By June L.
Aug 8, 2007, 9:34 GMT
It is impossible to measure the effect that the life of Elvis Presley has had on the world. Opinions concerning Elvis range from adoration to indifference, but most people will agree that he was part of the major change in our culture.
He thought of himself as simply an entertainer, but through his music, movies, and performances on stage, he touched people in amazing ways. This is Elvis is a film about the phenomenal life he led. It is an even presentation of the facts, showing all the events, but not highlighting either the good or the bad to slant the film in a certain direction. The viewer watches the story of a man who had undeniable talent, who earned fame and fortune, but encountered problems that wrecked important aspects of his life.
It is a very human representation, and one that is identifiable to viewers. Who doesn’t make wrong choices at some point? The difference here was that Elvis was perhaps the first celebrity to have every action recorded and commented upon and ultimately judged by the public. It is to the credit of the filmmakers that the viewer has no wish to judge at the end of this movie, but is left with a sense of loss and sadness for what might have been in different circumstances.
The second disc is the 1983 unrated expanded video version that has forty minutes more footage than appeared in the theatrical version. There is a vintage featurette Behind the Gates of Graceland, and an Elvis Presley movie trailer gallery. Within the case is a 24 page photo book, artistically presented with photographs and meaningful quotations from Elvis’s life.
Juxtaposed with those grim bits of film are moments of sheer silliness, such as the montage of Elvis movies. Which, by the way, if you are a film buff or of a certain age, makes a great party game…..name the movie, the co-star and Elvis’s character. Amazon . As of yet, this version of the DVD is not available in the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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