Fantastic!

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I Remember when Elvis died. And the Effect it had on the world. My Sister was devastated. And so was her friend. We Watched Elvis give his last ever show done in June of 77. And afterwards Elvis took on a more mythic status. We heard the stories and the myths that sprang up around him. When this movie came out in 1979. My Sister and my brother and I watched it. It got a lot of things right. Some wrong. but it did so with style. Kurt Russell delivers hands down what is the Greatest performance of anyone doing Elvis. John Carpenter hands in one of the best ever bio pics Ever made. The story opens in Jan 8th 1935 as Elvis is born and his twin Jesse Garon is still born. The film chronicles the dirt poor beginnings of the Presley family as they moved to Memphis and Elvis trying to find himself. Elvis isn't widely loved at first. his style of dress. The way he combs his hair and everything about him makes him a target of bullies. Until he uses his guitar and voice and becomes accepted. The movie moves at a breakneck pace so there are things omitted and things glossed over. Given the time line that's understandable. Pat Hingle does a good job as Col. Tom PArker. While Shelley Winters steals the show as Elvis Presley's mother Gladys. The Film adapts the many legends of Elvis. And considering that Before his death Elvis was untouchable. It's understandable that the film didn't dwell on any of the darker aspects of the King's life. But it drives home the point of Elvis being so lonely. trapped by his wealth and fame. But it also touches on the wild side that Elvis had. Any other Elvis Bio films that came after were not as good.. They simply missed the mark. This one hits the mark in every way possible. And it's captivating . If anyone wants to make the definitive Bio pic of Elvis they would do well to check this one out first and see how it's done.

I had wanted to see this movie for a long time, but because it was made for American television - and modern cable stations are reluctant to air old made for television movies - I had to wait until it was released on DVD. After finally seeing the movie, I have kind of mixed emotions about it. There are some genuinely good things about it. Kurt Russell gives a very good performance as Elvis - he really disappears in the role. Other performers, like Shelley Winters, give good performances as well. The music (sung by Ronnie McDowell) also captures the real Elvis' musical talents. However, I had some issues with the screenplay. Even though the movie is almost 170 minutes long, it doesn't capture a lot of important details of Elvis' life. For example, Elvis' courtship and marriage to Priscilla isn't examined in great detail, and Elvis' relationship with manager Tom Parker doesn't get a great look (and Parker disappears for good a long time before the movie ends, despite the fact he influenced Elvis' career right to the end!) I guess I should be grateful that the movie ends at Elvis' comeback concert - had the movie tried to squeeze events of Elvis from the next ten or so years, the movie would have been worse. Not a bad movie, but you can see that Elvis would have been better served by a miniseries instead of a two part movie.

I have loved this movie since I first saw it in 1979. I'm still amazed at how accurately Kurt Russell portrays Elvis, right down to how he moves and the expressions on his face. Sometimes its scary how much he looks, acts, and talks like the real Elvis. Thankfully this is being released on DVD, so all of us that have been waiting can finally have an excellent quality version of the full length film. I have heard the detractors, who say that there are some inaccuracies, or some things left out, but I think that keeping in mind that John Carpenter only had about 2 1/2 hours to work with, and that this was being shown on television (just two years after Elvis's death!) that he did a fine job with this. In fact I haven't seen another Elvis movie that even comes close to this one. Highly recommended.

This is a great movie, too bad it's not on VHS or DVD. Russell does the best impersonation of Elvis Presley I ever saw & I saw them all. :) This movie doesn't go into the last years of his life, but we don't really want to remember Elvis all bloated, we want to remember him like this movie portrayed him as.