Elvis Presley Movie:

Editorial Review:
This 1970 concert documentary captures Elvis Presley midway through a fateful transition, seeking to reclaim his musical primacy after a decade of self-imposed exile from concert stages. Sidelined by his big-screen career, eclipsed by rock's mid-'60s transformations, the King had begun his return two years earlier with the relatively lean attack of his fabled network television appearance, '68 Comeback Special. Now the Memphis legend was poised to reposition his performing profile by pursuing the top rungs of headliner status in Las Vegas, a career choice that seems even more ephemeral in hindsight than it already did at the time.

Elvis: That's the Way It Is follows the show's genesis from rehearsal to stage, with the performance footage that provides its inevitable climax shot over six nights. The rehearsal footage, expanded for this special edition, offers further proof that Presley's band was simply superb: stripped of the orchestrations and lush choral arrangements that would be grafted onto the stage show, the sextet sounds both tough and nimble. In performance, we're treated to a mostly riveting glimpse of Presley in top vocal form, poised at the brink of bombast. This is Elvis before the onset of portentous Richard Strauss overtures, karate kicks, and tossed scarves, kicking off the show with the classic "That's All Right." If he risks undercutting the punch of his early songs with self-deprecating clowning, he attacks two Ray Charles classics with gusto. The special edition also boasts digitally remastered visuals, crisply remixed Dolby audio, alternate versions that replace the original performances of several tracks (including the extended vamp of "Suspicious Minds"), a theatrical trailer, and a new documentary on the restoration of the film. --Sam Sutherland

Elvis: Thats the Way It Is - Special Edition [Region 2] Reviews:
Elvis - That's the Way It is
2009-10-30 - This is a must have for Elvis fans. This man was such a talent and all can see why he was the King of Rock and Roll. Too bad his life was cut short. No one today in entertainment can compare to his music.

great 5.1 sound.....Film couda and shouda been better
2009-09-03 - I first saw "Thats the way it is" on TV back around 1988 and taped it off tv that day, I thot "Man what a movie!"
Then I saw it was now on DVD!!!!!!!!
BUT..........whatever......special edition.
Everytime I see that, I always wonder how its now mesed up.
The original film was a gem, fine, excellnt, even the inertviews with women and such gagaing over the King, its was ok.
This Special Edition is only like 87 mins long...what crap! A DVD can hold 2 hours on it with still retaining superb audio/video..why only use half its space?? Elvis and the crew filmed I think 4 complete shows and you also have the rehearsals...no excuse not to make this 2 hours long.
Then the DVD case boats of NEW Alternate songs or different takes!
Heck the original takes were much better, no wonder thats why they were originally in the film!
"Patch it Up" and "Suspicious Minds" in the original release were much better performaces!
Then they left off what I thot were the the best songs!!!!!!
They left out a killer version of "Polk Salad Annie: he did in rehearsals at the Casino.
They also left out some funny moments.....the first take where Elvis runs through the ballroom and comes back on stage and says "you didnt think I'd make it did you?? Either did I!"
Or on stage where his mic cuts out as hes talking, so he grabs like 4 mics and talks through all of them, then pics out 1 to sing with.
They left out "Sweet Caroline" "I just cant help believing (rehearsal version)"
Gee what else did they leave out.......the song "Runaway" "Bridge over Troubled water".
What they kept were just the Kings standards, heartbreak hotel, ect ect.
They shouda just took the original film print and remastered it and remixed the sound to 5.1 and includeed BONUS features of the alternate song takes, it wouda been a instant 10! 5 star rating, a must own.
Although its still a must-own, it couda been sooooo much better.
I do have to say though, if you have a real 5.1 home theater system.......this sounds GREAT...absolutely fantastic, superb! Awesome separation of sound, if only they took as much time assembling the video.


That's the way it was!
2009-08-30 - The man was a downright electrifying performer. This video captures the preparation and excitement of his always sold-out Las Vegas concerts as well as many poignant moments when it almost seems he forgot that the camera was there. Elvis was just a great guy--good looking, big heart, and probably the greatest entertainer of the 20th century--an original from start to finish. Hat's off to the King!

Mixed review
2009-08-25 - If you have never seen this footage or the original, I rate it a 5. If you are looking for the original, which has some unforgetable songs and footage, or have seen the 'special edition', this is a 1. If you've never seen Elvis in concert at his peak #1969-1973#, this is a must see. I seriously doubt we will ever see another performer like Elvis Presley and "That's the way it is".

I just can't believe it!
2009-08-13 - Yes, yes, all the reviews here still apply, and Elvis is Elvis but I think everyone should know, BEFORE buying this DVD, that the song "I just can't help believing" is not on this DVD! I saw the movie when I was a kid and that song really stuck in my head. Thirty years later, I'm still humming it! I blindly bought this DVD and 'I just can't believe' that this song is not there?! To make things worse, it plays tantalizingly on the menu! (My younger son said, Appa why don't you just listen to the menu!) This is the kind of marketing BS that makes me ill. It is common practice to leave out at least one great song on a "best of..." or a "...greatest hits" to force you to buy another CD for that one song you love, but this is too much. A "Special Edition" DVD without the best rendition I've ever heard, of a great song. I bought this DVD for one song and it isn't there!