Elvis: Viva Las Vegas

Documentary. 120 minutes. ***** out of 5.

Broadcast on the ABC television network in widescreen high definition, ELVIS VIVA LAS VEGAS showcases a slim, energetic Elvis in Las Vegas along with many interesting reflections and new performances by some of today's pop and rap entertainers.

An Elvis fan emerging from hibernation after a long time might ask what has been introduced in the Elvis entertainment world in the last 20 years? 1988 gave us the fun Elvis fantasy film HEARTBREAK HOTEL. 1990 gave the world the cool, moody IN THE GHETTO re-imagining by THE KLF called ELVIS ON THE RADIO. Six years ago a remix of A LITTLE LESS CONVERSATION reached #1 on the charts in England. However, without a doubt, 2007 has been the best year for Elvis entertainment in a long time. This year Larry King had a program dedicated to Elvis broadcast live from Graceland. TV LAND named August, 2007, as ELVIS MONTH and presented the best of Elvis and produced their own excellent specials. The latest, and perhaps the icing on the 2007 Elvis cake, is ABC's ELVIS VIVA LAS VEGAS.

ELVIS VIVA LAS VEGAS should be nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe for Best Editing for a TV Documentary, Musical or Special. The footage, very old and very new, blend together splendidly. ELVIS VIVA LAS VEGAS is a masterpiece of editing, content and pacing. Well done!

The show did not make use of the best Las Vegas performances from the 1970 documentary, and Elvis was not given even one complete performance. To close the show with Celine and not even an image of Elvis was absurd. The "Elvis Lives" show from a couple of years back was far better. It's obvious those who had editorial control of this show were not all that familiar with Elvis. His magic was not really shown, and those viewers who are new to the Elvis experience may indeed be left saying: "What's all the fuss about?" With the hype about Elvis footage we've never seen before, I didn't see one frame that I haven't already seen. Jerry Schilling and Priscilla seemed to add the only real insight.