Rating: 
Summary: Great characterizations...
Review: Topsy-Turvy is good movie watching, particularly if you enjoy theatre. The characterizations of Gilbert and Sullivan are particularly rich and well-acted. I was reminded of "Shakespeare in Love" as I watched this movie -- as both movies show the creation of art and a theatre production intertwined with events and people in the process of the making. But in this comparsion with SIL, Topsy-Turvy is not quite as interestingly intertwined. This is mostly a credit to SIL which, if you've seen it, was extraordinarily well-done in this regard. The acting here is absolutely first-rate, and the story interesting. Good movie watching!
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Summary: Fabulous!!! (where was I for a century and some?)
Review: OK, I must admit that I've never heard of G&S before. I probably heard the music but didn't pay any attention, who knows. The important thing is, I'm absolutely stunned! I've watched the movie 10 times already, I bought two different productions of The Mikado on CD's (both by D'Oyly Carte) already. I can't have enough of listening in my car. BUT, when I get home, all I want to do is watch the movie again and again. They have The Mikado performance in New York right now, but it's that *strange* "black and white" 20's version which I'm not so sure about. Anyway, everything I am right now (who knows for how long though) is thanks to this beautiful, mesmerizing film. If you REALLY like music (not necessarily an opera), buy it, rent it, get it any way you can and ENJOY!!! It may change your life FOREVER (or for a short while, but that's pretty good anyway)! PS For the Opera politicians ready to flame me: My favorite opera is Evgeny (not Eugene please) Onegin (in Russian of course, it's Pushkin for Christ sake, how can you translate it). And, I can't wait for the premier of War and Peace by Konchalovsky at the MET I am Russian and I wouldn't take anything less than a real English opera being sung in REAL English and real Russian opera being sung in REAL Russian. Italian - who cares, nobody REALLY speaks the language anyway... Oh, Lakme is probably another my all times favorite. Funny, I've never seen La Boheme...
Rating:
Summary: My Two Cents Worth!
Review: Topsy-Turvy is an enjoyable film that is about Gilbert & Sullivan's reconciliation and how The Mikado (many consider their greatest work) resulted. The movie is glorious in terms of cinematography, music & very clever script. I really like the "English Wit" that prevailed during the Victorian Age, and Topsy-Turvy is chock full of it. The dialog is so prim and proper, which makes for some really funny moments . This film will appeal to many, but one must have gained some appreciation for the type of music these gentlemen produced, otherwise forget it! Being open-minded will add to the enjoyment of this very classy film. I wish more films like Topsy-Turvy were made, we need more culture and less violence out of Hollywood. I defend the merits of this movie and can recommend it without any reservation. BUY IT!!
Rating: 
Summary: BLEK! GIVE ME MERCHANT AND IVORY PUUUUHHHLEASE!
Review: Topsy Turvy is overrated, boring, the characters are self centered, superficial idiots. The cinematography and the filming is top quality, other than that this movie was a bust. Why this movie got rave reviews, and oscar nods is beyond my comprehension.....This is no Moulin Rouge, or Howards End, or even Remains of the Day.
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Summary: Best approached as a documentary
Review: Many reviews here categorize the film as "boring", and I can understand that anyone coming to Topsy-Turvy expecting a conventional plot might find it so. The film is really a series of vignettes, each a little gem, but only loosely tied together by the story of the development of The Mikado. As the director states in the featurette, what's fascinating is the labour that went into the production of something so essentially trivial. Thus we get a very long scene of the rehearsal of a bit of dialogue -- a scene that advances the "plot" not one bit, but gives us insight into the actor's art and also into Gilbert's approach to the craft of directing. We see the rehearsal of the orchestra, the costume fitting, the contract negotiations, and many other aspects of the production, all presented with great attention to detail, and wonderfully acted. If you don't enjoy documentaries and really need a plot to keep up your interest, by all means stay away from this film. For myself, I love it. It's also on a marvellous DVD that does full justice to the gorgeous sets and costumes. Even the menu is great fun, with a Japanese fan sweeping across as we move from one screen to the next.
Rating:
Summary: Ha.
Review: Anyone who knows anything about G&S will die a slow groaning death at this ridiculously fabricated and inaccurate portrait of their collaborative process. It presents us with, among so many other things, a librettist that insists there is no class-consciousness in his writing, in so many words. Does Mike Leigh think we're idiots?
Rating:
Summary: Superlative!
Review: I admit I had NO USE for Gilbert & Sullivan's work until I rented "Topsy-Turvy". Then, I had to have the DVD! This movie has so many excellent performances, so much enchanting music, and such a great story that I became a "believer". I honestly cannot say that one major character outshines another because the film is so rich in first-rate acting. There may be a few folks out there who won't be "converted" by seeing this film, but I'll bet there are more who are. After you see it, you be surfing the internet for EVERYTHING G&S!
Rating:
Summary: Openned Up Their Music to Me
Review: This is a sophisticated film that blows a rasberry in the face of quick paced, predictable Hollywood "Blockbusters." Hence, it is not for everyone. The focus is on character, period, costume, and music more than compelling narrative. One interesting angle to the film is its study of the very different characters of these two men. Before the film, I was only vaguely aware of the work of Gilbert and Sullivan. Now I am a big fan. The DVD version includes lots of interesting "backstory" about G. & S. and the making of the film.
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Summary: Am I the only one who disliked this movie?
Review: I appreciate British period films. But when after my mom and I saw this movie, we left the theatre feeling as if we'd been abused. We felt like 4 hours of our lives had been wrongfully stolen from us. Topsy Turvey is mundane and self-absorbed. It is arrogantly unentertaining. It *drones*. It somehow makes the production of "The Mercado" seem like the dullest event ever. I went in with the hopes that it would be a comedic salute to music of a bygone era. I expected it to be a refined "Spinal Tap", if you will. I think, at BEST, it was an insulting attempt at a musical documentary. Then it won 4 Oscar's. My mom and I figure that no one really *saw* the movie, but they wanted to associate themselves with it because it was long and British. If you want to see a good theme or period movie, see "A Room with a View". See "The Age of Innocents". See "Amadeus". Hell, see "Spinal Tap". There's more enjoyment in 1 minute of that movie than there is in 4 hours of "Topsy Turvey". Trust me. I sat through the WHOLE THING.
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Summary: The Topsy Turvy DVD is what DVDs are all about...
Review: "Topsy Turvy" is a fine film--make no mistake about it. It's fun, well-filmed, filled with good comedy and great costumes and acting. And, of course, the music is delightful. But the experience is greatly enhanced by the DVD 'extras': the trailer, the TV ads, and the featurette. I watched those segments after I saw the film itself, and many of Mike Leigh's intentions became even more clear. This DVD is a good package. I recommend it.
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