Reviews

Desilu, the studio that produced this mini-classic, didn't know what to do with this show. It was one of the first one hour comedy/dramas ever to be a weekly series. When the one hour version didn't take off as they had hoped, they re-tooled it into a 1/2 hour situation comedy. And when that didn't go over either. The canceled it. Too bad, because the casting was great, the stories real, and everything about it just fantastic. One of the first series I ever remember seeing that really meant something to me. Wish someone would release this, as I would love to see these shows again. Oh, and does anyone remember that other 1/2 season TV classic....IT'S A MAN'S WORLD?

Not since the great films of the late David Lean, has an epic of this proportion reached the screen.

There are only two problems with the film. First is the complete lack of chemistry between Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. Each are fine (in Kidman's case, it is her best performance ever) by themselves, but they are so mismatched together, it strains the romantic elements of the story almost to the breaking point. The other problem is that the film is seeping in Australian history, and the vast majority of the viewing public don't know...or understand....Australian past.

That said, this is NOT a time waster. It is beautiful to look at and it's story telling exceptional. Reminded me also of GIANT, as well as the David Lean epics.

This is not mindless entertainment, and that is probably why it was not a box office success. We need more films like this, with true and involving stories, and less of the actioners like IRON MAN, SPIDERMAN, BATMAN, FAST & FURIOUS. While those films do have their good points, they are not Australia.

The first half of this TV film is pretty good. OK, well at least it is watchable and interesting. However, right at the 56 minute point, the film takes a turn that makes the rest of it almost unwatchable. The actors seem to know the story has gone astray, because their once fine acting in it, becomes really sophomoric. While not a total waste of time, it comes very close. Too bad! Shannon Elizabeth, Christian Campbell (Neve's real life brother) and the actor who plays Chris really deserve better than this piece of junk! It's also unfortunate, though understandable, for the actors and actresses who are in films for the first time. This won't look good on their resumes. Save time, look for another LIFETIME film to watch. Some are quite good, but this one isn't.

Some very good individual scenes here, and an excellent performance from John Stamos (not so with Robin...who is just terribly miscast in this one)....however the whole is not as good as it's individual parts. Based on a true story, I had seen several documentaries about this really amazing case (Two brothers on separate Continent's are both murdered). Those documentaries are extremely fulfilling. This TV drama only touches on the highlights of the tragedies. Unfortunately, the wealth of material that was available to the writer wasn't used properly. Yes, as I've said, some VERY good, and well researched scenes. However, this TV movie basically only has acted sections of what really happened. Unfortunately, if you don't know enough about the case itself....this film won't make too much sense. But what is there is good....it's just not enough. Investigate the case before you see the film, and I'm sure you will agree.

I didn't much care for this film the first time I saw it, however during the second viewing, I began to understand what the director had intended and in subsequent viewings, I grew to not only just love it, but admire it's brilliance! With the exception of one or two songs, the story is not driven just to include another Beatles song....rather each song chosen ENHANCES the storyline. And thankfully for CGI (or whatever, Salma Hykek portrays ALL five dancing/singing nurses at the same time. Eddie Izzard is truly great, in an almost impromptu performance of FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR KITE. The main performances, by mostly unknowns, all very well done. Never over the top. The singing is great (who know EVAN RACHEL WOOD could sing, too, after her stellar acting work in THIRTEEN). Jim Surgess, Joe Anderson and Dana Fuchs are wonders to behold and have great work ahead of them, too.

The is NOTHING not to like about this film. It does NOT exist for 30 music videos of Beatle music. The surviving Beatles (and Yoko and George Harrison's wife) loved the film, and it is easy to see why. This movie USES their music....it doesn't exist BECAUSE of the film.

A perfect evocation of the times and....well, just perfect!

This isn't the worst followup to a followup film ever made (that distinction goes to FINAL DESTINATION 3), but shows how bad something can be when they don't have an original thought...and are just cashing in on a hit title. There is nothing original in this film. Totally unsatisfying. I kept waiting for something to happen....almost anything....but it was just a 90 minute waste of time, that seemed four hours long. The actors seem to know the junk they are making, but they do make the best of what they were given to do. Nothing stellar here....well, actually, nothing positive worth mentioning either. While the original film was based on an urban legend, it had some real scares, too. This one is just HO, HUM. Not even a good time waster. Sorry.

WHen the film version of VALLEY OF THE DOLLS was first released, I felt it was one of the worse film translations of a novel ever put on the screen. However, time has been more than kind to it. Just to call it a camp classic is not enough. While the film still doesn't have a reasonable time line (things and stellar achievements happen too fast to the characters), if it is looked at as filmed scenes of only major events of the characters lives....it makes much more sense. If you believe that Neely's rise (and fall) took about 15 years (Britney, can you hear me?) it is much easier to understand. In that respect, the film probably should have been longer. But it is a clever piece of film making (and casting) that time has revealed to be an amazing documentary of show business life (in front of and behind the scenes). Each scene in itself is perfection.....it is when they are edited together that they fail to produce a cohesive story. One of these days they will remake DOLLS (it's already on Fox's schedule to be remade) and then the magnificence of this production will be known. Susann did write the original movie script, however it was never used....instead this one was used....written by a woman who had previously written 7 Esther Williams films. Sussann was very upset at this film, as she felt it was a terrible representation of her novel. Yet she did write the storyline (although it was never used) for the sequel to it, BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS. I really think that the reason VALLEY OF THE DOLLS is now looked at and respected, is that the entertainers the characters were based on (Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Betty Hutton, Sussann herself) are no longer truly remembered for their eccentricities....just their talent. So, when not compared to these legends of the silver screen and Broadway, this becomes a story of three unknown women....trying to make there way the best way they know how. So this can no longer be considered a guilty pleasure, but a film filled with over the top performances, marvelous costumes, and a very witty script. It is to be enjoyed.....again and again, with or without dolls to help you.

New Zealand TV series, and the accents are pretty noticeable. JUST AWFUL!!!!! Poor acting. Richard Thomas is so miscast and very poor. While Kieran is nice to look at, he seems out of place in this century....more of a today type of guy. Put him in something modern, and watch Brad Pitt quiver. Terrible writing, without even one original idea. Many stock shots (like crabs crawling on the sand) are used over and over again. Even the pirate boat and launch look as though they could have been bought at Sears a few weeks ago. They made 30 episodes of this thing, but fortunately chose only to release 10 of them on video, including the very 1st episode and the last 2 episodes. Lots of rational ideas for today are totally out of place set in this time period.

Had this film been made in exactly the same way as it was and with the same cast and been released about five years before it was, it would be considered one of the finest musicals Hollywood ever made! Unfortunately, it was made after the musicals had died out....and became a Hollywood dinosaur instead. Still, if you can think of it as a movie made in the early 60's, it is great. The musical score is fantastic, the costumes perfect, the set design....just breathtaking. Gene Kelly's direction is perfect......the dances he directed, amazing. There is nothing not to like about "Hello, Dolly!" It's a great show. Have a great time, and see this....not once, but dozens of times!

THE KING FAMILY SHOW ran 1/2 season in a one hour format on ABC. The following year it ran 30 minutes for 1/2 season also on ABC. It was then followed by about five years of 1 hour syndicated color Holiday Specials. Several of the shows and specials are available on DVD and VHS on Marilyn King's (one of the King Sisters) website. The reason the memories have lingered so many years after the shows aired, was the warmth...happiness...and great musical moments each show in the all too short series presented! Many of the King Family (Donna, Alyce, Luise, Alvino Rey, Robert Clarke, Jim Conkling, Don Driggs) are no longer alive, but their talents are still evident in this fantastic....and memorable...family program.

Yes, this is very dated now. But when seen in the context of when it was filmed, a classic...extremely well acted portrayal of gay life in the late sixties/early seventies. Probably the best acted ensemble cast ever put into a film (all of the actors recreating their Broadway roles). Unfortunately, most of the cast have died, but this still remains a stirring indictment of the manners and morals of the gay community at the time. Depressing, but then gay life back then was. You only have to view this once to know how far the gay lifestyle has come. Well plotted, and if it seems to be a bit stagy....well, it was a play at one time, you know. And the man who wrote it? Natalie Wood's male secretary!