Rating: 
Summary: Cute idea, very weak script.
Review: In the tradition of The Full Monty -great movie-, Little Voice -very good movie- and Brassed Off -good movie-, comes Billy Elliot: the story of a young kid in a little town where the main working resource is a coal mine during Margaret Tatcher's governement in England in the 80s. Billy has dreams of becoming a ballet dancer, and has to face all the adversities from his living environment and from his own family to make his dream come true.
Unfortunately, and unlike the previous films I've mentioned, this film doesn't offer anything new to the viewer. And the directing is amateurish, the character development shallow and the script also lacks subtstance.
This film is a copy of a copy of a copy. Nothing is in here which I have not seen in another film -be it from Flashdance, to Footloose, to Brassed Off, etc., etc.. And as I said, the storytelling, the script and all the scenes are nothing but a bunch of cliches that we've all seen a million times.
I am being perhaps too hard on this movie, but it is because the way it has been overrated.
Too pretentious and cliched, Billy Elliot is for the ones who do not expect much but an edulcorated "kid persues dream against all odds" kind of film.
The only good thing is the solid acting of the main character, being as young as he is. But forget the rest.
Rating: 
Summary: worst movie ever!
Review: this movie sucks so bad! its the worst movie ive ever seen. its so boring and the soundtrack is terrible. just the name makes me want to throw up. im gonna kill the writer and director.
Rating: 
Summary: Billy Elliot shines.
Review: "Billy Elliot" is one of the all-time best movies I have ever seen. I've raised two boys of my own, and let me tell you, Jamie Bell's portrayal of adolescent angst, boy-style is flawless. I've actually witnessed my thirteen year-old son pound something and then punch the air in impotent rage as Billy did after his father forbade him to take any more dance lessons, and when Billy's teacher chastised him for not practicing and Billy angrily responded that he couldn't do what she was asking, my son, recognizing the problem immediately, sagely stated,"He can't do it because he's angry." When Billy told off his teacher for always telling him what to do "the same as everybody else," I asked my daughter if it reminded her of anybody, and she laughed and said,"Yeah, Brian! (the aforementioned 13 year old). When Billy danced out his anger and frustration at not being heard and at having no control over anything that was happening to him or to his family, and then came smack up against a wall, pounding it and giving it one last elbow-jab before sinking into sullen silence, Brian, again recognizing himself, said, "I make that face." It's hard to believe that Jamie Bell had almost no acting experience before he made this movie. I believe he is going to be a force to reckon with in the movie world.Aside from Jamie Bell's spectacular acting and dancing, the other characters were perfectly cast and acted. Julie Walters (Educating Rita) as the chain-smoking dance teacher who both mothers and pushes Billy to the limit is at her absolute best, as is Gary Lewis as the grieving, angry, bewildered father. The story itself was at once heartbreaking and heartwarming without being either contrived or shmaltzy. One does not have to be a boy who has recently lost his mother, and who'd rather dance than box, to relate to Billy's struggle to deal with adversity and to be accepted for who he is. I couldn't stop watching.
Rating:
Summary: Teaches one to do what they love regardless of everyone else
Review: The title says everything. "Billy Elliot" gives a great example to the audience of how to live life. Don't listen to the stereotypes. Some may criticize your choices, but as long as you act passionately, nobodys' opinions matter. In this movie, one English boy lives this everyday. Jamie Bell plays Billy Elliot, an eleven year old secretive ballet dancer, whose forced by his family and society to continue boxing. He lives with his hateful brother and abusive father depressed about the death of his wife. Elliot must cope with the cruelity at home and the sports center. Jamie Walters, in her Oscar nominated role, plays his strong-willed ballet instructor. She will stop at nothing to help Elliot perfect his ballet moves. The two, along with the rest of the cast, wonderfully portrays their characters. They give the movie the emotion it needs to portray the realities of their lifestyles. Stephan Daldry brilliantly directs this movie. He's a genius at character's emotions. One must respect him more because of the risque material in the script. Few dare this. He proves that he will be the next Steven Spielberg in a few years. Those who are impressed with "Billy Elliot" must also watch "The Hours", another Daldry-directed movie. "Billy Elliot's" unique storyline will inspire the audience.
Rating:
Summary: Not only a women's movie
Review: First of all this critical review about "Billy Elliot" is the summary of lots of critical reviews from our English class. The British movie "Billy Elliot", produced by Stephen Daldrey in 2000 is about a boy who faces the problems to become a famous ballet dancer in the time of the miner's strikes.
He lives with his grandma, father and brother together in the most difficult time for miners (70's - 80's). So they all have their own problems and it looks as if the family would break especially as the father, who wants his son to do boy sports like boxing, finds out about his son's dancing ambitions. But Billy has a strong will and stands by his dream to become a dancer. He reaches his aim and in the final scene you can see him in a real big theatre.
You can immediately see that it is not one of those Hollywood productions again. The colours are different, colder and the story/plot really tells us an interesting story.
The camera moves fit perfectly to the scenes presented and create a perfect atmosphere for the watcher.
Just like the music that is in this case important, because if you listen very carefully to the text of the songs you can connect it with the plot of the scenes. It is especially important when Billy dances to it, for example in the scene in which he encounters his father in the sports club and Billy wants to show him that he can, wants and will dance. Or take the scene when Mrs Wilkinson comes to Billy's house and has a fight with Tony while Billy stands on the table and just cannot take it. Suddenly you can see him dancing with all his emotions, power, fear and hatred. This is the one scene in which you cannot only see but feel that dancing is for Billy the way to express himself..
The actors are very well chosen. Jamie Bell plays such a lovely Billy Elliot just like you had imagined him after reading the book. And that is also true for the other actors like July Walters as Mrs Wilkinson or Gary Lewis as Jackie Elliot, the strict father who succeeds in overcoming his inhibitions to help Billy's dream of dancing come true.
Still, as we heard that we would talk in the English lessons about "Billy Elliot" the class was divided into two groups, the one who liked the idea and the other one who thought that it would be a "woman's movie". But in the end almost everybody liked it. And the movie is a very good example of the idea that everybody can fulfil his dreams if he has the will and ambition to do so. We would not say there is a special age group for watching this movie, so we would recommend it to everybody.
Rating: 
Summary: Not only a women's movie
Review: First of all this critical review about "Billy Elliot" is the summary of lots of critical reviews from our English class. The British movie "Billy Elliot", produced by Stephen Daldrey in 2000 is about a boy who faces the problems to become a famous ballet dancer in the time of the miner's strikes.
He lives with his grandma, father and brother together in the most difficult time for miners (70's - 80's). So they all have their own problems and it looks as if the family would break especially as the father, who wants his son to do boy sports like boxing, finds out about his son's dancing ambitions. But Billy has a strong will and stands by his dream to become a dancer. He reaches his aim and in the final scene you can see him in a real big theatre.
You can immediately see that it is not one of those Hollywood productions again. The colours are different, colder and the story/plot really tells us an interesting story.
The camera moves fit perfectly to the scenes presented and create a perfect atmosphere for the watcher.
Just like the music that is in this case important, because if you listen very carefully to the text of the songs you can connect it with the plot of the scenes. It is especially important when Billy dances to it, for example in the scene in which he encounters his father in the sports club and Billy wants to show him that he can, wants and will dance. Or take the scene when Mrs Wilkinson comes to Billy's house and has a fight with Tony while Billy stands on the table and just cannot take it. Suddenly you can see him dancing with all his emotions, power, fear and hatred. This is the one scene in which you cannot only see but feel that dancing is for Billy the way to express himself..
The actors are very well chosen. Jamie Bell plays such a lovely Billy Elliot just like you had imagined him after reading the book. And that is also true for the other actors like July Walters as Mrs Wilkinson or Gary Lewis as Jackie Elliot, the strict father who succeeds in overcoming his inhibitions to help Billy's dream of dancing come true.
Still, as we heard that we would talk in the English lessons about "Billy Elliot" the class was divided into two groups, the one who liked the idea and the other one who thought that it would be a "woman's movie". But in the end almost everybody liked it. And the movie is a very good example of the idea that everybody can fulfil his dreams if he has the will and ambition to do so. We would not say there is a special age group for watching this movie, so we would recommend it to everybody.
Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly enjoyable film
Review: This is one of the most fun films that I've seen in a while--the acting is convincing, the story is touching, and the balance between the tension of the strikes and the irony of Billy's situation is astonishing. This film easily could have become a sappy, cornball film like Bootmen, but this one avoids the pitfalls that come with the genre by telling an honest tale from each character's perspective, allowing us to see the turmoil and confusion and frustrations that each of them feel all along. And who would have thought that the old T. Rex songs would have fit a modern film so well? The soundtrack is exhilarating, the dance scenes are fun, and the ending is as touching an ending as I've seen in a very long time. Definitely worth two or three viewings.
Rating:
Summary: On Being Different
Review: A young lad decides he likes ballet better than boxing. This does not sit well with his father, a very macho man who works in the mines. And what we have is-- in the best sense of the word-- an extremely "sweet" movie. On the eve of Father's Day, this is a great movie to celebrate fathers for Billy's father grows and changes and come to appreciate his son's great talent. Anyone who has known the pangs associated with being different and not fitting in can relate to this fine movie. I have seen this movie again and again. The poignant ending still makes my eyes water. What makes this movie even more meaningful is that it is based on a real little boy's experience. Additionally, I read recently that for the first time ever the Royal Ballet has more young men enrolled than young girls and all because of this great little movie. If you haven't seen this gem, go rent it today. Or better still, purchase it. You'll want to see it again and again.
Rating:
Summary: Theatrical Experience
Review: "A wonderful movie experience, in all the best senses of that phrase. Great story, acting, social relevance, music, dance, heart-felt emotion, a real pleasure." If the review is all that you wanted to hear, you can stop reading; the rest is a review of the reasons why I think 98 percent of the reviewers liked this movie (they EXPERIENCED IT!) and 2 percent did not, (they are the CRITICS).
In my opinion, Cinema is the most powerful artistic expression of the 20th and 21st centuries, because it combines all the other arts (except maybe sculpture?) in ONE single mind-blowing experience. You have visual art, photography, music, dance, drama, writing, acting, sometimes even mime, yes even poetry, AT THE SAME TIME. What a concept!
As if that were not enough, they throw in satire, comedy, social comment, history, and education, and test your opinion on the social mores of the day (homophobia, feminism, anti-war feelings, patriotism, you name it).
WHO CARES if sometimes the direction is forced, the acting is over the top, the story is predictable, the music is intrusive, the conclusion is inevitable, there is swearing, there is sex (sometimes), the realism is too much, and yes, your emotions are manipulated by Sony or Miramax. SO WHAT!
I went to see La Boheme in Paris on my 21st birthday and guess what? I knew that Mimi dies! The ballet fans who go to see Swan Lake and the opera fans who watch the Ring Cycle know the story! I have personally seen "The Matrix" six times, and I have read the Lord of the Rings at least 10 times, and seen the movies (2 of the 3) at least 4 times. I have read War and Peace, (only once), even though I knew that Napoleon would lose. My wife has read Gone with the Wind three times, and cries through the last 100 pages every time. Art is art is art; and that is enough.
We are not crazy: we immerse ourselves in the art we love, to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit, be it Literature, Film, Painting, Opera, Poetry, Ballet, Dance, Jazz, whatever.
So critics, please take a break and get manipulated once in a while. In these days of sterotyped TV soap opera and billion dollar professional sports (who cares?), lay back in your sofa with a beer or a glass of wine with someone you love, and let Billy Elliot wash over you.
If you like it, you can buy it on video for less than the price of a book, and add it to your collection. And if you don't like it, so what? It is life, it is art, it is thought provoking; go to Blockbuster and try again.
Rating:
Summary: Redemption and Perserverance
Review: Great character study of the human condition. One of the best movies ever made. Suitable for ages between 9 through 900!
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