Jamaican Creole Movie Reviews

Related Subjects: Language_and_Linguistics
Family movie reviews for "Jamaican Creole" sorted by average review score:
King Creole
Released in DVD by Paramount Studio (02 May, 2000)
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Michael Curtiz
Starring: Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, and Walter Matthau
Before his handlers convinced him to settle for the safety of a screen franchise, the young Elvis Presley harbored riskier dreams as an actor, not just a star. This 1958 drama, his fourth feature outing, hints at the underlying seriousness of that goal. Presley plays Danny Fisher, a New Orleans teenager struggling to graduate from high school while working in a sleazy French Quarter club to support his family. He's also characterized as a troubled youth with a dangerous temper and feelings of shame and resentment toward his meek, unemployed father (Dean Jagger). When Danny's gift for singing provides him with a potential career break (and the requisite excuse for Elvis's production numbers), his involvement with a ruthless gangster (Walter Matthau) and his sultry, alcoholic moll (Carolyn Jones) soon threatens both his future and his family.

That story line, with Danny torn between a budding romance with a good waitress (Dolores Hart) and the bad moll, Ronnie (Jones), proves as effective as it is predictable, hardly surprising given its source in an early Harold Robbins bestseller. But King Creole also boasts an impressive production pedigree (including the team behind no less a classic than Casablanca, producer Hal Wallis and director Michael Curtiz), and the supporting cast helps elicit one of Presley's most emotional performances. Jones in particular rises above her role's inherent clichés, her self-loathing and sexuality both palpable. Presley, still a few years away from the more sanitized image that would be integral to those franchise features, is young enough to be a credible teen, but more crucially he makes his rage and yearning largely convincing.

Ironically, the dramatic sparks prove all the more welcome in light of the largely forgettable music, which variously plunders Chicago blues ("Trouble," a knock-off of "Hoochie Coochie Man") and unconvincingly crosses Presley's Memphis rock with Crescent City jazz ("Dixieland Rock"), all to far less effect than Presley's two preceding movies, Jailhouse Rock and Loving You. --Sam Sutherland

Average review score:

Elvis' Favorite Film
He said it himself. This was Elvis' favorite film he starred in. There were several, of course, and with much more acclaim and popularity, ie. "Viva Las Vegas". But Elvis was particularily proud of his work in this film. In my personal opinion, the Elvis film were no more than attempts to boost his rock star image. He was, much like singer-actors/actresses today, vainly aspiring for film fame as Madonna has done. It is best for some to remain singers and not try their hand at acting. Elvis was not a bad actor, but his films tend to be a variation of the same theme- he sings, he falls in love, he gets into trouble. It was the 50's and 60's after all- in which beach settings, rock'n'roll and camp was quite popular. Elvis was merely giving the audience of his time what they wanted.

In King Creole, Elvis plays a young graduate who works in a jazz club in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He has problems with his father, he is torn between the love of his high school sweetheart who is "the good girl" and his ganster friends' wife, the seductive "bad girl" played by Carolyn Jones. Carolyn Jones was a lesser known 50's and 60's actress, most famous for her portrayal of Morticia Addams in the comedy sitcom "The Addams Family" which ran from 1965 to 1965. But Carolyn Jones was a great actress, able to portray a mobster's wife, a troubled woman, a vixen, a beat nick, and many other personages. She was also in other tv shows, the cult classic "Batman" in which she played the villanious Marsha Queen of Diamonds and, in her older age in the Dynasty-style soap opera of 1982 "Dynasty".

Elvis and Carolyn Jones chemistry is what makes this film work. It is quite impressive in its treatment of supposed "real" problems, especially for a young man growign up in this time. Rock and roll and nostalgia abound in this must have classic for fans of Elvis and Carolyn Jones.

AMAZING
I absolutely love this movie. It really shows Elvis's acting ability which was of course largely ignored by critics. Even if you're not an Elvis fan, you should see this one!

Surprisingly great film!
I saw this movie on cable last month while flipping channels (how else can you discover hidden movie gems these days!). Do not think of this as an "Elvis movie." Yes, there are songs, but they only reinforce the story.
Great acting (even by Elvis!), great directing (same guy who directed "Casablanca"), and wonderful script. This should be put on your DVD shelf next to "Rebel Without A Clause" and "On the Waterfront."
The film combines so many different genres (film noir, musical, teen angst, family drama) and does so effortlessly. It is a lot darker and multi-layered than your regular Elvis beach movie, and stands up to repeated viewings (I've shown it to many friends since).
It's a little sad seeing Elvis in his prime, knowing what would happen to him (a lot like seeing Orson Welles in "Citizen Kane"). Regardless, enjoy the movie for what it is: an unappreciated hidden gem from the 50s.

King Creole
Released in DVD by Paramount Studio (02 May, 2000)
MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Michael Curtiz
Starring: Elvis Presley, Carolyn Jones, and Walter Matthau
Before his handlers convinced him to settle for the safety of a screen franchise, the young Elvis Presley harbored riskier dreams as an actor, not just a star. This 1958 drama, his fourth feature outing, hints at the underlying seriousness of that goal. Presley plays Danny Fisher, a New Orleans teenager struggling to graduate from high school while working in a sleazy French Quarter club to support his family. He's also characterized as a troubled youth with a dangerous temper and feelings of shame and resentment toward his meek, unemployed father (Dean Jagger). When Danny's gift for singing provides him with a potential career break (and the requisite excuse for Elvis's production numbers), his involvement with a ruthless gangster (Walter Matthau) and his sultry, alcoholic moll (Carolyn Jones) soon threatens both his future and his family.

That story line, with Danny torn between a budding romance with a good waitress (Dolores Hart) and the bad moll, Ronnie (Jones), proves as effective as it is predictable, hardly surprising given its source in an early Harold Robbins bestseller. But King Creole also boasts an impressive production pedigree (including the team behind no less a classic than Casablanca, producer Hal Wallis and director Michael Curtiz), and the supporting cast helps elicit one of Presley's most emotional performances. Jones in particular rises above her role's inherent clichés, her self-loathing and sexuality both palpable. Presley, still a few years away from the more sanitized image that would be integral to those franchise features, is young enough to be a credible teen, but more crucially he makes his rage and yearning largely convincing.

Ironically, the dramatic sparks prove all the more welcome in light of the largely forgettable music, which variously plunders Chicago blues ("Trouble," a knock-off of "Hoochie Coochie Man") and unconvincingly crosses Presley's Memphis rock with Crescent City jazz ("Dixieland Rock"), all to far less effect than Presley's two preceding movies, Jailhouse Rock and Loving You. --Sam Sutherland

Average review score:

Elvis' Favorite Film
He said it himself. This was Elvis' favorite film he starred in. There were several, of course, and with much more acclaim and popularity, ie. "Viva Las Vegas". But Elvis was particularily proud of his work in this film. In my personal opinion, the Elvis film were no more than attempts to boost his rock star image. He was, much like singer-actors/actresses today, vainly aspiring for film fame as Madonna has done. It is best for some to remain singers and not try their hand at acting. Elvis was not a bad actor, but his films tend to be a variation of the same theme- he sings, he falls in love, he gets into trouble. It was the 50's and 60's after all- in which beach settings, rock'n'roll and camp was quite popular. Elvis was merely giving the audience of his time what they wanted.

In King Creole, Elvis plays a young graduate who works in a jazz club in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He has problems with his father, he is torn between the love of his high school sweetheart who is "the good girl" and his ganster friends' wife, the seductive "bad girl" played by Carolyn Jones. Carolyn Jones was a lesser known 50's and 60's actress, most famous for her portrayal of Morticia Addams in the comedy sitcom "The Addams Family" which ran from 1965 to 1965. But Carolyn Jones was a great actress, able to portray a mobster's wife, a troubled woman, a vixen, a beat nick, and many other personages. She was also in other tv shows, the cult classic "Batman" in which she played the villanious Marsha Queen of Diamonds and, in her older age in the Dynasty-style soap opera of 1982 "Dynasty".

Elvis and Carolyn Jones chemistry is what makes this film work. It is quite impressive in its treatment of supposed "real" problems, especially for a young man growign up in this time. Rock and roll and nostalgia abound in this must have classic for fans of Elvis and Carolyn Jones.

AMAZING
I absolutely love this movie. It really shows Elvis's acting ability which was of course largely ignored by critics. Even if you're not an Elvis fan, you should see this one!

Surprisingly great film!
I saw this movie on cable last month while flipping channels (how else can you discover hidden movie gems these days!). Do not think of this as an "Elvis movie." Yes, there are songs, but they only reinforce the story.
Great acting (even by Elvis!), great directing (same guy who directed "Casablanca"), and wonderful script. This should be put on your DVD shelf next to "Rebel Without A Clause" and "On the Waterfront."
The film combines so many different genres (film noir, musical, teen angst, family drama) and does so effortlessly. It is a lot darker and multi-layered than your regular Elvis beach movie, and stands up to repeated viewings (I've shown it to many friends since).
It's a little sad seeing Elvis in his prime, knowing what would happen to him (a lot like seeing Orson Welles in "Citizen Kane"). Regardless, enjoy the movie for what it is: an unappreciated hidden gem from the 50s.

The Forbidden Dance Is Lambada
Released in DVD by Columbia Tristar Hom (30 September, 2003)
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Director: Greydon Clark
Starring: Laura Harring and Jeff James (II)
Average review score:

Absurdity
Aside from how attractive I personally find the lead actress, this movie is a complete and utter waste of time. Period.

Give me a break!
This is a bad movie, with a bad direction, bad actors (at least in this movie), bad story and belive me, this is not lambada (some musics are, but the dance is not)

And for the reviewer below, you must start knowing REAL women 'cause Laura is NOT sensual, she's completely ridiculous (in this movie)...

Great for Entertainment
This movie brings back alot of memories, it is about this Tribe princess whos tribe is being recked by some international deforestation company, she goes to the USA knowing nothing of the real life and faces many concesquences. I remember watching this movie when I was little, I will purchase it, but just to entertain not because it is a classic.

Kid Creole & the Coconuts: In Paris
Released in DVD by K-Tel/Dvd (14 December, 2000)
MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Starring: Kid Creole & Coconuts
Average review score:

AM radio sounds better than this
This audio track on the DVD is mono. The audio quality is not much better than that of a cheap clock radio. Video is 4:3 (non-widescreen)

Don't pay more than $6 for this.

Marred by poor sound and picture quality
FIve years ago I would not have complained a bit about the sound and picture quality of this show but now with the standards being so high for everything, this appears poor in comparison.

Yes, the sound is mono and the picture is blurred and grainy, but no more that a VHS release. It still looks good and sounds OK. The band is really swinging and having a lot of fun up there on the stage.

I have a VHS copy of a UK performance which was made 20 years ago and is almost as good as this DVD release, but which company will pay the money to get it cleaned up and re-released?

My major problem with this DVD is the lack of extras. You get a (static) menu, a photo gallery (4 pictures from the show - isn't that what pause is for?) and a discography.

But all that said, for a budged DVD, it'll have the joint jumpin' and is well worth adding to your collection.

Primarily for completists
Many fans who already own the VHS version of this concert may be delighted as I was by the inclusion of several new songs. The real gem among these is a terrific version of "Say Hey" by the incredibly energetic Andy Hernandez--a true funk classic which alone makes this DVD worth the purchase.

Related Subjects: Language_and_Linguistics