The Temptations

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Movie
Review: I wasn't able to watch the movie when it aired on NBC. But I purchased the DVD a year ago and fell in love with the movie. Watching actor Leon portrayed David Ruffin's character was wonderful and somewhat spooky. He played that role to a tee. Leon sounded like David, had the same mannerism as David that it was so amazing.
I was proud at the performances by all the actors in the movie. Even though she had a small part, I was proud of Rhonda Ross Kendrick who is Diana Ross' and Berry Gordy's daughter who played Maxine, Paul's wife, I was proud of her performance as well.
Sure there were inconsistencies in the movie. Yes, the producers of the movies should have let the audience, particularly the younger audiences know what happened to the lives of these wonderful, yet troubled men who made up the Tempting Temptations.
(...)want to know about all that, read Otis' book or do research for yourself. But other than that, the movie was excellent in my book. The choreography in this movie was OUTSTANDING. The music was fantastic and the costumes was fabulous.
I would recommend this movie wholeheartedly. Yes, in some ways this movie is factual as well as fictional, but it is still worth watching and it will make you go out and read the book and do your own research about this fantastic group who will always be the number one in my book.

Rating:
Summary: Catch the entire mini-series on VH1
Review: It's hypocritical for me to say,but I was only a casual Temp fan before this movie aired.But I taped it and must have watched it ad nausium.Any one else who watched it with me,became a fanatic as well.Like any biography,some things were changed for dramatic purposes(like Paul Williams really dying in August of '73,not in '72),but it was enjoyable & finally gives props to Paul Williams,a fantastic singer whose diminished role in the group was tragic,& of course,David Ruffin,the [sass] & vinegar of the infamously SMOOTH Temps.I condem the Emmys for overlooking Leon & Christian Payton.My biggest grips are the fact that since Otis Williams is the only surviving member of the "CLASSIC FIVE"its from his perspective and much of it tends to shift into his personal life.I held off buying the video version due to the fact that the running time was much shorter than the TV version when I caved in & bought it ,I noticed many of the best parts were edited out(a portion of the groups first rehersal,at the table when David joins the group,the Motown picnic incident,and last but not least,David & Eddies duet of "You're My Everything"),in favor of Otis's family scenes.Fortunately, the DVD version is the movie in it's entirety.In all,one star is docked on the video version.And like me, give your VHS copy as a re-gift to a thankless reletive

Rating:
Summary: Lost in Translation
Review: After watching the VH1 movie and the DVD, the VHS leaves out some important aspects of this wonderful documentry. Not that it's not something everyone should have in their collection, but if important scenes are taken out, like when David Ruffin is telling the other Tempatations about his home life and feeling being apart of the group is the first thing he's ever been apart of in his life while sitting at the kitchen table, or going back to the south for the first time after segregation and seeing the ropes down that separated the blacks from the whites and how it made them all feel being from the south to witness this event, it looses a lot in the translation of the essence of partnership. The VHS should be in Full length as seen in the VH1 Movie and the DVD. I find that is the only draw back of it.

Respectfully,

Ms. Jackson

Rating:
Summary: Cool Film
Review: Let me just say that I love the Temptin' Temptations. I am 19 years old, but my parents are old enough to remember the good old days...so they were my exposure. The Tempts I would have loved to see are no longer here (RIP Eddie J. Kendrick, Paul Williams, and David Ruffin). So I have relied on videos, books, etc.

This movie is a good place to start. The music is great, for one. Kudos to Terron Brooks, Christian Payton, for not only their portrayals of Eddie and Paul, but for being able to sing their own parts!! Excellent!! And what can I say about Leon? He really put on a show as Ruff!!! KUDOS!!

My only gripes w/this film were the inaccuracies. I know for brevity's sake, you can't include all. But, the way I see it, if you can find the time to make something up, surely you can find the time to include truth. The scene where Al got put out of the group: history remembers that scene happening differently. I feel the movie should not have switched it. If you research after watching the film, you will see that the situation would have ended the same way in history that they made it happen in the movie. Al would have still hit Paul w/the bottle and would have been thrown out of the group. It made Al seem lazy ( I don't know, maybe he was). But on that particular day, it was Paul. I also have to wonder why Otis' vices were not as known in the movie as others. We saw Al drunk once, Paul's alcoholism and "suicide", David's drug problem, they didn't do Eddie right at all, but all we saw of Otis' was him getting off of the bus w/the Flo Ballard character. He and Josephine never flat out had a discussion about it. His vice was women, so why weren't we privy to that? You would have thought he was the Pope after watching the movie.

I'm starting to realize that I like it more for the music than anything else. Of course, when I saw it the first time, I felt it was biased, but after some research, watching videos, reading, listening, etc., I am becoming more and more perturbed by it. I know you're not supposed to take everything w/a grain of salt, but come on! Geez!!

A few things that angered me was (1)the scene where Al got put out of the group: history remembers that scene happening differently. I feel the movie should not have switched it. If Paul is the one that didn't want to go onstage, say that, and THEN have Al hit him w/the bottle. What's the purpose of switching it? Just so they would have a reason to throw him. w/the It made Al seem lazy ( I don't know, maybe he was). But on that particular day, it was Paul. I also have to wonder why Otis' vices were not made as visible as the other Tempts. I know for brevity's sake, you can't include all. But, the way I see it, if you can find the time to make something up, surely you can find the time to include truth. We saw Al drunk once, Paul's alcoholism and "suicide", David's drug problem, they didn't do Eddie right at all, but all we saw of Otis' was him getting off of the bus w/the Flo Ballard character. He and Josephine never flat out had a discussion about it. His vice was women, so why weren't we privy to that? You would have thought he was the Pope after watching the movie. (2)The scene at Ruff's apt: let's be real. Maybe DR had developed a bit of an ego trip, but let's not make it seem so completely unreasonable to why he would wonder why the group's name wouldn't change. I'm NOT saying I agreed with him, but can you really fault him for wondering or for assuming? A certain diva's group got a name change, Smokey and the Miracles, Martha and the Vandellas, etc. I just don't feel like something like this would make him the Devil Incarnate or a problem needing to be rectified. Or at least not the way it was portrayed. (3)Maybe it's just me, but when ppl subtlely(sp?) make themselves look like Patron Saints, I tend to think they're not. Otis being the one to talk to Gordy, or telling ppl to vote David out, blah, blah, blah...sorry, but I don't buy it. Otis, the one DESTINED to hold it together. Please. Seems to me, he was the only one (w/Melvin in tow) who seemed to want to kiss the rear of Berry. (4)The scene where Ruff comes onstage: now, according to Dennis, Ruff knew he would be the replacement and encouraged him to do it (which also leads me to believe that his dismissal was so overdramatic). Anyway, back to my point, Dennis and David were cool, so I highly doubt that Dennis would have called him an "M-Fer." I mean,really, if I caught it, then editing should have caught it. (5)What the HEEZY was up w/the interpretations of the different guys? Who was in charge of telling them how to act? What I mean is, why do they make the fellas seem so wimpy and passive? Mel, throughout the whole movie, seems like either a mama's boy or Otis' right hip. Was he really like that? He just didn't seem to stand on his own. I didn't like that. Same w/Eddie J. Now, many people will tell you that while he was a gentleman and all, he would tell you what he thought. He didn't believe in kissing ***. I'm not saying show Eddie telling all these people where to go, but they didn't have to make him so passive. (6)Now, I know Suzanne DePasse was over this movie, but couldn't she have added a certain realism to the movie and showed what a cutthroat Gordy was? The way they showed BG was too nice and too fake. (7)Now O, were you really there when Ruffin died? I absolutely HATE IT when people interpret what the last days of someone was like. Especially when they probably weren't on the best of terms. It was Dennis and Eddie who were concerned about where Ruffin was and who he was very close to those last years. I could have done w/o him being thrown out of the car. I read somwhere back in '98 that Ruffin's family contested the production of the movie due to the nature of the portrayal. (8)How does the movie manage to fit Paul's death into a seven-minute plus song, David's demise into a series of scenes, Mel's death into a last touching scene w/his mom and best friend...and Eddie's into TWO FREAKIN' SENTENCES??!!! That is so low. Unbelievable even. I just have to ask why? Now some say that b/c Otis probably didn't have much say over the script, but if allegedly, there was forgiveness on both parts at the end of Ed's life, wouldn't it have been good for O to fight for there to be more on Eddie's passing? Two sentences does not cut it. As a matter of fact, if you blink or sneeze, be assured that you WILL miss it.

Mama Rose: "What was it that got Eddie?" The worst and most inconcievable line in any movie I've seen in a while. Awful. It makes me wonder if fences were really mended btwn EJK and O like he says in his updated chapter.

What it boils down to is my thinking that if they were using O's book, he would have more say, or at least fight for more, in what came across the screen. I would have liked to have seen more good times btwn the guys...more scenes like the New Year's dinner scene. Show us how they bonded outside of the music. The Motown cookout doesn't count. These guys didn't get so close just talking about music and riding on tour buses, etc.

I just feel like more positivity or more truth, could have been injected in the scenes. I mean, are ratings really EVERYTHING?

But it is good for the music and things like that. It's fun seeing and figuring out who the other actors are supposed to be. They did, however, accurately make the Martha Reeves character a secretary.

Oh, btw, I really don't recommend the VHS version UNLESS you order it from NBC. The video cuts out enough scenes to make you mad. Spring for the DVD. You'll thank yourself.

Rating:
Summary: I can't resist this temptation!!!!
Review: I love this movie! I can watch it over and over and over again, especially the performances.

Rating:
Summary: Probably The Best Movie Ever
Review: I don't know where to begin. This movie is so unbelievably awesome on so many levels. I rank it up there with Titanic and Pretty Woman, no, you know what - this movie is better. The cast is superb, not only acting but dancing AND SINGING. Props should be given to the actors who re-recorded basically ALL of the songs in THEIR OWN voices, especially Terron Brooks and Christian Payton - this fact seems to be overlooked often or not known.

Along with the great performances from all of the characters, especially Leon, Christian, Terron, Charles and DB, the film-making was top notch.

Scenes so unforgettable that point out the skill of film-making is of course the wonderful part where the Tempts are in B/W on TV performing 'My Girl' and then they fade into color. This is so genius and gets me every time.

Also the scene where they kick David out of the band and the four of them are facing the window. Then Paul turns the other way, and you can see the camera in slow motion pausing for effect as if to say, 'Paul, you are next'. Pure genius.

And of course my favorite part of all, the nostalgic end, where after all of the original Tempts have now died except Otis, it is haunting how they are seemingly 'resurrected', shown in all of their purple glory. They are performing 'My Girl' as if from heaven along with sad narration from Otis. After their exquisitely choreographed TO-THE-NINES performance, they bow, and Otis saying, "Temptations (pause -voice breaks) Forever" makes me tear up every time. That is so awesome. This is what filmmaking should be about.

I know that there are people complaining about the accuracy of the film and I understand their gripes, but all films based on real life usually change stuff up for 'dramatic effect'. In this case, it works extremely well and is probably the factor that makes this movie a TOTAL CLASSIC.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie--From the Heart
Review: I must admit, I was just a kid when the Tempts hit their stride, but became a fan in later years, and a fanatic after I saw the movie last year(2003). I think I have watched it to the point where I could play a few roles myself, and I have showed the movie to friends as well, and will NOT let anyone borrow it. This is a warm, feel-good movie that brings forth heartfelt joy, as well as the ability to draw tears, as at Melvin's funeral. It also draws multiple watchers of the movie into strong unity and solidarity. One of the positive features of the movie is its ability to show how drugs and alcohol can not only ruin unity but friendships and careers as well. It is a powerful movie to show to addicts, who can see for themselves the heights, as well as the depths that are brought on by these two curses to humanity. The music is, of course, fantastic and nostalgic. The acting is superb, and choreography the bomb. It is basically "safe" to show anyone, as it is not overwhelmed by cursing and vulgarity, and there is no nudity in the film. I recommend this movie to everybody. It's a true joy.

Rating:
Summary: Overall Good *Story*
Review: Although I am but 21 years old, I have been a fan of the Temptations for a while now. Their sound and style is, of course, classic. But, on to the actual DVD. I found the film to be very entertaining, and to a certain degree enlightening. It was interesting to know about the personal and professional struggles that this group faced. However, I had to keep in mind that it was told from the standpoint of the sole survivor of the Classic 5, so there would of course be several inaccuracies. For one, it was disturbing to see that Paul's sickle cell kept him from performing, and not his alcohol problem. Though I think it was necessary to include his battle with alcohol, it was foolish and disrespectful to make it appear as if that is what caused him to longer be a part of the group. In addition, it was very out of place for the death of Eddie to be mentioned almost in passing when the other members' deaths received far more screen time. Lastly, I did not like the way that Otis Williams came across as a near saint (save for his infidelity, which was glazed over), while all the other group members' flaws were highlighted tremendously. But, as stated before, the tale is one-sided, so what more can one expect? Despite the above inaccuracies (and the others I am not aware of or simply did not mention), the film did an excellent job of showing what life was like for rising stars at that time; in a particular a group that is as famous as The Temptations.

Rating:
Summary: Superb movie
Review: I have seen this movie on TV in its entirety. Also when I bought this movie I was surprised that some of the scenes were missing. Still it was a great movie. Leon who played David Ruffin did a fantastic job. That goes double for Terron Brooks. All the songs are my favorites. I must have seen this movie over and over at least 20 to 25 times. My grandaughter loves it, so I let her see it also. Would really like to see the reunion tour they had in 1982. Not sure if they have one out in VHS. Anyway I thing the movie was fabulous.

Rating:
Summary: Highly entertaining
Review: I just love the tempatations and always have, I was born in Detroit when some of their hits were being produced. I now live in Europe, but when I hear them I almost get goose-bumps, I get in the best mood, a definite natural high. I share a love of this group with people everywhere, starting from my grandmother and going down. The movie supposedly tells their story, with a few alterations that is. It shows how success messed up some of their lives and how for others although, it made them very happy, there were still some more important elements missing in their lives. It's a good, long story with lots of music and drama. I only wish they had gone on making music together for a longer time and with less problems of all sorts. They were so good and blended in so well together. They're a legend.