xxitalianxx Reviews

Dirty Dancing (I) (1987)

Dirty Dancing

[9 May 2006]

The exceptionally controversial film Dirty Dancing is a fitting example of a movie which contains many religious and moral topics. This film tells the story of a young girl (Baby), who is pretty much a "goody goody" her whole life up until one summer when she encounters a group of people unlike any she has met before. At a resort in which she vacationed with her family, she was intrigued by dance instructor Johnny and his "bad boy" image. This is a summer in which Baby is faced with moralistic issues ranging from premarital sex, deception, adultery, theft and abortion (to name a few).

Even the title of this film offers a sense of vulgarity which I connected with the type of dancing since it so close and the amount of body contact. They way the characters dressed were also very sexual with the frequent showing of flesh and the idea that this type of dancing hinted at sort of a foreplay act.

On the more religious aspect of the film, Baby lies to her father about needing money to help out a friend, something that she never had done to her father before. The reason for her lie is to help out a less fortunate cause. As if lying wasn't bad enough, the money she lied to borrow from her father was to go towards Penny's abortion. Another immoral act in the film involved the old married couple who stole from the members of the resort, this contributed to the many morally wrong acts that occur in the movie as well.

Although the film contains many religious and moral issues, it also tells a love story and shows the growth of a naive young woman as she is faced with the everyday problems that are a huge part of the world today. While she made some wrong choices herself, she learned from others mistakes and grew up throughout the whole process.

Despite the fact that Dirty Dancing contains a lot of moral issues which I do not agree with, but contrary to those facts I still enjoy the film. I believe the character learns from her own mistakes and the mistakes of others around her which ultimately would help shape her into an exceptional individual.

Top Hat (1935)

Top Hat

[9 May 2006]

Top Hat was a very interesting movie. It wasn't the type I would go to blockbuster and rent. It didn't seem like the movie was fictional. The dance scenes in the movie connected to the mood of the dancer and what was going on in the story. You can tell that people thought hard about the dancing scenes before putting the movie out.

In one of the dance numbers Fred dances with Ginger and sings to her about heaven. Her dress and the background symbolized the theme of heaven. When the two were dancing they moved together and it seemed very peaceful and quit heavenly.

Another dance scene that I remember well is when the dancers were attached by a rope. In this scene Fred and Ginger were at a fancy restaurant eating and Ginger was singing about a man who was looking up in the sky at the stars. This foreshadowed the design the dancers would then create which was a star.

I thought the movie Top Hat was very thought out. The cameras viewed the dancers at the best angles appropriate at that time. Towards the end of the movie Fred had a scene that was interesting and entertaining. He danced in a manor that looked like he was shooting down the rest of the dancers behind him.

One thing that wasn't too fictional was when they were in one country one scene another country the next. Besides this bit of non-fiction it was a good movie that showed better dancing then the previous movie. Each scene had to do with the next.

Stormy Weather (1943)

Stormy Weather

[9 May 2006]

After watching the film Stormy Weather (1943), it was clear that the Hollywood movie making industry was headed toward a new era. The new era being that colored actors were recognized and not only that, spiced up the industry. This movie shied away from the usual parts actors of color would normally play, parts in which they were slaves or butlers and servants.

This truly showed the breakthrough of African Americans in entertainment and paved the way for how successful many have presently become. Specifically in this movie, it told the story of how a man of color worked his way literally from the bottom up. It began with Bill Williamson who came home from war in France, and was working in a basement restaurant when fate stepped in and reunited him with his love interest. It was because of Selina that he was working in the city hoping to step foot into the dancing business. When she recognized him, she insisted to the show's producer that he be put in the show. This was Bill's break that got him out of a basement restaurant to the "top" of a tree in production. This is where Bill made the most of this opportunity and showed off his abilities but in turn got him fired from the show. But that was all he needed and he was on his way to stardom.

Twentieth Century Fox really broke the mold with this movie in response to FDR's urging. It finally gave actors of color the chance to show off their tremendous talent also allowing them to have more of an equal role in society. Although there still were laws restricting the interaction between whiles and blacks in films, it certainly brought them out of the repetitive demeaning roles of slaves and servants. It was thrilling to be able to see the talents of these actors and all the skills offered through their dancing and singing abilities. All of the dance numbers and costumes really represented the time period. The way the dancers moved were both creative and unique, especially the indisputably impressive Nicholas Brothers.

Shall We Dance? (2004)

Shall We Dance

[9 May 2006]

After watching the movie Shall We Dance, I could say its fair enough to compare it to Billy Elliot in the sense that John and Billy were both afraid to tell people they were taking dance lessons. This movie was considered to be a romantic comedy where a bored, overworked Estate Lawyer, upon first sight of a beautiful instructor, signs up for ballroom dancing lessons.

The main character John Clark seems to be having a great relationship with his wife. But he feels like he can not tell his wife about him taking lessons. The reasoning behind this is unclear, but it seems like he will cheat on his wife with the dance instructor. Of course after watching the movie you see he doesn't commit such an act. In the scene where he travels home everyday on the train and passes the dance studio is very affective. We are uncertain if he will follow through and end up taking the lessons.

When John finally starts dance lessons he really isn't that great. He hides it from everyone at home and work. His family starts to see strange behaviors in him, such as peeking in on him in his room and he is dancing around by himself. They are curious to know what he has been up to; his wife goes on and hires a private investigator to see if he is cheating on her. He then follows John and sees he goes to dance classes.

The best scene in the movie is when John has to perform in the dance competition. He realizes he is really good at something and debates sharing it with his family. When his wife and daughter found out, they went to his dance competition. He messed up when he saw them and his daughter yelled "yeah dad." His family then walked out on him and his performance. From that moment he decided he didn't want to dance anymore. His wife wouldn't let him do that because she saw how good he was!

Save the Last Dance (2001)

Save the Last Dance

[9 May 2006]

The movie Save the Last Dance, directed by Thomas Carter was a break through for black and white couples. This movie was about a white girl named Sara Johnson who fell for a black boy named Derek Reynolds. Sara originally lived in the Midwest until the death of her mother. She was then forced to move in with her father Roy who she really didn't consider to be her dad.

Being the only white girl in a black community she felt very out of place in school and not too safe walking around the streets at night. She met Chenille Reynolds who we eventually figure out is Derek's sister. Chenille welcomes her and makes her feel at home. She introduces Sara to some of her friends and everything seems to be going fine.

Even though she seemed to have made friends it doesn't mean people technically agree with her having feelings with a black boy. At first Derek and Sara didn't get along then they started to hang out and dance together. This is when she started to fall for him. One scene that sticks out in my mind was when Sara and Derek were on the train together and the old lady kept starring at them. She was disgusted to see an interracial couple. In her days it wasn't fine to see that, today in the 21st century it is more normal but still not to accepting.

Another scene that showed someone cared that they were together was at the club. One time was with Derek's ex-girlfriend Nikki. Derek and Sara were dancing and Nikki got jealous and told Sara off saying just because she is white she thinks can come and take what's hers hence Derek.

Despite what everyone else thought they were in love. They only cared about each other and those who didn't mind them being together. They were both splitting and going their different ways when they movie was over. Derek going off to medical school and Sara being accepted to Julliard, we will never know what ends up happening to them unless they make another movie. Whatever does happen though will work out for the best of them I feel.

Billy Elliot (2000)

Billy Elliott

[9 May 2006]

After seeing Billy Elliot it was very obvious people who not accept the fact of a boy wanting to dance. It is hard to hide things from your parents and family, especially when it's not something illegal or wrong.

It upset me to see someone really enjoy doing something but not be able to tell anyone about it. He worked hard with his teacher to be good. One scene I recall the most was when his father found out and then his brother did as well and Tony wanted to beat him up for dancing. I think he was afraid that if anyone found out his brother enjoyed dancing people would look at him differently and ruin his reputation as well. He would think that people would think he was "gay".

Julie Walters played a great character Mrs. Wilkison. She agreed with Billy wanting to dance and she was good about hiding it from his family. But everyone had a break point; Mrs. Wilkison couldn't let such good talent go to waste. She approached Billy's father about it and told him how he was a great dancer. He then told her to stay away from him and he could no longer dance. That didn't stop the two. They kept practicing, even harder then before.

The best scene in the movie was Christmas night, Billy took his friend to he place that he dances at. In this scene Billy's father and the owner of that gym walked in on him dancing for his friend. At first we get the impression that he is going to be mad at Billy. Later we find he turns his way of thinking and supports Billy and him wanting to dance. At the end of the movie we see Billy in a dance recital and his brother and father watching him proudly.

It takes a lot for outsiders to think he wasn't gay. But it all comes down to the people that matters don't mind, and those who mind don't matter!

Dixie (1943)

Dixie

[9 May 2006]

After viewing the 1943 classic Dixie, it was apparent that at this civil war time entertainment there were different styles of dance emerging. During this time it became a popular diversion to spend evenings at a minstrel theatre. Straying away from the traditional opera or ballet, minstrels offered a new sense of entertainment which promoted the class system. Fortunately our society today is accepting African American's and prejudices are less prevalent. Subsequent to professional minstrelsy's decline in the 20th century, its appeal continued in the south. Though minstrels proposed stereotypes, some good did result from this type of entertainment. These shows presented black performers the opportunity to build a foundation which later helped many of them to emerge as successful entertainers.

Minstrel shows exposed a wide selection of audiences to this unique type of entertainment. With its combination of eccentric dancing and diverse music, people enjoyed the allure of the entertainment. Closely similar to tap dancing, it boasted innovative and bizarre movements' pairs with flamboyant eye-catching costumes.

This type of amusement contributed to later types of dancing and entertainment. As a big benchmark in the industry, without minstrels played a role in what dancing has evolved into presently. Without minstrels, who knows if the great such as Dizzy Gillespie, W.C. Handy, and Bert Williams, would have been as successful as they were.

One Last Dance (2003)

One Last Dance

[9 May 2006]

After viewing most the film One Last Dance, many psychological comparisons were evident. Not only did this movie portray beautiful dancing and a deep message, there were connections that were closely related psychological processes. The correlations included the ego, characters experiencing self doubt, mid life crisis', and injury.

A specific dance sequence in this film that contained all the psychological aspects was in the beginning of the film. When the main character is dancing in the dark dance studio room and he is haunted by various images of experiences he went through. He first starts out moving gracefully to the music running through all the moves in his mind as a dead tree branch lies across the floor. This to me represents the trio's choreographer who passed away before the show was ever performed. The room s also especially dark which expresses to me the emotion being portrayed as morbid because of the death. Sheets are also shown blowing in the wind which suggests being the presence of a spirit or ghost haunting him as he recalls the strict demeanor and suffering the dancers went through under his direction. A final example I recall from the film is when he falls during this scene. To me that represented when the women I the trio fell, and also implied to difficulty and previous failure of the project.

After seeing most of this movie, it was really amazing to me the numerous psychological associations it contained. Not only was it a beautiful dance story, there was deeper underlying meaning to it. This film wasn't just a typical dance movie that was uplifting and jovial, but instead demonstrated real life struggles and perseverance.