Chris

22 May 2012

A great movie.

I think that the movie really showed the problems that Jerry Lee went through at thet time.Dennis Quaid did a very good job bringing the character to life on the big screen.

Josh M. Nileski

22 May 2012

A Truly Bizarre Film Experience

This is a movie that, if it came out today, I would hate. As it stands, Ihave distance on it and I love it because it is unlike any other film evermade.Jim McBride as a director treats the material as a straight rock and rollfairy tale. That's why, if the characters in the movie were fictitious,thefilm would be a minor stylistic classic among film buffs. Akin to "DickTracy" for its production design or "Moulin Rouge" for its weaving of pophits into a broadly stroked love story. It would be beloved if only forthefew scenes between Dennis Quaid and Alec Baldwin (as Lewis' cousin, JimmySwaggart) playing polar archetypes.As it stands, however, "the people and events depicted herein are real."Even on a script level, the movie knows that Jerry Lee is a much worseperson than depicted in the film. Where the film alludes to Jerry Leebeinga general cheating womanizer and, at times, even a specifically cruelindividual to his young wife, the script points it out more evidently.Thatthe script largely demurs from the sometimes horrific moments that Lewisinstigated in his true life romance with Myra Gale Brown is enough to turnoff most viewers. That the film itself almost completely ignores Lewis'uglier traits (even while the script is acknowledging them) is why it isconsidered so uneven and, thus, unsuccessful. However, completelydetachedfrom those detestable facts, the film does offer some of the greatest rockmusic ever recorded, an appropriately rebellious, true lovin' rocker torecord it, and a soft-focus, easily-quotable rock and roll fantasy romancefor a screenplay. Combine those things with the unfortunate,incontrovertible truth and you have an exceptionally odd amalgam of amovie.P.S.: I'll add that I am a huge fan of Jerry Lee Lewis' music, so I admitthat I have one up on a viewer who is either uninitiated or is just plainnot a fan.

20 May 2012

Forget it

Don't even waste your time with this one, it was a horrible movie. Yes, the soundtrack was good--the background music-- but this production is on the level of a Disney Network show produced for teenagers. Not worth your time.

20 May 2012

Great Balls of Fire! sets me on fire.

I am a 15 year old who likes older time periods. I love the '50s and all of its wonderful musicians. So when I found out there was a movie about Jerry Lee Lewis I just had to see it.I ordered the DVD and watched it and immediately fell in love. The story line is amazing. There are funny parts and there are romantic parts that made my heart melt. Jerry Lee's relationship with Myra was really sweet. The music was great. Shortly after I purchased the DVD, I also bought the movie's soundtrack.Wonderful movie. Highly Reccomended. Dennis Quaid did a great job as Jerry Lee Lewis.

vchimpanzee

19 May 2012

Well done

During World War II, young Jerry Lee is with his cousin sneaking into adance hall in the black section of town. His cousin says that's thedevil's music, and Jerry Lee agrees--but to him that's a good thing.In the 1950's, Jerry Lee is performing that 'devil's music', and quitegood at it. We see him go to Sam Phillips, the man who made Elvis astar. Will he be the next Elvis? He might very well be that talented.Phillips is very impressed, and his record becomes a hit.Once Elvis goes into the army, Lewis has his chance to become as big asthe King, if not bigger. What may have been his downfall, if this movieis accurate, is his marriage to his second cousin Myra. The English donot approve, and Americans aren't much more receptive.Dennis Quaid does a great job, although it is apparently Lewis himselfdoing the singing. But Quaid pounds that piano and behaves wildly andshows a lot of passion and energy. I did enjoy the music, even though Iusually like my music softer. It's amazing Lewis' music was banned byradio stations, because his songs get played on the station where Ilisten to Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Nat King Cole. Winona Ryder is a delight, especially when Myra goes shopping after thewedding. Steve Allen looks surprisingly young playing himself, and heseems to be having a good time. Elvis appears briefly several times, played by Michael St. Gerard, whoportrayed the King in a 1990 TV bio. Elvis doesn't say much, but hedoes look the part. In one scene he and a girl are in bed togetherwatching Lewis perform on TV, and the girl seems to want to do 'a wholelotta shaking'. Footage of others watching Lewis is shown (though theyare probably watching something else). Included are a shocked Ward andJune Cleaver.'Patricia' by Perez Prado seems appropriate for the scene where JerryLee and Myra wonder whether to tell Myra's parents. The organ has thewhimsical, playful quality that is such a big part of Myra's character,the trumpet section reflects Lewis' wild streak, and the trombonessound like Myra's father probably will after he gets the news.While there were negatives in Lewis' life, this movie doesn't reallymake these look as bad as it could have. I found the movie entertainingas a whole.

19 May 2012

?

If your divorced next door neighbor in his 20's married a 13 year old girl, you might consider moving, or having him arrested for child molestation. But this movie shows how anything can be made palatable, because you are made to believe that Jerry Lee Lewis (once divorced) marrying his 13 yr. old child-bride cousin was innocent love, and that they were just facing a big bad world. I mean, Joey Buttafucco served prison time for having an affair with a girl older than Jerry Lee's wife! But the movie kind of forces you to set aside such thoughts, and I admit I found it entertaining in a fictional way. (Legendary opera "Madame Butterfly" is about a 15 year old girl marrying an adult man. It's funny what we tolerate, when and where.) But to compare it to the real Jerry Lee Lewis: a man who shot his bass player in the chest; a man who "Rolling Stone" magazine asserted--with strong evidence--murdered his 5th wife, is ridiculous. This movie is a monumental puff piece. Often outright fiction. But Jerry Lee made great music. He had/has charisma. Dennis Quaid does a fine job acting. Hey, I even bought the soundtrack album.

tedg

17 May 2012

Performance

Spoilers herein.Here's what I like about this: it is a story about a quirky performer, wholives life as if it were one of his quirky shows. At the same time, Quaid's performance isitself quirky - along the lines of Depp's `Fear and Loathing.' The whole thing is a Punchand Judy doing a Punch and Judy.It gets my appreciation for that. But at root, it just isn't a veryinteresting story: part rock history, part trailer trash romance, and part holy/nasty metaphor. But then,that's pop music I guess.There is a scene that sticks: Jerry Lee opening for Chuck Berry. Chuck is anordinary guy, someone whose life is not his performance. Music is just a job, and he wouldnever get the whole reflexive passion thang. Jerry goes nuts, literally setting thepiano on fire. Then he marches off with `Follow that, Killer!`The actor's expression is priceless. Almost worth the admission by itself.He is supposed to be the surrogate anchor for us, watching from the sidelines.There's another image worth keeping. Our vulnerable Winona packs up to movein with her new `husband.' Her luggage is a dollhouse. That's a sweet keeper, justlike Julia Style's little box of `needful things' in `Hamlet.' And for the samereasons.Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

16 May 2012

Quaid Really Rocks In This Role!

This movie is just as good as The Buddy Holly Story and even Ritchie Valens' story, La Bamba. Dennis Quaid really got into the role of the Killer himself, Jerry Lee Lewis. Winona Ryder is also great playing his cousin/childbride, Myra. Alec Baldwin has a small role playing another cousin, Jimmy Swaggart. A fun movie all around. Worth owning just for the terrific soundtrack that includes most of Lewis' hits.

14 May 2012

Completely satisfied

Love it!! It was in great shape and everything, no problems! Used movies are definitely the way to go

blanche-2

13 May 2012

The piano man

Dennis Quaid struts around like a rooster in "Great Balls of Fire," a1989 biopic about Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the great entertainers.Discovered by Sam Phillips, the man who discovered Elvis and JohnnyCash, Lewis came up the ranks quickly and was poised to become the Kingof Rock 'n' Roll when Elvis went into the Army. But the scandal thatbroke when it was revealed he was married to his 13-year-old cousinMyra (Winona Ryder) and was in fact a bigamist - which today would beshrugged off - just about ruined his career. Soon he was prone toviolence on and off stage and imbibing in alcohol.I have always loved Jerry Lee Lewis' music, but the only thing I knewabout him was that he married his cousin - so that will show you whereall the publicity was focused. I had no idea that Jimmy Swaggert(played here by Alec Baldwin) was also his cousin. I was struck by thequalities he had in common with Elvis - they both were highly-chargedperformers with so much energy a stage couldn't hold them, bothcompletely original, natural talents inspired by music they heard intheir communities, and both were discovered by Sam Phillips. What eachone was most of all was just like one of the kids that he sang to, whocould pulsate, dance and let their hormones run wild with the music.Lewis remains today an electrifying performer with an unmistakablesound. His high gear "Great Balls of Fire," "Breathless," "High SchoolConfidential," and of course, "Whole Lotta Shaking' Going' On" areunmatched.Now, how accurate was this film? Jerry Lee himself claims he neveracted the way Dennis Quaid portrayed him in his life, though others sayQuaid was right on. It's a little like Scottish people hearing aScottish burr on an actor and saying, we don't talk like that when theydo. I will quibble with the depiction of Sam Phillips as a snake oilsalesman who, according to this script, "lost Elvis." Phillips didn'tlose Elvis - his record company was too small to promote Elvis as heneeded to be promoted, and Phillips badly needed the money Elvis'contract would bring. Elvis, Vernon and Gladys Presley thought they hadit good - no one dreamed Elvis could accomplish what he did - so SamPhillips could have kept Elvis with Sun for a longer period of time,but rather than stifling Presley's career, he let him go.Quaid does an excellent job as a thrilling performer who perhaps isn'tthe most likable person off stage - in fact, might be a little sleazy -and Ryder captures the teenage silliness beautifully. Baldwin doesn'tget to do much but proselytize.The most interesting thing about "Great Balls of Fire" is its relevancetoday. Rock 'n' Roll was perceived as the way to complete degradationfor teenagers and the performers were servants of the devil. Rap musicis viewed the same way today. With rock 'n' roll, the road todegradation was a sexual one - swinging those hips and getting allcharged up could only mean trouble. Today, with rap, it's the messageof violence against women and attitudes towards them, the use ofviolence and foul language. In between, we had the schools ruling thatno one could have a Beatles haircut. Maybe someday it will occur tosomebody that many things can destroy a generation - war and drugsbeing two - but music doesn't seem to be one of them.

JaneD

11 May 2012

Alternate reality

X-men III If you like sci-fi action and adventure, then I recommend that you see X-men III. ……………..BUT………………If you’re one of those who stopped watching “Enterprise” because Klingon’s were walking around wearing turtle shell heads, I recommend that you wait to see X-Men III until it comes out on DVD and rent it. As you load the disc into your DVD player and push play, keep saying to yourself, “it’s an alternate reality, it’s an alternate reality, it’s an alternate reality………………..”

10 May 2012

Like the Killer,this movie left me Breathless!!!!!!

This movie defines what Jerry Lee Lewis is all about:An enigma in allsense of the word. Dennis Quaid gives his finest performance,in thisreviewer's humble opinion,as the Killer himself. The hair,the clothes,theaccent are strike an uncanny resemblance. Winnona Ryder is absolutelymarvelous as Myra. This movie depicts Lewis's life from his first hit,"CrazyArms",to the scandal that almost shot his career down the toliet quickerthan Elvis could eat a cheeseburger. What really makes this movie go is thesoundtrack,including new performances by the Killer. It has humor,tons ofdrama,and some really revealing glimpses into the man,the myth,the legendthat is Jerry Lee Lewis. I give this movie a 9 out of 10. It is with greatsadness that I report that this movie is out of print and I pray to God thatit will be re-released at the time of this writing. Get it if you can,because,WOOOOOOOOOOO,this movie's got the bull by the horns!!!!!!!

suplexx

08 May 2012

Worst acting I have ever seen

It's really just terrible. Quaid overacts more than Shatner. The partwhere Elvis walks in and says "You can have it all" just kills anythingthat might have been good in this movie that's bad enough as it is.Drug use was completely snow coated, the only thing that had anythingto do with his life was the bit about him wedding his cousin. Quaidalso looks nothing like Lewis and has dark roots and eyebrows. I wishthis could be re-made in the future with someone who doesn't try sohard. A bigger budget wouldn't hurt and maybe more about his actuallife. I was very, very disappointed in Quaid. Don't watch this movie oryou will be too.

08 May 2012

Amazing!

its a beautifull movie and its one of my favorite. I really like the story and the actors and actress. Its really great i couldn't forget the movie!!! ITS THE BEST AMONG THE BEST!!!!!!!

08 May 2012

dennis quaid what a job!!!

hey this is a great story, great music, and a great job by dennis quaid, excellet....

snorrem

07 May 2012

Great music, but the movie could have been done better

Back in the early 1920's, when movies added with sound were still justa dream, there were two undisputed kings of comedy -- Charlie Chaplinand Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle. The first mentioned of them is stillpraised all over the globe by youths and adults alike as a genius.That would probably have been the cause for Arbuckle, too, if he hadn'tbeen involved in a scandal which made him the first actor in Hollywoodhistory to be banned from the silver screen. Last year, actor JohnnyDepp talked very flatteringly about Roscoe's work and said he wanted tomake a movie based on his life with the scandal as the main subject.While this truly would give the silent comedian more attention afterhaving been largely forgotten since our parents had yet to be born, Istill find it very shameful that the only element in Arbuckle's lifethat seems to interest people is the scandal which ruined his status asthe master comedian he actually was.In several ways, I feel the same has been done to Jerry Lee Lewis.Being the arguably greatest and undoubtedly the wildest "rock'n'roller"ever produced, Jerry's popularity faded dramatically after he marriedhis under-aged cousin. GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!, starring Dennis Quaid asThe Killer, is purely based on how his life (and his wife's life, aboveall) changed when his music was banned from most radio stations and hewas hardly allowed to perform on Television, simply because of themarriage.Quaid does a pretty good portrayal of Lewis (I expected it to be muchworse), and I consider the music, done by Lewis himself, to be some ofthe best ever done in the history of Rock'n'Roll. I actually prefersome of the movie tracks rather than the originals, and that reallysays something. You can hardly sit still while listening to Great Ballsof Fire, and to see Quaid roll on the piano is a treat. Jerry Lee-buffsshould certainly not miss this.And yet ... while the movie explains that Lewis married his cousinbecause of pure love and NOT because he was a disgusting pervert, assome ignorant sources claim, it could have been done differently. Amovie based on the life of a seventy-one-year old musician (54 at thetime the movie was made) who revolutionized Rock'n'Roll throughout withhis unique voice and style should include more than the story of ascandal that almost ruined him in his youth. Much more. The movie isalso far from being completely accurate.I give this movie seven out of ten stars, but that's mainly because ofthe music. While I enjoyed GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!, I'm still waiting forTHE REAL STORY OF JERRY LEE LEWIS.

07 May 2012

what??

now don't get me wrong, i LOVE Jerry Lee..some of my fondest memories were my grandma dancing down the hall to great balls of fire..but you can't download this soundtrack?? i've been trying to find "That lucky Old Sun" version that matches whats in the movie, but i finally found it but i have to buy the soundtrack and wait for it to come to my house? All I want is that one mp3 but you can't always get what you want...

06 May 2012

Great Balls of Fire

this movie was recieved in GREAT condition and as always, it is an excellent movie.

04 May 2012

A Must Have

Really great sound... maybe the best Jerry Lee Lewis recordings... His piano performance is better than ever, so if you are a fan or just like oldie music, this is a "must have"

04 May 2012

Jerry Lee Lewis

This review is from: Great Balls of Fire! (DVD) I received this item and it was in great condition, Then when I went to view it I received this message:Region Error -Please eject the disc.- Playaback is not authorized in your region.I have no idea what that means. To me it means I cannot view the item I paid for. I don't think this is a normal DVD.Is there something we can do about this? I have never had that problem before.grace2u