You guys, I went to see Elvis (the movie) last night and it was beyond AMAZING.<\/p>\n
All the emotions.\u00a0 I left in tears, but it was just so good!\u00a0 It was LONG so be prepared to sit for two and a half hours.\u00a0 One of those movies that stays with you long after the credits roll.<\/p>\n
In my house, my mom watched the Elvis movies and I watched with her, even growing to love them on my own.\u00a0 I got into his music and learned a little about the man himself.\u00a0 I knew “some” things.\u00a0 The famous Graceland.\u00a0 The story of the pink cadillac.\u00a0 \u00a0Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie.\u00a0 I even knew OF the Colonel.\u00a0 But I didn’t know much beyond that.<\/p>\n
To see the life of Elvis unfold on the big screen, with an actor who portrayed him that was so incredibly talented, was an incredible experience. Austin Butler was PHENOMENAL as Elvis.\u00a0 Taking on the role with so much talent.\u00a0 He looks like and sounds just like him and boy, can he sing!\u00a0 At times you almost forgot you were watching an actor PORTRAY Elvis, and not actually watching Elvis Presley on the big screen.\u00a0 So well done.<\/p>\n
I didn’t know what to expect from this movie.\u00a0 All I knew is I have loved Elvis since I was young.\u00a0 \u00a0I didn’t know much about him, but I knew OF him.\u00a0 A few songs.\u00a0 A few movies.\u00a0 But this movie was done so well and took us on a ride of emotions.\u00a0 From the beginning.\u00a0 Elvis growing up with the memory of his twin brother who died at birth.\u00a0 Living on the “wrong side of town” so to speak.\u00a0 Dad was in jail, mom drank a bit too much.\u00a0 But you see how much he loved his mom.\u00a0 And the area he grew up, he got to know gospel, and he loved it.\u00a0 He was drawn to it.\u00a0 Music was in his blood.\u00a0 As he started to perform, it seemed the “wiggle” came from nerves.\u00a0 People made fun of him.\u00a0 He started to move his body.\u00a0 Those dance moves would get him into a heap of trouble, he feared it would put him in jail.\u00a0 But his fans LOVED it.\u00a0 \u00a0You see him grow into the musician, and get frustrated when the critics tried to change him.\u00a0 He just wanted to make music. And he used his voice to say what he wanted to say, and he couldn’t sing if he couldn’t dance.<\/p>\n
You see a world where everybody wanted a piece of him and you see his generosity.\u00a0 Wanting to take care of his mother. Getting her that pink cadillac.\u00a0 Graceland.<\/p>\n
You see him fall in love with Priscilla.\u00a0 Have a daughter – Lisa Marie.\u00a0 \u00a0But the fame was too much.\u00a0 Colonel Parker wanted Elvis for himself.\u00a0 The more successful Elvis was the better off the Colonel was.\u00a0 \u00a0No matter the expense.<\/p>\n
You get to see a different side of the fame for Elvis.\u00a0 You see the sadness and heartbreak as he loses the woman he loved the most in the world – first his mothers death, and then Priscilla walking away because the fame took her husband away.\u00a0 The drugs took over as the shows got to be too much for him.\u00a0 He was exhausted and running on empty – drugs to help him sleep and drugs to get him on stage.<\/p>\n
You feel the emotions of what that must have been like.\u00a0 We saw the “King” on stage.\u00a0 Sequined jump suits.\u00a0 Big smile.\u00a0 Big voice.\u00a0 \u00a0We didn’t see what was going on for him behind the scenes.\u00a0 It really is heartbreaking.<\/p>\n
I loved the end of the movie where they share actual footage of Elvis.\u00a0 A stage performance, home movie footage.<\/p>\n
Despite reading some bad reviews on this movie, I thought it was\u00a0an incredible insight into a man that was so talented, but taken advantage of in the worst ways.\u00a0 \u00a0A man that loved music and loved his fans, but because of situations and circumstances and people, was so controlled and abused with medication\/drugs – that he lost himself, people he loved and what he loved about the music in the first place.<\/p>\n
I saw a side of a super star that we didn’t get to know in the real world. Sadness.\u00a0 Heartbreak.\u00a0 Deception.\u00a0 \u00a0The struggles of wanting to do something that brings you joy, but being molded to fit something else, in the name of money and fame at his expense.\u00a0 \u00a0Some criticize the role Tom Hanks plays.\u00a0 But I think that’s the point.\u00a0 You are supposed to be angry, frustrated and unhappy with “Colonel Tom Parker”.\u00a0 \u00a0You are supposed to hate his role, his accent, his behavior. And I do think the real power of this movie, is seeing how much of an influence the Colonel was to Elvis.\u00a0 How much he manipulated to get what HE needed. It never seemed to be to the benefit of Elvis himself.\u00a0 It wasn’t about what he wanted.\u00a0 As long as he was making the Colonel money and helping HIM get out of debt.\u00a0 That’s what was incredibly sad.<\/p>\n
A beautiful movie.\u00a0 I absolutely loved it.\u00a0 Austin Butler was INCREDIBLE.\u00a0 \u00a0Tom Hanks played the role perfectly, even narrating the story.\u00a0 \u00a0I would see it again and again.\u00a0 It’s brought back my love of Elvis.\u00a0 The music.\u00a0 The songs I had almost forgotten about.<\/p>\n
Go see it.\u00a0 And let me know if you do.\u00a0 Totally worth the admission.<\/p>\n