Merolliv I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

robyndaly-1 Despite this being a British production of an "Amurrican" show I think it is far better than the original movie. It doesn't have the hokey accents, the singers do their own dancing (and very well too!), and the character interpretations are more real. I especially liked Laurie as a tomboy: it makes her reluctant and confused response to courtship more natural than the spoiled petulance shown in the Hollywood version. Aunt Eller is a person instead of a stereotype - you can tell this woman has had a life. Jud is more rounded, the pain and social confusion underlying his brutality shown clearly. And Hugh Jackman gives Curly a sunniness that is much more charming than the knowing and somewhat manipulative characterization produced by Hollywood. A must-see! What I wouldn't give to see this team make Carousel!

The Gryphon I thought I'd ordered the original movie version of Oklahoma! but was nonetheless excited to see that I had the Hugh Jackman filmed stage play instead. Having never seen any version of the play before, it was a treat to see how it was staged. Everyone seems to sing well, dance well and portray the story well enough but for some reason my attention started to flag before the end of the first act. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it was the thick accents, which I know is integral to the play, but grew wearisome anyway. Most of the songs I was familiar with but it was nice to hear some of the lesser known songs as well. I felt a couple of the extended ballet scenes went on a bit too long. Found myself fast-forwarding through the DVD to get past them once the point was made. It's a sweet show, very old-fashioned, a bit long, but well made and for that I give it a mixed review. I can't say I didn't enjoy parts of it, but I also can't say that I enjoyed the overall program.

daniel_clancy2001 I just bought and watched the video of this because I will be in an amateur production soon of "Oklahoma!", and my song was cut out of the 1955 film. First of all, Maureen Lipman was excellent as Aunt Eller, Josefina Gabrielle was a good Laurey, Shuler Hensley was absolutely brilliant as Jud and Peter Pollycarpou was alright as Ali Hakim, although the character he performed was nothing like the character in the script. I thought that Jimmy Johnston and Vicki Simon gave good performances, but they were terribly miscast, making my favourite double-act quite irritating Hugh Jackman is a good actor. He can sing, but he knows it and seems desperate to outsing everyone else, making one dread (quite justifiably) the big title song at the end.What I liked about this production was the very lavish stage and Trevor Nunn's direction. What made me laugh is that the director is clearly trying to be as unlike the 1955 film as possible, and so are some of the cast. However, the other people are copying their 1955 contemporaries (why does Will never pronounce the "t" in "Kansas City"?), and whoever rewrote the script undoubtedly had the film in his mind. The director for the video is treating it as a film rather than a stage show, but the shot goes back to the audience occasionally, reminding us that it is a theatre.The first thing I did after watching the tape was to rewind it and watch it again so that says something. The tape isn't that bad, and is certainly acceptable, at the least. I rated it 8 put of 10. I'd probably give it 8.5.

g_jon I originally tuned into PBS' broadcast because I was curious about Hugh Jackman's singing. - He was absolutely charismatic. It was too bad that Curly didn't have more stage time! I hope I can see him live in a musical or in a play sometime soon. Film work just does not do justice to his talents.While I tuned in out of curiosity, the updated production, exuberant musical numbers, staging, and dancing kept my attention. This production of "Oklahoma!" re-affirms my love of live theatre.