Rocketman (DVD) [2019] | USA Non-Compatible Product | Region - 2

Wow! Truly AMAZING film, befitting of the one and only, Elton John. Taron Egerton’s performance was FANTASTIC - he was able to show not only the brilliance of the tremendously talented showman, but also the depth of his being, the nuances of his personality, the vast differences between the man on stage and the one at home (not that he had much time there). And, Egerton actually sang the catalog (can’t say that of Malik). This is a character film, an onion of many layers, just like Elton, himself. At no point should this biographical look be compared to Bohemian Rhapsody, anymore than you would compare a Queen concert to an Elton John concert. These are 2 very different artists, and as such, the 2 films reflect that. Just as you would expect, Rocketman has a lot more flash and pizzazz, and illustrates the fantastical nature of Elton John. Additionally, this film is told from Elton John’s POV, where Bohemian Rhapsody was told from the perspective of the band. Lastly, Rocketman does NOT put the music in order of release date, at times this may coincide with time of release, but rather uses the tracks that will best evoke the sentiment of each scene, deepening the feelings for the viewer. That said, if you have not watched the film yet, stop reading, go watch it, twice - first with the captions on (so you can sing along like karaoke), then off so you can digest the whole of its depth. Afterward, come back and read the remainder of this humble review with SPOILERS below..... Rocketman opens, with Elton John in full stage gear of the shiny red devil storming his way into rehab and stomping right on into his first group meeting, where he is asked about his childhood, and surreptitiously lies as anyone does the first time, but eludes to the reality - the condemnation from his father, the condescension of his mother, the lack of affection, and the only positive role model, his maternal grandmother. It isn’t long before you see how easily music becomes both his escape and his hope to build a loving relationship with his father, who abandons him, as well as how easily playing music comes to him. After seeing an advertisement in the newspaper, he goes to an interview at a producer’s office, who is intrigued by Elton, and introduces him to another hopeful who writes lyrics, Bernie Taupin. From there a fast friendship develops between the musician and lyricist. Let me just say, everyone deserves a friend like Bernie Taupin - someone who truly gets you and isn’t afraid to tell you about yourself. After being evicted from their apartment, when Elton, tells his girlfriend that he’s gay, they end up living with Elton’s mother, where over breakfast one morning, ‘Your Song’ is written (truth as stated by Bernie Taupin), and from there the fun never stops, beginning with the first live performance at the Troubadour to the moment he enters rehab (remember the songs only illustrate the feeling of the scenes). You see the shy, Elton John, become the performer, pushing himself outside of his comfort zone, in order to get in front of the audience night after night, while day after day a tape of condemnation and condescension plays over and over in his mind, feeding his insecurities. In order to keep going, he self soothes with shopping, weed, alcohol, cocaine, sex, pills, food, absolutely anything that will bring him comfort, as he feels starved of love/affection/self-worth. And, so you watch Elton John spiral, break down, get help, then rise again, like a Rocketman. Through every moment, the acting is superb, the musical arrangements poignant and befitting, the costumes resemblant of the originals. While keeping true to Elton John, it is NOT an exact duplication of his life, it is a truly amazing and fantastical adaptation, with a terrific cast. Each character well developed, and a stunning performance from Taron Egerton, the man can sing and does it well. Rocketman is an original, just like Elton John.

This is a amazing movie! Love sir Elton. watched it with my mum who is from Essex London. She tried working with him once she said but was so blown away by his piano skills she couldnt stop watching him play haha she to was a piano player. Beautiful movie! One huge thing that was a huge bummer, and it is with many films I rent from Amazon, the volume was so low i had to have my tv cranked and even then it was hard to hear. Don know why so many amazon movies are like this.

Rocketman is a very different take on a biopic, loosely telling a fantasy version of the life of Elton John. It was directed by Dexter Fletcher and stars Taron Egerton as Elton John, Jamie Bell as his musical partner Bernie Taupin, Richard Madden as Elton's manager and lover John Reid, and Bryce Dallas Howard as Elton's mother. As one of the producers said in the behind-the-scenes material, it is a biopic that is not a biopic, and a musical that is not a musical. It starts out with Elton in rehab, relating events from his life at a group meeting. Then we see the events play out in flashbacks that every so often breaks out in musical numbers. The songs used in the movie (mostly his songs from the 1970s) were selected from Elton's vast catalog of music but were not exactly tied to the time frame that the events in his life actually occurred. For example, the movie shows the song Saturday Night's all right for Fighting being played before Elton and Taupin ever meet. The songs were used mostly to fit with particular scenes in the story, not to convey when in his career they were actually released. Also, the movie does not tell events exactly as they happened or when they happened. For example, the final act of the movie shows Elton leaving rehab using the song I'm Still Standing which was released in 1983, yet he actually went to rehab in 1990. Even though the movie is a more "fantasy" telling of Elton's life, using actual events but often times putting a different spin on them, it does convey the mess his life was as he was coming to terms with his sexuality, using and abusing drugs and alcohol, and his issues with food, as well as his rather horrible family. Bryce Dallas Howard does a wonderful job playing Elton's mother and certainly gives the impression that she saw him just as a meal-ticket. For those who get the 4k set, the movie looks and sounds great in the UHD format. The UHD disc only has the movie, and all the extras are on the regular Blu-Ray disc. Those include about 20 minutes of deleted scenes, a handful of making-of featurettes, a version of the movie that will display the song lyrics during the musical numbers, and a version of the movie that just plays the musical numbers. All-in-all a very good amount of bonus material for those who like to watch it. Overall, the movie is very good. While I do think it would have worked as a more "traditional" biopic, without having musical numbers where everyone in the scene breaks out into song, I get why the choice was made to do it that way. Taron Egerton not only does a great acting job playing Elton, but he also sang all the songs, and not just lip-synching to the real songs. This allowed them to re-arrange the songs to help tell the story yet still keep the character of the original songs. For many of the songs, they were arranged to start differently and then transition to sound more like the album versions. While I cannot say that the movie is going to appeal to everyone, if you are a fan of Elton John's music and/or know a bit about his life, it is definitely worth checking out.

This review is not about the movie itself. Rocketman is a biopic about a musical icon, so naturally you might want to expect that there is music in it (that's for anyone who might be shocked to learn this is a musical?). Personally, I love the movie, and I saw it multiple times in the theater. I was REALLY looking forward to seeing all the extras, including the extended musical sequences (!!!) and deleted scenes. If you're looking to buy Rocketman, you should know that there are exactly ZERO extras in the standard DVD version. I felt this was a little unclear in the online descriptions. I can now confirm that it is true. The packaging is a slap in the face that chastises you for choosing the DVD over the Blu-Ray, even though many of us may only have the capabilities to play the standard DVD. Should we really have to upgrade our whole system simply to watch the extras of a movie?? The standard DVD also comes in the cheapest packaging available. I've really never seen such a badly packaged mega-hit movie. The picture and sound quality are fine, but there's really no good reason to not include any extras. Hell, I'm willing to pay more than $18 (the price of the DVD) to get a standard DVD that includes all the secret, exclusive extras only Blu-Ray or digital viewers have been deemed worthy of seeing! That being said, the best deal is the Blu-Ray + DVD + Digital package, which was approximately $5.00 more (I bought both versions - $41 total, Paramount!). That has one standard DVD, one Blu-Ray disc, and instructions on how to redeem your digital video. But, once again, all 75+ minutes of extras are secreted on the Blu-Ray disc. Paramount should be ashamed of their deceptive handling of this release. (No, I don't have a Blu-Ray player or plans to buy one any time soon. I'm keeping both disc versions for some distant moment when I will have the opportunity to unlock the secret content, but, from now on, I will probably get all my DVDs from the library.)

Great movie

Released in 2019, Rocketman is a biographical musical film that chronicles the extraordinary life and career of the legendary musician Elton John. Now available on 4K UHD, this visually breathtaking film offers a captivating cinematic experience that brings the iconic rock star's story to life. The Enhanced Picture Quality The 4K UHD format boasts an enhanced resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, providing an astonishing level of detail and clarity. The crisp and vivid imagery showcases the colorful costumes, flamboyant stage sets, and intricate makeup that define the film's aesthetic. From the vibrant colors of John's signature outfits to the opulent backdrop of his lavish mansions, every frame is a feast for the eyes. Expanded Color Range High Dynamic Range (HDR) technology brings an expanded color range to the film, resulting in more lifelike and immersive visuals. The wide color gamut captures the subtle nuances of skin tones, the shimmering lights of the stage, and the vibrant hues of the costumes. The contrast between light and dark is also enhanced, creating a cinematic experience that is both visually stunning and emotionally evocative. Immersive Audio The 4K UHD release of Rocketman features a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that provides an immersive audio experience. The soundstage is expansive and dynamic, creating a sense of being in the heart of the film's musical performances. The intimate moments of John's solitude are captured with equal clarity, allowing viewers to feel the weight of his struggles and the joy of his triumphs. Special Features Galore In addition to the exceptional picture and sound quality, the 4K UHD release of Rocketman includes an extensive collection of special features. These extras provide an in-depth look behind the scenes of the production, featuring interviews with the cast and crew, deleted scenes, and a commentary track by director Dexter Fletcher. Conclusion Rocketman (4K UHD) is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant film that captures the life and legacy of Elton John with breathtaking detail and immersive depth. The enhanced picture quality, expanded color range, immersive audio, and bonus features make this the definitive way to experience the film. Whether you're a lifelong fan or a casual viewer, this 4K UHD release will leave you mesmerized and deeply moved.

Hard to believe that it has been 50 years since Elton John struck it big in America with his smash hit Your Song, and since then his songs have never gotten dull or boring. They actually have gotten better with time and space. Musically, he is still standing where other legends like Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin have all withered in the wind. But when you look at Elton John's life, you can either read a book about him, case in point the one he released called Me last year. Or you could go the theatrical route about his life as a fantasy. That was the case when people were amazed with the fantasy biopic, Rocketman. I was eager to see it and the strides and struggles he had faced. Well, watching it was more around fantasy than reality. Rocketman, in which Elton John is played by Taron Egerton tells more of a story about his life through a theatrical lens. The movie felt more like Elton's world was fully adapted into a Broadway musical for the world to see. The storylines though weren't compelling, but the basis remained fairly true about Elton John, but absolutely not 100% true. In that line, I though the story was similar to what The Greatest Showman was for Hugh Jackman from 2018. It isn't 100% accurate, with several songs made up that weren't released for their times. For example, I Want Love from 2001's Songs From The West Coast was put into a picture of Elton's youth, not being accepted by his father whom was a pilot, and only looked at as a bloke for autographs by his dad when he became famous at the beginning. Also, when Elton was entering rehab at the beginning of the movie, Elton whom was dealing with the issues of his drug and alcohol abuse, played by Taron, had stopped wearing the stage outfits well before he entered rehab 2 years earlier and auctioned off his outfits for charity. Still, the premise of what made Elton John a success is still there loosely there, in a theatrical package that where young fans that might look up to Justin Bieber or Demi Lovato as heroes in music today. Watching it, I knew what I had gotten into, but fairly enjoyed it, but knowing it wasn't as strong as it could've been. Rocketman at the end is a nice cross between Bohemian Rhapsody and The Greatest Showman in one simple film. While it isn't accurate and misses out on moments in Elton's life uniquely, like when he sung at Ryan White's funeral in 1990, or when Elton received his star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 1975, or how Elton John got his name that was from Dean Elton & Long John Baldry from his Bluesology, not from after John Lennon from The Beatles. I did enjoy the film, but didn't feel I could come back to it repeatedly like the way many people have with Grease & Saturday Night Fever. Still, Rocketman is a good film, like a soft baked pretzel without the salt. Price: C Story: B- Music: B- Acting: C+ Overall: C+

I love Elton John's music. But, turns out, I didn't know much about his life. In that sense, this movie is very educational. But the movie is so much deeper than that. It starts off with a very flamboyantly dressed Elton John going to his first AA meeting which is the basis from where the story begins and ends. Note this is the story of Elton from the young age of 5 through fame and addiction and ends with him seeking recovery. It does not go into his later years. It is the story of young Elton John. We see the dynamics of his dysfunctional household and his sour relationship with his father. We see his rise to fame and how it still didn't provide the love he always wanted and even tough he had everything materially it did not mend those relationships. Innocently and naively he is also betrayed by someone very close to him. However, there is an extremely lovely platonic story in the background here. A very touching partnership between Elton and his brilliant lyricist, Bernie. That is a true friendship and partnership and that is one of the most moving parts of the film. The story is much deeper as it is about making peace with who you are as well as reinventing yourself to become who you want to be. What is very different about this biopic is that it is also a musical. But not just a musical because Elton John is a famous rockstar who is singing at his concerts. The movie takes Elton John's songs and transforms them into musical numbers reminiscent of a Broadway musical. There are big dance numbers. There's a fantasy scene in the pool The songs are not in historical order but make an appearance during scenes that connect the song to the story. Some people may not like this structure of the film as it is rather different for a movie. But I do. I thought it was pretty brilliant because it is flamboyant and different for a biopic but Elton John is a stand out rock star who is really different than his predecessors and so it fits him to have a more creative structure to his movie. Some other notes about this film: the costumes are incredible, as should be expected from Elton John! In the end scenes they show the movie version of the costumes with the true life versions and they are pretty accurate! The acting is absolutely magnificent in this film. Tarot Egerton does a very wonderful job playing Elton. He definitely deserved his Golden Globe award for this movie. I found myself laughing, crying, and singing along with him. This movie is definitely rated R for a reason. There are sex scenes as well as drug use. I also feel that this is a very humble film in that it doesn't idealize Elton John as a rockstar but shows him as a real person whose life struggles an audience can relate to which is not always an easy thing to portray for someone so famous. I definitely enjoyed this movie and I would suggest it for all you Elton John Fans. It's worth your time.