Recent movie musicals rant

[dangermousie]

There have been four recent big-screen musicals (and The Producers are soon to hit the screen): Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera and Rent. Ironically, the one I like least (Chicago) is the one with, by far, the most acclaim and $$$. I don't like Chicago because it has little emotional relevance, which is OK, but also has little

Comments

[jammer77]

It's funny that you say that b/c my gf said that her biggest problem with the movie was the singing on bikes. It's a musical, people. Singing happens.

My problems with Rent (the movie), however, have nothing to do with the spontaneous bursting into song. :)

[dangermousie]

Heh.

See, I have no problem with people not liking an individual musical. Tastes differ and all that. It's the sort of blanket dismissal of the genre that makes me gnash my teeth...

[plazmah]

Agreed on all counts. Then again, I know people who bitch about horror movies because they are scary and full of blood. Well, DUH. It's horror.

Certain people just aren't comfortable with certain movie genres...

[dangermousie]

It is always odd to me. I mean, I don't care for horror movies because I am squeamish. But I'd never say "too much blood" because, come on!

[katranna]

Well, actually, some horrore movies really DO have too much blood. It's not part if horror's definition to be drowning in blood--that's often a cheap out directors use to cover up other flaws. That's like sillyness and comedy--a comedy can be too silly, because sillyness (like blood) is just a tool of comedy, not its whole substance. A better comparison would be saying a horror movie is bad because it's too scary.

Anyway, agree with your rant. :-P

[dangermousie]

Don't ruin my ramblings with your logic :P

I just think if you don't like a genre, you should stay away from it altogether. It's like blaming someone for having blonde hair. They just do. It might make them unappealing to you, but claiming blondness is universally bad would be bizarre.

[elvensapphire]

Now, I happen to love Chicago for completely non-emotional, glittery reasons, just as it wants you to. My mother was big into theatre when she was younger, and directed all through college, so I've grown up looking at things from very technical aspects at times, and Chicago always gets me for its staging: the choregraphy, the lights, the theatricality of it all. It often looks like a theatre show committed to film. But, you're right - it has no heart (as it's not meant to) and doesn't exactly inspire much other than flashes of razzle dazzlement. While I actually enjoy Chicago 's music better, Kander and Ebb's other huge success, Cabaret , is overall a superior show because while it is cynical and harsh, it has a very clear and dark underlying meaning regarding society and life far beyond the setting of Nazi Germany. ( Cabaret is also much better on stage than it is on film, because the film left out a whole subplot in the story, but I digress.)

Moulin Rouge! is beautiful because it's romantic and sweeping yet feels

[elvensapphire]

I had to split this comment up, so I just want to say I adore all the moments you listed.

I forgot about Angel's purse. LOL I do <3 Angel. Too cute.

And all the Roger/Mimi moments go without saying. *swoons*

[dangermousie]

Take me baby, or leave me

Heeee.

I happened to have enjoyed POTO movie but I've seen the play only once, a long time ago, so can't compare it much.

[elvensapphire]

I thought you might like that. :D

I really enjoy sections of the movie. Because parts of it still catch me and make me realize why it's my favourite. And then parts of it are screwed up and make me want to stab someone. *coughs innocently* Overall, I really do like the movie. I'm meaner to it than I intend to be. If the occasion ever arises, though, I would say definitely go see the play again. Seeing it at the beginning of the month ranks among the most cherished experiences of my life. (Yeah, it sounds dramatic, but it's true. Whee.)