Xanadu

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A wimpy remake of an already anemic movie (the 1947 Rita Hayworth vehicle Down to Earth), this glitzy musical from 1980 improbably stars Olivia Newton-John as a heavenly muse sent here to help open a roller-derby disco. Gene Kelly is mixed up in this well-meaning but goofy effort to fuse nostalgia with late-'70s glitter-ball trendiness, and he looks just plain silly. Directed by Robert Greenwald, the film doesn't even work as decent kitsch. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

If there's any film that DEFINES guilty pleasure it's this one. .......2007-08-14

I'm a little bit embarrassed about liking this, seeing as though I'm a dude. I mean this film exudes so much estrogen I get hot flashes just watching it. However the letters, ONJ and ELO make it all worth watching. That is Olvia Newton John and Electric light orchestra do the soundtrack for this film. Not too mention the film stars the beautiful Aussie ONJ in all her youthful glory. This was before she got the lesbo cut for the physical video.

The dialog is so silly that it just screams for Rocky Horror like audience participation quips. Here's an example:

Sonny:You!

ONJ:Me!
...
Sonny:So do you think we could-

ONJ:See each other again?

Sonny:Yeah would you like that?

ONJ:Why?

Sonny:I don't know I don't have a very good reason. I just wanna see you again.

Smooth Sonny, real smooth.

The whole plot is so baffling it's really not worth going into. But I'll try. ONJ plays Kira one of Zeus's daughters, the muses. After watching this though you may think she's really one of Zeus's other group of daughters, the three fates- the one the cuts the strings that is.

Sonny is a starving artist forced to take a corporate job in order to make ends meet. Kira shows up and tells him to follow his dreams-build a huge roller disco. Wait a minute that's not his goal at all! Kira's goal is to build the roller disco-she just tricks this poor boy into thinking its his idea!!!

Apparently being a muse means making guys fall in love with you in order to inspire them and then leaving them high and dry. Thanks a lot Kira, you inspire me to do something really stupid like build a huge neon roller disco and leave me with the huge bills that are sure to accompany it.

There's a cool cartoon sequence, a song they sing while skating in some studio of the future where they are attacked by what looks like a huge Dalek, as well as a song where they are picking out clothes and being followed by a bunch of gay guys.

The music really holds this film together and if you don't like either artist, ONJ or ELO I would not recommend you watch this because you will find yourself in a world full of hurt. If you like these artists however, you should find this film very entertaining.

Seemed like a made-for-TV movie.......2007-07-27

I can't see why critics and ordinary viewers alike have excoriated this film with bad reviews. "Xanadu" may not be an epic for better or worse, but I really think all the horrible reviews are unwarranted.

About the worst I can say of "Xanadu" is that its dance sequences are rather long. I myself am not a dance afficionado, but I can understand how a lot of roller-skating choreography must have gone into this movie. Apparently, Olivia Newton John must have thought she was still a preteen girl deep down inside when she helped make this film, as evidenced by the elements of magical innocence and the very feminine outfits she wore in it. It helps, too, that she happened to be stunningly beautiful in that role (not to mention she had a GREAT singing voice).

Overall, however, this struck me as the sort of movie which I'd expect a local TV station to air on a weekend afternoon. If I knew any preteen girls who were aspiring to become professional dancers, I'd definitely recommend "Xanadu" as a movie they should watch.

XANADU.......2007-07-24

THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT TO SEE, EVEN THOUGH I HADN'T SEEN IT FOR MANY YEARS. THE CAST WAS GREAT, BUT I WAS DISSAPOINTED IN THE ENDING

It's still fun.......2007-07-23

I bought this DVD after going to see Xanadu on Broadway. In the comments on the playbill it said that this movie was awful and that it had managed to kill to musical genre. I always liked this movie, and looking at it now I still like this fable. To me the criticism on the playbill is unjustified!

Oh my!.......2007-07-22

1980 was not a banner year for special effects and this film did not even try. The lip sync is way off track (like watching an old karate movie offtrack) and the story is bad and poorly presented. I give two stars only for dear Olivia - love you darling - and the music of ELO.

Xanadu The Broadway Musical circa 2007 is a complete turn around and I suggest waiting for that soundtrack, even if you can't get to see the show. The Broadway Show was spectacular!

Olivia Newton-John Live In Concert [DTS Surround Sound]

Average customer rating:

Good Collector DVD
Olivia at her peak
sorta good
Olivia At Her Peak Live!

Olivia Newton-John Live In Concert [DTS Surround Sound]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000BG0PDA

Product Description

Olivia Newton-John dazzles the crowd with her high-energy performance live at Weber State University (Utah) October 12-13 1982, including such memorable hits as Xanadu, Physical, Deeper than the Night, and I Honestly Love You. A must have DVD for Olivia Newton-John fans everywhere! TRACKS: 1) Deeper than the Night; 2) Let Me Be There; 3) Please Mister Please; 4) If You Love Me, Let Me Know; 5) Jolene; 6) Sam; 7) Xanadu; 8) Magic; 9) Suddenly; 10) A Little More Love; 11) Silvery Rain; 12) Falling; 13) Heart Attack; 14) Make a Move on Me; 15) Hopelessly Devoted to You; 16) You're the One that I Wanted; 17) Physical; 18) I Honestly Love You. ++++ DVD FEATURES: This officially licensed release from South Korea is NTSC Code 0 (will play worldwide) with 4:3 Full Screen display, both DTS 5.1 Surround Sound and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound in ENGLISH with optional (removable) English or Korean subtitles.

Customer Reviews:

Good Collector DVD.......2007-01-26

I'm giving this DVD four stars mostly because I was in the audience when this concert was taped and seeing it again brings back some fond memories. If you are a fan of Liv you will greatly enjoy this DVD.

Be aware that this is a Korean produced DVD and the quality is not as good as it could be. One reviewer commented on the sound reflecting the acoustic quality of the 80's. Actually I think the quality of the sound is more of a manufacturing issue than the live recording. This concert recording was done by Home Box Office and shown on their cable network soon after the concert. The sound was great in that version. Too bad they don't release a DVD themselves (are you listening HBO?)

Another issue with the Korean version is that they cut out the entire opening sequence for the show. But don't let that stop you from buying. Since this is the only version of this concert available I recommend going for it. It's great fun and seeing Olivia sing most of her hits is enjoyable. By the way, she had a bad sore throat that night but you would never know it from her performance.

An interesting side note is that Olivia was on a national tour and the stop in Ogden Utah was not long after most of the radio stations in Salt Lake City had banned "Lets Get Physical." Part of the opening sequence of the show projected newspaper headlines about the ban on a giant walk through screen. When she stepped through that scene her fans showed the stations what they thought of the record ban and cheered her on.

Olivia at her peak.......2006-10-27

Taped during a 1982 concert when Olivia was 33 and at the height of her fame, Olivia absolutely shines as a performer. Watching this DVD has allowed me to understand why Olivia once was the Diva of Pop prior to Madonna and Whitney Houston. I wasn't even an Olivia fan prior to watching this DVD, and now, I am.

I think her talent and showmanship have been highly underestimated and even underappreciated.

Yes, this DVD has somewhat of a cheesy early 80s feel, but anything of that era looks sorta cheesy these days.

The subtitles are both in Korean or English. The sound can be heard either in DTS or Stereo. Although the sound quality isn't bad, it is recorded using early 80s acoustic technology and it isn't exceptional.

Don't let Olivia's early 80s music videos dissuade you from buying this DVD, she is a different type of performer live and this DVD captures her in it.

sorta good.......2005-10-28

this is my #2 newton-john dvd. #1 is xanadu. this dvd was of a college campus performance, and therefore not up to the recording standards of b spears las vegas concert. but it is newton-john of xanadu and greease time-frame.

Olivia At Her Peak Live!.......2005-10-01

I saw this concert by Laser Disc Format long time ago.
Olivia on her peak... Physical Tour.
Transfering from LD to DVD is quite alright.
Picture quality is same as LD, but sound is superb
by adapting DTS.
For the Fans of Olivia, this is the gift from heaven.
After watching Video Gold I, you will need some more, I'm sure.
And this dvd is it. You'll never get tired of Olivia's complete
Live on her glory days.

Average customer rating:

Marco Polo Jr's long journey

Marco Polo - Return to Xanadu
Starring: Nicholas Gonzalez , Tony Pope , Robert Kramer (IV) , Michael Kostroff , and Alan Altshuld
Director: Ron Merk
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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Xanadu

ASIN: B00018D5HG
Release Date: 2004-02-10

Description

Young Marco, whose ancestor was the famous explorer Marco Polo, takes an exciting journey to the mythical kingdom of Xanadu. Brave and resourceful, Young Marco overcomes many dangers put in his way by the evil magician, Foo-Ling, who does not want Marco to reach Xanadu. The help of his friends and the great powers of the medallion enable Marco to chase after Foo-Ling through space and time, and one day, bring him back to justice.

Customer Reviews:

Marco Polo Jr's long journey.......2007-08-03

This film was originally made in 1972 by Eric Porter Productions in Australia, as that country's first animated feature film. It was a 50-50 co-production deal between Porter and American artist and script-writer Sheldon Moldoff.
As one of the unit directors on the film, I thoroughly enjoyed working on it and, for its budget of maybe one-eighth of a contemporary Disney animated feature, I felt that it stood up pretty well.
But I always thought that it would benefit from a bit of tightening up, and so was interested when Ron Merk contacted me a few years ago with the news that he and Moldoff were going to rework the film.
In general, I think they have done a good job, although the climactic battle between Marco and the evil villain is not as good as I was hoping it would be. Nevertheless, I give it four stars - so go ahead and buy it, it's good fun!

Average customer rating:

If there's any film that DEFINES guilty pleasure it's this one.
Seemed like a made-for-TV movie
XANADU
It's still fun
Oh my!

Xanadu [Region 2]
Starring: Olivia Newton-John , Gene Kelly , Michael Beck , James Sloyan , and Dimitra Arliss
Director: Robert Greenwald
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000260NUE

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Customer Reviews:

If there's any film that DEFINES guilty pleasure it's this one. .......2007-08-14

Seemed like a made-for-TV movie.......2007-07-27

XANADU.......2007-07-24

THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT TO SEE, EVEN THOUGH I HADN'T SEEN IT FOR MANY YEARS. THE CAST WAS GREAT, BUT I WAS DISSAPOINTED IN THE ENDING

It's still fun.......2007-07-23

Oh my!.......2007-07-22

Charlie Rose with Regis Philbin; Simon Callow (March 14, 1996)

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Charlie Rose with Regis Philbin; Simon Callow (March 14, 1996)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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The Legend of Xanadu [Region 2]
Starring: Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich Dave Dee
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000BW9BVQ
Release Date: 2006-04-12

Average customer rating:

Marco Polo: Return to Xanadu

Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000GAKH20
Release Date: 2005-06-14

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