David Schweizer 2008-11-30

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Some have expressed love for this movie. Great. It's wonderful to experience the high of a great movie. For me, this was a huge disappointment. In the first place, I disliked the TV quality of the piece from first to last; it had that cheap TV look. The acting, the polished sets, the just-right costumes. The film lacked the look of the real which is no doubt more expensive than having everybody look like characters out of "Cabaret." Secondly, I objected immediately to the holier than thou, smug Hollywood teenagers playing "ET Goes Nazi." They had they upbeat, Walt Disney style of acting that one associates with "Pollyanna." The writing sets the pace, so each scene ends on a high note, with the good boys walking away from their skirmishes with the Nazis, always looking smarter and stronger. This is, of course, the central premise of the film, namely, that a bunch of eager, idealistic kids out of central-casting would have been able to defeat the Nazis in no time. "Let Me at 'em," is the war-cry, sounding like Jimmie Cagney all the way. The premise offends my sense of how things are. I don't believe hip, cool kids line up on the left side against the forces of evil, that kids who defy the teacher grow up to be good and just, that teenagers make heroes. Nothing in life suggests that cultural misfits make politically brave citizens who lead the way against fascism or the right or anything else for that matter. The kids in this film fell into line, made good Nazis, died in the war, committed evil acts, and they liked Benny Goodman, just like the kids at Abu Ghraib listened to rock or rap as they tortured and humiliated their prisoners. Good taste in music doesn't lead to moral intelligence. Hollywood is very proud of itself and makes movie after movie about being on the right side of history and having good taste. I doubt there is any relation between the two.

Miss Rizzy 2008-06-19

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Swing Kids has always been a favorite movie of mine, since I first saw it in college. Seeing it again after having been in the music business for 8 years, many of the musical references and jokes are clearer to me now and made the movie that much better. Musician or not, I highly recommend renting/buying this flick.

R. Scott 2008-06-07

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

I bought this movie because I like swing dancing. It was a really good movie I really enjoyed it.

Lauren 2008-04-24

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Yeah, the premise sounds weird. Nazi Germany + teens into swing music/culture = WTF? But, it's a tragic story of friends torn apart by an oppressive government. Robert Sean Leonard and Christian Bale are both wonderful.

Suzanna Eller 2008-03-21

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Excellent film with some history, some fun dancing and some serious tear jerking...The music and dancing is amazing in this film but the story is really powerful too!