Into the Woods / Of Mice and Men

[daasgrrl]

So, I really love stage musicals. But this often means that I really hate movie versions of stage musicals - too often they're cut to pieces, and what works brilliantly on stage looks odd against a realistic backdrop, and the vocals suffer because musical theatre actors who can really sing are replaced with screen actors who can "hold a tune". As

Comments

[donutgirl]

the vocals suffer because musical theatre actors who can really sing are replaced with screen actors who can "hold a tune".

ugh, this is such a pet peeve for me.

I'm a huge Sondheim buff, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to see ITW.

[daasgrrl]

Hee, I'll give you a Sondheim high-five anyway. I *know* I hate movie musicals, and yet I keep going, just in case I'm missing out on something good (The Producers was great, but then I haven't seen it on stage, and also - Nathan Lane).

I didn't realise until I started reading reviews that a) this is a Disney film and b) people were taking their young children to see it. (Okay, technically I did notice and was bemused by b) at our screening but a) explains it.) Because... um, maybe not quite what they were expecting...

[donutgirl]

haha yeah, I've heard complaints from people who were like, "I was very uncomfortable watching this with my daughter." *eyeroll*

I agree that movie musicals are best when you haven't/can't see the original show. Hedwig and Cabaret are two of my favorite movies of all time, and I'm sure if I'd seen the stage shows I would have complaints about the adaptations, but as it is I am happily oblivious.

Chicago, otoh, I saw on Broadway and it made the movie hard to take.

Oh, and since we're talking Sondheim, there's Sweeney Todd. I love that show and was so excited for the movie, but... you know, it wasn't awful, but it wasn't right. Especially the voices.

[daasgrrl]

Ha, I'm in the same boat with Hedwig (great movie) and while I've seen Cabaret in both incarnations I think they both have their good points - the old-style musicals do seem to lend themselves better to movie treatments (probably due to less singing), or I'm just less hung up about them!

Chicago was okay, but all I remember really is that CZJ wasn't particularly impressive *g*

Have to agree re ST - another favourite. It looked great, and was certainly not awful, but the singing lacked a little. Okay, a lot. I don't know whether Depp's actually a tenor, but I'm used to a certain sound for Sweeney Todd, and that wasn't it. But that's one I probably could watch again, although not for the singing as such.

[donutgirl]

I saw Chicago with Ann Reinking and there is simply no comparison between her and CZJ. Reinking was dazzling.