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Dirty Dancing (DVD)

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Dirty Dancing (DVD)

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First Dance. First Love. The Time of Your Life.

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5 Apr 10th, 2009 

27 Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful

Advantages:
Superb soundtrack

Disadvantages:
A simple chick - flick so not for those who like comlexity

Recommendable Yes:

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MI9to5

MI9to5

About me:

Hi, Thanks for my first ever diamond and of course the continued rrc's. It's beginning to look a lo...

Member since:08.02.2008

Reviews:278

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Dirty Dancing is just one of those films that everyone is expected to have seen. Now obviously the fact that I am writing this review lets you know that I have seen the film and so I am definitely one of those people who just presumes that everyone else has seen it.

Dirty Dancing was released in 1987 but is set in the Summer of 1963. It stars Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles of Johnny Castle and Frances 'Baby' Houseman.

The summer of 1963 sees Frances holiday with her parents and older sister in America's Caskill Mountains. Almost immediately she is swept off her feet by the talented and extremely sexy dancing heartthrob that is Johnny Castle. Uninterested in the activities that the resort has to offer she discovers more about this mesmerising dancer and after stumbling into an all-night dance party she finds herself longing to be part of the raunchy dance scene before her very eyes.

Obviously however her father is less than impressed by her holiday choices and forbids her to have anything to do with Castle. This though only makes her more determined to do so and she decides to take dance lessons. Things quickly escalate as Baby learns a passionate Latin dance and things progress even further when she finds herself in the position of Johnny's leading lady both on and off stage.

Dirty Dancing truly is a fantastic film. It is of course at the heart a love story but also leans towards showing how the decadent sixties began to take over from the more reserved fifties. Furthermore the film also has a few deeper storylines, which include theft, pregnancy and abortion all of which are extremely relevant now. I think that this is one of the reasons that the film continues to have appeal because it breaks away from the simple romance storyline to include wider issues to which people can relate.

The music within the film is absolutely outstanding and really makes it the sensation that it has become. These songs are a mix of slow ballads as well as more powerful ballads and Most people whether they have seen the film or not will know some of the songs within it, "I've had the time of my life" being the main favourite.

The dance moves within the film are also amazing from the word go and really do capture the spirit of the story and the period within which it is set. Both Swayze and Grey do exceptionally well in the dance sequences and at times really do look like the professional dancers. Once again the film also contains a dance move that is well known. Again people may not have seen the film but they are quite likely to have seen or heard of the dance move associated with it.

Finally I must add that Dirty Dancing has also given us a phrase that once again nearly everyone knows:
"No-one puts Baby in a corner!"
Maybe this is the idea that the film is trying to put across. Maybe the film is trying to say that y loving your daughter to the extent that she feels suffocated or overprotected is not the best way to go and that trying to shade her from everything you feel is bad for her can't go on forever. Maybe the films final message is that it often takes someone that everyone else feels is inappropriate or not suited to really pull you out of your shell and make you who you are.

All in all Dirty Dancing is a fantastic film. It is of course highly geared towards a female audience but I know many male film watchers who have really enjoyed this film too. My Dirty Dancing DVD has a rating of 15 but I have been led to believe that it has been re-rated to a 12A standard although I'm not sure why. It lasts for 96 minutes and although my copy has no special features to speak of it really is a pleasure to watch. 

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Dirty Dancing (DVD) One of the most iconic scenes
One of the most iconic scenes

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Comments about this review »

arnoldhenryrufus 13.04.2009 22:42

a brilliant film I watched it over and over again when it came out - Lyn x

Amy69 11.04.2009 13:18

I didnt know that phrase! Though Ive never seen this and I have no interest in it xx

RICHADA 11.04.2009 10:59

MrsR loves this - I can't stand it! Guess it's one of those films and unfortunately reading any review about it is unlikely to make me like it any more! Richard.

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