Sylvester Stallone's "Staying Alive" is one of the most misunderstood movies ever made. It is the sequel to the very popular "Saturday Night Fever". However, "Staying Alive" is often pegged as a turkey in comparison to the first film. That is very unfair.
I wonder whether critics have anything against the film or Stallone himself. Stallone had established himself as a very capable director with "Paradise Alley" in 1978 and "Rocky II" in 1979 and "Rocky III" in 1982. But they seem unwilling to lay off Stallone and his many talents. I think he does an excellent job continuing the story of Tony Manero (played again by John Travolta).
If you love dance, you will love this film. Stallone uses his camera extremely well to capture the nuances of dance itself. There is one very strong sequence in which Tony and his on-again, off-again girlfriend practice for a Broadway musical that takes up about 12 minutes and is just exhilarating.
The story is also very good here. Tony is now a professional dance instructor in Manhattan who has a chance to get a part in the hottest new Broadway musical out there "Satan's Alley". Tony finds himself torn between two women and Stallone asks a lot of tough questions about relationships here that a harebrained movie wouldn't even touch.
Travolta is again on target here as Tony Manero. A lesser actor wouldn't even touch material as tricky as this, but Travolta takes the risks and it pays off. The music (by the Bee Gees and Frank Stallone) is excellent and fulfills the same purpose music did in the original.
"Staying Alive" probably won't ever receive the recognition it deserves. For those of you wondering, I am not being paid by Paramount to say this. My opinions CAN'T and NEVER WILL BE bought. I genuinely feel that this is an exceptional film and that it deserves better than it has received over the years.
**** out of 4 stars
I wonder whether critics have anything against the film or Stallone himself. Stallone had established himself as a very capable director with "Paradise Alley" in 1978 and "Rocky II" in 1979 and "Rocky III" in 1982. But they seem unwilling to lay off Stallone and his many talents. I think he does an excellent job continuing the story of Tony Manero (played again by John Travolta).
If you love dance, you will love this film. Stallone uses his camera extremely well to capture the nuances of dance itself. There is one very strong sequence in which Tony and his on-again, off-again girlfriend practice for a Broadway musical that takes up about 12 minutes and is just exhilarating.
The story is also very good here. Tony is now a professional dance instructor in Manhattan who has a chance to get a part in the hottest new Broadway musical out there "Satan's Alley". Tony finds himself torn between two women and Stallone asks a lot of tough questions about relationships here that a harebrained movie wouldn't even touch.
Travolta is again on target here as Tony Manero. A lesser actor wouldn't even touch material as tricky as this, but Travolta takes the risks and it pays off. The music (by the Bee Gees and Frank Stallone) is excellent and fulfills the same purpose music did in the original.
"Staying Alive" probably won't ever receive the recognition it deserves. For those of you wondering, I am not being paid by Paramount to say this. My opinions CAN'T and NEVER WILL BE bought. I genuinely feel that this is an exceptional film and that it deserves better than it has received over the years.
**** out of 4 stars