The Greatest Showman Reviews- Page 7

[binau]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 3:11am

I assume Liza is not continuing to cite the numbers to suggest the movie is ‘good’ but rather that people are enjoying it. Watching this movie is a bit like going to McDonald’s. Do I love this delicious fatty sugary salty meal? Yes. Do I think a lot of care went into it? No. Do I want all my meals to be like this? No.

I personally don’t know how someone could listen to “This Is Me” and not find it easy listening.

The accessibility and pleasantness of this movie was especially heightened for me after seeing “Barnum” at the Menier Chocolate Factory. If this movie is a McDonald’s movie then Barnum is a Catholic communion bread - shallow, tasteless, tuneless, and a waste of time. At least this movie managed to turn the subject matter into something that is watchable.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 12:35pm

^ I can't speak to the Menier production you detested, but the show BARNUM as presented originally on Bway in 1980 was anything but a "shallow, tasteless, tuneless waste of time." It was thrilling, heart-catching entertainment with one joyful song after another, all hung on a script with a very unique structure and concept for its time-- Barnum the man looking back on his life through a kaleidoscope of circus performances and vaudeville acts staged to perfection by Joe Layton. And its set was dazzlingly designed by the great David Mitchell with all the wit and evocativeness for the period that won him the Tony that year (and was woefully missing in the sets for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN.)

Sorry, Qolbinau, you stepped on a live wire there. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 10:23pm

qolbinau said: "I assume Liza is not continuing to cite the numbers to suggest the movie is ‘good’ but rather that people are enjoying it. Watching this movie is a bit like going to McDonald’s. Do I love this delicious fatty sugary salty meal? Yes. Do I think a lot of care went into it? No. Do I want all my meals to be like this? No.

I personally don’t know how someone could listen to “This Is Me” and not find it easy listening.

The accessibility and pleasantness of this movie was especially heightened for me after seeing “Barnum” at the Menier Chocolate Factory. If this movie is a McDonald’s movie then Barnum is a Catholic communion bread - shallow, tasteless, tuneless, and a waste of time. At least this movie managed to turn the subject matter into something that is watchable."

I only saw Barnum once, back when no-one had ever heard of Glenn Close (who played Cherry). a LONG TIME AGO.  I saw it once, from the second balcony on opening night in seats made available to the general public, and still can hum 3 or 4 songs.  3 or 4 songs after 40ish years for a show that I only thought was okay...yet I don't remember one from this mess, including the anthem that is being pushed for the Oscar.  

It is to me sort of a Cliff Notes version of what a movie musical should be; check all the boxes, but not even a quarter inch of depth.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 1/12/18 at 4:22am

Was amazed at how much I enjoyed it, was it perfect,  far from it. But it was entertaining and a nice way to waste a couple of hours. 

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 1/12/18 at 6:30pm

Just came back. It was good. Not great, not bad. Good. The problem is that they tried too hard to be whimsical, which ended up the movie being a little too cheesy. It reminded me of Finding Neverland. I also agree about the music. It's good, but it was extremely unfitting with the time period. And again, whimsical and cheesy. It tried to make you be all excited, but it failed its purpose.

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 1/13/18 at 7:54am

I am surprised no one has brought this up yet. According to Wikipedia, "the blatant commercialism of Barnum's ticket auctions distressed Lind, and for her second concert and thereafter, she persuaded him to make a substantial number of tickets available at reduced prices." They eventually parted ways because "the blatant commercialism of Barnum's ticket auctions distressed Lind." It amazes me that the screenwriter stooped so low to degrade it into a senseless love affair. Just unbelievable.   

[gypsy101]

Posted: 1/13/18 at 10:27am

Lind was staunchly in favor of charity, donating the vast majority of all profits she made to orphanages and convents and the like. the fact that she worked with someone like Barnum is frankly surprising given his commercialism.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 3:13pm

Just back from catching the early bird matinee. Went into it open minded and absolutely LOVED this movie!!! From opening scene to the end credits there wasn’t a single thing that I didn’t like about it. Truly enjoyed the music, the storyline (despite the fact that aspects of it were fictionalized), and the pace of which the movie was told. I’m not sure how they could have spent more time character building the “human oddities” without slowing down the pace of the movie though. I think one of my favorite quotes from the movie was “Men suffer more from imagining too little than too much”.  

On a personal note, having been through some absolutely devastating times in 2016/2017 myself, a victim of constant sexual harassment and the reverberating backlash I got and seemingly continue to get by some the people around me because I spoke out, the movie’s anthem song struck a chord with me. I think it also touches everyone who is different, feels like an outcast, or just needed a voice in the form of song to grab ahold of:

“When the sharpest words wanna cut me down; I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out; I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I'm meant to be...

This is me.”

Updated On: 1/14/18 at 03:13 PM

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 5:04pm

Looks like the film will hit 100K domestically sometime this week! A huge accomplishment for an original musical.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 5:10pm

The soundtrack, which so many continue to rip apart, also remained as the #1 album in multiple countries for the second week in-a-row. I love when something succeeds in spite of the BWW queens (myself included). 

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 1/14/18 at 5:36pm

Liza's Headband said: "The soundtrack, which so many continue to rip apart, also remained as the #1 album in multiple countries for the second week in-a-row. I love when something succeeds in spite of the BWW queens (myself included)."

Including Trump’s presidency?

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 1/15/18 at 9:15am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "Liza's Headband said: "The soundtrack, which so many continue to rip apart, also remained as the #1 album in multiple countries for the second week in-a-row. I love when something succeeds in spite of the BWW queens (myself included)."

Including Trump’s presidency?"

I think you misread, she said she loves when something succeeds. 

[Glittergrrl]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 8:49pm

PalJoey said: "

"Enslaved"?

"ENSLAVED"?!?

Using that phase is an INSULTto 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.

"

Thanks for the mansplaining.  I guess it’s unfortunate that Martin Luther King is no longer with us, or maybe you could explain it to him.  He has several quotes likening the exploitation of animals to slavery.  

Here’s one...

“One day the absurdity of the almost universal human belief in the slavery of other animals will be palpable. We shall then have discovered our souls and become worthier of sharing this planet with them.” Martin Luther KingJr.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 9:35pm

The film just passed 100 million domestically, and 200 million globally!

[jo]

Posted: 1/17/18 at 9:53pm

IdinaBellFoster said: "The film just passed 100 million domestically, and 200 million globally!"

As confirmed by Box Office Mojo --

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=greatestshowman.htm

And it is likely not going to stop there as it continued to show legs in the domestic market ($ 100 million in 28 days!). Also, it just opened in Paris with Hugh attending the premiere...and will open in two major movie musicals markets ( China on February 1 and Japan on February 16).

 

Updated On: 1/17/18 at 09:53 PM

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 3/1/18 at 9:55pm

I finally got around to seeing this and what a steaming turd. The film definitely seems to have legs though, the performance before mine was sold out and this one was close to sold out (granted theatres are smaller with the recliners). I enjoyed some of the songs, but what a mess of a film. The audience laughed when a teen boy turned into a Jackman shot through a very heavy filter asking for Williams hand in marriage. 

Every song is a bombastic scream fest. If this ever makes it to the stage, I weep for the actress that has to sing Never Enough 8 times a week. A real throat bleeder. I'm not a fan of the trend towards the pop driven power ballads from the 80s dominating  musical scores. There's something to be said for a great melody and some soft singing. I saw this right after seeing Hello Dolly and was reminded what a timeless musical sounds like. 

Also, Im completely done with the fast edit cinematography for dance numbers. It absolutely strips the viewer of any pleasure watching dancers. It's an insult to the choreographer. I feel like Moulin Rouge started this horrible trend. Leave the camera alone and let us track the dancers. I personally. think it is a way to cover shoddy dance performances that are half baked. What over reason for the vertigo inducing angles and quick cuts. 

Im not sure anyone walks away from this film unscathed. No characters are ever established, no stakes are ever raised, so when Keala has her big number (which she sings incredibly) does anyone even care? I certainly didn't.  I just wanted to hear her sing. She was the only one who didn't sound completely flattened out by autotune. 

 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 3/1/18 at 11:32pm

It appears the box office numbers (far exceeding La La Land) and album sales (#1 in UK for 8 weeks now) would suggest many disagree with your "steaming turd" assessment. Yes, I realize it's an opinion. I'm commenting on its mainstream popularity and success. Sometimes we just want fluff and escapism. 

[jo]

Posted: 3/2/18 at 12:58am

Quoting Mr. Bennett of The Herald ( from the movie) :

"I never liked your show, but I always thought the people did.

 Mind you, I wouldn’t call it art…  But putting… all shapes and colors …. on stage with you—some might have even called it a celebration of humanity."

And he even said he hoped Barnum would rebuild the burnt building ( and keep on with the show)..

Updated On: 3/2/18 at 12:58 AM

[Elfuhbuh]

Posted: 3/2/18 at 2:48am

Liza's Headband said: "It appears the box office numbers (far exceeding La La Land) and album sales (#1 in UK for 8 weeks now) would suggest many disagree with your "steaming turd" assessment. Yes, I realize it's an opinion. I'm commenting on its mainstream popularity and success. Sometimes we just want fluff and escapism."


Bingo. I don't think the movie is a masterpiece or anything, and I know it's barely historically accurate, but I still enjoyed myself enough to see it a few times. It's fun fluff escapism with a nice message that a lot of people are looking for in movies in this day and age of having to make everything "gritty and realistic." I don't see much wrong with giving people some cheese every once in a while.

Besides, maybe the movie's ongoing success will encourage film studios to put more movie musicals into production.