Elvis by Baz Luhrman

Saw it yesterday. I nearly walked out in the first 10 minutes the visuals were so chaotic and it was so loud! (although I knew what to expect given the director). I stuck with it however and although it was a bit long and repetitive (how many swooping shots of the LV hotel did we need to understand how long he played there?) I enjoyed it. I only knew the 70s Elvis when I was a teenager and couldn't understand what all the fuss was about Having visited Graceland and Beale Street it also brought back memories of a wonderful holiday. A sad story but stylishly told.

I must go to see it!

When we were teenagers, my friend and I went to see all the Elvis films and I bought all his singles (which, years later, went to the Blue Peter Great Bring and Buy sale - I wish I'd kept them!).

Many years later still, I mentioned to another friend that I'd loved Elvis when I was young and she said, in astonishment, "But he was so thick!".
I told her that it wasn't his intellect that attracted me ?

Went on Sunday. Thought it was brilliant.

We put off seeing the film as I wasn't sure I would like it - but I loved it!! Austin Butler deserves every award going - he WAS Elvis in this!

My 6 year old granddaughter was obsessed with Elvis in Blue Hawaii for a while. She would pretend to go swimming in the sea with him......on my living room carpet.

Kate1949 that is hilarious!!

I love Elvis now but it was my older sister who liked him back at the beginning. However, and I have posted this before, when I was about 13 I had a friend who was obsessed with Elvis. I mean totally obsessed. I went to see Blue Hawaii with her. She was a total embarrassment . During the scene where Elvis married, my friend stood up and shrieked at the screen in her finest Brummie accent 'Tek yer bleedin' hands orf him'. I can laugh now but not at the time

Just back from seeing it - very Baz Luhrman but big, bold, stunning and very moving. If true (and I expect it is).what an odious blood sucking creep Col Tom Parker was. Tom Hanks way out of character- brave to,play this part I think
Fabulous music and costumes and a brilliant Elvis. Loved it!

When we were teenagers my friends and I used to wait for the next Elvis film to come out and also his next record, his early records were amazing. We had pictures of him on our bedroom walls, he was incredibly good looking and sent iur teenage hormones into overdrive After Jailhouse Rock his films started to go downhill, it was obvious he was just making them under some sort of contract that focused on quantity rather than quality.. One friend was a huge fan all her life and managed to get to Graceland with her daughter a few years before she died; she had Amazing Grace played at her funeral and it was very moving. DH and I will be going to see the film as Elvis was a huge part of our youth and it has very good reviews.

There have been loads of documentaries about Elvis and the Memphis Maphia were interviewed at length. The stories they told were heartbreaking. How Parker forced Elvis on stage when he was unwell and had collapsed with exhaustion. He kept him performing mostly to fund his excessive gambling habit and spent all Elvis's earnings at the roulette table. Just shocking. I absolutely detest that man.

One of my friends (also a fan) said it is amazing too. I must try and find the time to go and see it

Elvis was a very spiritual man and I love some of his spiritual songs , I do feel he was a good man but messed up sadly . He will always be forever young . So handsome too

My brother in law's father whilst stationed Germany (National Service) caught a glimpse of Elvis.
Elvis was also stationed for in Germany for a couple of years.

Looking forward to new film.
I remember queueing in 70s to watch the last Elvis film not long before he died.

Urmstongran

I’d love to see it too GrandmaBatty. It’s had rave reviews hasn’t it? I’m another who didn’t realise Col. Parker had (very likely) murdered someone - a woman in her early 20’s - before fleeing Europe and settling in the USA. No wonder he didn’t want a passport! Sadly he prevented Elvis from touring Europe which he dearly wanted to do. Poor Elvis was manipulated aggressively by his manager. Apparently when he was chained by contract for years in Las Vegas the song ‘Suspicious Minds’ (caught in a trap) was poignant to some who knew him. Elvis seems to have been a sweet boy who was snared by a greedy agent with dollar signs in his eyes.

If I remember rightly, Elvis reluctance to come to Europe was presented as "he didn't like flying" which kind of contradicts the fact that he was flying across the US all the time and had in fact been to Europe anyway when he did his National Service in Germany.

No idea how manipulative Col Parker was, Tom Hanks plays to that very well in the film.

It is wonderful Urms. At the end there is footage of the real Elvis and it's incredible how much Austin Butler was like him. I know by the power of makeup etc, but the mannerisms and voice are spot on. I was a fan of the young Elvis, not so much the Vegas years. His voice was so special.

I’d love to see it too GrandmaBatty. It’s had rave reviews hasn’t it? I’m another who didn’t realise Col. Parker had (very likely) murdered someone - a woman in her early 20’s - before fleeing Europe and settling in the USA. No wonder he didn’t want a passport! Sadly he prevented Elvis from touring Europe which he dearly wanted to do. Poor Elvis was manipulated aggressively by his manager. Apparently when he was chained by contract for years in Las Vegas the song ‘Suspicious Minds’ (caught in a trap) was poignant to some who knew him. Elvis seems to have been a sweet boy who was snared by a greedy agent with dollar signs in his eyes.

Thank you ill go and see

Cinema

Is this in the cinema or on TV?

It's very much in the style of Baz Luhrman so that might not be to everyone's taste. Austin Butler is so good as Elvis. He manages to convince as a young gawky boy and as a forty year old man. Tom Hanks is superb as Parker.

TH loved Elvis but doesn't want to see a film about the cruelty of Col Parker surprised its Tom Hanks who we both love in films. I would love to hear some good things about the film to reassure TH so he can enjoy it. Elvis was before my time DH is a bit older than me.

It got released here on Thursday- I'll go and see it too in a nice fancy cinema where you can stretch your legs out. I loved the Crawdads book so that will be another treat in store.

I also saw it last night I thought Baz Luhrman has produced a very good biopic. As you say it's pretty long and agree the performances, Tom Hanks, as the appalling Colonel Parker, excellent, I didn't know he was a Dutch illegal immigrant before. The film belongs to the very talented young actor, who played Elvis brilliantly not to mention an incredible performance by another young singer/actor who portrayed Little Richard. I wasn't a fan of Elvis at all when I was growing up far more influenced by The Beatles. Only long after he died, in the last 20 or so years I've come to appreciate him and his voice.

Veering off topic slightly, for those who read "Where the Crawdads Sing" it was one of the trailers, thought it looked good.

I saw a trailer for it and thought it looked good. The reviews are good. I really fancy seeing it.

Thanks for that…I’m looking forward to seeing ‘Elvis’, glad you enjoyed it.