I was actually going to start a thread about the screening tonight and post some thoughts I'm having. Glad to see there is already one! :)
Since I'm seeing it again, I have been thinking a lot about what I liked and did not like about the film my first time seeing it.
I think the reason I did not like it very much was because I love the musical SO F*CKING much. And I think the reason it is getting such amazing reviews is because it is film critics, not theatre critics, who are writing the reviews. They do not have the love and passion for it that most theatre folk have. Also, it is (basically) a pretty faithful stage to screen adaptation (much in the way The Phantom of the Opera film was).
I would be very interested to know what theatre critics are saying about the film. If they have been writing reviews I have missed them. There is so much press out about this film right now I cannot keep up!
Now that I know what the film is I feel like I can go in and just enjoy it, not judge it, which is what 90% of America will be doing when they see it. Going in and just enjoying the film.
When the film version of Chicago came out I knew very little about the musical (only about 3 songs), and I walked out thinking it was the greatest thing since sliced bread! Amazing film in every way! But people who are die hard Chicago fans had other, more critical opinions because they loved the stage show so much. And now that I know what the actual musical Chicago is like, I can see where they are coming from. But I can also just enjoy it for what it is. Which is what I *think* a lot of die hard Dreamgirls fans will have to do with this film. Just enjoy it and love it for what it is, because it is not a bad film in any way, shape, or form. But it's just not, as much as I WISH it was, what Dreamgirls is in my head.
I don't mean to be a downer, I know this is a lot of peoples first time seeing the film. But I'm curious to see if anyone else who saw the film at one of the 11/15 screenings feels the same way, or completely different!
EDIT: Anakela, mine had my name on it too, and had the thing about a photo ID. I doubt they will be checking IDs, but it is first come first serve. Get there early!!!
Updated On: 12/13/06 at 01:13 PM