I have to say that I was sceptical for a number of reasons. I'm not a fan of Baz Luhrmann and I thought Austin Butler was poorly cast.
But after watching Elvis I was stunned at how good Austin Butler was. Tom Hanks was good too but Butler was the true star. The movie was much better than I expected and I ended up loving it. And this is coming from a long time Elvis fan!
I'm so glad to hear. I've loved Elvis but never followed his whole story so though I knew some of the plot points in the film, I didn't know it all and researched the rest after. I felt the same way about Baz Lurhmann, I didn't know who he was but when I saw what movies he did I wasn't too excited; I've never seen any of them. The idea of the modern music was not appealing to me at all. As for Butler, I didn't have an opinion either way as I am pretty open to giving the actor's a chance. I left the theater the first time not sure how I felt about it. Definitely liked it but I had a bad experience in the theater (people talking and disrupting the entire 2hr 40min film). The fast editing threw me off and I felt it was a little shallow. I liked Butler's performance and wanted MORE time in his scenes.
After letting the film marinate in my head a few days, I went a 2nd time and fully prepared for what I was watching and it just hit a completely different way. I really enjoyed Butler's performance as well as the rest of the cast. Some of the liberties taken didn't bother me a bit as I was fully invested in the story they were telling. It was just an amazing film. And Baz's style really worked for Elvis here. It was just an amazing film.
I loved it as well. I went in not an Elvis fan nor did I even know who Butler was but left a fan of both. It's a pretty emotional film too. I left exhilarated but melancholic at the same time. I couldn't get the film and Elvis out of my head. I've since consumed every Elvis song, movie, documentary, trivia, bio I could get my hands on. I've watched it 4x now and that 4th time hit me hard emotionally. Maybe because I know more about Elvis now than when I first saw it.
This site is very toxic though. Like a Nolan Batman fan in The Godfather board type of toxic, lol.
It's a shame how toxic it is. No room for discussion without name calling or one upping or just plain trolling.
I couldn't believe I went into the movie for an 8th time and still found myself tearing up in certain parts. Once you start to learn the background, certain scenes really hit hard. I think that really shows the merit of this film. Especially when I first saw it was wasn't quite sure how to take the movie. But the more I watch, the more stuff I find in it and the more I love it, Austin, and Elvis.
So true! You know that quote near the end about a mythical bird that lived in the sky and didn't have legs? That was from the Tennessee written film The Fugitive Kind starring Marlon Brando and directed by Sidney Lumet! Apparently the character of Brando was written by Tennessee with Presley in mind and Sidney regretted that Elvis didn't play the titular character as it was perfectly written for him. They wanted Elvis for the role but the Colonel as usual turned them down. I wish Elvis did this instead of GI Blues when he came out of the army. It would've cemented him as a serious dramatic actor!
This film is full of little trivia and hardcore fan tidbits, Baz did his research!
Sidney Lumet QUOTE:
'There's a speech in the play about a mythical bird that has no legs and can, therefore, never come to rest and just hovers in the sky until it does because there is no place to land. It evoked such a memory of what I felt when I watched Presley at work: something otherworldly, inhuman (not unhuman), a kind of restless spirit that could never rest anywhere.'
yea, it was beautiful. I went on the more logical end when someone asked the question about the bird speech and found there is actually a type of Swift that does this. Then we found out it was from a Marlon Brando film and Elvis loved Marlon Brando so him quoting his film made it so touching. I did NOT know that Elvis was originally wanted for the part and that just makes the speech even more tragic. The whole 'Colonel not letting him do serious movies' sucked so bad. It was so archaic back that how people thought of careers and movie contracts. Now a days an actor can do a serious Oscar film on January and have a Marvel goofy role in July. No reason why Elvis couldn't be allowed to have both.
I really enjoy watching him in his movies no matter how bad they were; he at least looked like he did his best. Clambake was a little rough though. I actually really enjoyed the plot but then it got to that playground scene and I couldn't believe what I was watching...All I kept thinking was 'god, what was he thinking during this scene.' lol
What makes it even more tragic is that line was written with Presley in mind, not Brando so it perfectly captures him and his Captain Marvel Jr dream.
I actually enjoyed Clambake though I agree the playground scene was rough! I have 3 more Presley films to go before I've watched them all!
yea. I read that after reading your post. such a shame.
I DID like Clambake. I reminded me of The Monkees with the slap stick and colors and all the 60s fun. There were even 2 Monkee references I spotted: Anita Mann, who was the assistant choreographer and a lead dancer was on an episode of the Monkees. She dances 'Cuddly Toy' with Davy Jones. I knew I recognized her when I saw her and when I read up on the IMDB trivia section, there she was, lol. And the spiral staircase in Sam's garage looks just like the one in the Monkee's apartment. I can't find if it was the same one but I'm pretty sure it is. lol
I loved the switching roles plot; it was played very well without being annoying. I just wasn't a fan of a lot of the songs. Nothing really stood out to me. But the boat race was fun, loved the dad. So it had moments but you can also tell it was getting to a kind of 'end of the line' for Elvis's interest in these films. But he was fun to watch.
Are you a Monkees fan? I think I only know a few of their songs but really like 1 of their songs Daydream Believer. I watched The Brady Bunch for the first time last year so I know Marcia was a big fan of Jones. I'm not much of a fan on him perse especially when I saw him acting like a monkey on yt for 1 of their songs!
You know I notice I can enjoy Elvis films even if the songs aren't up to par and I can find some of his films with great songs just so so. Like Blue Hawaii and Viva Las Vegas, both have great on set locations and songs, nice chemistry with their costars but I found them just ok. But films like Fun in Acapulco and Roustabout that have atrocious back projections and so so songs I love due to the story or plot and his character in the film.
I AM! It was actually that 90s Brady Bunch movie that introduced me to them. I LOVED that version of Girl he sang at the dance and even though I had no idea who he was, I was intrigued. I remember the ending scene where Micky, Peter, and Davy are the judged and everybody in the audience were hysterical and I asked what was so funny and my cousin just said 'they were guys in the 60s'. Years down the road, Around 1996, there was a Monkee's marathon and I saw the closing credits where they show 'Davy Jones' and I remembered the name from the movie so watched the show to see what all the fuss was about. 25 Years later they are still my favorite group, lol. They're not for everyone and its hard to tell people you like them more than the Beatles sometimes but they're fun.
I do enjoy Elvis's movies because he is so charismatic to watch. He has such good comedic timing. I think I just get over analytical with things; I worked in community theater doing stage management, prop, and directing work so my mind starts going into production elements. So with Clambake, it reminds me of the movie 'picnic' with William Holden. He was way too old to be playing the part of Hal just like Elvis was probably too old to be playing the part he was in Clambake. But both played the role so well, I don't really care, lol. But I love discussing it.
I wanted to LOVE Blue Hawaii. I do Polynesian dance so Hawaii is my place. And that's where I got by big connection with Elvis. It wasn't this movie; it was going to Hawaii in 2019 and seeing some of the places he filmed (I didn't know at the time) and coming home to watch his movies. I knocked out 'Blue Hawaii', "Paradise Hawaiian Style' and the 'Aloha from Hawaii' concert in 1 day, lol. And I LOVED the movie up until the teacher and the girls show up. That one girl annoyed the hell out of me when I say it ruined the film for me it literally made my blood boil. It's a shame because it's a fun movie, lol.
But I agree, I can forget the movie and just enjoy everything else. I really liked 'Frankie and Johnny.' His relationship with Frankie was so good and that ending was great.
I'm going to watch Roustabout tonight after work. I've been really enjoying going through his films.
Hey, I also saw the 2 updated Brady Bunch films! I enjoyed them a lot though I didn't realize who they were at the time I first saw it. I rewatched it recently last year before deciding to finally watch the series. I don't think this show was ever shown in my country but I enjoyed it actually! A more innocent time, I relate to these things a lot more than some of the current shows.
I LOVE WILLIAM HOLDEN! His dance scene was smoldering HOT! I love him in Sunset Blvd and Stalag 17! Holden has always looks older than his age though while Elvis until he got sick, always looked younger. In Clambake I believe he was only playing 5 years younger than his real age and he looked it! He passed as 27 to me. I just watched him in The Trouble With Girls and there was a character there Nita Bix played by Sheree North, she was only 3 years older than Elvis, but in the film she looked 10 years older than him! I also listened to an interview of Marilyn Demeter on yt and she first met Elvis when she was 14 and he was 20 but he looked so young, like a highschool boy she said. It was a very good interview, a 2 parter, highly recommended!
I didn't know until recently how big Elvis was in Hawaii, I think I need to rewatch Blue Hawaii again and give it a 2nd shot!
I haven't seen Frankie and Johnny but if you like it, I'm sure there's something there to enjoy! Tell me what you think of Roustabout, I love that film actually!
I slacked off and haven't seen it yet. But I'll let you know what I think. Definitely give Frankie and Johnny a try. I love that Harry Morgan is in it. He was in Dragnet and MASH if you've seen those. I mostly know him from Dragnet.
I definitely agree about relating more to those old shows. I always felt like I was in the wrong time. here, we had a block of nightly TV shows called "Nick and Night" on Nickelodeon and it was great, they'd do a different show each night like Monkee Mondays or Bewitched Wednesdays and I would watch all of those older shows.
And that dance scene in Picnic....OMG...when he takes her hand and puts it on his chest...melting! I never got to see Sunset BLDV...I actually just bought the DVD for my aunt for Christmas. We do movie nights every Friday and after watching 'Picnic' and 'Love is a Many Splendid thing' we talked about this movie so I bought it for her. Sadly, she passed away unexpectedly around Mother's day before we had a chance to watch it. I want to see it, but it's been hard bringing myself to do it but I really love Holden. Maybe they weren't quite in each others league but a movie with those two would have been fun....and OMG if Elvis had played Hal in Picnic? I think that would have been amazing. I wouldn't need him to sing but I could see him doing a version of that theme song.
I'm also going to watch Blue Hawaii soon. I like it. It has some nice moments and I love Angela Lansbury in it. I just can't stand that little witch of a teenager trying to sexually assault my man! lol The one part that gets a laugh out of me is Rock-A-Hula. No one on that set knew how to use the Uli Ulis, lol I'm not sure if they had any actual Hawaiian's on the set or what but someone should have told them how to use those things properly, bahahahah.
I haven't seen either Dragnet or MASH but I have heard of them. I'm not sure they were shown in my country or it was before my time.
I just watched Frankie and Johnny, also The Trouble with Girls and I enjoyed both! The songs were more bluesy type and less pop and I found I liked a lot of them actually!
They used to show I Dream of Jeanie, TOS Star Trek, and Bewitched and I loved them all! I also sometimes fantasize about visiting the past you know? I'm enamored by it more than my own time!
Also the chemistry of Holden and Novak was electrifying! They looked so good together! I can imagine Elvis playing Holden's role in Picnic if he was older because in 1955 he was only 20 and looked like a highschool boy! It would've been great for Elvis to play this role in 1965 and that dance? HE WOULD'VE KILLED IT!
I'm sorry to hear about your aunt, I can understand how difficult it would be to watch something you were supposed to do with her. I'm the same way, I avoid things that would remind me of something painful. I do hope you get to watch it someday though because it is a fantastic film and 1 of the best films I've ever seen from the 50s! Maybe you can watch it with someone else who has that shared relationship you have with your aunt? So it would feel like you are watching it with her memory there and talk how much she would've loved or hated something in it?
PS. With Sunset Blvd I loved it so much the 1st time, I watched it again right after and read a fanfic on it!
Technically Elvis would have been the correct age for Hal. I almost directed the play at my local community theater. We were 3 rehearsals in until Covid shut us down. We did online rehearsals for 5 months before they officially cancelled the project. But Hal is really supposed to be like a few years out of college so really around 22-25. Elvis would have been 19/20. Holden was 37 and looked 45. But everyone was aged up for the movie and you can tell in scenes. They do change some lines to fit Holden but some of the stuff he does specifically when he climbs up that swing is such a 'young guy' thing it was awkward for me. Anyway, I loved Holden in it but if you read the actual play, you find out they really should have used a younger guy. Maybe Elvis would have been TOO young...but I just think it would have been cool to see him in the part....but....I guess....you could say a lot of his roles were very Hal like anyway so you can get an idea of what he would have been like.
I'll see 'Sunset' at some point. I still do movie nights with my uncle now (her husband) but we mostly stick to more action things like Lord of the Rings. We're going through the Kevin Sorbo Hercules series right now. He's a little more sentimental and emotional than I am so haven't suggested watching it. But I'll get a copy and watch it at some point. Now that we're talking William Holden i'm in the mood to see some movies, lol.
I don't remember much of the music from 'Frankie' but the one he sings about 'What every woman lives for' is absolutely beautiful. Many today would find those songs sexist but I find them sexY, lol. I'll give the whole album another listen to soon. I might actually rewatch that movie again.
The thing about Elvis though is not only was he younger than 22-25, he looked it too. Many who have met him have commented that he looked and acted younger than his age. At 20 he seemed like a highschool boy, I think at 30 he could easily play 25 if he slimmed down a bit. Elvis was a bit chubby or bloated perhaps in 1965 imo.
You know I don't have problems with such songs, I even enjoy and find Hot Headed Woman funny! We have a lot of funny or not woke songs in my country. Also with that song What Every Woman Lives For, I think it applies to a lot of women since many are very nurturing and find joy in loving 1 man in her life and her kids and loved ones. Well at least to many Filipinas, it is applicable.
That's how I feel. It sucks because I never really found love. never really dated and the men I fall for want the hot young women. Nothing wrong with that but I struggled with the fact it was never me. I would have been a home maker if I got married. I'm very old fashioned so I have no problem with those songs. I love 'Hard Headed woman' and 'Shake Rattle and Roll,'. I'm definitely not saying I don't appreciate my freedom and independence, lol. I've very thankful that I get to choose to be old fashioned in my mentality, lol. But I do love a man to take the lead and to do so without fear of the woman balking at him. That's why I enjoy watching Elvis and his movies. He's a man's man and I love it. Always so confident and I find that really sexy and attractive. When I first heard that 'Every Woman Lives for' song, all I could thing was 'that's me!!!!' lol.
Use the 'ignore' feature on those users and the experience gets much better.
shareUnfortunately this is not a good place to find civil discussion.
However, it's nice to read old threads and answer people's questions.
Also, even though I think Elvis is overall a good film, I also think a lot of people's complaints are valid. Not all, but some.
Most of the people here are actually trolls if you read through the threads. You'll see a lot of them on the tgf boards as well.
shareOh I know it. I've been on the boards since the imdb days before they shut down. I've encountered plenty of trolls and genuine racists and sexists. I took an over year long break because of it.
I like to read people's fan theories and I enjoy actual discussion of plot, setting, characters, actors. What the website is actually meant for.
And Cal Wilson, fantastic!
shareExactly the same for me. When I first saw the trailer I thought Austin Butler would be the worst casting disaster in recent memory. Turned out he's pretty good in the movie. Tom Hanks was actually outshined.
I don't know about the usage of overly large letters integrated into the buildings and the sky, etc. They looked cheap, as if it's a tv sitcom or something. So unecessary.
I really enjoyed it too. I can see why Baz's style is disliked by people that want something more traditional. But music biopics are dime a dozen. The ending made me emotional.
shareI think that's why I really appreciated this film. Bio pics are always the same. I enjoy them. They are one of my favorite story lines; I love learning about people I normally don't think about in my life. I knew Elvis but never really knew his personal story. Baz did it in an entertaining way that wasn't the normal bio format. As a person who works in community theater, I think I just 'got it' whereas other people were a bit taken back by it. I saw the film directed like a musical with the way things transitioned, narrated and how the songs were placed and used. I loved the use of the ensemble too. The audiences are treated like characters in the film and I just thought that was really cool.
sharenot a fan either, but I thought it was well done, entertaining.
but probably won't ever watch it a second time.
I loved it too. I especially loved the ending with the last performance of Elvis looking bloated and in poor health...singing his heart out...it put me in tears..I'm in tears as in typing this. I'm a fan of Elvis but by no means a die hard Elvis fan. This film was done in a way that will continue to keep his memory alive for the current and upcoming generations.
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