endjie Reviews

Guardami (1999)

Daring Cavallotti

[10/10 · 20 March 2004]

When Guardami was shown at the Venice Film Festival it was sabled down by most critics because of the explicit scenes. But this is a very good, even sweet movie based upon the life of Moana Pozzi, the Italian pornstar who died of cancer. The part is portrayed in an astonishing, daring way by Italian mainstream actress Elisabetta Cavallotti, who never acted in sexy movies before Guardami. She even started out as a Shakespeare actress in many stage plays. The way she portrays Nina shows a lot of courage. The movie shows the relationship between the pornstar and a regular guy, who is also a cancer patient. It's such a pity the critics aim only at the few sex scenes, because this is a quality movie. The best mainstream movie about the porn industry is of course Boogie Nights, but this one might come in second place....

Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

Renee is the best

[10/10 · 2 January 2004]

At first this movie was marketed as a film for women, and the result was I didn't even see it. But then I saw it by coincidence, and I was stunned by the acting performance of Renee Zellweger. How could a Texan actress portray an English girl so well? This is a very good movie that also appeals to a man like myself, it's sweet, romantic and Bridget Jones is someone to fall in love with! And so is Renee Zellweger...

Engelbert with the Young Generation (1972– )

What a voice !!!

[10/10 · 8 October 2003]

Seeing these series of television shows again, brings back memories of days gone by. In each show Engelbert opens with two songs, always accompanied by a big television orchestra, and finishes the show with a great finale. What a voice!!! German cabaret-dancer Marlene Charelle is guest in every show, and "sings", dances and helps Engelbert with his German language. And of course, there is always another guest-star. Big names like Jose Feliciano, Anna Moffo, Wilma Reading and Randy Newman. In the first episode we can also see and hear the amazing Tom Jones in his younger years. The highlight of that show is a stunning version of "All the games people play" sung by Engelbert and Tom, with Billy Preston playing organ. One of the best things we've ever heard. In those days the two singers were friends and equivalents, though the friendship cooled down in later years. Under the guidance of their late manager Gordon Mills, Tom was famous as an allround rock & roll and r&b-singer, while Engelbert was the balladeer. Both men caused great reactions among female fans, also fired by their charismatic appearance. These shows are great entertainment, despite the poor video-quality !

Engelbert Humperdinck: Love Unchained (1997 TV Special)

The last waltz?

[10/10 · 24 September 2003]

In this tv-special we see Engelbert Humperdinck in supershape, vocally, physically and still goodlooking. And all this at age 61. If you compare this show to the special he did at the London Palladium only a few years later, you almost can't believe the bad vocal shape he displayed in that show. But in Love Unchained he sings beautifully with a full orchestra in a classsical way. He not only sings hits like Release me and Portofino, but also songs that he grew up with in the forties and fifties. And nobody in history sang ballads better than Engelbert Humperdinck... Let's treasure this show as one of the last shows he did when he was still in good vocal shape...

The Engelbert Humperdinck Show (1969–1970)

Amazing Enge.

[10/10 · 6 March 2001]

This is indeed an amazing performance of Engelbert Humperdinck in his heydays. During this period (late sixties-begin seventies) he was in the best vocal shape of his life. His voice was extremely powerful, and he presented it all with great ease. This video also gives a good impression of the image of the sex symbol he was in the seventies. In the television shows he performed all of his great hits, and also unknown songs like My wife the dancer. Watching the video could give you a slightly melancholic feeling, because nowadays Engelbert is just a shadow of the singer he was in those days. His career is probably too long, like Sinatra's and Muhammad Ali's careers were. Seems to be hard to stop at the peak....

Engelbert Humperdinck: Spectacular (1985 Video)

Engel in good shape

[10/10 · 27 February 2001]

This is a chance to see top balladeer Engelbert Humperdinck while he was still in good shape. This 1985 concert in London's Royal Albert Hall meant a comeback for Engel in Europe. He showed supreme vocal and physical condition as he sang many of his hits. Songs like Release me, After the loving and Blue Spanish eyes, but also great covers like Lionel Richie's Hello. I think the highlight of the show was the grand finale with the medley If we only had love/If you love me. Here Engel shows off his three-and-half octave range. I think this should have been his goodbye concert: saying goodbye while you're still great. What he does nowadays (Engelbert at the London Palladium 2000)is very mediocre.