Y'all are gonna laugh at me,but I like this movie and the soundtrack Released in late 1980,this film is considered one of the worst movies ever made,lol.The critics absolutely killed it,but I watched it yesterday and found myself enjoying most of it.Olivia Newton John is delightful to watch and the musical sequences are alot of fun,especially "Suddenly" and ELO's "All Over The World".Yes,the "plot" is paper thin and Gene Kelley looks ridiculous on roller skates (lol),but it's an oddly entertaining film.

What's really weird is that,I think Prince may have been inspired by this film when he made 'Graffiti Bridge'! Look at the similarities:


***In 'Xanadu',Olivia plays a muse who is sent to a neighborhood to "inspire" a few people.She is helping someone in distress.In 'Graffiti Bridge',Ingrid Chavez plays an angel who is sent to Earth to inspire a few people.She is helping someone who is distressed.

***'Xanadu' centers around a big nightclub called (you guessed it) "Xanadu".'Graffiti Bridge' centers around a nightclub ("Glam Slam").

***'Xanadu' is basically a long-form music video,and of course,so is 'Graffiti Bridge'.Both films use the songs to advance the (weak) storylines.

***At the end of 'Xanadu',the muse must return back home.At the end of 'Graffiti Bridge',the angel makes her way back to heaven.




[Edited 5/26/06 4:41am]

MartyMcFly said:

The ELO songs in this movie are great.

DavidEye said:

Ah but I have nothing but the utmost respect for Mr. Lynne... it's his facial hair that bothers me....

I was and still am a Jeff Lynne fan and I loved the soundtrack (being also a fan of Olivia's voice )
As for the movie I can't hate it because I only saw like 10 minutes. Sorry. It's stronger than me. I get all and I have to leave.

80s pop gem of the day: Magic" by Olivia Newton John(1980)

written by John Farrah

Come take my hand
you should know me
I've always been in your mind
you know that I'll be kind
I'll be guiding you

Building your dream
has to start now
There's no other road to take
you won't make a mistake
I'll be guiding you

(chorus)
You have to believe we are magic
nothing can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
don't let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
your destiny will arrive
I'll bring all your dreams alive
for you

From where I stand
you are home free
the planets aligned so rare
there's promise in the air
and I'm guiding you

Through every turn
I'll be near you
I'll come anytime you call
I'll catch you when you fall
I'll be guiding you

(chorus)
You have to believe we are magic
nothing can stand in our way
You have to believe we are magic
don't let your aim ever stray
And if all your hopes survive
your destiny will arrive
I'll bring all your dreams alive
for you


repeat chorus

Love the movie and soundtrack. When I was a kid, I thought it was the coolest shit ever that instead of being labeled sides 1 and 2, the record sides were printed as ELO and ONJ. Take this fact as you want to - it was the last movie Gene Kelly ever danced in.

isn't it funny how,after the amazing success of "Grease",Hollywood tried desperately to come up with another successful musical,but failed everytime?

"Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band"
"Can't Stop The Music"
"Xanadu"

'Sgt.Peppers' and 'Can't Stop The Music' deserved to fail,those films are horrible but 'Xanadu' deserved much more success.It's cheesy,but alot of fun!

Never heard of it!

Anx said:

I knew you'd be all over this thread this is one of your favorite movies,right?

DavidEye said:

i like it better than grease

Anx said:

well,I wouldn't go that far...lol...but it's a good film.

DavidEye said:

I don't believe Farrah had anything to do with that song

Soundtrack is great (Olivia was the shit at that point). Movie? Maybe you have to be gay to enjoy it. Terrible stuff

It's been literally decades since I last saw "Xanadu" so I can't even remember if it was good or bad, but the soundtrack was really good.

BTW I think Sgt. Pepper's pre-dates "Grease". "Grease" is the best of all of them. "Can't Stop The Music" was terrible!

BTW Pt 2: "Sorry" by Madonna: "Xanadu" or "Roller Boogie"?


OT: For anyone who might be interested, early 80's latenight TV classic "FoXeS" is out on DVD!

The music was great but the movie was stupid.

1st, I gotta say Jeff Lynne has got to be one of the most underrated people in popular music. Almost everything the guy has touched is a gem. From ealry ELO to current producer of Tom Petty the guy is a genius pure and simple. But it seems he will never get the cred he deserves.

Now with that said...Xanadu is my biggest guilty pleasure ever. The movie, well, yeah, its incredibly stupid...but Olivia is smoking hot and the music is fun. My girlfriend bought the DVD last year cause we got in this big discussion on how old cheese (this, Neil Diamond, Abba...) is now classic. We both watched it laughing hysterically of how bad it was...but we were smiling ear to ear the whole time. As for the soundtrack...was, is, and will always be one of my faves. For me, I think its truly for nostalgic reasons, but it always sounds good. Put on som Magic, or I'm Alive...I am immediately thinking back when I was 10 and rollerskating with this little neighbor girl who I had the biggest crush on.

Loved it then. Saw it on Tv recently and realized I still love it now. But I've always been a "musical-friendly" kinda gal. With the exception masterpieces like Garland's version of "A Star Is Born", I've pretty much come to expect and LUUUUUV all the escapist kitch associated with musical films ....now...I think I need to listen to "Suddenly" and try to remember who I had a crush on in elementary school at that point

"I liked this movie."

Jackeblu said:

The movie is a guilty pleasure of mine,too.It's one of those films that is so bad that it's good.

Ottensen said:

I love musicals too they're always alot of fun....cheesy and un-realistic and sometimes very tacky,but that's part of their charm.It's sad that they don't really make alot of musicals anymore.