User reviews

The Temptations is clearly one of the finest music miniseries ever made.The casting is great all of the men(some of whom were unknowns) are great in the film, but the scene stealers is Leon as the group's lead singer David Ruffin. The songs and script are very good and the film is very heartbreaking in some moments. But all in all a great music movie.

The camera work has the usual claustrophobic box look of most television films. The editing is incredibly choppy, and the continuity is really awful sometimes. There are also clichés in abundance - David Ruffin getting tossed out of a car is pure detective-show melodrama, but doesn't really resolve the whole Ruffin problem in the film. And there's plenty of lag-time, especially in the second half.

All that said, the story is surprisingly very strong, the characters fascinating, the performances energetic, and the music is very well presented. The sense of the historical change of context surrounding the characters is also accurate and convincing, although played quietly (actually works better that way).

The first half especially is a treat. A strong effort to do the group, its music, and its history justice.

Watching this film on network TV had me mesmerized in the 90's. A few months ago when we finally got a DVD player, well, we had to have films to watch. I only bought one that day. The Temptations. The film made me research the group and photos of them, but I expected to see the actors faces instead of the real faces of the Temps. All of the people who worked on this film did a masterful job in bringing to the world a story of some young men that filled the world with music and joy. The story of how they did this was never known, but now that the film is available, everybody and anybody who loves music must see this film. Overlooked is was, but brilliant it will always be. Whether you liked the group or not, whether you liked their music or not, you should take 3 hours of your life and watch how the passion for excellence permeated the souls of a group brilliant musicians. The film is enthralling, the acting superb, and the story is as beautiful as it is tragic. I wish I had known them, but except for Otis, they are lost to the ages. The Temptations is a film for all young people to see if they want to pursue a career as a musician. It is one of the most magnificent stories of music and life and dreams that has ever, or will ever be made. We are so fortunate the Temptations gave us their soul and love and life. They are almost all gone, but the joy and music they gave us will outlive us all. Buy it, rent it, or borrow it, but watch this film. There is genius in this film.

I was delighted by this movie. Not only is it largely educational and offers very introspective looks into the lives of all members of the group, but the acting is fantastic. The film truly captures the soul music scene of early 1960's Detroit, and further on as the Temptations rise to fame, and fall to ruin. It offers breathtaking and somewhat disturbing scenes which make the film seem almost too real. The soundtrack is amazing, and you will truly sympathize with this group of real-life legends who sang their hearts out in Motown's heyday.

"The Temptations" mini-series was an excellent film!! Terron Brooks(Eddie Kendricks), DB Woodside(Melvin Franklin), Charles Malik Whitfield(Otis Williams), Christian Payton(Paul Williams), and Leon(David Ruffin) do a fantastic job of portraying the fabulous five! This movie is based on Otis Williams' book and the storyline is incredible. Once I saw it for the first time, I was definitely hooked on it. Now I watch it at least once a week. I can't get the songs out of my head, and I am now an even bigger fan of The Temptations. The cool thing about it is that Brooks, Payton, and Woodside are actually singing the parts! I would recommend this movie to any music lover!!

This movie was great. It told th story of the temptations in a very realistic and comprehensive way. The lives of one of the original Motown legend was wonderfully depicted in this movie. The five members (Paul Williams, Otis Williams , Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, and bassist Melvin Blue Franklin lived remarkable lives. Fighting through the segregated southern stats and minimal opportunities, they fought to achieve greatness. In addition to the fantastic acting in this film, viewers can also appreciate th wonderful music made by the temptations, Smokie Robinson, and Barry Gordy. This movie will give you a memorable experience and will leave you wanting more.

Unforgettable music, music that fits any time period. A dramatic plot that keeps moving. And the actors are fantastic. They fit their roles so well I could not believe they were acting. It didn't hurt that each actor resembled his real-life counterpart. It was terrific in every sense.

I have seen thousands and thousands of movies and own 400 DVD and this is my favorite its the best movie ever.It is simply amazing what these guys went through especially Otis its amazing. Some of the best writing I have seen in a long time and great directing. This movie was so powerful it could make the roughest toughest guy come down in tear such an amazing great movie that deserves 20 Emmy and 50 Oscars this never became to big but I'm trying to get this movie out its so great to come watch this movie and listen to some of the best music ever written the singing is great I don't know if they lip'sync or sung because each one was amazing. I recommend everyone to come and see this movie buy it or rent it.

This movie has a great start. Teenager Otis Wlliams is running to a movie theatre to see a live music show where the Cadillacs are preforming: "Well now, they often call me Speedoo, but my real name is Mr. Earl." Like most songs in this movie, the full song is sang and Otis Williams is mesmerized by the Cadillacs. He wants to be a singer, not a construction worker, like his father expects him to be. He wants a Tony Curtis type hairstyle.

It's 1950s Detroit and Motown has yet to take off. When it does, Mr. Williams and his fellow bandmates will eventually be part of the Motown sound. They would be known as the Temptations. Not only was their singing great, but so was their dancing. (I watched them on TV as a kid and never even thought about the dancing!)

This film includes lots of great songs and dance steps. I only wished there were more psychedelic hits, as opposed to the slower, mushy ones. Fortunately, there is a great version of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone". (I didn't even remember they were the ones who sang that song, and I was a radio junkie as a teenager!)

The way the story of the group was told was fine most of the time, but got confusing in the second part of the mini-series. When I chose to watch the movie at Tubi, I didn't even notice it was a two-part mini-series, so was really confused when the first part ended how it did. What a strange ending to the movie! Fortunately, when the credits were rolling, I didn't turn off the TV, as I normally do at the end of a movie, and the second part soon started.

The main problem with the second part is it's one sad or tragic thing after another. It was such a difference from the lively, fun first part. Not that all the tragic events weren't true, but it was basically like one long downer. Also, it got confusing at times who was who when band members kept changing.

Melvin Franklin was my favorite, but there is nothing on his personal life, except his close relationship with his mother. His funeral in the film is incredibly sad. Lots of things in the second part of the mini-series are sad. That left me with mixed feelings about the series, which is why my star rating isn't higher.

I love, love, love this movie. It's awesome and the actors who played the Temptations were incredible! I loved Christian Payton and Terron Brooks, and the others were great too. It's a sad movie, and also a funny one too. I know every single line of that movie, and every time I watch it, the part almost at the end when Paul kills himself makes me cry every freaking time. I just love that movie, it's my favorite. The director did a great job. I would definitely recommend this movie to everybody who loves The Temptations. I have two copies of this movie, so I have a backup if the other one gets scratched up. This movie is so good that i watch it almost every night and I still don't get bored by it, it's that good.

Temptations Forever!!! I watch this movie everyday when I come home from work. I did "Just My Imagination" at karaoke night one night and it was great. If anyone has this movie on VHS, pawn it because its missing some scenes that are in the DVD. (Like Christian a.k.a Paul Williams singing "For Once In My Life" my favorite song that I singed at my wedding.) The chick that played Paul's wife is Diana Ross's real life daughter. Check out the resemblance. Another thing, I heard it was some confusion about the way David Ruffin died. Unlike the movie, I read somewhere that he died of an drug overdose and not beating and thrown from a limo. Other than that, its considered in my book one of the greatest music movies of all time. TEMPTATIONS FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a mesmerizing mini series, with great acting by Leon, Charles Malik Whitfield, Jenifer Lewis and many more. The sound track is solid gold!!

This film is one of the best. It is a movie on The Temptations featuring most of their big hits that are seamlessly integrated into the drama. I have seen it four times and undoubtedly will see it again. The actors who played the Temptation members were quite extraordinary in their accurate performances. Rather than just a mini-series, the film could have been released in cinemas in a condensed version and it would have been a major success in Australia at least. I don't understand why it was not. Unfortunately, the DVD was never released in Australia, so I had to import it from the USA. The film is quite long, so it might be best viewed over two nights. Be warned there are one or two minor scenes of drug use in the film. Overall, highly recommended. I loved it.

This was one of the best, yet one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen. I am a big fan of the Temptations, so it was interesting to see what their lives were really like. All of the actors did an outstanding job. Especially Terron Brooks. What a cutie!

"The Temptations" is my favorite movie. It made me fall in love with The Temptations, and made me very interested in their music. It contained scenes that were devastating, heart-warming, as well as joyful and cool. Two thumbs up goes for this movie, absolutely the best movie on behalf of my opinion.. Go watch it!!

I agree with everybody that the film is Great" my complaint is the movie should be widescreen" that would make it more theatrical and make it look like it was made today, its only 22 years old

I have not been so emotionally involved in a television film in a long time,but along comes this charming,insightful,and wonderful film. The cast does a superb job. I never knew much about the temps, one of the greatest groups of all time, had so much strife and personal pain.This movie is an instant classic. I have a much better appreciation for their impact on rock and roll history after seeing this movie.

I did not have TV, so I rented movies, and found this TV mini-series at a used media outlet. I have watched it over 20 times over a 5 year period. I felt alone in my obsession until I checked online for other reviews. The music makes my heart feel glad, and the acting and special tone of the relationships and cadence of the speech pleases me no end. I read everything you can find on the Tempts. They were a favorite in college, lying on my dorm bed with earphones on -- however, the mini-series which honors the music, dancing, and stage appearances has earned, in my heart, top honors. If a famous actor had been in it, it would have won an Academy Award. And probably not been as good as it is. Congratulations to everyone involved.

The TV movie story of the street-doowop to soul-superstar Temptations from 1958 to 1995 when bass singer Melvin Franklyn died. Strict historical accuracy is not what this film is about, but what is accurate is the reconstruction of the act and the music, which is what matters in a movie. The first half is full of vignettes of the (black) music biz in Detroit in the early Motown days, which is genuinely moving in a few places; and although the second half tends towards the schmaltzy, it's good to be reminded of the seminal records that the group continued to put out after David Ruffin parted company, and of the way that members of a group that big have deeper bonds than most people, including their own families. It's told from the viewpoint of Otis Williams, who is the only Temp to survive all incarnations of the group, so he naturally he tends to get an easy ride, but it does acknowledge (in the great end sequence) that the David Ruffin lineup was the best there could be. The scene where he and Eddie Kendricks sing to the punter in the supper club is a killer. Well worth the two-and a half hours running time, which is not something you can say of many TV movies this long. Better IMHO than 'Walk the Line', which was no turkey itself. If you love Motown, don't miss it.