Little Shop of Horrors musical movie remake — Page 4

I'd credit the newly found popularity of movie musicals to Moulin Rouge more than I would Chicago, though it obviously wasn't a stage-to-film adaptation. Luhrmann really went out on a limb with Moulin Rouge and it paid off in spades.

Moulin Rouge did something else, which rarely happens. It was a "reinvention" of the movie musical. It wasn't a stage to screen adaptation, but it showed us that stories could be told musically and cinematically in new and fresh ways.

Something like that happens so rarely in the history of any medium. And, so far, it hasn't been repeated or imitated. I thought we might see a string of stylized, pastiche films with fast editing in both song snippets and visuals ... but no. It really was a "one off" as well, perhaps rightfully so.

I suppose, in a way, it paved the way for Chicago (just one year later, which was already in production) ... and while Moulin Rouge was a hit and artistically successful ... Chicago was a blockbuster, and it was hugely successful. I don't think Moulin Rouge got filmmakers or studios to do more than scratch their heads and wonder how he did it. With Chicago, they saw dollar signs and Oscars, and they immediately chased after it with more adaptations, digging through the "Broadway musical archives" for potential film projects.

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Updated On: 5/4/12 at 04:39 PM

I suppose, in a way, it paved the way for Chicago (just one year later, which was already in production)

If anything, Moulin Rouge prepped movie audiences again for the experience of seeing a film musical, which was a benefit to Chicago (which I found to be a let-down after the innovation of Moulin Rouge). Chicago was going to be a blockbuster because of the star-studded cast and the wave of success from the revival which was still peaking when the film came out.

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I agree with a lot of what has been said in regards to the Frank Oz film. I must have been 4 or 5 when I first saw it and it was a major reason why I love musical theater so much. It basically changed my life.

JGL developing this himself leads me to belive that this is somewhat of a passion project for him. That gives me some faith that this is in good hands. I wonder if he has a say in who directs?

Updated On: 5/4/12 at 05:23 PM

I wouldn't consider Marc Webb to be a "meh" choice. I think he'd fit pretty well. But that's unlikely. If Spider-Man is a hit, Sony already has a script for the sequel ready.

Also, how about Eddie Murphy or Cee Lo Green as the voice of Audrey 2? After Levi Stubbs portrayal I've never been able to stomach Audrey Two's that don't have that same... soul.

Updated On: 5/4/12 at 08:03 PM

I never saw that show, granted it was on the year I was born. But it looks like it was cute.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of that deep smooth bass.

Jennifer Holliday should play Audrey II. I'm being serious.

Kad, I can't tell you how much I'd pay to see John Hamm as Orin.

It might just be because I love Amy Adams, but I think she could make a good Audrey.

I expect Amy Adams and Anne Hathaway to be on the shortlist.


Shame Brittany Murphy is no longer with us.

Updated On: 5/5/12 at 10:04 PM

I love every musical she's been in. My only concern is her ability to sing Suddenly Seymour with any power or conviction.

What a dumb idea. For all its flaws, LITTLE SHOP is one of the very best of the live action, post-SOUND OF MUSIC musicals.

In between this, the CARRIE remake, and taking a big dump on BIG LOVE, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa may have crowned himself the most irresponsible writer in show business.

He's probably kicking himself he lost the POLTERGEIST remake to Lindsay-Abaire.

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Just in case anyone wants more info on the blu-ray.... (Saw the original off-B'way with Ellen Greene - changed my life):

"And in an update from a bit of release news from yesterday's post, Warner has provided additional details about the color ending set to be included on the new Blu-ray edition of Little Shop of Horrors (due 10/9). Here the just-revised text from their press release:

"The footage of the original ending was previously available only in black & white in the extra content of a limited number of copies of a DVD edition released in 1998. Now, with the help of production notes from Frank Oz and others on the films creative team, WHV has meticulously restored and digitally remastered the ending, in full color, with the elaborate special effects in tact. Sound has also been rebuilt and mixed in Dolby 5.1. The theatrical version has also been re-mastered."

And if that isn't clear enough for you, we've confirmed with the studio this morning that this isn't some sort of digital colorization of the B&W footage, but was mastered from the original color negative."
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

Audrey does need to be older, yes. It's part of the character. She's innocent, but she is not young or inexperienced.

I still can't get interested or excited in a remake. While the movie isn't perfect, it's more than good enough for me. Another exercise in futility!

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Updated On: 6/14/12 at 07:02 AM