Guest Hunnymon Posted January 14, 2011 Posted January 14, 2011 Have to disagree with that Hunnymon. I thought the music sounded really compressed and flat. In fact I decided to see if my ears were deceiving me and as my TV goes into the hi-fi amp (for recording audio) I did a little test. We listened to Detroit Soul - All Of My Life on the DVD and then compared it to a vinyl copy, MP3 and then played it off Youtube. All with the same settings and through the same equipment. DVD sounded worst of the lot. Lord knows what they did to the soundtrack I must confess that we haven't got the latest "home cinema digital surroud system" We listenend to the DVD through our 7 year old "large backed JVC set" that we bought mainly because it had a large seperate subwoofer speaker on the back that really picks up and throws out a full sound around the house! Maybe the sound quality on "Soulboy" is paricually suited to this type of sound system that's on our TV, I have decided to buy the CD and complete the "Soulboy" package, so the real test will come when I give it a spin on the hi-fi in the back room! I'll re-post up my verdict on it then!
Guest Posted January 14, 2011 Posted January 14, 2011 I'll giae it a 5/10, not total rubbish..........but the trowsers are too long and the end is yuk !!
Guest Posted January 14, 2011 Posted January 14, 2011 (edited) I'll giae it a 5/10, not total rubbish..........but the trowsers are too long and the end is yuk !! I thought the lady who played Hilda Woods did a sterling job , but Les Battersby as MW ....... Malc Edited January 14, 2011 by Malc Burton
Naughty Boy Posted January 14, 2011 Posted January 14, 2011 (edited) since when did the fellas knocking out the gear become the baddies? decksie babcocky Was that you in the film " Decksie with Mandies" fully expected someone shouting up im "bomber" Hi im "Chalkie" and im Filon :lol: I would give it 4/10 having said that i could not be arsed to watch the last 1/3 of it online ... ............ Edited January 14, 2011 by Naughty Boy
Guest madkev Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 just sat and watched this film , biggest load of shite i have ever seen in my life , total waste of time and who was the musical editor in this , they shouldbe ashamed ,i thought the crazy world of northern soul was the biggest load of crap i had ever seen but this beats it by miles , if there gonna do these things at least try and get things right , whens the next one out so i can watch fathere ted , thanks for nothing and a waste of money
Julie Moore Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 Just watched this dvd passed the time on I suppose
Dave Moore Posted January 16, 2011 Posted January 16, 2011 Just watched it in the record room. I give it 9 out of 10. Dance off was brill, well acted AND well choreographed! And the ice cream van was a poignant touch. Haven't laughed so much since Life Of Brian! Although I don't remember that Battersby fella being around back in the day! Or that many Morris Minors being around either? Regards, Dave
Guest Chris64 Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 My two pennies worth, as a relative newcomer or outsider... Saw 'Soulboy' on DVD at the weekend. I gave it a 5 out of 10. I felt the script was fairly poor, lacking in realism (compared, say, to a Shane Meadows film - although to be fair the dialogue in those is largely improvised). It didn't really convince me, and I didn't really care about the characters too much. The 1970s clothes and interiors looked authentic enough but there were one or two niggling little details which got to me - in the pub scenes they were drinking out of straight glasses - surely in the 1970s these wouild have been tankards? I was also worried by the digital watch - didn't these appear towards the very end of the 70s, yet it seemed to me (by the flares, kipper ties, sideburns) the film was set in the mid-70s. I think at one point in the script they said that eth Twisted Wheel had been closed for 3 years, so it should be possible to work out when 'Soulboy' was set. People seemed to be calling each other "divvy" quite a bit, but I believe this was originally a strictly Liverpool expression. These are admittedly minor quibbles, but they annoy me - as so much attention has been paid to making sure the clothes, interiors (wallpaper, posters, clocks) etc are accurate, that it seems a shame to let these things slip. More importantly perhaps were oddities like the 'drug sequence' - the main character appears to enter some sort of E or LSD induced hallucinogenic wonderland on the dancefloor - but surely it was just speed? I was also peturbed by the way that the villain controlled the Wigan Casino even to the extent of seemingly having the doormen and management in his pocket. This didn't seem credible to me. What was his hold over them? The scenes inside the Casino didn't seem to portray it as large as I imagined it was - but never having been there, I can't really say. Positives? Some bits of it made me laugh, e.g. the ice cream van pulling up the Casino. The Irish feller singing Tom Jones was funny too (the 'dance-off'scene at the end made me laugh but for different reasons... ) I was quite impressed by the way the original 'This England' footage had been recoloured/retinted - even to the extent of commenting to the Mrs, whilst we were watching it, "how did they get actorsd so closely resembling the original dancers? Doh! Some good tunes, mostly ones I was familiar with but a few I hadn't heard before, or ahd heard but didn't know the titles. The dancing was OK I thought, not as impressive as the 'This England' footage, but to be fair I imagine Mr Darge had only a few months to train up the actors. If anyone asked me whether they should see it, I suppose I would say don't bother seeing it at the cinema, but if it's on TV/DVD give it a go. And if any youngsters happen to see it and think "what cracking tunes," and start going to a Soul night or two, then that will be no bad thing. Just my two pennies worth...
Guest Andy Kempster Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 i take my hat off to anyone who can ride a puch maxi into the ground then run the rest of the way to wigan from stoke in under an hour
Pete S Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 People seemed to be calling each other "divvy" quite a bit, but I believe this was originally a strictly Liverpool expression. No this was widespread, everyone used the term 'div'.
Paul-s Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 seach the net you'll be able to get a free download But that costs electricity and not sure im prepared to invest such a valuable resource in that film. I could make a cup of tea, which is far more exciting... 1
Paul-s Posted February 1, 2011 Posted February 1, 2011 just sat and watched this film , biggest load of shite i have ever seen in my life , total waste of time and who was the musical editor in this , they shouldbe ashamed ,i thought the crazy world of northern soul was the biggest load of crap i had ever seen but this beats it by miles , if there gonna do these things at least try and get things right , whens the next one out so i can watch fathere ted , thanks for nothing and a waste of money Exactly my point. Its mostly the ones who never went who like it and the 'weekend soulie' types who got into it for a month or so in the 70;s and used to come as tourists. Forget wigan, its just so crap on every level, a dancing competition that concludes in a 'spin off' choreographed by someone who obviously couldn't spin i presume. The same extras in muliple areas at the same time trying to give the illusion of a full venue. Badies who act like crap cartoon caricatures and terrible editing between original (and now hackneyed footage) and new footage....just f--ing awful. Amateur film making at its worst. Oh, i forgot, " at least they had a go". That seems to be the apathetic and oft cried response from people who used to care....the only citeria that the scene demands nowadays.
Guest proudlove Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Just watched this on DVD. Some bits enjoyable. Some bits toe curlingly embarrasingly cheesy. If the main man was from Stoke how come no mention of the Torch..............even though on one of the holdalls was a Torch badge...............Who ever thought of that dance off at the end wants their head shaking. A bit of lightweight fluff. Carole enjoyed it......................but thought they could have had better dancers.........."The dancers didn't blow me away".............."Had the potential to be mind blowing but fell short"............... Steve.
Guest rasfoz Posted February 3, 2011 Posted February 3, 2011 Just watched the dvd thought it was alright for what it was,a cheap period brithish film with a story to match , from a soul scene perspective it was cheesey as , the highlight for me was the bloke who got smacked in the bogs for dealing picking up the pills after that dance off (what was that all about ) .Cant comment anymore than that as wasnt there at the time (i was only 5 in 1974) so who am i to judge on such matters.
Guest Chris64 Posted February 6, 2011 Posted February 6, 2011 I watched this again yesterday (haven't sent the DVD back yet) and enjoyed it a lot more. I knew what to expect so wasn't disappointed; also, I was viewing it second time around as (others have said this in posts above) a coming of age/love story with a background of Northern Soul - rather than being a faithful documentary style re-creation of the scene. I saw the 'Brighton Rock' remake on Friday, and the Mods v. Rockers stuff is just background, not a key part of the plot. So that was how I tried to view 'Soulboy' this time round. Depends on your expectations, and how a film has been promoted, I suppose. The 'dance-off' at the end was still comedy though!
Guest Bearsy Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 well last night was the premier in the Bearsy household of the Film Soul Boy, got to say that we both really enjoyed the film and was plaesently suprised how good it was after reading so many negative comments on here but hey each to their own we all see things differently, what would i mark it out of 10 well i would give it a 9 yep we enjoyed it that much so well done to all involved for a great bit of entertainment Bearsy & Marie ps, loved the dance off it reminded me of my youger days int he nightclubs with me mates fooking about on the dance floors pissed up
Guest Alfa166 Posted March 6, 2011 Posted March 6, 2011 I gave it 5/10, but still glad i saw it. The first thing I thought was it's a shame that Shane Meadows didn't make it as he would have produced a darker more interesting film that probably would have captured the atmosphere\excitement much better and selected better music to represent the scene. I think he would have made it Cool rather than borderline Cheesey. Lets face it going to Wigan back in the day was cool but dark.. I clearly remember walking through the town to the Casino after getting off the last train, being searched by the Police for drugs and getting abused and being offered out for a fight by the local piss heads for being a 'Soulie Wanker' as they stumbled out the pubs. Quite memorable for a 16yr old as I was then but it didn't stop me going I just got ready to run! I also remember having stuff nicked out my bag at times inside Wigan, and another time 3 'Soulies' from Manchester gave me and my mate a light kicking outside Wigan in the morning after they found out we had nothing worth robbing. Another time this huge bloke asked me and my mate if we could sell him some gear. We didn't have any gear, we certainly didn't push gear but he wouldn't believe us and he was so desparate for some he wouldn't back off until he had nicked our bags and emptied them out in the street so he could satisfy himself we were empty. These 'events' were a minority and the thing that obviously transcended it all was on a Friday night putting on my uniform - Spencers, Fred Perry, Polyveldts and rushing to meet the lads at the train station and head North ready to Dance my brains out to the only music that resonated with my brain chemistry and shook the endorphins loose...as it still does today. But there was always an undercurrent at Wigan, and other major Nighters, that made it edgy and exciting....and cool. Well, the film didn't capture any of that side for me, it tried to but the characters, even the baddies, just weren't real enough and as many people have already mentioned......the Dance Off......just embarrasing, my toes have yet to uncurl themselves! For this film to have succeeded and appealed to both hardcore Soulies and Joe Public it needed to be dramatic, informative and entertaining and really showcase the music but instead it settled for saccharin and light comedy. Oh well, I understand that there is another film about the Northern scene being made this year and hopefully it will be a big improvement and give us something we will want to watch over and over again. Remaining Faithful Alfie
Guest jampact7782 Posted March 10, 2011 Posted March 10, 2011 hi y'all my 1st post so here goes....i gave film 8 thought it captured the feel of the era quite well good mix of tunes........some funny bits too thought huey from flc as aging hippy was great.....what the hell it got northern soul playin throughout goota be worth an 8
Guest numnutz Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 5/10 for me I enjoyed it but the storyline and script could have been better Couldn't fault the soundtrack though I never got to Wigan, Blackpool, Manchester netc as I was just too young in 60's and being from Pompey was a bit far but I loove the music And now in Pompey we have a bar (Mojo's) that does play a lot of Soul, Northern, Motown, Ska, 60T's beat etc and all fron vinyl Enjoy
Guest Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 finally got round to seeing it . not a classic but don't think it deserved the slagging its got . ejoyed the music and the dancing (even if some of the clips were from the great wigan edition of This England)
Guest kelvinx Posted March 31, 2011 Posted March 31, 2011 (edited) My expectations were pretty low but i thought it was worth 6/10...Its been a long time but i thought they did a good job of recreating the casino and liked the old footage mixed in. I was a bit irritated that the first tune heard was "Tiger Feet".Even the credits at the end didnt have a soundtrack...what a waste. The story wasnt great,the dance off was cr+p and whole thing wasnt a patch on "Once upon a time in Wigan".However I was left thinking its impossible to make a commerical film about this subject..Go too deep and most people would be confused even bored, make it like this and the Northern crowd probably think its a bit patronising.. Anyway considering the time and budget constraints i thought it was a good effort and worth watching. Favourite line "Have you got any Oldies?" "Theyre all old, you div" Edited March 31, 2011 by kelvinx
Guest hurdygurdy Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 downloaded and film saved till i saw my best mate who also had a bottle of dark rum, we laughed laughed loads and shouted loads, highlights included the bales of wheat,flour or something that helped him spin in shoes. his vest described as a top, combined with too long trews ( as discussed). My mate got in to the story and so the ending, ive never watched many films with her but guess if it was gone with the wind i might have to book her in to the priory I wont dis the film industry cause it keeps my nieces and nephews in lego etc. Great evening in for anyone not too retentive, you laugh in in all the wrong places. Hey but ive watched the new karate kid twice now, and used a J cloth to wash my key board hense some grammer issues. So what do I know x
Guest Posted April 1, 2011 Posted April 1, 2011 downloaded and film saved till i saw my best mate who also had a bottle of dark rum, we laughed laughed loads and shouted loads, highlights included the bales of wheat,flour or something that helped him spin in shoes. his vest described as a top, combined with too long trews ( as discussed). My mate got in to the story and so the ending, ive never watched many films with her but guess if it was gone with the wind i might have to book her in to the priory I wont dis the film industry cause it keeps my nieces and nephews in lego etc. Great evening in for anyone not too retentive, you laugh in in all the wrong places. Hey but ive watched the new karate kid twice now, and used a J cloth to wash my key board hense some grammer issues. So what do I know x It would have contained the line " Frankly my dear , I've just dropped a gram " Malc
Mark S Posted April 2, 2011 Posted April 2, 2011 It would have contained the line " Frankly my dear , I've just dropped a gram " Malc Mr Burton absolutelly priceless
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