Years ago I made my high school students watch Pete's Dragon as punishment for making my life miserable. 20 minutes in, they were begging to do math instead.
Couple rough match-ups for me: I adore That Thing You Do, but losing a great classic to it is rough. Even rougher is Fosse versus 1776. There's no doubt that All That Jazz is a monumental self-portrait - but I hate wallowing in his self pity and misery. And damn it, I think 1776 is one the all-time greats.
I'm actually a huge fan of Pete's Dragon, but I can accept no one else is.
I will say, the match up between All That Jazz and 1776 is the first to actually make me upset, as I do truly love both of those movies (but All That Jazz is one of the greatest movies ever.)
I gotta say....don't judge Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again on your feelings of the first film. It is miles away superior in just about every way in that they made an actual FILM rather than a somewhat flimsily crafted production of the stage show like the first film. It's a beautiful tribute to mothers of all kinds and I'm sad it's going to lose this first round even though I too love A Star is Born (but would argue it's not a true musical but rather a movie with music in it).
That Thing You Do! is such a wonderful (pun intended) movie. It is imminently rewatchable with enough small bits that you can catch something new. It’s a warm fuzzy blanket.
I’m actually surprised it hasn’t been brought to the stage yet. Seems a pretty easy adaptation that would have a long post-Broadway shelf life with high school theatres and community groups.
I have a soft spot for Pete’s Dragon. It’s dumb but still kind of charming, and I love Elliott’s design. But it loses to Moulin Rouge!, no contest.
The recent revival of the South Pacific stage show was pretty great. Movie, not as much.
Todd Purdum’s book Something Wonderful is great and has a strong chapter on both the original musical and the film (and how R&H met and began collaborating, etc.)
I don't know that's it that underappreciated - it was nominated for nine Oscars, is in the Criterion Collection, and has a 4.3 rating on Letterboxd (pretty high for that app - Citizen Kane only has a 4.2.) But yes, it is a great movie.
I actually want to watch some of these now, having seen the clips. I didn't see Mamma Mia 2, because the first one was a delight and NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS A SEQUEL.
Years ago I made my high school students watch Pete's Dragon as punishment for making my life miserable. 20 minutes in, they were begging to do math instead.
I do genuinely think Candle on the Water is a lovely song, but...most of that movie is a real slog.
I will not abide this disrespect for the classics.
[smashing the That Thing You Do! button for the next month]
Couple rough match-ups for me: I adore That Thing You Do, but losing a great classic to it is rough. Even rougher is Fosse versus 1776. There's no doubt that All That Jazz is a monumental self-portrait - but I hate wallowing in his self pity and misery. And damn it, I think 1776 is one the all-time greats.
I'm actually a huge fan of Pete's Dragon, but I can accept no one else is.
I will say, the match up between All That Jazz and 1776 is the first to actually make me upset, as I do truly love both of those movies (but All That Jazz is one of the greatest movies ever.)
I voted Pete’s Dragon! Jim Dale! Mickey Rooney! Red Buttons! Shelley Winter! Helen Reddy!
I gotta say....don't judge Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again on your feelings of the first film. It is miles away superior in just about every way in that they made an actual FILM rather than a somewhat flimsily crafted production of the stage show like the first film. It's a beautiful tribute to mothers of all kinds and I'm sad it's going to lose this first round even though I too love A Star is Born (but would argue it's not a true musical but rather a movie with music in it).
The All That Jazz/1776 match-up is a knife in my teenaged heart.
Today is a day where I fear the right choices are not gonna be the winning choices.
That Thing You Do! is such a wonderful (pun intended) movie. It is imminently rewatchable with enough small bits that you can catch something new. It’s a warm fuzzy blanket.
I’m actually surprised it hasn’t been brought to the stage yet. Seems a pretty easy adaptation that would have a long post-Broadway shelf life with high school theatres and community groups.
I have a soft spot for Pete’s Dragon. It’s dumb but still kind of charming, and I love Elliott’s design. But it loses to Moulin Rouge!, no contest.
The recent revival of the South Pacific stage show was pretty great. Movie, not as much.
Todd Purdum’s book Something Wonderful is great and has a strong chapter on both the original musical and the film (and how R&H met and began collaborating, etc.)
"A Star is Born" is certainly a great movie that features music, but "Mamma Mia 2" is a great musical. Yes, I said it.
All That Jazz is a seriously underappreciated film. Such a head trip, and so well done.
I don't know that's it that underappreciated - it was nominated for nine Oscars, is in the Criterion Collection, and has a 4.3 rating on Letterboxd (pretty high for that app - Citizen Kane only has a 4.2.) But yes, it is a great movie.
I actually want to watch some of these now, having seen the clips. I didn't see Mamma Mia 2, because the first one was a delight and NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS A SEQUEL.
(whispers: Mamma Mia 2 is actually better than the original)