Term Paper 2 - Movie Review

 Hannah Diffee

Professor Reppert

Introduction to Mass Communication

Oct. 2022

Term Paper 2 - Movie Review

This summer, I had the opportunity to watch the biographical movie ELVIS in theaters. Everyone in my family is a big fan of Elvis. I remember in elementary school, my music teacher played the "Jailhouse Rock" music video for us, and all the kids immediately fell in love. My mom told me I came home one day and enthusiastically asked if she knew who Elvis Presley was. She said yes, of course. In addition, my dad is a huge music fan and a large reason I enjoy much of the music I listen to today. He read great reviews of the ELVIS biopic from social media, music lovers, and friends. On July 4th, he, my mom, my brother, and I traveled a short distance from our home to the Malco Hollywood Cinema in Monticello to watch the movie.

The Malco is a popular attraction in Monticello. As a small college town that also has two school districts, young people and families often spend time at the theater on the weekends or over the holidays. I believe the theater has recovered well from the pandemic. There are no longer any precautions in place such as required masks or socially-distanced seating. When we walked into the theater lobby, there were a few people walking around or ordering snacks from the front counter. My family made it early enough to grab a large bucket of popcorn and large drinks. The popcorn cost about $6, and the drinks cost about $3-$4. I thought these prices were relatively inexpensive: this method just inspires people to buy more unhealthy snacks. The theater also has a small arcade area, which I have never ventured into, but it seems like people are always having fun over there. Whenever I go to a movie theater, I don't worry much about the prices of the products I purchase. I consider popcorn and a drink a necessity for all movie-goers. Even though I have to take frequent bathroom breaks because my drink is nearly empty by the end of the previews. I noticed many movie posters and advertisements on the walls of the lobby. Some of these appeared attractive, but many movies these days have similar plotlines and don't hold my interest for very long.

Before the movie began, we had to sit through nearly 20 minutes of previews. I found it intriguing how many of the previews were music-centered. This was an effective means to attain more money from people who came to the theater to watch ELVIS, a biography of one of the most popular musicians of all time. There were around 15 other people in the theater, mostly couples or small families. We found good seats on the right side of the theater. My favorite thing about Malco is that each individual theater room in the building has reclining seats.

The movie began with the death of Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis's manager for the majority of his career. I was confused at first because I was not aware of who Parker was. I am familiar with Elvis, but I did not have an in-depth knowledge of Presley's upbringing or early career. Presley caught people's attention through his covers of songs by African American artists. People ridiculed him for "sounding black," but Colonel Parker saw the immense potential in the young boy. Parker soon became Presley's manager which signaled the beginning of Elvis's skyrocket to fame. The movie portrayed a variety of performances throughout Presley's career. All of the performances were highly enjoyable, and the music was so loud that it seemed to vibrate my whole body. Elvis's soulful, crooning voice and thrashing dance moves made him shoot to fame, especially among the young, female audience of America. His fame soon becomes problematic, leading him to a long struggle with drugs and sexuality. I thought the film was very well-choreographed, and the acting was impeccable. Austin Butler was a fantastic choice for the role of Elvis, and I feel like this film will help his fame grow and help him attain other notable roles in the future.

The audience seemed to react positively to the film. When there was a plot twist or shocking moment, I heard a few gasps and muttered comments from the families sitting nearby. I also heard a few laughs here and there. I noticed a few people leave during the movie, but they came back - they probably had to take a bathroom break or get a popcorn refill since the movie was 2 and a half hours long. 

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie. My only criticism is that I felt like they drug the story out much longer than it needed to be. By the last 30 minutes or so of the film, it was hard for me to sit still, and I even closed my eyes at one point. Every time the movie seemed like it might finally come to a close, Elvis had one more song to sing, or the Colonel had another story to tell. I took a short bathroom break and returned to see Colonel Parker's final scene and the eventual end of Elvis's life. This part made me emotional even though I knew it was coming. I feel like I will watch this movie again someday, and I recommended it to quite a few of my friends at school and church. However, I did not enjoy it as much as I did "Bohemian Rhapsody," another popular biographical film about the band Queen. The overall experience of the theater was enjoyable. The place was relatively clean, the people were not obnoxiously loud during the film, and I had a good excuse to eat way too much popcorn. I am glad I had the chance to go to a movie theater again, and I'm happy I was able to spend a fun afternoon with my family.