Customer Reviews

Elvis - That's the Way It Is (Special Edition)

5 star:		(138)
4 star:		(29)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

The "Special Edition" DVD of the 1970 concert film, "That's the way it is",is remastered with better audio, video, and extra footage of Elvis! It has removed footage from the original VHS version (which has a cover showing Elvis in a flowered shirt) such as fan comments, advertising for the show, and even a few Elvis performances ("I just can't help believing" for one). This documentary consists of footage of Elvis in one of the best times of his life emotionally, physically, and vocally. Seriously, the band has to work hard to keep up with the energy that Elvis displays in this show! (see "Polk Salad Annie", "Suspicious Minds", etc.) It is fantastic that this video has been preserved because it shows Elvis at the top of his game. You may notice that the audience is quite tame compared to an arena audience. For one thing the concert is a formal Vegas affair with everyone seated at dining tables. Yes there are still some lovesick girls in the front row, but you can also see celebrities like Sammy Davis, jr. and Cary Grant in attendance. The energy of the audience doesent really matter anyway because the performance Elvis gives is amazing and inspiring. This is a great way to remember Elvis.

The DVD will sound, look, and flow much better than the original film. It also has more Elvis and less stuff to fast foward through. Bottom line: Hold on to your old VHS copy for the performances not on the DVD, but buy the DVD for every other reason.

TCB

Fantastic, Super, Dazzling. This 90 minutes of concert and behind the scenic footage is breath taking. It is 1970 and Elvis has a Vegas tour planned, he has finished his movie contract and has been reborn more mature, thanks to his 68 comeback. `That's the way it is' captures Elvis' charisma, talent and amazing voice, it is totally re-cut and restored by Rick Schmidlin (Greed, Touch of Evil). It is basically split into two parts - off and on stage. The off stage section follows Elvis in the MGM studios and his endearing clowning around through the Vegas warm up and the show itself. And what a show! It shows Elvis at the height of his carer holding the audience spellbound. There is a variety of songs (full list of songs below) incorporating R & B, Blues, Country and of course Rock & Roll. There are touching and spin tingling versions of You've lost that loving feeling and You don't have to say you love me. But naturally all the songs are outstanding. In conclusion I think even if Elvis hadn't had any of his movies, no previous concerts and no fame what so ever, just this - he would still be the King.

The full song list -

That's all right
Little sister/Get back
My baby left me
Crying time
Love me
Twenty days and twenty nights
Bridge over troubled water
Cattle call
Chime bells
Santa Claus is back in town
Mary in the morning

Mystery train/Tiger Man
That's all right
I got a woman
Hound dog
Heartbreak hotel
Love me tender
I can't stop loving you

Just pretend
The wonder of you
In the ghetto
Patch it up
You've lost that loving feeling
Polk salad Annie
One night
Don't be cruel
Blue suede shoes
All shook up
You don't have to say you love
Suspicious Minds
Can't help falling in love

I first watched the new edit of Elvis - That's The Way It Is On Turner Classic Movies. I also ordered the video from Amazon and had it rush delievered. This movie is so exciting and fresh that it's beyond description. Elvis never sounded better or looked better, and this movie takes advantage of previously unused footage and milks the Elvis experience for everything it's worth (and that's a heck of a lot). Long gone are the previously included interviews and odd fan moments. This movie is pure Elvis. The movie starts with rehearsals and works its way through a Vegas performance. The first 30 minutes are rehearsals and Elvis backstage, providing a glimpse of Elvis rarely seen. Elvis is seen goofing around, and he is seen instructing his band and backup singers in the fashion of a true master. The last hour of the show is an Elvis Vegas performance from start to finish (spliced together from 6 different shows). The Vegas shows culminates in a performance of Suspcious Minds that is alone worth the price of admission. This is a must have. The price is low. The sound and picture quality is excellent, and the editing and production value is first rate. This video is Elvis - the way it really was. Be aware that the TCM tv presentation was in wide screen. The video is available in wide screen and full screen / normal. If you like wide screen be sure to order the correct version of the video package. But either version you get - you will play it over and over and over. It's beyond comprehension! It's so fresh and alive you'll almost forget it wasn't recently filmed. The fade outs and the camera angles are excellent. Hats off to Turner and Warner Brothers for this delightful video!

Superb effort went into this project. The "Special Edition" is in every possible way, a major improvement over the original release.

Digitally restored, the picture is crystal clear and brilliant. The film has also been re-edited from its original format, which contained interviews with talking heads, Elivs fans and impersonators, and entirely too little of Elvis. Now, "Elvis: That's The Way It Is" contains lots of extra (in fact, nothing but) footage of Elvis rehearsing, performing, and interacting with folks, including many previously deleted scenes and performances that greatly enhance the impact of the film. Why they cut this stuff out the first time is beyond me.

The movie still serves as a documentary, but basically presents the events of Elvis rehearsing, pre-show jitters, and then the performance (filmed over 6 shows), intended to give viewers the experience of watching the "ultimate Elvis concert."

Did I mention the sound? They actually took the trouble to find the original 16 track reels and have completely digitally remastered it. The sound is fantastic! This is one of those DVDs you could simply put in and LISTEN TOO.

Elvis is at the top of his game - he's in fantastic shape and his vocals and the band sound great. What a performer! What a show! What a Legend.

This DVD does real justice to the King and presents and preserves his musical legacy.

The reviews shown on this page are for the ORIGINAL 1970 version of this movie, not the "special edition" that goes on sale in January. I saw this "new" version recently at a cinema in London and it just blows the old version away!! There are no more sad fans comments, but more Elvis, with plenty of humour from the king and over 40 minutes of previously unseen material. Elvis jokes around with his band and looks superb. Several mild expletives that were previously edited out are now re-instated and the whole production has a modern "MTV" style about it. Ignore the reviews for the old version, this film is now the business!!!

The 'Special Edition' is fantastic. But, it is the same as the 2001 edition......

The 'Theatrical Version' sounded better on VHS & TV etc... THEY BLEW IT!!!! The sound is low...no Bass....awful!!

I bought this to get the 'Theatrical Version' with GREAT sound. There are moments on that version not on the 'Special Edition; like when Elvis tries to find a working microphone....the "2 out of 4 aint bad" part.

I cant believe in 2007 they can do no better than this. It almost a 2nd generation ripoff of the VHS.

PS- This is not Elvis' fault....he gives great performances....ruined by the thumblefisted production crew.

They filmed 6 shows in 3 different outfits. Give ME the MASTER tapes and I would produce a 4 hour extravaganza for all Elvis fans.

Horrible job.

Like Richard Pryor, the talents of Elvis Presley were seen to best cinematic advantage in his concert films. "That's the Way It Is" (1970) shows a vibrant, charismatic and humorous Elvis that his fictional movies simply could not capture. This excellent documentary also reveals a masterful performer at the peak of his powers, which was not the case in "Elvis on Tour" (1972). Presley was a spontaneous, imaginative artist who worked better in concert arenas than on movie soundstages. "That's the Way It Is" proves this strength for all to see.

The Special Edition of "Elvis: That's the Way It Is" IS indeed special. From its original release date in the early 70's this concert tape has always been the best performance documentary about Elvis, but at the same time it was always a strange combination of triumph and disappointment. "Special Edition" remedies the disappointment and makes the triumph all the greater!

The director of the original movie was Dennis Sanders. He chose to include a great amount of distracting "fan" footage. I always considered myself an Elvis fan, but the fans shown in this movie always embarrassed me. Surely I wasn't like them... Ick!!! They seemed so "weird," so boring, so uncritical and fawning, and I always felt they did not reflect well on Elvis nor on Elvis fans. Their extensive inclusion in the original movie brought the film to a near halt. You couldn't fast forward to the next Elvis footage quickly enough!

This new version, "Special Edition" is almost a totally new movie. It is simply amazing. It reduces the distracting fan segments to almost zero and adds much interesting material unused until now. Elvis was at the very beginning of the "comeback" having many new hits and successes that added to his confidence. The voice many of us had feared was gone forever after the lazy 60's movie years, was suddenly back, exciting audiences all over the world again.

The first half of this "Special Edition" film shows preparations for the Vegas opening. First in Los Angeles with the Imperials and Sweet Inspirations practicing to Elvis recordings. Then rehearsals with Elvis in Las Vegas. The way in which Elvis prepared, how he was fully involved in the arranging of his music is remarkable. His playfulness, self-deprecating humor, his clowning around with his band members is very amusing and charming. The second half of the film is the actual performances in the main showroom at the International Hotel, Las Vegas in 1970. The film notes that the performances shown here were filmed and selected from six different shows. I like that kind of honesty in a documentary. It is glorious to see this greatest of American entertainers at his best. At 35, Elvis has never looked better: handsome, healthy, slender, working his audience like a magician.

Everyone in popular music today owes a debt to Elvis. His influence was world-wide, yet few modern American performers acknowledge any influence from Elvis Presley. Perhaps they don't realize how the singers they do feel influenced them were in turn influenced themselves by Elvis in a long chain. These people all need to look at this new "Special Edition". It is interesting to note that unlike American performers, two Belgian singers, 31-year-old Helmut Lotti and 13 year-old Michael Junior list Elvis as major influences on their own styles. Check out Lotti's "Romantic" right here on Amazon. You'll think you're listening to a reincarnated Elvis. Or check out Michael Junior, also here on Amazon, the most astounding child singer in many, many years.

"Elvis, That's the Way It Is, Special Edition" belongs in every serious popular music fan's collection. Buy it today, especially the DVD version. It is truly a triumphant historical document that is as alive and relevant today as it was in 1970.

This is the best footage of Elvis on stage in Las Vegas. The original release included a lot of fan interview footage which was kind of boring, but it also included added footage of Elvis singing songs which were eliminated in the 2001 "Special Edition" version. Both versions are included in this set, so if you don't have both and want them, this is the set for you.

It's a shame what warner has done! We were looking forward to this Special Edition for so long. I finally grapped my copy today, drove home as fast as I could and put the second dvd into my player...

My first impression: The outtakes can only be a bad joke. Have they downloaded this footage from youtube? The quality sucks. It's a shame, because this Elvis-Tunes basically are great, especially "Oh Happy Day" and "Little Sister".

Beside the picture the sound is only Mono on disc 2. We remeber: The 1992 released "Lost Performances" was in Stereo. This was 15 years ago...

Don't waste your money on this and buy the single-disc edition from 2001.