Rating: 
Summary: Such A Delight
Review: Never a particular Gilbert & Sullivan fan, I only rented this because I had heard some good things. Well,I was captivated--not only by the uniformly excellent performances, the wonderful sets and costuming but also the music and lyrics. The picture of the "time" was absorbing and both humourous and sobering. The legacy of these creative artists is well conveyed. If you love theatre this is a must see. Never thought I'd buy this,but you can bet I well. See it.
Rating:
Summary: "All is right as right can be" - Gilbert and Sullivan
Review: I've been a fan of Gilbert and Sullivan for quite some time, and from the point of view of someone who has just about every recording of their operas made since the 1920s, this movie is, to quote their 1893 opera Utopia Limited, "a wonderful joy our eyes to bless."The performances are very good, especially Jim Broadbent's masterful portrayal of W. S. Gilbert. Broadbent doesn't just play Gilbert, he *becomes* Gilbert, with all the mannerisms and quirks (to say the least!) involved in such a complex personality. The music is, of course, fantastic. How could anyone not like it? :) It's sprinkled throughout the movie, a common thread binding the film together. All of this goes into a fascinating and accurate portrayal of the events leading up to The Mikado. The arguments, the Lozenge Plot ("in this instance, it is a magic potion"), the last minute changes, Gilbert's inspiration, it's all covered in marvelous detail that never becomes boring. The film takes great care to be historically accurate, down to duplicating the sets and costumes used in the early D'Oyly Carte productions. The movie shows Victorian London in all its glory and all its flaws. If you want realism, this is it. If you like Gilbert and Sullivan, this movie is a must! And even if not, it's still a great movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Booooring
Review: I have performed in The Mikado twice and I can't figure out what is so great about this film. I kept torturing mystelf through it waiting for the good part and it never came. Even the performances in the film were uninteresting. I thought I was a fan of Gilbert & Sullivan, but I guess I'm not!
Rating:
Summary: Only one complaint -- it's too short
Review: I've only one major complaint about Mike Leigh's 'Topsy Turvy'. At a bit under three hours in length, it's too short -- we don't want it to end! This is one of the best musical biographies extant -- its leisurely development lets you see into the life of the early performers of the Savoy Operas, and in the end, the film is as much about them as it is about Gilbert or Sullivan. We care for these characters, for their ambitions, for their insecurities and weaknesses. Under the perfect frivolity of the music lies frailty and anguish, and that's the strength of this film. The only weak link in the casting is in the role of George Grossmith, who lacks what must have been that character's extraordinary charisma, wit and charm. Grossmith's modern successors, notably John Reed and Dennis Olsen, are actor/singers who could claim the entire stage -- a stronger actor in this role would have claimed the entire film. But that's a minor quibble about a film so true to its subjects, so imbued with love for its characters.
Rating:
Summary: VERY good if you're a Gilbert and Sullivan fan
Review: I watched this DVD with several other Gilbert and Sullivan enthusiasts and the unanimous verdict was very, VERY good - if a bit heavy going at times. The attention to historical detail and the rather dull conversations mean that one has to pay attention ALL the time, unlike action movies such as the Die Hard series where you just check your brain in at the door and sit back and enjoy! The movie takes us back in time to Victorian England of the 1880s and details the problems between Gilbert and Sullivan and the way in which they were eventually led to compose The Mikado. What I found fascinating was the way Victorian England came so vividly to life. It was like stepping back in time. Some refer to that period as "The good old Days" but watching Gilbert have a tooth extracted without any anaesthetic made me glad I live in today's world! The performances by Alan Corduner (Sullivan) and Jim Broadbent (Gilbert) were superb - as were the other performers. The scenes that were shown from The Mikado and some of their other operas were brilliant. The costumes and scenary were outstanding - unlike those in the three G & S operas from the Stratford Festival in Ontario which are also available from Amazon. Give those a miss and get this one if you want to see what Gilbert and Sullivan should really be like. One small point where I was a bit disappointed was that the picture quality lacked sharpness. I had just shown excerpts from the James Bond movie, The World Is Not Enough and Mozart's Requiem to my visitors, and when Topsy Turvy started the difference was unfortunately very noticeable. If you like Gilbert and Sullivan, then this movie is well worth owning, but if you're not a G & S enthusiast it might be best to just go and rent it.
Rating:
Summary: I know everyone will hate me-but this is boring
Review: Man, I really couldn't stand this movie. Three hour movies are fine, but they have to maintain some interest. If you like Gilbert and Sullivan, then I recommend going to see something they wrote. The musical portions of the movie were the only parts that were interesting-their lives were not exciting enough to make a movie about. I would much rather see a 1 hour documentary about them on TV than this. I know this review will not make me popular, but I just really did not like it.
Rating:
Summary: A Glorious and Rare experience
Review: For an old lady who grew up on Gilbert and Sullivan, this film is just a trip to the moon on gossamar wings! A film that just shines - full of humor, irony, wit, and glorious music. Corduner was marvelous as the ecentric Sullivan but in my book, Jim Broadbent stole the show in the more subtle presentation of the complex Gilbert. He deserved the Oscar. But just as amazing, I've never seen any film in which ALL the supporting players were so perfect, so strong.Bravo to the casting director - not one slip. I've seen TT in the theatre, saw it on a video screener, and DVD - DVD is the way to go. Some of the dialogue was lost on screen and VCR - but on DVD - every word was clear. This is a great film - I just wish young people would try it to discover the great Gilbert and Sullivan.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Film! One of the Best Films of 1999!
Review: Topsy Turvy is a marvellous film that is like no other period piece ever made. Elegant, funny and full of GREAT music, Mike Leigh's superb film focuses on the relationship between Gilbert & Sullivan, thier parting of ways over creative differences and thier eventual re-teaming to create The Mikado, thier most beloved work. Leigh and his brilliant company of actors examine every facet of producing a stage show in what has to be the most detailed "backstage" drama ever made. But the film is more than just about The Mikado, its about the creative process, the joys and hard work involved in such endeavors, and it's also a look at a time when the British Empire "peaked" and the sun finally began to set on it. This is a real treat from Mike Leigh who normally makes films about contemporary Britain. Yet, in a way, its of a piece with his other works. See this lovely film!
Rating:
Summary: Better than Amadeus
Review: Topsy-Turvy is a foreign film in a foreign language: English. This movie is not about pretty costumes nor is it an in-depth biography. It is no less than a three-hour homage to WORDS. Whether spoken or sung, every utterance in this movie is a beautiful conglomeration of wordage. An illustration of the way words are said, breathed, sighed, screamed and abused IS the point of this extremely well-crafted film. This movie will inspire you to either write a letter or lower the bass on your stereo and actually LISTEN to the lyrics. The musical numbers are well recorded and do justice to their purpose as a showcase of the heights at which lanuage can reach--if even for mostly comic effect(try rhyming your next knock-knock joke!) Also, the diretor shows a great eye for editing during the staged scenes. With a respect for the form he is presenting, most of the shots are wide, relatively static and paced to the right beat. And the close-ups are few but helpful. For those that do not find the backstage interesting, just turn on the sub-titles and revel in HOW, not why, they speak. A snapshot of another era--isn't this what movies can do best?
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful production...
Review: I also particularly like Mike Leigh's films and have gone out of my way to see as many as I could, even the early ones staged for BBC tv. This is a different kind of production for Leigh, even so, I enjoyed it. It's as colorful as a Merchant-Ivory production and filled with plenty of good G&S music.
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