Absolute Beginners

Starring:Patsy Kensit, Eddie O'Connell, David Bowie, James Fox, Ray Davies, Mandy Rice-Davies, Eve Ferret, Tony Hippolyte, Graham Fletcher-Cook, Joe McKenna, Steven Berkoff, Sade, Edward Tudor-Pole, Bruce Payne, Alan Freeman, Anita Morris, Paul Rhys, Julian Firth, Chris Pitt, Lionel Blair
Director: Julien Temple
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
A commercial disaster upon its release in 1986, Absolute Beginners is an uneven but often stunning attempt at revitalizing the movie musical with postmodern sensibilities. Director Julien Temple was making his first foray into dramatic features after an impressive string of music videos and documentaries (including the first of two Temple-directed profiles of the Sex Pistols), and he upped the stakes by harnessing his visual ingenuity to a period piece exploring London's social transformation at the edge of the '60s--a fleeting moment in the pop zeitgeist that may as well have been the Cambrian Age to Temple's MTV-generation audience. This is post-World War II London turning the corner from economic austerity, giddy with jazz and early rock, yet to witness the Beatles and the Stones.

Adapted from Colin MacInnes's novel, the story follows Colin (Eddie O'Connell), a young Londoner looking to find his place in the world. A budding romance with the intoxicating Suzette (Patsy Kensit) as well as crises of conscience over social responsibility and financial gain are the plot threads in a story that arguably tackles too many Big Ideas, including adolescent identity, British racism (directed at West Indian immigrants) and class prejudice, and capitalism itself, embodied by David Bowie as unctious, superstar executive Vendice Partners.

Product Description

Learn to for Fun, Fitness or Romance! Imagine being able to Waltz at a Wedding; Foxtrot to a live Jazz or Big Band; or even get up and Tango, Cha Cha or Salsa at a Latin Club. Absolute Beginners can finally cure their two left feet with simple and easy-to-learn instruction in the comfort of their own home. Learn from the champions: Robert Tang and Beverley Cayton-Tang are North American Professional Rising Star Standard Ballroom Champions. As Amateurs, they were also 3-time Canadian and 2-time North American Undefeated Amateur Standard Champions. Cure your two left feet. "For Absolute Beginners Ballroom Dancing" is a 2 DVD series that covers all the basic steps needed for any social dance situation and on any size floor. Series 1 features the Social Foxtrot, Waltz and Tango. Series 2 features Salsa, Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive/Swing. "For Absolute Beginners Ballroom Dancing" is the culmination of Robert & Beverley's popular group workshops which continue to sell out. Order by November 31st, 2006 and get a FREE "abfab" Ballroom Dancing Practice Music Audio CD!!!

Customer Reviews:

On VHS.......2007-04-09

I had this on VHS not too long ago. Buying the DVD for sure. It is great and I remember thinking it would be better to forward and reverse if it's on DVD. It is 2 DVDs so I don't think the price is bad considering the instruction was easy and informative.

Anyone Can Dance: Tango - Absolute Beginners

Average customer rating:

Anyone Can Dance: Tango - Absolute Beginners
Starring: Anyone Can Dance: Tango
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: DVD
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Anyone Can Dance: Salsa
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ASIN: B000CNGC7K
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Description

TANGO
Exotic rhythms. Pent up passions. Sublime partnerships. Domination and submission. Such is the allure of the Tango. You too can join this mystical world by learning the basics of the dance that has charmed millions. With careful, step-by-step instruction by Dance Vision's own Donald Johnson and Kasia Kozak, you will slowly learn some of the different elements that make up American style Tango and find yourself with a new appreciation of such a romantic dance.

It takes two to Tango but it will take this DVD course to help you master this romantic dance.

Customer Reviews:

great beginnings.......2007-04-04

I agree with Megan when she says, "I LOVE this video. Yes, it IS slow... and that's the point...". It is the point.
I've read the reviews, I've watched the 9 other yoga videos I own, but this one is an instant favorite. I wish I had found it first.

As for the sound, the times past when I've taken actual yoga classes I haven't heard everything the instructor said. For me, not having perfect sound adds to the personal, one-on-one aspect of the video. As for the filming, it's not perfect but that isn't a problem because after watching it through the first time I am only glancing at the screen when checking body alignment, i.e., it is difficult to simultaneously watch the video and do Down Dog. Again, in an actual class you would not always have the teacher looking directly at you and not necessarily hear every sound.

When watching any yoga video I am focused on learning, background "studio" it is irrelevant. A fancy studio, a fast paced practice and an instructor who allows his/her ego (however well-deserved) to become part of what is conveyed and the goal for the beginner may seem more unattainable. True yoga is not about the scenery. It is more closely related to simplicity and focus, focus on the body and breath, not what a room looks like.

The two best things about this video are the pace and amount of beginner explanation. The pace may seem too slow for some but just right for others, especially, as the title tells us, absolute beginners. Add to that the gentle comments about how to align the posture, how to tell if you are doing too much, the relaxation heard in Marlon's voice and you've got a fantastic beginner video. A primary complaint I have about the other videos I own is they are too fast, I can't absorb a sense of peace and relaxation when I am struggling to keep up. The negative feelings I get trying to keep up, to move too quickly through poses that are too new and extreme for my body does not nurture developing a consistent yoga practice. If you are young and already physically fit, your perspective may be different.

The production idiosiyncracies add to the feeling of instructional intimacy. Besides, I like the subtle message they convey, that I don't have to be perfect either. Production polish increases costs. My sense is, the intention is the same as the title, to share yoga with an absolute beginner. An absolute beginner doesn't have to start with a mat, an armful of props, and the most expensive DVD.

Considering the quality of instruction, the easy, slow pace that is so perfect for a beginner, this DVD is an excellent value. If you already know what is meant by Sun Salutation, are primarily interested in the exercise aspect of yoga or a fast-paced asana routine, you may want to choose something else. Visit some of the yoga school sites and learn about the different types of yoga so you can choose an instructor who is more closely aligned with your perceptions and expectations of yoga. If you are an absolute beginner and are looking for a simple way to begin yoga, this is a great DVD and a great value. That is why I give it four stars.

Fabulous... and not only for beginners.......2007-01-26

I read all of the reviews, and felt compelled to write a review in defense of this video. Granted, it's not a high-dollar studio; however, that's not the point! If you listen to what she's saying, and have studied yoga at all, the practice of yoga is NOT about a fancy studio and high quality sound-- it's about learning the proper technique for poses, and the breathing associated with those poses. Besides, look at what you paid for the video!

My husband and I purchased this video because he was told by his physicians that if he would like to keep running as he does (and having the bad back and tight hamstrings that he does) that he would need to incorporate yoga into his exercise regime. I have been practicing yoga for years; however, the videos that I have are too advanced and move too quickly for him. Seeing the title of this video, we thought, "Perfect!"

I LOVE this video. Yes, it IS slow... and that's the point. To learn the poses and breathing properly. It allows my husband to learn the moves, yet I can tailor the poses to my needs as well, being more advanced. Yogi Marlon shows you what you CAN achieve, and gives you the tools to get there.

This video will absolutely give you a great workout-- both physically and mentally. If you're looking for a more fast-paced workout, go for a run or join a gym. If you would like to learn about yoga, and yourself in the process, this one is for you-- beginner or not.

Poor quality DVD.......2006-12-28

Poor instructor, tacky, jiggling camera, low budget, look at me not the prompter or off camera, poor sound quality, odd pauses and over all low budget low quality. Save your dollars for a better DVD.

Best beginning yoga dvd.......2006-01-25

I love this DVD. I have several yoga dvds and just put in an order for more of Marlon's stuff. I don't have enough money to attend classes somewhere right now so this was my alternative. I have a mirror in my bedroom so I can watch myself through the poses and correct them (I highly recommend this). I very much enjoy Yogi Marlon's explanation of the yoga philosophies, emphasis on not pushing yourself into pain, emphasis on breathing (and explanation of how to do it), ease of transitioning thru poses and the loveliness she comes across with pertaining to her personality. My cousin, a yogi herself who learned the art in India and now teaches classes in in the US, watched parts of this dvd one day (when I asked her opinion) and said only that I definitely should stay in front of the mirror while watching the dvd and eventually I need to get to a studio to take a class with a pro, but other than those suggestions, she was all for the dvd and the teaching it contained.

Breathing and more for beginning yoga enthusiasts.......2005-11-14

First I have to say that this is extremely low budget. Marlon is on a mat that is on a carpet with a curtain behind her. The sound is not good and the camera can be jerky at times.

On the other hand though there was really good information provided in this DVD and a lot of it. There are 4 different work outs and 3 info chapters. Of the 4 workout chapters two are begining routines, one is for flexibility and the last for strength. The strength chapter seems more advanced then the other 3 workout chapters.

Many times Marlon will show at least 1 and sometimes 2 different modified poses. Most beginner DVDs also asume the person is not flexible.

She moves very slowly and holds the poses for a long time.

Of the info chapters there is one on breathing. Marlon goes over breathing in detail at least 2 other times. Breathing is so important in Yoga so why do all the other Yoga DVDs fail to go into detail about breathing. This is the first DVD I have encountered to discuss breathing at all let alone in so much detail.

This is definetly a good buy for beginning Yoga ethusiasts.

Average customer rating:

Absolute Beginners: Keyboards
Starring: Absolute Beginners
Manufacturer: Bmg Special Product
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Starter Series: Beginning Keyboard, Vol. 1

ASIN: B00009KTW3
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Product Description

This easy-to-follow keyboard DVD tutor will take you step by step from first day exercises to playing along with a professional backing track. Learn how to maintain posture and playing position, read basic music notation, play with hands separately and then together, and perform your very first songs. Includes a 32-page booklet matching the exercises on the DVD.

Average customer rating:

Great movie; DVD not so great.
Absolute entertainment
4 stars for the music but 1 for the movie
The first music video musical
Interesting Film

Absolute Beginners
Starring: Patsy Kensit , Eddie O'Connell , David Bowie , James Fox , and Ray Davies
Director: Julien Temple
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
ProductGroup: DVD
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ASIN: B000089737
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Amazon.com

A commercial disaster upon its release in 1986, Absolute Beginners is an uneven but often stunning attempt at revitalizing the movie musical with postmodern sensibilities. Director Julien Temple was making his first foray into dramatic features after an impressive string of music videos and documentaries (including the first of two Temple-directed profiles of the Sex Pistols), and he upped the stakes by harnessing his visual ingenuity to a period piece exploring London's social transformation at the edge of the '60s--a fleeting moment in the pop zeitgeist that may as well have been the Cambrian Age to Temple's MTV-generation audience. This is post-World War II London turning the corner from economic austerity, giddy with jazz and early rock, yet to witness the Beatles and the Stones.

Description

Colin is a brazen 19-year-old with his finger on the pulse of Soho's burgeoning scene of artists. But when his beautiful girlfriend Suzette tires of their poor and struggling existence, Colin finds himself losing touch with himself and her. And when an older, richer man sweeps Suzette away, a devastated Colin embarks on a desperate journey to win her back!

Customer Reviews:

Great movie; DVD not so great........2007-06-05

One of the things I loved about this movie was the set design and costumes, all in spectacular colors. However, the color in this MGM-released DVD wobbles from vivid to washed-out and back to vivid, often during the same scene. Pretty disappointing -- what I might expect from a 2nd-generation VHS copy, but not a DVD.

Absolute entertainment.......2007-01-05

This year I had the opportunity to read both Absolute Beginners and City of Spades, both by Colin MacInnes. Both deal with racial tension in London. I was surprized to find this DVD where the novel Absolute Beginners had been made into a film. I was even more surprized when I watched this ambitious, slightly flawed, but creative brave product.

Eddie O'Connell and Patshy Kensit are beautiful as Colin the 19 year old photographer, and Crepe Suzette, his dress designer girlfriend. Both have superb dance numbers.

The art direction was exceptional with some of the most creative sets to be seen in years on the screen. It appeared that Kenny Scharf and Rodney Allen Greenblatt had designed all the club interiors in the film. The costumes were over the top. The choreography was exceptional since it had to convey the chaos and violence of race riots in dance form. It reminded me of the gang fight scenes in West Side Story, only more violent and less stylized.

David Bowie plays both a dramatic role and sings one of the songs in this musical. Sade however takes the prize with "Killer Blow" sung in a nightclub. The scene of Sade singing is worth the price of the DVD. Other bands play in the film, including Fine Young Cannibals. Ray Davies (looking very good) of the Kinks plays Colin's father, a content and handsome middle aged man with a nympho wife who has sex with the male boarders in their boarding house.

The film is a conglomeration of diverse influences from various times and eras. From West Side Story to the work of Charles Mingus, you will find great entertainment watching the various iterations of these influences flow across the screen.

Yet, underlying the vast visual and musical display is a subplot about racial tension and disruption. The film conveys the message that a lively mixture of influences from a range of human cultures stimulates and enlivens the human soul. Likewise, efforts to suppress and destroy others because of race, ethnicity, and religion is counterproductive and damaging in the long run to the human condition.

4 stars for the music but 1 for the movie.......2004-06-27

I've had the soundtrack to this movie for years, the double album no less. It is an absolute masterpiece. The movie is a bit of a let down after finally seeing it. If you think of this movie as a series of interconnecting vignettes it works much better as the plot is very convoluted and meandering.
The final riot seems out of place, but is very effective with our hero caught in the middle of a race riot, running from both the neo-nazis and the angry blacks, having no safe place to go. Jerry Dammer's music during the whole episode is outstanding.
In the end there is some substance with it's strong anti-capitalist message and even more style with the series of music videos, but empty nonetheless.
David Bowie is the class of the field here. Sleek, stylish and somehow menacing.
James Fox is understated and uncaring as the greedy heavy. Everyone else is a step below. Many over-act or just don't have the chops.
There are a number of pretty standard "characters". There's the hip beatnik type with the always-hip sunglasses, the good-natured gay "Oscar Wilde" type with the always-hip sunglasses and the ultra cool black trumpet player (not a sax?) with the always-hip sunglasses. There is also a street urchin type who's lust for money, it turns out, hides a darker side and a good natured, busty, and big boned lesbian pseudo mother type.
All businessmen & women are portrayed as corrupt bungling money-grubbing capitalists, who are intent on turning the hero's poor tenement neighborhood into an ultramodern "white" housing project.
The show business types are fake, toupee wearing liars. Come to think of it, in my limited experience that's not far from the truth.
There's even an old schoolmaster type who seems completely lost (surprise, surprise).
Many of the actors and artists have a problem keeping up with the words during their lip-syncing (though Bowie makes it look effortless). You'd think in a major motion picture there would be more of an effort to make that work.
Of course the real star of the movie is the music and the standouts are Gil Evans, the aforementioned Jerry Dammers and David Bowie. Honorable mentions go to Working Week (Rodrigo Bay doesn't get much airtime but is an exhilarating song) and Style Council reworking their "With Everything to Lose" as "Have You Ever Had It Blue" with added horns and Latin beats (though it seems out of place here). Slim Gaillard's "Selling Out" Clive Langer's "Napoli" Smiley Culture's "So What?" all work wonders with or without the movie.

The first music video musical.......2004-03-20

Julien Temple had lots of experience making music video's before he made this film, and it shows. Basically, it is many music video's strung together to formulate a film, which is not such a good idea. The story needed much more dialogue and character definition. You'll watch the film and think it looks really neat, but you won't care for the characters. A few months after this film was released, Spike Lee had a hit with something called "Do the right thing". Spike's film is almost a copy of this, same plotline, same issues, but no music. Both films cover a hot summer heatwave where peoples tempers are on edge, race riots occur, etc etc. Why Spike got more attention, I'm not quite sure.

Interesting Film.......2003-05-18

There's a movie musical somewhere in David Bowie's talent, but I'm not sure this is it. Don't be deceived by the cover, David's only a minor bit in this.

The sets and lights are spectacular here, and the music's pretty good. I like the Sade song. Some of the British accent's a bit hard to catch, (I turned on the captions for the "Ted's not Dead" song)

Disappointing extras, and not even a copy of the film's preview. I'm never really partial to slide shows of promotional photos.

Product Description

A wonderful DVD for the complete beginner. Paul McNevin, master teacher and musician, takes you step by step from holding the fiddle and bow to playing your first tunes. Complete with live stage performances featuring...Gavin Ralston - guitar, Gerry O'Connor - banjo. Paul McNevin is one of Ireland's finest fiddle teachers and performers. Paul, with patient insight into the student's needs, shows you how to play traditional Irish music and guides you through each step, from holding the fiddle and bow correctly, on to playing scales and finally to playing your first tunes. Featuring: How to hold the fiddle and bow - scales - solos - hints and tips - cuts - triplets and much more.

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Absolute Beginners: Drums
Starring: Absolute Beginners
Manufacturer: Bmg Special Product
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009KTW0
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Product Description

This easy-to-follow drum DVD tutor will take you step by step from first day exercises to playing along with a professional backing track. Learn how to set up your drum kit; tune your drums; read drum music; understand rhythm; coordinate your bass drum, snare, hi-hat, rash and ride cymbals; and perform your first drum part. Includes a 32 page booklet with exercises matching the DVD.

Average customer rating:

Truth in advertising

Absolute Beginners: Bass Guitar
Starring: Various
Manufacturer: BMG Special Products
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Bass Guitar Lessons: Beginning Bass - How to play Bass instructional video

ASIN: B0001ZDLQO
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Customer Reviews:

Truth in advertising.......2006-04-11

This book/CD combination definitely lives up to it's billing. The course is for someone who has no experience with guitar or bass. Unfortunately, because I've been playing guitar for a few years, it's really too basic for me.

If you are a true beginner who has never picked up a bass or guitar before this is a good, basic start, but you'll be moving on quickly. For those who alread have even a little experience with guitar scales, notes on the fretboard and basic rhythm playing, this course is not for you.

I give it 3 stars because it is as advertised, but I expected a few more in-depth lessons at least.

Healthy Living - Power Yoga / Yoga For Absolute Beginners

Average customer rating:

Healthy Living - Power Yoga / Yoga For Absolute Beginners

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

Product Description

This programme is a complete workout using one of the most popular forms of Yoga. Also known as Ashtanga Yoga, these routines use your breath to link movements together in a flowing, fluid motion from one posture to the next, including the famous 'Sun Salutation' and 'Warrior' poses. Geared for both beginners and the more experienced, you will be able to work at a level you feel most comfortable. Familiarise yourself with the postures, whilst encouraging development of muscle strength, endurance and emotional balance.

Average customer rating:

Absolute Beginners: Guitar
Starring: Absolute Beginners
Manufacturer: Bmg Special Product
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009KTVY
Release Date: 2003-05-06

Product Description

This easy-to-follow guitar DVD tutor will take you step by step from first day exercises to playing along with a professional backing track. Learn how to tune your guitar, develop techniques using fingers or a pick, practice your sense of rhythm, play essential chord shapes, and perform your first complete guitar solo. Includes a 32-page booklet matching the exercises on the DVD.

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