Rating: 
Summary: 7 classes a day and a hot lunch.
Review:
Well, I finally got around to watching this "classic". About a hour and a half into it I seriously contemplated turning it off. Maybe its my pervasive hatred of musicals, my years as a theatre major, or just the poorly drawn characters, but this movie bored me. Now, I'm sure in it's prime it was revolutionary- it deals with taboo topics like race, abortion, and homosexuality in a time when these weren't blasted across your "must see tv" hour. Its a powerful film in its harsh light throwing of what it means to be an artist in the city- to be poor- to struggle. But the music and dancing everyone raves about was bland and much of the same. The title track "Fame" and the famous street scene that surrounds it, does not inspire, it merely presents a traffic jam of unlikely components. The film takes it's time setting up a rich environment with extreme characters, but then fails to take them anywhere. We are left hanging with yet another musical number. And never once did I ever believe these kids were of high school age.
It was funny seeing some of the theatrical excersises I too did in school portrayed on screen, but it was such an unfinished picture that it annoyed, rather than inspired me.
Rating: 
Summary: Remember My Name
Review: "Remember my name..." was the tagline for this movie - but there are not a lot of people in it whose names you'll remember. Such are the quirks of fame...and of *Fame*. The movie and its Oscar-winning eternally-80s title song were a huge hit at the time, spawning a hit TV show and stage show. Irene Cara was a household name - for about five minutes - and never again realized her full potential. But with *Saturday Night Fever*, *Xanadu* and *Flashdance* as evidence, it was clearly an easier time to pull off a musical. *Fame* is a fictionalized but not-entirely-glamourized look at the High School for Performing Arts in New York, we follow the lives of a group of students, each with the burning desire to succeed in their chosen art. From audition day to graduation day, we watch the personal and professional dramas of these actors, dancers, singers, musicians as they struggle to make their way through life while pursuing their dreams - though perhaps director Parker's film *The Commitments* portrays the struggle a little more accurately. Having also made *Bugsy Malone* and *The Wall*, Parker is obviously partial, not only to musicals, but youthful angst. There's Coco, Bruno, Ralph, Montgomery, Doris and Leroy - some charming, some irritating - but just like people we actually went to school with. The score is by the brother-and-sister team of Michael Gore (music) and Lesley Gore (lyrics...yes, *the* Lesley Gore of *It's My Party* and *You Don't Own Me* fame), and it's what makes this story come alive. And it definitely *does* come alive. In addition to the title track, the raucous *Red Light* and the wonderfully gooey *Out Here On My Own* all make this a joyful experience. The fabulous *I Sing The Body Electric* number at graduation makes us swell with joy, and we're as deeply proud as if they were our own relatives...or ourselves. As with all musicals, many scenes require a complete suspension of belief, but once suspended, it's as easy to swallow as ice cream (you mean, they *didn't* really dance on top of taxi cabs in Times Square?!). "Fame! I want to live forever! I want to learn how to fly!" Yeah...I did too. Back then.
Rating: 
Summary: DISAPPOINTING TRANSFER - LOUSY EXTRAS
Review: "Fame" is the electrifying drama/musical from Alan Parker. It follows a troupe of wanna-be students through their trials and tribulations and it positively sizzles with memorable performances, potent songs and dazzling dance sequences. Criticized upon its release, "Fame" nevertheless managed to do boffo box office and made the successful transition to the small screen, becoming one of the most talked about and watched television series of the 1980's. Remember that name, Fame!Unfortunately there's nothing to stand up and cheer over with Warner Brothers lack luster transfer. It's softly focused, features a bleached out and faded color scheme, excessive film grain and some minor edge enhancement. During the dimly lit scenes fine details disappear into a muddy mess of blues, blacks and browns. Skin tones are often quite orangy and there is nothing natural about the color balancing that swings wildly from total saturation in some scene to incredible desaturation, almost to the point of looking black and white or, at the very least, tonal gray, during other moments. The soundtrack is remastered in 5.1. It's dated and strident but on the whole an ample job of a vintage 80's recording.
Extras: The back advertises a "Class Reunion" feature which in actuality is a collective audio commentary track with various cast members spouting off, sometimes needlessly, about their experiences in making the film. Also incl. - a vintage featurette that has dated badly and the film's original theatrical trailer. Come on, W.B. - you're slipping.
Bottom line: If you're a fan of this movie and can't live without it, buy it. But if you're looking for superb DVD mastering and vintage image quality - look elsewhere!
Rating: 
Summary: A classic
Review: A classic, not a Schindler's List or Silence of the Lambs type classic mind you, but an inspiring movie nonetheless that I will always remember. Im a student at a performing arts school in NYC-so much like the "Fame" school, and the movie captured the reality and pressure and desire and troubles so wonderfully. The characters were quite realistic...my absolute favorites were Leroy and Ralph, played brilliantly by Barry Miller. I get a kick out of seeing Paul McCrane play soft-spoken actor Montgomery...a far cry from Romano on ER! Fame deals with the rejection as well as the triumph in a school where its all about making it. The acting is top-notch. From Leroy, the troubled dancer who really grabbed my heart, to Doris, who thrives in the end, the characters arent one-dimensional like in so many movies you see. They didnt sugar-coat anything. They dealt with the problems of youth-learning disabilities, abuse, perfectionism, pregnancy without coming off as lecture-like. Not to mention the incredible score. I love this movie I had to buy a copy. I hope you like it as much as me!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but could have been great.
Review: Actually, I give this 3 1/2 stars. Pros: It takes place in New York and looks authentic. Finally a teen flick with alot minorities. John Hughes would have you believe that there are only white teenagers in America. Also that the movie was not based on their hormones, but rather their ambitions and dreams, completely refreshing. Finally, a movie about kids with real problems, and not some "Molly Ringwald" problem of not having a boyfriend or boobs. Fine acting, huge amounts of energy and you wish all these people the "Fame" that they all desire so badly. Cons: Too many characters, so most are not given enough time to flesh out their characters. The movie wanders at times like the whole sequence of a kid wanting to be a stand-up comic. Dance routine in the street took away from the realism of the movie. Still recommended, and has great, if dated, songs that is a testiment to the energy of the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: A good subject, fumbled
Review: Alan Parker has spent much of the last fifteen-odd years complaining about why he hasn't had the respect that he feels he deserves. Movies like this are the reason. He's a bloody awful director. He's a bloody awful director not because he doesn't have an eye for a cute project (a gangster movie with splurge instead of blood, and kids instead of adults; a hopeless Dublin soul band who only fail to make good by sheer bad luck) - clearly, he has a producer's sense of what could make money. But, given every chance, he consistently fails to deliver, thanks to a persistent lack of interest in what it's actually like to live the stories that he tells. His training in advertising means that he continues a shot, or a scene, for exactly as long as he reckons it will take the least dim person in the audience to get the basic idea, and no longer. Performances in his films are given no room to breathe. The editing is brutally economical and consistently curt. He is not really interested in the people in this film, or for that matter any other film he's made; he just wants to sell the idea to the audience (in the case of this movie, Youthful Exuberance and How Talent Should Be Given A Chance). There might've been an OK movie in this, but Parker's failure to feel anything more than mildly avuncular interest in the characters ruins the whole thing. Plus I hate the songs, but OK, that's just me. I went to a drama school. It was nothing like this. This is like a two-hour-long bad pop video. And I like pop videos. Something went very, very wrong somewhere.
Rating:
Summary: Alan Parker was on to something, but let it slip away...
Review: Alan Parker was never a typical director and it was refreshing to see him in a genre that would become formulaic in 5 years with the rise of John Hughes who became the king of Teen Angst. There is some teen angst in Fame, but most of it is not being recognized by a cute boy, not wearing the latest fashions or not being with the in crowd. No what the kids in FAME had to worry about was pregnancy, their sexuality, poverty, sexual predators and not making it. There is a raw energy with the cast and they give it their all. They are artists and eccentric, avoiding the conforming categories that Hughes was known for (the Breakfast Club is the Ultimate example). The best thing about them is that they are all individuals. The cinematography is also excellent, showing the school in the drab colors that old buildings came in, but giving it a sense of history. And I really liked how the film is broken down in years (4 years from Freshmen to Seniors) which gives the sense that these characters grow after each passing semester. However, Parker fails on the account that he makes the whole movie too episodic. There is no closure on many things, many issues are brought up and never resolved, people with issues(like the pregnant ballerina) tend to just disappear. Or worse, important issues are never resolved (Like Coco being molested by a pervert). These faults ruin a great cast, good characterization and high energy that is Fame. Parker does not show the respect for the characters that I had and that is the downfall of the movie. The picture is fairly crisp for a VHS copy and the sound is good. The songs, however are fairly outdated, except for a few of them. Rating: C+
Rating:
Summary: ADDICTIVE
Review: Alan Parker, a masterful director when it comes to atmosphere and location, is an odd choice to direct this Manhattan-based musical set in the High School of Performing Arts. He predictably creates a compelling look and texture to the actual school itself, but the characters and story line are woefully melodramatic, and not all of the youthful cast are up to the challenge. Still, the soundtrack, and the movie's spontaneous musical numbers are what really count, and for the most part they are irresistable. The movie has taken on a slightly campy quality, and absolutely feels dated -- the choreographer/dance teacher (Debbie Allen is in there somewhere)with her stick in the dance studio -- "you want FAME! " And Coco's (Irene Cara) foray into pornography make you cringe in their unbelievability today. And the young comedian is nearly intolerable. But Paul McCrane (now of ER fame) is simple and winning in the gay role; his window-ledge ballad is a highlight. And the music remains infectious.
Rating:
Summary: The stars burn bright!
Review: Excellent! A definate must see, Fame will live forever. Now in musical form...
Rating:
Summary: Great Flick
Review: Fame holds a special place in my heart because it was the movie the inspired me to strive for what I really wanted in life.
I'm glad to see the movie is finally out on DVD. I'm not too crazy about the "branching" commentary feature on this DVD.
Alan Parker's full length commentary is insightful but I was surprised that he erroneously states in his commentary that "Out Here On My Own" and not "Fame" was the song that took home the Oscar.
This is wrong! Did research on IMDB and even the Academy Awards official site and it is undoubtedly the film's theme song, "Fame" that walked away with the Oscar.
Even the director should have known that! LOL
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