Selena

Rating:
Summary: "Selena" Has Hypnotic Power
Review: Hypnotic's the best way I can describe it; I was not truly a Selena fan until after I saw this biopic/Jennifer Lopez vehicle. The story of Selena Quintanilla Perez's (Lopez) rise to become Tejano's queen is so compelling that it can be viewed over and over again, as I did every time it was on cable or TV. Certainly, the slant Gregory Nava took also contributed to the success of the movie. The story begins not with Selena outright, but with her father, Abraham Quintanilla, who had musical dreams early on in his own life. His band, "Los Dinos" fails before it gets a chance to start due to discrimination and prejudice. Flash forward several years, and Abraham has settled in Texas with his small family. Almost by accident, he discovers his younger daughter, Selena (played by Becky Lee Meza) has real singing talent, and he resurrects the band with his children (after MANY hours of forced practice), christening them Selena y los Dinos. We then pick up with the family several years later touring on the road, and they are facing a new kind of prejudice- Selena is treading into "man's" territory, and Abraham is told she'll never make it in this business. They persevere, at the expense of never having known a normal lifestyle. Soon Selena and her band hit number one, and things start to really take off for them. She even meets her future husband, Chris, played by Jon Seda. The introduction of the infamous figure that would take her life, Yolanda Saldivar (Lupe Ontiveros), was so subtle and underplayed, that it did not detract from the story. Obviously, this production was handled with sincerity and is a loving tribute to the young woman cut down in her prime. If she hasn't cast her spell over you yet, check this movie out, and she just might. Soundtrack includes the original recordings by Selena.

Rating:
Summary: SELENA DVD DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 SOUNDTRACK REVIEW
Review: The DVD has great picture quality, but it is not perfect. At times I feel that the transfer has too much red in certain scenes. Other than that the picture is very nice to look at, the concert sequences are filled with deep, rich colors. A good example of this is Chapter 2 where Selena begins her last Houston Concert @ the Astrodome. Selena's purple bellbottom jump suit, sprinkled with silver sparkles show up so clearly and vivily it almost seems like a moving photograph.

The D.D 5.1 Soundtrack IS, in my opinion perfect. While spilt-surround sound is heard through out the 128 min, the best examples are the concert sequences. For the 'Disco Medley' performance, the sound is deep and loud, with Selena's voice surrounding you as you watch. For the 'Dreaming of You' performance, Selena's beautiful voice echos through the room as if you were in that concert hall your self.

The Supplements are low. Not one trailer. Just Production Notes and Cast Bios, which are interesting to read one time and after that they are not cared for. But this is common for Warner Bros. DVDs. When ever you see me review a WB DVD, I will probably say this in those reviews as well.

I based my 5 star review on the film, sound, video, and supplement quality.

( I made a previous comment on this film entitled '"Selena" DVD was great! Jen Lopez makes Selena live Forever!' in which I reviewed the film ONLY)

Rating:
Summary: Selena "the best"
Review: I loved Selena. I would watch the movie "selena" forty times a day if i get the chance to. The movie was really a master piece by "jennifer lopez" she did a master of performance, and everyone else in this movie, her father, the guitarist, job well done. You guys did great, and i must say even though i watched it a million times, it still brings tears to my eyes.

Rating:
Summary: Selena La Reina
Review: This is an amazing movie. She was an amazing person and her death was truly tragic. I love her music and her clothes. She will never be forgotton. Selena La Reina de musico latino.

Rating:
Summary: Selena is forever
Review: This is an astounding movie that left a big impression on me. Selena had the strength, hope, determination and character to make it bigger than Gloria Estefan. She made more of an impression on the music world than many people realize. She was an amazing singer and fashion designer and had tremendous strength of character. This movie keeps me smiling through all the performances and fun, but it always makes me cry at the end of the movie because it was a horrible end to an innocent young girls life.

Rating:
Summary: TRAGIC STORY, GREAT MOVIE
Review: This movie goes to show that fact can be better than fiction. This story reels you in from scene 1. Before I watched this movie (the first time), I have to admit, I wasn't much of a Selena fan--I am now! This story will take you on a emotional roller coaster, but you will not want to turn away for a minute. The acting is superb on the part of all involved--Jennifer Lopez did a wonderful job as Selena, James Olmos did a great job as her father, and John Seda did an exceptional job of the guitar player-come-husband Chris. The story surprisingly (and thankfully) does not dwell much on her death, but on the life of a rising star cut short. I find it hard to believe anyone can watch the homage at the end and come away dry-eyed.

Rating:
Summary: A NEW SELENA FAN-NOW HOOKED!
Review: 'Selena' is a great movie. i just begun to take an interest in the Selena phenominon. Now i am hooked! I have almost every one of her CDs, and her video. it truly is a great movie! i recemend it so buy it! get her CDs too!

Rating:
Summary: Selena the tex-mex-madonna
Review: I love this video this is the first video of selena that I had. at the end of this movie it shows the real selena getting down on her disco medely all selena fans must have this extraordinary video.

Rating:
Summary: Selena
Review: She was a music legend and this is her story. Few films can touch a heart like Selena does. You will cry over and over again as you watch how her life unfolds and then she is tragically murdered by a lunatic lady who is in charge of her fan club. There is no reason why this Tejano star's life had to come to such a tragic end. I had no clue as to how mouch this film could effect a person, it had the whole family in tears. I give everyone who helped in the making of this video props for such great work. It's a sad, sad world out there and this movie goes to show just how cruel people can be.

Rating:
Summary: Sets the standard for musical biopics.
Review: Once in a great while, an overnight success hits the world. This was no exception when Selena Quintanilla-Perez, otherwise known as SELENA, hit the music kingdom with her transcendental story. Beginning as a Tejano music vocalist, Selena became an individual to break barriers on more than one front. Going from a specific audience to a world-renowned pop star is difficult enough. But throw in the fact of being a woman of Mexican-American decent, overcoming a domineering father and reaching a larger and discriminating audience, and you have a huge task of coming out on top.

The humble beginnings of Ms. Perez set the mood for the base of the film. Born in a small Texas town and performing the festival and lounge circuit of such places, Selena is clearly determined to make a name for herself and her family. Her father, Abraham Quintanilla (the always cerebral Edward James Olmos), battling racist demons from his own past, will stop at nothing to teach his children music in order to succeed where he feels he failed. As Selena's manager and publicist, Abraham is the protector of his nurturing family which gives Selena the confidence and ambition to climb the ladder to success. But despite the close-knit environment of the ubiquitous Quintanilla clan, Abraham is also the soul dictator and "lawmaker" in the household. This conflict, combined with everyday ups and downs of family disagreement, is what on one hand creates Selena's success, but at the same time, makes for the overachieving singer become at times blind to what goes on around her. Being that her father never lets her venture on her own into the world, Selena is the trusting and at times naive figure in this tragedy of monumental proportions. The downfall, as many of us already know, is when Selena's fan club manager, Yolanda Saldivar (Lupe Ontiveros from As Good As It Gets) takes the singer's life in a sudden fit of frenzy over money issues.

The most disturbing and emotionally charged scene in the film is ironically only a few moments long, towards the end of the film, with Selena onstage and having a rose land in front of her as she begins singing. This rose of course being the metaphor of being cut short in life and career. From there, Dreaming Of You, one of Selena's most famous songs, plays in its entirety as it takes us on a brief flashback of her career leading up to her fatal collapse.

This film has a universal feel and message. Thus, even if you don't like the music of Selena (which is hardly featured in the film anyway), you will be able to feel the shock of innocence being torn away. In addition, despite it is at times a bit of a blur in that it moves too fast, Selena will strike the vital nerves in that it is such a beautifully acted and emotionally taxing film. Director Gregory Nava could not have employed a better cast to display these characters for the human beings (not pop-stars) that they are. Filled with experience and the magic of growing up and taking flight, Selena is incisive and haunting in its ability to move its audience through constant highs and lows. Jennifer Lopez is a convincing mirror image of the Tejano superstar.