Dirty Dancing

Rating:
Summary: hungry eyes
Review: Ok. I just watched Dirty Dancing for the first time in a decade, at the very least, after buying it on DVD. As an older and far more seasoned, horizons-broadened moviewatcher, I just have to say: I was SO not disappointed. It was all I remembered--and let me tell you, I remembered it in almost embarrassingly excruciating detail--and even a bit more.

As some reviewers have astutely (and maybe a little jadedly?) pointed out, there are quite a few elements of this story that are predictable--and yes, even cliched--now. But I think that an important point is that, if you see this movie at the age that you really SHOULD--between 12 and 15, let's say, whether that was in 1987 or right now--they are far less predictable and most likely not at all cliched. Rebellion, passion, love, and sex should be relatively new to the first-time viewer. And if they are, this movie hits like a bomb. Hell, it's a revelation.

Now, that being said, I got things out of this most recent viewing--at a salty old age 27--that I never did at 12 to 15. For one thing, the importance of the era in which the film takes place had little or no relevance for me at the time. Class conflict, as such, was pretty foreign, and while I recognized it in a naive way back then, it has more relevance now. The number of levels on which this movie is a coming-of-age story--feminism, the freedom riders, the sexual revolution, the Camelot years when they had yet to come to an end, the idealism that usually can't help but get squashed down a bit by what adults superciliously referred to as the "real world"--these concepts were fuzzy or nonexistent for me the first time I was introduced to the former hotness known as Patrick Swayze.

And speaking of which--I think this movie has one of THE best sex scenes in history--for girls and women, that is. For the average guy, there may be a bit too little...substance. But this movie is, in my opinion, sexy in a way that is innocent and knowing at the same time. It was tantalizing then and almost tender now. An added perk.

So, in short--go buy this, Baby. You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Romantic Musical Gets Top Drawer DVD Treatment
Review: In the summer of 1963 we meet Francis Houseman (Jennifer Grey), a shy, bookish, virginal, idealistic young woman, and the apple of her doctor daddy's eye. She's the sort of girl, even in her late teens, everyone still calls "Baby" and it doesn't bother her. Baby travels with her family to a spendy resort hotel in the Catskills for three weeks vacation that, though she knows it not, will change her life forever. There she meets dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). It's a classic mismatch. He's a tough, talented kid from Phillie who's led a hardscrabble life. She's, well, Baby.

It's immense attraction at first sight, for her at least. He by contrast thinks she must be a typical worthless rich girl. Johnny and his fellow instructor/ex-girlfriend/surrogate sister Penny spend their days teaching sedate, boring dances to sedate, boring people, and in the nights blow it off at parties in the staff quarters with loud, hard driving music and the sort of sinuous, close, steamy, erotic, go for broke dancing they're really capable of. The staff quarters and parties are, of course, strictly off limits to guests - until Baby wanders in one starcrossed night.

Through circumstances quite believable, Baby winds up having to sub for Penny at one of her and Johnny's gigs. This is important, no one else can do it, innocent people will truly suffer if Baby doesn't save the day, and with a heart as big as all outdoors she can't let that happen. Besides, it means she gets to spend time with Johnny. Problem: she's naturally awkward - or so she thinks - and doesn't know how to dance at all. In the best scenes in the film, Johnny has to teach her to dance, and these two very different people, from two different worlds, begin to fall in love.

This is a wonderful love story, a comedy, a drama, and a musical, all rolled into one. The dance numbers are a metaphor for Baby's coming of age, her awakening sexuality, as a good girl turns into a good woman. All Baby and Johnny's dancing is done by the actors, there are no doubles. Patrick Swayze was already an experienced professional dancer, appearing among other things as Danny in Grease on Broadway. Jennifer, though she'd taken dance classes as a child, had never performed before anyone except the other kids in dance class years before - until Dirty Dancing required her to do it in front of 100 cast and crew and 350 extras.

The DVD looks great, the quality of audio and visual transfer high, the soundtrack crisp and clear, the colors vibrant. This is all-important in a movie relying so much for its success on color and movement and a great soundtrack. Speaking of which, Dirty Dancing has the soundtrack from Hell. 14 preexisting old songs were used in the film, and another seven, maintaining the early 60s sound extraordinarily well, were written especially for it. The soundtrack sold one million copies in its first five weeks of release, rocketing to Billboard's number one slot above Michael Jackson's Thriller. Eventually two soundtracks were released, selling over 20 million units combined, and becoming the first time in history two soundtracks from the same movie both cracked the Top Ten.

Dirty Dancing was made on a shoestring budget of 5.2 million, which would just about pay for the catering on "bigger" films not possessing one hundredth of its gentle sentimentality, style and energy. It grossed 170 million dollars worldwide. Just goes to prove you don't need a huge budget when a movie has a great script and direction, excellent choreography, talented and enthusiastic performers, and that quality difficult to define but impossible to mistake or ignore: heart.

Rating:
Summary: Ugh. Yuk. At least Jennifer still has her nose.
Review: Oh Lord. Out on DVD, so I have to watch this AGAIN? Please, give me strength, and my girlfriend taste. Soon.

Rating:
Summary: You'll have the time of your life watching this
Review: This has to be one of the best movies EVER! I don't give a damn what anyone thinks. It's a terrific movie, and the ultimate edition has a s*** load of extras! And if you haven't seen this movie, why not? It's a classic, you HAVE to see it.

Everyone knows the story, so I'm not going to go into that here, but the main bit I love throughout the movie, is the fact that Baby seems to almost grow and change the more she falls in love. Plus, Jennifer Grey & Patrick Swayze have some great chemistry together, which they would have to, considering they're together in nearly every scene in the movie.

Jennifer Grey is also 27, playing a 17-year-old in this movie. Which she does pretty well, but I never thought she'd be that old! (She's also appeared in a Friends episode, playing Mindy, for all you Friends fans out there - and she's definitely surgery to try and keep her youthful good looks)

As I've already mentioned there is a lot of pretty decent extras in this, and also some easter eggs - which I surprisingly enough, managed to find, but that's cos they're pretty obvious, when you're moving around, they highlight! So easier than a lot of easter eggs out there! Included in these extras are: commentary by writer/co-producer Eleanor Bergstein; commentary by Kenny Ortega (choreographer), Miranda Garrison (assistant choreographer and actress Vivian Pressman in the film), Jeff Jur (director of photography), Hilary Rosenfeld (costume designer), and David Chapman (production designer); theatrical trailer(s); trivia track; Jennifer Grey DVD introduction; Jennifer Grey's screen test (so funny!); interviews with Jennifer Grey, Eleanor Bergstein, Kenny Ortega, and Miranda Garrison (overly long and boring); Emile Ardolino tribute; Dirty Dancing Live in Concert (this is an hour & a half long, so get comfortable! It's really good, but I wasn't expecting it to be that long!); music videos: Hungry Eyes, She's Like the Wind, (I've Had) The Time of My Life; exclusive sneak peek of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights and collectible packaging (which is pretty much annoying, until you figure out how to get into it!)

My favourites out of the extras have to be the concert, and the music videos. And out of the music videos, my favourite is definitely the She's Like The Wind video. It is one of the most subtle, but romantic songs ever. And Patrick Swayze's voice totally suits the song. The video is stunning in black and white.

I'm not sure what to think of the sequel to this - Havana Nights. I'll have to wait 'til it comes out, might see it, but the original is such a classic.

The ultimate edition is definitely worth paying a wee bit more for. There's also an ultimate edition of the soundtrack out too - both of the soundtracks on one CD. So I have that my eye on that. But if you love these kind of films, and have some taste, add this to your collection. Now.

Rating:
Summary: Dirty dancing review
Review: "This movie is one of the great ones it has everything you need and want in a movie and more." "I gave this movie 5 stars because it is one of those movies you can just sit with a blanket, snack, and someone to snuggle with and watch it over and over again."

Rating:
Summary: coming of age story
Review: This is a coming of age story of naive Baby who comes with her family to a wealthy resort and falls in love with Johnny, the popular dance teacher. This is the summer that Baby grows up and falls in love. I really liked it, the "dirty dancing" wasn't that dirty, and it was pretty clean for the most part.

There were only a few instances where I can think that it was suggestive, otherwise it isn't too bad. There is also a gross scene where someone had a botched abortion and is suffering from the pain. Nothing gory but a young woman called Penny goes to get an abortion and its a botched one. She's seen laying on the bed groaning from the pain and some of the sheets are bloody, thankfully Baby gets her dad who's a doctor and he takes care of Penny and yes she lives.

Its disturbing, don't let young kids or young teens watch this movie. I don't get why they wanted to put this scene in unless its to show viewers the dangers of abortion. Johnny and Baby teach each other about life and love. I'm not sure if I liked this movie, I'm turned off by the abortion scene. I mean ugh, its so sad. The movie has a good plot and the whole cast did a wonderful job. There are lots of features in this movie so if you're a huge fan of the movie then I'd suggest that you get this dvd.

Rating:
Summary: Get the DVD or VHS!
Review: Dirty Dancing is about a girl named Baby Houseman( played by Jennifer grey ) who whent on a vaction with her family and finds the love of her life there. His name is Johnny Castle (played by HOTT patrick swayze), he was one of the many entertanment staff/ Dance instukter. Johonnys dance partener had to get and opperation because she got 'nocked up'. the only night she can get it was on the night of her compation with Johnny , so baby voilinters to learn the dance steps for her and do the dance. through out the whole time johnny was teaching her they started to fall in love, and johnny became 'baby's guy'. baby was ashamed to tell her father because he was a very complakated man but johnny didn't understaind that.johnny gets fired from his job for being with one of his students (baby). at the end johnny came back to do 'the final dance' for the talent show, and jake(babys father) understands that they love each-other.

I really liked the movie, but i disagree with one of the sence when johnnys says "no body puts baby in a corner", i think he should have said "no body puys MY baby in a corner"! after seeing this movie i became depressed, remembering that i'm alown but is a very good love story!

yours truly Sarah

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie
Review: This is one of my all time favorite movies. I could watch this movie over and over without getting tired of watching it. I highly recommend this movie to everyone.The Ultimate Edition is the best DVD to get and well worth it.

Rating:
Summary: I'm glad i finally watched this one!
Review: A film by Emile Ardolino

This is perhaps the one movie that I never expected to ever watch. Nothing that I had heard about it made it sound like something I would have any interest in whatsoever. I had even less of an expectation that should I actually see the movie that I would actually like it. When I finally started watching "Dirty Dancing", it was to my great surprise when I found that I was enjoying the movie. Simply put: this is a good movie.

It is the summer of 1963. President Kennedy was still alive and there was still an attitude of innocence in America, at least this is what is presented to us in the film. Baby (Jennifer Grey) is on vacation for three weeks with her sister and parents (Jerry Orbach, Kelly Bishop) to a resort in the Catskill Mountains. Baby is naïve about the world and about how she relates to the world. At the resort she meets Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), a kind of bad boy who works with the entertainment crew at the resort. He is one of the lead dancers at the resort. They meet and Johnny is not initially impressed with Baby (nor is anyone in the entertainment crew), but when Johnny's dance partner needs to get an abortion, Johnny needs a new dance partner so that he can perform and keep his job. The new dance partner: Baby. From this springs good dancing (both in the lessons as well in the performance) and a budding relationship between Johnny and Baby.

While I had thought the idea for this movie was a little cheesy, it was perfectly executed. Good dancing, good music, good acting, good chemistry between Grey and Swayze, and a nice love story. This movie far exceeded my expectations, and I am glad that I finally watched it (with thanks to my fiancé for telling me to watch it). It is a good movie and it still holds up fifteen years after it was first released.

Rating:
Summary: one of the great films ever!
Review: well i first saw this film about 7 years ago & i have'nt been able to stop watching it since! it has such a great story line & the soundtrack will get you dancing around your liveing room! its a shame they dont make films like this anymore! i think this film is a MUST see, to every 1. awwwww how i wish i could go 2 a holiday camp & meet a bloke like that! welll take it from me i do no best this film is great! trust me im english! LOL