Agree with all the rest

This inspired me to make my own animation.
(Not quite to the same standard perhaps, but ok!)

This is one of the most captivating films I've seen in a long time. Animation, when its done this well, can draw you in far deeper than film. The models are amazingly good, as is the quality of the animation.

There is humour, darkness and a complex understanding of the story of Peter and the Wolf.

Brilliant.

If you love great music....

I suppose one of the main reasons for watching the film is to try to extend an understanding of Prince, of that brilliant and enigmatic character whose unique talents have shaped the most joyful music of our generation. Whilst the film hints at a semi-autobiographical content, this is not fully explored. The Kid (the main character) has to overcome family difficulties and the scepticism of his peers, using his experiences, to shape his music.
Prince ,typically, is generous in allowing others to share the spotlight. Both the Time and Apollonia perform . Yet it is Prince's films and his concert performances are energetic and captivating. Darling Nikki is challenging and sexy. Purple Rain is soulful and magnificent. These sequences alone show an artist of stature and probably justify the cost of the DVD.
So it it better than a concert video? Maybe not... the script lacks dramatic energy and the acting is lightweight in places. Yet it is a wonderfully watchable record of the talents of one of our most mercurial performers.

HEY BIG SPENDER BUY THIS ONE

I first watched this film on its cinema release in the U.K. I loved it then and still do today. My tape version has seen better days so I splashed out on the dvd and I am not sorry. (dvd`s in Africa are very expensive compared to the U.K.)Shirley MacLaine is superb and there could not have been a better choice to take the lead role. Supporting actors Stubby Kay, Ricardo Montalban and Sammy Davis Jnr add to the quality of the production and Chita Rivera is brilliant. The dvd offers an alternate ending but I must confess that I have never watched it.

Musicals wonderland

If you love Musicals, this DVD will blow you away with the qualiity of the production, to the glittering names of the stars, who sing their hearts out. It shows us just how much we have to thank Cameron Mackintosh, for the number of musicals he's brought to the West End. Pure Magic. Showstopper after Showstopper.

Superb!

A movie that starts out with the"Man in the Mirror" music video which was captured on stage of two Michael performances, it then changes to a montage of video clips of Michael's amazing career with fantastic footage from the Jackson 5 days and Motown 25.

Next comes a parody of his 'Bad' video by children who perform 'Badder', and then Michael is chased by fans in a fantasy sequence. Two more videos are shown which includes 'Leave Me Alone' and the fantastic claymation mini-movie of 'Speed Demon'.

The movie now begins in which Michael plays a hero with magical powers. In it he is chased by drug dealer Mr. Big (Joe Pesci) and saves three children while turning into the super car and the Jackson robot.

Also included is the spectacular 20 minute piece of music film which is unquestionably the best video of all time 'Smooth Criminal' and finishes with Michael live on stage to perform 'Come Together'

AMAZING, and fan will love this.

Grease is the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I recently purchased the special singalong edition of grease in the summer and it is absoutely wickid. I love to sing along to all the songs because i love all of them. I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone who loves grease and loves to sing to all the songs. I absouletely love Danny Zuko is is soooooo good looking.

Frustrated by the DVD Production

I loved the live show. It is an interesting and unique interpretation of a great classic. I very much respect Matthew Bourne's work. The"swan" choreography is great. Adam Cooper dances beautifully. I was however frustrated with the composition / production of the DVD. I was constantly annoyed by the close ups that would cut into a wonderful flow of steps or the graceful patterns evolving in the choreography. In my opinion filming shots for ballet should never be smaller than the whole form of the body. In ballet the expressiveness is a whole body communication and therefore close up shots of faces is loosing part of the overall drama. It feels disjointed and I found it difficult to be swept away with the dance as I was in the theatre.

Amusing and sad in parts.

PLEASE NOTE: This review refers to 'Funny Girl' only.

It's the first time I've ever seen this picture, and as I'm not a big Streisand fan, I did not think I would be that impressed, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Barbra Streisand is extremely funny as 'Funny Girl' Fanny Brice, and she also plays the sad scenes with equal sincerity. However, the film was spoilt for me at about halfway through, when someone held up a live Lobster to Streisand's character and she responds; 'start boiling water' - call me silly, but this ruined it for me... Why something so horrid should have been brought into a musical and light-hearted film of this type is quite beyond me...

Left a nasty taste in my mouth, and so I could not bring myself to give this five stars...

Best Dance / Musical I ever saw!

Classic tongue in cheek musical razzmatazz of the stage musical scene. Roys classis cigarette in the shower and the musical deathbed scenes are brilliant and a pertinent anti-smoking jibe.

The raunchy dance scenes are a cut above any new muscial movies.
The production is brilliant and the phrase -"Bring on the dancing girls" (...) is now the common medical phrase used in my profession!

This is a classic film which so many have tried to emulate, mostly failing. It has to be seen to be believed - but you need some imagaination to see the plot; because it has a very clear message and good story line, not just an excuse to have girls dancing as in other movies.

Now converted to DVD for the popular market.
Get it and marvel.

Essential viewing of a true star

Well I guess my title shows I'm a fan of Liza but really if you have any interest in her of just musical theatre in general this DVD is a must. The sheer talent and star quality of this woman aged just 26 is astounding. I can't think of anyone today of the same age who comes close. Her voice is probably at its peak (check out songs like You've Let Yourself Go)and the Fosse routines sheer brilliance.

Also, you get tonnes of really great extras including a better than I expected bio-film. The extras that include Liza today are a bit cheesy but all in all a great Liza fest.

I just love finding new places to wear diamonds!

'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' is a musical about two showgirls and best friends who go on a trip to Paris and find love (and diamonds) on the way. Lorelei Lee (Marilyn Monroe) is engaged to a millionaire, but Dorothy Shaw (Jane Russell) doesn't care about money - Lorelei can't understand her! They are on the ship when they realize that Lorelei's fiance's father has hired a Private Eye to see if Lorelei is behaving herself. But of course, Dorothy has to fall for him!

The movie is quite short, slightly under an hour and a half, but it packs a lot into that time. It is funny, sparkling with some great songs. Jane Russell is funny and down-to-earth, but Marilyn clearly steals the show as Lorelei with her funny sayings and obsessions with money. My favourite saying of hers is the title of this review, but my favourite line of the whole film is 'You've got a lot of animal magnetism' - but you'll have to see the scene to see why it's funny.

There are five songs (seven in total, but two are reprises of earlier songs) but even though there aren't that many, they are all show-stoppers and very catchy. They're quite original for musical songs too. They relate to the characters very well - Dorothy sings 'Ain't There Anyone Here for Love?' while Lorelei sings 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend' (this song is amazing by the way and probably the highlight of the movie).

This film is a must for any fan of Marilyn, musicals or classic films.

Awesome - There are not enough superlatives praise this film!

I can't believe it has taken me so long to 'discover' this film. I remember it being my parent's favourite movie. I recently bought for my children as they loved the Sound of Music.

I have to say that it is the only film that has ever made me cry, and several times at that. I never thought a musical would do that.

'If I loved a you' has to be one of the most beautiful and moving love song ever written, and it is beautiful orchestrated in the astonishing 'Louise's Ballet', (check it out on You Tube). What an abstounding dance scene, I have never seen such wonderful male dancing, when a man can be so masculine and yet so graceful.

The ending with 'You'll never walk alone' is so moving and reduced me to a final flood of tears.

And I usually like action films!

This DVD issue is very good. The film is crystal clear with vivid colours, good sound and the extras are very good.

By the way, my children (8 and 6) loved it and are still singing 'If I loved you' weeks later.

They don't make films like this any more.

Very highly recommended.

Let yourself go

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were a dream partnership and you will be throughly entertained by this collection. Ok so the plots are light farces that exist only as a pretext for the song and dance routines - but when it is George Gershwin and Irving Berlin writing the songs and Fred and Ginger dancing to Hermes Pan's choreography that is more than acceptable! With such standards as"Cheek to Cheek","Top hat, white tie and tails","Let Yourself go","Isn't it a lovely day","Let's call the whole thing off","They can't take that away from me", and"Let's face the music and dance" to name but a few, you can be assured of the quality of what you are buying. They are also very funny - Edward Everett Norton and Eric Blore are hilarious in"Shall we dance". The Introductions by Ava Astaire, Fred's daughter, give some interesting background - not sure if I would have noticed Lucille Ball and Betty Grable in small debut roles in"Follow the Fleet" without her. All in all, after 70 years this collection proves that quality is forever whether it be in song or dance and that Astaire and Rogers will always be one of cinema's most lovable and talented partnerships.

Elvis in uniform

Elvis takes part in a bet to raise enough money to open a nightclub when he gets out of the army. The wager - He has to spend a whole night with Juliet Prowse, a nightclub dancer (good dance routine)who is"icy" within and"hot" without. As things turned out Elvis falls in love with her but watch out for the baby sitting bit and the lullaby - quite a different routine!

Classic movie - terrible DVD!

In what is becoming a worrying practice courtesy of the folks at Warner Bros., this great movie, surely one of the greatest musicals ever to come out of Hollywood, is issued on DVD in ordinary pan-and-scan rather than widescreen, just like the good ol' VHS days. Whoever the geniuses who made such a stupid decision are, they could have no love for movies! The irony is that, aside from this, the picture and sound quality for the film are absolutely top-notch. It is such a marvellous, utterly charming movie, with Robert Preston delivering the performance of a lifetime, and featuring many memorable songs, that I would urge you to buy it if the presentation does not bother you. But pedantic film nerds like myself beware (as well as 'Gypsy', 'Meteor', 'Battle of the Bulge').

Fantastic dancing

This film does not include a particularly brilliant storyline; it is about a mix up that results in Ginger Rogers believing that Fred Astaire is married, when is he actually single. However, this film includes some of the best dance routines ever performed, including No Strings (I'm Fancy Free) and , of course, Top Hat. This is the first film with Fred and Ginger that I have seen, and I can definitely say that I would like to see some more!

An inspiration to dancers today!

5 star movie, 1 star DVD

I was looking forward to receiving the newly released version of Gypsy. Great songs, cinematography etc. However I was very disappointed.
Beware this disc is NOT widescreen, but pan and scanned from a very poor original negative, unlike the region 1 release. Hard to believe that with the emergence of widescreen TVs etc. that DVDs are released in anything other than letterbox format these days. A missed opportunity to release a definitive region 2 release.