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Post by dirtypillows on May 25, 2019 17:31:29 GMT
I am surprised that nobody has mentioned "Dancer in the Dark" (2000)... The "musical" numbers are all violently shrieky, the storyline is pathologically depressing and Bjork (whom I cannot stand anyway, she is not my taste in music, not to mention people) is playing a character who is soooo dumb or ignorant, almost to the point of being stubborn about how dumb she is, and she makes terrible life decisions, which (SOILERS AHEAD! SOILERS AHEAD!) .....
...... cause madcap Bjork to act according to her very own worst interests; and also there is some curious element of perversion going on here, as she is unable or unwilling to even take the slightest step to defend herself when she is on trial for her life. Bjork played her character like a slightly crazed martyr who lived in a world of (very bad) songs, and at a deeper level, she almost seemed to get off on having an extremely terrible and sad life. What a bad idea for a movie. I hated this movie. There was nothing about it that I liked, though I was grateful whenever she wasn't singing.
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Post by dirtypillows on May 26, 2019 2:03:39 GMT
Those are two of my favorite musicals. I don't generally like musicals, but these two dillies have camp value, which can make them fun to watch if you are in the right mood. Also, dum-dum as it is, "Xanadu" does offer the BEST soundtrack of any musical I have ever heard. ELO is untouchable. So, I think that if people are going to criticize a movie like "Xanadu", they need to acknowledge the greatness of the soundtrack. It is a musical after all. You know, I have never seen You Can't Stop The Music. The badness of it just reeked from the advertising, but I think it would be fun for the camp value and the music would be catchy. I re-watched Xanadu recently, in fact I have watched it twice in the past 18months. It has its own endearing charm and even the badness of it radiates something special. It is just a nice warm and fuzzy experience. The quality of the soundtrack cannot be denied, and I just see it as a 90min MTV special. If they had cast a stronger lead, with more charisma than the bland and plain looking gawk Michael Beck, I think Xanadu would have gotten more accolades. They spent a lot of money on this and ONJ is worth seeing in her prime. She is just lovely personified.
Yes, I totally agree. It is a sweet and soft, light and fluffy movie going experience, the soundtrack is amazing, and the leading lady is just too pretty and feminine and kind-looking and lovely for words. I agree with what you said about ONJ 100%. It would be very easy to get a crush on her. A person could do much worse than "Xanadu".
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Post by dirtypillows on May 26, 2019 2:10:43 GMT
I saw "Grease 2" over Easter weekend. In no way is it a good movie, and the musical numbers are, without fail, below average and it's choreography is over the top, but, again, "Grease 2" came across as this defenseless movie that made it kind of likable to me. Lorna Luft had a cute presence, and Peter Frechette was gorgeous and hot and adorable all wrapped up into one. He played one of the T-birds. I had a big crush on him for a time, and looked him up and he was been with same guy since 1988. Lucky boyfriend! So, I did like "Grease" a lot, but I could watch "Grease 2" again in a pinch. I have a friend who actually prefers the sequel. He said "Grease" was not THAT good, and "Grease 2" was not all THAT bad. lol. It is always interesting listening to him sort these things out. He always has something interesting to say. I actually don't mind watching Grease 2 and I do not find it a chore to watch, but because I absolutely adore the original and think that the sequel does lack the magic and charm of the first, I rate it as bad, because it could have been better than what they gave us. Why they let Patricia Birch direct this, who was the choreographer for the first, I have no idea. Poor choices were made with story concept and production management right from the start and it deserved to fail. Technically it is excellent though. Pfeiffer has no charm to her Stephanie and just comes across as bitch with a carrot stuck up her arse and Caufield is way too pretty. Who were they selling this to, with 2 unknowns in the lead. Yes, I agree with you about Frechette and his music number in the bunker is perhaps my favorite one.
Had a discussion recently with some lesbians acquaintances and we were talking about s<>t and it was brought up if we could only watch one film for the rest of our lives and no other what would we choose. My choice was Grease.
So, you picked "Grease" as your go to "stuck on a desert island" movie? Wow! Well, that is as good a choice as any, because if you are allowed to watch only one movie for the rest of your life, it should be something that makes you feel really good and energized, and "Grease"definitely does that. I do like that movie a lot. But,That is such a hard pick. What did some of your lesbian acquaintance choose? Anything interesting? "Carrie" is my favorite movie, but that could never be my pick because it is too intense, and ultimately, it is a very sad movie. I am going to have to get back with you on that one!
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Post by dirtypillows on May 26, 2019 10:29:06 GMT
I am surprised that nobody has mentioned "Dancer in the Dark" (2000)... The "musical" numbers are all violently shrieky, the storyline is pathologically depressing and Bjork (whom I cannot stand anyway, she is not my taste in music, not to mention people) is playing a character who is soooo dumb or ignorant, almost to the point of being stubborn about how dumb she is, and she makes terrible life decisions, which (SOILERS AHEAD! SOILERS AHEAD!) ..... ...... cause madcap Bjork to act according to her very own worst interests; and also there is some curious element of perversion going on here, as she is unable or unwilling to even take the slightest step to defend herself when she is on trial for her life. Bjork played her character like a slightly crazed martyr who lived in a world of (very bad) songs, and at a deeper level, she almost seemed to get off on having an extremely terrible and sad life. What a bad idea for a movie. I hated this movie. There was nothing about it that I liked, though I was grateful whenever she wasn't singing. Lars Von Trier's films are not everyone's cup of tea and I have seen a few. I love Dancer In The Dark Mr. Dirty. And while I agree with your critique of the Bjork's character from an objective perspective regarding her character's dumbness, I also emotionally connect with her character and story and why she did what she did.
The film does appear to be biased, milking sentiment for the sympathetic factor for Selma, as in lets make her naive and innocent and sweet and see her getting swallowed whole by the hungry and deceiving wolves, who are just stereotypes and caricatures. The film is flawed in this respect. That said, with the recent discussion you started about the death penalty and wrongly accused—though in this case, Selma was wrongly convicted with a harsh murder charge, when it was more like manslaughter—I find it makes a very strong case point against capital punishment and that was its agenda.
I don't even see the film as a musical and I am by no means a Bjork fan. I like what was done with the music here, which really plays second fiddle to the drama. Selma was technically and legally blind, her only real escape and enjoyment was in movie musicals and her kind and concerned friend Kathy narrated them for her. I loved how Selma was able to escape into her own musical world of her own devices, with her honed hearing for the sounds around her and creating her own illusion before she is transported back to the harsh existence of her own meager reality. She made the ultimate sacrifice so her boy could live a life with sight and that was her first and foremost concern. This films touches me deeply and I was so shocked by the ending the first time I saw it and tears were streaming down my cheeks. As the tagline of the film decries Mr. Dirty....You don't need eyes to see.
I saw the film only once. So, a second viewing might bring forth a new perspective. Her death scene was horrifying, there is no getting around that. And the plot, well, you made it sound more interesting than I did. And I know her son was the most important thing in her life, but didn't she also kind of screw that up for him by her badly informed choices? I don't know if I will see it again or not. I remember it was extremely depressing. And I didn't like "Breaking the Waves", for its extreme bleakness. I guess it must be Bjork herself, with her trademark sound that sounds like nails on a chalkboard being the thing I remember the most. The two girls I was with were crying by the end, too.
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Post by dirtypillows on May 26, 2019 10:57:00 GMT
I saw the film only once. So, a second viewing might bring forth a new perspective. Her death scene was horrifying, there is no getting around that. And the plot, well, you made it sound more interesting than I did. And I know her son was the most important thing in her life, but didn't she also kind of screw that up for him by her badly informed choices? I don't know if I will see it again or not. I remember it was extremely depressing. And I didn't like "Breaking the Waves", for its extreme bleakness. I guess it must be Bjork herself, with her trademark sound that sounds like nails on a chalkboard being the thing I remember the most. The two girls I was with were crying by the end, too. I quite liked the sound of the score Bjork composed for the film and the songs were abstract different in her own unique style. I just feel it worked all so well and I don't think her character was capable of making the decisions that we might see as common sense. Selma was really not of this earth and more pure and that was part of the point. Breaking The Waves was bleak, but Emily Watson was fascinating and kept me intrigued and similar with her character as well.
I have seen DITD a few times and own two copies on dvd.
Well, if I had seen the movie from some of this POV, I am sure I would have been kinder in my assessment. No, she didn't seem capable of making the "common sense" decisions. (I just kept thinking "tell the truth! they are going to kill you!") Do you think, Toasted Cheese, that her character was, more or less, happy at the end? Her boy was going to eyesight preserved, yes? So she would have been happy about that. I cannot remember a lot of the details.
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Post by dirtypillows on May 26, 2019 11:18:27 GMT
So, you picked "Grease" as your go to "stuck on a desert island" movie? Wow! Well, that is as good a choice as any, because if you are allowed to watch only one movie for the rest of your life, it should be something that makes you feel really good and energized, and "Grease"definitely does that. I do like that movie a lot. But,That is such a hard pick. What did some of your lesbian acquaintance choose? Anything interesting? "Carrie" is my favorite movie, but that could never be my pick because it is too intense, and ultimately, it is a very sad movie. I am going to have to get back with you on that one! Yes, it was a hard call to make, but what you have mentioned here, is also the reason why I chose it. Plus I doubt if I said something like 3 Women or Amadeus, I doubt they would have that reference. I didn't have the mind reference for their millennial choices, films I'd hardly heard of. Actually, one come to think of was quite popular, but it hasn't come to mind yet. The 15yr old brother chose something obscure to me as well.
Mr. Dirty, have you seen the musical version of Hairspray with John Travolta and Christopher Walken? I love this, but perhaps adore Water's 80's version just a tad more.
I will look forward to hearing your choice. I almost said Up In Smoke or Elvira: Mistress Of The Dark, but I think Grease is a better choice for a desert island film. If there were more people stranded on the island with you, we can get to see their choices as well. They would be projected in the sky at night, like a mirage.
"Up in Smoke" and "Elvira" are also excellent choices as they both have some down and dirty humor, but are also basically good-natured and high-spirited. You and I both think this the same way. Without thinking it to death, I guess I am going to have to go with John Waters' "Polyester", his only heartwarmer to date. Fun characters, interesting, even seductive (for me, I like French provincial) interiors, a fun, fast-moving plot, some great one-liners and two of the most likeable (and funny) friends to have made it to celluloid. Francine Fishpaw and "Cuddles".... Awwww.... who can resist Cuddles? What a sweetheart. And it has a happy ending, for sure. Yes, I saw the JT/CW version of "Hairspray". I love both these actors (didn't they have a kissing scene, or at least they danced together) and saw it mainly for them. I cannot remember much else about it, except that the audience kept cracking up every JT showed up fat and in drag. I like the 1986 version pretty well. "Murder, by Death" would certainly be another top contender.
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Post by rudeboy on May 26, 2019 14:19:42 GMT
Based on the film adaptations, either Camelot or The Producers.
Also dreadful - The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Half a Sixpence.
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Post by amyghost on May 26, 2019 19:50:10 GMT
I probably just don't like the messy looking characters. Without The Rocky Horror Picture Show's big lip Tim Curry trademark (looking like those wax candy lips you probaly got at Halloween) we wouldn't have Miranda Sings (also without Colleen Ballinger..) I don't have a problem with Sarandon's politics, but I was a bit turned off by her during the years she snubbed RHPS, refusing to discuss it (I'm told, though haven't been able to verify this, that she actually denied being in it at one point) and generally taking a look-down-her nose attitude towards the film. She's since loosened up about it--somewhat--but I could never understand, or much like, her earlier attitude; yes, the film is a mess, but it's a fun mess, and if I'd had it on my resume as an early career effort I don't think I'd be embarrassed to have been associated with something that's brought so many people so much enjoyment over the years, and become a cultural icon to boot. Musicals aren't a favorite film genre for me; I'd have an easier time listing the ones I like than the ones I don't. That said, I perversely tend to somewhat like some of the ones that get a routine lambasting, such as Camelot, Man of La Mancha and Finian's Rainbow. Sympathy for the underdog, I guess.
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Post by Geddy on May 26, 2019 23:19:28 GMT
I'm assuming you are talking about film musicals and not Broadway in which case I'll go with Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts club band; the Bee Gees version.😨
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Post by Cooper, the Golden Retriever on May 27, 2019 18:23:01 GMT
I don't have a problem with Sarandon's politics, but I was a bit turned off by her during the years she snubbed RHPS, refusing to discuss it (I'm told, though haven't been able to verify this, that she actually denied being in it at one point) and generally taking a look-down-her nose attitude towards the film. She's since loosened up about it--somewhat--but I could never understand, or much like, her earlier attitude; yes, the film is a mess, but it's a fun mess, and if I'd had it on my resume as an early career effort I don't think I'd be embarrassed to have been associated with something that's brought so many people so much enjoyment over the years, and become a cultural icon to boot. Musicals aren't a favorite film genre for me; I'd have an easier time listing the ones I like than the ones I don't. That said, I perversely tend to somewhat like some of the ones that get a routine lambasting, such as Camelot, Man of La Mancha and Finian's Rainbow. Sympathy for the underdog, I guess. Sarandon seems a little confused at times about her own stances, I think she chops and changes her mind about things and makes herself look a little foolish. We can all take on board a dichotomy of opinions as we gain more experience, but Sarandon is of the privileged ilk too, and a few decades ago, many of these celebrities felt that their opinions were da bomb and because of who they were, they could only be right. In my naivety, I used to hang onto every word favorite celebs said, because I regulated them to God status because of their standing and influence.
I know a little better now and human is human, regardless of position\standing. I have always liked Sarandon as an actress and of course RHPS. Me,too!
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rogerthat
Sophomore
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Post by rogerthat on May 27, 2019 18:39:52 GMT
Three way tie:
Burlesque Spice World From Justin to Kelly
Though if we wan't the worst ever - there really was a gay porno musical: Romeo and Julian.
My favorite all time bad musical though is Shock Treatment, which is a sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show . My favorite two numbers are linked below.
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