CATS Film Adaptation Thread- Page 31

[clever2]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 6:05pm

Auggie27 said: "People disappear and reappear on a Thames barge by magic but ascend to heaven via physical means? The spiritual principles in this jellicle sphere are metaphysically contradictory. "

To be fair, in the last shot, the balloon does vanish into thin air. It doesn’t fade into the sunrise. It vanishes. It’s a celebratory and grand exit for Grizabella. Much more so than the tire, which I’ve always thought looked like some weird spaceship. 

The exit in the film feels ritualistic. 
 

Updated On: 12/27/19 at 06:05 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 6:50pm

Auggie27 said: "Actually Kad’s analysis of why the chandelier slash balloon is a poor translation of the magical tire is spot on. First one I’ve read that articulates the inconsistency.

People disappear and reappear on a Thames barge by magic but ascend to heaven via physical means? The spiritual principles in this jellicle sphere are metaphysically contradictory."

Not to mention that the scale of the cats vs their surroundings and various objects jarringly changes from scene to scene...the film is all over the place in every aspect...it's a mind boggling mess!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 6:56pm

clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "clever2 said: "The true strength of film is not box office. It’s longevity. Only time will tell.

CLUE received the exact same response from critics and lousy box office. It is now one of the most beloved films of several generations.

Time will tell."

You're seriously comparing Clue to Cats?!?!? LMAO!!



"Clue" is another film I saw in the theaters and yes, it has gained a cult status but calling it one of the most beloved films of several generations is a total exaggeration.

You can stop now."

And people like you continueto prove me right again and again.Thank you for participating."

Yeah....you're 12. That explains everything... 

Updated On: 12/27/19 at 06:56 PM

[clever2]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 6:59pm

CarlosAlberto said: "Yeah....you're 12. That explains everything..."

I feel sorry for you. 

Updated On: 12/27/19 at 06:59 PM

[Det95]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 7:51pm

I don’t know if this has been posted yet, but Universal has abandoned its Oscar campaign for CATS
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/cats-academy-awards-campaign-abandoned

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 8:22pm

clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Yeah....you're 12. That explains everything..."

I feel sorry for you."

Don't feel sorry for me. I'm not the one defending the poorly executed, couldn't get the CGI right the first time motion picture which has not only tanked at the box office but whose own studio has turned its back on.... 

 

[clever2]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 8:24pm

CarlosAlberto said: "clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Yeah....you're 12. That explains everything..."

I feel sorry for you."

Don't feel sorry for me. I'm not the one defending the poorly executed, couldn't get the CGI right the first time motion picture which has not only tanked at the box office but whose own studio has turned itsback on...."

It must be such a terrible burden to carry those buckets of bitterness on your back all the time. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 8:27pm

clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Yeah....you're 12. That explains everything..."

I feel sorry for you."

Don't feel sorry for me. I'm not the one defending the poorly executed, couldn't get the CGI right the first time motion picture which has not only tanked at the box office but whose own studio has turned itsback on...."

It must be such a terrible burden to carry those buckets of bitterness on your back all the time."

It must be a terrible burden on you to continually defend the obvious.... 

18 Reviews for "Cats" that are comedy gold...

 

Updated On: 12/27/19 at 08:27 PM

[clever2]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 8:29pm

CarlosAlberto said: "clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Yeah....you're 12. That explains everything..."

I feel sorry for you."

Don't feel sorry for me. I'm not the one defending the poorly executed, couldn't get the CGI right the first time motion picture which has not only tanked at the box office but whose own studio has turned itsback on...."

It must be such a terrible burden to carry those buckets of bitterness on your back all the time."

It must be a terrible burden on you to continually defend the obvious...."

I hope one day you will be able to forgive whomever hurt you so badly so that you will stop trying to hurt others with your pain. God be with you, my friend. May he lead you toward the happiness so obviously lacking from your life. 

Updated On: 12/27/19 at 08:29 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 8:33pm

clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "clever2 said: "CarlosAlberto said: "Yeah....you're 12. That explains everything..."

I feel sorry for you."

Don't feel sorry for me. I'm not the one defending the poorly executed, couldn't get the CGI right the first time motion picture which has not only tanked at the box office but whose own studio has turned itsback on...."

It must be such a terrible burden to carry those buckets of bitterness on your back all the time."

It must be a terrible burden on you to continually defend the obvious...."

I hope one day you will be able to forgive whomever hurt you so badly so that you will stop trying to hurt others with your pain. God be with you, my friend. May he lead to toward the happiness so obviously lacking from your life."

Nice try...you can get over your superiority complex now...SMDH

Updated On: 12/27/19 at 08:33 PM

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 9:11pm

Clever2---Let me be your cuddlepuss--I will protect you from all these nasty people--my germs could wipe out a herd?  possey ? of cats.

Curl up at my feet[or wherever else makes you comfy] and I will stroke your fur[if any] till your tummy is growling in pleasure and contentment.

Sweet  Dreams of **** Heaven.

[clever2]

Posted: 12/27/19 at 9:14pm

SweetLips22 said: "Clever2---Let me be your cuddlepuss--I will protect you from all these nasty people--my germs could wipe out a herd? possey ? of cats.

Curl up at my feet[or wherever else makes you comfy] and I will stroke your fur[if any] till your tummy is growling in pleasure and contentment.

Sweet Dreams of **** Heaven."

Hahaha that’s adorable!

[devonian.t]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 6:53am

Has this flop taken everyone by surprise?  It's gone ever so quiet from a bunch of people who are usually quite yappy.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 8:39am

Well, so much for waiting for the screener to watch this. Universal has removed this from its awards season For Your Consideration streaming platform. Now we just have to wait for it’s DVD/Blu-ray/Digital release. It’s basically over for CATS from this point on.

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 9:51am

Finally saw this. Yes the CGI and art direction are hideous. Yes the source material is flawed.

But I could have forgiven that if there had been strong vocals and dancing. Sadly Hooper’s team encourages most of the cast to speak, shout or whisper their songs. And the frantic camera work doesn’t let us look at the dancers. I wish more critics were talking about this. The crowd I was with included a “this is why I hate musicals” type. It reminded me how films like this can slam as many doors as the few good ones open.

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 12:28pm

Here are things I understand but still struggle to understand:

Before investing 100M in a film which is dependent on CGI, I assume (a dangerous thing) that Hooper did some test footage using the CGI technique he was selling to the Studio/Producers. The problems that were evident in the first trailer, version 1.0 and version 1.1 should have been apparent in the test footage - and fixed before full filming commenced.  The dancing, in particular, frequently loses the human aspect and looks/seems fully animated (or has hesitations, blips and inexplicable movements), probably because the CGI artists couldn't keep up.  Did Hooper just sell optimism of "don't worry, it will work" or did they not shoot test footage?  Or, was the CGI not Hooper's idea - and the producers hired him to execute their vision?  I also agree with others that opening an unfinished film did no one any favors - again, optimism must have ruled the day - I understand there is negative publicity from delaying a film, but other films have survived delaying their openings.  Of course, I don't know what was in the studio's contracts with the production team and the movie theatres that worked against delaying the opening.  Again, perhaps it was just optimism that ruled the day.

But did no one watch dailies or pieces and say "Tom, this just isn't working" - and did he respond "Well, wait till the CGI comes in" to which the response should have been "No, Tom, it's the acting and shot selection and rough edits"?  Again, I'm completely speculating that Hooper (and others) thought they could fix everything in post production with the CGI. Optimism.

But, the lack of consistency in vision/tone from scene to scene is Hooper's responsibility. He's the director with the supposed vision for the film. Instead, it looks like different people directed different scenes - and not just in a second unit director filming action sequences way - Rebel Wilson is in a different film than Robert Fairchild.  (I assume Wilson's dancing deficiencies is why Jennyanydots' tap number gets cut, and we get a tap number with Skimbleshanks) And, why, all of a sudden, at the end of the fim does Dame Dench start addressing the cinema audience - when that kind of approach has been absent through the rest of the film. The film is set up with the events being explained to Victoria - not to the cinema audience.  On stage, everything was, in effect, addressed to the theatre audience - as the opening ("are you blind when you're born?) is directed to the theatre audience, but in the film those lines are directed to Victoria.  Aargh.  (One nit pick -  isn't Macavity supposed to be a  ginger cat?) I understand why, story wise -  the final shot is Old Deuteronomy looking down lovingly at Victoria who is now a Jellicle cat - but, to me, that was unsatisfying - to me, the final shot should be after the loving look, we see the Phantom Chandalier Balloon disappear in a flash of light indicating it has made the journey to the Heaviside Layer and then the film cuts to the end credits. 

Still, in my opinion, the film is not a total disaster - it has its moments.  

 

[clever2]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 12:52pm

ggersten said: "- to me, the final shot should be after the loving look, we see the Phantom Chandalier Balloon disappear in a flash of light indicating it has made the journey to the Heaviside Layer and then the film cuts to the end credits."

That is how the film ended both times I saw it. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 1:16pm

James Corden and many of the film’s cast have said that they wore zero costumes during filming. Just the CGI capture dots on their faces and on their standard leotard. Everyone was told the CGI cat fur, ears, etc was going to be revolutionary. The dailies and all footage being seen on set had zero CGI effects so no one knew what it was going to look like until the first trailer was released.  The global response to the CGI is shared by many who worked on the film. 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 1:49pm

This film is a masterpiece.

[Olivia11]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 1:53pm

I actually really like CATS the musical (so sue me!) and thought this was an extremely ill advised idea to begin with it. Seldom does live performance translate well to film or video (I also dislike the video with its close shots and mugging for the camera).

Saw the film yesterday and beyond the whole CGI debacle (which warrants its own discussion), why did they take a show known primarily for its dance and basically strip most of the dancing out of it? I normally like Andy Blankenbuehler’s choreography and enjoyed his updates to the revival, but what was that? Did the budget only allow four qualified dancers or did you just waste what you had. The Jellical Ball is usually the dance highlight of the show and it was virtually non-existent.  I think I heard poor Gillian Lynne turn over in her grave. 

Further, the vocals were ok in some places but not nearly as strong as they needed to be or always were in the Broadway casts. Hell, I’ve seen touring production vocals better than that. Even Jennifer Hudson was disappointing. Give me back Mamie Parris or any of the strong ladies playing that role over the years.

Taylor Swift added zero to the production, while replacing what is usually a strong performer in both voice and dance. She was worthless, as was that extra song.

Rebel Wilson took a charming, grandmotherly Jennyanydots and turned it into a crude, unlikeable character that exhibited no talent. James Cordon was ok but over the top and distracting.

That brings me to Judi Dench. I was ok with her playing Old Deuteronomy, even though it is typically a male role and I thought she brought a certain charm to the role, but what was with the vocals? She was originally cast as the first Grizabella. What happened to her voice? Old Deuteronomy has always been a strong vocalist. This was awful spoke-singing.

Mr Mistofolees was gutted down to a non-dancing, weakling of a character. Wtf? Other songs were changed, watered down, or messed with in a way that lessened the enjoyment. Full sections were cut from the poems and pacing was destroyed.

Overall, I’m sorry it is out in the ethers. It is a very poor representation of the show.  The producers deserve to lose their shirts over this one (something I don’t think I have ever said before). 

Updated On: 12/28/19 at 01:53 PM

[bradactor66]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 2:11pm

I wonder if Tom Hooper's next Musical Film Adaptation will be "Nightmare on Elm Street:The Musical" after "Cats."   I am joking but not totally.

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 2:30pm

clever2 said: "ggersten said: "- to me, the final shot should be after the loving look, we see the Phantom Chandalier Balloon disappear in a flash of light indicating it has made the journey to the Heaviside Layer and then the film cuts to the end credits."

That is how the film ended both times I saw it."

That's odd … and interesting. I was pretty sure the chandelier disappears and then we're back to Dench. Not that I'm going to go back to see if my memory is faulty - but perhaps I'll sneak in near the end. 

[clever2]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 2:40pm

ggersten said: "clever2 said: "ggersten said: "- to me, the final shot should be after the loving look, we see the Phantom Chandalier Balloon disappear in a flash of light indicating it has made the journey to the Heaviside Layer and then the film cuts to the end credits."

That is how the film ended both times I saw it."

That's odd … and interesting. I was pretty sure the chandelier disappears and then we're back to Dench. Not that I'm going to go back to see if my memory is faulty - but perhaps I'll sneak in near the end."

Result of there being two versions? But then that means I saw the “new” version twice.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 5:41pm

This message may get lost in the shuffle or fall on deaf ears or both but I felt I needed to write this because my spirit is telling me so. I truly want to apologize to clever2 for my rude comments to him on this thread.

I had absolutely no right to be rude to him. I have absolutely no right to be rude to anybody for their differences of opinion.

Everyone has a right to voice their opinion or their differences but with respect.

I did not do that...and for that I am truly, truly sorry.
 

I am extending an olive branch to clever2 and for that matter to anyone else I may have offended with my rudeness on this forum. 


 

Updated On: 12/28/19 at 05:41 PM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 12/28/19 at 6:41pm

Excellent, genuine apology