Search - The Who :: Tommy (1975 Film)

Whoever remastered this should be enslaved

A 21st Century Man | Lush, exotic, tropical Central Texas | 10/14/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, we know that the original movie soundtrack wasn't the greatest to begin with (Jack Nicholson singing leaves a very bad taste in your brain) but it had a few memorable tracks: Prologue 1945, Christmas, See Me-Feel Me/Listening to You, and the Acid Queen. So, one would think that with a remastered soundtrack the engineer(s) would make those, and the other tracks, shine.



Wrong.



The remastered album is dreadful, _especially_ Prologue 1945: it's brash, noisy musical mayhem--it sounds like The Three Stooges tripping and falling their way through an orchestra pit/recording studio...and that's just the beginning. I'm so disappointed with the disc I just may stick in the microwave just to feel good about its self-destruction as it generates a miniature lightning storm and melts into a puddle of muddled musical goo.



Save yourself some money and disappointment: buy the DVD and rip it to .mp3 files, instead."

Tommy film

ChiBear | Kentucky | 02/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you love to rock, you'll love this. It's timeless, it's loaded with Stars, great music. I love it."

Ahead of its Time

Albert J. | Chicago, Il. | 05/26/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm 25, and I saw Tommy for the first time ten years ago. I was a moderate Who fan, but watching Tommy sealed the deal. At the age of 15, I already was able to identify every major actor in that film, and there are MANY of them to be seen.



Eric Clapton is riveting performing "Eyesight to the Blind," even though the imagery is somewhat disturbing (as that tends to be a common theme for many parts of the film). Tina Turner is absolutely hot as the Acid Queen. Her performance is in line with her character 100% - I'm sure this is what Pete Townshead had in mind when the original album was released in 1969. Elton John scored a major hit with his rendition of "Pinball Wizard" from his scene; it's still heard on the radio today, probably more than The Who's version. Jack Nicholson also SINGS (and plays a very good doctor who makes Ann-Margret weak in the knees).



And Ann-Margret is just WOW in this film. She received an Oscar Nomination for her role as Tommy's mother. It's as if she was born to play the part, and she does so perfectly. You see all the sides of her character on the screen with impeccable finesse and finish. There is no spoken dialogue at all in this film, yet Ann-Marget's is probably one of the best you'll ever see, even if you don't care for rock, singing, or 1970's high-drama. Her singing is in-line with the drama of the original Tommy, but much edgier. You'll want to buy the soundtrack just to rock out to her and The Who.



However, like I mentioned before, there are a few scenes that can make ordinary viewers uncomfortable. I know Ken Russell's goal was to create a film that would identify certain things in western society and show them in a twisted way. It's not a horror film, but it makes viewers think subjectively and symbolically.



This film version of Tommy is definitely a product of the 1970's, and clearly shows the decadence of the times. You'll also be treated to 1970's special effects and film techniques, which are still impressive. However, The Who had begun to depend on synthesizers heavily by this time, and they are all over the film. Synths are becoming popular again in today's mainstream music, so maybe this film will appeal to younger generation as well.



If you're into drama, rock opera, symbolism and artistic film imagery with (a very young) all-star cast, Tommy is worth a view.

"