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Strictly Ballroom [1992]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

While the plot of this Australian film may seem a bit familiar (the Ugly Duckling meets Dirty Dancing), the humourous tone and superb dance sequences will make you forget the movie's predictability. Scott (Paul Mercurio) is a champion ballroom dancer who wants to dance "his own steps". Fran is the homely, beginning dancer who convinces Scott that he should dance his own steps...with her. Complicating matters are Scott's domineering mother (Pat Thompson), a former dancer herself, who wants her son to win the Australian Pan-Pacific Championship (the same contest she lost years ago), and a conniving dance committee that is determined that "there are no new steps!" The dancing is enjoyable, yet not overwhelming, and the movie strives hard not to take itself too seriously (the beginning of the film is even styled as a pseudo-documentary). Strictly Ballroom, while not so subtly imparting its moral ("A life lived in fear is a life half-lived"), is a funny romp that's sure to be a crowd pleaser. --Jenny Brown, Amazon.com


Great fun
Review date: 2008-09-14 Rating: 8 out of 10

What do you get if you combine comedy, dancing, sparkles and false tan? Strictly Ballroom!

The main character, Scott, likes to make up his own moves when ballroom dancing and as a result loses his dance partner. Enter Fran, geeky, spotty, plain Jane, who wants Scott to teach her how to dance. Scotts pushy mother is not to keen on this arrangement.

This was always one of my favourites as a child.
This is a quirky, funny film that will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike.

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Reviews


Everybody deserves to see this
Review date: 2008-02-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

I saw this film at a young age. I'm 18 now and it really had a lasing effect on me. Baz Luhrman tells the story of scot hastings, a ballroom champion who is sick of dancing the same steps. His family and friends are annoyed by this and his urge to do his own steps which would stop him from winning the pan pacifics. He rebels and looses his dance partner. In the time to find a new one he meets Fran, a shy self consious girl who is the ridicule of the dance class. She encourages him to dance with her, the two begin to form a friendship which soon turns to romance. The once shy and self consious fran grows as a person and we see a different side to her. I also appreciate how her apprarance never changes even though she does. She does'nt suddenly take off her glasses and let her hair down and she sudenly looks like Angelina Joile. She stays the same which I loved. There's too much of that kind of thing in most teen films which I find patronising and demeaning. Anyway, it's a great film with realistic people. It's a film that every young girl deserves to see. Fran is a brilliant character.

Strictly brilliant
Review date: 2007-09-04 Rating: 8 out of 10

Packed full of Australian humor, and not taking its self seriously, this film will leave you side ache long after it has finished. Scott Hastings, (played by profesional dancer Pual Mercurio) wants to dance his own steps, after his partner walks out on him he enlists the help of beginer dancer Fran to help him realise his dream. Scott knows he must follow his dreams, but others are determind to see him fail, such as his rival dancer and compertision overser, Barry Fife. A great feel good movie, well worth watching.

Classic transformation movie with laughs
Review date: 2006-07-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

Strictly Ballroom is brilliant feel-good film with loads of laughs. It's a story of a gauche Spanish girl living in Australia, who during the course of the film transforms into a babe and a brilliant dancer after accosting the gorgeous local king of dance one night after he loses his partner, and by spouting a load of Spanish at him in a frustrated moment secures him for secret personal development sessions at the dance school.

It's high on quote potential, from "Barry Fife"!", "Tina Spaarkl'!", "Bogo Pogo", "Scott Hastings 'nd paaatner" in broad Aussie, to "Paso Doble?" in thick Spanish. It is very moving, satisfying and suitably triumphant at the end.

The Definitive Rom Com?
Review date: 2006-05-15 Rating: 10 out of 10

I believe that the storyline has its origins in work done by some Australian theatre students and some beautiful theatrical set pieces (think Moulin Rouge, on a smaller budget) suggest that this may well be the case. Add to the mix some stunning performances by complete unknowns (where are they now?); brilliant film editing; unabashed adherence to the romantic comedy book of rules; and a great sound track (worth buying for itself). This is one of the best feel good movies you'll ever see and all without the over the top saccharine sweetness that so often ruins less acomplished Hollywood romcoms.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Bill Hunter
Paul Mercurio
Pat Thomson
Tara Morice
Gia Carides

Creators:
Paul Mercurio (Primary Contributor)
Tara Morice (Primary Contributor)
Steve Mason (Cinematographer)
Baz Luhrmann (Writer)
Antoinette Albert (Producer)
Jane Scott (Producer)
Tristram Miall (Producer)
Andrew Bovell (Writer)
Craig Pearce (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
EAN: 5037115024435
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2002-01-28
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 90 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1993-02-12
Language: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired)
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Original Language)

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