The 2-disc DREAMGIRLS DVD- Page 3

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:06am

I thought the same thing daspazoo.

[Broadwaynut81]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 12:33am

I bought mine @ Target (I work there so why not...:)). I liked the extras, and I agree with you on Beyonce's screen test... it was good but not that good.

Also a little note... look for an Easter Egg in the "Auditions and Screen Tests" section, it has something of a blooper reel of sorts... you might like it you might not, but check it out. after you scroll through the choices, highlight JHud's microphone and it brings you to it.

[daspazoo]

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

So I just watched all the extended musical numbers on the DVD. Some thoughts:

-Fun to see all the extended 'performance' numbers and dance sequences, but understandably a lot of these are superfluous to the movie as a whole. Especially the whole bar fight bit in Fake Your Way to the Top--glad that wasn't kept!

-If I had to pick what to have kept in the final cut? I think both the intro to 'Steppin to the Bad Side' (and that extended dance sequence is the best, imho, just riveting) would really have let the audience know early on that the characters would sing to each other as well as in performance, one of most common critiques of the movie. Keeping 'Effie Sing My Song' would have kept that going throughout, as well as giving more weight to that wonderful reunion moment. Also, the bridge end of 'One Night Only' really shows the contrast between the two versions and I think would have helped with the storytelling as well.

-It probably wouldn't make a difference, but my sentimental keep would have been for the second verse (before the bridge) in 'I Am Changing.' *sigh*

-So with all these extended musical numbers, is the extended edition in Dec just going to have these numbers interpolated or is there more? I'll get it for the director's commentary either way, but I'm just curious if the movie itself will have any additional material.

-To whom would I write to petition that the Oscar performance gets put on the Decemeber release version? That site just isn't doing it for me.

[Paulyd]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 2:27am

I wouldnt hold your breath on seeing the oscar performance on the DVD release in December. The AMPAS are very protective of any of its footage.

Sony did release of VHS in the UK a few years ago that included musical performances and winners speeches, but i think thats been out of print for a while.

[mateo]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 3:02am

The documentary is really fantastic.

The Dreams/Stepp Sisters face-off is so funny.

Anika caught in the mic during "dreamgirls" is hilarious aswell. I love that B is still going- even though she is laughing.

[daspazoo]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 10:55am

Any other opinions and what extended numbers would/would not work in the movie itself?

[mateo]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 11:02am

I felt the extended 'steppin to the bad side' was way too long.

I enjoyed watching it- but I can see why it was trimmed.

[Spacedog78]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 11:23am

I got my 3 disc from Target and loves it!

[Wildcard]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 11:37am

While I think that the beginning of Stepping to the Bad Side was very nice to see, I'm glad that it was cut out of the film. I love films that don't hide their musicality (such as Hairspray) but Dreamgirls was clearly not one of those films. Including this scene with Curtis and the guys dancing (which was great) would have taken us out of the "reality" the film was trying to create. Without as much dancing, I think it would have been ok to include in the film, slowly easing us into the idea that these non-musical characters sing as well.

[mateo]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 11:51am

agreed. Dreamgirls had trouble with book songs- and im not sure why.



I did enjoy the extended "fake your way to the top."

Jimmy's moves on stage mixed with the actions he takes in the bar - were nice.

[Mojojo5]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 1:29pm

For those who have bought the Target edition what is on the mysterious third disc?

Z.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 1:36pm

Interview with Jennifer Hudson on her way to the L.A. Premiere.

MTV 'Making of the Video': LISTEN

8 mini-featurettes (which I've yet to see)

When you open the slipcase for the DVD, it contains a 3-disc holder, so all 3 discs are in the same case.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 2:37pm

I think the extended version of Stepping to the Bad Side was much better than what was used in the film.

I know many think it would've been too much on film, but I think that would've been the perfect song to introduce the audience to the fact that this was a musical and there would be scenes where the characters would sing to each other. The audience didn't get it until Family, which, IMO, is a bad song to introduce non-staged singing to the movie. Also, Stepping to the Bad Side is much more effective in it's extended version than it was in the film when they just cut to the middle and made it more of a boring montage.

Updated On: 5/2/07 at 02:37 PM

[mateo]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 2:56pm

I agree, it was good. Just a little longer than necessary.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 3:28pm

"...steppin' to the bad side"

"...whoo-whoo-whoo"

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 6:23pm

I didn't mind that they trimmed the beginning of the song and Condon has gone on record to state that it will stay that way on his Director's Cut due out in December.

I do mind that they trimmed the performance by Jimmy and The Dreamettes. The extended performance was much more effective as it builds and builds and build to the end. Really exciting to see. I hope he at least keeps that part of the song in.

I loved the extended One Night Only (both versions) and I Am Changing. Who knew Fake Your Way To The Top had additional lyrics? That was great to see but now I'm beginning to question who was responsible for the interpolation of extra lyrics in this song as well as in Cadillac Car as Mr. Tom Eyen is no longer with us.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 7:21pm

Anika's screentest blew me away.

[goofy108]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 12:14am

is anyone else having trouble with their discs skipping?
mine starts skipping at act two and then doesnt stop.
err. its so aggrevating.

Posted: 5/5/07 at 10:15am

The 3-DVD set I bought at Target are all DVDs. No CD.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 12:32pm

I walk away from the DVDs with a greater respect for Beyonce. I know many people saw her as vanilla and J-Hud stole all the thunder but when you realize all she put into the role I was impressed. She just rolled up her sleeves with the other Dreams and did her thing.

It also made me realize how accomplished and talented she really is when both Jennifer and Anika kept talking about being in awe of her with her singing and dancing. The fact that Beyonce is a consumate professional came across when they talked about her stepping right into the choreopgraphy. As far as her voice in the screentests, I think Anika made a nice point when she said the real value lies in the imperfections-not hitting a note, a crackle, the emotions rather than perfection.

I think Beyonce brought it all. She appeared more committed to the production in the behind the scenes footage than others. I know I'll get bashed for this, but I think J-Hud got VERY lucky with her director and a HUGE staff of people who crafted her performace because when she talks about them film, she really sounds like she had no idea what was going on and just got lots of feedback, line readings, and notes. I am so impressed with Beyonce and Anika more than ever after seeing the DVD.

[best12bars]

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

Bettyboy72---I agree with everything you said.

I won't bash you for your Hudson comments, either, because they are largely true. Jennifer herself knows this. The best thing she did was to trust her director, choreographer, and her co-stars (particularly Beyonce and Anika). They leaned on each other heavily, and for someone with no acting experience to have that level of trust (even if she was lacking in confidence, as Bill Condon says), is really remarkable. She went into this project blind and inexperienced, yes, but FEARLESS. Ready and willing to take a giant leap with any and all risks asked of her. That is no small feat, either... I can't think of many with ten times the experience that could do that, in fact... And I believe that this, mixed with the great role, and her incredible talent, won her that well-deserved Oscar.

It's interesting... now that the DVD is out, I've read several reviews that are singling out Beyonce as being largely "unsung" in the high praise department when the movie first came out. The best part is that the work is still there on film, and it will be forever. People eventually without bias can look at this film and, as years go by, her work will be recognized as first-rate.

Them's my opinions. I've heard all the "Beyonce Bitchies" before... and will likely hear from them again now... and I'm really not interested in the She Sucked Camp.

I just happen to agree with your post.

[GYPSY1527]

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

Having seen the film back at the premier in December at the Ziegfeld Theater and now at home I have to admit that Beyonce is pretty great! During the first viewing, I was admittedly very anti-Beyonce feeling like she stole the show from Jennifer but looking back, she really does act it out of the park and make it her own. Her screen test is also pretty unbelieviable. My only complaint about her still is her singing voice. I recall Bill Conden not wanting a Diana Ross impersonator but her voice is still too strong. In the singing department, I prefer Sheryl Lee Ralph as Deena.

I have nothing to say about Anika but PERFECTION. I adore her and she really has a handle on film as well as broadway work. She was also a spectacular dancer in the film and caught on very quickly.

The movie on a whole is beyond spectactular and I adore everything about it! I do have a question for those who are Dreamgirl experts...How do you all feel about some of the lyric changes from the OBC to the Soundtrack version in "Hard to say Goodbye"? I never noticed how different some of the lyrics are and found it interesting...

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 1:16pm

best12bars, you raise a good point- J-Hud's naivete and ability to take a HUGE risk is part of the reason she has been lauded. If she had stopped to think about the enormity of the project, she might not have done it. She deserves mad props, of course, but I am enjoying the new subtleties of Beyonce and Anika which the DVDs afford me time to relish since the J-Hud furor has died down a bit.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/5/07 at 1:22pm

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the footage of Anika in dance rehearsals with her glasses on and talking about how she would go home each night and practice on her own so she wouldn't scare anyone. ANIKA IS DIVINE!

[midwestsarah]

Posted: 11/16/07 at 8:18am

Awhile back, they said that there would be a huge DVD with lots of special features, etc released around Christmas time. I just searched amazon and the archives of this board, and could not find any updated info. Any idea if this will still be released? And if so, exactly when?