Product Details

• Actors: Jennifer Lopez, Jackie Guerra, Constance Marie, Alex Meneses, Jon Seda
• Directors: Gregory Nava
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English, Spanish
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: April 27, 1999
• Run Time: 128 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (222 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 079073432X
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,484 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Gregory Nava (Why Do Fools Fall In Love?) directs this more-or-less official film biography of the late Mexican-American singer, Selena Quintanilla Perez (the film is coproduced by her father), which emphasizes sentimentality over conflict and plays down the star's horrific death at the hands of a deranged fan. Jennifer Lopez is quite good as Selena, whose roots we come to know through the story of her father (Edward James Olmos), a Corpus Christi singer who was rejected by white audiences. The script focuses primarily on Selena's inspiring rise, and it tries to muster some sense of urgent conflict over not-particularly-contentious issues (such as her relationship with a guitarist). But Olmos does a fine job portraying the elder Perez as a possessive sort, and the music and general buoyancy of Lopez's performance are infectious. The unavoidable subject of Selena's killer--a woman who happened to be the president of her fan club--is considerably and oddly downplayed. --Tom Keogh

Product Description
The nuts and bolts of the irresistibly danceable music called Tejano are pop, rock, polka, R&B and Latin influences. To millions of fans there's another vital ingredient: the dynamic singer Selena. Vibrant and tuneful, Selena is the story of the Grammy Award-winning South Texas singer whose life tragically ended just as she was taking Tejano where it had never gone-into mainstream America. Pulsating with Selena's voice on the soundtrack and made with the participation of her family, the film brims with authenticity. It excitingly recreates the early life of a little girl who dreamed big, hit the road in the band bus named Big Bertha and whose concerts became electrifying events. In the title rose, Jennifer Lopez is herself electrifying. Edward James Olmos, Jon Seda and others also shine in "a poignant, heartwarming movie that deserves a standing ovation" (Jules Peimer, WKDM-Radio/New York).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT MUSIC...GREAT BIOPIC..., February 4, 2002

By	Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Selena [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This 1997 film, well directed by Gregory Nava, was the film that propelled Jennifer Lopez on to stardom. She is nothing short of sensational in this film. She is Selena!

The film recounts the brief life of Selena Quintanilla Perez (Jennifer Lopez), a life that was built around her father's broken dreams. Her father (Edward James Olmos) had himself had a band in his youth called "Los Dinos". Now a married man with children, his dreams have stalled along the wayside. When he realizes, however, that his young daughter has some musical talent, he builds a band around her, "Selena and Los Dinos", and begins living vicariously through her.

Under the watchful eye of her martinet father, years of forced, musical practices and life on the road follow. Loving, possessive, and controlling, he succeeds in almost losing her, when she marries her guitarist without her father's permission. They reconcile, however, and he places Selena on the path to stardom, a tejano sensation on the cusp of becoming a crossover musical star. Unfortunately, her path crosses that of a fan, Yolanda Saldivar, whom Selena befriends, only to have her be the one who cuts her down in her prime.

Jennifer Lopez is sensational as Selena, big booty and all. She charms. She beguiles. She entertains. She is every inch the star. This has been her best role, and her performance is stellar. She should have won an award for her performance, because she most certainly deserved one for her portrayal of Selena. It is unfortunate that her acting career has been downhill ever since.

Edward James Olmos is perfect as Abraham Quintanilla, the father who pushed his daughter to heights that he had dreamed for himself but had been unable to reach. His performance is powerful and rich. He, too, should have had his award calibre performance acknowledged in some way, as it was close to perfect. Mr. Olmos is a wonderful actor who deserves more recognition than he has gotten, thus far.

All in all, this is an interesting, absorbing film with some great music. No wonder Selena was a hit!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Viviras Selena!, October 31, 2002

By	SC (San Diego) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Selena (DVD)

First, I was skeptical about Jennifer Lopez's big-screen debut as the slain Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla. The movie was heartfelt, realistic (Selena did come to life!) and I loved all the characters, especially Abraham Quintanilla (Edward James Olmos), Marcela (Constance Marie) and Chris (Jon Seda), who all contributed to bringing Selena's spirit and music to life. I also give huge props to the Young Selena (Rebecca Lee Meza). The film had me in tears at the end and the storyline was sentimental and sweet, not trashy. A very well-produced, great movie! I don't care if people though that because Jennifer Lopez was Puerto Rican, she shouldn't have been playing a person of Mexican lineage, but she did a wonderful job to bring Selena's music and spirit back to life! I like the fact that Selena's father Abraham was the executive producer of the movie so he could be positive to sustain the dignity and memory of Selena. Viviras Selena!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Selena" DVD was great! Jen Lopez makes Selena live Forever!, January 29, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Selena (DVD)

First off, I would just like to say that the movie was a box-office success, I have no Idea were people get the idea that it wasnt!

Well, now that that is out of the way, "Selena" was an incredible piece of work! From the very beginning where her last Houston concert was re-created I could tell that Jennifer Lopez did the best, she acts so much like the real Selena, it really amazed me!

The films major pluses are the fact that her killer is not in it that much, becuase the film has to do with her life, and not about a killer that everyone would rather forget existed. Secondly, the fact that the movie did not go into what happened after Selena died, when a movie comes out about the life of a legend, it should stick to her life and not to what happened after she died.

The DVD version is great aside from the GREAT AUDIO and PICTURE , "Selena" comes in both Pan and Scan and Widescreen formats which is great for me cuase I really like alternating. And the Menus make it more enjoyable and interesting.

"Selena" was a remarkable film! Although I do think that the fans that knew her in life will relate to it more, It will touch everyones hearts if they see it for what it really is: A loving and humble tribute to Selena and her fans.(See the ending to see what Im talking about)