Worst movie musical — Page 2

"OMG! How could you say MOULIN ROUGE is a mess?! That movie is so amazing!!"

I have tried and tried to understand what people see in it, but the more and more i watched the more and more i was turned off. For one it was hard for me to lisen to Ms. Kidman. I am also not a fan of ewans voice. I thought the songs lyrics did not do anything for the plot and most of the times did not go with the ideas and actions the characters were speaking of before and after. Not my cup of tea. I prefer subtlety and alot of the dialogue was lost in the chaos of the "cinematography". In the end i felt dizzy. Just an opinion, alot of people love it and i respect that, if it moves someone that is all that matters.

A Little Night Music. It pains me that one of my favorite musicals had one of the worst movie adaptions ever.

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I like ON THE TOWN and love SUMMER STOCK.

MY FAIR LADY? It's one of the best movie musicals ever - you've got to be kidding me.

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There were many film versions of hit shows done in the 1930s and 1940s where you wonder why they even bothered buyin the rights to the show only to eliminate the story and most of the songs.

ANYTHING GOES - the 1936 film keps Ethel Merman but reduces her character's role to a virtual cameo. The only songs that survive are "I get a kick out of you" (in a wildly overproduced production number) and "You're the Top" (reduced to one verse with altered lyrics.)

As for the title song, Merman sings the first lines at the top of the film reaching "Anything Goes" as the title appears on screen leading into the credits. (The TV version is retitled TOPS IS THE LIMIT so as she sings "Anything Goes" that title is superimposed over a still from the show's finale...which is very weird to see.) but that is the ONLY time we hear the title song. There's no "All Though the Night", no "Be Like the Bluebird" and no "Blow Gabriel Blow."

The film was not a success so Paramount remade it 20 years later. This time they wrote a new (and rather silly) plot that two musical comedy stars each signing a different leading lady while traveling in Europe (Isn't it the Producer's job to do that???) and they have to sort it out on the ship coming home. AT least this film kept 5 original songs (Anything Goes, I Get a Kick Out f You, You're the Top, All through the Night, and Blow Gabriel Blow) added Porter's It's Delovely (from RED HOT AND BLUE - the one interpolation that works and the song is now usually added to the show on stage) and three new (forgettable) songs by Van Heusen and Cahn. This film just came out on DVD last year. The 1936 film has not been re-released.

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munkustrap178 and tkts: I've seen quite a few movie musicals, thanks, and I'm not 14. I just think Phantom was an absolute debacle, screwing with the story, and featuring a cast without one ounce of talent (excluding Patrick Wilson, whose talent was negated by his blandness, and Margaret Preace.) I didn't list RENT, I only said that it had problems.

cpnchicago: Oh yeah, I forgot about the helicopter scene...

Can't believe someone actually listed West Side Story.

Moulin Rouge wasn't bad, but I die a little inside everytime someone says it's one of their favorite musicals.

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-Phantom...horrendous to sit through. BUt then again so is the musical
-A Chorus Line
-Annie...I can deal with the helicopter but adding the character of Punjab? What's the point.
-Forum
-Carousel
-Jesus Christ Superstar...I can't bring myself to sit through all of it

While I have some issues with CAROUSEL, I really love Shirley Jones in it, and the score is wonderful. I recommend it.

Updated On: 6/14/06 at 01:41 PM

umm...
I tried hard not to fall asleep while watching Moulin Rouge, but I did. The costumes and cinematography was interesting, but everything else was too over the top for me.

I love Kiss Me, Kate, but sometimes it just gets on my nerves how the lyrics had to be changed, and it lacks a certain energy in the film. I know why they had to change the lyrics, but I just prefer the stage version. I don't like Brigadoon, either. I agree that Uma can't sing...couldn't they get someone to sing it for her, at least? Let's not kid ourselves, she was pretty bad.

HOW is it possible that everyone missed MAME with Lucille Ball??
The Wiz was also horrendous.
Man of La Mancha also ranks as pretty rank!

At least Chorus Line, as bad as it was, had a cool beginning and thrilling finale. I'm also surprised at the venom toward the Phantom and Rent movies. Saw both original casts on Broadway, and I enjoyed both movies as if they were new to me.

"MAME, although I have to admit I am fascinated by its awfulness. It's like watching a car crash in slow motion over and over again."
Same here

and
Man of La Mancha
Moulin Rouge
RENT

I don't think MAME is as horrible as people like to say it is. Although, it doesn't compare to what the stage show was. I thought THE WIZ was the worst show I had ever seen, at the time, so the film stinking meant little to me.

Wax Lion thought that RENT was a gosh darn good movie, despite its flaws.

Love,
Wax Lion

I've crapped better movies than the "Guys & Dolls" movie.