The Greatest Showman Reviews — Page 7

^ 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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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