Rating: 
Summary: Okay, But Not Great
Review: This film has been praised so much and I feel that it is for the wrong reasons. Everytime someone describes it, they say "boy that likes ballet". This is true, of course, but it doesn't begin to describe all the aspects in it. The truth is, people like it because it's something they haven't seen before, that is, a boy liking ballet who is not gay. This seems to be an obsession in the American culture now and that is why the film is so praised. In reality, this is just a cut and dry coming of age film about a boy who struggles with his father, mother is dead, and loves an activity that is frowned upon for boys. The film is good in displaying all the other aspects in his life that have nothing to do with ballet, like how he deals with his mother's death, but has nothing spectacular in the entire film. It is very enjoyable and funny at times, but just doesn't have that extra something to make it great.
Rating: 
Summary: Pure Passion and Determination. But why only ****?
Review: I'd give this 4.5 if I could - but realistically. Why only four stars? It's a great and inspirational video, but they could have slipped in a few more intelligent words rather than mere swears (It's so funny to hear the English swear in this movie). It's so hard to put words out - why can't you merely dance them out? It's beautifully done. It has the English 'spot' in it. The withering 'Cup of Tea' style, I get that snuffy posh feeling when I hear them speak, yet it's amazing how this video thrives with talent. It's dashing, compelling, and imaginative! It breaks the stereotypes of what males/females should really be doing in life! And most of all, is the family situation in the movie. The phrase 'So close, yet so far away' comes to mind. How 'radical'. I was amazed how throughout the whole movie, Billy still stayed the same, and when asked about how he feels when dancing, you can touch with the character still unsure in him. I admire Billy Elliot. The movie itself isn't perfect, but the qualities of it stand out so well, you can't help but find a place for it in your video library.
Rating: 
Summary: Thank Goodness for Films Like This!
Review: I loved this film. It showed complex but loving relationships between father, son, brother. The female characters were on point. It was amazingly creative. And BOY COULD he dance!! I LOVE THIS MOVIE! Go see it, if only to stretch your mind.
Rating:
Summary: A feel-good British import about a boy who loves ballet
Review: What happens when a boy from a working class coal mining district wants to study ballet? This is the plot of this feel-good British film which has won several awards. It has a statement to make about gender stereotypes and family love and it makes its point loud and clear. There's some fine acting in this film. The 14-year old Jamie Bell, cast as Billy, is an excellent actor as well as a good dancer. I immediately related to his struggle to sneak away from boxing class and study ballet in spite of the disapproval of his father and brother, striking miners who are going through struggles themselves, especially since Billy's mother has recently died. Julie Walters plays the ballet teacher who believes in Billy, Gary Lewis plays his father, and Jean Heywood is his elderly grandmother who tends to wander away and needs to be taken care of. Billy's young gay friend is played by Stuart Wells. Billy is not gay and this entire subject is handled with a high degree of sensitivity. Some of the British dialog was lost on me and as I was familiar with the plot there were no surprises. But the tension was kept up throughout with constant obstacles being put in Billy's way. Even after he has won his father over to his side, he still has the tough examination by the Royal Ballet Academy to contend with and the audience has to sweat this out right along with Billy. I would have liked to see a bit more dancing. What we do see is excellent but they are all solos performed without costumes. I wish there was at least one full ensemble piece. I enjoyed this video although something holds me back from raving about it. Maybe because it was almost too good to be true and everything turns out for the best. However I definitely do recommend it for everybody. It will leave you with a nice warm pleasant feeling.
Rating:
Summary: Gritty northern drama, but heartwarming
Review: Gritty northern drama, that inspires one. Here the theme of going against the grain, of the value of being an individual and non-conformist are celebrated. Aside from that the filme was interesting in recounting the social background of the early '80s in the UK, of the real hardships the miners faced. Great acting all the way round, strikes a gritty realist approach. One can almost taste the soot and coal dust in watching this film. Great songs too.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Myself and my wife rented this on DVD this weekend, and we were pleasantly surprised. After all the media's mixed opinions on this movie, it was good to sit down and actually see for ourselves what all the hype(good, bad or otherwise) was about. The only other Brit movie we saw this year was the godawful MAYBE BABY, wrongly marketed as comedy. However, BILLY ELLIOT is billed as drama and is often wittier than you think! The subject matter of a young boy becoming a ballet dancer sounded odd and done-before, but it certainly works here! Set in 1984, with the coal miner's strike as a backdrop, young Billy's interest in ballet dancing causes family friction in a macho-male dominated society of the 1980s Britain. His dance teacher, brilliantly played by Julie Walters, encourgaes him to develop his skills and audition for the Royal Ballet School in London. However, his family are not well off - his father and brother are actively involved in the miner's strike with union activity and things come to a head when Billy's brother is arrested for rioting. Those scenes brought back some memories of that time - the retro settings are just great and the musical soundtrack, featuring T-Rex, The Jam, The Clash and assorted classical pieces is interesting(great songs during end credit roll by Stephen Gately and Eagle Eye Cherry too!) and works well with the film's best moments. Jamie Bell is superb as Billy, and his aggressive dancing through the streets scene is a gem, and the message of this dramatic and sometimes amusing movie is that one can overcome all obstacles and achieve their dreams if they persevere! Don't miss it.
Rating:
Summary: A very moving, touching, and delightful film.
Review: Billy Elliot is truly one of the year 2000's best films. It is also one, however, that the Oscars overlooked for Best Picture. Billy Elliot was a pure enjoyment and enlightened film. It's about a boy - Billy Elliot - who dreams of becoming a ballet dancer even though his father and basically everybody else he knows doesn't want him to become a ballet dancer because ballet is not for boys...ballet is for girls. Newcomer Jamie Bell plays the starring role of Billy Elliot, and he performes it very well. Absolutely no flaws with Jamie Bell's performance! And Julie Walters, who plays the strict but fair, ballet teacher, is also excellent. Mrs. Wilkinson is the one who encourages Billy to dance. Julie Walters is just supurb. As well as the rest of the cast. But it's not the actual story that's enchanting...the real enchantment to this film is the choreography, which is absolutely spectacular! This film is very cleaver and original, and even hilarious at some parts. And it gives a good message, too: nothing is impossible no matter how old you are or what gender, race, etc. Billy Elliot is definitely a film not to be missed. You must buy Billy Elliot! A pure delight!
Rating:
Summary: My favorite movie of all time.
Review: First off, I'm 19 years old and male, but I'd like to think my tastes in movies are a bit more mature than most people my age. I've been reading the reviews on this site, and I just want to give you my own take on this movie. I've seen it five times. The entire cast, especially Jamie Bell, is just awesome. Some people are complaining that it's a bit difficult to understand. To me, that's what makes it fun to watch. If you're going to buy the DVD, you can watch it more than once. I whole-heartedly recommend this movie - this is one of those movies where I try to show it to everyone I know. Who cares if the story is predictable - unpredictibility isn't what makes a good movie. It's the acting, the passion, and the filmmaking. All in all, a BEAUTIFUL piece of work. GET THIS MOVIE NOW!
Rating: 
Summary: WARNING: English captioning may be required!!
Review: Unless you have spent a lot of time in England, or are just instinctively good with dialects, this movie may be hard to watch. English captioning, available on this DVD, is not an entirely satisfactory solution because it is laid out in such a way as to take up a large portion of the picture. So, it's a toss-up as to which is more distracting. Ultimately, I had to go with the captioning. That said, the movie is not so bad as to be otherwise hard to watch. In fact, it has a kind of hypnotic sentimentalism that is usually comforting in a movie that is "based on a true story." The problem is, this movie doesn't claim to be "based on a true story," so what I normally tend to forgive in movies like "Music of the Heart" for example, I don't feel so inclined to forgive here. The boy playing Billy is not a great actor yet, but he has a winning smile, and he's a very good dancer for his age. He is most convincing, in fact, playing out the evolution from his character's clumsy first efforts to his accomplished riffs later on. The rest of the cast, including Oscar nominated Julie Walters ranges from aweful to adequate, with the sole exception of the actor who played Billy's friend. (Sorry, I didn't catch his name.) Also, the last moment of the movie, a single leap from the stunning all-male stage production of Swan Lake (a work of art that we SORELY need on DVD) provides the movie's one moment of glory. Still, it's not really enough to recommend the movie. Rent it if you must.
Rating:
Summary: Discard your expectations - and enjoy it anyway
Review: You have to ask yourself how lucky Stephen Daldry was to find this particular young gentleman, Jamie Bell, to play the lead role of "Billy Elliot." I can't think of another youthful actor ( much less a dancer ) who could have been so successful in carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Julie Walters does an excellent job as crusty teacher. Some of the best scenes in the film are the moments when student and teacher start in on the verbal battles that can leave you laughing and crying at the same time - a wonderful change from the calm, caring, though eccentric teachers of American film. The soundtrack of the film is very well done, as is the choreography for the dance sequences. The father, brother and ( especially ) the slightly loony grandmother are wonderful characters, as are Billy's best friend Michael, and the teacher's young daughter. Regardless of the media hype ( which actually does Billy Elliot a disservice with it's use of chliched exclimations ), Billy Elliot does have flaws, some of them glaring and very nearly unforgivable. The script often tends toward the normal, the expected, and even the trite. The background of the coal miner's strike is appropriate, but director Stephen Daldry doesn't always make it clear why he dwells on it for quite so long. DVD specific ( I assume ) there are some problems with sound - often the music covers voice, and the volume between scenes is so radical that it's wise to keep your remote in your hand so that you can alternately hear what's being said and avoid bursting your ear-drums. For all of the above, "Billy Elliot" finds "Moments of Grace" frequently, where you may burst out laughing, or wipe a quick tear from your eye. They are quick, they are short, they are instant, and they are brilliant - and they ARE worth it - every penny and ever moment and every flaw ... most of them thanks to Jamie Bell ( watch out for his smile - it only happens a few times in the movie, but it's a killer, folks. ) Conclusion: Ignore the media. Ignore the hype. Discard your expectations. Get "Billy Elliot" and take it for what it's worth - in my opinion - a wonderful, sweet film, filled with moments of glory that are well worth your time and effort and appreciation.
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