rating:
Summary: Light Hearted Musical
Review: Great location, great music, poor script - but who really cares when Elvis is on screen doing his thing and singing some of the best songs to ever come out of one film. Elvis returns to the islands from the army determined not to enter into his rich father's pineapple business, preferring to try and make a go of a tour guide business with his Hawaiian girlfriend. His snobbish mother; Landsbury in a great over the top acting part complete with Southern drawl,("Have you got some sugar for your mother?") is horrified but she and his father eventually agree to let him try. After various plot twists involving a tourist group made entirely up of young girls, he eventually makes a go of things and marries the girl. Favourite songs have to be, Can't Help Falling In Love, which he sings to his girlfriend's grandmother for her birthday and Almost Always True. Other songs are, Rock A Hula Baby, Hawaiian Wedding Song, Blue Hawaii, Aloha Oe, No More, Moonlight Swim, Ku-u-i-po, Ito Eats, Slicin' Sand, Hawaiian Sunset, Beachboy Blues and Island of Love. Nice piece of romantic, musical escapism.
Rating:
Summary: Most enjoyable
Review: I found this to be a cut above most of the Elvis vehicles of the same time period, for much of the same reasons as noted by my learned, fellow reviewers below. I'd watch The King read the telephone book and be completely mesmerized, but even if you are not as passionate, I think you'd enjoy this outing.
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