#1
Posted: 5/16/06 at 3:17pm
http://moviemusicals.net/news.html#051606
***
May 16, 2006
They Can['t] Do It! 'The Producers' Arrives On DVD: A Review
By Andrew Hartman, MovieMusicals.net
Status: Review
The Mel Brooks movie musical adaptation of the stage musical adaptation of the original movie of 'The Producers' is now available to own on DVD. We'll take a look at the release, starting with a revisit review of this disappointing film followed up by comments on this rather disappointing DVD.
I have seen both the original film and the Broadway musical (with the original cast including Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick). The original film is hilarious - Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel cannot be replaced. However, I loooooovve musicals. On stage, Lane and Broderick offered a priceless experience (well, maybe not for some. After all, ticket prices did rise up to over $400 at the height of its popularity). So you have a brilliant movie and a hilarious hit musical - a good recipe for a movie musical, no?
The problem with the movie musical is in its adaptation. What Susan Stroman has done is basically take the original actors, the original score, the original choreography, the original costumes, and placed them on a studio set (which resembled in original set in some instances). The fault comes in with the adaptation from stage to film. She adds some dialogue scenes and sprinkles in some adjustments - occasional new dance steps, a new song (hardly an effort, lasting less than 30 seconds), and some new gags. Stroman makes the original stage show work for the big screen, instead of adapting it into a movie.
In one of the bonus features, it is said how Mel Brooks was going to film the actual stage show for a DVD release, but was convinced that the movie musical had to be done. Mel, your original idea was better.
The film was funny - heck, it was hilarious. Although it's enjoyable, elements of it get stale quickly. On top of that you grow uncomfortable with its many styles it tries to become. At times it is a farce, other times it wants to be real, other times it jokes about its non-serious approach. It's never clear if the characters are supposed to take themselves seriously. For example, many times the characters would look directly at the camera and speak, sing, or deliver a gag directly to the audience. At one point, Uma Thurman's character asks Broderick why he walks "so far down camera right?" This approach works well on stage in an intimate environment, however when this translates to film without being adapted for camera storytelling, it doesn't work the same.
So those are my thoughts revisiting the disappointing film. Now onto the disappointing DVD release.
All the technical elements of the film are fine: the art is decent, the menu is nice, the navigation is plain and simple, and I can hear and see everything is outstanding quality. So let's get to the heart of it and talk about the bonus features:
What's Great:
- We get to see many of the deleted scenes.
- We get to a nice outtakes reel.
- We get to see neat behind-the-scenes featurette of one musical number.
What's Not:
Transferring from brief bullet points for brief positive comments onto paragraph style points, now, for much to say about the negative aspects of the bonus features.
There's no director's commentary for the deleted scenes. In some ways, I'd rather have commentary for deleted scenes instead of the actual film - especially in the case of 'The Producers.' WOW! Is Susan Stroman BORING on this commentary, or what!? I love to listen to film's commentary tracks for insights behind-the-scenes, director's choices, and neat things to look for that we might miss watching the film. On the commentary track for 'The Producers,' Stroman spends half the time explaining what is happening as we watch the film and the other half reading from scripted comments. Ummmm....STROMAN! We have already watched the film! We're watching it right now!! We don't need you to tell us what's going on! She offers only a minimal amount of insights to the making of the film. [What's missing? Nathan Lane & Matthew Broderick.]
I do agree with most of Stroman's choices of cutting the deleted scenes. However, a huge disappointment was her decision to cut "King of Broadway." This is a number that could have increased the enjoyment of the film. It doesn't only setup Nathan Lane's character, but also the style of the movie. Perhaps this is why the film was so indecisive - the introduction was cut! And this number worked so well on camera, too.
The highlight of the disc, for me, is the behind-the-scenes look at the musical number "I Wanna Be A Producer." This is the only feature that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the film.
What's Missing:
- Director's commentary for deleted scenes.
- Nathan Lane & Matthew Broderick feature commentary.
- Cast Interviews
- Behind-the-scenes featurettes.
- "The King of Broadway" in the actual film.
- Stage-to-Screen feature including footage from the stage show.
- Mel Brooks from ANY sort of feature.
To conclude - I am disappointed. When I saw the Broadway production, it was the most I had ever laughed in any theatre, whether it be movie or Broadway. I had high hopes for this film. Don't get me wrong - it's not a total disaster and there are some highlights. It's still funny. But hardly a good film.
***
May 16, 2006
They Can['t] Do It! 'The Producers' Arrives On DVD: A Review
By Andrew Hartman, MovieMusicals.net
Status: Review
The Mel Brooks movie musical adaptation of the stage musical adaptation of the original movie of 'The Producers' is now available to own on DVD. We'll take a look at the release, starting with a revisit review of this disappointing film followed up by comments on this rather disappointing DVD.
I have seen both the original film and the Broadway musical (with the original cast including Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick). The original film is hilarious - Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel cannot be replaced. However, I loooooovve musicals. On stage, Lane and Broderick offered a priceless experience (well, maybe not for some. After all, ticket prices did rise up to over $400 at the height of its popularity). So you have a brilliant movie and a hilarious hit musical - a good recipe for a movie musical, no?
The problem with the movie musical is in its adaptation. What Susan Stroman has done is basically take the original actors, the original score, the original choreography, the original costumes, and placed them on a studio set (which resembled in original set in some instances). The fault comes in with the adaptation from stage to film. She adds some dialogue scenes and sprinkles in some adjustments - occasional new dance steps, a new song (hardly an effort, lasting less than 30 seconds), and some new gags. Stroman makes the original stage show work for the big screen, instead of adapting it into a movie.
In one of the bonus features, it is said how Mel Brooks was going to film the actual stage show for a DVD release, but was convinced that the movie musical had to be done. Mel, your original idea was better.
The film was funny - heck, it was hilarious. Although it's enjoyable, elements of it get stale quickly. On top of that you grow uncomfortable with its many styles it tries to become. At times it is a farce, other times it wants to be real, other times it jokes about its non-serious approach. It's never clear if the characters are supposed to take themselves seriously. For example, many times the characters would look directly at the camera and speak, sing, or deliver a gag directly to the audience. At one point, Uma Thurman's character asks Broderick why he walks "so far down camera right?" This approach works well on stage in an intimate environment, however when this translates to film without being adapted for camera storytelling, it doesn't work the same.
So those are my thoughts revisiting the disappointing film. Now onto the disappointing DVD release.
All the technical elements of the film are fine: the art is decent, the menu is nice, the navigation is plain and simple, and I can hear and see everything is outstanding quality. So let's get to the heart of it and talk about the bonus features:
What's Great:
- We get to see many of the deleted scenes.
- We get to a nice outtakes reel.
- We get to see neat behind-the-scenes featurette of one musical number.
What's Not:
Transferring from brief bullet points for brief positive comments onto paragraph style points, now, for much to say about the negative aspects of the bonus features.
There's no director's commentary for the deleted scenes. In some ways, I'd rather have commentary for deleted scenes instead of the actual film - especially in the case of 'The Producers.' WOW! Is Susan Stroman BORING on this commentary, or what!? I love to listen to film's commentary tracks for insights behind-the-scenes, director's choices, and neat things to look for that we might miss watching the film. On the commentary track for 'The Producers,' Stroman spends half the time explaining what is happening as we watch the film and the other half reading from scripted comments. Ummmm....STROMAN! We have already watched the film! We're watching it right now!! We don't need you to tell us what's going on! She offers only a minimal amount of insights to the making of the film. [What's missing? Nathan Lane & Matthew Broderick.]
I do agree with most of Stroman's choices of cutting the deleted scenes. However, a huge disappointment was her decision to cut "King of Broadway." This is a number that could have increased the enjoyment of the film. It doesn't only setup Nathan Lane's character, but also the style of the movie. Perhaps this is why the film was so indecisive - the introduction was cut! And this number worked so well on camera, too.
The highlight of the disc, for me, is the behind-the-scenes look at the musical number "I Wanna Be A Producer." This is the only feature that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the film.
What's Missing:
- Director's commentary for deleted scenes.
- Nathan Lane & Matthew Broderick feature commentary.
- Cast Interviews
- Behind-the-scenes featurettes.
- "The King of Broadway" in the actual film.
- Stage-to-Screen feature including footage from the stage show.
- Mel Brooks from ANY sort of feature.
To conclude - I am disappointed. When I saw the Broadway production, it was the most I had ever laughed in any theatre, whether it be movie or Broadway. I had high hopes for this film. Don't get me wrong - it's not a total disaster and there are some highlights. It's still funny. But hardly a good film.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
--Aristotle
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