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Post by intoanewlife on Mar 19, 2020 21:10:24 GMT
OK - so I'm just watching this for the very first time. (Digital release on Apple TV) 1 - I had never been a fan of Cats - (only saw it once, which was enough) - although as an ALW fan, I did enjoy the music 2 - Was not put off by the early trailers and was actually intrigued/curious about it 3 - Most definitely was swayed by the visceral negative reaction to not bother going to see it in the theaters Now, I don't know if being self-quarantined is getting to me... maybe I have the corona - but honestly I don't get all the negativity about this or see why it tanked. I mean - it's Cats - it's a known thing that was a crazy premise to begin with but was wildly successful. For me, setting the whole thing from Victoria's perspective gave the show a stronger semblance of a story then it had on stage. Singing and orchestrations are awesome (and saddens me that I doubt we'll ever get a full length soundtrack release after it bombed). As for the CGI - it doesn't seem that awkward to me. I mean is it a bit weird? OK, I'll grant you that. But what did anyone think it would be when you had Cats... singing, dancing, talking about a new Jellicle life? To me, the critics - saw lashing this as a softball for them to smash and see who could out snark the next one (and in some cases I wonder if they even saw it). I think the main problem is that if you haven't seen the show and the entire concept of it is totally foreign to you, it's all a bit more of a shock. Cats has always been my most hated show, I literally thought I was going insane while watching it, but I gave the movie a chance and hated it every bit as much. If you like the show though, I don't think it's a major stretch to say you'll at least find something entertaining in the film. I think it'd have been much easier to swallow if it had been fully animated or CGI animation with no 'humanity' involved.
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Post by crabtree on Mar 19, 2020 22:09:24 GMT
My problem is that it is simply a very badly made film, with discombobulating editing, so many inconsistencies in the 'world' and the cats, unfortunate casting,and worst of all, it's not fair to the dancers. And certainly not fair to the dignity and wit of TSEliot.
I wonder if Andrew Lloyd Webber ever set 'Cat Morgan' to music. The one poem that's missing from the stage show. He was a pirate cat as I remember. He did wonders with the original poems without changing them
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Post by The Matthew on Mar 20, 2020 16:33:20 GMT
Dunno if you guys have ever seen Luc Desmarchelier's concept art for Steven Spielberg's attempt at Cats, but the sketches look absolutely wonderful and I so wish we had this version instead That looks really good. I think the slinky flexibility of proper cat-shaped cats would make for wonderful animated choreography.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2020 23:32:35 GMT
I watched this tonight. I have only ever seen Cats once, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with Rosemarie Ford as Grizabella (anyone??) and never felt the need to see it again.
I don't understand why this film version was hated quite so much by the critics. Okay, it's not perfect and it's not the most coherent piece, but the CGI wasn't bad at all. I was much more distracted by the odd, constantly changing proportions. And i was strangely moved by Memory, a song i usually cant stand.
I think people just had it in for it, before it even opened. The only thing i really agree with the critics on, was that Rebel Wilson was just horrific in it. She can only ever do the same schtick in every film she does.
Allowing Victoria to lead gave it far more of a story than the stage version ever had.
Watch it when you get the chance.
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Post by NorthernAlien on Apr 3, 2020 22:51:20 GMT
@tbfl - I saw it at Blackpool Winter Gardens! I can't recall exactly when, but I was in Senior School, so it would have been late 80s or early 90s - would we have seen the same production?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2020 6:16:37 GMT
@tbfl - I saw it at Blackpool Winter Gardens! I can't recall exactly when, but I was in Senior School, so it would have been late 80s or early 90s - would we have seen the same production? I saw the same tour (I say tour, it was doing 4 ish month sit downs!) at the Bristol Hippodrome with What's On The Board Miss Ford as Grizabella! One of my earliest theatrical memories. I think it was early 90s!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2020 21:48:43 GMT
@tbfl - I saw it at Blackpool Winter Gardens! I can't recall exactly when, but I was in Senior School, so it would have been late 80s or early 90s - would we have seen the same production? According to Wikipedia, the first UK tour opened in Blackpool in May 1989. Which is about right because i moved to London in 1990.
Apparently it stayed for 6 months. Has any tour since stayed anywhere for 6 months? Maybe the original Phantom and Les Mis tours did??
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Post by alece10 on Apr 5, 2020 6:17:04 GMT
Have I made this up or was Jane McDonald in Cats in Blackpool?
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Post by critchyboy on Apr 5, 2020 16:33:55 GMT
Have I made this up or was Jane McDonald in Cats in Blackpool? Jane McDonald was in the most recent Blackpool sitting for six weeks in summer 2015.
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 5, 2020 19:35:01 GMT
so it seems that via this weblink each show is only available for 48 hours
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Post by NorthernAlien on Apr 6, 2020 22:35:21 GMT
@tbfl - I saw it at Blackpool Winter Gardens! I can't recall exactly when, but I was in Senior School, so it would have been late 80s or early 90s - would we have seen the same production? According to Wikipedia, the first UK tour opened in Blackpool in May 1989. Which is about right because i moved to London in 1990.
Apparently it stayed for 6 months. Has any tour since stayed anywhere for 6 months? Maybe the original Phantom and Les Mis tours did??
I recall a production of Les Mis at The Palace Theatre in Manchester, also early 90s (but probably c1993/4??), that I think was supposed to be a tour, but seemed to stay in Manchester for a very long time. At what point does a 'tour' become... not a tour?
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Post by chernjam on Apr 8, 2020 5:53:25 GMT
I watched this tonight. I have only ever seen Cats once, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with Rosemarie Ford as Grizabella (anyone??) and never felt the need to see it again. I don't understand why this film version was hated quite so much by the critics. Okay, it's not perfect and it's not the most coherent piece, but the CGI wasn't bad at all. I was much more distracted by the odd, constantly changing proportions. And i was strangely moved by Memory, a song i usually cant stand. I think people just had it in for it, before it even opened. The only thing i really agree with the critics on, was that Rebel Wilson was just horrific in it. She can only ever do the same schtick in every film she does. Allowing Victoria to lead gave it far more of a story than the stage version ever had. Watch it when you get the chance. glad I'm not the only one who kind of had the same reaction... honestly as someone not heavily invested in this (other than wanting ALW to succeed and spur other movie musicals - namely Sunset, but I digress) I actually liked the movie better than the stage show. Having watched it a second time (*Covid quarantine might be screwing with my mind - I dont mind putting that disclaimer out there) I really enjoyed it. The concept of putting Victoria front and center and explaining it to her made it much more accessible than the first visit to the Winter Garden. "Whats a Jellicle cat?" they kept asking - how the f should I know and stop running up and down the aisles... One disagreement - Rebel didn't bother me at all. Then again, I've not really seen any of her other stuff, so... James Corden was actually good in it and had he not decided to sh*t all over it right after its premiere, I would've enjoyed his performance a lot more. Jason Derulo really was awesome. Seeing it a second time, I'm more convinced that this film really got a bad rap. Here's hoping with it being released during this quarantine time that it gets a second life in home release (And maybe we get a release of the full soundtrack. How did they not have the Journey to the Heavyside Layer in the highlights?)
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Post by intoanewlife on Apr 8, 2020 14:21:50 GMT
Can I ask for anyone who is a fan of the show, is the 'kidnap' plot with Elba's character at the end of the film in the show?
I only ever saw it once and don't remember that being a part of it.
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Post by anthony40 on Apr 8, 2020 16:27:51 GMT
Can I ask for anyone who is a fan of the show, is the 'kidnap' plot with Elba's character at the end of the film in the show? I only ever saw it once and don't remember that being a part of it. No
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Post by olliebean on Apr 8, 2020 22:29:16 GMT
Macavity does kidnap Old Deuteronomy in the show, doesn't he? But we don't see where he's taken him, and he doesn't kidnap any other cats.
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Post by Deal J on Apr 9, 2020 11:54:12 GMT
Yes olliebean is correct. Mistoffeles conjures Old Deut back, but if I recall correctly he doesn’t find it as difficult as he does in the movie.
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Post by Nicholas on May 16, 2020 0:21:05 GMT
The PEN Pinter Prize goes to authors who offer an "‘unflinching, unswerving’ gaze upon the world, and shows a ‘fierce intellectual determination … to define the real truth of our lives and our societies’."
In 2013, the Prize went to Sir Tom Stoppard.
And in 2001... "As for Cats, you'll have to ask Universal - we're trying to get those rights back, too. Tom Stoppard wrote the screenplay and it has the cats absolutely nailed."
So presumably the unflinching, unswerving gaze was:
"So first, your memory I'll jog And say, "A cat is not a dog""
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Post by djp on May 17, 2020 0:45:06 GMT
I watched this tonight. I have only ever seen Cats once, at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, with Rosemarie Ford as Grizabella (anyone??) and never felt the need to see it again. I don't understand why this film version was hated quite so much by the critics. Okay, it's not perfect and it's not the most coherent piece, but the CGI wasn't bad at all. I was much more distracted by the odd, constantly changing proportions. And i was strangely moved by Memory, a song i usually cant stand. I think people just had it in for it, before it even opened. The only thing i really agree with the critics on, was that Rebel Wilson was just horrific in it. She can only ever do the same schtick in every film she does. Allowing Victoria to lead gave it far more of a story than the stage version ever had. Watch it when you get the chance. i think the stage show can appeal in various ways - there's the music/singing, some unique dancing, a strong comedy thread, some heavyside stuff on the ways individuals move through life, an acceptance arc. and a certain appeal to those of us contemplating the grim reaper more, and looking back like the cats do.
The film I thought missed most of that.Many names couldn't sing or move, and a few were so awful they invited a bucket of water, not our interest. Some songs lost their impact. The cinematography weakened the dancing by cutting sequences. . Those characters who were not hammed up , failed to be be distinctive enough and got lost in the throng without the classic make up serving its role.And somewhere in there the story got lost in few people's self indulgent or inadequate acting.
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Post by crabtree on Jun 2, 2020 9:19:58 GMT
I know, don't judge me, but I bought the DVD of Cats the movie, just to have time to give it another go. No. In spite of the talent and the technology, well maybe because of the technology, this is simply an atrociously conceived and made movie - it's the scattershot camerawork that really offends me, fragmenting the dance, really throwing away the skills of the dancers; then there are the adlibs that crash with a wet splat every time, especially against the warm with of the poems, and again these moments of unfunny dialogue and exposition kill any energy and drive and shape. This is truly a bad movie and I've so wanted to love it.
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Post by intoanewlife on Jun 3, 2020 17:35:15 GMT
I actually didn't think there was anything wrong with the editing. It is faster when it can be without ruining the dancing and slower when the focus is on the dancing.
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Aug 3, 2020 7:28:29 GMT
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Post by frappuccino on Aug 3, 2020 11:35:48 GMT
“The problem with the film was that Tom Hooper decided, as he had with Les Mis, that he didn’t want anybody involved in it who was involved in the original show," Webber said in an interview about his upcoming musical Cinderella with the U.K.'s Sunday Times. "The whole thing was ridiculous
I liked Les Mis though. Aaron Tveit as one of those revolutionaries had a nice voice
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Post by partytentdown on Aug 3, 2020 12:41:49 GMT
“The problem with the film was that Tom Hooper decided, as he had with Les Mis, that he didn’t want anybody involved in it who was involved in the original show," Webber said in an interview about his upcoming musical Cinderella with the U.K.'s Sunday Times. "The whole thing was ridiculous I liked Les Mis though. Aaron Tveit as one of those revolutionaries had a nice voice Didn't he write a song for the film?...
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Post by frappuccino on Aug 3, 2020 13:47:40 GMT
“The problem with the film was that Tom Hooper decided, as he had with Les Mis, that he didn’t want anybody involved in it who was involved in the original show," Webber said in an interview about his upcoming musical Cinderella with the U.K.'s Sunday Times. "The whole thing was ridiculous I liked Les Mis though. Aaron Tveit as one of those revolutionaries had a nice voice Didn't he write a song for the film?... Who? Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote Beautiful Ghosts with Taylor Swift
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 5, 2022 17:50:07 GMT
Now available on Netflix
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Post by anthony40 on Jan 5, 2022 19:02:22 GMT
Anyone else think that Dame Judi Dench looks like The Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz?
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Post by alece10 on Jan 5, 2022 19:13:20 GMT
Anyone else think that Dame Judi Dench looks like The Cowardly Lion from The Wizard of Oz? Put em up, put em up!
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Post by Oliver on Jan 7, 2022 21:00:59 GMT
I know, don't judge me, but I bought the DVD of Cats the movie, just to have time to give it another go. No. In spite of the talent and the technology, well maybe because of the technology, this is simply an atrociously conceived and made movie - it's the scattershot camerawork that really offends me, fragmenting the dance, really throwing away the skills of the dancers; then there are the adlibs that crash with a wet splat every time, especially against the warm with of the poems, and again these moments of unfunny dialogue and exposition kill any energy and drive and shape. This is truly a bad movie and I've so wanted to love it. I think your point about the filming of the dance sequences is a fair criticism, although I also think you are throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I don't think the filming is as bad as people make it out to be, but I do agree it is not as good as it might have been. Your argument about the adlibs... well I guess this is directed principally at "Bustopher Jones", although I realise there are some elsewhere. The criticism is that this is somehow not in the spirit of the poetry, which is what ALW evidently thinks, but I don't agree. Cordon's humour here is actually amusing in my view. It's not laugh out loud funny, definitely not, but it's not meant to be that. Who laughs when Bustopher falls backwards on his chair on stage? I would argue that what Cordon does is more amusing than that. For me they are welcome humorous touches in a song that is meant to be humorous. The element of slapstick with Jemima falling on the steps before him is a particularly subtle and inspired comical touch. I felt that these little well-judged interludes didn't detract from the song at all.
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Post by lettybetty88 on Jan 7, 2022 22:42:15 GMT
I actually can't wait for this to be a regular at The Prince Charles Cinema so instead of spoons we throw bowls of milk at the screen!
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Post by ctas on Jan 7, 2022 23:21:03 GMT
The PCC had it scheduled for a singalong showing in March 2020, I’m still sad it hasn’t been rescheduled yet!
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