Cats allegedly headed for big screen — Page 2

^ IMO the film adaptation of Into the Woods suffered from this as well. Most of the songs are park and bark numbers, which didn't leave much to adapt.

There's a few examples, but the most significant was Red Ridinghood's "I know things now." While she sang there was a rather weak, pastiche-y, slow-motion flashback of an action that had just occurred in "real time." It was honest, but dull.

Tricky tricky stuff adapting a musical these days.

Mister Matt said: "Even if it were true, why would it be sad news and why would you care of it gets made? How would it effect you and why would you want to prevent those with a desire to see it from doing so? Perhaps you also feel you should not be allowed to see anything you really like or even love because someone out there hates it. I've never understood this ridiculously selfish notion. Just...don't see it and let it go. Sheesh!"

It personally makes me sad because Cats is a terrible musical and there are many musicals that could be made into films and this should not be one of them. Am I not allowed to express my own opinion of sadness at this news? As for people who would want to see a film based on Cats...I suppose they need all the help from us that we can give.

Updated On: 2/8/16 at 03:14 PM

Cats isn't a terrible musical at all. The people who think that obviously never saw the beautiful and transcending original Broadway show. But yeah, I don't see how a film version of CATS would work unless it's animated.

CATSNYrevival said: "T.S. Eliot actually turned down Disney because he didn't want his cats turned into animated cartoon cats. I would hope no one would ever be that disrespectful and adapt the musical as an animated movie. He never wanted that.

"

I understand your point, but I don't think a live-action version of this musical would go over well on screen. It's already polarizing on Broadway, as many people don't really like it, but an animated movie has a better chance of being a critical and financial success, which is what the studios really want anyway, as much as I hate to say it.

A CGI/ Live action hybrid movie like the smurfs movies might be good actually. Maybe " cheat" a bit and protray a real life T.S Elliot on screen and follow him with the CGI Cats in his imagination?

Cats relies heavily on performances, since there isn't much plot to speak of. While animated characters would open up visual possibilities, it would also rob us of seeing these actors perform. Then again, would film audiences buy theatrical makeup and costumes (and leotards) on human actors who are supposed to be cats? It works (not always) with children's films, such as Wizard of Oz. But then you're turning Cats into a children's film. Some people feel that animation is (automatically) a children's genre as well.

This would be a difficult adaptation to pull off anyway you look at it.

Updated On: 2/8/16 at 05:00 PM

^ Extreme closeups of cat faces.

Updated On: 2/8/16 at 05:36 PM

best12bars said: "Cats relies heavily on performances, since there isn't much plot to speak of. While animated characters would open up visual possibilities, it would also rob us of seeing these actors perform. Then again, would film audiences buy theatrical makeup and costumes (and leotards) on human actors who are supposed to be cats? It works (not always) with children's films, such as Wizard of Oz. But then you're turning Cats into a children's film. Some people feel that animation is (automatically) a children's genre as well.

This would be a difficult adaptation to pull off anyway you look at it.

"

From a visual standpoint there's a lot of ways they could go for a film adaptation. The film version of Where the Wild Things Are (2009) bombed because they tried to flesh out a very basic children's book into a full length feature film (and the kid they cast in the main role was totally unlikeable); but it is a good example of how puppets and CGI were blended to create a powerful end result that did justice to Maurice Sendak's original drawings. It was successful at creating a lot of atmosphere and mood, It wasn't fully live action and it wasn't all CGI, but a mixture of both.

CATS could be a visual stunner, with the right team involved.

I'm hoping that this isn't all bunk though. I think team Webber likes the publicity of a 'possible film' to amp up ticket sales for the Broadway revival more than they like the idea of putting together a film (which would be a risky investment no matter how you slice it). Webber has done this for a long time. He's a major blow hard and likes to create hype where there is none.

It personally makes me sad because Cats is a terrible musical and there are many musicals that could be made into films and this should not be one of them.

How you feel about the show and if it gets produced as a film has nothing to do with whether other musicals could be made into films. If you're sad other films of musicals you like aren't being made, then okay, I guess. I imagine you'll find reasons to choose to be unhappy the rest of your life.

Am I not allowed to express my own opinion of sadness at this news?

Who said you're not allowed? Not me.

As for people who would want to see a film based on Cats...I suppose they need all the help from us that we can give.

I can never imagine needing or requesting help of that sort of @ssholery ever. I imagine if they're happy to see it and want to see it, they do not seek out assistance to be sad and miserable in order NOT to see what they like. I know I wouldn't if it would come with that attitude. Good Lord.

It's already polarizing on Broadway, as many people don't really like it

Comparatively speaking, given the numerous long-running international productions, it's really not that polarizing at all. It's about as polarizing as Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables, which is only somewhat polarizing within a small world made up of musical theatre enthusiasts on message boards.

Hmm, I wonder what Charlie Kaufman could do with this.

If Charlie Kaufman did this, I would definitely watch it. However, I don't think this musical is the best choice for an adaptation, as it has not aged well, and it would be hard to capture on film. Plenty of other musicals would transfer well to film.

Nice, Meryl Streep on her knees in an alley attempting a song in 1 take, dressed as a cat. Because we all know that only that will bring raw emotion with this material.

The only scenes that work like that is when someone is crying and sniffing their way through a song.

That way the quality of cinematography, singing or anything else doesn't matter anymore. Very easy way to get the audience. Even though the singing feels very out of place and too literal like that for film, because it actually gets more in the way than it is adding anything. Actually, I see an actor struggling with singing and hiding behind their cry to not have to sing. Some people might mistake that for emotion.

Unfortunately it does not work with any other emotion.

That's also the reason why only "I dreamed a dream" and "soliloquy" kind of work. But the rest of the 3 hours.......

Updated On: 2/8/16 at 07:40 PM

I'm glad you get it.

For how long have you actually been on this board? What was your previous screen name?