Diagonaldi Very well executed

BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Bereamic Awesome Movie

Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

bluesman-20 I Remember when Elvis died. And the Effect it had on the world. My Sister was devastated. And so was her friend. We Watched Elvis give his last ever show done in June of 77. And afterwards Elvis took on a more mythic status. We heard the stories and the myths that sprang up around him. When this movie came out in 1979. My Sister and my brother and I watched it. It got a lot of things right. Some wrong. but it did so with style. Kurt Russell delivers hands down what is the Greatest performance of anyone doing Elvis. John Carpenter hands in one of the best ever bio pics Ever made. The story opens in Jan 8th 1935 as Elvis is born and his twin Jesse Garon is still born. The film chronicles the dirt poor beginnings of the Presley family as they moved to Memphis and Elvis trying to find himself. Elvis isn't widely loved at first. his style of dress. The way he combs his hair and everything about him makes him a target of bullies. Until he uses his guitar and voice and becomes accepted. The movie moves at a breakneck pace so there are things omitted and things glossed over. Given the time line that's understandable. Pat Hingle does a good job as Col. Tom PArker. While Shelley Winters steals the show as Elvis Presley's mother Gladys. The Film adapts the many legends of Elvis. And considering that Before his death Elvis was untouchable. It's understandable that the film didn't dwell on any of the darker aspects of the King's life. But it drives home the point of Elvis being so lonely. trapped by his wealth and fame. But it also touches on the wild side that Elvis had. Any other Elvis Bio films that came after were not as good.. They simply missed the mark. This one hits the mark in every way possible. And it's captivating . If anyone wants to make the definitive Bio pic of Elvis they would do well to check this one out first and see how it's done.

berberian00-276-69085 This movie is the earliest and best impersonation of "King of Rock 'n' Roll" movies. Role is done here by Kurt Russel - his first significant appearance as movie star - and beginning of longtime partnership with director John Carpenter. Now, our annotation is about something else. Recently, I downloaded a torrent about Elvis Presley that included all his 31 lead role movies. Great job done by a Russian (if I am not mistaken). Thanks Constantine! Elvis as an actor was something that I wasn't acquainted well by now. Beside the fact that he was the greatest pop-singer of the 20th c. and all the banal trivia that accompanied his box-office music hits; plus his iconic heritage and popularity coming 8th after a row of American presidents; plus his early death because of drug addiction or maybe physician's mistake, etc, etc.Well, I want to share here my humble opinion about Elvis as an actor. Usually when I watch movies I try to compare faces of the actors because they really reveal everything about living persons. You can say about an actor that he is 'good' or 'bad' but you can seldom miss him as a living prototype. This is why cinema is great, because you can meet with a universe of humans without leaving your room. Not like now-a-days when special effects try to jam the appearance of the actor and delete him as a significant participant, whatsoever.Continuing our line of thinking, I watched gladly the whole collection of 31 movies and can say that I am complacent. It is not so much because those movies are great that they impress me. The movie career of Presley run at a hectic rate - he made 31 movies for 13 years, from 1956 to 1969. My personal notion is that he made these movies because he wanted to sell his songs - and he made it damn well both ways. Watching those movies I realize that they reflect personal attitudes of the author in the 1960s - wars, westerns, car races, adventures in far off exotic lands, the evolution of musical as genre, etc. His songs accompany his movies as if he wanted to have a break but he couldn't. Unfortunately he burnt out too young! Then the second thing that I want to share here is a mere resemblance. I watched carefully Elvis' face and after several instances I found a best fit with ... Richard Burton. I don't have to introduce the latter to the public - he left to the audience some of the best male roles in the 20th century. He would have been greater even than Marlon Brando if the poor devil hadn't performed so well in the "Godfather". Well, Burton was and will remain a rare icon not only because he was a perfect dramatic personage - he shares this place on top with Peter O'Toole - with explosive performances and less so with Laurence Olivier and James Mason (because those two are a bit slower). Lastly, if it wasn't for Elizabeth Taylor - and everyone knows that they were the best movie couple in the 20th fu... century - so, Burton would have been less man than he really was.What about Elvis Presley? His movies are full of women, more or less famous, more women on a par than any other Hollywood star. And many of them became models for 'Playboy' and Hugh Hafner in the early years of its advent. What else could one expect from life. Rest in piece Elvis Presley, you are really a Star!

poe426 Kurt Russell's chameleon-like performance, coupled with John Carpenter's flawless filmmaking, makes this one, without a doubt, one of the finest boob-tube bios ever aired. It holds up, too: the emotional foundation is strong enough that it'll never age; Carpenter has preserved for posterity the power and ultimate poignancy of the life of the one and only King of Rock and Roll. (I'd been a borderline Elvis fan most of my life, but it wasn't until I saw this mind-blowingly moving movie that I looked BEYOND the image at the man himself. It was quite a revelation.) ELVIS remains one of the top ten made-for-tv movies of all time.

frodgy i searched video store everywhere to find this movie, being the huge elvis fan that i am, and i found it to be a huge disappointment. kurt russel had most of the "elvis moves" down and the voice imitation was great, but the dubbed in singing voice of elvis just didnt work for me. the voice didnt always match up with russels mouth, and it was hard for me to get lost in the plot because it bothered me that it was noticeable. also, there were so many freaking discrepancies in the film, people who dont know much about elvis would probably think them to be facts. songs are sung by him earlier than he recorded them in real life, the time when he got his first guitar is wrong, im pretty sure his brother jesse garron was buried in an unmarked grave, not one with a huge headstone reading JESSE GARRON. i know it was just a tv movie, but they skipped over important events, like the come-back-special, and dragged some scenes out for way too long. if you want to see a good movie that shows elvis in his prime rent THATS THE WAY IT IS, or another elvis concert. hearing and seeing the real elvis preform is the only way to truly see his talent. (brilliant statement i know, but still...go out and rent a good elvis flic.)