ThiefHott Too much of everything

Hottoceame The Age of Commercialism

Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Bob This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

jc-osms Elvis back from the brink. After years of increasingly mediocre movies and records, Elvis pulled himself together and appeared in this US TV special and reminded all the hipster crowd who'd moved onto the Beatles, Dylan, Stones, Doors et al just who was still the coolest cat in town.Looking lean and singing mean, the King gets back to his rock and roll and gospel roots in fine style. The show centres really around his recent minor hit record, the excellent, underrated Jerry Reed-written "Guitar Man", but breaks early on for the show's most celebrated sequence as Elvis pours himself into a black leather jump-suit and kicks back with his band in a succession of rock and roll classics. There's also intercut footage of him on the same small stage sans-band rocking out on his early classics "Don't Be Cruel", "Jailhouse Rock" and "Blue Suede Shoes". Perhaps he sings a little too hard at some of these junctures and I could have done without the onstage Memphis Mafia's sycophantic exhortations but in truth he's in great voice and performs with complete confidence.The show then moves to the "Guitar Man" fantasy sequences which unfortunately see less screen time for Elvis at the expense of the slickly choreographed but very un-rock and roll young dancers, the only excuse for their participation which I can see is to either give Elvis or rest and/or time for a costume change. In fact he acts out these mini-sequences with more conviction than in his latter- day movies - earlier on he even cracks a self-deprecating joke about his 29 Hollywood features. The finale is a no-holds-barred version of his then current hit, the big-message song "If I Can Dream", where garbed all in Southern Gentleman white, he looks great against a giant backdrop of just his name.It's not all perfect, like I said the film sequences go on a bit, some of the arrangements are already heading for Vegas and I don't care much for the sentimental song "Memories" which he sings here and which became a "meet and greet" staple at his future shows, but in truth this is a magnetic, knockout performance by Elvis before his manager Colonel Tom Parker sent him to Vegas, where he bigged up on burgers and drugs, losing his shape, then his voice and sadly, in the end, his life.Remember him like this, not the shambling overweight figure who later had to be propped up on stage, read from a lyric sheet and muck up his own songs.

Tashtago The first time I saw this I was blown away. First I didn't know Elvis could play the guitar! Because on t.v. he always played acoustic and you could never hear him. Here he plays electric in the jam session and has a fantastic blues feel. If you have no idea why Elvis was not a joke but a genuinely great performer this would be a good place to start. What amazes me is how raw the performance is. It was a very very inspired idea to have him just jam in a very loose setting with his friends and fellow musicians. I love the banter and the relaxed feeling. Its as if you've happened to come to a party where Elvis and some friends are playing some music. Unique then and unique (in the era of You Tube and MTV) now.

Jim Colyer Elvis' manager wanted a Christmas Special. Producer Steve Binder saw this as a chance to resurrect Elvis' career. Fortunately, he won out. Elvis appeared in a leather suit singing a medley of the songs which made him famous. He did an unplugged bit surrounded by his cronies and a lot of pretty girls. He talked about changes in music over the previous decade. Interestingly he referred to the Byrds as The Beards. He did it on purpose. No mistake. It is notable that later renditions of 1950s rock 'n' roll hits never approached the excitement of the original records. Love Me Tender, however, stands the test of time, simple and to the point. If I Can Dream makes a strong finale.

IronSo8 "Mah man, mah man," he says while prowling about after one song. Black leather, lean and singing great. Elvis was the greatest, no one can touch him not even close. What he had came from the inside out, just a gut instict performer with a lifetime of showmanship skill. This is one of my favorite videos. If I find it on DVD, it's mine!