Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats was one of the longest-running musicals on the West End and Broadway. But the film adaptation was in development hell for years until now. What we got is the most ill-conceived big-budget films in a long time when adapting it. One-night Victoria the White Cat (Francesca Hayward) gets dumped in a bin bag […]
Tag: Musical
Frozen II Review
Frozen is arguably Disney’s most successful animated film, it certainly is from a financial standpoint. Disney has been milking that film ever since by making shorts, licensing the property, and now the first theatrical sequel for one of their famous princesses. Since the events of the first film, Arendelle has entered into a time of peace, […]
Under the Weather? Disney’s The Little Mermaid Live Leaves Audiences with a Sinking Feeling
You dream about going up there, but that is a big mistake… There is nothing that better captures the magic of late 1980s/early 1990s Disney than the Disney character Sebastian trying to convince mermaid Ariel that the “human world” is a mess in the film The Little Mermaid, but Sebastian (this time played by Shaggy) […]
Britflix: Les Misérables (2012)
Tom Hooper has two upcoming projects due to come out in the near future: the BBC/HBO fantasy series His Dark Materials and an adaptation of Cats. This means it is a great time to revisit his adaptation of the musical Les Misérables. Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) was a man who was released on parole after serving a 19-year sentence for stealing […]
The Lion King Review
Disney has continued the mining of their animated classics for box-office gold. 2019 sees the studio going for a triple whammy of cinematic remakes – concluding with a “live-action” remake of The Lion King. In the African Savannah a new crown prince is revealed to the animals. The birth of Simba (JD McCracy/Donald Glover) means the power-hungry Scar […]
Yesterday Review
Yesterday is a film that has gathered some of the biggest talents in British entertainment. It was produced by Working Title Films, directed by Academy Award winner Danny Boyle, written by Richard Curtis, and centred on the music of The Beatles. Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling musician who is prepared to give it up after one […]
Aladdin Review
Aladdin is the latest live-action remake of a Disney animated classic. The studio has given themselves a titanic task considering the legacy of the 1992 film and Robin Williams’ performance as the Genie. Aladdin (Mena Massoud) is a thief with a heart of gold living on the streets of Agrabah. Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) is a […]
Rocketman Review
Sex, drugs and rock-and-roll: that’s what is on offer in the musical biopic based on the life of Elton John. Rocketman follows Elton John (Taron Egerton) from his young days as a music protégé to superstardom. On his journey he collaborates with songwriter Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell), falls in love with a man who uses him, […]
Fisherman’s Friends Review
Based on the story of an unlikely group of fishermen earning a record contract Fisherman’s Friends is the film tailored made for middle-class audiences across the British Isles. Danny (Daniel Mays) is a London based record producer who goes to Cornwall for a stag weekend. Whilst in the picturesque village of Port Isaac the party discover a group of fishermen who sing sea […]
Mary Poppins Returns Review
Disney’s version of Mary Poppins is one of their most beloved family films that has pleased generations. The songs are well known and the film has been spoofed countless times. After 54 years Disney has released a sequel. It has been 20 years since Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) looked after the Banks children and Britain is suffering from the […]