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Alive & Kicking

Alive & Kicking

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's a joyful celibration of life.
Review: A very touching and witty film, the whole production is one of the higest quality. I have seen this so many times and it just keeps getting better, the whole story is one of depth and courage. Laughs are found in the most unexpected of places,Such as the scattering of Ramon's and Drew's ashes, it's a joyful celibration of love and life and the things that bring people together.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Dead and Paralyzed
Review: Antony Sher's performance was very good, but otherwise this film is laughable. We keep searching for a reason to care about Jason Flemyng's character, but we're never given one. So the final scene, where a paralyzed Flemyng is carried around a dance performance like he was the Stanley Cup, comes off as absurd and unintentionally funny.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful and Life Affirming
Review: As this was a "pig in a poke" selection, I had no pre-conceived notions as to what this film would amount to. From the very first frame the wonder began, and it continued to the very last roll of the credits. Not only are the performances of Jason Flemyng and Anthony Sher excellent, but the entire cast is great. Directed with an apparent love for the subject,the film never has a false moment. We do care about the characters and their circumstances, and feel certain that whatever may become of them, they will have made choices out of love, not pity. There are wonderful life lessons for anyone here...don't miss it!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sometimes we need to be reminded....
Review: For some unfortunate reason in the year 2002 people want to believe that Aids is over. That just because to some degree it can be controlled with medication that we've cured it. This couldn't be further from the truth.

Alive and Kicking is a lovely, funny and at times very tender reminder that there are still people out there not only living with Aids,dying of Aids, but also loving despite the limitaion of Aids. It's a realistic look at life, love, and dying. And about excepting that sometimes the body betrays the will.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sometimes we need to be reminded....
Review: For some unfortunate reason in the year 2002 people want to believe that Aids is over. That just because to some degree it can be controlled with medication that we've cured it. This couldn't be further from the truth.

Alive and Kicking is a lovely, funny and at times very tender reminder that there are still people out there not only living with Aids,dying of Aids, but also loving despite the limitaion of Aids. It's a realistic look at life, love, and dying. And about excepting that sometimes the body betrays the will.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Dead and Paralyzed
Review: I did not enjoy watching this movie. By the time that the end finally came I felt that I had wasted my time. The main character is a obnoxious and bitchy queen who we are supposed to feel sorry for simply because he has AIDS. His best friend in his dance company is an interesting character, but she is barely in the movie after the first ten minutes and I thought the psychaitrist boyfriend was finally going to be a character to relate or sympathize with until he starts drinking himself to death becuase he can't deal with reality. And don't even get me started on the dancing...

The saddest part about the movie is that it is supposed to be an uplifting tale of how an HIV+ man learns to deal with living instead of obsessing about dying. The character is never very convincing in conveying either aspect of his struggle and you feel very little sympathy for him.

I gave the movie two stars becuase the acting and production aren't that bad. It's the writing and directing that ruined this movie for me.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Only if you're bored
Review: I did not enjoy watching this movie. By the time that the end finally came I felt that I had wasted my time. The main character is a obnoxious and bitchy queen who we are supposed to feel sorry for simply because he has AIDS. His best friend in his dance company is an interesting character, but she is barely in the movie after the first ten minutes and I thought the psychaitrist boyfriend was finally going to be a character to relate or sympathize with until he starts drinking himself to death becuase he can't deal with reality. And don't even get me started on the dancing...

The saddest part about the movie is that it is supposed to be an uplifting tale of how an HIV+ man learns to deal with living instead of obsessing about dying. The character is never very convincing in conveying either aspect of his struggle and you feel very little sympathy for him.

I gave the movie two stars becuase the acting and production aren't that bad. It's the writing and directing that ruined this movie for me.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I thought it was entertaining
Review: I enjoyed this film (a.k.a. Indian Summer) and, as a result, I have watched it many times. Sure Tonio (Flemyng) is an obnoxious queen at times. But most of the time he is a man who lives by dancing. Although he laughingly denies it, he escapes through dance. Having worked as a costumer for a dance company, I know some of these people really are obnoxious. The relationship between Tonio and Jack (Sher) is believable within the context of their backgrounds. For those who can't see it, the visit to Greece codifies it perfectly. Sadly, they love each other in a way that wouldn't have been possible without AIDS. The dance company (Ballet Luna - I love that name) is believable within itself. It's just like this, folks. As a troupe, they made me smile.

Having also been an actor, I was impressed with the acting, too. Almost everyone portrays their character believably. Flemying was the most entertaining to watch because he portrays Tonio on so many different levels. The past keeps catching up with the future in him. The energy was right, the focus was clear, he was dynamic. Jack's repeated asking, "Why aren't you angry?" is fundamental. Tonio truly is angry and it comes out through his antagonistic behavior throughout the film. Jack, for all his perception, can't see it (yet) because Tonio successfully runs from it. Finally, when temporary paralysis stops his running, the anger catches up to him and he has time to admit it and reflect upon the past. Duncan (Voss) was the surprise. I loved his representation of the dignity of the past.

The message, living and dying with AIDS, is, albeit, a tired one. Can anything original be said about this subject? We've heard it all before. Thankfully this film deals with it from another angle. Some people really are tired of dealing with it, and those people are portrayed here. It is downright comical the way these people escape it by disco dancing, karaoke singing, and, of course, drinking.

Whether these people are likable or not is a matter of personal taste. I wouldn't choose them for friends, except maybe Vincent (Aiden Waters). He's adorable. But the film entertained me. I am not tired of watching it repeatedly. I think it is a well crafted film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I thought it was entertaining
Review: I enjoyed this film (a.k.a. Indian Summer) and, as a result, I have watched it many times. Sure Tonio (Flemyng) is an obnoxious queen at times. But most of the time he is a man who lives by dancing. Although he laughingly denies it, he escapes through dance. Having worked as a costumer for a dance company, I know some of these people really are obnoxious. The relationship between Tonio and Jack (Sher) is believable within the context of their backgrounds. For those who can't see it, the visit to Greece codifies it perfectly. Sadly, they love each other in a way that wouldn't have been possible without AIDS. The dance company (Ballet Luna - I love that name) is believable within itself. It's just like this, folks. As a troupe, they made me smile.

Having also been an actor, I was impressed with the acting, too. Almost everyone portrays their character believably. Flemying was the most entertaining to watch because he portrays Tonio on so many different levels. The past keeps catching up with the future in him. The energy was right, the focus was clear, he was dynamic. Jack's repeated asking, "Why aren't you angry?" is fundamental. Tonio truly is angry and it comes out through his antagonistic behavior throughout the film. Jack, for all his perception, can't see it (yet) because Tonio successfully runs from it. Finally, when temporary paralysis stops his running, the anger catches up to him and he has time to admit it and reflect upon the past. Duncan (Voss) was the surprise. I loved his representation of the dignity of the past.

The message, living and dying with AIDS, is, albeit, a tired one. Can anything original be said about this subject? We've heard it all before. Thankfully this film deals with it from another angle. Some people really are tired of dealing with it, and those people are portrayed here. It is downright comical the way these people escape it by disco dancing, karaoke singing, and, of course, drinking.

Whether these people are likable or not is a matter of personal taste. I wouldn't choose them for friends, except maybe Vincent (Aiden Waters). He's adorable. But the film entertained me. I am not tired of watching it repeatedly. I think it is a well crafted film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bring Kleenex!
Review: I loved this movie. Funny, touching, very realistic. I have been searching for the soundtrack and the Video for almost 2 years. It's a gay-aids movie that doesn't take you where you'd expect- It's everything that "Longtime Companion" should have been with some of the best acting I've seen. I cannot recommend it highly enough.


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