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Tommy (Widescreen/Full Screen)
 
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Tommy (Widescreen/Full Screen)

Starring: Ken Russell, Oliver Reed Director: Ken Russell MPAA Rating: PG
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
Price: CDN$ 14.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details
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Tommy (Widescreen/Full Screen) + Jesus Christ Superstar + Godspell (Widescreen/Full Screen)
Total List Price: CDN$ 51.88
Price For All Three: CDN$ 43.93

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  • This item: Tommy (Widescreen/Full Screen) DVD ~ Ken Russell

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    Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details

  • Jesus Christ Superstar DVD ~ Norman Jewison

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  • Godspell (Widescreen/Full Screen) DVD ~ David Greene

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What do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item?

Tommy (Widescreen/Full Screen)
80% buy the item featured on this page:
Tommy (Widescreen/Full Screen) 3.6 out of 5 stars (82)
CDN$ 14.95
Jesus Christ Superstar
7% buy
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Product Details

Product Description

From Amazon.com

If you've ever wanted to hear Jack Nicholson sing (or try to) or marvel at the sight of Ann-Margret drunkenly cavorting in a cascade of baked beans, Tommy is the movie you've been waiting for. As it turns out, the Who's brilliant rock opera is sublimely matched to director Ken Russell's penchant for cinematic excess, and this 1975 production finds Russell at the peak of his filmmaking audacity. It's a fever-dream of musical bombast, custom-fit to the thematic ambition of Pete Townshend's epic rock drama, revolving around the titular "deaf, dumb, and blind kid" (played by Who vocalist Roger Daltrey) who survives the childhood trauma that stole his senses to become a Pinball Wizard messiah in Townshend's grandiose attack on the hypocrisy of organized religion.

The story is remarkably coherent considering the hypnotic dream-state induced by Russell's visuals. Tommy's odyssey is rendered through wall-to-wall music, each song representing a pivotal chapter in Tommy's chronology, from the bloodstream shock of "The Acid Queen" (performed to the hilt by Tina Turner) to Nicholson's turn as a well-intentioned physician, Elton John's towering rendition of "Pinball Wizard," and Daltrey's epiphanous rendition of "I'm Free." Other performers include Eric Clapton and (most outrageously) the Who's drummer Keith Moon, and through it all Russell is almost religiously faithful to Townshend's artistic vision. Although it divided critics when first released, Tommy now looks likes a minor classic of gonzo cinema, worthy of the musical genius that fueled its creation. --Jeff Shannon



Review

The Who's Tommy was the first rock opera. When it came time to adapt the material for the silver screen, director Ken Russell, with his penchant for irreverent interpretations of classical musicians' lives and works, seemed like a natural fit. Russell certainly shapes the material to fit his particular vision; one is hard-pressed to think of any other filmmaker who would have Ann-Margret roll around in baked beans. Elton John, Eric Clapton, and Jack Nicholson all show up to sing a song, but mostly so that the audience will say, "look, there's more famous people," than to add anything musically or cinematically (only Tina Turner's rendition of "The Acid Queen" improves on, or even equals, the original performances). The album is, despite its length, compact and powerful, while the movie is visually, emotionally, and musically gaudy. Russell's visuals make it continuously watchable, but the film version of Tommy sacrifices the fragile emotional core of Pete Townshend's work for grandiose spectacle. Townshend is more rock, and Russell is more opera. The film adaptation of Quadrophenia would eventually capture Townshend's vision more clearly, but less spectacularly. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
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Customer Reviews

82 Reviews
5 star:
 (33)
4 star:
 (16)
3 star:
 (15)
2 star:
 (7)
1 star:
 (11)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.6 out of 5 stars (82 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most helpful customer reviews

 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Plenty weird yet compelling - and the music's great, Jul 11 2006
By Daniel Jolley "darkgenius" (Shelby, North Carolina USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Having heard about Tommy for years, I felt it was time to actually watch the movie. I had never acquired much of a sense for what the movie is about, probably because I don't think it is really possible to actually explain the film to anyone else. This is some pretty weird stuff. As the thing progressed, I had a hard time figuring out if I liked what I was seeing, whether it made any sense, etc. In the end, I must say I did enjoy the film, thanks largely to Daltrey, the music, and Ann-Margaret. What does it all mean? That's a toughie, as I'm sure the story means different things to different people. I had the sense that Tommy is supposed to be some kind of spiritual experience, and in some ways it is - maybe.

Here's my ridiculously oversimplified summary of the basic story. As a kid, Tommy is messed up pretty good, having witnessed something pretty dramatic; as a result, he becomes deaf, blind, and mute - for psychological rather than physical reasons. His mother (Ann-Margaret) and step-father try all kinds of weird cures as Tommy enters what should be his adulthood, including a visit to the holy rollers at a church that worships Marilyn Monroe and a special session with "The Acid Queen" (Tina Turner). Nothing seems to get through to him - until, of course, he happens to come across a pinball machine. Truly, that deaf, dumb, and blind kid sure plays a mean pinball, knocking the current pinball wizard (Elton John) off his pedestal. Suddenly, Tommy's family is rolling in the money, yet Tommy remains uncommunicative. When he does eventually find "awareness," he is transformed into a messiah figure, and crowds flock to him to hear his wisdom.

The film gets off to a pretty slow start, as we follow Tommy's childhood. Then Tina Turner enters the picture as The Acid Queen, and she forevermore gets the joint jumping with her electric performance. Other memorable performers include Eric Clapton, Elton John, and Jack Nicholson (who does in fact sing here). Ann-Margaret tops all of them with her performance, though, earning an Academy Award nomination for her work. It's a demanding role; alongside the acting and singing, she also has to roll around in a chocolatey, gooey mess. She may have been a little older in 1975, but Ann-Margaret definitely still had it.

The boys from the band pop in from time to time, but the story is increasingly focused on Tommy, his awakening, and his cult following. Some really obvious representations of Christianity are incorporated into the film, while, at the same time, greed and materialism are also spotlighted as false gods. Ultimately, though - thanks to a problematic ending -it is hard for me to discern the message that the filmmakers were actually trying to communicate here. I've heard that The Who's original album makes some of the more esoteric aspects of the Tommy story a little clearer.

Obviously, some individuals will not like this film at all; it's sort of an acid trip on film, vague and unsettling with its symbolism and discernible criticisms of organized religion. Others may find enlightenment of one sort or another. Most people, including me, will probably just look at this as a weird but oddly entertaining musical that leaves you scratching your head a little bit after you watch it. Of course, even if the story loses you completely, you still have plenty of great music from The Who to sit back and enjoy.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Be prepared for one weird trip!, Mar 9 2006
By Oushie (Tommy's Holiday Camp) - See all my reviews
I recently became obsessed with The Who - they are absolutely fabulous!! I ordered Tommy, the cd, off of the internet and loved it. I then ordered the DVD and found that it was amazing!! I got to see Keith Moon, Eric Clapton and Roger Daltrey!! Hooray!! And Tina Turner is absolutely amazing as 'The Acid Queen'! I listened to the album after having seen the movie and was less impressed with it. The singers in the movie sang with more feeling. I now find that the cd is kind of slow. The songs 'Cousin Kevin' and 'The Acid Queen' now seem dull compared to the movie!! So all in all I really loved this movie!!! But that being said, I can definetly not see everyone sharing my point of view. I think its only for the truly psychedelic!
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5.0 out of 5 stars COUSIN KEVIN IS DA BOMB!!!, Jul 4 2004
By A Customer
Why doesn't anyone mention him? This DVD is worth the price just to see that scene!!! I love everything else too but I like to watch the Cousin Kevin scene over and over again. The movie version is WAYYYY better than the dull, slow version on the album!!! Same thing goes for many of the songs. All in all, this is one of the most entertaining and enjoyable musicals of all time!!!
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 		 Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Unique, but as senseless as Tommy
When I first read of Tommy, I found the premise intruiging. A "rock opera" based on music by The Who... starring Roger Daltrey? Read more
Published on Jul 3 2004 by mystere85

5.0 out of 5 stars Bring on the special collectors edition!
The five star rating is purely for the content of this marvelous and sometimes misunderstood masterpiece from director Ken Russell. But in the U.K. Read more
Published on Jun 9 2004 by SDK

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Film Ever Made!!!!!
After watching Tommy, I was absolutely blown away. Every single part of the film conveyed a different and important message and the music was amazing. Read more
Published on Jun 8 2004 by Eli

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Journey
If you have any interest in this besides a casual one, please listen to the Tommy album before seeing this movie. Read more
Published on May 29 2004 by C. Frank

5.0 out of 5 stars more entertaining than floyds the wall
Great performances by Eric Clapton {eyesight to the blind) and Tina Turner (acid queen),also watch for a lame attempt at singing by the great jack nicholson.
Published on May 23 2004

2.0 out of 5 stars ken russell is the antichrist!
The main problem of this film is that it fell into the hands of Ken Russell, England's bad boy of cinema. Read more
Published on May 23 2004 by Travis Mamone

4.0 out of 5 stars Dude this movie's a riot
When I first saw this movie I was really like "WTF?" This was because I had seen the movie right after I'd seen a pretty good performance of it in the Birkshires (MA). Read more
Published on May 20 2004 by magpie

5.0 out of 5 stars Missing the point
Actually, when I first saw Tommy in the theatre (I was a bit of an Elton John freak), I didn't know what to make of it, either. Read more
Published on Mar 7 2004 by B. K. MORTON

3.0 out of 5 stars Good and Bad
Tommy has some good and bad qualities in it.....Roger Daultry, Tina Turner, Kieth Moon, and ESPECIALLY Elton John offered wonderful musical performances. Read more
Published on Feb 13 2004 by Mark

4.0 out of 5 stars A bizarre and wonderful film
Tommy is easily the most disturbing movie I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of disturbing movies. It chronicles Tommy's life from birth to the death of his father to his... Read more
Published on Jan 15 2004 by Mathias

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