For Rudeboyelvis- Crowe & Jackman

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i loathe musicals, so i'll never see it. love the book tho!

I love musicals, even though I very seldom choose to see new ones, because most of them are crap. But it's really a very great art form, and one that I think is so extraordinarily American, because we (well, Rodgers and Hammerstein) were the ones who finally figured out the songs needed to advance the action of the story (musical theater can be divided into "Before 'Oklahoma!'" and "After 'Oklahoma!'" That show was really an incredible milestone in American theater). Though, before that, oodles and oodles of popular songs came from musicals- "The Lady Is a Tramp," "My Funny Valentine," "I Got Rhythm," etc. Jazz standards and musical theater standards are inextricably linked.

Ironically, as the structure of musical theater improved (linking the songs to the action), the influence of musical theater on popular music declined. Other than "Hair" there really hasn't been a successful rock musical on Broadway (I loved, loved, loved, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" but it only ran Off-Broadway and it was over ten years ago. Jesus Christ, I'm old.).

What bothers me about musicals now is that a lot of the songs seem to be about vocal pyrotechnics and not story.

[Danzig]

just not my thing...too many viewings back in the day of 'the sound of music'?? my mother watched it every time it came on.....that and seven brides for seven brothers, the music man (she just loved robert preston).
when the musical sweeney todd came out, my daughter put it on. i couldn't watch it. she said 'but it's really good'. i told her i'm sure it was!

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

just not my thing...too many viewings back in the day of 'the sound of music'?? my mother watched it every time it came on.....that and seven brides for seven brothers, the music man (she just loved robert preston).
when the musical sweeney todd came out, my daughter put it on. i couldn't watch it. she said 'but it's really good'. i told her i'm sure it was!

Musicals are very hard to translate successfully onscreen. As Les Mis reminded me. Christopher Plummer referred to "The Sound of Music" as "the sound of mucus." He was not a fan.

I do love "The Music Man" a lot. Meredith Wilson (the author) wanted to play with sound leading into song, and it's really cool the way it works in the opening number- the salesmen all speak in the rhythm of the train chuffing along and how the sound of the books being stamped in the library leads into "Marian the Librarian." Great sound design. The Beatles did a nice cover of "'Til There Was You."

I've never made it through "Seven Brides." Long dance numbers on screen make me sleepy.

"Chicago" is a pretty darn good adaptation of a musical; I recommend that one a lot. And I liked the film of "Hedwig" though it's very, very different from the play (necessarily so).

I do think musicals written directly for the screen can be pretty great ("Singin' in the Rain," "Victor/Victoria").

[Danzig]

i love victor/victoria. but to me, it's not a typical musical-she only sings onstage, which makes sense. i don't know, i just never randomly break into song during the typical day, so i guess i don't 'get' why characters do!!!

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

i love victor/victoria. but to me, it's not a typical musical-she only sings onstage, which makes sense. i don't know, i just never randomly break into song during the typical day, so i guess i don't 'get' why characters do!!!

Heh. Chicago might work for you then, as the songs all take place inside characters' heads.

We all have the point at where we can't suspend disbelief any more. I remember the summer Face/Off and Air Force One were both out. I groused that Air Force One was totally unbelievable because it hinges on a single Secret Service man going rogue, and in fact, in real life, they travel in pairs for exactly that reason- so no one can do that. Of course, in Face/Off I was TOTALLY willing to buy John Travolta and Nick Cage switching faces and no one noticing. Hee hee. Call it the John Woo effect.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Heh. Chicago might work for you then, as the songs all take place inside characters' heads.

We all have the point at where we can't suspend disbelief any more. I remember the summer Face/Off and Air Force One were both out. I groused that Air Force One was totally unbelievable because it hinges on a single Secret Service man going rogue, and in fact, in real life, they travel in pairs for exactly that reason- so no one can do that. Of course, in Face/Off I was TOTALLY willing to buy John Travolta and Nick Cage switching faces and no one noticing. Hee hee. Call it the John Woo effect.

that was a rotten film. i do have difficulties at times when things are just too unbelievable. that's usually when i say 'i'm out' and leave the room. like the batman scene where he wrecks the car, and the remains become a motorcycle. that's the only part of the movie i saw, or will see! my son said come here, watch, it's great. yeah, i disagree.

[hi_im_god]

Originally Posted by Danzig

that was a rotten film. i do have difficulties at times when things are just too unbelievable. that's usually when i say 'i'm out' and leave the room. like the batman scene where he wrecks the car, and the remains become a motorcycle. that's the only part of the movie i saw, or will see! my son said come here, watch, it's great. yeah, i disagree.

i get this.

but you missed heath ledger as the joker? you could take out every scene he's not in and i'd still want to watch what's left. his best supporting actor win wasn't just a sympathy vote. he was amazing in that movie.