Musicals & Music Films > 10 GBP to 15 GBP Musicals & Music Films > Musicals & Other Music Films

Triumph of Hype Over Mediocrity

Advantages: Lots of energy. Brilliant lyrics (except the new ones).
Disadvantages: The score and the concept are both dire. The worst musical I've ever had the misfortune to see.

I'll be honest: Cats is my very least favourite musical ever. I am a big fan of musical theatre, and even of much of Andrew Lloyd Webber's output, but Cats is dire. And now they've gone and filmed it. This is a scaled-down version of the show (which at least means that some of the score is missing - hurrah!) featuring a collection of performers who've been in it on stage. Unless you've already fallen in love with Cats, or simply must own everything ...
...What happens? Lots of cats tell us their names, one of them gets kidnapped for about two minutes and then for no apparent reason one of them walks up into some strange cat heaven. None of it makes much sense - it would be OK if they didn't try to have any plot at all and just created a revue, but that wasn't the intention and so we have a plot-show with no plot. To be fair, I can see why people might like this (which is why I've been very generous ...

DavidBedford 15.05.2001 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Cats (Ultimate Edition) (DVD)

Excellent Musical DVD

Advantages: varied compilation of musical shows. It's Awesome
Disadvantages: NONE!

If you like musicals then you will love this. I know because I like musicals and I loved it. I used to hate musicals. I like plays but I didn't like musicals. I used to think that if I went to a musical I would feel less of a man. I thought they were a bit feminine. Then I went to my first musical and I loved it! And anybody else who says they don't like musicals then they are just not seeing the real beauty within musicals. And this DVD shows ...
...is filmed at London's Lyceum Theatre and is sensational. You will definitely enjoy this. It brings together some of the greatest musical's such as LES MISéRABLES, CATS, MISS SAIGON, OLIVER!, MY FAIR LADY, OKLAHOMA!, CAROUSEL, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and many others :) Buy this DVD Dan ...

dpgreen 06.11.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Hey Mister Producer (DVD)

Trouble's coming your way

Advantages: brilliant cast, great songs
Disadvantages: no decent extras on the DVD

...of Georges Bizet's famous opera, Carmen Jones was originally a play on Broadway which ran throughout the late '40s and early '50s. The film director, Otto Preminger loved its so much that he decided it should be made available to a wider audience. He had his wish. Carmen Jones was released at the cinema in 1954. THE ORIGINAL STORY For those that are not familiar with the original Carmen, I'll run through the story briefly. Based in Seville, Carmen ...
...from his sweet fiancée, Micaëla, Carmen thinks she's in love. However, she meets her match in the egotistical matador, Escamillo and abandons Don Jose for a more fiery romance. Still obsessed with Carmen, Don Jose becomes hell bent on revenge with tragic consequences. UPDATE PLOT Carmen Jones is set in America's Deep South during World War Two. Carmen works in a parachute factory. Her Don Jose is Joe, a soldier waiting to enter flying school, and ...

kollarosie 10.09.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Carmen Jones (DVD)

The Greatest Film Disney Never Made

Advantages: classic family musical with magical sequences
Disadvantages: may be too kid orientated

...best film Disney never made, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is arguably one of the best-loved family musicals. When you consider the pedigree of the cast a crew a success was almost guaranteed. Based on a book by Bond author Ian Fleming and from the producer of the Bond films Cubby Broccoli Chitty is a charming family film full of memorable songs. With the music written by the Sherman Brothers (Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, The Aristocats amongst many) the ...
...who is determined to have Chitty for himself. This is when they discover that Chitty cannot only fly but travel on water and their adventures start….. The gadgets that littered their home fascinated me as a child and who wouldn't have wanted to live in a windmill as a child. Chitty is the type of film that you either love or will find too saccharine. I love it. Like many, I have very clear memories of being scared by the child catcher when little ...

pip1976 02.08.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Collector's Edition) (DVD)

Do you hear the people singing along with Les Mis the DVD?

Advantages: Great Cast, Great Musical, The Extra performance of Do You Hear the People Sing and One Day More.
Disadvantages: No the full score.

Les Miserables is a near-perfect show. It has great songs and brilliant characters which are often portrayed by brilliant actors. There is no finer display of this casting than the Anniversary DVD. The original Valjean, Colm Wilkinson has not lost any of his wonderful voice and his counter-part Javert, Philip Quast, is equally as 'on-form'. Ruthie Henshall and Lea Salonga are also fine at their parts and the original Marius, Michael Ball is fantastic ...
...for Enjolras. As Les Miserables is a predominantly stationairy show anyway, the lack of movement in the DVD is not a problem. The characters are in costume and do a fair amount of moving making the DVD really seem like Les Mis. The songs are well sung by all and there no weak links in the show. Equally, for the majority of the show, the songs are well directed. Also the DVD allows viewers to sing-along using an extra 'Show Lyrics' Feature. The final ...

chiggy321 28.05.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Les Miserables (DVD)