#26
Posted: 7/9/08 at 1:30pm
As for things not being a filmed version of the stage show, I don't get that, the problem with that. I don't get why when a musical is transferred to screen that the film version is supposed to veer dramatically away from its source. It's the same thing that makes me wonder why the book writer gets no respect, since it's usually the book that gets mangled the most on the way to the screen.
I don't think that's what he is saying. I took it to mean (and I agree), that films are completely different mediums. You need someone who understands how to tell a story with a camera, to direct. A flat transfer of a stage show is just that, flat. I can't speak to this film, as I haven't seen, nor intend to see it. To me, the only thing it had going for it on stage, was the ABBA tunes. If I want to hear ABBA tunes, I'll play an ABBA CD. But, take a look at something really flat, like My Fair Lady. It was basically a film transfer of the Broadway show (just less exciting). Nothing cinematic about it, at all. Then, look at The Sound of Music. Nothing flat about its presentation. Changes were made to the source material, to support a new medium to tell the same story. Now, you may prefer the source material, but no one can say that the film lacks scope or cinematic splendor. In every way, it's an improvement over the source, for film. However, the reverse it also true. Stage productions that try to incorporate the film's changes, always seem stupid to me. Maria twirling on stage, singing I Have Confidence with no place to travel, etc., doesn't work.
I don't think that's what he is saying. I took it to mean (and I agree), that films are completely different mediums. You need someone who understands how to tell a story with a camera, to direct. A flat transfer of a stage show is just that, flat. I can't speak to this film, as I haven't seen, nor intend to see it. To me, the only thing it had going for it on stage, was the ABBA tunes. If I want to hear ABBA tunes, I'll play an ABBA CD. But, take a look at something really flat, like My Fair Lady. It was basically a film transfer of the Broadway show (just less exciting). Nothing cinematic about it, at all. Then, look at The Sound of Music. Nothing flat about its presentation. Changes were made to the source material, to support a new medium to tell the same story. Now, you may prefer the source material, but no one can say that the film lacks scope or cinematic splendor. In every way, it's an improvement over the source, for film. However, the reverse it also true. Stage productions that try to incorporate the film's changes, always seem stupid to me. Maria twirling on stage, singing I Have Confidence with no place to travel, etc., doesn't work.
