Musicals

Author
Discussion

durbster

Original Poster:

10,223 posts

221 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
First of all, this isn't a shallow grab for man points. I've owned an MX-5 for almost twelve years so I am demonstrably able to confront my inner masculinity. wink

However, I've just had to leave the room while the wife watches Les Miserables on Blu-Ray. I would like to think I'm open minded and I'll give anything a go but I lasted 25 minutes of Les Miserables which was at least 18 minutes longer than I wanted to.

I think I just have to accept that I don't "get" musicals. And I hate accepting that I don't "get" something.

The problem is I can't stop my brain constantly screaming a simple question: why the bloody hell are they singing?

How can you relate to this absurd scenario? It doesn't happen in life. Could you make a film in which, during each dramatic moment everyone starts juggling? That seems no less bizarre a concept to me.

Should I just accept that musicals are not for me? Is it possible to be won over?

DocJock

8,341 posts

239 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
I don't know.

I feel exactly the way you do about them.

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
I think some are ace.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=938...

Quote a lot of stuff that happens in films doesn't happen in life. But friends have spontaneously burst into song now and then. I was singing the genie song from Aladdin only the other day.

omgus

7,305 posts

174 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
Acceptable musical films are Moulin Rouge, South Park and Team America.

As yet i have not found another film musical that i like.

If i wanted to watch some bad cabaret singing i would take a lass to see an actual musical in the theatre, otherwise it is the three listed above. HTH.


Disney films are not Musicals. They do not count. wink



"Oh i come from a land,
from a far away place,
where the caravan camels roam."

Tribal Chestnut

2,997 posts

181 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
Awful things.

I enjoyed a local production of Joseph, but only because my daughter was in it.

I went to see Wicked with an open mind, as an ex had bought us tickets, & took the kiddie to see The Lion King earlier this year. They were both boring shiite. Tickets for both were bought as bday presents for me. People obviously hate me.

Tribal Chestnut

2,997 posts

181 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
& the ex-MIL fancied herself as a bit of a local star of musicals in a certain town in the north east. Another valid reason to hate them.

Not sure what's worse though, musicals or tap dancing with it's silly smiles and big hands.

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
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Rocky Horror, Little Shop, Captain Invincible, Disney, wehouse in Texas, Funny Thing...all ace!

Tony2or4

1,283 posts

164 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
Yep, I'm another person who can't stand musicals, either on stage or on screen.

Same reason, too: the way that people suddenly break into song.confused


Actually, I do have one exception: I love Gilbert & Sullivan.hehe



durbster said:
Could you make a film in which, during each dramatic moment everyone starts juggling?
biglaughbiglaugh

VinceFox

20,566 posts

171 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
quotequote all
Opera yes, modern musical no.

mrmr96

13,736 posts

203 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
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Didn't those guys from South Park do a musical? I think the South Park Movie was a musical, but I think they've done a "proper" one too. Maybe try that?

CR6ZZ

1,313 posts

144 months

Tuesday 15th April 2014
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I don't mind musicals - they are no more unbelievable than most other movies and one or two songs are quite catchy. The OH, on the other hand loathes them. She doesn't even like opera, opining part way through a performance of Die Zauberflöte "Why can't they just talk??" . The only reason I'm still with her is because she like cars.....

Eric Mc

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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I prefer to be in them rather than watch them. And I prefer stage musicals to film musicals.

Like any art form, there will be some who love them, some who are indifferent about them and some who loathe them.

For ALL performance arts, whether it be film, TV or stage based, the audience has to suspend an element of disbelief and go along with the artificial elements that are required to tell a condensed narrative in a restricted period of time. Musicals just require another form of suspension - which some are happy to accept and others aren't.

Of course, the term "musical" covers quite a swathe of different types of shows, ranging from full blown operas, through operettas, the great classic "American Songbook" era of the 30s and 40s, on into the Broadway and Hollywood greats of the 50s and then the emergence of the British musical as a major force in the 70s and 80s.

One trend I definitely do not like at the moment is the dominance of what is called the "Juke Box" musical - where a show is built around a group or a singer's 20 Greatest Hits. Examples "Mamma Mia" ,"We Will Rock You" and "Jersey Boys". Some are better than others but the [problem with such shows is that it is stifling new original works.

Up until the mid 1950s. the vast bulk of adult cinema and theatre audiences had very little in the way of problems accepting musicals. Indeed, some of the biggest Hollywood smash hits were musicals. The advent of rock and roll and later rock/pop in the late 50s and on into the 60s meant that the next generation moved away from musicals and it was only the advent of the big British musicals of Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice etc that younger audiences began to return. Even then, it is only very recently that Hollywood has again decided that musicals can actually make money at the box office.

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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Vince dancing to his Opera tunes.

thismonkeyhere

10,296 posts

230 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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I like musicals.

Sorry.

DavesFlaps

679 posts

190 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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Me too, but like Eric, stage rather than screen.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
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thismonkeyhere said:
I like musicals.

Sorry.
I like one musical. (West Side Story), but only as the orchestral music score is stunning. The rest of musicals should be in room 101.

Halb

53,012 posts

182 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
The rest of musicals should be in room 101.
Oh Rocky!

Eric Mc

121,776 posts

264 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
GetCarter said:
I like one musical. (West Side Story), but only as the orchestral music score is stunning. The rest of musicals should be in room 101.
A bit harsh considering there are literally hundreds of the things.

I've just finished performing in Mel Brook's "The Producers" and it was a total hoot.

And the audiences loved it.

GetCarter

29,358 posts

278 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
Eric Mc said:
GetCarter said:
I like one musical. (West Side Story), but only as the orchestral music score is stunning. The rest of musicals should be in room 101.
A bit harsh considering there are literally hundreds of the things.

I've just finished performing in Mel Brook's "The Producers" and it was a total hoot.

And the audiences loved it.
Lots of people buy The Sun. wink I rest my case.

Tribal Chestnut

2,997 posts

181 months

Wednesday 16th April 2014
quotequote all
On the whole, the audience always appears to love a musical, but if you look carefully you'll always spot a handful of sane individuals amongst them. smile