Rating:  Summary: Brilliant Review: This is one of the most moving, beautiful, and brilliant films I have ever seen. A true lesson about life, love, and friendship that everyone should be taught. Jason Flemyng was extraordinary. You'll want to see it again and again.
Rating:  Summary: Bring Kleenex! Review: I loved this movie. Funny, touching, very realistic. I have been searching for the soundtrack and the Video for almost 2 years. It's a gay-aids movie that doesn't take you where you'd expect- It's everything that "Longtime Companion" should have been with some of the best acting I've seen. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Rating:  Summary: ALIVE AND KICKING! Review: Martin Sherman, author of the acclaimed play "Bent," wrote the screenplay for this thoughtful and moving drama of life in the era of AIDS! Directed by Nancy Meckler, this 1997 British film stars Jason Flemyng as the dancer who is too proud to let his HIV-positive status interfer with either his career or his love life! In addition to Flemyng's outstanding performance as Tonio, is the story line which has him finding comfort with an older man, a psychotherapist who is angry over the deaths of so many of his patients! "Alive and Kicking!" is one of those life affirming films in which it does not matter if you are gay or straight, sick or well, because it will touch everybody!
Rating:  Summary: Sometimes we need to be reminded.... Review: For some unfortunate reason in the year 2002 people want to believe that Aids is over. That just because to some degree it can be controlled with medication that we've cured it. This couldn't be further from the truth. Alive and Kicking is a lovely, funny and at times very tender reminder that there are still people out there not only living with Aids,dying of Aids, but also loving despite the limitaion of Aids. It's a realistic look at life, love, and dying. And about excepting that sometimes the body betrays the will.
Rating:  Summary: I really liked it! Review: The movie was great! The dancing was absolutely beautiful and the story was just great. It was really touching and like so many British films, it left you with no definite conclusion, which usually bothers me, but in this movie it was okay, because you get the sense that it will all be okay, even during trying times. I really recommend this movie.
Rating:  Summary: ALIVE AND KICKING! Review: Martin Sherman, author of the acclaimed play "Bent," wrote the screenplay for this thoughtful and moving drama of life in the era of AIDS! Directed by Nancy Meckler, this 1997 British film stars Jason Flemyng as the dancer who is too proud to let his HIV-positive status interfer with either his career or his love life! In addition to Flemyng's outstanding performance as Tonio, is the story line which has him finding comfort with an older man, a psychotherapist who is angry over the deaths of so many of his patients! "Alive and Kicking!" is one of those life affirming films in which it does not matter if you are gay or straight, sick or well, because it will touch everybody!
Rating:  Summary: I thought it was entertaining Review: I enjoyed this film (a.k.a. Indian Summer) and, as a result, I have watched it many times. Sure Tonio (Flemyng) is an obnoxious queen at times. But most of the time he is a man who lives by dancing. Although he laughingly denies it, he escapes through dance. Having worked as a costumer for a dance company, I know some of these people really are obnoxious. The relationship between Tonio and Jack (Sher) is believable within the context of their backgrounds. For those who can't see it, the visit to Greece codifies it perfectly. Sadly, they love each other in a way that wouldn't have been possible without AIDS. The dance company (Ballet Luna - I love that name) is believable within itself. It's just like this, folks. As a troupe, they made me smile. Having also been an actor, I was impressed with the acting, too. Almost everyone portrays their character believably. Flemying was the most entertaining to watch because he portrays Tonio on so many different levels. The past keeps catching up with the future in him. The energy was right, the focus was clear, he was dynamic. Jack's repeated asking, "Why aren't you angry?" is fundamental. Tonio truly is angry and it comes out through his antagonistic behavior throughout the film. Jack, for all his perception, can't see it (yet) because Tonio successfully runs from it. Finally, when temporary paralysis stops his running, the anger catches up to him and he has time to admit it and reflect upon the past. Duncan (Voss) was the surprise. I loved his representation of the dignity of the past. The message, living and dying with AIDS, is, albeit, a tired one. Can anything original be said about this subject? We've heard it all before. Thankfully this film deals with it from another angle. Some people really are tired of dealing with it, and those people are portrayed here. It is downright comical the way these people escape it by disco dancing, karaoke singing, and, of course, drinking. Whether these people are likable or not is a matter of personal taste. I wouldn't choose them for friends, except maybe Vincent (Aiden Waters). He's adorable. But the film entertained me. I am not tired of watching it repeatedly. I think it is a well crafted film.
Rating:  Summary: Dead and Paralyzed Review: I did not enjoy watching this movie. By the time that the end finally came I felt that I had wasted my time. The main character is a obnoxious and bitchy queen who we are supposed to feel sorry for simply because he has AIDS. His best friend in his dance company is an interesting character, but she is barely in the movie after the first ten minutes and I thought the psychaitrist boyfriend was finally going to be a character to relate or sympathize with until he starts drinking himself to death becuase he can't deal with reality. And don't even get me started on the dancing... The saddest part about the movie is that it is supposed to be an uplifting tale of how an HIV+ man learns to deal with living instead of obsessing about dying. The character is never very convincing in conveying either aspect of his struggle and you feel very little sympathy for him. I gave the movie two stars becuase the acting and production aren't that bad. It's the writing and directing that ruined this movie for me.
Rating:  Summary: alive & kicking Review: This is one of those movies you just take a chance on from the title alone. Fleminyg and Scher are absoulutely amazing as "life" crossed lovers. Rent it! Buy it! Love it!
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