The Greatest Showman Reviews- Page 3

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/23/17 at 10:30pm

 

"Enslaved"?

"ENSLAVED"?!?

Using that phase is an INSULT to every man, woman, and child who was ever enslaved during the course of HUMAN history.

It shows you have absolutely NO UNDERSTANDING WHATSOEVER as to what the word "slavery" means.

EDUCATE YOURSELF.

 

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 12/24/17 at 1:34am

It was like two hours of SMASH, but not in a bad way. (Or two hours of the stage version of FINDING NEVERLAND but much better.) I loved the musical numbers, even though the songs were pretty generic. Hugh and Zac were great, but Zendaya and Keala were the real stars. The first ten minutes should have been cut after the opening number.

 

Also, since Kesha recorded a fabulous pop cover of "This Is Me," I'd love to see her and Keala sing it as a duet!

[mamaleh]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 9:06am

Those who were incensed by the movie's lack of historical accuracy should take a chill pill.   It's not meant to be a documentary; it's a fanciful, almost dreamlike look at how P. T. Barnum would probably like to have presented his story: full of  exaggerations, "humbuggery" and most of all great entertainment.  I've seen the movie twice and each time I noticed people exiting with happy faces.  The songs are eminently hummable, the performances heartfelt and the film is beautiful to look at. It's a fantasy rendering of the guy who wrote three "autobiographies," happily changing the events in each one. 

As a friend reminded me, when watching the much-loved YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, did anyone deride the film because it doesn't show the nasty side of George M. Cohan including his questionable business practices, refusal to join Actors Equity, opposition to their strike or especially his reported antisemitism? Of course not.  Regarding OKLAHOMA!, does anyone refuse to see this classic which declares "we know we belong to the land" although it was taken from Native Americans?  What, no dustbowl depiction?  What a historical inaccuracy. 

You can and should accuse a documentary that lacks the salient facts of whitewashing--but not a grand entertainment whose only aim is to entertain.  Lighten up, people. 

I could go on and on. The critics who gave SHOWMAN a thumbs-down were basically reviewing its non-adherence to historical fact.  I don't count those reviews.  If they dissuade people from having a wonderful, happy experience seeing this film, that would be a shame. 

 

Updated On: 12/25/17 at 09:06 AM

[The Other One]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 9:19am

Some critics dislike it due to historical inaccuracy, but others just plain don't like it.  

As for comparing it to Yankee Doodle Dandy or the biopics of years past, very few bios from the studio era paid much attention to facts.  The fact that that isn't the norm today is a good thing, don't you think?  Who needs a throwback to the time when it was?

For what it's worth, I think it will flop as a year-end box-office and awards seeker, but, like many musicals, will find an audience that loves it through the years.

And Oklahoma! is a work of fiction, so I don't think the comparison is valid.  Although I'm sure some over-zealous pc-types will eat it right up.

Updated On: 12/25/17 at 09:19 AM

[jo]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 10:48am

Interesting disconnect between the critic views and the audience scores.

CinemaScore -  A

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Like Score - 88%

IMDB User Average Rating - 7.9 of 10

Metacritic User Rating - 7.0 of 10

Also, social media reactions follow the  trend of audience scores mentioned above, but in even more impressive terms.

To each his own

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 10:57am

Trump was also voted in by the people.  The people can't be trusted in mass, at least in America.  

[jo]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 11:00am

Hmm... you're comparing how a democracy works with how people regard entertainment?

Btw, I am from the overseas market.

Updated On: 12/25/17 at 11:00 AM

[mamaleh]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 11:35am

“It’s a Barnum and Bailey world/Just as phony as it can be.” And that’s its charm. No wonder moviegoers who choose delight over cynicism rate SHOWMAN so highly.

Modern nonfiction movies usually start with: “Based on a true story.” Notice the absence of that intro in SHOWMAN.

Fanciful folklore over fact. That’s entertainment, folks.

[ladyanderson]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 2:01pm

I saw the movie with some friends and I really enjoyed it.   The plot was a bit choppy but  I loved the score and bought the soundtrack shortly after leaving the movie.   I am also enjoying the videos that 20th Century Fox is putting out past couple of days of behind the scenes  that they did to help get the movie greenlit. 

To see some Broadway stars really enjoy what they are singing is a real joy.   Can anyone help me identify some of the people in the room?   I know of most of them (Jackman, Jordan, Keenan-Bolger, Settle, Erivo, etc.)  but don't know the rest.     Who is the singer in the hoodie?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLFEvHWD_NE&t=143s  This is Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PluaPvhkIMU - From Now On

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 5:26pm

No one goes into ''The Greatest Showman'' expecting a documentary, but even a Hollywood version of P.T. Barnum should bear some faint resemblance to the facts, rather than be a largely wholesale fiction. And this is how cynical this picture is: It even includes a newspaper critic as a straw-man villain, who pooh-poohs Barnum at first (as if to pre-empt any criticism the movie expects), but is ultimately won over by his showmanship.

For those who say: ''Who cares about facts?'' ''Who cares about history?'' I guess Trump will really love this botched biopic since he shares the same lackadaisical attitude and disregard for the facts and history. Ironically, Richard Brody at the New Yorker makes the case that ''The Greatest Showman'' could've been a much better movie if they HAD followed Barnum's real life, which was far more interesting than the flimflam film version.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-greatest-showman-and-the-far-more-fascinating-real-life-of-p-t-barnum

Updated On: 12/25/17 at 05:26 PM

[Notreallysilent 2]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 6:15pm

This is unrelated to reviews, but what are the chances we will ever see more videos of the workshop. I’d love to see Allison Luff sing tightrope (I’m assuming she was that character).

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 8:19pm

ladyanderson, the person in the hoodie in that clip is Ben Thompson, of American Idiot and Matilda. 

[ladyanderson]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 8:41pm

perfectlymarvelous said: "ladyanderson, the person in the hoodie in that clip is Ben Thompson, of American Idiot and Matilda."

Great!  Thank You!  He's got a great voice!!!

 

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 12/25/17 at 10:10pm

Always love the people who feel the need to inject "politics" into a discussion that has nothing whatsoever to do with that subject.   ughhhhhhhhhh!!!

[jo]

Posted: 12/26/17 at 11:01am

It looks like the musical score by Pasek & Paul is doing very well, as Amazon has now placed the soundtrack album on its BestSeller list, now currently ranking per category as follows :

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)

• #1 in CDs & Vinyl > Soundtracks
• #1 in CDs & Vinyl > Pop

It is also top-ranked in Digital Music --

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1 Paid in Albums (See Top 100 Paid in Albums)

• #1 in Digital Music > Albums > Soundtracks

Updated On: 12/26/17 at 11:01 AM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 12/26/17 at 11:11am

Saw this on Christmas Eve and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you go into it knowing you're not seeing a serious, award bait-y movie, it's a great time. Beautifully shot and the score is excellent.

My biggest complaint is that you had a FOUR TIME Academy Award nominated actress and you put her song over a montage, some of which she's not even in? Hated that.

[sciencegirl]

Posted: 12/26/17 at 4:51pm

I loved this from first frame to fade to black.  If it's any indicator -  This was the first movie  I've seen since Idk when that the audience applauded during and at the end of the film.  I too adored Moulin Rouge and would be surprised at anyone who loved that film not to give this one the same love.  

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 12/26/17 at 8:30pm

I just got back and didnt particularly like it. Unfortunately it never really captured my interest. I feel like it tried to tell too many stories and needed to focus on one relationship whether it be the one with charity the various acts or Zac Efron. I think the songs are good as stand alone songs but don’t make any sense in the context of the film. My favorite part was actually the first song when Barnum and Charity were kids. I also felt like it was filmed like a music video rather than a narrative.

[bk]

Posted: 12/26/17 at 11:00pm

As always, this board is a microcosm and rather hilarious at that.  First you have the people who decided they loved this before seeing one frame of it - it happens every time a new musical film is released - every time.  Then you have the people who actually go see it and like it.  Then you have the people who go see it and don't like it.  And then there's this curious phenomenon and off-shoot of group one - they not only loved it before they saw it, they then try to shove it down the throat of everyone, relentlessly, as this thread so clearly shows - anything they can post to call out the people who simply did not like it, they will post, whether it's scores from some website or Amazon sales rank numbers (which, BTW, are pretty meaningless and extremely easy to manipulate).  Again, this happens with every single musical and that includes the huge floparoos that don't make a penny - The Last Five Years, Lucky Stiff - always and forever, like Cats.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 4:09am

Indeed!  I love the "if you don't like it you're wrong" brigade.

Personally, I found it ersatz and irritating- I didn't buy into it.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 5:20am

For such a lengthy process of getting this film to be realized what a bland puffy flat nothing of a musical movie they ended up with. The songs all sound the same, derivative pop anthems and I honestly just found myself feeling like "who cares"

Pasek and Paul attached themselves in the past to character driven specific songs. Even when I haven't loved their melodies what they do with their songs is interesting.

They sold out here to get to the top of iTunes.

What a shame. 

I didn't even love Dear Evan Hansen but there is at least a lot more thought and depth to that score.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 9:44am

We saw this over the holiday weekend; "stupid" is an understatement. The storytelling and dialogue make an average episode of The Big Bang Theory look like the work of Tony Kushner. Not only mindless, but unforgivably dull, despite the visual hyperactivity.

[dev101]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 7:05pm

I really enjoyed it! Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron singing and dancing in tight pants! but in all seriousness, everyone had great voices and I liked that it was still formatted like a true musical with big production numbers and choreography. definitely made me hope HJ will return to broadway soon, as I have yet to see him live and in person 

[Steve C.]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 7:45pm

While it is nice to see posts of enjoyment and entertainment by some BWW members, (even those that have joined longer than in the past month or two)...I have yet to see "The Greatest..." yet, and I won't judge right now. However, it never fails that at 6:00 or 7:00pm every night, Twitter is baraged with "I love this movie" posts..."it's the best thing ever"...I'm pretty sure that this is managed marketing from a lot of "suck up suzys". I'm hoping to get to a movie theater this week, not just the current Broadway blast, and I will go into it with an open mind. However, at least, the director is not thee "Chazelle"  and having seen Jackman on stage several times, and I appreciate his pedigree... I'm hoping that the film and its' performances are as enjoyable and mind blowing as some of these reviews... I guess I'm just used to a lot of "bait and switch" recently...Being "pretty" goes a long way and it does seem to have that angle...so we'll see! Be Safe and Warm this New Year's week! Bring in any outside animal companions!!

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 12/27/17 at 9:45pm

I wanted so badly to love this, and there were a lot of elements I really enjoyed, but the music and choreography felt too Disney Channel to me. I am in the camp of people who is disappointed that they didn't present a more accurate PT Barnum, warts and all. I think it could've been a really fascinating, layered film if they did that, but then it probably wouldn't be a PG movie for a family audience, which is what they were obviously going for. The whole thing was a little too squeaky clean for me... I felt like they were a minute away from breaking into "We're All In This Together" from High School Musical. Bravo on the tech and design elements, though. What a gorgeous movie! 

(Also, I admittedly didn't read this entire thread, so apologies if this has been said, but while I was watching it I had a hard time understanding exactly why a trapeze artist was supposed to be "different." Because it was such an anachronistic movie, I assumed Zendaya was race-blind casting and didn't get at first that they decided to be historically accurate specifically about this one thing. If it was a biopic going for authenticity it would've made immediate sense, but in a fanciful movie where they have hip hop choreo and Jenny Lind belting a pop ballad, my post-Hamilton mind didn't immediately get that plot point.)