Bodyart Movie Reviews

First rate cast, all singing supurbly. Beautiful production. Kiri is spectacular, Brendel is fine as a romantic lead. McIntyre is particularly fine as the father.

How lucky we are to have this gorgeous Metropolitan Opera production on such a high-quality DVD! If you missed the original 1995 telecast of this opera, you have yet to discover the joys of this production. Arabella is a comedy of manners set in 1860s Vienna. Arabella's parents have a fading fortune, so they can afford to marry off only one of their two daughters; the other, Zdenka, they dress as a boy and refer to as Zdenke. I won't give away the rest of the story; it's really worth it to let this magnificent performance unfold and find out what happens that way. The cast was the best that could possibly be assembled at the time, with Wolfgang Brendel, quite convincing as the young, hot-blooded Mandryka, in his debut of the role. Kiri Te Kanawa is a legendary Strauss singer, and though she is often criticized for poor interpretation, in this opera her subtle acting shines. For example, look at her reaction when she meets Mandryka, the man she had been crushing on witho!ut knowing who he was. Her singing is consistently beautiful and soft, and her stage presence is radiant, in spite of her fifty years at the time of this taping. Arabella is supposed to be about twenty years old, and Kiri truly exudes the youth of the character, yet manages to convey the maturity that colors her almost maternal relationship with her younger sister Zdenka. Helga Dernesch and Donald McIntyre are animated as Arabella's parents. Marie McLaughlin is a passionate Zdenka. We really feel for her throughout the opera, as she longs for femininity and love. A special bonus in this production is the now-stellar Nathalie Dessay as Die Fiakermilli. She flaunts her coloratura in Act II. Christinan Thielemann is a sensitive conductor, and the MET orchestra plays flawlessly. The DVD transfer is superb. Subtitles available in German (original language), French, English, and Chinese. (Special note: Renée Fleming will perform in this same production at the MET in November 2001. G!et your tickets!)

WOW! Imagine soaking a bowl of Fruit Loops cereal ith soda pop, downing it down with Pop Tarts, and the resulting head rush -- ROBO VAMPIRE is the cinematic equivalent! YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!

The vampires bunny hop its a classic

The Firebird and Les Noces, two disparate ballets by Igor Stravinsky, are skillfully danced by The Royal Ballet of Covent Garden on this DVD recorded in 2001. The Firebird is a revival of the original Mikhail Fokine choreography. Bronislava Nijinska's Les Noces (The Wedding) is also faithfully reproduced. The scenery and costumes of The Firebird are striking and lavish, while they are plain and austere for Les Noces.

The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, under the able direction of John Carewe, beautifully performs the unabridged score of The Firebird. Before the curtain rises, an on-screen plot synopsis accompanies the first few minutes of music. From start to finish, the well-mannered British audience (as opposed to the typically clap-happy American audience) does not needlessly interrupt the dancing with inappropriate, annoying applause. In the opening scene, Leanne Benjamin, the Firebird, flits across the stage with bird-like jumps. Prince Ivan, Jonathan Cope, appears next, hopping down from the wall that encloses the enchanted garden of the immortal and evil sorcerer Kotschei. Ivan hides, lying in wait to catch the Firebird and seizes her after she steals an apple from the magic tree. What ensues is a captivating performance by Ms Benjamin. Her acting is first-rate but her dancing is inspired, arms waving and hands fluttering. She is the firebird. Her leg work, turns, and jumps (developpes, chaines, and jetes) are marvelously executed. Jonathan Cope's partnering shows sensitivity and deftness. He and Benjamin dance as one, his lifting very silky and effortless. Cope's facial expressions and body language demonstrate fine acting. David Drew as Kotschei is deliciously grotesque: long fingernails, black skeleton costume, flowing cape, humped back, and scraggly beard. His grotesqueness, however, is tinged with humor. Genesia Rosato, the beautiful Tsarevna, is suitably demure. She and her 12 princesses play catch with apples taken from the enchanted tree (not great dancing, but an interesting diversion). Watching these attractive women in their long nightgowns prancing around the stage provides pleasure. The finale, full of pomp and circumstance, is emotionally and visually satisfying, intensified by a succession of full orchestral chords.

In Les Noces, the two principals--Zenaida Yanowsky as the bride and David Pickering her groom--are nice to look at, but they do little dancing. The real stars in this dance-cantata are the men and women (especially the women) of the corps de ballet. Because this is a tricky ballet, full of changing beats and irregular tempos, dancers can easily lose count and make errors. Fortunately, they never do. Nijinska's choreography is just as fresh and modern today as it was when it was first performed in 1923. But the music (composed for four pianos, percussion, small chorus, and four soloists) is what makes this ballet-cantata a masterpiece.

These two performances are emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Anyone who appreciates Stravinsky will be rewarded with the purchase of this DVD.

This excellent version of two of Stravinsky's classic scores is danced by the superb Royal Ballet. 'Firebird' is particularly enthralling, with the recreation of the original Diaghilev sets of 1909. Ballet lovers will also be glad to have this rare chance to see 'Les noces', rarley performed but here given a persuasive performance by the company. I would have liked to see the two ballets performed in the opposite order, as Firebird might have been a more colourful ending - but this does not in any way mar a briliant issue.

I've seen several productions of "Swan Lake", and I have to say that this is far and away probably the best one around. Peter Wright's updated staging takes the classic tale of love and magic and turns it into an exquisite Gothic tragedy. The ballet opens with the funeral of Siegfried's father, a narrative touch overlooked in other stagings. As the prince faces the twin impending dooms of kingship and marriage (as his mother tells him, "You WILL marry"), his friend Benno tries to cheer him up with wine, women, and dancing. When that doesn't work, they decide, in classic male fashion, to go shoot something with Siegfried's new crossbow. The rest of the story proceeds along familiar lines: the meeting of Siegfried and the enchanted swan-princess Odette, Siegfried's entrapment by the sorcerer Von Rothbart and his disguised daughter Odile, and the final reunion of the lovers in death.

What sets this production apart is its magnificent staging and excellent performances by the artists of the Royal Swedish Ballet. Anders Nordstrom is a boyish Siegfried who seems to mature as we watch, until he makes the final step into adulthood with his pledge to die with his beloved. Johannes Ohman is a hoot as sidekick Benno; watch his chagrin in Act I when the Queen discovers the court carousing after the King's funeral. He and Nordstrom are also very fine dancers, effectively displaying their prowess in the Act I pas de trois (now a dance with two courtesans) and the Polonaise, which becomes a bravura drinking dance for the men. Nathalie Nordquist is a lovely Odette, delicate and lyrical. Her Odile, however, is somewhat less effective, perhaps because of her young age; she lacks the attack and sensuality of a more seasoned ballerina, and in her hands Odile becomes more charming flirt than evil seductress. Still, Nordquist shows great promise in such a difficult role. (For the record, my favorite Odile is Susan Jaffe's portrayal in "American Ballet Theatre: Variety and Virtuosity".) The costume and set designs are sumptuous, if a bit dark, and the whole thing is a visual feast. The DVD also includes fascinating extras, such as interviews with Nordstrom and Nordquist, a look back at other classic "Swan Lake" productions, and a chat with choreographer Wright about the story behind his staging (which is helpful if your ballet-mime-to-English is a bit shaky). If you can only buy one "Swan Lake" for your collection, make it this one!

I just bought two DVDs of the Swan Lake. One is the Barenboim, Scherzer, Matz, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin (I will soon write a review for that one) and the one on this page. The both are very good. The one on this page has stunning costumes and stage sets. The sections with the white swans are magnificent and Nathalie Nordquist is absolutely stunning. She dances with impeccable technique and superlative expression. Her swan is a joyful one rather than a dejected, oppressed bird. In addition, the camera work is extremely rewarding with a very clear picture and rich color. The sound is very clear and the orchestra plays well. Since I am a professional musician, I have compared the music in this DVD with the Barenboim, Scherzer, Matz, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin. The Barenboim is a musical experience in itself. The music is so well performed that one could play it as a music source without the video and find it very rewarding. You can't say the same about the Swedish orchestra in this DVD, but if you are watching the video and not comparing the orchestra with a superlative performance, the production is very enjoyable.

This DVD is sure to remain one of my favorites and recommend it to anyone interested in a Swan Lake performance. Nathalie Nordquist and the swans make it totally worth the purchase and the time spent watching the performance.

Finally, the musical Alice at the Palace is available on both DVD and VHS! I have been looking for this musical for almost 20 years, and am so delighted to have found it at Amazon[.com]. The musical stars Meryl Streep and has a talented supporting cast that helps her bring Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass to life in one musical.

Alice at the Palace appeared on TV in 1982, and at that time my family had a Beta tape recorder, so Alice was immortalized on tape. At some point the last 10 minutes were recorded over and it was transferred from Beta to VHS. Ever since it aired, my family has been on a quest to obtain a copy of the full musical...and at times I was desperate enough to go searching for just the transcript to read and relive it.

Alice at the Palace is low on grand theatrical gimmicks and high on incredible talent, songs, acting, and humor. It's a delight for both adults and children. I give it two thumbs up and five stars out of five for sheer entertainment. You'll be singing the songs for years afterwards....my family did.

And for anyone who says, "Meryl Streep? In a musical? Singing??!" I say, "Just wait..."

China offers it's master! Chinatown, the air is locked in a veil of secrecy. A sect of the Triads control the streets and no one can move across Chinatown's borders without the Triads permission. A complication arrives in the form of Lily, the adopted sister of Young's Triad Boss. Eric Yong is torn between his love for Lily and his commitment to uphold the Triad's honor. Yong must choose between love which he has never known or the possibility of dying for Eric, who hates him. He cannot run from destiny or hide from fate. Chinatown will be the ultimate test of Eric's honor. Cast: Henry Lee Robert Z'Dar Liat Goodson

this is a must for any dice fans or comedy fans- this is filmed at a club within a year ofhim becoming the biggest comedian ever- i like this etter than dice rules and a little better than diceman cometh- there is something really cool about it being in a small room- all the classic dice material with some good stuff that is only on this show but for some reason he didn't use it later- enjoy! its pretty raunchy but you just gotta laugh. Great stuff.

This video, billed as Ms. Russell's "First Farewell Concert," features almost all of her best routines including: a lecture in her series "Wind Instruments I Have Known," "How to Write Your Own Gilbert & Sullivan," and "The history of the Folksong." Of course, no Anna Russell collection would be complete without her analysis of Wagner's "Ring der Nibelungen." Creating great parody requires even greater knowledge of the subject being parodied, and Anna Russell, having studied at the Royal College of Music, is well qualified. The only other routine I would have liked to see on this tape would be "Introduction to the Concert (By the Women's Club President)." Truly classic Anna Russell! I'm glad this only the "First" farewell condert. I'm looking forward to many more. P.S.-- During the last folksong, look for a famous newscaster in the audience.

Great, funny, outrageous.... This set has a combination of both dry and "wet" humor. I am a big fan of black comedy and this is definitely a great set to start with, especiallyl for me. During the time of these acts being filmed I was barely in elementary and was clueless about cable television, so watching this now, certainly takes me back to memory lane of all the things that were happening at that time. Great collection if you want to start your comedy library, no dvd collection should be without!!!

This movie is absolutely fabulous. I couldn't pick out a funnier movie. It's a great movie even if you know nothing about music. I definetely recommend this.