http://www.cthv.com/ Tommy-The Movie has been beautifully restored by Columbia-Tristar. In the restoration process, the original 5 discreet channel soundtrack was reconstructed for this disc presentation and it is a sight to be hold!

For those of you who were born after 1970, Tommy is the story of a small boy who witnesses the murder of his war hero father by his step father and mother. The parents knowing he witnessed their crime try to tell the boy that he didn't see, hear or feel anything, leading to Tommy, who is shocked at the crime, internally shutting himself off from the world and creating his own. Although physically Tommy can see, hear and feel but his parents can not get him to come out of his fantasy. Their efforts to cure him are a large part of the story, which includes many "guest stars" throughout the movie. The talent in the movie is great, including Tina Turner, as the very scary "Acid Queen", Eric Clapton and "Crazy" Arthur Brown as healer priests, Keith Moon, as the charming but molesting Uncle Ernie, Jack Nicholson as the hustling Doctor, Elton John as a Pinball Wizard, Oliver Reed as Tommy's sinister step father, and Ann Margaret as Tommy's long suffering mom. The title role is played but none other than The Who's lead singer, Roger Daltry, who does a pretty good job for a non actor in a title role. Of course, Russell manages to create some very surreal scenes, all set to a new soundtrack of Tommy recorded for the film. Examples include the Church of Marilyn Monroe, The Acid Queen sequence, and Ann Margaret nervous breakdown scene, where she is covered first by bubbles, than pork and beans, and finally chocolate pudding. The visuals are stunning and very imaginative.

Columbia-Tristar has an excellent job in producing a quality, pristine transfer of the film to DVD. Not a speck of dirt is present in this 1970 film,which must have gone through an extensive clean up process. The opening shot of the sun rising is clear and sharp; this disc is clean and a perfect candidate to show off a home theater system. Presented in both anamorphic and fullscreen on the two sided disc, this is one of the best transfers I have seen of an older movie. Sound-Once again, the restoration of the original 5 channel soundtrack shows the care that went into producing this disc. While also offering Dolby Digital 2.0 sound, everyone who has the system requirements should listen to this disc in its original 5 discreet channel mix for the presentation the filmmakers intended in experiencing Tommy. It is a treat!

Cast and crew bios, trailers, and a printed article on the restoration of the soundtrack are included with the disc. As usual, Columbia has added value with their disc. Add to that a pricing of less than $20.00 (streets price) and this a must for any classic rock fan.

Tommy has been through many versions throughout its long history, from Who album, to orchestrated version, to Movie, and finally to Broadway. Pete Townsend penned a modern classic with this bizarre tale and Ken Russell did an incredible job bringing it to the screen. The Tommy disc is a perfect example of how an older film can be restored to disc with excellent results. You can't go wrong with this one!