Center Stage (Special Edition) | Amanda Schull, Ethan Stiefel

Center Stage (Special Edition) | Amanda Schull, Ethan Stiefel | Delightful Dancing

DVDs:

Center Stage (Spec...

	Center Stage (Special Edition) Amanda Schull, Ethan Stiefel Sony Pictures, 2000 average customer review:based on 248 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Great movie

This is a great movie. The acting is not fantastic but the dancing is wonderful in this movie..It will not disappoint you!!!

Delightful Dancing

Wonderful! A dancing classic. It is a MUST HAVE in any dance movie collection. It's got everything not just dancing but also a plot you can get into. Your making a mistake if you don't buy this...

Wonderful

At first I didn't think I would like this movie. But my daughter is the one that got me to watch it and it is great. There still are lessons to be learned and this movie has a few in it. It just comes to show you are never to old to learn something from the younger kids today either.

for more information click here

Oh, Baby

This movie is sooooooooo bad by every standard convention of film quality (awful script, even worse acting), but it is beyond entertaining. And the dance sequences rock.

Center Stage lacked some of my Center of Attention, but not bad for a "Dance Movie"

Center Stage is one of the more pure dance movies of the 1990s with almost no known stars and real-life ballet performances. The only recognizable star is Peter Gallagher (the snoozer in While You Were Sleeping) as instructor Jonathan Reeves.

In fact, the casting director went more for the "teach dancers how to act" rather than "teach actors how to dance" which has both positive and negative outcomes. On the positive side, the ballet dancing is authentic and real while some scenes requiring the actors to express anger and frustration are lacking in depth and honesty.

The lead female, Jody Sawyer (played by Amanda Schull), is probably the actress with the best blend of dancing and acting in the film besides some of the ballet instructors as well. Actor Peter Gallagher, mentioned earlier, has the "jerk in disguise" thing down and Donna Murphy (playing ballet instructor "Juliette") is probably the most believable in her role and fun to watch.

The formulaic plot involves a group of about a dozen teenagers from all walks of life (yes, much like the movie "Fame") who enroll at the American Ballet Academy in New York to try and eventually become professional ballet dancers. Of course each dancer must deal with the rigorous training and competition in the intense ballet world. Of course, the dance world includes the audition ups and downs, as well as a love triangle that's kinda fun.

One credit I do give the fimmakers is the fact that a realistic and competitive ballet environment was created. Ballet dancer movie-goers will be able to identify their own experiences, friends, and enemies in this film. The soundtrack is excellent with many songs from Mandy Moore as she began reaching her early peak as a new pop aritst (songs include, "I Wanna Be With You," & "Candy"). There is even a Mandy Moore music video bonus in the special features version.

If you can stand some "rotten tomato acting" (Susan May Pratt as "Maureen"...she was also featured in "10 Things I Hate About You" and didn't do much better) with some great ballet dancing you'll like this movie. Keep in mind, there are more dance forms than just ballet...some scenes include jazz/pop and salsa. The two lead males (Ethan Stiefel as cocky professional "Cooper" & Sascha Radetsky as humble confidante "Charlie") are a lot of fun to watch together portraying both sides of the romantic triangle with "Jody." Sascha Radetsky is also featured as the dancing hottie in the Mandy Moore bonus music video.

There is some strong language and references to sexuality (gay and straight), but it isn't in too poor of taste. Late in the movie, there is a dance love-making scene which will probably land this movie in the "Dance Movie Hall of Fame." (Just a warning for those with kids under 13) The closing scene involving the "where they ended up" notes is fun because it has a surprising and realistic ending.

Grab some popcorn....and enjoy this pretty good dance movie.

for more information click here