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Billy Elliot [VHS] [2000]
 
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Billy Elliot [VHS] [2000]

VHS ~ Jamie Bell
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Actors: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven, Gary Lewis
  • Directors: Stephen Daldry
  • Writers: Lee Hall
  • Producers: Charles Brand, David M. Thompson, Greg Brenman, Jonathan Finn, Natascha Wharton
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: 4 Front Video
  • VHS Release Date: 4 Aug 2003
  • Run Time: 112 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000059ZAJ
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,869 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Foursquare in the gritty-but-hearwarming tradition of Brassed Off and The Full Monty comes Billy Elliot, the first film of noted British theatrical director Stephen Daldry. The setting is County Durham in 1984, and things 'oop North are even grimmer than usual: the miners' strike is in full rancorous swing and 11-year-old Billy's dad and older brother, miners both, are staunch on the picket lines. Billy's got problems of his own. His dad's scraped together the fees to send him to boxing lessons, but Billy's discovered a different aptitude: a genius for ballet dancing. Since admitting to such an activity is tantamount, in this fiercely macho culture, to holding up a sign reading "I AM A RAVING POOF", Billy keeps it quiet. But his teacher, Mrs Wilkinson (Julie Walters, wearily undaunted) thinks he should audition for ballet school in London. Family ructions are inevitable.

Daldry's film sidesteps some of the politics, both sexual and otherwise, but scores with its laconic dialogue (credit to screenwriter Lee Hall) and a cracking performance from newcomer Jamie Bell as Billy. His powerhouse dance routines, more Gene Kelly than Nureyev, carry an irresistible sense of exhilaration and self-discovery. Among a flawless supporting cast Stuart Wells stands out as Billy's sweet gay friend Michael. And if the miners' strike serves largely as background colour, there's one brief episode, as visored and truncheoned cops rampage through neat little terraced houses, that captures one of the most spiteful episodes in recent British history. --Philip Kemp

Synopsis

When Billy Elliot chooses ballet classes over boxing lessons his life is changed forever. He decides to keep the lessons secret from his father, a coal miner, but when his ballet instructor persuades him to try out for the Royal Ballet School in London, Billy must make the choice between family responsibilities and his dreams...

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Customer Reviews

56 Reviews
5 star:
 (40)
4 star:
 (11)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (3)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (56 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars "I want to be a ballet dancer!", 20 Oct 2005
By Kona (Emerald City) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   
This review is from: Billy Elliot (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2000] (DVD)
Billy Elliot (Jamie Bell) lives in a working-class village in northern England, where his father and brother, both miners, have been on strike and times are tough. Billy, who is eleven, loves music, and one day he leaves his boxing class at the local gym and joins the girls' ballet class, taught by Mrs. Wilkinson (Julie Walters). With a lot of practice, Billy becomes so good that she thinks he should audition for the Royal Ballet School in London. This would be the chance of a lifetime, but Billy's father doesn't know he's been dancing; he thinks ballet is for just for girls.

I love this movie. It is charming, honest, and uplifting. Gary Lewis is wonderful as Billy's father. We see him change from a bitter, defeated man to a proud and happy dad. Julie Walters gives a heartfelt performance as the tough teacher with a heart of gold. Jamie Bell, in his movie debut, is natural and sweet, a good dancer, and a sensitive actor. This is a movie you'll want to enjoy more than once because it's such a touching, feel-good story.

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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, 20 Jun 2005
This review is from: Billy Elliot (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2000] (DVD)
From the opening titles i knew i would love this film, and i did. Its so fantastically written and brilliantly acted. Anyone who enjoys a nice personal small scale story will love this film. Its a well known story, but for those that dont know, it basicalls evolves around a young boy (Billy) who aspires to be a ballet dancer much to the disapproval or his recently widowed father and his older brother. All this happens in the midst of the mining strikes that dominated the news in much of the 80's. The same strikes that his brother and father are caught up in. Its wonderfully witty, poignant and very powerful in places. Its a great film!

Anyone who has seen the film already and wants to know what the difference is between this DVD and the one previous, well theres a lot more to be seen on this new edition. It has some great making of's and features on the characters that have never been seen before. Theres also two great documentaries about Billy Elliot The Musical (which looks to be great!) There are some great previews and teasers that will have you booking tickets to go and see it!

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Amazing!, 16 Nov 2005
By Mr Paul S Bowdrey (READING, Berkshire United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Billy Elliot (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2000] (DVD)
The most imaginative film for years. Made even more significant by the stage play at the Victoria Palace Theatre, London - Billy Elliot The Musical. For anyone who remembers the 1984 miners strike and the heartbreak it caused to thousands of people, the film and play create a beautiful harmony of tears and joy. For anyone going to watch the musical, watch this DVD first. Once seen, the musical becomes even better. Stephen Daldry (The Director) and his fellow Producers capture the scenes perfectly in both. The same creative team who wrote the film also wrote the musical with the addition of Elton John who adds the music. The actors in both the the film and stage play are exceptional. The boys that play Billy are highly talented as are the experienced casts. Don't miss either this film or the musical. Some advice about tickets for Billy Elliot The Musical... they are very hard to get as the performances are VERY booked up! However, the wait is definately worth it and you will be left with a memory of seeing the best London theatre show in your life!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars You make me feel like dancin'
Set against a backdrop of the Thatcherite destruction of the British mining industry this is a story of someone succeeding against the odds. Read more
Published 21 days ago by G. Wilson

5.0 out of 5 stars Great quality for low price
Shortly-got what I wanted... It was nearly impossible to get the Billy Elliot DVD in my country-so I ordered it from amazon.. I got it quickly and exactly as I wanted it.. Read more
Published 28 days ago by Aleks Šuštar

4.0 out of 5 stars Gritty Family Drama
Billy Elliot is'nt just a story of a boy who wants to dance, it is much more. It examines the turmoil in a boy's mind when he chooses dance lessons instead of the manly sport of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Polly

5.0 out of 5 stars billy elliot
very good film delivery was fast i would recommend to a friend cheaper to buy then to rent
Published 2 months ago by Mr. J. Gibson

5.0 out of 5 stars Great film - great service
Excellent service from this seller, which I have come to expect from all of the merchants associated with Amazon. Would have no problem ordering any product from here. Superb!
Published 7 months ago by Ian Gunn

5.0 out of 5 stars super!
I have seen this several times. The reason I bought it again now is that I have a new DVD player which is all singing and dancing so I got rid of the cumbersome video machine... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Ann Wille-jørgensen

5.0 out of 5 stars billy fireball
I have seen this film many times and each time I get enjoyment from it both at the beginning to the end. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Nima

1.0 out of 5 stars terrible
Terrible film. Apart from the cod poltical juxtaposition of the miner's strike with the main story, the main problem is that the film lacks any ability to show character... Read more
Published 9 months ago by J. Curran

5.0 out of 5 stars Family Love
Billy Elliot the movie is a moving film which shows the history of the coal mine regions at the height of the miners strike and how one family over came the struggles to give... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mrs. H. Ellis

5.0 out of 5 stars Billy Elliot
Excellent movie I can and have watched it a number of times and will continue to do so.
Published 11 months ago by Geoffrey Parkin

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