Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-25 04:51:16

the real jerry lee lewis

Dennis Quaid does a very good job of playing JERRY LEE LEWIS but the music performed by the real Jerry Lee Lewis is the hit of the movie. Jerry will be 67 years old in september of this year and can still rock as hard as anyone. there is only one JERRY LEE LEWIS. Do yourself a favor and see him while you can. As they say in the movie, Jerry Lee is playing his heart out somewhere in America tonight.

2012-05-24 16:43:04

Not like Jerry Lee's life

This movie told a good story and I like it, but the sad thing is that this movie is absolutly nothing like Jerry Lee Lewis's life. Most of the things that happened in the movie are totally fiction. Jerry is more serious that the clown that Dennis Quaid acted out. Now the music on it is a total different story, it is just wonderful. The music is Jerry Lee Lewis singing, not dennis quaid and it is just great. Wynona did a good job of being Myra in my opinion, and I think you will find her laugh in the movie very humerous. But I would advise you to buy the movie because it is just a really good story, and the sound track is definatly wonderful! Thanks Hali

2012-05-24 10:04:55

Goodness,Gracious, GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!

I love this movie! Dennis Quaid is a perfect Jerry Lee Lewis!He perfectly portrays the HOT wildman Jerry Lee was! This a great movie and has the BEST music ever played in it.After all Jerry Lee Lewis has a ferocious God given talent on him!

2012-05-23 18:29:08

great balls of fire

This review is from: Great Balls of Fire! (DVD) dennis quaid is great in this movie great balls of fire the story of jerry lee lewis he dose a encellent award wining job in it.

blanche-2 2012-05-22 09:19:07

The piano man

Dennis Quaid struts around like a rooster in "Great Balls of Fire," a1989 biopic about Jerry Lee Lewis, one of the great entertainers.Discovered by Sam Phillips, the man who discovered Elvis and JohnnyCash, Lewis came up the ranks quickly and was poised to become the Kingof Rock 'n' Roll when Elvis went into the Army. But the scandal thatbroke when it was revealed he was married to his 13-year-old cousinMyra (Winona Ryder) and was in fact a bigamist - which today would beshrugged off - just about ruined his career. Soon he was prone toviolence on and off stage and imbibing in alcohol.I have always loved Jerry Lee Lewis' music, but the only thing I knewabout him was that he married his cousin - so that will show you whereall the publicity was focused. I had no idea that Jimmy Swaggert(played here by Alec Baldwin) was also his cousin. I was struck by thequalities he had in common with Elvis - they both were highly-chargedperformers with so much energy a stage couldn't hold them, bothcompletely original, natural talents inspired by music they heard intheir communities, and both were discovered by Sam Phillips. What eachone was most of all was just like one of the kids that he sang to, whocould pulsate, dance and let their hormones run wild with the music.Lewis remains today an electrifying performer with an unmistakablesound. His high gear "Great Balls of Fire," "Breathless," "High SchoolConfidential," and of course, "Whole Lotta Shaking' Going' On" areunmatched.Now, how accurate was this film? Jerry Lee himself claims he neveracted the way Dennis Quaid portrayed him in his life, though others sayQuaid was right on. It's a little like Scottish people hearing aScottish burr on an actor and saying, we don't talk like that when theydo. I will quibble with the depiction of Sam Phillips as a snake oilsalesman who, according to this script, "lost Elvis." Phillips didn'tlose Elvis - his record company was too small to promote Elvis as heneeded to be promoted, and Phillips badly needed the money Elvis'contract would bring. Elvis, Vernon and Gladys Presley thought they hadit good - no one dreamed Elvis could accomplish what he did - so SamPhillips could have kept Elvis with Sun for a longer period of time,but rather than stifling Presley's career, he let him go.Quaid does an excellent job as a thrilling performer who perhaps isn'tthe most likable person off stage - in fact, might be a little sleazy -and Ryder captures the teenage silliness beautifully. Baldwin doesn'tget to do much but proselytize.The most interesting thing about "Great Balls of Fire" is its relevancetoday. Rock 'n' Roll was perceived as the way to complete degradationfor teenagers and the performers were servants of the devil. Rap musicis viewed the same way today. With rock 'n' roll, the road todegradation was a sexual one - swinging those hips and getting allcharged up could only mean trouble. Today, with rap, it's the messageof violence against women and attitudes towards them, the use ofviolence and foul language. In between, we had the schools ruling thatno one could have a Beatles haircut. Maybe someday it will occur tosomebody that many things can destroy a generation - war and drugsbeing two - but music doesn't seem to be one of them.

2012-05-21 19:33:43

Recreating or Overacting?

This review is from: Great Balls of Fire! (DVD) Dennis Quaid worked very hard to capture Jerry Lee Lewis' eccentric personality. I am uncomfortable with the results. Not knowing the real Jerry Lee Lewis, except from short newsreel coverage, it strikes me as a bit of overacting. In Quaid's defense, though, Jerry Lee was always "acting" it up in front of the public, and that comes through in this movie. What I find, as a rock history buff, most intriguing is that of all the early rock star tributes, this one has the sound track done by the actual subject of the film. Gives it some authenticity and energy that others could not and do not have. And that alone makes this a worthwhile addition to your library, in my opinion.

tedg 2012-05-20 18:21:45

Performance

Spoilers herein.Here's what I like about this: it is a story about a quirky performer, wholives life as if it were one of his quirky shows. At the same time, Quaid's performance isitself quirky - along the lines of Depp's `Fear and Loathing.' The whole thing is a Punchand Judy doing a Punch and Judy.It gets my appreciation for that. But at root, it just isn't a veryinteresting story: part rock history, part trailer trash romance, and part holy/nasty metaphor. But then,that's pop music I guess.There is a scene that sticks: Jerry Lee opening for Chuck Berry. Chuck is anordinary guy, someone whose life is not his performance. Music is just a job, and he wouldnever get the whole reflexive passion thang. Jerry goes nuts, literally setting thepiano on fire. Then he marches off with `Follow that, Killer!`The actor's expression is priceless. Almost worth the admission by itself.He is supposed to be the surrogate anchor for us, watching from the sidelines.There's another image worth keeping. Our vulnerable Winona packs up to movein with her new `husband.' Her luggage is a dollhouse. That's a sweet keeper, justlike Julia Style's little box of `needful things' in `Hamlet.' And for the samereasons.Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

2012-05-20 12:26:57

Goodness, gracious...great music.

To those who are enthralled by Jerry Lee Lewis's music (and I'm one), the music in this movie makes up for some flaws that might have been more detracting in another film. Specifically, the music is great because the soundtrack was performed by the Killer himself(as new recordings,I believe)...but the acting is overwrought with Dennis Quaid missing the mark, in my humble opinion, due primarily to his overly exuberant portrayal of Jerry Lee which obviously is intended to convey the Killer's over-the-top personality and on-stage antics but which, to my eye, comes off as more cartoonish than exuberant. Ryder's portrayal of his first cousin once removed and, ultimately, his wife is too pouty and babyish even for the thirteen year old she's supposed to be.Oddly enough, despite these criticisms the movie remains thoroughly enjoyable due in no small part to the genius of Lewis's musical performances which are rock and roll epitomized.One final thought here is how this movie reveals how drastically we have changed as a society (and probably not for the better) in that the music industry and the public destroyed Lewis's career over the indiscretion of falling in love with and marrying his underage cousin. Yet, today, much more despicable behavior in the current generation of pop musicians, such as rape,violence,drugs,suicide,intollerance and sexual immorality is more likely to rocket them to superstardom then to oblivion. Goodness, gracious....C'est la vie! To sum up: The movie's worth the fourteen bucks, even if they have the nerve not to include a single word of liner notes. Enjoy.

2012-05-19 03:49:53

Exciting Dennis...Boring Winona

When I saw the preview for this movie, I thought "wow, Dennis Quaid is hot." I'm too young to remember Jerry Lee Lewis, but I have heard his music. Dennis Quaid does an admirable job of bringing Jerry Lee Lewis' story to us.Winona Ryder is okay. I think she's a wishy-washy actress. Sometimes she's great, sometimes she bores me. Unfortunately, this was one of the boring performances. Granted, she was playing a whiny teenager, that may have swayed my opinion.The story is a good one, but now I intend to read a biography about Jerry Lee Lewis, as I'm sure much was left out about this man's colorful life.As an aside, my pre-teen daughter had many questions about the behavior of the two cousins...so I probably should have watched it when she was not around.Bottom line, if you are huge fan of either actors or the story, buy it...otherwise, rent it.

giopirozzi 2012-05-18 21:17:37

Sequel being planned!

The Title is "Middle Age Crazy". Dennis Quaid and Winona Ryder are onboard along with the rest of the original cast. Unfortunately we havelost the great Trey Wilson and Lisa Blount, but Alec Baldwin will playJimmy Swaggart again, which should be great because this will be duringthe years leading up to his scandal. Rumor has it that John Travoltawill play Mickey Gilley (a little wink to Urban Cowboy) and Sean Pennas Lewis' guitar player Kenny Lovelace.The movie starts with Jerry Lee Lewis' Live at the Star Club in Hamburgconcert in 1964 and I believe ends in 1986 when he gets inducted intothe Rock n' Roll Hall of fame. This is going to be a treat for realfans of Lewis who enjoy his country music. We are going to get his 1968top ten single "Another Place, Another Time" along with "What's MadeMilwaukee Famous, "She Still Comes Around (To Love What's Left of Me)","Me & Bobby McGee" and of course 1977's "Middle Age Crazy". The scenesof Quaid as Lewis in North Hollywood's Palomino Club, Country Music'smost important West Coast club during the 70's and 80's is going to beepic. This should be in production by 2012.

2012-05-18 13:14:58

Forget it

Don't even waste your time with this one, it was a horrible movie. Yes, the soundtrack was good--the background music-- but this production is on the level of a Disney Network show produced for teenagers. Not worth your time.

2012-05-18 00:07:39

Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On!!!!!!!

If I could only pick 1 cd to listen to for the rest of my life this would be it.Jerry Lee Lewis is the hottest and sexyest and man that has ever lived and will ever lived! His voice is the best and he has a "Ferocish God given talent"! I LOVE YOU JERRY LEE LEWIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2012-05-17 00:33:11

Poor sound quality.

This review is from: Great Balls Of Fire: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Newly Recorded Performances By Jerry Lee Lewis (Audio CD) I have always loved Jerry Lee and particuraly love the movie. So I decided to buy the soundtrack. Boy, was I dissapointed. The sound quality is like listening to the songs on an AM radio in a very old car. I quess we are just spoiled to the new 5.1 digital surround sound of today.

2012-05-16 16:49:39

Hollywood doesn't do Rock and Rollers justice

Oh, MAN........you thought that insult to Johnny Cash, "I Walk The Line" was bad? I mean, Reese Witherspoon playing June? Ugh, that's ALMOST "The Last Waltz" or "Gimme Shelter" compared to this tripe (the operative word there is "almost"). Dennis Quaid does a LOT...an AWFUL lot...of "mugging," but it's worse than Jehosaphat Phoneix affecting Johnny Cash's snarl. And Winona Ryder just...DOESN'T project the..."jailbait quality" of Myra Lewis. She's just too old. Do yourself a favor: grab any compilation of The Killer's performances during the 60's/70's...on upward, and alight on the "Last Man Standing" DVD where he has a decent backup band for the first time, almost, in his career.

2012-05-11 04:44:34

Recreating or Overacting?

Dennis Quaid worked very hard to capture Jerry Lee Lewis' eccentric personality. I am uncomfortable with the results. Not knowing the real Jerry Lee Lewis, except from short newsreel coverage, it strikes me as a bit of overacting. In Quaid's defense, though, Jerry Lee was always "acting" it up in front of the public, and that comes through in this movie. What I find, as a rock history buff, most intriguing is that of all the early rock star tributes, this one has the sound track done by the actual subject of the film. Gives it some authenticity and energy that others could not and do not have. And that alone makes this a worthwhile addition to your library, in my opinion.

Julien-11 2012-05-10 22:38:32

light and fluffy

Just like a Twinky. Momentarily yummy but with no real substance. Theacting was good, but not good enough to keep interest. Winona Ryder waspretty good as Myra, but she did slip into "what am I doing here?" modesometimes. But, it's good though.

2012-05-08 20:25:06

Was He Really Like That?

This review is from: Great Balls of Fire! (DVD) I do love this movie, if only because I have always loved Jerry Lee Lewis, and think that he is so incredibly hokey as to be fantastically, uniquely great.I mean, his "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On" has been one of the very greatest rock and roll anthems ever.And he is without peer as a country artist. Nobody has ever sung a more significant country song than "Another Time, Another Place," or "She Still Comes Around To Love What's Left Of Me."But what I can't understand is why Dennis Quaid played him to be as squirrely as he comes across.Because if Jerry Lee had any say-so as to how he was portrayed, I just can't see him giving the OK to what came out on film.I could see arrogant, or supremely self-assured, or cock-sure, or brash, or even pushy, but not strangely almost effeminate, as Dennis Quaid has portrayed him. Jerry Lee was and is supremely talented, but I can't believe that he ever had a single day where he acted as off-the-wall as Dennis Quaid made him out to be.And the fact that he married his 13 year-old 2nd cousin, I think she was, was not even that far-fetched, given the time and place.But anyway, the movie is terrific, just seeing the history of how Jerry Lee was exposed to the kind of music that formed his background. Also, seeing the cars that were commonplace in the fifties, such as the Olds 98s and the Cadillac El Dorados makes it a fun movie to watch.Oh, for those good old days, when we really did drive those cars, and listen to and dance to that music.

annevejb 2012-05-08 01:27:58

Big and great and scary

A story about the early days of rock and roll. Add the user commentshere, a wide mixture of views and detail that sometimes even supporteach other's views, and there is stuff here for me to piece togetherbits and pieces of further understandings about those early days. Get to watch it more, it also helps appreciation of that early music. A useful feature, it has legs, others help to give it more useful legs,it even has great balls of fire. * I purchased this as it is early Winona and that is a greater puzzle tome. I had thought that this was her at age 15, playing a 13, yet thefeature date says age 17 to 18 and other comments say 18. Yet her look,coupled with her 14ish look in Lucas (1986), make 15 feel real. I wouldlike to get to know production dates for this early stuff. In 1969(1988) she looks so 18ish to me, In Heathers (1989) so 17ish, in BeatleJuice (1988) so 16ish. A fast-ish browse of fan sites did not uncover any reason to doubt thedates as the order in which these features were made. Some sites alsoinclude early reviews and what I have read goes along with that. Guessthat I just have to accept that actors are actors, inhabiting differentworlds and realities than what is obvious to me. * Sympathies to those growing up in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee,etc in those days. It is very different to 50's England in manyrespects, but not so different in others. Lewis and Jimmy and theothers will have found it to be going against the grain to actuallyfind any worthwhile sense. Oh so different to now, oh so very much thesame. Nothing like the tit for tat worlds shown by the Lizzie McGuireseries 2001+, which is also big and great and scary if deliberately atrifle unreal.

2012-05-06 02:06:04

Great balls of fire!

Well if one likes Jerry Lee's music this one is OK. After all it is not Dennis who actually plays and sings. It is the killer himself who takes care of that. Dennis is well over the top in this flick but nevertheless it still is an item I love to see over and over - and it looks great on my 95 inch screen also.Probably it is the music that makes it worthwhile but the impact of the big screen in my home cinema helps a great deal too. And young Wynona Ryder does look sweet and innocent and as some people would say - she is easy on the eye. Well I always liked her too, so....

isabella 2012-05-05 20:27:22

GRRRRRRRRRRRRReat balls of fire

Even if Jerry Lee Lewis married his second cousin.I still think his life was great!Dennis Quaid was a awsome actor.when he made the piano on fire it was GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!I can not stop thinking of Jerry Lee Lewis.I LOVE HIM!