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#1

ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:20pm

Remember this non-Disney animated film from 1997?

Starring Megh Ryan, Kelsey Grammer, Bernadette Peters, Angela Lansbury, John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd, Hank Azaria, Kirstin Dunst, and Andrea Martin?

Nominated for two Oscars, thanks to a score by Ahrens & Flaherty?

Featuring such great songs as "At The Beginning," "Journey To The Past," "Once Upon A December," "Paris Holds The Key," and many other great songs?

It'd be great to see it on Broadway, adding a few more songs to the show, of course.

(Just watched it again. Forgot about it, until I did some spring cleaning and found my ANASTASIA ON ICE program.)

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#2

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:22pm

I adore this film. "Once Upon A Decemeber" is such a gorgeous song. The movie was panned when it came out for reasons I can't understand since it was better than anything Disney had done in years and frankly still is.

"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."

#3

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:25pm

It was panned because of the whole concept of her having survived the murder of her family storyline. I belive one review said "What's next? Anne Frank in New York with her boyfriend?"

#4

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:25pm

I really enjoyed the film, as well.

johnraymondbarker.com

#5

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:25pm

Totally agree. Came out same time frame as Disney's HERCULES.

The film had so many great songs and great actors, but then it was tossed into the garbage can. No special edition DVD.

"Once Upon A December" is the best number from the film. So mysterious and entrancing.

GOD, I LOVE THIS MOVIE!

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#6

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:26pm

Whatever. It was a great movie.

"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."

#7

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:28pm

The whole "Once Upon A December" scene is so beautiful! When it came out on video, I kept rewinding and watching that over and over again.

"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."

#8

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:28pm

Would love to know where you read the review referring to Anne Frank.

"It was panned because of the whole concept of her having survived the murder of her family storyline. "

Well - that's the very mythology of Anastasia... The same mythology was also the source for the film with Yul Brynner. I doubt it was panned because of that.

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka

#9

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:31pm

Thank You, Craig.

The panning I was referring to refered to the critics calling the animation "amateurish" and the songs "ridiculous"

"Noah, someday we'll talk again. But there's things we'll never say. That sorrow deep inside you. It inside me, too. And it never go away. You be okay. You'll learn how to lose things..."

#10

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:32pm

I know...

I read in an entertainment magazine.. I don't recall the publication, but I remember what it said. It said that the whole concpet was ridiculous. he didn't so much review it as try to refute the film's storyline with historical facts. It was REALLY liek a case of "The movie was good, but I have my reasons for trashing it."

#11

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:34pm

The animation was a unique and much more detailed style than Disney. Paris looked gorgeous!

And there wasn't one bad song in the film.

It was criticized, back then, partly because it wasn't Disney. If that film were released today, I bet reviews would have been different.

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#12

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:36pm

Agreed, it was a great film.. far superior to much of Disney's work at the time.

#13

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:44pm

OK BG2, but you stated it was panned because of that as if it were fact, which is not the case. And I would hardly consider one review in an entertainment magazine as a reason for the universal pan.

I think Anastasia is actually one of the most cleverly written (and acted) animated film in many years. And whoever would claim the animation amateurish is silly - in my opinion anyway...

"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka

#14

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:46pm

I didn't mean to imply that. I apoligize. I was refering to one particular instance. I will be more careful in my phrasing

Updated On: 7/2/04 at 05:46 PM

#15

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:47pm

I love the movie, as well. The music (in case you didn't know) is written by Stephen Flaherty, with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (Creative team of "Ragtime", "Seussical", "Once On This Island", "A Man of No Importance", "Lucky Stiff", "My Favorite Year"....all of which I love...minus Seussical...). I heard a rumor that the re-release of "The Little Mermaid" was released at the same time as "Anastasia" because Disney was trying to take attention away from it. I'm not sure if there is any truth to that, but it's interesting if there is.

I just found this article:
Hmm....

#16

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:49pm

This needs to come to broadway. Cast a talented unknown as Anya, and BAM! A star is born.

#17

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:51pm

Paging Shoshana Bean......

#18

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:53pm

re: ANASTASIA

Minus Seussical? Don't say that! Even without the Broadway staging (first Nat'l tour was so much better), the score of SEUSSICAL is beautiful in itself.

"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#19

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:55pm

But the opening number on Broadway was better than the tour version.

the score was great.

#20

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 5:56pm

The film was most definetely not critically panned. The notoriously tough www.RottenTomatoes.com gives it a 92% fresh rating. The film was a critical success.
Anastasia Rotten Tomatoes

BSoBW2: I punched Sondheim in the face after I saw Wicked and said, "Why couldn't you write like that!?"

#21

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 6:03pm

One of my favorite movies. I would love to see it on Broadway some day.

Tendres Baisers,
Juliette Capulet

#22

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 6:20pm

Ooooh - I love Anastasia!! I saw it 3 or 4 times at the theatre. Now, I watch it with my girls all the time. The songs are so amazing! The animation is so realistic - like a stage musical animated. The writing is so well done and who can beat the talent! My jaw drops every time during the 'In The Dark of the Night' number that is performed by Disney vet Jim Cummings - not Christopher Lloyd - it sounds exactly like him!

I read that when they were luring Meg Ryan, they animated a bit of her dialogue from Sleepless in Seattle and she was sold!

Also - I found it interesting that so many big broadway names are featured in the ensemble and character voices -
Darius De Haas, Michelle Pawk, Billy Porter, Emily Skinner, Vaneese Y. Thomas and Lillias White among others I'm sure I don't recognize - the last two competing with themselves as part of the Muses in Disney's Hercules!

My husband and I sang "At The Begining" at our wedding reception. I would love to see this developed into a stage musical! It would be brilliant! I just love Ahrens & Flaherty. Yes, even especially Seussical!

...and your children start to leave you from the moment they are born.

#23

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 6:20pm

As a set-designer I would LOVE to see the elaborate, russian impressionist inspired sets and costumes for this.

Akiva

#24

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 7:01pm

Don't forget that 'Once Upon a December' is sung by our very own Lea Salonga!

BlueWizard's blog: The Rambling Corner HEDWIG: "The road is my home. In reflecting upon the people whom I have come upon in my travels, I cannot help but think of the people who have come upon me."

#25

re: ANASTASIA

Posted: 7/2/04 at 7:20pm

Don't forget Alix Korey, Judy Blazer and Vicki Clark!!! All in the ensemble of Anastasia.

I love that movie!

"You! You are the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber! And you, well, I just plain don't like you."
~Stewart Gilligan Griffin

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