Hair [DVD] [1979]

This is a cult film for many reasons. First because of the phenomenal success as a musical both in Broadway and London, then as a musical film. The film is close to the play and some of the provocation of the play is no longer provocative twelve years later. The discourse against the Vietnam war is no longer a protest song against the war itself, but a strong song demonstrating how the young people of these late 60s managed to bring the political establishment down.Milos Forman play with some situations at the end of the 70s like the narrow minded justice, the self-centered umbilical righteousness of the rich or of the little ones who have just one rank of power more than the powerless. He also heavily plays with the racial element and the sexual ambiguity he builds all the time. The film remains pleasant and thoughtful. And of course it is a tremendous thrill to remember these years when we have had the privilege, and that was not a chance, to live them.November 11, 1969, Nixon ordering mass celebration for the 1918 armistice, which became the order for teachers at all levels to take their students to the celebration and the march, supporting thus the invasion of Cambodia that was in full swing. And some dare give lessons in democracy to foreign countries. I also remember the long campaign for the impeachment of Nixon in 1973-1974 that will eventually lead to his resignation and the swearing in of Gerald Ford, the first Vice President, and eventually President, of the US who had not been elected, since he was appointed Vice President by the Senate after Spiro Agnew had to resign to face trial, conviction and sentence for embezzlement.Of course that makes us think of today when in 2000 a president of the US was not elected by the people but by the Supreme Court, or of a war that was rejected by millions world wide from the very start, and even before the start, and was started against the better judgment of the United Nations and of three permanent members of the Security Council. And some speak of a new world order based on the respect of others. Modern Western man seems to have some problems understanding that the world is changing and has already widely and wisely changed.Modern Western man seems to be kind of out of sync and to need special evening classes to learn that democracy wants the majority in the world to be the majority, and the West is far from that majority, and that if the Soviet block had been able to understand that market economy is not capitalism but that market economy can be either socialist or capitalist the Berlin Wall would have fallen, but the other way round, and that China has learned that lesson marvelously well and is at the foot of the wall they have to climb over to learn that their socialist market economy has to lead to political democracy, but they will, just like Vietnam was able to reconstruct itself after thirty years of vicious war aggression and damage.In other words, Hair is perfect food for thought.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU

If you are of a certain age and remember, not just the movie but the actual time period, because you were there, then yes you will prob enjoy all of it....a nostalgic...o my goodness...I used to wear loons like that followed by the inevitable war what is it good for...etcIf you are a student of history and social and political change then there are many reasons to watch....but the dancing is not as fab as I remember....the singing is not quite as good as i thought ...although the songs are great.The story is worth telling and the ending is just as relevant today as yesterday.John Savage is a wee darling , Treat Williams is lovely although a tad old to play Berger- infact he looks better at the end....It costs about four pounds something and so is an affordable reminder of when life was seemingly simpler.However, its not a let's buy it for a great Saturday night in movie....unless looking like hippies and living a rather carefree life in a park suddenly become the next change of direction for the young rather sad alcohol culture of today....on second thoughts maybe it should be compulsary?

A must see in order to understand how modern social undertakings really started a long time ago

I have loved the score nearly all my adult life, and even though it's a young mans film, I cannot be prejudiced being over 40.One of my parents was of that ilk when younger, and I can only be thankful that the unusual cigarettes were 10-15 times weaker then they are now, and aforementioned parent didn't develop schizophrenia, however, I digress..I can't see how they could have made a better film, what with wastrel hippies and so forth, and Treat Williams is a treat, as are most of the cast, and the music is in the top three of all musicals however staid they might have been in comparison..I just feel that the plot is a bit thin..glorious music, especially if you havn't heard it before, thin plot..an adorable film if your in your late teens and twenties, but darn it, I am not going to demote it to 3 stars like a did with Shampoo, I just can't, it was my bible when younger, so it jolly well gets four.

Not a lot to be said about this film that hasn't already been written (if that makes sense). It's a fantastic, wonderful cool (and all the other 60/70s groovy words) of a musical that summed up an era of the summer of love. It brings back sweet and fond memories of the lost era of pop music and lifestyles, which few can actually remember as they spent most of the time back then, stoned.The music is more than good, it's great, especially Aquarius (one of my favourites). Young or old, if you haven't seen it and want to while away a couple of hours on a wet Sunday afternoon then I recommend this film to you. In the words of Dr. Timothy Leary, "Tune in, turn on and drop out!" It's an experience you won't forget. A solid 4 out of 5 star entertainment and better value for money than most cinema releases at present.

I went to the premiere of this film in the UK, which was badly received by critics at the time, but went down astonishingly well with the audience. Milos Forman is a brilliant director who made sense of a barely comprehensible show and gave it filmic shape, which is why it has aged so well. Twyla Tharp's choreography is a revelation, the editing is superb and the performances are frequently showstopping, especially 'Easy To Be Hard', which gets a round of applause in cinemas. Importantly, the film looks and feels right for the time in which it is set, even though it was produced much later.What a shame, then, that Fox has released a bare-bones Blu-Ray from a speckled print, with poor sound and no extras. Although it's not as crisp, the original DVD is actually better handled.

Other half didn’t fall asleep watching it so that’s a plus