Rating: 
Summary: I Agree--Presley Was An Overblown Country Bumpkin
Review: Elvis a great singer? Remastered or not, C, F, and G chord songs are still simple-minded---as was Elvis whose IQ was indeed less than 80. Now maybe that doesn't matter to many of his Hicksville fans, but nobody with that low an IQ could possibly even understand good musicianship, tonality, or announciation. Like it or not, Presley's popularity was diamterically opposed to his level of talent. By the way, after the hickabililies are finished listening to "Teddy Bear" and "Hound Dog," they should try listening to Ella Fitgerald, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong, or Mel Torme do Cole Porter, Richard Rogers, Johnny Mercer, etc. Now that's singing that takes talent, native intelligence, and taste.
Rating: 
Summary: Elvis is SMOKIN'
Review: Elvis Aron, or "Aaron", Presley is so very scrum diddly umptious it is pathetic. No one has ever out sang him, out acted him, or out performed him. He is the GREATEST entertainer that has ever lived. Elvis is also the best looking male entertainer that has ever lived. Elvis has made the most money than any entertainer that has ever lived...... dead and ALIVE. Face it, if you didn't like this movie, it's because you don't like Elvis. If you don't like Elvis, why would you buy the movie??This movie features the single sexiest, classiest, most riveting performance ever in an Elvis movie. When he sings "Return to Sender", you will see why... Scoffers: Just scoff, and go watch Elton John or Ozzy Osbourne. Sure, they REALLY compare to Elvis, huh?? I don't even think so!
Rating: 
Summary: To: A" Viewer "from Memphis-ELVIS STILL RULES!
Review: Elvis dared to be himself and changed the face of music and started a cultural revolution by doing so.The "Viewer" from Memphis,as he calls himself,doesn't even have the guts to use his real name in his own review. Elvis didn't make it on pure luck-he made it through something called talent and his own unique way of presenting it to the public. There are many popular singers who didn't write their own songs and made more than their share of mediocre films. This did not detract from the fact that even in a film like "Girls! Girls! Girls!, Elvis could still deliver the goods. He did the best he could do,and then some,with the material he was given and did it beautifully! I have probably viewed this film over a hundred times since its'first release,as I have all of Elvis'films,and have enjoyed each one of them immensely every time.To the "Viewer" from Memphis,and anyone else who shares hs feelings-if you don't like a movie-don't watch it! As for Elvis'greatness,and the impact it has made in this world,I believe it speaks for itself!
Rating:
Summary: To: A" Viewer "from Memphis-ELVIS STILL RULES!
Review: Elvis dared to be himself and changed the face of music and started a cultural revolution by doing so.The "Viewer" from Memphis,as he calls himself,doesn't even have the guts to use his real name in his own review. Elvis didn't make it on pure luck-he made it through something called talent and his own unique way of presenting it to the public. There are many popular singers who didn't write their own songs and made more than their share of mediocre films. This did not detract from the fact that even in a film like "Girls! Girls! Girls!, Elvis could still deliver the goods. He did the best he could do,and then some,with the material he was given and did it beautifully! I have probably viewed this film over a hundred times since its'first release,as I have all of Elvis'films,and have enjoyed each one of them immensely every time.To the "Viewer" from Memphis,and anyone else who shares hs feelings-if you don't like a movie-don't watch it! As for Elvis'greatness,and the impact it has made in this world,I believe it speaks for itself!
Rating:
Summary: The Only Thing Sillier Than Elvis's Singing Was His Acting
Review: Elvis Presley has to be the greatest mass media produced scam of all time. Only in America could a hillbilly who literally had an IQ under 80 make it to icon status. Presley had a second grader's vocabulary, and sang nothing but three chord, twelve bar juvenile songs that required no breath control or technical skill. The only thing sillier than his songs were his films, like "Girls, Girls, Girls," which are the most formulaic, mindless [junk] ever put on film. All of these exercises in childishness are interchangeable---"Girls, Girls, Girls," "Spin-out," "Clambake,", etc. He did not make a single film that could be remotely described as sophisticated fare. He never acted in a substantial dramatic role or in a comedy that rose above the fun-for-the-feeble mentality. For that matter, when did he ever sing a classic American pop standard ballad or jazz tune? A Cole Porter, Richard Rogers, or Hoagy Carmichael tune was far beyond his limited vocal acumen----in part because such a song would have required 'Ol Elvis to change keys, tempos, and modulate among flats, sharps, diminished, and extended chords---I doubt Presley even knew the meanings of these musical terms. For how many years and how many times did he repeat the same three-chord, twelve bar formula of "Hound Dog? and "Heartbreak Hotel?" A million times. Even as a 42 year old man he stood in Las Vegas on stage with a ridiculous pompadour piled up a foot atop his head, sunglasses that looked like leftover gag spectacles from vaudeville, sideburns that put even the hickiest of the "Hee Haw" regulars to shame , and popping buttons galore in front of his fans because of his gargantuan symmetry due to his utter lack of self-discipline. This travesty reached its apex as he growled and groaned the same three chord nonsense over and over and over again. Indeed, in his final years he sang as though he were constipated. No announciation, no tonality, no breath control. The band provided the only sound that was legitimate and palatable (albeit simplistic) while Presley emitted undecipherable lyrics in a barely identifiable monotone hum. Kind of like the sound your refrigerator makes late at night. This is singing? Every once and awhile he would grace the listening audience with a bar or two of a pseudo-bass voice that sounded impressive to musical neophytes but was easily recognized by true musicians as veneer with no substance. Did he ever hold a note on key for longer than five seconds? The plots of his films were so contrived as to be mindless. Despite his inability to play even basic scales on a guitar, the instrument was omnipresent. Predictably in virtually all of his films, a guitar would inexplicably and mysteriously materialize in the oddest of places----in a row boat, on top of a mountain, in the bathtub, etc., without regard for plot or believability. Forget the fact that Presley couldn't carry a tune on guitar across the street. In truth, not only was Presley a dimwit of very marginal talent, but he wasn't even the best of the rockabilly performers. For instance, Carl Perkins, who was self-admittedly no Beethoven, wrote songs, played a great guitar, and sang in a powerful tenor-near-baritone voice---and he was singing the three chord stuff years before Presley (who wrote no songs and played no instruments in even a remotely legitimate manner---they'd have him pose with a guitar for photos now and then to fool gullible fans into believing that his strumming on film was the real thing). Even Gene Vincent had a more subtle, tonally superior voice than Presley. As for serious popular vocalists like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Peggy Lee, etc.....Presley wasn't even in the same league. In fact, he wasn't even in the same hemisphere. He was an impressionable, uneducated, unsophisticated kid who looked good to young girls while shaking his hips on stage; and because of his lack of intelligence, he was easy prey for Colonel Tom Parker and the other shrewdies and shysters who manufactured him into a national idol and then exploited him until he became a sad caricature of himself. As P.T. Barnum once said, "Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people." Elvis Presley, whose sideburns were far more conspicuous than either his intelligence or talent, is a supreme case in point. "Thank you. Thank you very much. Now somebody pass me some more of them peanut butter and banana sandwiches and sweet potato pie! Hey, that thing you're holding, is that a guitar? Hey, won't somebody show me how to get a C chord on this guitar contraption,...huh...huh...huh? Hey, somebody hand me my buttons from my multi-colored sequined costume----they're popping all over the place! By the way, have my sideburns completely encircled my face yet? Huh, huh, huh? Hey, once this concerto...er...concert or whatever you call it is over, let's say we hop into my pickup truck, grab a sixpack, and mosey on over to the wrestling match! We sure is a sophisticated bunch, ain't we?" Long live the King! Elvis, may I have your autograph? What's that? You don't remember if you know how to write? What's that? The King has left the building and headed out to McDonalds?
Rating:
Summary: Great Pop entertainment !!!
Review: Elvis Presley is an American icon, and a pop culture revolutionary.That is very clear for someone with a degree in art history (LIKE MYSELF)writing from Portugal (Europe).
Not only is music is very important and full of aesthetic value, many of is films are also relevant in a sociological perspective, as Popular examples of 50ts and 60ts entertainment. And guess what? some of Elvis pictures are also amazing examples of the talent of those forgoten artists of the movie industry, the directors of photograpy, and in Girls, Girls, Girls, thouse aesthetic qualities are more than obvious.
The film also includes great musical numbers like: Return to sender, the Title tune, I dont wanna be tied and a few others.
Yes Elvis is a Universal Icon of Popular art and culture, and don't forget that even Andy Warhol recognised that fact using Elvis Image in one of his famous portraits.But then again many people don't aprecciate Warhol's work either ...
Rating:
Summary: GREAT LIGHT HEARTED ENTERTAINMENT
Review: Elvis Presley movies may not be in the same class as "Gone With The Wind " or "Sound Of Music" but they should be looked at as easy light fun with great music and the charasmatic appeal of Elvis .I think some people take themselves way too seriously and cant see these movies for what they are. Pure fun.We will probably never know the real reason why Elvis never tried to tackle a more dramatic role ,as some know it was one of his ambitions. But in the end it doesnt really matter ,does it?. We have what we have and should be happy with the legacy Elvis left behind. Elvis Presley brought joy to billions of people , and still does today. If you dont like Elvis or his music and movies ,then listen or watch something that you do like.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT LIGHT HEARTED ENTERTAINMENT
Review: Elvis Presley movies may not be in the same class as "Gone With The Wind " or "Sound Of Music" but they should be looked at as easy light fun with great music and the charasmatic appeal of Elvis .I think some people take themselves way too seriously and cant see these movies for what they are. Pure fun.We will probably never know the real reason why Elvis never tried to tackle a more dramatic role ,as some know it was one of his ambitions. But in the end it doesnt really matter ,does it?. We have what we have and should be happy with the legacy Elvis left behind. Elvis Presley brought joy to billions of people , and still does today. If you dont like Elvis or his music and movies ,then listen or watch something that you do like.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Elvis was great at anything he did. This was just another example! He is totally amazing!
Rating:
Summary: to the two reviewers from Drexel Hill, PA & Memphis, TN
Review: Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocre minds.
|
