Xanadu - The Cinema Snob

In our final entry for Musical March in September, The Cinema Snob finds out if he'll Xanado or Xanadon't!

[@LeatherScorpio]

And now Olivia has become an angel and a muse. Flags are flying at half-mast in Xanadu tonight. Rest In Peace, Olivia Newton-John.

[@jeffcook6446]

true that good sir, true that.

[@entertainmentpowerfuchs5744]

R.I.P. Olivia Newton John

[@billjacobs521]

Can you imagine the line for the people who wanted to play Sonny? "Hey, we need an average looking guy with a normal haircut to wear comfortable clothes and make out with Olivia Newton John for literally hours".

[@Zycyzyx]

I wouldn't call Michael Beck average looking but that's just me. (..and I always just thought he was called Swan in the Warriors because he was the pretty one.)

[@jakublulek3261]

He looks like Scorpio from Dirty Harry.

[@robbijohnson6983]

But Vermen from the Warriors got the big one 😂

[@ShamrockParticle]

@@Zycyzyx TV Tropes has an entry called "Hollywood Ugly". Look up one article there and Tyr next thing you know it's next Wednesday and there's a puddle.

[@ANT96-x8d]

RIP Olivia Newton-John She passed away today

[@WinterSteele]

Gene Kelly is awesome no matter what he's appearing in. The consummate entertainer.

[@mogensschmidt2498]

even in this that would be his last movie

[@cherrybombstudios1671]

In case anyone is curious (and this hasn’t been commented already) Kira’s real name is *Terpischore,* the Muse of dance.

[@rebeccalovitch8504]

This is my "go to" movie. Whenever I get sick or I feel depressed, I pop in Xanadu and immediately feel better.

[@mikeshirleyforever]

That is so strange because I recently discovered this movie and the whole feel is, well, incredibly uplifting especially to the amazing soundtrack. Best I have heard in a long time. It takes a lot for a movie that was not well recieved to have that sort of impact still to this day with some people.

[@darrelsam419]

I actually really liked the scene where the 40s and 80s music clashed, that was pretty creative. The music was nice as well.

[@nanie_czka123]

I'm grateful that the soundtrack was appreciated. After all, Electric Light Orchestra *IS* my favorite band :D

[@StonedGremlinProductions]

One of my favorites too!

[@neilh1852]

Love ELO would love to see them live!

[@jamiestarr2234]

ELO is one of my favs too. Loved the Xanadu soundtrack as a child (shit, I still do)!

[@DonnaBrooks]

I love ELO!!

[@Kaboomboo]

Mine too. Saw Jeff Lynne live in 2018 in Dallas. Legend!

[@entr3_nou5]

The fact that the song "Xanadu" by Rush was not played once in this movie is quite the missed opportunity.

[@TheDisney1901]

The animated sequence was done by animation legend Don Bluth. -S.

[@KeybladeMasterAndy]

I thought it looked like his worka

[@caidalee1994]

I thought it looked like his Thumbelina movie.

[@Melodyofthesea78]

I actually liked that part of the movie.

[@wjzav1971]

Figures. It looked like Bluth

[@kevinthepilgrim]

I remember when he said during his "don't stop the music" review that Xanadu was the better movie. After watching both, Xanadu is Citizen Kane compared to the Village People movie.

[@KristenDETW]

+Kevin H. Pilgrim Yeah but there are no songs about Milkshakes in this one.

[@scattysafari7742]

+SOHR Minnesota True! Apparently the concert at the finale was filmed on Fire Island, which at the time had a thriving gay community.The cameramen were instructed to edit out anyone dressed in drag or naughty flamboyent attire. It's also ironic that the athlete formerly known as Bruce Jenner plays a chraacter deeply uncomfortable with any of that. It's a film that utterly insults the gay audience that gave the band its start.

[@gweegweezoozoo]

+Highs and Lows Well 80s exploitation films told me otherwise,.

[@gweegweezoozoo]

***** Nah but they had plenty of gay characters, so inclusion is effective

[@yourmother7052]

It's also better than Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but that's not really a unique achievement of Xanadu's.

[@QueenCloveroftheice]

This is my ultimate guilty-pleasure movie.

[@ruthshere9468]

see Shock Treatment. so awful. so amazing

[@timd3469]

What in the F!? The Cinema Snob just laid down a Fern Gully reference in a review about Xanadu! How is he not the most popular thing on the internet?

[@rehetbutler]

I do not apologise....I love Xanadu, I love the soundtrack and the movie. Call it a guilty pleasure.

[@bibniebt]

This movie is actually really enjoyable. It's the best kind of bad, as in the acting is decent and the soundtrack is great but the movie itself is so ridiculous that you can't help but feel charmed by how campy it is. It's fun and hilarious, and certainly not cringeworthy or infuriating like certain other movies

[@ShamrockParticle]

100%. Yeah, there are some heckle-worthy moments and feels more like an after school special with a budget, but I found it to be better than the reputation. I can see why it got a razzie... but if other movies were box office flops and went on to be cult classics, Xanadu isn't all that different. Even with the trendy roller skates. :D

[@perfectallycromulent]

plenty of people, including myself, find that male lead, whose narcissism far exceeds any talent shown, nfuriating to watch with someone like Olivia Newton-John. i don't know anything about the actor really, but the character is one of the worst in a movie.

[@JBrodo]

Aw, I love Gene Kelly :-D. He's so wonderful. And ELO is the shit!

[@0311Mushroom]

Don Bluth animation, The Tubes as a New Wave band, roller disco, in many ways this movie was behind or ahead of it's time. To fully appreciate it, it has to be realized this is a 1980 attempt at a musical, before Flashdance showed us the performers themselves did not have to sing. And I always saw the "Fool Country" song as an omage to ONJ's career as a country star before she went pop, as well as the influence of Urban Cowboy. I always loved this movie, seeing it many times in the theater. It is a great eacape movie, with great music.

[@BeardFaceSuper]

I never expected a Deathnote reference from you.

[@horaciosi]

Scratch that! A MAIN STREAM reference!

[@bradforddillman7671]

If you don’t love the finale of this movie, you’re dead inside and I feel sorry for you.

[@jodyhowell9164]

I was seven years old when my Mother took me to the theatre to see this movie. I left with the biggest crush on Olivia Newton-John and I drove my Mom crazy talking about her constantly. Listening to her side of the soundtrack makes me feel like I did back then.

[@tapoemt3995]

That happened to me with Kristy McNichol around the same age. The night the lights went out in Georgia I think it was.

[@Wolfyone94]

In high school I was actually in a production of Xanadu. The reason the broadway musical is so much better is because it basically parodys itself. It's hilarious

[@alitlweird]

Xanadu is a classic. Incredible soundtrack.

[@Tom_TheDutchguy]

the don bluth animated scene is still my favourite scene of the movie and the song 'don't walk away' is my favourite song of the soundtrack

[@jimmymelendez1836]

I guess you have to be high on angel dust to understand Xanadu. But hey, it's pure cheese entertainment.

[@tophers3756]

The stage musical is great fun. They tweak the plot a bit to condense the action and flesh out other characters, add a LOT of self referential humor, and add more ELO songs. It's unapologetically campy. As one character describes the proceedings: it's like children's theater for forty-year-old gay men.

[@gweegweezoozoo]

This movie doesn't even look bad, how did it even invent the razzies

[@Shenaldrac]

I remember listening to the soundtrack to Xanadu before I ever heard it was a musical, I just had gotten a bunch of ELO CDs and I especially loved Xanadu. Imagine my surprise when I found out it was a movie! Glad to see that even if it's not good at what it was trying to go for and got panned, it's still a fun and enjoyable film.

[@ItWILLbeWONDERFUL_THERE]

oh wow!!! Some of these songs totally take me back! "SUDDENLY".

[@NJGuy1973]

Kenny Ortega was the co-choreographer. Of course.

[@PaninaroAurora]

This guy is where most Millennials wish they were. He actually has a job somewhat related to his dream, and lives alone in a nice beach house (instead of working a dead-end job and having to share a shoebox apartment with roommates).

[@gweegweezoozoo]

Beach house? he lives in Springfield ohio, that's inland

[@DaveGrean]

+PaninaroAurora You're so right :(

[@Archeopteryxman421]

He's talking about the guy in the movie.

[@mfitzburger5137]

The guy's also from an era when people needed someone who could draw or paint just to make a shitty album cover. Now I'd need a BFA to do the chalkboard doodles at my local Whole Foods.

[@wingsandash]

OP is referring to the main character of the movie. P.S. Brad lives in Springfield, Illinois.

[@emmaduncan2991]

"to have a cup full of popcicles" that damn near killed me!

[@KatieCatWalker]

Jeff Lynn ELO Heck Yeah! The movie maybe roller skates on disco pot but that music. yes!

[@rosalindhulse]

One day I will find out how many times I've watched this video...and I will not be ashamed! can't wait for Musical March in September!

[@nikolatovar9884]

I actually really enjoy this film! Okay, so it's visual and audio fluff - but *really pretty* visual and audio fluff!!

[@propre6033]

"Perhaps Larry Bird can help him find her." I literally laughed for a minute straight!!

[@nathanforester5993]

Ah yes, the origin of the infamous Golden Raspberry awards. I've got to admit that I do love the soundtrack mainly because of Electric Light Orchestra.

[@frenchcookie42]

@8:13 WHAT THE FUCK?! Snob you, you've holding back your anime side from us!

[@ElaMongrella]

+frenchcookie42 Well, there are 3 non-anime live action Death Note movies too.

[@DaolunofShiji]

+bloodrunsclear Brad must review Bible Black now!

[@DistractedGlobeGuy]

+Zhong Hui Or *Boku no Pico*.

[@DaolunofShiji]

Distracted Globe Productions Words Worth. The Snobs resistance only makes my penis stronger.

[@gweegweezoozoo]

fuck that shot, he probably watched exploitation hentai.

[@otakudante321]

thumbs up for the death note reference

[@BrendanJSmith]

This movie is too genuine and charming to hate.

[@jeffreycoogan09]

The plot of Xanadu was very similar to the 1947 Alexander Hall musical comedy fantasy, Down to Earth.

[@FabricFool]

Raising a glass of Klinker-Brick Cabernet to you, Monsieur Jones, and loving Xanadu a LOT. Love your show. A lot.

[@RockingCatDaddy]

Sad ONJ passed away on the same date Xanadu was released back in 1980.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

Dildo head? Isn't that one of the lost Cenobites from "Hellraiser"?

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

***** I wouldn't be too surprised if that was a thing.

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

Joshua Yeah it would. It's pretty much borderline extreme S&M as it is and don't get me started on the leather and chains. :)

[@zsofiakordovan5393]

Chris McWilliams i watched it a couple months ago with my husband and i was surprised to see how sexual and graphic that movie was. it kicked ass though! o:

[@LibraGamesUnlimited]

Oh yeah, it is on all counts. The only thing that really creeps me out though was the skin stuff. I have a thing about cutting, tearing or burning skin. That's my creepy trigger.

[@derekroberts6654]

Olivia Newton John lead me here RIP😢

[@Paya-hx6eu]

No the 1980s and 40s combining is just ELO being formed

[@THECLARENCES]

"Xanadu" the movie & soundtrack rules! xoxo The Clarences

[@Kantohammer]

My introduction to Xanadu was the theme song appearing in Dance Dance Revolution.

[@hannahlynn8028]

I feel like when they went in the studio, there were some Gene Kelly references? The bench from "When You Were A Tulip" from For Me and My Gal with Judy Garland & Gene, the big fan from "You Were Meant For Me" from Singin in the Rain, and the umbrellas and rain from Singin In The Rain

[@julieporter7805]

Hannah Lynn Also his character has the same name as his character from Cover Girl.

[@Dresdenflower]

RIP Olivia

[@jamesmoyner7499]

I have the movie on VHS and always enjoy watching Gene Kelly.

[@roarkthehalf-orc6598]

I'm saddened to say that this is one of my guilty pleasures

[@DreamWolfPics]

I've never watched the film, but I quite like the second half of the soundtrack. ELO!

[@pierrebinot149]

Heavens, its a fantasy musical for goodness sake, you have to just sit back and enjoy it for what it is. If I want reality I can look out the window. Gene Kelly and Olivia, are wonderful, the music, the fashion are all fantastic. It is just a blast. If you are having bad day it will cheer you up. Plus it is nice that fantasize that maybe dreams can come true.

[@horaciosi]

(10:18) Actually, Gene appeared in two more films, "That's Dancing!" and "That's Entertainment! III"

[@ruthshere9468]

clips from older movies

[@dulcimerrafi]

They were both documentaries. This was his last narrative feature. He should have specified that.

[@brandondias5622]

I just watched it - The soundtrack is easily the best part, especially the ELO songs because, well, ELO songs are always good. My whole family loves them, they're very underappreciated.

[@beethovensfidelio]

“It’s not terribly coincidental if you’re STALKING the person” 😂 😂

[@kungfew1396]

When I was little this movie was fun and everyone was crushing on the Newton.

[@annewrenn5014]

The Best 💜. Thank you.

[@dragondaveltd1992]

In fact: 15:15 This sequence of the song Don't Walk Away, Joel Silver ask Don Bluth and his animation team (while in pre-production on The Secret of NIHM) to make 2-3 minutes of animation to the movie Don Bluth was fear of this scene going to be a disaster for him, but lucky the reaction from the test audience loved the scene and he's thankfully relief of the result and he's carrying on making the Secret of NIHM...

[@Kochiha]

The only Xanadu this world needs features double-necked guitars and a cautionary tale about immortality.

[@jimmeno]

RIP Olivia Newton John

[@lordshnissugah]

@20:15 Zeus really did like lasers, if Clash of the Titans taught me anything.

[@NikkiLeeSimmons]

Good Queen reference.

[@littlebearbradick9263]

Did Don Bluth do the animated sequence?

[@thecinematicmind]

Little Bear Schwarz Yes he did.

[@eddiedingle767]

I will never understand how Michael Beck had an acting career, I mean, he has the charisma of Styrofoam and he looks like prototype Andy Samberg

[@SpeedyEric1]

I'm watching the Nostalgia Chick's review on this movie while watching this review. The 40's vs. 80's dance reminds me of a musical version of Harvey Finevoice vs. 80's Dan.

[@DonnaBrooks]

I didn't know "Suddenly" was also from the Xanadu soundtrack! I loved that song! "All Over the World" is my fave ELO song. I love ELO's music & Olivia Newton-John, but I never did see the movie. I was surprised to learn about 10 years ago that Gene Kelly was in this! I always liked him too. Was great to see him dance w/ Olivia. Robert Greenwald is my friend on Facebook! I'd forgotten he did this film. Still not interested in seeing it. LOL

[@declanhandley-byrne4335]

This is the movie that made me download ELO's greatest hits on my iPod

[@lunquewill]

In the scene about 80's vs. the 40's you can see The Tubes playing.

[@Calculon1712]

Michael Beck was once quoted as saying "The Warriors opened a lot doors for me which Xanadu suddenly closed" This film came out on the same day as The Fiendish Plot of Dr Fu Manchu which was Peter Sellers last film (Still would love it if Brad reviews that someday)

[@whenthemusicsover6028]

I'm no fan of ONJ, but even I'll admit that she's simply adorable in this. :)

[@Fl0xtpvnk]

Love that Miami Connection joke he threw in there. Dragon Sound best sound.

[@davidjradich]

He totally missed a perfectly good "Logan's Run" reference!

[@graemesmith6721]

Fun facts: One of the muses was played by Sandahl Bergman, who played Valeria in Conan the Barbarian. Also, the Pan Pacific Auditorium, the old art-deco club they used for the exterior shots of Xanadu, was destroyed by a fire in 1989.

[@catsofsherman1316]

Great music. Silly movie. ONJ was so adorable in those days.

[@TRFrench]

I Love This Movie. But all the slams are hilarious.

[@aaronromo1590]

It was most likely Gene Kelly's last appearance in a movie but his last contribution to a movie was providing choreography for the animated characters in 'Cats Don't Dance'. It's funny how much nostalgia can contribute to a film. I realize how cheesy and simple this film is but I still remember my dad taking me to see this and it still holds up as a fun watch for that reason. I actually did start to dig E.L.O. after this too. Trauma or sentiment? Who cares! Also, the animation done in this helped Don Bluth make 'The Secret of Nimh', so if there's anything positive to say about this film, that's definitely it!

[@danieldalton6544]

Have loved this movie since I saw it as a kid. Excellent soundtrack and fun. You just have to shut your brain off and not analyze it.

[@genaervin3484]

I find it hilarious that the commercial I got before watching this vid was for God's Not Dead 2. I watched that review like 3 times, and now I get a Pure Flix logo in the upper right corner of my page XD

[@ursidae97]

Cinema Snob made a Death Note joke! My life is complete!

[@KeybladeMasterAndy]

That animated sequence looks pretty good

[@jadenova]

"Xanadu." "Xanadu." "Xanadu." It's only a model.

[@shimauma42]

,😆

[@dallasdandigitalproduction393]

Is that where Xanax was invented ? Asking for a friend.

[@jonathanwarrdddedcxddeecec4787]

This kinda gave me an idea. What if someone did something like the 1980 vs 1940 song but all of the decades

[@jean-francoislabelle6489]

As a pictural artist myself, I can understand this guy desire to diversify.

[@caidalee1994]

When I was little, I used to confuse Xanadu with Starlight Express. I can see why.

[@coyote10119]

It wasnt THAT bad.

[@eamonndeane587]

coyote10119 I prefer it to Grease.

[@beethovensfidelio]

It’s “so bad, it’s good”. I don’t think it’s the worst film ever made, but Michael Beck can NOT act his way out of a paper bag (it doesn’t help that his character Sonny is whiny, self-absorbed, and has the personality of a wet blanket). It’s also got a weak story, and the writing is terrible (no thanks to the fact that the script wasn’t even finished before production began!). Of course, what makes it watchable are Gene Kelly’s performance (despite the fact that he clearly did it for the money, he still “takes the bad film seriously”), and of course, the catchy songs.

[@Tareltonlives]

I'd love to see the reaction of the rest of the Punks to Swan in this

[@darkrandblakk5707]

Xanadu great movie

[@jeremyedmond3095]

idk if this is perfect for Brad, but I think 'Hell goes to Frogtown' would be a great movie to review. If you dont believe me, just watch the trailer.

[@jeremyedmond3095]

sorry, 'Hell COMES to Frogtown'.

[@geoffreysorkin5774]

Excuse me, this cost 20,000,000 in 1980?

[@AMG93]

Great movie 10/10

[@vegetasaiyanprinceofragebo5520]

xanadu, cant cry on cue now I am here in xanaduu

[@janedoe3209]

+Vegeta Saiyan Prince of Rage boners oh this has goo written all over it!!!!

[@Tomblappy]

Snob, you forgot to mention that's Don Bluth did the animation on that animated sequence!

[@myname6482]

Funny thing about Xanadu supposedly being a sequel to "Cover Girl" with Rita Hayworth. She actually starred as Terpsichore in another movie called "Down to Earth", the sequel to "Here Comes Mr Jordan"

[@x15galmichelleevans]

The flying saucer model in the opening logo is not from Plan 9 From Outer Space, but is the saucer from the TV show The Invaders.

[@mookow2]

Then I came to America, saw Xanadu That's all I wanted to do, rollerskate.

[@vintagevhstreasures4058]

Fun fact: David Naughton (of An American Werewolf in London fame) was also considered for the part of Sonny.

[@Doctor_Kissworthy]

No other way to look at it. The movie is stupendous and the closest to a stage production on celluloid.

[@GeoNeilUK]

Sonny Malone in a hardcore gangster film is a better thought than Michael Beck signing up for the film because he thought he was in the sequel to *Bugsy Malone* ...unless he was hoping the cast would all be adults... Also, next musical March in September, you need to snob *Bugsy Malone* I'd also recommend George Kranz's film *Magic Sticks* but I can't find any trace of that film other than a German dub on George's own official KZbin channel. The set pieces in this film are too much like Cliff Richard's video for Wired For Sound.