Fiddler on the Roof

I watched this in like fifth grade and spent most of the time drawing this absolutely epic stick-figure war scene. That thing was badass, I had like 17 different little detailed bloody stick soldiers tearin' the shit out of each other with machine guns. I wish I still had it. What was I talking about...oh yeah. I don't go crazy musicals for the most part and I thought this was boring, but it wasn't offensively bad or incompetent, so whatever.

The greatest film musical of all time, a powerful tale of tradition versus progress, of parents and children, of love and struggle. Absolutely beautiful to look at.

I enjoy a musical where the songs feel authentic, woven into the landscape of the film's story rather than jumping out randomly for entertainment purposes. Despite numerous scenes of dancing or celebration, this movie feels organic. Perhaps a few too many plotlines are revealed without total dedication (underdeveloped politics), but the characters are fleshed out. The performance from Topol is simply iconic as well, elevating the film from good to classic.

There's a guy they call Lazer Wolf. That's a cool name, way cooler than it's character is. Also this film features epic beards.

Wonderful movie. The first half is fairly light and easy to watch, but the story takes a dour turn half way through. This is done on purpose and to great effect to relay the intended message.

One of the best musicals ever made, but it's so much more. It delivers life lessons given by characters that you really care about. On the other hand, there is no other hand.

In the beginning I hated it due to it's unsubtle and quite patronizing intro, but I grew to love it through excellent musical numbers and an unforgettable performance by Topol. The issues with the beginning of the film disappear as the plot takes a dark turn and becomes more layered and insightful. It didn't quite catch me until the third act, but it's a beautiful film in every aspect of the word, even with it's flaws.

One of the few tolerable musicals.

Just a great film. There are some really great musical numbers evident here. It does suffer slightly at the run time though which wouldn't be a problem if it was paced a bit better. Still a must see though, for everyone musical lover or no.

Topol crushes it.

A committed cast led by Topol and a few great songs in a beautifully detailed period setting, "Fiddler on the Roof" is as beguiling as its titular character.

Overall an enjoyable film, if a bit too blindly happy about its ultimately tragic circumstances. Tevye's character really ties the film together, and gives the film the energy it needs to carry its three-hour run time. As with most musicals, there are a few too many songs. The early portion of the film works best, as the obvious structure works against any real surprise or engagement with the narrative later on.

It's decent enough with some occasional funny moments and a bit of dramatic weight, but it's so so long and fails to justify that length.

the story is good, the acting is reasonable and it's got a couple--no more--decent songs. considering it's one of the most famous musicals ever made it's a must watch, it would have been a better, way better watch had an hour been shaved off.

Too saccharine for easy digestibility, and too long. I don't find the songs particularly distinguished, and none of the characters are particularly well fleshed-out. Topol's "charm" is almost completely lost on me, especially when he is called upon to be the bull-headed patriarch upholding tradition while making his daughter miserable (not sure what actor, if anyone, could have remained remotely sympathetic). I need a movie musical to be more real are a hell of lot less real... not sure which.

This dude all like, no daughter, I don’t want you to get married to this dude who’s a slightly unconventional match for one reason or other. Then daughter’s all like I’mma do it anyway, and dad’s like shit well alright. Repeat several times with song. It’s hard to be Jewish, it’s hard to be Jewish, it’s hard to be Jewish in Russia

Doesn't only lampoon jewish people, but does still lampoon jewish people.

Topol, an Israeli who played the role in London, is charming, if not quite as wonderful as Zero Mostel, the Broadway star. Finely detailed set decoration and choreography, strong performances from the entire cast create a sense of intimacy in spite of near epic proportions of the production.

They softened the book up quite a bit, and like pretty much all musicals, this is way too quaint to be a realistic portrayal of human life, but still, this is a good movie. Well made, nicely choreographed, and Topol is very charming. Nice lightweight entertainment, fun throughout.

I liked the aesthetics and at three hours it doesn't feel like a chore, but it's a pretty mediocre musical and to say it lacks subtly would by absurdly understated.

"As a musical look at family, generational and cultural conflict, and faith, Fiddler on the Roof makes a virtue of its quaintness."

I grew up watching this and as I grew older and realized the implications of it's historical setting I grew to love it more. Funny and tragic at the same time. Oh, and I can sing along with every song! :)

Perhaps a little too long for my taste, but a great story with memorable songs. :D

Extremely well done middlebrow fodder about the cycle of life.

If I was a Rich Man brings out a weird feral side of me

A classic Jewish film that entertains only those who are behind it's tradition really. Not to say it's not good, just to be honest I didn't really get some of it and the rest I could take or leave.

Not always an easy watch and arguably a little too long but some wonderful numbers, the scope of the piece is huge and the performances are unforgettable. Probably won't appeal to kids but anyone with a little more maturity can't fail but be moved by the implications of the plot.

A long time since I saw it, but my recollection is that it is good but too long.

The musical genre at its most puerile

Musical is better

Love the first half, but the second half gets grim and dull. "Oh that's the point!" Don't care.

One of my favorites of all time. A little long perhaps, and a few of the later songs are not as good.

Nice ! Great performances by all, particularly Topol

"A fiddler on the roof. Sounds crazy, no? But here, in our little village of Anatevka, you might say every one of us is a fiddler on the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant, simple tune without breaking his neck. It isn't easy. You may ask 'Why do we stay up there if it's so dangerous?' Well, we stay because Anatevka is our home. And how do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word: tradition!"

it's a lil bit long but a classic regardless

It has some moments, and I like Topol, but... meh.

Strong movie adaptation that follows the Broadway show closely while trading in its modern-art set concepts for realistic locales. Topol is smashing as Tevye.

One of the great musical to film adaptations. Fiddler on the Roof catches the emotional heart of the musical and brings it even closer. It doesn't just take the musical and put it on film, it truly transforms it to make it compatible for the medium of film which allows for different modes of expression. No aspect of the film shows this more than just the simple close ups of the expressive eyes of Topol, who plays the leading man Tevye the Milkman. The cinematography is beautiful on top of that.

I enjoyed this a lot as a kid; haven't seen it since though.

Bloke likes tradition. Daughters want to marry for love rather than tradition. Bloke says yeah fair enough. That's the first two and a half hours! Just as it starts to get interesting with people getting kicked out of families and countries because of religious bigotry, it ends. I assume the movie is attempting to convey some kind of stoicism but instead seems to be quite content with religious intolerance and oppression.

makes people dancing!

The super charismatic Topol is a ☆ in this.

Topol is the one to watch here--he makes a phenomenal Tevye. Beautiful music, of course.

One of my favorite musicals, but a very weak second act. If I were a rich man, I would re-edit it.

The music, the acting, the setting, just outstanding

Its circumference is wide enough to engulf the whole world, its values are problematic and grand enough to leave me long troubled after the viewing and the humanity, dear sweet humanity in it should be intelligible to all. Show it to your kids; show it to yourselves.

Great setting, great atmosphere, catchy songs, and a fantastic performance from the lead. Suffers from an episodic plot, disjointed early '70s editing, and an interminable length which it in no way attempts to fill with character development or depth.

It's an excellent production, but I always found Fiddler to be way too depressing.

One of my favorite musicals, witty and world-weary. It could trim off about twenty minutes from the end.

One of the few movies that will never get old

Better live, especially with Chaim Topol.

A wonderful film about Jews in pre-revolutionary Russia that runs a whole gamut of emotions and integrates its songs well. While it is over 3 hours, it doesn't feel its length (though it could be shorter.) The people of the town are interesting and Topol especially makes a fantastic character. It starts as one kind of movie and ends as another, and I admired the subtlety with how a couple of the aspects were handled. In other hands they could have easily gone very very oversentimental and heavy.

A film of many fine parts and with a powerful central performance from Topol still turns into a slog at 3 hours. The joyful first half far outweighs the slow, dour second half. The music isn't bad but I didn't find it very memorable. All in all, it's alright.

Still fresh. Generations hapassed though still the difference of opinion of two generations is visible. Enjoyed music and dance sequences