This work of art is just stunningly beautiful and powerful; I saw it performed on stage in London and bought the DVD version the next day. The soundtrack is excellent, the orchestra is well balanced and well conducted. The on-stage performances are breathtaking and moving. My only complaints relate to the vision mixing; a few dodgy camera angles and the rapidity of some of the cuts. This is ballet and although TV directors have a golden opportunity to enhance the experience by showing far more than a square-on proscenium arch shot, they should only rarely cut to anything closer than a mid-shot; certainly not for just one second, it is disorientating and it ruins the flow. Despite the fact that I think the editing leaves a lot to be desired I still give it 10 for sheer mastery in every other area.

Matthew Bourne's Adventures in Motion Pictures company produced this version of the classic ballet, using an almost all-male cast, first as s stage show and then immortalised in this filmed version: Adam Cooper and Scott Ambler head the group of excellent dancers.This version has the prince enthralled by a male swan which eventually leads to a far bloodier destruction than in the well-loved version - the choreography is powerful and the settings are reminiscent of 30s and 40s movie sets. This company - now known as New Adventures - are clever and with their later productions The Car Man (a version of Carmen) and Nutcracker! (a version of The Nutcracker) have continued to add a great deal to the modern dance movement.

Never have ballet, the theatre, and film come together to produce such a masterpiece. Even if you hate ballet (I usually don't care for it), you'll enjoy this. What can no longer be denied in spite of all the critics', and even my own best efforts (to hide it from children) is the Prince's obvious homosexuality. The Swan in its two incarnations, and the swans in general are not, not at all. In fact, that "allure of the forbidden" undoubtedly adds to the attraction the Prince feels for the Swan. I feel I must say this because every article, comment or review I have read about this ground-breaking production vehemently denies its link with homosexuality. I've gone along with the very complicated explanations since this is really not a gay ballet. In fact, I didn't know ballet dancing could come off as classically masculine as it does in this production of SWAN LAKE. However, when eight and nine year old kids I saw it with last, saw right through the Prince's enchantment with the SWAN(s) in spite of my over-wrought explanations, it's time to cut the lines. The kids just wouldn't buy my explanations, and it was left at that: the Prince was gay, no big deal. The depiction of the Prince from his infancy right through to the end is that of the supreme wimp which kids are used to seeing. He has nocturnal dreams about a strong and virile male (animal or human). His mother is domineering, hyper-feminine, and competes with him even in his sex life. I don't think a 'gayer' male stereotype could be created? As I said, the Swan is definitely not gay, in either of his incarnations: good or bad. He's just appealing to all; I generally mean heterosexual women and gay men, but really to all who find him appealing. I think it's time somebody other than a child recognized this without resorting to the cerebral rationalizations usually given . He's good, he's powerful, he's tender, he can be evil, and can even get into S & M and incest. And so what? It sounds like something out the latest Christina Ricci movie. This production of SWAN LAKE is so full of wonderful details, pokes so much fun at the reigning British royals, and is just so thoroughly accessible to all, that if this plot adjustment was necessary to achieve this grand "whole", so be it. Never has this so-tirelessly and often-played ballet been so riveting. Indeed never have ballet, theatre, modern dance, and contemporary life been so well mixed together in one great film!

This is truly a masterpiece. I remember the EXACT day the first and only time (so far) I ever saw this beautiful thing. It was June 4th, 1998....I had just gotten back from summer theater practice and my mother was having a Candlelite party. I'm not an extremely sociable person, so I took to my room, turned on the TV, and started flipping through the channels. Then I heard some familiar music on the PBS channel and so I stopped and watched. It was Swan Lake...and I must say...a very different Swan Lake. I was only 16 when I saw it...and I begged my PBS station to play it again for me--and I NEVER do that. Trust me. You'll like it too.The first second I started watching it, I was mesmerized. I wanted to turn it because it was kinda weird...but I just couldn't. It was Tchaikovsky--the best composer ever...and I'm his #1 fan...so I just had to keep watching. I'm VERY glad I did. The Swan and the Prince...they're not gay, folks...it's something very different that I just can't explain. Boyhood tenderness? An old friend who was loved too much? Call it what you will. The dancing was gorgeous...every song was choreographed with beauty and passion and how I feel Tchaikovsky would have wanted it. THIS version of Swan Lake is what Tchaikovsky wanted but could never make because of the "honorable" status one had to uphold in the 19th century...because Tchaikovsky himself was homosexual--a "bad" thing.If you're into modernized classics, wonderful stories, beautiful dancers/dancing, gorgeous music, and weepy finales, this is for you. To all the guys who hate this mushy stuff: I REALLY think you might like Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake. It's definitely not your typical ballet.