Rating: 
Summary: Great Movie Lessened by Cheap Music
Review: I received this disc today and watched the film for the first time. It affected me in so many ways that I can't really describe them here. I can only say that I envy Billy Elliot for his precocious passion. The conflict between his desire to be a dancer and his dedication to his family stirs a deep sympathy.I'd give this film five stars except for the intrusive pop music. It might have been all right for versimilitude to the time and place, but there's altogether too much of it. With its...sentiments and schmaltzy lyrics, pop is unsuited for a film that aims at such profound emotions. I'd say that hearing Marc Bolan along with Chopin and Tchaikovsy is like drinking Coke mixed with a fine wine, but that would be unfair to Coca-Cola. I suppose the producers wanted to broaden their film's appeal to include a certain type of audience. Anyway, wasn't T-Rex extinct by '84? The 'music' over the closing credits - although not by Bolan - is particularly offensive.
Rating: 
Summary: Billy Wonderful
Review: One of the best, and most underappreciated films of the last Oscar season is Billy Elliot. A compelling, heartbreaking-then-warming story combined with a crackerjack cast makes for a highly entertaining and film that totally transcends struggle and celebrates human desire. Billy, so magnificently and perfectly played by Jamie Bell, is a working class kid with a penchant for ballet, discovered quite by accident but soon fuels his dreams. Julie Walters, Grand Bitter Queens of Ex-Dance Dreamers takes the strapping lad under her wing to teach him how to fly. As Billy strives to dance, he find himself struggling against the harsh dynamics of his family, embroiled with the dyamics of a miners' strike. The story in the film is a guaranteed winner, but soon transcends itself as it deals with devotion to dreams, selflessness, and the power of teaching and learning. It's about the eternal hope we all carry to aspire, to achieve, to blossom no matter what ; Billy names our drive to the ultimate of human experience, whatever that may be for you. The DVD comes with a documentary on the making of Billy Elloit, and thankfully, with English subtitles during some scenes where the accent lays on thick for these American ears. Don't miss this one.
Rating:
Summary: Winning your heart!
Review: This was one of the more surprising films I've seen in many years. I went expecting the film to be exactly what the story seemed to be, a young boy wants to be a dancer and though his father forbids it, his hopes triumph in the end. This is not inaccurate as much as overly simplistic. This film examines not only the father's reaction, but the implausibility of the boy's dream considering the social climate of his home town. It explores the teacher/student relationship and we see the dream of any teacher coming true in her student, but after much conflict. Don't forget a driving force for the boy; his late mother. The power of a fallen parent's hopes for their child is not to be forgotten. Throw in the almost bizzare characters of the older brother and young friend and before the end, if you've paid attention, you find a film about much more than a boy and his dreams. You find the human essence. The ever present conflict of life lived true regardless of conflict or consequence.
Rating:
Summary: BRILLIANT. A MASTERPIECE. INSPIRATION. RATED R??????
Review: This is such a wonderful film. It teaches some of the most valuable lessons in life, and it charts what is so far unexplored territory in that it explores the subject of boy ballet dancers. It also looks at the difficult subject of the mining strikes at what the Conservative government did to working class England in the 80s. Can I just also use this oppurtunity to say how stupid the US Rating system is. That a film like this can get rated R simply for swearing is simply beyond me. Its an inspirational film about doing what you believe in. And there is NO SEX OR VIOLENCE. So any parents, your kids would seriously benefit from seeing this film, because it teaches about pursuing dreams and also about how kids like Billy shouldn't be excluded just for doing something like ballet. The swearing is simply a reality which is true to Northern England and if you want to hide that kind of reality from your kids at the risk of failing to show them something which teaches really valuable lessons about life, you really are shallow. And in case you've been thinking, its true, I'm also English, I'm also a teenager and I'm also a ballet dancer. This film is wonderful for people like me because I am sick and tired of being branded gay for dancing, and this film is really good at providing insight into the mind of a boy ballet dancer, to show that they aren't necessarily gay and they're just normal people with a slightly different dream. That's why your kids should see this film, and screw the ratings system.
Rating:
Summary: A good movie that should be seen
Review: This movie was overlooked at the Academy Awards. This was a great movie and I thought that Jamie Bell deserved a nod as the title character who learns to express himself through dance even though he has to hide that fact that he is dancing from his father and the rest of his family. Julie Walters deserved her best supporting nod as the tough chain smoking dance instructer who sees the potential in Billy and tries to help him realize it. This one of the movies that make you go through the gambit of emotions. It makes you laugh, cry, think, and at the end make you feel good about yourself.
Rating:
Summary: It is impossible not to love this wonderful film
Review: Yes, it may be just the slightest bit manipulative. Yes, the stakes are raised SO high that one has no other choice but to cheer loudly for the hero. Yes, some parts feel extraneous. But you know what? These flaws I only noticed in retrospect. Viewing this movie was one of the ultimate pleasures of my life. It is beautiful, funny, heartwarming, tear-jerking, and wonderfully done. Jamie Bell gives one of the best child performances to date. The final moment of the film made me cry like a baby, as did several other moments in the film. Are certain elements gratuitive (the friend, the grandma)? Maybe. Are they distracting? No. The film is so well shot and so well edited that even the slower parts flow brilliantly with the rest of the film. I am a voting member of the Academy, and this was my pick for Best Picture (certainly more enjoyable than Gladiator). This movie is The Full Monty times 10!
Rating:
Summary: Cleaver, original, and delightful with a British charm.
Review: BILLY ELLIOT is a wonderful film. It is a sure-to-be classic about a young boy, Billy Elliot (newcomer, Jamie Bell), who dreams of becoming a dancer even though his father forbides it because dancing is something that "real men" do not do and it's only for girls. Every single part of this movie is excellent and there is no boring or dull moment. The acting by the entire cast is absolutely flawless with a great storyline and amazing screenplay. The choreography is above all, one of the best parts of the entire film. Jamie Bell and Julie Walters, who plays the kind but strict dance teacher who urges Billy to dance, are the true stand-out actors in this film. BILLY ELLIOT is a heartwarming tale and can be tear-jerky at times, too. One of the best sceens is when Billy shows his father how well he can dance when he dances in that room (I forget where they are), and his father is watching him with tears in his eyes. Another one of my favorite sceens is when Billy is dancing down the street. This is a movie that should be treasured because it is a pure masterpiece. BILLY ELLIOT is one of my favorite films of all time and I really recommend this. Another one of my favorite films of 2000 that I also recommend while buying BILLY ELLIOT is ALMOST FAMOUS. Two really terrific movies and two of the best ever made. Go rent or buy BILLY ELLIOT and I know you will not regret it!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent cast, moving script!
Review: Everyone who has ever felt like the underdog should see this movie. This movie was one of the best movies of 2000. I had to convince my husband to see it (not a BALLET movie...), but after the lights came back up in the theatre, I noticed something that I hadn't expected--a big grin on his face. Billy Elliot inspires! It tugs at your emotions and really makes you evalute your own dreams. See this movie--it doesn't ever disappoint!
Rating:
Summary: Go Billy Go!!
Review: Hi, everyone!! The movie, Billy Elliot is absoultely great!!! i watched it three times in theatre..actually, i wanted to watch it more before being released, because the movie was really amazing..:) definitely, this film is my favourite.. Billy can dream..he can dance..he can smile.. he loves to dance.. unfortunately, his mother died when he was young and his family is poor.. but billy is never frustrated.. he just try to do what he wants most.. the movie is really touching! actors are really great, especially, Jamie Bell(Billy Elliot).. his acting is unbelievable!! can't believe he was only 14 last year.. i also like the actor, Stuart Wells who acted Billy's friend, Michael.. i wanna say only this: just watch the movie!!
Rating:
Summary: Go Billy!
Review: I'm one of the few teenagers who was lucky enough to watch this really great movie. Jamie Bell (besides being unbelievably adorable) does such a good job of portraying Billy that you'll be blown away. Its one of those feel good movies that makes you laugh (its actually very funny) and cry at the same time. The music is great, the plot is simple but perfect for this setting, and the performaces were outstanding. My only complaint...their accents cause you to use closed captioning to understand what their saying. Please see the movie! jamie bell derserved an oscar nomination for this!
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