50 musicals challenge: high school musical 3

17 - High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008)
Starring: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale,
Rating: 9/10
IMDB

As seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.

Before I begin this review I highly recommend that you take the 4mins to watch this...



Now take in to consideration that, unlike the previous 2 HSM installments, this entire movie is made up of set pieces with that kind of production value! The result is a movie that is pretty much the definition of sunshine and rainbows!



HQ

There's a whole list of excellent things about this movie - the set pieces are awesome, the visuals are bright and beautiful, the singing/dancing is all wonderful, the characters are all kind and good (Troy Bolton would definitely make it on to my list of fictional boyfriends!), the story is straightforward and acknowledges the everyday anxieties of school leavers in a way that never condescends to them. In the end though, I love this movie because it makes me happy. It was so obviously made with love and it's so full of joy and it just makes me smile! If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it - leave your cynicism at the door and take it for what it is, a simple story of friendship and growing-up with colourful musical numbers!



Some of you may have noticed that my musicals posts have jumped from #7 to #17. Posting out of order makes the little OCD part of my brain tick but I was aware that I hadn't made any musicals posts in ages and I had the graphic for this one at hand! Now that I'm back in Exeter and have my desktop/Photoshop I'm planning on going back and posting mini-reviews of all the musicals I've watched in between, it'll just take a little time! You can keep an eye on what I've seen so far here.

50 musicals challenge: singin' in the rain

07 - Singin' in the Rain (1952)
Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds
Rating: 10/10
IMDB

In 1927, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a famous on-screen romantic pair. Lina, however, mistakes the on-screen romance for real love. Don has worked hard to get where he is today, with his former partner Cosmo. When Don and Lina's latest film is transformed into a musical, Don has the perfect voice for the songs. But Lina - well, even with the best efforts of a diction coach, they still decide to dub over her voice. Kathy Selden is brought in, an aspiring actress, and while she is working on the movie, Don falls in love with her.

Taster: Singin' in the Rain


This is my favourite movie of all time and I don't need any excuse to watch it! One of my biggest regrets is that I only saw it for the first time last year! Since then I've watched the film numerous times and saw the stage show in London and at the beginning of next month I'm going to see a showing of the film accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall which I'm super excited about! There simply aren't enough words to describe just how much I love this film! I remain shocked and appalled that in 2003 the British public only ranked this #6 in a countdown of the greatest movie musicals!*

Safe to say, Singin' in the Rain is all kinds of wonderful! It's impossible to be sad or angry or downhearted when watching it - it's the film equivalent of a bear hug! It's bright and colourful, full of beautiful costumes, incredible tapdancing and some of the best musical numbers ever performed on screen. 'Singin' in the Rain', 'Good Mornin'' and 'Make 'Em Laugh' are the most famous numbers but the others are all great - I'm particularly fond of the ballet-inspired segment in 'Gotta' Dance' which is staggeringly beautiful. The whole thing is full of charm and bursting with joy and is just the GREATEST! If this challenge inspires you to do nothing else I hope that it inspires any of you who haven't seen it to give it a shot - I guarantee you won't regret it!

*You can see the full list here.

50 musicals challenge: les mis, 7 brides..., annie get your gun

04 - Les Miserables (2012)
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried
Rating: 7/10
IMDB

In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.

See review. In short: The film is beautiful, the music is wonderful, the performances are of varying quality and everything I cared about was in the second half. In no way terrible but a little underwhelming. Taster: On My Own

05 - Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)
Starring: Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Jeff Richards
Rating: 6/10
IMDB

In 1850 Oregon, when a backwoodsman brings a wife home to his farm, his six brothers decide that they want to get married too.

On paper I shouldn't like this movie - it's about a bunch of brothers who kidnap women to be their wives! If you're willing to forgive that though this is a perfectly pleasant movie. It's a little rough around the edges but full heart and good humour and it's easy to understand why children love it. Most of the musical numbers are okay but the real stand-out is the barn dance challenge sequence which is just beautiful! It's colourful and lively and just looks like a lot of fun! Taster: The barn dance

06 - Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
Starring: Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern
Rating: 4/10
IMDB

The story of the great sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, who rises to fame while dealing with her love/professional rival, Frank Butler.

This didn't work for me AT ALL (which is why it doesn't get a picture!) It's racist, it's horribly sexist (she literally has to pretend to suck at shooting in order to get the guy! SO MUCH RAGE!) and I really didn't care about the romance. The only number between Annie and Frank with any real sexual tension is 'Anything You Can Do...' and weirdly it comes towards the end of the movie... It's the standard 'rivals become lovers' plot but in reverse and they still end up together!?! Not one I'll be rewatching! Taster: Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better

50 musicals challenge: pitch perfect, easter parade, swing time

2012 was a pretty rough year so for 2013 I wanted a 'challenge' that was fun and that I'd gladly keep up with so as well as trying to read 50 books this year I'm also going to watch 50 musicals! It's no secret that I LOVE musicals but I've hardly seen any of the classics and honestly, I can think of no better way to ~broaden my cultural horizons~ than by spending afternoons watching pretty people in lovely costumes sing and dance! At first 50 seemed like a sensible number - just under a movie a week - but I'm already wayyy ahead of schedule so the number might change! Primarily I'm using this as an excuse to go through all the classic Hollywood musicals that I've never seen so I won't include animated musicals (unless I've not seen them before) but if you think I'm going to let the year pass without rewatching High School Musical 3 then you're sadly mistaken! Every couple of weeks I'll make a post reporting my progress and a running total and links to previous discussion can be found in the permanent page. If you have any particular recommendations or want to discuss all things de-lovely get in touch here or at Twitter!


01 - Pitch Perfect (2012)
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Rebel Wilson
Rating: 8/10
IMDB

Beca, a freshman at Barden University, is cajoled into joining The Bellas, her school's all-girls singing group. Injecting some much needed energy into their repertoire, The Bellas take on their male rivals in a campus competition.

It's not classy (we're now living in a post-Bridesmaids world!) and the characters are all under-developed but that's not really the point! The a-capella singing is awesome, the soundtrack features some great mash-ups, the love-interest is kind of delightful and who doesn't love Anna Kendrick?! Taster: The Riff-Off

02 - Easter Parade (1948)
Starring: Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Ann Miller
Rating: 7/10
IMDB

On the day before Easter in 1911, Don Hewes is crushed when his dancing partner (and object of affection) Nadine Hale refuses to start a new contract with him. To prove Nadine's not important to him, Don acquires innocent new protegee Hannah Brown, vowing to make her a star in time for next year's Easter parade

If Pitch Perfect is a bawdy romp of a musical then Easter Parade is a joy in the opposite sense! It's innocent and charming and everything you want on a Sunday afternoon. The singing is lovely, the dancing is astonishing (The opening number 'Drum Crazy' is particularly brilliant) and the costumes are beautiful - what I would give to be able to wear the emerald dress Judy Garland wears in 'Better Luck Next Time'! Taster: It Only Happens When I Dance With You

03 - Swing Time (1936)
Starring: Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Victor Moore
Rating: 8/10
IMDB

A performer and gambler travels to New York City to raise the $25,000 he needs to marry his fiancée, only to become entangled with a beautiful aspiring dancer.

Not perfect (the gambling plot line is strange and the Astaire's blackface for his big dance number doesn't sit well with modern audiences) but not far off. It contains some lovely music (most notably 'The Way You Look Tonight' quite possibly the most romantic song ever written!) and the dancing, as ever is wonderful. Taster: Never Gonna Dance

film review: les miserables

Les Miserables (2012)
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried...
Genre: Musical/Drama/Romance
Rating: 7/10
IMDB

In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever.

I've been meaning to write this for a week but my feelings are incoherent and rambly and tend to involve lots of gesturing and wailing! Trying to get my thoughts down in list form is probably the way to go! As a disclaimer I should probably say that whilst I'm very familiar with the music and knew the plot before I saw the film, I've never seen the musical or read the book.

The Good

• Eddie Redmayne - WHO KNEW HE COULD SING?!?! His rendition of 'Empty Chairs at Empty Tables' was really something. A+ for you sir.
• Anne Hathaway was pretty spectacular. (Though I'd listened to a review earlier in the week which commented on how her bright white Hollywood teeth somewhat undermined the illusion of her destitution (and botched dentistry!) and that was a really distracting thought to have bouncing around my head while she was singing!)
• The cinematography was beautiful. My favourite shot was probably that of Enjolras hanging out of the window but the whole thing was very aesthetically pleasing.
• The boys at the barricade! 80% of my feelings were for you! (Eponine had 15% and everyone else can share the rest!)

The Bad

• Russell Crowe wasn't absolutely terrible but really wasn't up to par. The movie was guaranteed to draw in huge audiences so I don't really understand this casting choice.
• The editing was horrible. If you're filming a musical you either need to edit the film in time with the music or reject its influence altogether, this tried to do both and it didn't work at all! The street scenes in 'At the End of the Day' were particularly horrible.

Overall, I was underwhelmed. I tend to be a bit ridiculous with musicals - I cry at everything and was fully expecting to sob from start to finish but this version of Les Mis just didn't push those buttons. For whatever reason I just wasn't all that invested in the Valjean/Javert dynamic (during one of their duets I really wished that they'd be quiet because there was some really pretty orchestration going on!) so everything I cared about was in the second half and seemed a little rushed. The film was beautiful and the music was wonderful (minus Russell Crowe) but it just didn't click somehow.