Review of film: “LORD OF THE DANCE in 3-D”

2011, 03-09:

Review of film:  “LORD OF THE DANCE in 3-D”  

                       “TAP” In To this FUN Experience!
March 17^th is St. Patrick’s Day.  Appropriately enough, an IRISH-themed film will be opening up starting then, for what is claimed will be a limited 1-week period…

…  The movie is a 3-D version of MICHAEL FLATLEY’S “LORD OF THE DANCE” musical that he first offered to the public at Dublin’s O² theater in 1996.  As he explains at the beginning of the film, he’s taken the show around the world since then, & he and his company were looking forward to coming back HOME to that theater for a new offering of the program…

…  Overall, the show is designed to symbolically tell a story in Irish folklore about “good vs. evil”.  To no great surprise, Michael represents the side of “Good”.  Opposing him is a group of black-clad “warriors”.  That “Evil” group is led by the Dark Lord (TOM CUNNINGHAM), who’s been with the show since 1997 when he started touring with the show at 18…

…  There are around 37 or so dancers, males & females.  The females often do BALLET-type moves on their toes. They also periodically switch into the TAP / clog numbers that the MEN specialize in (often with the typical hands-at-their-sides style--  tho some of the men do shift their arms at times, particularly when they’re doing “boxing”-type moves)…

…  The stage utilizes some very effective video PROJECTIONS to add to the “mood” of what is happening in the conflicts between good (usually dressed with some light-colored outfits, often with pastels for the women) & evil (in dark colors)…

…  One of the most enjoyable elements are numbers featuring two very wonderful female FIDDLERS:  GIADA COSTENARO is from Italy and has played the violin since she was 6.  She studied Irish music, & joined the Flatley group in 2007…

…  The other fiddler (who joins Giada in occasionally dancing around as they play) is VALERIE GLEESON, an Irish lass who’s studied the instrument since she was four.  After touring with other groups around the world, she joined the Flatley company in 2010. 

…  She & Giada play some numbers by themselves, others with the DANCERS, & with Michael Flatley as he (a master flautist) plays a huge thick long FLUTE during an elaborate number…

…  Along with the afore-mentioned main male dancers, there are two featured female dancers:  The blonde-haired lady, as “Saoirse”, is BERNADETTE FLYNN.  Born in Ireland (as you might “guess” from the name!), she’s been dancing since she was four, & has won World Championships in Irish dancing.  She’s been with the Flatley group since she was 16, teaches dance, & has appeared on the Academy Awards…

…  The dark-haired female lead, “Morrighan”, is played by CIARA SEXTON.  She also started studying at a very young age, taking dancing classes starting at age three. A World & All Ireland champion, she joined Flatley’s show in 2007, and took over this lead role the following year...

…  There’s an exceptional level of ENERGY exhibited by the incredible dancers in this show.  The amazing thing is, you seldom “see” them LOOKING tired or even breathing very heavily!  As my friend Adrienne K. commented after seeing the movie, she took tap-dancing for like 8 years & she knows what a huge amount of WORK it takes to accomplish what they do!...

…  Flatley has been doing his various shows for a number of years, & is in exceptional shape.  He’s the holder of various Guinness World Records, having been timed at more than 35 taps per second!... 

…  The show utilizes a flute-playing sort of “Sprite – Jester” lady who serves to carry the story “through” its various elements:  she’s dressed in colorful rhinestones with a headdress similar to a “feathery” type of “Jester” hat, and dances as she “leads” the diverse “sides” thru the “journey”…

…  At one point, the “warriors” of the Dark Lord help him “take” the “Lord Of The Dance” belt away from Flatley--  but then Michael works hard & “wins” the Belt BACK from the evildoers…  There’s fine MUSIC to go along with the marvelous dancing, & it’s a wonderfully enjoyable show…

…  I have one complaint with what I saw, which has reduced my overall rating to 8.5 out of 10 stars:  the show is basically very well-photographed, & the 3-D effect often ADDS to the pleasure because it allows added “depth” to the movements…

…  But, while the “wide angle” scenes are fine, in a number of cases, in close-up shots of individuals, you are UNABLE to see the vitally-important FOOTWORK…

…  I don’t know if it’s a problem with the projection in the large theater or with the way it was originally filmed, but, while you can see the colorful “lights” at the TOP of such scenes, you on a number of occasions cannot see the FEET of the featured dancers, which is careless at best & something that needs to be “FIXED” as much as possible for a show highlighting dancing…

…  But, that problem covers only a SMALL part of the film’s running time (of around 1 hr 35 minutes), so it’s not significant on an overall basis…    

…  Flatley’s motto is, “nothing is impossible... follow your dreams";  he’s obviously DONE that in his life’s work, & it’s clearly evident in this finely ENJOYABLE musical experience… 

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