Glee Live the Movie
bethynyc and I (with my BFF) are in the Glee movie. It's only briefly in the back of a group shot behind other people (thank goodness), but we're there singing! I'm pretty sure even if you knew me you wouldn't recognize me if you weren't looking, but I nearly fell out of my seat when I saw my face.
So, first things first. The 3D nature of this movie did not bother me. I expected to be annoyed, and I was mildly bothered by the glasses because I don't wear glasses, but overall about 85% of the time I couldn't have even told you the movie wasn't just a regular flat movie. Sure, some text floated and some audience hands and so forth seemed awfully close (and the confetti and streamers looked amazing), but mostly it was kind of not a big deal. So that was great, and it means seeing it on a small screen on a DVD will not diminish the experience.
The movie itself is about an hour and a half long, and there is a song ("Somebody to Love," which closed the actual concert) during the credits as well as some Mini Warbler, so be sure to stick around if you want to see them.
Okay, onto the actual film. I'm not sure exactly what I expected going in, but this wasn't it. I think I was expecting to see the concert on film with some filler here and there of Gleeks and backstage silliness. Instead it was more of a film about Gleeks (lots of clips of interviews with audience people, three people plus the Mini Warbler they followed more closely) with music throughout. They chopped the concert up all to hell; not only were the transitions gone, but the songs were all out of order (a song from the encore was like the third song in, etc.), at least one was missing entirely ("Dog Days" - "Friday" had already been removed by the point of filming and "True Colors" hadn't been added in), and the flow of the music was entirely different. Costume changes and even the people on stage made little sense. I don't think it mattered much at the end of the day because of the rest of the material, but it was not the concert by any means with its more logical flow and pauses.
I can see why they cut out "Single Ladies" and all but two seconds of the Kurt/Blaine skit, as well as the other chatter, videos, and even Sue live. It doesn't fit with the way the movie works. The movie isn't about the concert; it's about the Gleeks. (There are even places where the actual songs are being talked over, so you can see by that what's more important.) The cut pieces were some of the most important moments of connection between the actors and the audience, but they don't make sense in the movie. I missed them, I loved them, but I can see why they chose to focus only on the songs.
The saddest thing for me personally, however, is they made Chris Colfer look about 500% less sparkly and awesome in the movie than he was in person. I know I love him and am thereby biased, but he was by far the most interactive cast member with the audience. I don't just mean during "I Want to Hold Your Hand" when he reaches out to people and says hi but also throughout all of the group numbers. He danced his heart out in the cutest ways in the background and had so much energy and spirit. He was always waving to people up high or laughing at signs. He was super connected to us during "Single Ladies" and the Kurt/Blaine skit, and the audience loved him. The movie misses almost all of that, and I'm very sad about it. He was adorable in person both nights (I assume every night, given the Kurt/Blaine skits I've seen) and was kind of flat on the screen. I wish they'd shown more of him being so cute.
Some of the other actors seemed flat, too, including Cory, who had been really on the night they filmed. Heather was amazing, though, even when in the background not really doing anything. She shone.
At the end of the day, though, the movie was fun. Most of the audience interview clips were cute, and the cast performed the songs well. It was a fun, energetic, bouncy hour and a half, and if I'd prefer to go to the concert every night instead I'd take this substitute.
And, hey, I'm in it! OMG.
So, first things first. The 3D nature of this movie did not bother me. I expected to be annoyed, and I was mildly bothered by the glasses because I don't wear glasses, but overall about 85% of the time I couldn't have even told you the movie wasn't just a regular flat movie. Sure, some text floated and some audience hands and so forth seemed awfully close (and the confetti and streamers looked amazing), but mostly it was kind of not a big deal. So that was great, and it means seeing it on a small screen on a DVD will not diminish the experience.
The movie itself is about an hour and a half long, and there is a song ("Somebody to Love," which closed the actual concert) during the credits as well as some Mini Warbler, so be sure to stick around if you want to see them.
Okay, onto the actual film. I'm not sure exactly what I expected going in, but this wasn't it. I think I was expecting to see the concert on film with some filler here and there of Gleeks and backstage silliness. Instead it was more of a film about Gleeks (lots of clips of interviews with audience people, three people plus the Mini Warbler they followed more closely) with music throughout. They chopped the concert up all to hell; not only were the transitions gone, but the songs were all out of order (a song from the encore was like the third song in, etc.), at least one was missing entirely ("Dog Days" - "Friday" had already been removed by the point of filming and "True Colors" hadn't been added in), and the flow of the music was entirely different. Costume changes and even the people on stage made little sense. I don't think it mattered much at the end of the day because of the rest of the material, but it was not the concert by any means with its more logical flow and pauses.
I can see why they cut out "Single Ladies" and all but two seconds of the Kurt/Blaine skit, as well as the other chatter, videos, and even Sue live. It doesn't fit with the way the movie works. The movie isn't about the concert; it's about the Gleeks. (There are even places where the actual songs are being talked over, so you can see by that what's more important.) The cut pieces were some of the most important moments of connection between the actors and the audience, but they don't make sense in the movie. I missed them, I loved them, but I can see why they chose to focus only on the songs.
The saddest thing for me personally, however, is they made Chris Colfer look about 500% less sparkly and awesome in the movie than he was in person. I know I love him and am thereby biased, but he was by far the most interactive cast member with the audience. I don't just mean during "I Want to Hold Your Hand" when he reaches out to people and says hi but also throughout all of the group numbers. He danced his heart out in the cutest ways in the background and had so much energy and spirit. He was always waving to people up high or laughing at signs. He was super connected to us during "Single Ladies" and the Kurt/Blaine skit, and the audience loved him. The movie misses almost all of that, and I'm very sad about it. He was adorable in person both nights (I assume every night, given the Kurt/Blaine skits I've seen) and was kind of flat on the screen. I wish they'd shown more of him being so cute.
Some of the other actors seemed flat, too, including Cory, who had been really on the night they filmed. Heather was amazing, though, even when in the background not really doing anything. She shone.
At the end of the day, though, the movie was fun. Most of the audience interview clips were cute, and the cast performed the songs well. It was a fun, energetic, bouncy hour and a half, and if I'd prefer to go to the concert every night instead I'd take this substitute.
And, hey, I'm in it! OMG.