Customer Reviews

Tommy [Blu-ray]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was thrilled to pick this up a few days early at my local record store....but HORRIFIED to find it a bare bones affair. Yes, it does look even better than the Superbit version but my UK 2 DVD set from 2004 has HOURS of bonus features...
1) Director Commentary
2) insightful interview with Ken Russell by Mark Kermode
3) more of Ken Russell discussing Tommy
4) Pete Townshend interview
5) Roger Daltrey interview
6) Ann-Margret interview
7) Trailer, Press Promo materials, a featurette on the Sound...
NONE of this is on the new Blu-RAY....
with any luck it will all be on an all region UK blu-ray..
I'll refer to this version as a Boo-Ray...
GREAT MOVIE...but I can't rate this a 5 STAR Blu-Ray DVD...my review is NOT for the movie but the product/presentation itself...

From what i read,there will be no extras,I personally love the movie,but will wait until it hits $9.99,and stick with the brilliant British 2 disc DVD,with interviews and commentries.

In 1975 Tommy was released to the masses....a movie that a 'few' people 'got' and became an instant Cult Classic. With the release of Tommy on Blu Ray, I can happily say that the sound and picture quality took me back to the first time I became a witness to this spectacular visual oddity, a follower and mad admirer of The Who, and the stunningly beautiful and underrated performance by the incomparable Ann-Margret, sit back and enjoy why Tommy will always be in a class by itself...twisted and stunningly done. Kudos Ken Russell! My senses will never (thankfully) be the same~

In 1996, I did not know who The Who! When the play came to Brazil, I received a call when I heard "Pinball Wizard" on television advertisement. No idea what it was, I risked the ticket and I could not imagine how my life would change after watching. Then I fell in love with film and the band! This film is always different when I watch. And seeing in high-definition Blu-ray, I saw things I had never seen in 15 years, since seeing the funny extras and details of the scenario itself. It is a magical movie.

Fast shipping. Its a cult classic. You either love it or you hate it. Great quality bluray. My wife loved it as a christmas gift.

What fun to watch this rock opera from the 70's in Blue Ray. I had forgotten a lot about this film and was interested in how many stars are in it besides Roger Daltry. Ann Margaret, Jack Nicholson, Elton John (all looking very young) -- it was great to watch and Blue Ray makes everything bright and clear. I recommend it for those who'd like to "go back in time" for an evening.

The Who's famous and hugely popular rock opera gets the full Russellization in an exuberant, star-studded film adaptation. This is probably Russell's most-seen film. It's all about a psychologically traumatized boy who is deaf, blind and mute but becomes the object of a religious cult because of his awesome skill playing pinball. Roger Daltry, Ann-Margret, Oliver Reed and others are a perfect fit. This one screams to be experienced in its Blu-ray transfer with full-tilt surround sound.

Some Who fans are still upset at what Ken Russell's take, but this is a film adaptation and not a concert. No extras (as in the UK disc), and it's not a Quintaphonic mix, but hard to hear the difference with a big audio system. It sounds and looks great.

A relic of another era. Hard to believe how fast time whizzes by...

Outstanding! This movie never looked or sounded better! A seminal, generational piece of work! Very highly recommended.

Ken Russell's adaptation of Pete Townsend's 'Rock Opera' is a masterpiece which captures the true essence of the Who's powerful work. Although this film has received mixed reviews , I was one of the few people to attend the premiere in TRUE QUINTOPHONIC SOUND in Leicester Square, London. Sitting, as I was, over the sub-bass woofer specially installed in the Odeon for this performance, I can assure readers that this was a sonic event not to be missed. I was wondering how this new Blu-Ray pressing would reproduce this heavily manufactured sound; I can report that it has been very successful! Whilst the orchestrations done for the movie are far less impressive than those on the Ode recording with the LSO, they do support the generally poor singing by the cast. Only Roger Daltrey and Tina Turner give really musical performances. But this does not matter. The brilliance of Russell's direction and screenplay make this a visual feast. So, OK, it is like a 90 minute long pop video; but that was what the director intended.
This new pressing improves the visual quality impressively and the sound has that brittle edge that is required. Play this movie with the volume up - it deserves it. Then sit forward and enjoy. You won't regret it!!

Ray Allen

I know many WHO fans hate this film. Get over it. Film is a different medium than recorded music and if you have any thoughts this translation doesn't do the material justice then you haven't seen the lame Broadway musical version.

The music of the WHO gets a great visual treatment here at the hands of the never-subtle Ken Russell who is probably the person most uniquely talented to direct this film. The "Quintophonic" soundtrack that was available at many theatrical venues (five discreet tracks delivered via magnetic sound with Dolby noise reduction) is included on the blu-ray as well as a newly mixed 5.1 track. The guest performers help bring the songs to life quite well with Elton John's "Pinball Wizard" and Tina Turner's "Acid Queen" standing out. Also Ann-Margret and, of course, Roger Daltrey are excellent throughout and even gravel-voiced Oliver Reed steps up with a fine performance that supports his atypical "vocal style".

If you don't know the story I won't spoil it for you here. Assuming this gets the quality video transfer it deserves and isn't smeared over with DNR this BR disc should be a treat.