Customer Reviews

Saturday Night Fever (Widescreen)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The year was 1977 (26 years ago) and I remember having mom my take a group of us to see this movie because we were way too young to get in as we were in our very early teens. I remember loving this movie and feeling like I was watching something special. At said time I mostly enjoyed the great music, outstanding dance sequences, and a virtuoso performance by one of the Sweathogs from "Welcome Back Kotter".

Having watched it several times since (just saw it again last night), I realize that this movie not only reflected a dance/music craze, but at the core is a thoughtful character study at both micro and macro levels. It is truly reflective of the best of the tradition of movies of the 1970's like "Alice Does Not Live Here Anymore" as it's mostly character and not plot driven, unlike most of today's releases.

All the characters feel so true to life, mostly due to excellent writing and superb acting, that you can feel like you are one of them or at least sitting next to them. The movie also touches on so many issues in the most naturalistic way. No neat "Lifetime" movie touches to be found, and although you don't feel beaten over the head with it, the movie touches on racism, economic disparity, the role of women in the family and in the whole madonna/whore context, religion, and homophobia just to name a few.

Lest you think that this movie will feel like a John Cassavettes movie (who I also enjoy most of the movie) this movie tackles its themes in one of the most entertaining ways ever filmed without the sometimes self-indulgent touches of some other favorites of mine.

The dance sequences are masterful as are those involving family and friends, and director John Badham has not made a better movie. The acting is flawless, especially the Oscar-nominated performance by John Travolta. He never takes a false step in the entire movie. He's sexy, confident about what's on the outside, scared to death about where his life is going, and manages to say so much with his eyes and posture. And the man can dance as there is a sequence without the MTV cuts to shows true dancing rather than images that pass for dancing by today's standards.

All of the supporting characters (even those with a single line) are outstanding, especially Donna Pescow and "Tony's" entire family. The only minor quibble that I have with the movie (with does not take away from this 5-Star Review) is Karen Gorney's performance. In a movie with such strong performances all around, she hits all the right notes in most of her scenes, but there are a couple of scenes where she is the weak link. By no means do I think that it is a weak performance, but when there is such talent all around, you tend to notice all that is not perfect.

To me this is one of the better movies ever to come out of Hollywood and after seeing it you may agree with me. Without giving too much of it away, the movie does not lead to where you think it's leading to and what would be the big finish today only serves as the beginning for the character's arc. Also, although I saw this movie when I was 12/13, this is a without a doubt movie for adults as it is frank and raw, and I would only recommend that it be seen by mature teens and beyond.

In an era of test groups, sequelitis, and competing entertaining alternatives you are not likely to see a movie as entertaining and thoughtful as this one so buy/rent it, and I think that you'll be sure to love it.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER was a very popular "R" rated film with young audiences made in 1977. It featured John Travolta as Tony Manero who lived in Brooklyn and spent his weekends at a local disco with his buddies. It was very popular at the time and reflected the time and place somewhat accurately but was criticized for its use of foul language and its depiction of young women as sex objects. Even though the film was realistic in part it was giving the wrong message to all the young people indicating that certain types of amoral behavior was a reality and was acceptable. For that reason the film was re-edited and reissued in an alternate "PG" rated version.

i had never seen this movie before.though i had heard a lot of things
about it.anyway,i finally watched it today,and i really liked it.i
thought it was very well paced.i liked the dialogue.i thought it was
clever.the acting was good,but Travolta was outstanding,but very
understated.the dance scenes were really good.Travolta looked like
natural on the dance floor.i also really liked the 70's disco music.the
movie was written very well,overall.it felt really authentic.the only
negative thing i can say about the movie,is that it loses some steam
towards the end.but as for the ending itself,i liked it.it wasn't your
typical Hollywood ending.i think it was realistic.in my opinion,pretty
much anyone can relate to this movie,especially if your just an average
person with big dreams.depending on your age,this movie might bring
back a lot of memories for you.i think it's still relevant today.for
me,Saturday Night Fever is a 4.5/5

Paramount has done a terrific job in the dvd production of this classic title. Remastered 5.1 surround sound, widescreen picture, and fascinating bonus features make this dvd a must for any collector!

SNF became the movie of the disco generation, propelling John Travolta to fame and giving the BeeGees a new incarnation. There's a certain nervous rhythm to this story of a group of friends on the disco beat and the romance and tragedy that ensue. Travolta's swaggering walk sticks in the mind, but really, the soundtrack makes the movie: Staying Alive, Jive Talking, Disco Inferno and even Yvonne Elliman's If I Can't Have You. It's perhaps a sanitised view of the disco era, unlike Thank God It's Friday which provides a more inclusive view. Nevertheless still enjoyable after all these years.

A lot of people call this movie a classic and a period piece. And it should be. I watched this on a plane ride from Australia to Hongkong, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Sure, the movie's a bit old, but it's not sugar-coated and unapologetic of Brooklyn in the 70s. Even as early as back then, neighborhoods were fueled by the paradoxical dichotomy of family and gangs.

Enter 19-year-old Tony Manero, a disco-god on the dance floor on Saturday nights. He works at a paint store, hangs out with his gang of underachievers, and still lives with his parents. When one of his friends gets beaten up, they take revenge on a rival gang without verifying the facts. When Tony's brother decides to quit the priesthood, and their mother blames Tony he immediately lashes out at her saying "There! You happy? Now you have two losers for sons." But family is family, and he sobbingly apologizes. There's also the requisite love triangle between Tony, Annette and Stephanie. Annette's love for Tony is unrequited. Tony's crush on Stephanie is frustrated by the fact Stephanie wants to move up in the world, while Tony remains an unsophisticated boy destined to remain in his social caste. What brings them together? Dance. Disco-dancing to be more precise.

This film is probably what created the genre of dance movies like "Strictly Ballroom" and the Japanese "Shall We Dance." In all these films, the dance floor becomes a world of its own. A world far away and far different from the chaos that surrounds our protagonists' daily lives. On the dance floor, there is no social ladder to climb, no enemies to beat up, no worries to weigh them down. Yet at the same time, it isn't the real world. And it only exists between 5 minute intervals of song.

In the real world, people look up to Tony. But Tony is too full of himself to take an occasional glance down. Listening to Stephanie talk about important people at work, and what she's doing with her life has made Tony want to quantum leap out of his situation. That doesn't happen, and it takes the death of a friend to finally snap him out of his youthful pride and rage of "I'm better than all of you!" So he slowly learns to start over and make himself better.

Truly a gem of a movie. I highly recommend this film. If nothing else, you get to see what launched John Travolta's career.

This is a movie that is very much long over due. It's a stand alone classic that started it all. It changed the music industry that was going nowhere at that time. Travolta is amazing in this movie, he displays a dance talent that no one would have ever expected from him. I'm proud to say I own the VHS tape and the LP album. And for those who have made fun of this movie, the laugh is on you it's still Alive and very much a movie treasure worth owning.

I'm so-o-o-o glad Saturday Night Fever is being released on DVD!!! Now I can toss the video!!! John Travolta is such a good dancer, I'm envious :) & the music is TOPS!

it is finally coming out on dvd. just read in entertainment magazine that it will be coming out on oct. 8th! woohoo can't wait

"Well you can tell by the way John Travolta walks, he's a woman's man, no time to talk..." Released at the pinnacle of disco fever, John Badham's Saturday Night Fever is a nostalgic look at the late 70s, with John Travolta as Tony Manero, the main man at the discotech, where he shows off his dancing moves to the BeeGees songs. It's entertaining to sit back and watch a film that was once considered the "groovy" thing, and now is seen for what it actually is, a so-so film with excellent dancing moves, but then again, most musicals do the old "make a musical and attach a hackneyed plot of sorts and see if it gels." Thankfully, it does better than the shocking "Stayin' Alive". It's no easy watch, with sex scenes, nudity and violence not quite fitting together. Director Badham (file name under "where are they now?") gives too much attention to the outside world of drugs, sex and suicide, when it would work much more fluidly without the jarring tone changes. It's a curious throwback to the days of disco-groove, and John Travolta is effortlessly cool, but when you take out the disco, it's a combination of sleaze and violence that's hardly cohesive. But the classic BeeGees music and some great dancing from Travolta push it further than what the film itself deserves.