The 2-disc DREAMGIRLS DVD- Page 2

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 3:08pm

I picked mine up at Target for $22.99. The Target Exclusive is called THE 3-DISC EXCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT EDITION. The third disc features the following:

JENNIFER HUDSON PREMIERE INTERVIEW
MTV - MAKING THE VIDEO "Listen"
ONE NIGHT ONLY DANCE MIX VIDEO
and 8 MINI-FEATURETTES

It comes with an outer cardboard slip cover. It has a silver border around the artwork to differentiate it from other versions.

Get it at TARGET!!!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 3:09pm

Hm...that does sound worth it.

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 3:37pm

I was just watching the CADILLAC CAR sequence. When they are at the bar discussing a change to Jimmy's music I notice the name of the bar is the "BLUE BLEU" the same name for the bar Judy Garland sang "The Man That Got Away" in A STAR IS BORN. Even the the bar's neon lit logo is identical to the one used in A STAR IS BORN!

Condon sneaked that one in!

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 3:45pm

snuck

[Kringas]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 4:01pm

Either is correct.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 4:14pm

I hate the cardboard. Its so awkward and clunky and unnecessary. But I'll probably get the Target one too haha.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 4:21pm

It's awesome Target as a third disc!!

[jv92]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 5:46pm

The information given about the Broadway production on the documentary was rather pathetic. Feelings about the way he treated people aside, Michael Bennett deserved a lot more screentime in that documentary. I thought the Chicago documentary on its respective special edition DVD was much more thorough and in depth. Other than that, buy the 2 disc set. It's a good buy. There's lots of bonuses and good ones at that. Anika Noni Rose's "Ain't No Party" screen test was fantastic!

[flutesinger2626]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 5:50pm

I was planing on buying it this weekend, but my mom actually suprised me and got it for me this morning.

[Ayisatu]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 6:01pm

I agree with you, jv92. I was hoping for so much more about the Broadway show, and then the journey to making of the movie. The Broadway show seemed to only get mentioned, and not even in-depth. Kind of like a footnote. I don't think that the segment was even 10 minutes long.
Anyway... I got mine from Target this morning, and 3 discs for $22.99 is a steal. It's also the best deal, in my opinion, over what every other store is offering. Anika's performance alone was worth it.
Did anyone else think it was kind of funny that Beyonce had to come completely made-up as Deena to get into the role? I was expecting a dress or something, but not the whole nine yards!

Posted: 5/1/07 at 6:51pm

JV were there any clips of the stage version? I was really hoping (and I knwo other son here say it's no bigdeal with youtube but...) we'd get a good quality version fo the Tony clip as a bonus at the least-- It always disappoints me when making ofs of these movies (or movies based on non musical plays) don't seem to think audiences would care ot hear about changes from the original play, clips, etc.

I still don't have the two disc Chicago--did THAT contain performance clips?

[jv92]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 6:54pm

Chicago containted clips from the television commerical from 1975 and I believe the prominent bootleg of Gwen and Chita doing Loopin' The Loop in Philly, but there were a good 20 minutes devoted to the original show augmented by spetacular photos, most of which I've never seen.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 7:19pm

Got the 2-disc showstopper version at my local Wal-Mart here in Bardstown, KY for $24.00. Just finished watching the documentary "Building a Dream" which is everything you would ever want to know about the making of the film. Highly recommended! I also enjoyed Anika's singing "Ain't No Party." I wish they had shot this one. Getting ready to watch the extended and cut scenes now.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 8:20pm

Just finished watching the cut and extended scenes. Loved "Steppin' to the Bad Side"! Can't wait for Condon's director's cut of the film.

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:49pm

I just got my 2 disc for 21.50 at meijers. it's a store that's only in certain states in the usa but i thought it was a good deal. if anyone on this board has heard of meijers i will be suprised!..lol
Updated On: 5/1/07 at 09:49 PM

[WayWicked]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 9:59pm

This is one freaktastik movie that is a must have for us musical lovers. They did a really good job with this one!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 10:18pm

My problem with all these Making-of documentaries that they include in the DVDs is how everyone makes the casting sound like it was easy, everyone that ended up in their roles always wanted to play these roles and the director always knew deep inside that he wanted that person for that character. It's so hypocritical.
Jamie Foxx forgot to mention that he wasn't going to be involved because there wasn't enough money involved.
Condon says Hudson was the one that was the best for the role when it's known that he lobbied for Fantasia along with Foxx and Beyonce.
I'm glad that Anika Noni Rose's audition tape was included, she was fantastic. I liked Beyonce in the film but thought her screen test was somewhat laughable, she seemed so awkward, IMO.
Oh well, wish the Broadway show had gotten more attention...why no Holliday Tony clip?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 10:53pm

No footage of the original Broadway production was shown -- just a few photos that we've all seen before. It was a quick coverage mention which deserved more focus, but this documentary was about the movie, so that's that on that. Watching the clips of all of Beyonce's screen-tests was sensational. Same for those of Jennifer Hudson. No audio is provided, but the short clips are worth their weight.

Watching the extended musical performances was thrilling -- especially seeing the entire "I'm Looking for Something" without any cut-aways. Seeing the ending of "Steppnin' to the Bad Side" build and build and build was electrifying! Can't figure out why that ending was shortened for the theatrical version of the film. Loved seeing the long-version of "Fake Your Way to the Top" with the added Dreamettes sections. Also, we FINALLY get to see Effie's full "One Night Only" (with the "...in the morning this feeling will be gone" bridge). Wow! Just watch this entire section with the PLAY ALL selection. It feels like one long concert. Again...WOW!

And Eric...that 2-disc CHICAGO didn't show any footage of the original Broadway production as none exist. Bob Fosse was well-known for not preserving on film any of his stage productions. He believed the magic was seeing it 'live', not on tape. All the footage that survives of the original Broadway production are those performances on TV shows (like Chita and Gwen's appearance on that Howard Cossell Show), Jerry Orbach's performance of "All I Care About" on the Tony Awards, and those home movies of the out-of-town tryouts shot by Kander & Ebb. While other shows on Broadway were being taped for the Lincoln Center Archives, Bob Fosse refused to do this for any of his shows.

For what it's worth -- I wasn't impressed at all with Anika's "Ain't No Party". After all this waiting to see it, it just felt forced and affected. Even the way she walked away after she finished it was soooo damn affected. I actually cringed. Ugh. It was just too controlled and obvious of an interpretation. Beyonce's "Dreamgirls" was quite impressive in all it's rawness. That took balls to get done-up in that home-made Deena Jones get-up, sing without any audio protection and to a solo piano accompanist. After hearing her recordings for years, for the first time I finally saw for myself that she does have a legitimate singing voice. I salute you, Miss Knowles.

Posted: 5/1/07 at 11:14pm

Thanks Brody--I did know abotu FOsse's refusal to tape his shows (I believe the 80s Chartiy revival only got there because it was taped after he passed away ont he tour? or something--I knwo their copy of Big Deal is merely the bootleg that is pretty easy to find around). Those Kander and Ebb try home movies of Chicago are fun but I was hoping maybe something else had popped up. (I still plan on getting that 2 disc dvd though--I just always forget when I'm at the store...)

Still this brings me back to my point. Would it have been that hard for the Chicago people to license some of the Chicago perforamnce clips (even from the revival?) Or Dreamgirls to show the Tony clip at the least? I have the 2 disc West Side Story which is a gorgeous trasnfer but disc 2 just has an hour on it--where are the two Ed SUllivan clips? Or the revival tony performance? I dunno it just feels to me like it's such a no brainer to include these in the fancy special editions of these movies (Hell Criterion tries to include everything they can--I have their DVD for Hitchcock's Rebecca which includes TWO different full radio show adaptations of the film, etc, etc).

I *know* there are tons of problems with rights--but surely the Michael Bennett foundation (or whoever owns the rights to his legacy) would allow Geffen and all to include the clip on the special DVD.

Ray--that is odd that they gloss over the casting--when they were pretyt open about talking about all the problems in that Dec Vanity Fair article
Updated On: 5/1/07 at 11:14 PM

[Kringas]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 11:20pm

I *know* there are tons of problems with rights--but surely the Michael Bennett foundation (or whoever owns the rights to his legacy) would allow Geffen and all to include the clip on the special DVD.

Why?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 11:32pm

Oh, I'm not touching this tired-old topic of the Michael Bennett Estate and David Geffen's control over everything DREAMGIRLS.

Oy!

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 11:33pm

After hearing her recordings for years, for the first time I finally saw for myself that she does have a legitimate singing voice. I salute you, Miss Knowles.

Were we listening to the same thing?!

I personally can't believe she would allow that to make it onto the DVD. She sounded atrocious.

Posted: 5/1/07 at 11:39pm

I *know* there are tons of problems with rights--but surely the Michael Bennett foundation (or whoever owns the rights to his legacy) would allow Geffen and all to include the clip on the special DVD.

Why?
>end quote

well he helped produce it on Broadway and the film, was holding close guard on the rights, etc etc

E

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 5/1/07 at 11:43pm

...because it's part of dreamgirls' legacy.

it may have been a clearance issue why the tony performance or for that matter any obc clips were not included on the dvd.

but it's clear that everyone involved acknowledges the importance of the original broadway production, the performers, et al.

most go out of their way to state that they wanted the film to preserve the legacy of the stage show because it was legendary.

and theactr97J i disagree. beyonce sounded just fine in her audition. she sounded better in that one screen test clip than a whole helluva lot of "deenas" i've seen on stage.

on the other hand anika did not impress me with her rendition of "ain't no party"....

[daspazoo]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:03am

You know what I REALLY wanted? That should have no problem with rights?

The medley performance from the Oscars.

Jennifer and Beyonce in a fierce vocal competition, and Anika politely stepping between and letting loose with a flawless high C.

This is something I'd watch again and again and again