1,736 posts
|
Post by fiyero on Oct 16, 2016 22:28:46 GMT
I loved this but still hate going to the cinema. Not too many latecomers (I was nearly one of them) and the audience was about the same behaviour wise as in the theatre but Vue majorly messed up in my opinion. During Kim's death I was very much distracted by them wheeling in the ice cream freezer and table of snacks including shining their shadow onto the screen. Also a little confused why the first interval was only 5 minutes, too short!
|
|
134 posts
|
Post by Joseph Buquet on Oct 16, 2016 22:36:19 GMT
Saw it at the Bristol Everyman, and thought it was stunning. I hadn't appreciated before quite how good Eva's acting is. The whole cast was on top form. Jon Jon's American Dream was a particular highlight.
As others have said, it did seem slightly quiet, but not massively so. It was beautifully shot. If I was being really picky, I would've liked a few more shots of the whole stage, to give more of a balance. It just seemed tightly cropped too much of the time.
The gala was fun. Lea Salonga in fine voice. Jonathan Pryce has zero appeal for me, though. Especially when portraying a Vietnamese/French pimp. I'll never get that casting decision.
10/10
|
|
|
|
Post by Mr Wallacio on Oct 16, 2016 23:00:10 GMT
Another Bristol attendee here (but the Showcase).
Loved seeing the show again, and will definitely be getting the Bluray.
Jon Jon is simply amazing. He was my first and only Engineer having had him back when he was in the Saigon tour. I wish I could remember his performance from back then so I can see how it's developed, but I was a bit young to truly appreciate the show at the time.
|
|
133 posts
|
Post by whygodwhytoday on Oct 16, 2016 23:01:01 GMT
|
|
1,936 posts
|
Post by wickedgrin on Oct 16, 2016 23:05:34 GMT
Negatives.
The cinema audience - just dreadful - latecomers, eating, talking, coughing!
A very quiet sound - I thought it was just my local rubbish Odeon but previous posters have mentioned this. I felt it was a real lost opportunity, the sound was not only quiet but very "mono" and muffled on occasion if that makes sense. I expected a much fuller, richer, louder sound - it really spoilt it for me. Can't wait to buy the DVD and crank up the volume!
It did seem very long - it didn't seem as long in the theatre for some reason.
I skipped the gala bit - enough was enough!
Positives.
Brilliantly filmed - loved the close ups and noticed so much more detail than I ever did even from the front stalls. Very involving. Certainly the way forward in filming stage shows.
All the principles were on fire - I saw them all at the theatre and I would say they definitely raised their game for this filming! Astonishing performances.
Love this musical - better than Les Mis. in my opinion.
It brought back the pleasure of seeing it and re-living it in the theatre.
|
|
376 posts
|
Post by hitmewithurbethshot on Oct 16, 2016 23:27:46 GMT
It doesn't matter what the price was when you pre-order on Amazon, the amount you pay is in/decreased to what it is when the item's released.
I noticed a few continuity errors too, American Dream clearly used a lot of footage shot for the EPK because Jon Jon's mic disappears between shots. When I recognised a lot of ensemble members from after the 2015 cast change too it was quite jarring to see how little (bar the finale) was actually from the 25th anniversary shots and how much was pickup shots done this year, the entire Dreamland sequence for one used the new cast, and Sangwoong Jo who was Thuy at the time makes a cameo in the Dreamland bar in Thuy's usual ensemble track.
All in all very enjoyable, but I wish they hadn't cut down What a Waste so much, it's the funniest song with so much going on onstage.
|
|
4,369 posts
|
Post by Michael on Oct 17, 2016 2:36:36 GMT
It doesn't matter what the price was when you pre-order on Amazon, the amount you pay is in/decreased to what it is when the item's released. I've never seen that Amazon has increased a price retroactively. At most you pay the price at the time of your pre-order, even if it's more expensive on the release date. If Amazon has lowered the price since then, they even charge you less. I doubt it'd be lawful if they unilaterally increased the price without your consent after you've ordered. |
|
214 posts
|
Post by BoOverall on Oct 17, 2016 5:34:44 GMT
Bless the dears next to me who were certain that it was broadcast direct from the theatre last night and how hard on the actors that they not only had to do a show on Sunday but they only got 5 minutes break before Act 2! And the woman afterwards who said to her friend "well it's basically the same as Les Mix but with sex!"
Yes the sound in the cinema we attended was not that strong or loud, and at times some of the dialogue was barely audible.
But I really enjoyed it; I loved a lot of the close-ups and the other moments when the cameras were not whizzing around at a ridiculously fast rate, so you could finally focus on what was being sung. It is a shame, though, that you rarely got to see more of the stage and even then for hardly more than a moment, but I get that...for the most part.
The sometimes insane camera work, cutting from here to there and back again, lost impact in places but worked well at other times: the approach in The Fall of Saigon was excellent.
And maybe I am a bit fussy, but I did miss the fact that we didn't get the curtain call!
|
|
1,013 posts
|
Post by talkstageytome on Oct 17, 2016 7:04:47 GMT
I was hoping for a curtain call too.
|
|
|
|
Post by crabtree on Oct 17, 2016 7:24:31 GMT
I know that ran for about ten years on its' initial run, and over two years (?) on this run, but I am surprised it did not run longer, or is still running. Did the audiences really fade away, or is it just so expensive to run.
|
|
2,242 posts
|
Post by richey on Oct 17, 2016 7:49:12 GMT
Biggest surprise of the evening for me was seeing Louis Spence come on stage at the encore. I'd no idea he was in the original cast.
|
|
27 posts
|
Post by barricadegirl86 on Oct 17, 2016 12:44:18 GMT
I noticed a few continuity errors too, American Dream clearly used a lot of footage shot for the EPK because Jon Jon's mic disappears between shots. When I recognised a lot of ensemble members from after the 2015 cast change too it was quite jarring to see how little (bar the finale) was actually from the 25th anniversary shots and how much was pickup shots done this year, the entire Dreamland sequence for one used the new cast, and Sangwoong Jo who was Thuy at the time makes a cameo in the Dreamland bar in Thuy's usual ensemble track. All in all very enjoyable, but I wish they hadn't cut down What a Waste so much, it's the funniest song with so much going on onstage. A lot of tearful cinema goers around me yesterday were claiming they didn't cry during the theatre show when they saw it, but felt the cinema screening was much more emotional. I thought it was really good and will probably get the DVD now, whereas I wasn't planning too before. My children would loved to have seen the stage show but are far too young (they just know a few of the songs) but this DVD will definitely do (when they are old enough) until it maybe comes back to the West End one day. But, IMHO, apart from the finale obviously, I think very little was from the 25th anniversary performance. I noticed a couple of the 2014/15 ensemble cast right at the beginning of The Heat is On, and What a Waste (the brief appearance of the mormon was clearly Niall Sheehy) but that was it. The rest (Bui Doi, Kim's Nightmare, etc) seemed to be the 2015/16 cast. Not really a problem but a little misleading if people buying the DVD are expecting to see that particular performance. The information sheet we were given lists the cast under the heading '25th Anniversary Gala at the Prince Edward Theatre' and at the bottom it says 'Filmed entirely at the Prince Edward Theatre' so quite cleverly worded, if as I said, misleading. |
|
1,102 posts
|
Post by zak97 on Oct 17, 2016 16:26:36 GMT
Just booked one of the last cheap tickets for the first night of the tour. Casting for that is going to be really interesting. I can't wait to see the filmed version though.
|
|
57 posts
|
Post by mrcurry on Oct 17, 2016 18:03:04 GMT
It was amazingly well filmed. If it was mainly videoed on one performance, that is incredible. Considering there were so many close ups of faces, there was no over-done acting to reach the audience at the back of the theatre. My main impressions were how beautiful and talented Eva is, and Kwang-Ho also. The singing was amazing all-round with no weak performances, and perfectly clear in the sound in my cinema.
I hate to criticise anything new and as brilliant as this. However this is what this forum is for. The show started and immediately I thought the sound was not right ? Will it get better as the show gets going I thought. The voices were very clear with amazing live singing, however the orchestra was not behind the singing like in the theatre. Maybe it was just my local crappy Vue cinema, but for a musical at the cinema you expect to hear super-mega-dolby surround sound. The orchestra was more audible at the Gala show at the end. I think it should have been like this throughout the show. I cried at the theatre show but not at the end of this cinema show. I think the lack of orchestra sound was the reason. Imvhbuco (in my very humble but usually correct opinion).
I had booked seats on the internet on the front row of the premium seats. But Vue cinema had a different seating plan at this screen and my seats were on the back row of the premium seats. I also have the beginning of a cold so this may have affected my opinion. Someone will probably buy me the DVD for Christmas, and is a great value at 12.99.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2016 15:29:36 GMT
Made £2.3 million @ cinemas on Sunday
|
|
526 posts
|
Post by danielwhit on Oct 18, 2016 16:56:38 GMT
I know that ran for about ten years on its' initial run, and over two years (?) on this run, but I am surprised it did not run longer, or is still running. Did the audiences really fade away, or is it just so expensive to run. Audiences really started to fade away from around February 2014. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2016 18:02:29 GMT
I know that ran for about ten years on its' initial run, and over two years (?) on this run, but I am surprised it did not run longer, or is still running. Did the audiences really fade away, or is it just so expensive to run. Audiences really started to fade away from around February 2014. Should that be February 2015? Otherwise the audience would have started to fade away 3 months before opening! |
|
716 posts
|
Post by theatre-turtle on Oct 18, 2016 18:28:57 GMT
Made £2.3 million @ cinemas on Sunday Nice birthday present for Cameron |
|
43 posts
|
Post by stuartww on Oct 19, 2016 12:39:36 GMT
I loved it. Felt more intense and intimate with the close ups. The sound at my local Cineworld was perfect...and i have never been to a cinema with such a quiet and enthralled audience.
My husband, who i dragged to see it in london many times, cried at the screening. He had never cried at the show in the theatre.
Yeah there were a couple of continuity issues but thats minor. It was so well done..much better than i thought it would be
|
|
526 posts
|
Post by danielwhit on Oct 19, 2016 22:06:12 GMT
Audiences really started to fade away from around February 2014. Should that be February 2015? Otherwise the audience would have started to fade away 3 months before opening! That's the one  |
|
573 posts
|
Post by Dave25 on Oct 20, 2016 1:09:40 GMT
I'm seeing the cinema release tomorrow, so I will post my review later, but I found out something.
I thought they filmed the 25th anniversary performance and then did additional close-up shots a year later (and asked back Alistair Brammer and Rachelle Ann go for these shots). Someone posted that they recorded these shots without an orchestra. That would mean the actors would have had to lip-sync to themselves for these shots, and that the audio is all from the 25th performance.
But when i compare the audio of the 25th anniversary live radio broadcast to the audio in the clips of the 25th anniversary special (clips from the cinema broadcast) and the 2 minute preview on Itunes, the audio is completely different. For example in "I'd give my life for you", Eva sings "I'll give you a world to conquer when you're grown" in 2 very different ways, breaths in different moments, different intonation and different pauses, with the one being in the clip of the cinema broadcast being better than the one of the 25th live radio show. Also, when I compare the radio audio to the Itunes preview, the audio is completely different too, with Rachelle singing "Hey, give that virgin act a rest". In the 25th show she swallowed the word "rest", while in the clip she screams it high pitched. So clearly the audio of the cinema broadcast is not from the 25th performance either.
So I think they just filmed a few performances without an audience but with orchestra in those final days, for all the close-ups etc, and just really focussed on the camera's, and that only the scenes with Ellen and Thuy are from the actual 25th show, as someone mentioned that these scenes had lesser close-ups, and maybe it was just easier to use the newly filmed material for the rest of the film, instead of trying to mix them with shots of the 25th show too. I can imagine the new shots being cleaner and more extensive etc.
But if they actually sang the performance live for the new shots again (except for the shots of Ellen and Thuy) then i hope they fixed some of the wrongly sung notes too.
|
|
2,848 posts
|
Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 20, 2016 18:26:35 GMT
Alistair Brammer is reprising his role on Broadway... it's weird, especially considering that he's not the strongest singer or whatever, he's not hard to replace.
|
|
|
|
Post by d'James on Oct 20, 2016 18:52:34 GMT
Alistair Brammer is reprising his role on Broadway... it's weird, especially considering that he's not the strongest singer or whatever, he's not hard to replace. Might sell more DVDs I guess?! |
|
2,452 posts
|
Post by theatremadness on Oct 20, 2016 18:58:35 GMT
Alistair Brammer is reprising his role on Broadway... it's weird, especially considering that he's not the strongest singer or whatever, he's not hard to replace. Might sell more DVDs I guess?! Yes that's a very interesting take! Could it also work vice-versa? Having the guy who played Chris in the cinema broadcast and on the DVD might shift more Broadway tickets, too! |
|
|
|
Post by danb on Oct 20, 2016 20:39:49 GMT
I must admit that his voice bugged me at first; weak high tenor for the first few songs, but soon gave way to a more traditional strong tenor by 'Why God Why' & 'Last Night of the World'. Good on him going to Broadway. Hope Siobhan gets to go too!
|
|
