Dirty Dancing: The Ultimate Edition [1987] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Amazon.co.uk Review

As with Grease (1978) and Footloose (1984) before it, Dirty Dancing was a cultural phenomenon that now plays more like camp. That very campiness, though, is part of its biggest charm. And if the dancing in the movie doesn't seem particularly "dirty" by today's standards--or 1987's--it does take place in an era (the early '60s) when it would have. Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey, daughter of ageless hoofer Joel Grey), vacationing in the Catskills with her family one summer, falls under the sway (as it were) of dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Baby is a pampered pup, but Johnny is a man of the world. Baby's father Jake can't see the basic decency in greaser Johnny that she can. It should come as no surprise to find that Baby, who can be as immature as her name, learns more about love and life--and dancing--from free-spirited Johnny than traditionalist Jake. Dirty Dancing spawned two successful soundtracks, a short-lived TV series and a stage musical. It may be predictable, but Grey and Swayze have chemistry, charisma and all the right moves. It's a sometimes silly movie with occasionally mind-boggling dialogue--"No one puts Baby in a corner!"--that nonetheless carries an underlying message about tolerance and is filled with the kind of exuberant spirit that is hard for even the most cynical to resist. Not that they would ever admit it. --Kathy Fennessy

On the DVD: The information outlined on the package makes the special features appear very appealing: you too could "Learn to Dirty Dance". However, all the DVD actually teaches you is how to move from side to side with a slow "cha cha cha"--not exactly "dirty". Other additional features include the obligatory scene selection and a directors commentary from Eleanor Bergstein, offers interesting snippets of trivia, but overall is dull and stuttering. There's also the original theatrical trailer plus a very poor selection of filmographies for the cast and crew which (none of whom aside from Swayze ever amounted to much) which is difficult to read due to the italic scrawl they insist on using across the whole features section. That being said with a 1.78:1 ratio and Dolby Digital 5.1 this release is the closest you will get to reliving those 1980s school discos and back-seat cinema rows. --Nikki Disney

Customer Reviews:

Best Kept Original.......2007-09-24

This movie is amazing the music and the dancing. People buy this and be amazed. Value for money 5 Stars

Guys Review.......2007-09-15

This is definately a girls only film. As a guy i saw this and thought to myself, ok this is a film about a fairly unattractive couple getting it on and learning to dance. Sorry for the cynicism, but it was bland for me.

All my girl friends love it, but guys dont waste your time.

it is definitely a classic.......2007-05-19

i was only about twelve years old when i first watched this movie. my nephew and my niece were 7 and 9, respectively. we had then a laser copy of the movie and we would watch it every single day, several repeats per view. it was a favorite at that time, save for another one, the little mermaid...

the movie penetrates the heart. the story was simple yet superb. it is that type of movie that u feel u are a part of and not merely an audience.

i never realized that this movie would actually be a part of my interest in dancing many years later. i became an entertainment consultant of a popular dance club [ballroom] in the philippines in 2001. i had to be in close monitoring of the dance activities and the dance instructors because of the promotional gimmicks we cooked up to further spice up the club's offerings. i had new dance instructors trained, the old ones reevaluated and i found myself, with both left feet, on the dance floor.

after two months, i danced like i never danced before. dancing in the club had more soul. and whenever i put on my dancing shoes, the inspiration that always dominate my thoughts would be the last dance scene of patrick swayze and jeniffer grey...

watching this movie will make a lasting impression. the movie was able to pour out its real meaning. dancing isn't just movement and toes on the dance floor; it is the language of the heart and soul manifested through the language of the body.

i have watched a lot of other dance movies. not one got near this wonderful movie, Dirty Dancing...

'YOU WILL BE HAVING YOUR VERY OWN TIME OF YOUR LIFE IF YOU BUY THIS MOVIE!!!.......2006-09-22

Having read all the review's i am left somewhat baffled to one reviewer in particular A 'Mr. M. J. Aylott "incrediblehunk" WHO CLEARY DOESNT KNOW HIS ASS FROM HIS ELBOW.. his review was just complete and utter tosh made no sense what so ever.. to those who have not seen the movie please pay total disregard to that review. guy was obviously reviewing the wrong film either that or he was high on something.. =op anyway back to the review, dirty dancing is about:-

A teenage girl learns about love, adult responsibility, and how to do The Dirty Boogie Woogie in this romantic drama. In 1963, "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) is a 17-year-old spending the summer with her family at a resort hotel in the Catskills; she plans on being in the Peace Corps next summer, so this is expected to be her last summer as a carefree adolescent. Baby doesn't get along with her older sister, Lisa (Jane Brucker), and she's bored to tears by most of the older guests at the resort. However, one night Baby hears what sounds like a party going on in the employee's dormitory, and she pokes her head in to discover most of the hotel staff enjoying the sort of close dancing that would get you kicked out of the senior prom in no time flat. Baby is particularly struck by handsome Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze), a dancer/rebel in the resort's floor show, and falls head over heels in love, wanting to be near him. When Johnny's dance partner, Penny (Cynthia Rhodes), finds herself up the duff aka pregnant after a fling with one of the gormless waiters, Baby volunteers to learn her steps and take her place; however, Baby's father, Dr. Jake Houseman (Jerry Orbach), will have none of it, convinced that Johnny is a low life scum and that his daughter is too young to understand her own feelings.
Dirty Dancing was a surprise box-office hit, and the soundtrack album was an even bigger success, spawning several hit singles and inspiring a top-drawing concert tour featuring several of its artists.

I RECOMMEND BUYING THIS MOVIE ALONG WITH THE SOUNDTRACK...

just ace!!!.......2006-09-04

Well i just love this film so much. It's a timeless classic.

there are so many moments that stand out for me. and every girl has had an 'i carried a watermelon' moment! u know what i'm talking about girls!

I love the dancing in this film, and the classic music like 'hungry eyes' and 'the time of my life' i always get goosepimples when i hear them songs. the end of the film is fab when johnny and baby dance, it's so brill with great chemistry! and of course, the fabulous line 'no one puts baby in a corner'!! i love it. i want to gush all day about it. but guys, seriously, just buy it if u are in the minority that havent seen it. it's brilliant!

Dirty Dancing - Ultimate Edition [1987] (REGION 1) (NTSC)

Average customer rating:

Dirty Dancing - Ultimate Edition [1987] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
Patrick Swayze
Manufacturer: Lions Gate/Artisan
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Musicals | Classics | Categories | DVD | Video

DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
ASIN: 6308103985
Release Date: 2003-12-09

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