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Jim Milton
This movie is a musical celebration of the life of Elton John, who started out as a shy boy named Reginal Dwight and ends up becoming one of the most icon figures in Rock-and-roll. The film is a fantasy, based on fact and is loaded with some of his best known songs that illustrate what he was going through during the tumultuous ‘70s.
Paramount Studios
2019, 2160p with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision HDR, Rated R, Aspect Ratio 2.39:1, 2 hours and 1 minute.
Starring: Targon Egerton, Bryce Dallas Howard, Richard Madden and Gemma Jones
Directed By: Dexter Fletcher
Rating
Violence: No
Sex: Yes
Language: Yes
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I grew up listening to Elton’s music. I own at least four albums on multi-channel SACD. I was too young to follow all of the sex, drugs, alcohol and truck loads of excess in his life and I’m not sure I comprehend it all. The movie is a bit of a sentimental journey, with a mix of facts and fantasy and musical numbers that help illustrate what he was going through emotionally. Egerton is amazing as EJ and nails his mannerisms. His voice was not in the same league as a rock stars, but I give him points for attempting it. Like John’s life, the movie is a self-indulgent mish mash of events that culminate in him singing, “I’m Still Standing”, like a defiant anthem of narcissist (like most rock stars). On the other hand, he and Taupin made a team that I would compare to Lennon and McCartney. Without the writer, there would not have been the singer. In any case, the writing of the script jumps around from “truth” to fantasy and it hard to tell what actually happened in his life…like it is a recollection of events from fragments of memory. Entertaining, but not necessarily emotionally connecting to me.
The sound and picture quality are very good. The music takes off in surround sound and really puts you into the movie. The songs are not the originals, but they are quite listenable. The WCG really makes the colors pop, especially in some of the costumes and their sequin glory. This looks good on the screen and the sound will make you glad you invested in a decent home theater.
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There are plenty here to pick through. Besides a BD, there are extended musical sequences, 10 deleted scenes and over 75 minutes of bonus content, and a Sing-Along. A booklet is included that is a message from Elton to his fans that was reading.