Newsies

Rating:
Summary: This One I Keep Forever!!!
Review: "Newsies" is the best musical I have seen in almost 4 decades. It is fun, upbeat, sobering, and rebellious. Based on actual events at the end of the 19th century, it depicts the first strike of the "newsies," children, mostly boys, exploited by the wealthiest newspaper corporations in the U.S (owned by Pulitzer, Hearst, etc.) to sell their newspapers. While Pulitzer was one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the country, the newsies were impoverished children, many homeless, orphans, handicapped or trying to help their families survive by eeking out a living. They had to pay for the papers they sold, and often lost money if they couldn't sell all their papers. Pulitzer, in an effort to increase profits, raised the amount charged to the newsies for their papers, provoking an entirely child-run strike that rapidly spread across New York City, and became a major catalyst for a movement to end child labor.

The story is fast-paced, appealing, and inspirational. The music is written by Alan Menken, and is very infectious. (Everyone in our household has been caught singing a tune from it at some point.) The sets, artwork and choreography are all stunning, and there is not one dull spot in the entire production.

This movie is great for all ages - children and adults. It depicts an important piece of history that is rarely taught in schools, and is more important in many ways than what we are taught. It is a wonderful tribute to the intelligence and ingenuity of children, and a reminder that if powerless people act together, they can overcome even the most powerful oppressors.

Rating:
Summary: In a class by itself
Review: This is our family's favorite musical. The song lyrics give a message of empowerment: "Open the gates and seize the day. Don't be afraid and don't delay. Nothing can break us. Noone can make us give our rights away." Not only is this an excellent piece of historical fiction, it's alot fun to watch. The dancing is crisp, the songs are right on target, and the young actors are wonderful. The critics are all wrong on this one. I think we should be showing it to kids in history classes and civics courses across the country. This movie has a message that everyone needs to hear: we can all make a difference when we stand united and believe in what's right.

Rating:
Summary: Disney FINALLY did something right!
Review: This is a fun musical! Why it was pulled from the theaters so soon after its original release and why Disney back-burnered this visually exciting live-action film is a mystery to me. But they've made their amends. This DVD has TWO featurettes about the making of Newsies and ANOTHER about the real turn-of-the-century newsboy's strike that the movie is based on. Also, it has director's commentary and sing-along lyrics. Some of the plot turns are predictable and Robert Duval's performance as publisher Joseph Pulitzer is a tad embarrassing. Ann-Margaret's as the dancehall performer, Medda, "the Swedish meadowlark" is not (though she inexplicably evaporates from the movie half way through). But the young cast is diverse and energetic. Dance sequences are tightly edited, but not in the annoying and disorienting way MTV videos are. You can appreciate the flow of the movements...and the dances and music in general support the story line and help define the different characters. If for no other reason, Newsies is worth the purchase price just for the opportunity to see Welsh actor Christian Bale (An American Psycho) sing, dance, and speak in a Bowery boy accent.

Rating:
Summary: I'm the King of New York!
Review: OK guys!, i havent seen the DVD version, but ever since i saw this movie premier back in 1992, it has been my favorite movie to date! The music is great, the plot is direct and the boys (esp. Christian Bale) are oh-so sexy! You simply cant go wrong. Not only that, but this is factual! It teaches you about the actual newsie strike back in the day... minus the singing and dancing.
Its a must see....OWN, its a must OWN!

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!!
Review: I have been watching Newsies for as long as I can remember. Ever since i was little I knew all the songs. And now that I'm older I realized how cute the boys are. I even got all my friends into the movie. It's my favorite movie.. And if you haven't seen it, you should because it truly is the best movie I've ever seen!!!

Rating:
Summary: MY LAWDIE
Review: last year i was in band and we weren't doing anything and this guy put on newsies, and i fell in love with it, it was on the world will know, and i loved these cute boys dancing and singing and i said "WHAT MOVIE IS THIS?!" and he said "newsies" and so in the back of my mind for a while i knew i had to see the whole movie. and so i recently ordered it on dvd. its the best movie EVER. the story is so powerful and awesome, and the songs ALL OF THEM are awesome, the boys are so cute and have the best voices ever. christian bale [jack kelly], david moscow [dave], and gabriel damon [spot from brooklyn] are the cutest. AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME MOVIE.

Rating:
Summary: "Newsies sell papes" and Disney Makes a Classic!
Review: My best friend had me sit down and watch this movie with her, and once I sat down, I couldn't take my eyes off of the TV. I taped a cut version of the movie, but after I bought the DVD and saw the whole thing, it was like an entirely different movie. "Newsies" has everything that the best movies have: action, comedy, suspense, tragedy, and of course, the best songs and dances ever!
"Newsies" is set in New York City in 1899 and the young Newsies (a slang term for newsboys) wake up at dawn to go sell their papes (papers). But when Pulitzer, their employer, raise the Newsies' selling price to a price the boys can't afford, the Newsies decide to go on strike, led by Jack Kelly. With the help of Denton, a newspaper reporter, the greatest movement made by kids in history is underway. But no one said that this would be easy. When Cruthcy, a local Newsie, is arrested and Jack learns that only Denton's paper is printing strike news, the boys decide to hold a rally. Unfortunately, Jack is arrested and sent back to the Refuge (a jail for kids). But old man Pulitzer has a deal for Jack. So, the next day, who should appear selling papers for Pulitzer, but Jack Kelly, the sell out. And to make matters worse, Denton has been reassigned. So, join Jack, David, Racetrack, Kid Blink, Crutchy, Mush, and the rest of the gang for what is sure to be the best family movie you'll ever see: "Newsies."

Rating:
Summary: Dont dismiss as a 'hotguy' movie
Review: I saw this movie as a kid- now at 23 its still my favorite movie. And its not my favorite because of the 'hot guy' cast- which someone said. I think it holds up because of the characters. The actors were sucessful in bringing interesting characters to life and these characters have inspired many pages of fan fiction for the last 10 years. The songs, sets, dances, story, directing work together to create the perfect package.

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I absolutely love this movie, not only is the cast great, the music wonderful, but the story is moving and incredibly interesting. I would recommend this for anyone who just wants to see a good movie!

Rating:
Summary: Extra! Extra! Newsies gets a DVD release!
Review: After the successes of THE LITTLE MERMAID and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, The Disney Organization and Composer Alan Menken re-teamed to bring the live-action musical back to the forefront. The result was this very ambitious, but very muddy musical.

The story follows a turn-of-the-last-century group of newsboys who take on the newspaper bigwigs with a strike. Their leader is a streetwise orphan, nicknamed COWBOY with his ights supposedly set on Santa Fe, New Mexico. Along the way friendships and ethics are challenged punctuated by a load of dancing.
A couple of the songs are rather catchy and clever while others are tepid and tiresome. First time director, KENNY ORTEGA, does an interesting job creating an all-male dance movie. And some of his work with the children is very good.

Some of the boys are excellent. Christian Bale, masks his british accent with an awkward accent, but carries enough charisma to overload into another movie. Two of the young supporting performers, MAX CASELLA as Racetrack and MARTY BALAFSKY as Crutchy practically steal the film. The adults do not fare as well. Ann-Margret appears in one of the most useless roles in modern memory and ROBERT DUVALL chews up the scenery in his uber-charicature of Newpaper Maven, Joseph Pulitzer.

Based on a true story, NEWSIES is conceptually interesting but is bogged down by too many boring characters and sub-plots. Still, I give the film 4 stars because the film succeeded in establishing a huge following and brought a lot of youthful interest in musical theatre.

The DVD has a nice audio/video transfer. It also includes a running directors commentary, several press junket type documentaries and a slightly more interesting report on the actual newboy strike.