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Billy Elliot

Billy Elliot

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Billy will stay in your hearts even after the movie!
Review: I almost didn't rent this DVD and I would have missed out on a very beautiful and touching movie. The character Billy Elliot is a young boy who is man enough to stand up for his passion. The setting is quite simple, county Durham and the characters are so well-written, well-acted. But the revelation is the young actor Jamie Bell. His portrayal of Billy was so touching and so natural. The most touching scene was when BIlly's father caught Billy and his young homosexual friend dancing; Billy was able to silently stand up to his father by dancing in an angry, rebellious manner that left not just his father, but myself, speechless. I couldn't help but cry and root for Billy all througout.

I live in the Philippines and the movie industry here is in such a sad state. I wish our movie producers could come up with such a simple, moving film, so different from the so-called "serious" films on prositution, etc. sent as Philippine entries to film festivals abroad.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not entirely a Comedy
Review: While there were some funny monments in Billy Elliot, on the whole it was a bit dark. That said. I very much enjoyed this movie. From the dark beginnings in a minning town in Britain in the midst of a violent strike, to the inspirational ending. With just enough funny monments salted into the mixture to take the sting out of the overall heavyness of the place and time in which Billy lives. You will walk out of this movie feeling great! It is one of those "Anything is possible type films that is well worth your time"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Inspirational Billy
Review: I highly recommend this movie. The characters are believable, the story uplifting, the scenes artfully made, and the music irresistible. I love this movie so much I had to buy the movie soundtrack, the book (screenplay) itself by Lee Hall, and the video in VHS and DVD.

The story revolves around Billy Elliot, an 11-year-old, motherless boy, who secretly traded boxing lessons to pursue his dream of becoming a ballet dancer. His father and elder brother were opposed to this idea. They were miners on strike at that time. But with the guidance of a determined teacher played by Julia Walters (nominated for Oscar's best supporting actress in this film), Billy studied and practiced dancing after school and whenever he could find time, until he was ready to audition for the Royal Ballet School.

Billy's father and brother eventually realized they had to give the boy the chance for the audition. After raising enough money through the help a friend George, and by the father pawning the jewelry of his late wife, Billy finally would have his chance of a lifetime. Billy went for the audition with this dad. They went home unsure but eagerly awaiting its outcome.

The letter from the school came. The father, elder brother and grandmother sat anxiously, while Billy went to a room to open the letter. Billy passed the audition.

The mining strike was over. The father and brother went back to work. Years later, they were seen getting off the train to London, into a full-packed theater, where Billy was the dancing star on the stage.

This is a movie that will stay in my mind for a long time. It points out the fact that there's a special talent inside each one of us that's waiting to come out. Whatever that talent is, one only needs to be true to oneself.

Stephen Daldry's first-time feature film direction was excellent; the scenes move fast and every single one of them was effectively used to build up the story. Lee Hall's screenplay was heartwarming, though it's hard to understand some of the words because the language and accent used are of the Northern British region. Peter Darling's choreography was impassioned. Jamie Bell who played Billy Elliot was engaging; he has a rare talent for acting and dancing.

One will hear countless use of the four-letter "f" word in the dialogue, which gained for itself the "Restricted" rating. I don't know if the director and writer should have tried to limit the use of this word so as to include the PG-13 audience. I don't know much about Northern British culture, particularly one of a working class family, to say whether this kind of language is appropriate or not.

Overall, Billy Elliot is a very good movie. To me it, it's one of the best films of all time. I give it five stars.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Billy Elliot
Review: For all you skeptics, this is a must see movie. I had read so many good thing about Billy Elliot in publications I wanted so see what all the buzz was about. I talked my wife into going and we were both blown away. It was one of the best feel good movies we had seen in ages. We loved Jamie Bell and can't wait to see him in something else. He is a delight as well as the rest of the cast. We both think this was lost in the shuffle at the Oscars. If you haven't seen it yet take the time to do so!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: billy elliott
Review: Billy Elliot is one of the best movies I have ever seen. I watched this film two times in a row and am now ordering it. The directing, the acting the photogrophy,everything about this movie is perfect. A joy to watch, again and again and again.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful Story
Review: With all the garbage in the movies now, it is nice to know that this movie came along. It is a wonderful story about a boy who does everything to achieve his dream of being a ballet dancer.

The only setback is the language. It was completely pointless. That is the only bad thing about this movie. Kids at the age of eight could see this movie if you don't mind them hearing the F word every two minutes.

This movie is an excellent example of people going after their dreams.

The DVD is all ok, but not the greatest, special feature wise.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Suprisingly original
Review: I admit, I was weary to see 'Billy Elliot' - it didn't look very original compared to a lot of recent British films. Props to Stephen Daldry for making what could be a tedious, over-sentimental story into a fresh and emotional movie. Instead of focusing on the obligatory sexual politics or high risk audition (both are in the movie, but they are actually dealt with intelligently), Daldry looks to the anger, frustration, and yearning for freedom that a young boy expresses through dance. Jamie Bell is incredible as Billy, as is the rest of the cast.

Once again, though, the directing is superb and underrated (with some classic sight gags thrown in). The great music and visuals complement the story perfectly.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: will touch your heart
Review: One of the best movies "ever". If you are looking for something funny, special and wonderful this is it

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: wonderful feel-good triumph
Review: "Billy Elliot," one of 2000's best films, is far more than just the typical coming-of-age story. It is a paean to all of us who have, at one time or another, felt ourselves to be "different" from society as a whole (and who among us, in moments of quiet honesty, would deny feeling this way at some time or other in our lives?). "Billy Elliot" takes us back to that time in our lives - early adolescence - when we are just beginning to experience the manifold wonders of the world, when we are just beginning to explore those things which makes us feel good, and when we are just starting that long process of self-discovery that will ultimately define who we are and what we love. Such a journey can be an easy one if, for instance, that thing that we choose to love happens to be socially acceptable - i.e. football for boys or cooking for girls - but what if it isn't? What if, say, the focus of attention for a young boy growing up in a poor English mining town happens to be ballet dancing? Then growing up and staying true to oneself suddenly become all that more challenging. If for no other reason, "Billy Elliot" deserves credit for tackling and illuminating the tricky and sometimes uncomfortable subject of adolescent gender-bending.

Billy is an 11-year old boy whose life provides little opportunity for warmth or joy. His father and brother are striking miners, his beloved mother has recently passed away and his maternal grandmother struggles with the disorientation that comes with advancing senility. The one ray of light in Billy's otherwise drab, humorless life is his fascination with the ballet class that meets in the same gym where he is supposed to be receiving his boxing lessons. One of the great joys of "Billy Elliot" comes in these early scenes as we see Billy going to enormous lengths to hide the truth of his activities, secreting his dancing shoes under his mattress or inside his trousers or absconding with a book on dancing from a local book mobile etc. Who among us can fail to identify with this sense that, if others discovered what we REALLY loved, we would quickly become a pariah, a misfit, an outcast? Haven't we all, at some time or other, secretly hidden objects that meant the world to us but that others just wouldn't understand if they saw we had them? Well, "Billy Elliot" reminds us that it is okay to be different, that indeed pursuing our goal - whatever it is - is the single most important step to achieving personal happiness.

In terms of plotting, there is not really much that is new here. The conflict-ridden lower class family, the recently dead mother, the feisty, sympathetic teacher who places all her faith in her young pupil, the initial reluctance on the part of the family and the community to accept Billy's dream and their ultimately yielding to his wishes - these are all elements we have seen in films before. Yet, somehow, "Billy Elliot" never seems clichéd or derivative, partly because writer Lee Hall and director Stephen Daldry get the details of character and setting so right and partly because Jamie Bell delivers such a luminous, naturalistic performance as Billy. Thanks to Bell's subtle underplaying, Billy never comes across as precious or precocious. He is just an ordinary kid with an extraordinary gift who is not afraid to ultimately stand up and defend his own originality. As the ballet instructor, Julie Walters conveys just the right combination of firm determination and openhearted compassion to make her a believable inspiration to her young charge. Gary Lewis, Jamie Draven and Jean Heywood are all excellent as Billy's father, brother and grandmother respectively.

The term "feel good movie" is often the kiss of death when it comes to encouraging the less sentimentally inclined among us to check out a film. But "Billy Elliot" really is a movie that could serve a salutary purpose. If it inspires even one parent to allow a child to fulfill his or her dream - regardless of what it happens to be - it may be one of those rare films that actually does some good in the world. Not bad for a little independent charmer like this one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: THE BEST MOVIE I HAVE SEEN IN A LONG TIME
Review: This movie is absolutly wonderful! I rented it once just because I wanted to see what it was about. I loved it. Every seen was just very realistic. When you watch it, it feels as if all the energy from the movie comes into you. It feels as ifyou were going to bust with energy if you don't get up and dance. I took four years of ballet when I was little, and watching this movie just makes me want to go back to my ballet school and dance, almost. Watch this movie because it might just change you.


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