Cirque's Delirium movie only this weekend

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 8:40am

I went to the first of the only 4 showings of Cirque Du Soleil's movie Delirium on Wednesday. Keeping in mind that I did not love the show when I saw it live in the arena setting. I got there an hour before the movie thinking that it might be crowded...it was not. The ticket was $20 and by the time the movie started there were approximately 25 people in attendance. There were limited movie trailers but one for Rent did show.

Delirium as a movie was excellent and it was for the exact reasons I hoped. In person in the arena it was just too big. My head in felt like I was watching a tennis match but now as a film I was able to sit back and have the camera show me the makeup, costumes, muscles etc.

This is not to say that I would want to see Cirque (or any theater) as a movie rather than live and in person! However, for Delirium and its presentation in an arena...I was disappointed because it was too big, too wide, too high and the performers just simply got lost from the intimacy of a smaller venue (theater or tent).

I recommend that if you have an interest that you do catch one of the 2 remaining shows this weekend. It is pushing the edge of the $20 ticket for a movie but I think still worth it.

[Rotel1026]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 8:45am

I saw this when it came through my area and didn't love it. I was considering going to watch it at the theater because I know I saw the show pretty early on and there were changes made to the show but $20 is pushing it. I paid $12 to see Batman in Imax and that seems like a more realistic price. I appreciate Sony giving us the option to watch something like Delirium or Rent but I really think they should reconsider their pricing. You can usually buy a seat to see Rent in person at $20-something dollars so why charge that much for a movie of it?

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 8:55am

I actually did not pay the $20...when I went to see Batman (Dark Knight) there were SO many people using their Blackberries that I complained to the theater management. They sent me 6 free no restriction movie passes! My complaint did not demand compensation of any kind. I just wanted to contact the theater to request that people not open the bright screens in a dark theater especially when we are in stadium seats and we are basically looking over everyone shoulders! The girl at the box office smiled and told me I used the free admission on a good night!

[Patash]

Posted: 8/22/08 at 11:29am

I saw it last night in Naples, Florida. There were only 4 of us TOTAL in the theatre -- the other two being an assistant manager of the theatre and his girlfriend. So we were the only two who had paid the $20! Oddly, they had a projector problem and it started 10 minutes late so the manager came into the theatre and gave us two free movie passes -- which softened the cost of the tickets. Then it started and the other two didn't like it so left 10 minutes into it. We had a totally PRIVATE showing!

It was fine, but I felt it was a little too multi-media to work effectively on a single screen. I'd be watching the side screen projections which seemed to be a sort of commentary on the action, then they'd cut away for a closeup and we'd miss what happened there. I did like the huge amount of "real" music and dance compared to other Cirque du Soleil productions (and I've seen most of them -- live).

I'm curious though as it never said in the credits. Does anyone know where this was filmed?

[choitoy]

Posted: 8/23/08 at 8:59pm

What do you mean, Patash, by "real music"? Almost all of the songs used n Delerium are remixed versions found on the other Cirque du Soleil productions.

And there is a live band and singers on all of their other productions. Do you mean that you like it because it was more "pop" and "dance" than other productions?

Anyway, I saw it live and it was a pretty good production, but decided to get seats a little bit farther back (I usually get Cirque tickets closer up), so that I can see the full arena a little better. But I would like to see it on film to see the costumes closer up.

Unfortunately, working this weekend, I am going to miss the showings, but I suspect that this would be out on DVD by the end of the year, if not in stores, at least as an exclusive on the Cirque du Soleil Boutique, since almost every other show that Cirque has put on has been released to DVD (except for their four resident Las Vegas shows).