Tommy
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Movie Reviews of Tommy
Movie Review: "Tommy!" Can you hear me?!! This is a GREAT movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
In my honest opinion this is either a love/hate movie like the movie Natural Born Killers. (i'm not comparing Tommy to NBK in a movie sense) If you love art, music, uniqueness, style, then you'll love "Tommy." Being a rock-opera it took me by surprise that there was no lyrics. But that MAKES Tommy. It makes it the best rock-opera out there and one of my all time favorite movies.Pete Townshend of The Who's lyrics are certainly amazing. You must buy the "Tommy" album (different then the soundtrack since The Who sing on the album and various artists on the soundtrack with added songs) if you haven't already. You get sucked in "Tommy's" world and "sees" things from his point of view and others. its hard to explain but once you listen to it, you'll love it. Like Cameron Crowe wrote about the album "Tommy" for the movie "Almost Famous":
"Listen to 'Tommy' with a candle burning
and you will see your entire future..."
Roger daltrey as Tommy in the movie was brillant as the deaf, dumb blind boy. Plus the fact that he's very attractive (and he's curly hair, really makes Tommy) adds to his character. He really played a very convincing blind man. One of my all time favorite moments of the movie is when he sings "Free Me." I won't tell you why (it might give some info away) but it will really move you (hopefully). All the songs he sings are wonderful lyrically and musically, and he sings them beautifully. Highlights of Roger's include: "Welcome", and off course, "See Me, Feel Me/Listening to you."
Tina Turner off course is a marvelous singer and though her facial expressions can be "out there" at times she still is perfect as the Acid Queen (David Bowie would have been great too!)
Many people either love or really hate Ann-Margaret, Jack Nicholson and Oliver Reed sing. Ann-Margaret is a really good singer though sometimes she sings way too overpowering!! and to high! You get past that with her oscar nominated performance and overall good singing. Jack Nicholson: yes, i must admit he is not a singer. Sure he sings flat at times but its really great to see him try to sing. Its enjoyable and i believe plesant to hear him sing. Plus off course as an actor he is brillant (one of my FAVORITE scenes in "Tommy" is when Oliver reed's character offers Jack's character a cigar and Jack does the best face mouthing "no." I really like Oliver Reed's voice for some reason. I could see how you could think he was a bad singer because like Jack he can be flat (not that i'm a musican-i believe musicans should only really make a bad opinion on someone singing because they can be tech. about it)at times. But he is a great actor and he can sing (just not as well as roger lets say) but he is good and enjoyable to listen too.
My favorite scene is Elton John as the pinball wizard with very, very high shoes on! Plus he sings the best song in the movie: Pinball Wizard. The rest of the cast is also wonderful and people play there characters sooo well.
Roger daltrey, the who, tina turner, elton john, eric clapton, ann-margaret, jack nichlson....all these famous people in ONE movie-where they all sing! What's not to love?!
Movie Review: Tommy - It's a Joy Mrs. Walker!
Summary: 5 Stars
Review: After watching this film for the second time I can't help but love every minute of it. Just look at how much work they put into this movie. True the music from the actual album is better and they changed it on this(after one viewing I was disapointed), but seeing it again just made me realize that changing it a bit wasn't such a bad thing, because they gave it a bigger musical feeling to it and it exploded with so much craziness to it my eyes were just amazed at the sets and props put into this film, they seemed to have worked very hard to make it what it is. Shame on the viewers for letting the review of this classic get so low. Tommy just makes me respect the band even more then I did, the fact that Roger Daltry is willing to go out there and act is amazing and have lots of fun doing it. This movie is out there man, it's so much fun and entertaining I was surprized by the low rating. People don't know any better. It's The Who, do you expect The Godfather or Gone With the Wind? No you expect lots of fun, crazy costumes, drunkin hooligans, Keith Moon kicking his drum set over, Pete Townshend smashing his guitar, lots of singing and dancing, foolin' around, acting like a bunch of fools with talent and some rock and roll! I think I might actually like this more then The Wall, dont get me wrong, The Wall is a great movie with amazing animations, but it's not as fun as Tommy and I don't see Roger Waters daring enough to act, although I do love Pink Floyd more then The Who, but The Wall is sort of a rip off of this movie man, but obviously darker. Pink Floyd might be the better band, but Tommy was the better album I think. Tommy is a blast and one of the coolest and zaniest stories you'll ever see and hear!
Best Moments: The foam and alchohal pouring from a television, or it may of been chocalate, couldn't really tell. Elton John as the Pinball Wizard and his huge shoes. Eric Clapton as the preacher with Pete and John blocking the crowd with their guitars and the huge Marylin Monroe statue everyone praises. Keith Moon, being all crazy like with bad teeth, as Tommys uncle. Jack Nicholson! He's like Mr. Cool in everything he does. Most importantly Roger Daltry being daring enough to play Tommy. I respect him so much for getting out their and making a fool out of himself, and darn it he made a good blind person. This band it a riot!
Weak Moment: They could have done better with the singing, maybe it was my speakers, but the singing, not that it didn't match what they were singing, it just didn't look like other musicals, where it looked like they were singing it while it was being filmed, instead of mouthing over their singing. Other then that, everything is awesome!
Unique/Bizarre Moment: Tina Turners face when she's freaking out and her shot machine draining the blood of Tommy. Pete Townshends lyrics! Not only does he rock on the guitar, but he writes basically everything they ever did and Tommy is quite unique and very bizarre. Again the foam coming out of the television.
Tommy, the ultimate Rock Opera! Enjoy!
Movie Review: Not Just For WHO Fans!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not the biggest WHO fan. But there is no denying that "Tommy" is a phenomenal masterpiece. Much of what makes this rock opera so great is the different guest appearances, the phenomenal music, the artistic images, the touching story, and characters who are not just good or bad. Tommy himself is kind of a Hamlet type. At the risk of oversimplifying, Tommy's father Robert Powell (probably best known for doing Jesus in "Jesus of Nazareth"), disappears in the war; Tommy's mother Ann Margret falls in love with Oliver Reed, and they kill Tommy's father, unknowingly in front of Tommy. (Reverses the story on the record where the father kills the lover) As a result of this trauma, Tommy loses his ability to speak, hear, and see. Oliver Reed is an interesting 'Claudius' to Tommy's 'Hamlet.' (We can also suspect that while Margret loved her 1st husband Robert Powell, that she loves Oliver Reed more.) Yes; Reed killed Tommy's father and stole a willing Margret; but throughout, we see that despite Reed's crimes, he DOES have a conscience. Even though he is lecherous and drinks heavily, he DOES try to help Tommy regain his senses. From here, we have an interesting set of musical numbers by notable guests. (Eric Clapton and Tina Turner to name 2.) Margret and Reed's attempts to help Tommy (Roger Daltrey) fail. Tommy goes through some tragic abuse in the absence of his mother and stepfather, but Reed shows a redeeming moment when he saves Tommy from 'Wicked Uncle Ernie.' Tommy runs off, Reed discovers that Tommy (despite his disabilities) can play pinball very well, and this is when Tommy suddenly gains fame. (The movie's most famous moment is undoubtedly Tommy's pinball showdown with the great Elton John.) Despite their rise to riches and fame, Margret and Reed still want to cure Tommy. (And in all fairness, this shows that they know that there is more to life than fame and riches.) We then have a cameo with Jack Nicholson ( a doctor) who explains that the deafness and blindness is psychological and not physical. Through a very artful sequence, that hints at Baptism, Tommy suddenly regains his senses, and we finally have some real vocals by the lead singer Daltrey. He comes through magnanimously in that he has apparently forgiven Margret and Reed for their crimes. (Even 'Wicked Uncle Ernie' is forgiven.) Tommy's popularity seems to grow at an alarming rate, but will they be able to manage his rise to fame where some start to see him as a new Messiah? I can not help but feel another reason this musical has done so well (besides the great music, the numerous appearances, and the touching story) is that it takes realistic aspects of the human condition and puts it to energetic music and uses strange but interesting images. Obviously, you will like this more if you are a WHO fan. But this is not only for WHO fans. It is a real masterpiece. (Not just for 70s nights!)Movie Review: 25 years and better than ever!
Summary: 5 Stars
As the five-star rating would indicate, I've loved TOMMY sincethe day it opened (and yes, I was there for its premiere). I've alsopurchased the movie in just about every incarnation that have been released: videotape, laserdisc, and now DVD.What's most exciting about the DVD version -- and something which doesn't seem to have been mentioned in other Amazon reviews -- is that the soundtrack to the film has been completely restored. "Quintaphonic sound" may sound a little silly and may not even mean much in this age of digital sound, but TOMMY was the movie that saw the rebirth of multi-channel audio (most films of the late 60s and early 70s were either mono or 2-channel stereo). The enhanced 5-channel discrete sound was a perfect extension of Ken Russell's audacious visuals. The tag line to the movie was "Your senses will never be the same," and it perfectly described both the visual AND aural assault on audience members.
Well, this DVD is the first (and only) format to feature the complete "Quintaphonic" soundtrack. If you have a Dolby Digital decoder, you're going to hear the movie in a way that wasn't even possible back in 1975! All of the vocals are locked dead center while the score itself blasts out of the remaining four speakers. And there's absolutely no distortion, even when you jack the volume up (which you should, since it was intended to be heard that way). It's a wonderful - and quite unexpected - thrill to hear the movie this way. Previous editions had absolutely terrible audio tracks that were poorly mixed down from the originals. The result -- even on the laserdisc -- was a muddy mess. Not so with this DVD edition, which includes a written essay insert explaining the soundtrack's restoration.
The picture quality is also outstanding. One key moment: during the blackout section of "Fiddle About" the screen is absolutely dark -- not a speck can be seen, proof that this film was carefully transferred from a pristine source print!
This is an incredible film presented on an incredible DVD. If your home system isn't yet able to decode the Dolby Digital soundtrack, do yourself a favor and get a decoder at the same time you buy this disc. You won't be sorry.
I'd warn the neighbors first, though!
Movie Review: The Who's Tommy is really terrific.
Summary: 5 Stars
Even though I do not believe Tommy is a pinball god or the new meissiah I still enjoyed this film. First time I saw this I knew only three cast members Oliver Reed, Anne-Margret, and Elton John nobody else. First time I saw this movie I was tapping my foot by the time I heard Acid Queen say goodbye chair and hello dancing. Pros and Cons then followed by the Syponsis and a summaryPROS
1. * Oliver Reed! Oliver Reed! Oliver Reed! Sorry, he's too good-looking.
2. Music! Need I say more? This is a rock opera right?
3. Story. God rest this poor man who spent half his lifetime writing this rock-opera I am surpised his hand didn't fall off.
4. Make-up. I am just naming the special effect make-up that I extremley grew fond of Sally Simpson the girl who got that scar and according to the song took twelve stiches just to mend it. She really looked like she had to get stiches on her cheek. They weren't real, right?
5. Art Design a.k.a Special Effects. SMASH! LIGHT! ACTION, BABY!!!
Cons
1. Bootism
Syponsis
This story focuses on Tommy a boy borned into this world like any other child (Captian Walker, It's A boy!) problem was he became blind the deafness did not pick up quite yet. He was taken to a campsite (Bernie's Holiday Camp) as Frank Hobbs was lifting the kids off the bus he grew paticulary fond of 4-year-old Tommy and then we he saw Nora he immeatidtely became attracted to her and grew attached to Tommy and Tommy dreamed of owning the Holiday Camp DIASTER STRUCK! Seven years old Tommy happily resting in bed now deaf and blind in Frank and Nora's bedroom they were singing to each other over commitment (1921) the only thing Tommy could see was dark shadows so he slowly crept into his parent's bedroom Frank knew right away that Tommy heard it and saw it (What About The Boy?) Nora and Frank spefically told Tommy he didn't hear it, he see it and he won't tell no one about it. The rest of the story is simple they worship the ground he walks on, he can play a good game of pinball and he regains his sight and hearing.
Bottom Line: Great Music! Terrific Cast! This isn't just a foundation it's just a few great things in this musical. Buy it, rent it do anything to see it and give it a chance.