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| Jonathan Livingston Seagull | 
 enlarge | Director: Hall Bartlett
Actors: James Franciscus, Juliet Mills, Philip Ahn, Richard Crenna, Kelly Harmon
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $6.99
You Save: $8.00 (53%)
New (30) Used (11) from $6.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  106 reviews
Sales Rank: 3480
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 120
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: PARD087234D
UPC: 097360872347
EAN: 0097360872347
ASIN: B000RZIGRW
Theatrical Release Date: October 23, 1973
Release Date: October 2, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
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Product Description
Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 10/02/2007 Run time: 99 minutes Rating: G
Amazon.com
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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 101 more reviews...
 Jonathan Livingston Seagull November 14, 2008
The product arrived in great condition. I did think that I was buying the soundtrack though. I was my mistake. I still enjoyed the movie, thanks.
 Jonathan Livingston Seagull September 26, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is the worst "Preview" I have ever seen. I wanted to decide whether or not to buy this DVD movie and all you showed me were the titles. Is there vocales? Are they songs or speech, characters talking to each other?Is someone "reading" the book and CGI figures follow the script. If it's read, who reads it. I used to have a cassette of Richard Harris reading the book, it was wonderful...but I have lost it. Do you have sonething like that. Show me previews with some meat about what the DVD is really like, not just the credits. I want to buy, but not sight unseen.
My favorite "non-greatest hits" album from Neil Diamond August 11, 2008
I've had this CD for over 20 years now. It's a masterpiece in its own right. When you listen to a Neil Diamond song, you are focused on that one song as a great moment for Neil, even if the rest of his album may not impress you. But this album of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" is something to be cherished from Neil Diamond as a whole concept, a project.
On this album, Neil Diamond's voice really is only merely another instrument in what can easily be perceived as an instrumental album. Although he sings or speaks on most of the tracks here, it's the instrumentation that makes this album more than just another Neil Diamond album. Two tracks barely charted on the radio from this album. The song "Be" charted #34, and "Skybird" even lower at #75. But the album charted #2 for one week, and it happens to be Neil Diamond's highest charting album of all time. So, what does that tell ya?
I'm surprised that an effort hasn't been made to remaster this album so that the orchestration can be made fuller and more glorified.
I've never seen the movie and I'm hearing mixed reviews on the film being either a great movie achievement or just a dull passage of non-exciting events that portray the life of a single seagull.
Well, whether the movie is great or not, this album is definitely a masterpiece. It came out in 1973. Alot of fantastic albums came out of 1973. The year for ground-breaking starts for many artists. Pink Floyd, Elton John, Abba, Paul McCartney and Wings, Steve Miller Band, etc. etc.
And even some more brave Pioneers of Technical Sound Invention got recognized in 1973, like Emerson Lake and Palmer, Tangerine Dream, Rick Wakeman, Mike Oldfield.....
Yeah, I know I drifted here, but you'd have to agree that Neil Diamond couldn't have release this album at a better time than the glorious year of 1973. And just after he left MCA to sign on with Columbia.
I'll bet that MCA cried that year. Because Columbia also picked up Pink Floyd the following year and they really began to soar.
But, too bad Neil's music wasn't maintaining its appeal after "Jonathan Livingston Seagull". Sure, he was still putting out hits, but he just wasn't that Aggressive Jewish Folk Rock Vocalist that he once was. I think he "Barry Manilow'd" on us and was performing "wussy pop suicide" which could only appeal to listeners his age and older. Much older.
"The Jazz Singer" was a remotely interesting comeback in 1980. But, I think nearly everything else on pop radio was pretty weak in 1980. 1980 was a bad year for everybody in music. 1981 and 1982 were pretty decent but MTV changed everything about how we listened to music.
Jeez, I can still go on and on, but I think I better end this review right here.
This story will change your life forever... July 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This story will change your life forever, if you understand the message.
I read this book and saw the movie as a student in the 8th grade. This book has a very strong meaning and has helped me to make a difference in my life. This book has remained as my favorite book, to this day. I still love to read it. Jonathan Livingston Seagull is my role model. I feel that this story also helped me to develop strong charisma in my life.
I strongly recommend this book for class readings for anyone with students age 12 or older. I am very thankful to my teacher, Mrs. Jimenez, for sharing this book with her class and me.
jonathan June 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
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.
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