Best Modern Film Musicals
Discussion
Eric Mc said:
There you go - I love Chicago (although the original 1975 version is better than the current rewritten stage version and the movie).
The cynicism of the original is awesome and probably inspired Tony Blair - quite how Mikeyboy can say the music is poor escapes me - it is strange how we are talking of all these fab shows as modern when they are 30 years old - les parapluies de cherbourg anyone ? That one in the jungle with puppet animals is quite popular for something newer isn't itAnd as for Sondheim well he's in another league really isn't he
Just re-read thread title - very few musicals translate well to film - Absolute Beginners is was the non-stage I can recall and its not as bad as one has been led to believe
Edited by johnnyreggae on Sunday 12th December 09:50
Sondheim is intellectual, challenging, difficult - and often, froma a box office point of view, disastrous 
He's the Stanley Kubrick of musical theatre. Every producer at some time wants to say they produced a Sondheim musical - even if then show may not be that commercially successful.
I first saw "Chicago" being performed by the students of the Guildford School of Acting in the early 1990s. I was instantly hooked on the theme - media manipulation and how justice and truth can be warped based on image and public impressions - rather than reality.
I can see how it failed in 1975 - audiences just weren't smart enough or media savvy enough to understand what was going on.
My own society then performed it (the original version) in 1996 and again, I was impressed with the writing and the music.
I then saw the new London version and was instantly deflated. Whilst a good, competent show, it has lost the bite, subtlety and darkness of the original.
However, it has been immensely successful this time around mainly because modern audiences DO understand how the media dominates our lives and how reality can be blurred by spin doctors, liars and cheats.
He's the Stanley Kubrick of musical theatre. Every producer at some time wants to say they produced a Sondheim musical - even if then show may not be that commercially successful.
I first saw "Chicago" being performed by the students of the Guildford School of Acting in the early 1990s. I was instantly hooked on the theme - media manipulation and how justice and truth can be warped based on image and public impressions - rather than reality.
I can see how it failed in 1975 - audiences just weren't smart enough or media savvy enough to understand what was going on.
My own society then performed it (the original version) in 1996 and again, I was impressed with the writing and the music.
I then saw the new London version and was instantly deflated. Whilst a good, competent show, it has lost the bite, subtlety and darkness of the original.
However, it has been immensely successful this time around mainly because modern audiences DO understand how the media dominates our lives and how reality can be blurred by spin doctors, liars and cheats.
judas said:
Surprised nobody's mentioned The Nightmare Before Christmas. Excellent film and some cracking songs. Classic Danny Elfman score plus him singing the part of Jack Skellington.
Yes, animated films often have excellent scores. The Corpse Bride is up there too (another Danny Elfman score).
judas said:
Surprised nobody's mentioned The Nightmare Before Christmas. Excellent film and some cracking songs. Classic Danny Elfman score plus him singing the part of Jack Skellington.
Strange but I walys forget animated features are musicals.Watched both The Nightmare Before Christmas and The MUppet Christmas Carol over xmos. I do like TNBC but I find the songs in the Muppet film just absolutely ace, I sing a long to them, always a good sign.
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