Jonathan Livingston Seagull

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Jonathan Livingston Seagull

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There isn't a lot of middle ground when it comes to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, which comes to DVD in 2007, 34 years after it was released theatrically, 15 years after it appeared in the VHS format, and nearly 40 years after the first publication of Richard Bach's novella. One person's poetic is another's pretentious; while many find inspiration and enlightenment in its allegorical message of self-realization and fulfillment, many others are repelled by its sophomoric, superficial moralizing. There is, however, one aspect of director Hall Bartlett's film that pretty much everyone agrees on: it's beautifully photographed, and richly deserving of its 1974 Oscar nomination for Best Cinematography, with shot after breathtaking shot of the titular bird and his flock on the wing (and done without CGI or other modern technological trickery, other than the use of some radio-controlled models). Still, even an ornithologist would grow weary of endless shots of seagulls soaring and swooping, and when they start to talk, well, that's where the battle lines are drawn. James Franciscus, speaking in a hoarse, urgent whisper, supplies the voice of Jonathan, a young gull obsessed with flying higher, faster, and "without limits." This doesn't sit too well with the conformist stiffs who run the show, and the rebellious Jonathan finds himself an outcast… at least until he hooks up with some other, more evolved birds, who show him an existentially higher place and encourage him to return to his flock (who have names like Kirk Maynard, Judy Lee, and Charles-Roland) and share his profound life lessons with the others. If all of that sounds a bit sententious, that's because it is; while there's no arguing with the film's positive gist (basically, that it's good to be yourself and take a few risks), it's hammered home with all the subtlety of a Thomas Kinkade painting. Neil Diamond's music doesn't help, either, as the songwriter (with collaborator Lee Holdridge) delivers some of the most cloying songs of his career, somehow managing to sound sentimental and grandiose at the same time. In the end, perhaps the best solution is to watch Jonathan Livingston Seagull with the sound off. --Sam Graham

Customer Reviews:

Rating:
Date: 2008-06-05
jonathan
I absolutely love Neil Diamond as a singer/songwriter since I was 16 and now am 56. I had the Jonathan Livingston Seagull music as an album when it first came out. I have always loved the music and especially, when he plays it in concert. So, naturally, I love this cd.

Rating:
Date: 2008-05-25
A Diamond Constantly Above the Crowd
It's good to see the renewed interest in Neil Diamond's work. Although most people know him via his hits during the 60s, 70s and early 80s, this album is completely different from most of his other recordings.

I heard this album the first time a few years after its release and despite a young age got hooked on it. It has a majestic feel all over, as if it flew over the musical landscape of its period, and probably would do the same even if being released today. One could claim that it gave signals of the new age sound that later developed. In other words, it has aged remarkably well.

Anyone who has any of his compilations and actually listens to them should not let this Jonathan Livingston pass them by. Even those who do not have any interest in Diamond's other work may enjoy this album. It is timeless and a constant pleasure.

Rating:
Date: 2008-04-24
Finally available
I waited many years to see this movie as I was a kid when it came out and no one would take me to it. Watch it with an open mind and gain some spirituality. The music is excellent and the message is as good for today as it was then. In a time when special effects rule our movies, this one is all natural.

Rating:
Date: 2008-03-12
Wonderful Movie, Crappy conversion to DVD
I read the book and I loved it. Then I heard there was a movie about this, so I did some research and found the movie here at amazon. Reading other reviews, it was clear that the conversion to DVD was poorly done.

Well, the reviews are right. The movie is stunning, the story is beautiful, the photography is spectacular, the Soundtrack great, and the sound... Well, the sound is what took two stars away from my review.

Paramount should be ashamed of letting such a wonderful movie, where the soundtrack is basically half of everything, being release with no work at all at the sound quality. Zero, zero. The sound is MONO, and looks like somebody took an old voice recorder into the movie theater hidden in his pocket and recorded the whole thing.

I think this movie deserved a little more time and money dedicated to create a better package.

But still, the movie is worth it. I will complain at Paramount's site about this.

Rating:
Date: 2008-01-29
Etherial!
The soundtrack from Johnathan Livingston Seagull is one of the most beautiful, relaxing celebratory of life CDs I have ever heard. I took my brother's record album when we were young, and I have missed the music since my record collection was ruined in the rain. I would have paid more for this beautiful music.

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