What in the hell were they thinking letting Jonathan's lip syncing performances stand as acceptable? I recorded the movie on DVD but can't bring myself to watch "If I Can Dream" ever again. That was the most retarded thing I've ever seen.
"I always liked that hillbilly."
-Waymore
I Agree!!!! His acting is awlful plus he looks nothing like Elvis. Other actors that look nothing like Elvis have done a much better portrayal and were able to capture his spirit but this guy was worthless, and it wasn't just his acting but almost the entire cast. They should be ashamed of the entire movie. I can't believe this made anyone's cut. This was sickening! It should be banned and never shown again.
I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH YOU WAYMORE44!!!
That performance of IF I CAN DREAM is downright HORRIBLE!!!!
As for my opinion of the mini-series, I actually just posted my personal review in the other thread "cbs Elvis the mini series" if you are interested!!
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
Not to suggest that I was the only one to see this coming, or even the first to say it, but...
Oh man, was that awful! I thought the entire second part was considerably inferior to the first, but it just seemed to get worse and worse, and the Comeback stuff was just abhorrent. Most of the earlier performances, though I found myself cringing, I thought that probably to non-die-hard fans who didn't know any better, they may be passable; ignorance is indeed bliss. But Lawdy Miss Clawdy and especially If I Can Dream were just plain bad.Originally Posted by Lonniebealestreet
So I wished all the more after seeing it that they had done something like what I suggested the other day. As I said before, what a wasted effort, because the set and the way it was filmed were pretty convincing, but then you had that spastic yet rigid, rhythmless, lip(-out-of-)sync'd performance...What was the deal with that? For one thing, he was just moving his mouth too much, opening it too wide or something--just overall exaggerated. But beyond that, it was almost as though the guy didn't realize that he could actually force sound to come out of his mouth and that wouldn't mean it would have to be used in the movie. What I mean is, he looked like a guy who was just moving his mouth without any sound coming out. Bad, bad, bad.
The opening dialogue in the sit-down sessions--that oh-so-clever amalgamation of all the "my boy, my boys" and the "little fingers" and all those trivial asides...that one had me dry-heaving. What was the point of that? To people who aren't familiar, they would likely wonder what it was all about, not get it and remain unimpressed. And those who know it surely would not find those moments impressively recreated, nor even necessary, for that matter.
I could write all night about all the things which didn't set well with me about tonight's whow, but one of the most annoying things was that Elvis' accent seemed more overblown tonight. I'm not sure if it was or not, but the fact is that after he got back from the army and as the years passed, it became less and less apparent. And with it being exaggerated from the start anyway, it just couldn't have been more off for this period in Elvis' life.
I hated to see that Binder story about no one recognizing him on Sunset Boulevard being brought to life on this film. I'll never believe that.
Was it my imagination or did I see some 7" FTDs in Colonels office, trying to pass as 45s? I believe It Happened At The World's Fair caught my eye, and I would have sworn that as what I was seeing.
Along those lines, how come they saw it fit to use Elvis' actual image in those album covers and movie posters in Colonel's office, and to use some actual video footage of Elvis, but then they felt like they had to put JR-M's face on the covers of Elvis Is Back! and G.I. Blues and another photo or two? I mean it was his facial features but Elvis' hair and everything else. Those were some strange images.
Well, as I indicated before, I didn't go into this thing with high expectations, but I was more let down with tonight's installment than I thought I'd be. Rose McGowan was its only saving grace.And I'm surprised Priscilla approved that Priscilla.
...you won't forget me when I go.
Me either.I hated to see that Binder story about no one recognizing him on Sunset Boulevard being brought to life on this film. I'll never believe that.
I read an interesting theory regarding this incident: Apparently, there may or may not exist a certain "etiquette" on Sunset Boulevard regarding celebrities (even though that's a modern term and it sounds weird applied to Elvis) which basically says it's a "no no" to start foaming at the mouth and harassing a given star in the middle of the street. Someone of Elvis' stature - in other words, uniquely Elvis - may have unintentionally bent this rule to the max with his sheer presence and ultimately caused people to start flocking to him. However, since at least one member of his mafia was present at the time, they were probably more than experienced enough to see the "danger" and usher him back inside before anything noticeable - to a layperson like Binder - had transpired. Even discounting the idea that Binder wasn't privvy to an uproar, he may have downplayed it to help perpetuate MYTH. Remember, it was his theory (or his rebuttal of Elvis' complaint) on the line; he was the one who stood to lose face by actually having people recognise Elvis. In a broader sense, it's also Binder who now gains by embellishing his role in Elvis' career as much as possible.
All the other problems with the mini series aside, this is just the sort of issue I expect Captain El to jump on...
Add to the unlikelihood of that scenario the same of other things Binder has claimed (as well as how they elevate his own stature in the Elvis story, as you said), and I think we can safely discredit that account--at least in the way he has told it, and certainly in the way it was portrayed in the movie.
...you won't forget me when I go.
I agree with Mike, the If I Can Dream segment was absolutely horrible imo, and did anyone notice how stiff he moved - it was like he was wearing a back brace!
The other dreadful part was the sit down segment from the 68 Special - was presented so dumb, but the real stinker for me personally was how they made it out that Elvis did the studio version of Big Boss Man for the show, while in fact he only did a very short version during one of the production numbers! ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
IMO this movie was just plain aweful. Had they went in to a bit more detail, including the 70's, and been a more accurate historically, and perhaps used a better actor, the movie might have been more acceptable.
What amazes me is the powers that be think this stuff is acceptable, but consider the Elvis in Concert material unacceptable. I'd watch it 1000 times more than I ever will this movie again!
Lets just hope the Elvis by the Presleys program is better than this stuff!
"Don't tamper with the property of the U.S. Male"
I used to lip sync to Elvis records when I was in the 6th grade and I did a much better job than this guy.
This movie depressed me.
EPE seems to have shot itself in the foot (yet again) on this one.
Oh well, ...... much like Elvis ultimately managed to surpass The Ol' Col.'s carny trappings (did well in spite of it) ----> not to fret, because EP will yet again survive even this comedic travesty by EPE.
---------------------
EIC is just one other example ...... as to just how WRONG EPE has got it sometimes.
- Capt. "EL."
PS - Btw, .... Lonnie has got it right regarding Binder. An excellent example of how one source's skewed embellishment eventually transforms into "Fact" just because it serves the storyline better, is how people would like to believe it to be, ...... & "the powers that be" (EPE) randomly choose to parrot it themselves.
Take note Fellow Fans (New & Old alike):
EPE = Is sometimes the epitome of "Fallacy By Authority." Just because they say something, doesn't change the "facts" or alter "reality" in cases where they got it wrong.
Just another "Amen", Cappy!
And for all the others; please, stop watching Elvis movies without Elvis in it. And don't visit Graceland anymore....
Remember "Elvis & The President"? Awfull! The only good thing I saw this far
was "Elvis", the series from 1990 with Michael St. Gerard. In that series there were also fictional thing but at least they were honest about it. And....I never saw a better portrayal of Elvis.
I agree with all of your guys....The part when Jonathan lipsync the "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" on the Comeback Special made me so upset... he kept doing that lips
I didn't watch the mini series. Having read all the (mostly) negative comments here and elsewhere I'm glad I didn't. It would have had serious, negative consequences on my blood pressure.
I forgot to mention before that undoubtedly Larry Geller was most pleased with the 4-hour haircut scene.
One other thing that bugged me is the way they had Elvis come back from the Army and state that he didn't want to do rock and roll anymore, that he was going to do opera. Could we blow things any more out of proportion? Anyone who believes Elvis 'died' went he went in to the Army had such a flawed notion confirmed for them right there.
That's one of the big problems with this movie, but certainly the others which came before were guilty of it as well: In addition to accepting certain BS anecdotes from some people as gold (which Priscilla would have had to have approved, either because it fit her agenda or she didn't know any better) and writing the script accordingly, they also latch on to some little detail or fairly insignificant subplot and turn it into an issue of serious consequence. I understand it's about the drama, but it makes for skewed impressions of the man.
...you won't forget me when I go.
You are more than likely not very far from the truth on this one.
Over reliance on chaff sources is either a novice's mistake, .......... or somebody with a skewed agenda.
Well, ........... as EPE states .............. "it was a FACT BASED" drama.
------------------
"Fallacy Of Authority." = EPE
- Capt. "EL."
Wow!! I was on vacation when it aired and missed it!! Sounds like I didn't miss much!!
Actually I did enjoy "Elvis" with Kurt Russell back in 1979? They didn't get everything right, either. But Kurt did a **** fine job as Elvis(IMO).
Buddy, you thought you were getting the dry-heaves over the '68 Special re-enactments....could you even imagine what would have happened if the producers of the mini-series had even CONSIDERED putting Johnathan into a jumpsuit for some 70's segments?? Pass out those barf buckets!!!Oh man, was that awful! I thought the entire second part was considerably inferior to the first, but it just seemed to get worse and worse, and the Comeback stuff was just abhorrent. Most of the earlier performances, though I found myself cringing, I thought that probably to non-die-hard fans who didn't know any better, they may be passable; ignorance is indeed bliss. But Lawdy Miss Clawdy and especially If I Can Dream were just plain bad.
So I wished all the more after seeing it that they had done something like what I suggested the other day. As I said before, what a wasted effort, because the set and the way it was filmed were pretty convincing, but then you had that spastic yet rigid, rhythmless, lip(-out-of-)sync'd performance...What was the deal with that? For one thing, he was just moving his mouth too much, opening it too wide or something--just overall exaggerated. But beyond that, it was almost as though the guy didn't realize that he could actually force sound to come out of his mouth and that wouldn't mean it would have to be used in the movie. What I mean is, he looked like a guy who was just moving his mouth without any sound coming out. Bad, bad, bad.
The opening dialogue in the sit-down sessions--that oh-so-clever amalgamation of all the "my boy, my boys" and the "little fingers" and all those trivial asides...that one had me dry-heaving. What was the point of that? To people who aren't familiar, they would likely wonder what it was all about, not get it and remain unimpressed. And those who know it surely would not find those moments impressively recreated, nor even necessary, for that matter.
Was it my imagination or did I see some 7" FTDs in Colonels office, trying to pass as 45s? I believe It Happened At The World's Fair caught my eye, and I would have sworn that as what I was seeing.
Along those lines, how come they saw it fit to use Elvis' actual image in those album covers and movie posters in Colonel's office, and to use some actual video footage of Elvis, but then they felt like they had to put JR-M's face on the covers of Elvis Is Back! and G.I. Blues and another photo or two? I mean it was his facial features but Elvis' hair and everything else. Those were some strange images.
Well, as I indicated before, I didn't go into this thing with high expectations, but I was more let down with tonight's installment than I thought I'd be. Rose McGowan was its only saving grace.
That was one of my main arguments with his lip-synching performance was that his mouth was stretching into some really convoluted, UNNATURAL looking positions....CLEARLY lip-synching the songs....absolutely NO attempt to make it look natural!!!
I'm not sure if the 45 covers in the background of The Colonel's office were actually FTD covers or not, but I did find it interesting in the scene where Elvis was trying to convince The Colonel to let him star in "West Side Story" that you can CLEARLY see the album cover for "It Happened At The World's Fair" and that movie hadn't even been filmed yet!!!
You mentioned "strange images"....how about that supposed still photo from "Flaming Star" with Elvis and the Indian Chief....how ridiculous did that photo look with Johnathan super-imposed where Elvis originally was in the photo? That photo looked COMPLETELY fake!!!
I agree with you completely that the second half of the mini-series was a complete let down after having seen the first half! If the movie had only focused on the 50's portion of Elvis' career and they hadn't even done the second half of the movie, then I would have to give this movie much higher marks! But the second half alone drags the whole mini-series as a whole right down to average or slightly above average (if only for Camryn Manheim's performance, using Elvis' own recordings, and the nice job that was done on the whole Elvis/Col. Parker relationship)!
Once again buddy....RIGHT ON THE MARK!!!
TCB!
Mike
R.I.P. Tommy
We will miss you dearest friend
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