Hair

Rating:
Summary: Great film and hair!
Review: I just saw the movie. It's about a man named Claude Bukowski and a man named George Berger and his friends meet him. They get along with each other and Claude says he's going to fight in a war. This makes George and his friends unhappy. They find a way to get Claude to go to the place where he is. Berger cuts his hair and goes in the army .... It's a bit sad, but it's a great film.

Rating:
Summary: Hair: Revisiting the Age of Aquarius...
Review: Ever since it opened off-Broadway in 1967, the Tribal Love Rock Musical "Hair" has been spreading it's message of love, harmony, understanding, and mystisism everywhere. It's catchy and well written music brought musical theatre into the new decades. Still, today, there continues to be a following throughout the world for this musical.

This film was directed by Milos Formann, who is famous for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and "Amadeus." This film was made in 1979, a decade after the musical's debut. The music was influenced greatly by the 1970's pop funk and disco entanglements. (The original musical was a more rock-based sound, which unfortunatly is not captured in this film's revival of the score.) Starring here, is Treat Williams as Berger, John Savage as Claude, and even Nell Carter, who is in the ensemble.

Every time I watch this, I have to cringe at the plot structure of this film. It leaves behind the organized chaos of the original musical, and turns it into something that they thought would be "exceptable" to the movie-going audience. Indeed, the cast getting undressing completly, and showing drug-induced hallucinations, are barely filmable, but the script of this is ridiculous at best. We turn Claude into an Oklahoma enlistee, and Berger into a hippee, who gets sent off to war in his plce. Sheila is no longer a protestor but a rich school girl. What many people have found strange about this film is that the script incorperates touches from the musical, that make no sense on film. As a reason to put nudity into this film, the writers added a skinny dipping scene. An in place f the drug-hallucinations, Claude has a bizarre envisionment of he and Sheila getting married, in a confusing and irevalent dance sequence. (When you see the movie, you will see what I mean.)

The portrayals are excellent, however. John Savage is an interesting Claude, but his singing throughout the film was a bit confused. Treat Williams is literally, a treat (sorry for the pun), when it comes to his amazing voice during the songs "Donna" and his solos in "Let the Sunshine In." His acting was just as good, but one admits to wishing that he had better material to work with. Beverly D'Angelo is a sweet Sheila, and her rendition of "Good Morning Starshine" is very cute. I would have liked to see her perform the part, as it was written in the musical. She would have had a much better chance of getting noticed as a wonderful actress.

The music is, of coarse, excellent. The score is still unmatch when it comes to rock-musicals. The lyrics echo the spirit of the time period, and the music mirrors the rebelious personality of the people of the era. The only qualm I have is that this movie makes Hair seem a bit outdated. The entire score has been redone to fit a disco-flavour mood, that does not capture the poignancy of the original.

Overall, this is a film to be watch on moderation. Watch it on a Friday afternoon before leaving to a night out. It isn't the type of thing you will want to see over and over, but it leaves an impression on you. Most people will enjoy it as a film - not as a valid representation of the musical. I hope that you watch it in that light. Otherwise, you will find yourself a bit disapointed at the end.

Rating:
Summary: Hair.....sorta
Review: The movie version of Hair beautifully captures the hippy counterculture. However, be forewarned: for all of you who have seen and loved the stage version of Hair (like myself), do NOT expect this movie to be like it. Basically, its a movie with the songs and character names from the stage musical. Berger, Jeannie, Woof, Hud are unaltered from the stage show, but Sheila and Claude, however...well you'll see. Oh, and they cut out a few of the songs. And the plot is nothing like the original. Anyway, besides all that, if you view it not as a faithful adaptation, but seperately of its own merits, I don't think you'll be disappointed. The movie itself still manages to be effective not only as a celebration of peace and love, but as a moving comment on war. The ending in the movie was in some ways more powerful than the original, and certainly more frustrating. All in all though, a good flick.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome hippie musical/movie
Review: I missed the 60s, but this musical brings them to life. Anyone who feels like this was their decade and they missed it should buy this movie.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT TUNES, SENSATIONAL DANCE, weak story...still , A MUST!
Review: Yes, 5 STARS! That said, I find my rave of this film odd...I can say that "Hair" is the worst film I've ever loved. And I don't mean "worst film" in that "B-Movie, Camp Classic, so bad it's good..." What I mean to say is that there are major weaknesses in this production, but the strengths outweigh the minuses to the point that I still say 5 STARS and MUST SEE! Let me pick on the movie's sorry points first: I was one of those Hair fanatics in my teens (late 70s, there were lots of us "Boy weren't the 60s cool?" types back then), and I loved the storyline of teen hippie Claude Bukowski's fantasies about becoming a Brit instead of a Flushing, NY middle class adolescent, being a blossoming film producer, debating whether to answer Uncle Sam's draft notices... the film transforms Claude into an Oklahoma boy who befriends hippies in NYC, and he breaks out singing "Manchester, England" (in the play, Claude's theme song where he proclaims himself a Brit and film mogul) out of nowhere, with no explanation as to why he's singing these lyrics(other than another character saying "he just got off the boat," when in fact, he arrived to New York by bus). Mix a few other songs that have nothing to do with the story with some embarrassing dialogue, and you will cringe, looking for the exit sign.....BUT WAIT! There's more, and it's damn good! Whether the songs fit the plot or not, whether lame lines lead into the musical numbers, the dance choreography and singers keep this film in the "worth your $$$$$ and time" range. Dance legend Twyla Tharp choreographed this potential mess into a beautiful display of dance. She put such a unique spin into the dance numbers that even a "layman of dance" like myself could appreciate. I am still floored every time I see numbers like "Aquarius," "Ain't Got No," and "Hare Krishna." I have become a fanboy of Ms. Tharp; you see this creativity in her dance numbers just shy of coming off as esoteric to a layman like myself, but instead of talking down to me, it wins me over. It's artsy, yet salacious enough to seduce my senses! Add actors with a sweet presence like Treat Williams, Dorsey Wright, Beverly D'Angelo and John Savage to the mix, and the bad dialogue doesn't hurt as much as it should! Melba's Moore's rendition of "Aquarius" is fantastic; this might sound like sacrilege to "Hair" fanatics, but this version of "Aquarius" matches up with Ronnie Dyson's in the Original Broadway Cast. This DVD is great viewing, even if you've never experienced "Hair" before!

Rating:
Summary: a powerful social satire with a beat
Review: Hair delievers a powerful message without being too preachy, and the music keeps it fun. The more I see it, the more I appreciate Claude, though I must admit the first few times I saw it I wanted him to be the one to die. John Savage and Treat Williams are both amazing actors who deserve more recognition than they've received over the past twenty or so years.

Rating:
Summary: It's good, real good.
Review: THis is a really really good movie. If you have seen the show, I know how it can be disappointing, but the only reason it's different from the stage versious is because, well, it's not a stage. The director took advantage of the opportunities of film and changed the plot around. Aside from the altered plot it's a very good film and I really enjoy it. As long as you treat it entirely different from the show, it's very entertaining. The only change that really bothered me was how John Savage had short hair, but it wouldn't make sense if he had long hair I suppose. By the way, Treat Williams is very good in this film. See it!!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Musical!
Review: This is such a great musical. I haven't seen the play, but I think since this has a real story, it's better. People keep saying it's a time piece about the '60s and war, but it's just an interesting story with great music. The '60s weren't a million years ago, you know.

Rating:
Summary: Joyful, beautiful, ageless
Review: If "Hair" were only a period piece, it would still be wonderful entertainment - but it's so much more. Previous reviewers have already spoken for me in praising this film's astonishing energy, its fine acting (not stereotypes, but iconic characters), and its forever-fresh-as-a-summer-flower soundtrack. I can only agree with them completely, and add my positive vote to theirs. This is a highly (no pun intended) recommended film!

But I'd like to emphasize something else now. Those reviewers who complain about the film being dated are missing an important point. Love, friendship, joy, exuberance - these things are never out of date. And it raises an interesting question: why are some people so embarrassed and downright afraid of the so-called "hippie-dippy" aspect of this movie, and the years it captures so well? Possibly because it goes against the current wisdom, which claims that the uglier and nastier and more downbeat something is, the truer it is.

Well, no one is claiming that this is a perfect world - far from it! - but there is still plenty of joy and beauty and magic to be found in it! Yes, in too many ways it's a more cynical world now ... which is all the more reason to celebrate and uphold those naïve, utterly necessary values. Don't be afraid of looking foolish, don't worry about having to be cool and detached all the time, don't be afraid to embrace the Universe and exult in it - let the sunshine in!

Rating:
Summary: All these years after it came out I still get chills...
Review: I saw this at the theaters when it came out and have never forgotten it. It changed my teenage years by making me more aware of Vietnam, injustice, race relations, the hippie subculture and drugs. I wanted to meet these characters and be them. I know every song by heart having worn out my cassette tape at the time. I still listen to the music and watch the movie every year or so. Yes it is different from the play but it still is very moving. And I can't watch the last 20 minutes either.