Ttwii

[elvis fan 1976]

What Version of TTWII do you like the original or the 2001 special edition?

[Getlo]

The 2001 SE, hands down.

It gives a greater sense of how the show was put together, and gives greater credit to the musicians and singers who backed Elvis.

The original 1970 film lacked cohesion, and too much time was wasted with that embarrassing footage of the UK fans at the Luxemburg convention, especially the Mystery Train sequence, where the Elvis Costello lookalike merges with Elvis on stage during the song. Just awful!

And in the original, after Elvis came on stage, he was interrupted by fan comments after just one song, and periodically thereafter (although I'm prepared to allow the comments from that editor of Tiger Beat magazine, because she was so cute! )

What I like about the SE, is that once Elvis is on stage ... that's it until the closing credits! The main criticism, though, is that it actually runs shorter than the original. But it's a better film all round.

Having said that, it's good to have both versions out now on DVD.

[ilovelvis]

I agree, I like the Special Edition of That's The Way It Is better than the original. There's too much goofy fan stuff in the first one. No offense to anyone. It's just that I'd rather see Elvis than goofy fan stuff. I KNOW what a goofy Elvis fan is....I'm a pro at it! I just love all of the extra Elvis stuff in Special Edition. That's The Way It Is is my favorite Elvis album and movie. So, getting the Special Edition was a real treat since it had so much extra good stuff in it.

[The King's Queen]

Abosolutely SE...it is great!

[elvis fan 1976]

The 2001 SE, hands down.

It gives a greater sense of how the show was put together, and gives greater credit to the musicians and singers who backed Elvis.

The original 1970 film lacked cohesion, and too much time was wasted with that embarrassing footage of the UK fans at the Luxemburg convention, especially the Mystery Train sequence, where the Elvis Costello lookalike merges with Elvis on stage during the song. Just awful!

And in the original, after Elvis came on stage, he was interrupted by fan comments after just one song, and periodically thereafter (although I'm prepared to allow the comments from that editor of Tiger Beat magazine, because she was so cute! )

What I like about the SE, is that once Elvis is on stage ... that's it until the closing credits! The main criticism, though, is that it actually runs shorter than the original. But it's a better film all round.

Having said that, it's good to have both versions out now on DVD.

I know what you mean just so annoying how they TRY to be Elvis...the Elvis Costello look-a-like was the worst!

[poormansgold76]

I liked both them

[TCBnAflash]

Man, when I first saw the new version I was in love with but at the same time, whenever I thought of song or different angle of a song it would be on the original version. So to me it boils down to,
I love both only I'd have to say, the 2001 better because there isn't any comments from fans or all the hotel bigwigs bragging about the business end of it.

[elvis himselvis]

I only have the 2001 SE,and thinks it's great.
I saw the original version of TTWII,when I was in Memphis,but i think the original had more special songs like ''Bridge over Troubled Water'' and ''I Just Can't Help Believin'.
I think I like them both

[my boy]

I like them both but I prefer the original version for the great rehearsal footage in which Elvis wears the red shirt - "You've Lost That Loving Feeling", "Mary In The Morning" and "Polk Salad Annie" plus ther's a different angle on "Mystery Train" after the fan club convention performances.

There's also a small clip of "Stranger In The Crowd"[rehearsal] and listen to the King's voice soar on "The Next Step Is Love"fantastic!
In addition ther's the classic "Suspicious Minds" with the pectoral disruption! scene.

Finally, with some good outtakes[although not in the best of quality]
"Stranger In The Crowd" and the stunning sit down "Little Sister"
really make this woth owning.