Flashdance

Rating:
Summary: Fashionable, if a bit dated love story...
Review: When this came out it was really a visual triumph. It was directed a la MTV by Adrian Lyne. When seeing *behind the scenes* type shows about this movie it was clear that this was a difficult project to get finished...with much contoversy.

Visually, it was quite different. The sets are gritty and smokey (too smokey for many execs). The style is quick and the focus is on the music and the danicing and to a lesser extent the love story between the two very appealing stars (jennifer beals and michael noiri)

By day jennifer beals works as a welder and by night she works as a dancer in a seedy club doing amazing dance routines (okay, Marine Jansen does the dance routines). Her dream is to go to a snooty dance school even tho she has no formal training. The love story is between her and her boss at the welding job, who is also on the board at the dance conservatory.

The movie launced the ripped sweat shirt style. Debatable as to whether that worked outside the movie...but it did work inside the move.

This is really a very good escape. Its fast paced and fun. The dancing is amazing and you will be hard pressed to tell what is actually Jennifer doing the danicing and what is Ms. Jansen (In the final scene, which was actually re-written to make it more exciting... there are actually 3 dancers...Ms Beals, Ms Jansen and a young man who does break dancing. Its quite an amazing feat of editing. Its seamless) What it lacks in writing, and it is lacking there, it makes up in energy and visual appeal. If you haven't seen it, make a point to see it at least once. If you have seen it...rip and sweat shirt, make some pop corn and see it again...

Rating:
Summary: Good dancing, Bad Movie, No DVD Extras
Review: I was 3 or 4 when this movie came out so I never got to see it until now. I'm into b-boying (breakdancing) and that's why I got this DVD. The 5.1 Dolby Digital Soundtrack is top-notch for a movie from 1983. The movie had an extremely weak plot. Like others have said, what is Hannah's relationship to Alex? Why did she go to confessional all the time and then have sex with her bf 2 minutes later?

My biggest gripe is what happened to the break-dancing scene? I've seen that part of the movie in numerous break-dancing tapes and the scene in the DVD was much shorter. I mean they showed Crazy Legs 3 times, Frosty once, and the 2 poppers, but where was Prince Ken Swift? This movie is supposedly what brought break-dancing into the mainstream back in the early 80s, but yet the DVD which has no features at all, shortens it a lot.

This DVD gets a generous 2-stars from me and only because of the good audio.

Rating:
Summary: A good 80's film with great 80's music
Review: Flashdance is probably one of the best movies there is that was released in the immortal decade of the eighties. Released at around the same time as 'Dirty Dancing', 'Footloose', and 'The Lambada', Flashdance managed to get quite a bit of viewer attention.
The basic plot is that Alex, played by Jennifer Beals, is a welder by day and works by night as a dancer in a bar.
Her biggest dream is to become a famous dancer and go to a prestigious dance school.
As can be expected, a romance blooms between Alex and her boss at the welding factory.
Alex is repeatedly asked out by her boss and she shoots him down every time.
He finally asks her why she won't go out with him and Alex tells him that she dosen't think that it is a good idea to go out with the boss, (And she is NOT referring to Bruce Springsteen when she says this)
Her boss then gives her what I believe to be the funniest line in the entire movie: "Fine. You're fired. I'll pick you up at eight."
Of course he dosen't actually fire her that was just his way of getting her to go out with him.

Rating:
Summary: Great slice of 80s nostalgia, would have liked some extras!
Review: Who was a teen in the 80s and did NOT feel an impact of this movie? Whether you liked or hated this film, it was one of the key examples of the unique mixture of music and movies that we saw in the 80s.

Why just 3 stars, then? One complaint is that the music track does not play well on the DVD. This could just be my copy, and I was too lazy to try to return through Amazon to see if I just got a bad disc.

The main reason is LACK OF EXTRAS! If a studio is going to re-release a movie on DVD and charge over $15 for it, there should be plenty of extras. How about the original music videos, or a documentary on dance in the 80s - especially breakdancing which had one of its first broad/public exposures in this film? Even interviews with cast/crew on the making of the film and the hype after its release? Something could have and should have been done.

Almost exact same comments for Footloose, so you don't have to read that review, too.

Rating:
Summary: The Dance Electric
Review: I think I've seen "Flashdance" at least 20 times to date, considering I saw it in the theaters dozens of times when it came out in '83. I watched it again recently and I never seem to tire of it. I guess by now it holds a special place in my heart, a sort of sentimental movie that brings me back to my younger years. I can practically recite the whole movie. The music is fantastic of course. My favourite scenes are when Alex and her boss are being romantic and the song "Lady" is playing, and also when Alex is riding her bike home on a rainy night and the boss is following her home. Talk about romantic. The dancing in the movie is also fabulous. I liked all the numbers they did at the bar, Tina Tech rocked the house!!! I also like the fashion in "Flashdance". It started alot of trends, sort of that nu-wave grunge thing. Jennifer Beals did a fantastic job in this film, and so did the rest of the cast. Flashdance still rocks so get out that old cut off sweater, put on a headband and watch the coolest dance movie of all time.

Rating:
Summary: Loved the music, Hated the movie!!
Review: It's been a while since I had the chance to see this movie again as my wife ordered the DVD. I didn't like the movie when it first came out and I didn't like it now. It's mostly because of the lowsy script by Joe Esterhaus. Jennifer Beals was a so-so actress. But I thought they would have done better if they had a dancer who could act (i.e. Leslie Caron). The only thing going for it is the music. If you like dancing, this is for you. If you want a spectacular movie, look elsewhere!

Rating:
Summary: Great movie from the 80s
Review: I'll just say the music helped a lot to make this movie great. If it wasn't the for the music the movie probably would be nothing. I mean great dancing definitly at the end. The end of the movie is probably my favorite part out of the whole movie.

Rating:
Summary: Fats Paced Film - To Have Fun With!
Review: FLASHDANCE - is one of those films back in the 80's that when it opened up it became a huge success. I think mainly because it was a Rocky or Karate Kid-type movie. It had an upbeat theme, great music and characters that had nothing and achieved their dreams.

Directed by Adrinne Lynn (Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal) the film launched Jennifer Beals ( The Bride, Vampires Kiss ) into stardom over night. Her love interest, played by Michael Nouri ( Captain America, Black Ice ) also had achieved recognition for this film. Even the model/dancer Cynthia Rhodes (Staying Alive, Runaway, Dirty Dancing) went on to achieve great success.

The story is simple. As small eats-coast/mid-west town girl has a dream of going to a real ballet school and become a professional dancer. The school is elite, expensive and requires an approval process that included an audition. She is non confident and has little self-esteem.

The other thing that makes her feel less adequate is the fact that though by day she work in a welding mill - by night she is a club dancer in a local bar. The odds are against her - and except for her closest friends - no one can think she can make it. Guess what? I leave the rest for you to enjoy. Very positive ad upbeat film about any one can achieve their dreams if the keep on trying and believe in themselves.

There are many DVD extra's on it and it would have been nice to hear the cast commentary, or the directors AND the cast (the cast is always more interesting then the directors commentary - unless its Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Billy Crystal, Carl Reiner - former actors turned directors) but they must have not wanted to pay them. (Paramount that is.) Overall a great film for the spirits to be lifted for everyone who watches it. Let me know what you think. (12-10-02)

Rating:
Summary: So very 80's!
Review: I was 15 when this movie came out, and it was the catalyst for a cultural revolution. It completely changed the music and fashions of the times and truly defined the 80's. During the summer it was released (summer of '83), you couldn't listen to the radio for more than an hour without hearing "Maniac" or the Flashdance theme song at least four times. All the girls, myself included, emulated Jennifer Beals's style of dress in the movie: cut-up sweatshirt, tight mini skirts, high stiletto heels. This movie cause an absolute furor!

You cannot watch this movie and not want to dance! I should also mention that it caused a huge fitness craze, with leg-warmer-clad women flocking to the gyms and the aerobics studios in droves. I suspect it's what encouraged Jane Fonda to churn out all those aerobics videos in the 80's.

As much as I adore this movie, it bothers me in the fact that it holds an ambivalent attitude toward women. On one hand, it empowers women, as evidenced by Alex Owens's (Jennifer Beals) ambition, drive, and independence. But on the other, it exploits them: Many of the men view women as nothing more than sex objects. The saddest part comes when Alex's ice-skater friend Jeannie loses all faith in herself after falling during a crucial competition and resorts to working at the local strip club.

Its treatment of men is none too just, either. It sends out the message that wimpy but good-hearted men like Richie Blazik, the cook-cum-stand-up comedian, will always come in last, and sleazeballs like strip-club proprietor Johnny C. always succeed in their evil ways without retribution. To wit: his goon busted Richie in the nose, and it was he, Johnny C., who wheedled Jeannie into stripping at the club. He even ends up as her man! Go figure! (What decent man allows his girlfriend to work as a stripper?). I think the scales were trying to be balanced by the addition of Nick Hurley, the guy who hailed from the rough streets of Pittsburgh to make good. He was truly a knight in shining armor, but he is ineffectual at best.

For anyone who wants to take a trip back to the 80's, this is THE movie for you!

Rating:
Summary: **It's A Great Movie!**
Review: I'm so glad Flashdance is finally out on DVD! I've been waiting such a long time for it to come out. This movie is a true 80's classic! It has great music, awsome dancing, and I dissagree with anyone who says that Jennifer Beals is a bad actress. She plays the role of Alex just great!

I'm dissapointed though that they cut off scenes on the DVD. I remember when I taped it off the TV, there were some scenes in it that the DVD doesn't have. I certainly think for it being a DVD they should have all the scenes to this movie. I'm also dissapointed because they didn't have any special features for it, like for example the theatrical trailer, and the music video for "Maniac". I think they could of done a much better job on the cover. They could of made it more creative instead of just a plain blue backround, and they should of had Flashdance spelled out in a much prettier font, like the font they had on the cover for the VHS. Also, it's only on widescreen format. Maybe some people want to see it in a standard format, like me. I think they should of had a choice between those two.

Other than that, I'm really glad the movie came out on DVD. It gives the movie a much better sound quality. If you love 80's dance movies, than this is just for you. The music on this movie just makes you want to get up and dance. Especially to the song "Maniac" and "What A Feeling". It's the best movie i've ever seen from my opinion! I really hope they'll bring out a better DVD version in the future, with all the scenes from the movie, with a better cover and special features. If anyone thinks I'm asking for too much, I'm really sorry, but I think this DVD deserves a bit more.