Product Details

• Actors: Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Bell
• Directors: Stephen Daldry
• Format: NTSC, Import, Widescreen, Subtitled, Dolby
• Subtitles: Spanish, Portuguese, English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (284 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000TDAUJY
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #196,784 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

LA VIDA DEL HIJO DE UN OBRERO DE UNA MINA DE CARBÓN CAMBIA PARA SIEMPRE EL DÍA EN QUE SE CRUZA CON UNA CLASE DE BALLET, EN SU CAMINO A LAS LECCIONES DE BOXEO. UNIÉNDOSE A LA CLASE, PERO MANTENIÉNDOLO OCULTO DE SU PADRE VIUDO Y DE SU AUTORITARIO HERMANO, BILLY DE ONCE AÑOS DE EDAD (JAMIE BELL) MUESTRA UN TALENTO INNATO, EL CUAL ES INMEDIATAMENTE RECONOCIDO POR SU INSTRUCTORA DE BALLET, MRS. WILKINSON (JULIE WALTERS). ELLA LO ALIENTA A DAR UNA PRUEBA PARA LA ESCUELA REAL DE BALLET EN LONDRES, PERO BILLY SE SIENTE DIVIDIDO ENTRE SUS RESPONSABILIDADES PARA CON SU FAMILIA Y SU INSUPERABLE DESEO DE DAR RIENDA SUELTA A SU PASIÓN POR LA DANZA. JAMIE BELL, JULIE WALTERS Y GARY LEWIS NOS BRINDAN UNAS INTERPRETACIONES IMPRESIONANTES EN ESTA EDIFICANTE E INSPIRADORA HISTORIA QUE SE CONVIRTIÓ EN EL FILM MAS ACLAMADO DEL AÑO.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Tale of Redemption and the Father-Son Dynamic, April 26, 2002

By 

Jose R. Perez "Jose" (Yonkers, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Billy Elliot (DVD)

Jamie Bell is pure magic in this wonderful coming-0f-age film that tells the story of a working class English lad who takes up ballet as a way to hone his boxing skills. In the process, he discovers himself, learnes some valuable life lessons, and fills a deep void left by the death of his beloved mum. Despite his family's strong objections (and financial straits) Billy ends up studying dance from a local teacher (the effervescent Julie Walters, who won an Oscar nomination for her work here). Her lessons - both technical and moral - serve as the basis for a devastatingly real connection between Billy and his disgusted macho father. What ensues is a dramatic comedy that inspires us at every turn without condescension or pity. The heartening interaction that develops between father and son is truly evocative, especially so for anyone who ever followed (or didn't) their dreams despite their family's objections. Not only does Billy "Dance!!" for his supper...he befriends the local outcast gay teenager and copes with questions about his own sexual orientation - heady topics for a movie about a dancing teen. All of this is handled in a mature, thoughtful manner, which makes the film a visceral, haunting experience. You can take or leave it's many messages, but theere is no denying its emotional core.

It's rare for a movie to challenge social mores and values by focusing on the dominant male principals. But "Billy Elliot" succeeds on more levels than other underdog-come-from-behind flicks. First, its based on a true story and resonates with truth, integrity and spirit. And, Bell's brash, authentic portrayal is pure magic. His feet literally take over his soul...he dances in the street, mimmicking Gene Kelly, and in the process taps his way into your heart. The performance is so accomplished it's a wonder Bell didn't receive an Oscar nomination. Even Russell Crowe - who won the 2000 BAFTA and Oscar for "Gladiator" - admitted Bell deserved the BAFTA Prize instead. Having resisted "Billy Elliot" at the movies, I finally caught it recently on HBO and was taken in immediately. This is a film your entire family can and should enjoy...if they don't, perhaps a little side trip to an English coal-mining town will help them appreciate this wonderful heartwarming film. Seriously, in this day and age, every one of us could use more Billy Elliots and fewer Scorpion Kings. A keeper!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A daddy cries..., June 23, 2001

By 

David G. Smith (Fairfax, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Billy Elliot (DVD)

My son dressed up like Beauty(Belle from Beauty and The Beast...not the concept of beauty) for halloween. He dressed like the Mother Superior when we took him to the sing-along Sound Of Music. The other day he got a superman toy and was putting a Barbie Shoe on it. I am living in the world of the unique child.And I know there will be a day where someone will try to change my son........ This is why I cried in Billy Elliot......This is a beautiful film about being different in an uncompromising world. It is a film about economics and society, and how art is developed through frustration and need...but with all that aside it is a truly entertaining and fabulous film. Stephen Daldry, the reknowned theatre director, makes his debut here. The direction is the thing that gives this it's guts. This is a much better film than it needed to be. And the performances....Julie Walters, Jaime Bell and Gary Lewis(such an amazing performance as the dAd)...Just check this out. The movie goes places that you don't expect, and thankfully, places you do. I have just been thinking about the end of the film, and how it is an ugly duckling story...the coolest thing about it is that more than Billy turn into a swan. It seems like the entire community turns swanish. Art and individuality can do that. I was the quasimodo of ducks before my som came along.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One word: Irresistible!, April 23, 2001

By 

Mark Lee "Peacemaker" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Billy Elliot (DVD)

Billy Elliot is an 11-year-old boy played by Jamie Bell. On his way to a boxing lesson, he happened upon a ballet dancing class. Soon he discovered that he was very good at ballet, and he then wanted to become a dancer despite his family's wishes. This is a really touching and inspirational film about achieving dreams that will leave you cheering!

This is easily one of the best movies I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a few considering that I'm only 14. "Billy Elliot" is very similar to "October Sky", which is another great movie. (Even the kid's dad is a coal miner!) But it is also very different in the way that it is much more complex and subtle. I have noticed that because this is a British movie, it seems to be a lot more daring than most American movies, with a lot of things that Americans might consider extraneous. But that's what I like about it; Every character is so well developed even if they have a very small role (e.g. Billy's supposedly gay friend). These little aspects of these minor characters add a really nice touch to the already powerful story.

Also, DON'T let the R-rating fool you. THIS IS A FAMILY MOVIE. This movie is NOT pornographic, or violent, or chock-full of coke-sniffing. It just contains some language that little kids shouldn't use. Even so, the profanity is used very maturely. It is never gratuitous or unnecessary, it's just how these British people speak. And the film never seems to glorify the use of such language.

This film was WAY overlooked at the Oscars. It's definitely better than "Gladiator". "Gladiator" may have cool combat actoin, but it's got a very straightforward plot which doesn't make you think. I have NO IDEA why Jamie Bell wasn't nominated for his act. He has a very auspicious start in his filom career with this movie!

If there's one thing to criticize about this movie, it's the fact that the dialogue is spoken with heavy British accents, making it hard to understand at times. But that's not enough to keep me from saying that this is one of the best movies I have ever seen! Watch "October Sky" first, to give you an idea of how an American movie tells a dream, then watch "Billy Elliot" for a more sophisticated British idea.