Every Little Step (2008) Review
A documentary made on the build up to the revival of A Chorus Line, featuring many hopefuls going through the audition process to star on Broadway on the new version of the show. It also looks into the history of the show and why every performer wants to be in it!
10 Years On . . . That’s Chicago
Chicago winning Best Picture in 2003 at the Oscars is often regarded as a mistake due to the other films nominated that year. I fell in love with it but then again I am just a little bit of musical geek. So obviously I still love it and have it as one of my all time favorite films. The academy showed its supposed love for musicals that year but Oliver! was the previous Best Picture winner for a musical so it had been a very long time between a musical winning the best picture award. I think it’s quite scary that it is now 10 years on and loved how the cast we involved in the 2013 ceremony. Especially the All That Jazz performance from Catherine Zeta Jones that totally made the whole show for me. It’s a great song one of the best openings to a musical and it also helped show that she still has it after more than 10 years!
Oscars 2013
Well I wasn’t really ready for this years Oscars and didn’t manage to see all of the films nominated for Best Picture or the top acting awards. So I didn’t really seem that bothered about catching the show or trying to stay up late to watch it. First time host Seth MacFarlane didn’t really make me any more excited about it all, don’t get me wrong I really do like Family Guy, but figured he would be a bit much for the Oscars.
One little thing I didn’t realise though was that musicals were going to play a big part in the show . . . Now if I had known this earlier . . .
Les Misérables (2012) Review
The massive worldwide musical hit takes to the big screen in a massive production with a fantastic cast. I have been looking forward to this film for so long now, and to start it certainly did not disappoint. It’s amazing and one of the best films I’ve seen, emotional from start to finish with incredible performances.
Oliver! (2012 UK Tour) Review
I have certainly managed to fit in a quite a few shows this year, and already booked up for plenty next year. I caught Oliver! on one of the last performances in Newcastle at the Theatre Royal, on the Friday night after a long stay. After seeing the show I can really understand why it had a long run in Newcastle (and the other places on the tour) due to the incredible stage set up and props used for the different scenes. It was forever changing and it really added to a fantastic show containing many much-loved songs.
West End: Wicked Review 2012
No one mourns the Wicked . . .
This is the second time I have seen Wicked. But the first time I have seen it in the West End. It had been over 3 years since I saw it on Broadway. Obviously I know all the words to the songs from listening to the soundtrack, but I had forgotten all about the little things. How funny the show is, how heartfelt and emotionally it is from start to finish. How some of the songs are staged as well, this is something you forget while just listening to the soundtrack. Although Defying Gravity you remember from start to finish, that doesn’t stop the tingling all over your body when it’s being sung. It really is the ultimate show stopping moment in a musical and an incredible way to end the first act and leave the audience sitting thinking wow and knowing what they have just seen is something very special.
Jesus Christ Superstar (2012 Tour)
Jesus Christ Superstar made its appearance in Newcastle at the Metro Radio Arena as part of it’s fantastic 2012 Arena tour. After a nationwide search was put out on TV in a search for Jesus Christ (I must admit that I did not watch very much of the TV show, saw small parts so had seen the winner Ben Forster sing). But other than the title song and I Don’t Know How To Love Him I didn’t know any of the other songs. Obviously everyone knows the story of Jesus, and how he sacrificed himself. But how this is worked into the songs is very clever!
Rock of Ages (2012) Review
Sherrie was just a small town girl . . . living in a lonely world and Drew was just a city boy . . . Ok you see where I am going with that, don’t stop believing!
Blood Brothers (2012 UK Tour) Review
The story of the Johnstone twins who were separated at birth. One given away to be brought up by an upper class family. Giving him the life his twin would never have. Their paths keep crossing and everything is done to keep them apart.
We are shown them dead at the very start of the show, so we know it is not going to be a nice happy ended. The first act really was lighthearted in the places and had some very funny moments when the boys were young. The second act is very different and takes some very emotional turns.
Harry Potter Challenge – Day 29: Did you enjoy A Very Potter Musical
I have not seen any of ‘A Very Potter Musical’
Stepping Out (1991) Review
Liza Minnelli stars as Mavis a dance class teacher, who has her work cut out with her class. Especially as they prepare to perform at a benefit.
Day 9 – favorite musical
This one actually works out tougher than I first thought as it means I have to choose between Chicago and The Sound of Music! Both of which are in my all time favorite film lists! So I am going to cheat and pick both of them as my favorite musical. I just cannot choose between My Favorite Things and All That Jazz. They are both my most watched films, as I have seen them probably hundreds of times each. Ok maybe a slight exaggeration, but probably not far off for The Sound of Music having watched it over and over from a very young age.
The power of musicals for me make you happy when you are feeling a bit down. The Sound of Music has always been my feel good film, never-failing to make me smile. Chicago is such a sexy musical with some fantastic songs that you cannot help but to sing along too!
30 Day Movie Challenge
Found this on Facebook and thought it would be a good idea for blogging!
Day 1: Favorite film
Day 2: Least favorite film
Day 3: Favorite comedy
Day 4: Favorite drama
Day 5: Favorite action
Day 6: Favorite horror
Day 7: Favorite animated feature
Day 8: Favorite thriller
Day 9: Favorite musical
Day 10: Favorite foreign film
Day 11: Favorite kid’s movie
Day 12: Favorite love story
Day 13: Favorite chick flick
Day 14: Favorite documentary
Day 15: Favorite play adaptation
Day 16: Favorite book adaptation
Day 17: Least favorite book adaptation
Day 18: Film that is your guilty pleasure
Day 19: Film that made you cry the hardest
Day 20: Movie with your favorite actress
Day 21: Movie with your favorite actor
Day 22: Movie you wish you could live in
Day 23: Movie that inspires you
Day 24: Movie with your favorite soundtrack
Day 25: Movie with the most beautiful scenery
Day 26: Movie you’re most embarrassed to say you like
Day 27: Movie with your favorite villain
Day 28: Movie with your favorite hero
Day 29: First movie you ever remember watching
Day 30: Last movie you watched
Oscars 2011 – Live Blog
Live updates with my thoughts on the 2011 Oscars!
- Well I made the decision to watch E! for the red carpet coverage, which I have no idea if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Ready for the Oscar ceremony to start on Sky Movies.
- Alec Baldwin included in the opening scenes with James Franco and Anne Hathaway. Appearing in all the best picture nominees. Brilliant start!
- Ahhh Morgan Freeman making a little appearance too!
- Very clever editing Franco and Hathaway into the films!
- Hugh Jackman looked like he wanted to be back on the stage!
- Getting the parents and grandparents involved. Very funny! Especially Franco’s grandmother saying Marky Mark! Mark Wahlberg, love it!
- A look back at ‘Gone with the Wind’ the ultimate classic <3
- Tom Hanks presenting ART DIRECTION – WINNER - Alice in Wonderland
- CINEMATOGRAPHY – WINNER – Inception
- Credit given to Christopher Nolan!
- Awww Kirk Douglas! Standing ovation for him. He’s just incredible for his age. Very funny with both Franco and Hathaway. Struggling to speak bless him!
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS – WINNER – MELISSA LEO for The Fighter
- Now for a very over the top speech . . . Or maybe not, she actually sounds very nervous. Just dropped the f-word too.
- Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis presenting. Timberlake claiming to be Banksy!
- BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM – WINNER – THE LOST THING
- BEST ANIMATED FEATURE – WINNER – Toy Story 3
- Hathaway talking about the very first Academy Awards
- Presenters Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem . . . wearing old school white tux’s.
- BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY – WINNER – The Social Network – Aaron Sorkin
- BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY – WINNER – The King’s Speech – David Seidler
- Oldest person to win that award, he hopes its broken quickly and often.
- Hathaway performing musical number, directed at Hugh Jackman . . . Using ‘On My Own’ from Les Mis. Franco comes on in a very pink dress. Charlie Sheen joke!
- Helen Mirren and Russell Brand presenting
- BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM – WINNER - IN A BETTER WORLD (DENMARK)
- Reese Witherspoon presenting. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR – WINNER - CHRISTIAN BALE for The Fighter
- He actually sounds rather nervous with his speech, Dicky Eklund is there too
Very emotional in his speech, especially towards his wife and daughter. - Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman presenting . . . Aussie rules!
- BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – WINNER – THE SOCIAL NETWORK
- SOUND MIXING – WINNER – INCEPTION
- SOUND EDITING – WINNER – INCEPTION
Burlesque (2010) Review
Ali (Aguilera) is from Iowa and one day decides she’s leaving to go to LA. In order to fulfill her dreams of performing for people. But remember as the tagline says, it takes a Legend to make a star. That legend in this film being Tess played by none other than Cher. Who in my opinion steals each scene she is in!
Golden Globes 2011
I have grown to enjoy the Golden Globes over the past few years, possibly even more than Oscars. They seem to be more relaxed and fun. Everyone seems to have a good time. This year the big talking point fell around Ricky Gervais who was hosting, some of his jokes not going down very well with the audience. This then lead to him disappearing for more than an hour from the ceremony, leading to talk that he was stopped from coming on to deliver monologue.
So the talk surrounding the Globes is that Gervais will not be asked to host the show for the third time in a row. I personally found his jokes to be rather amusing and I am not usually a massive fan of his. But I guess for the American audience Gervais’ still was a bit extreme. Best moment had to be introducing Bruce Willis as Ashton Kutcher’s dad!
My favorite speech had to be from Robert De Niro when he picked up the Cecil B. DeMille Award (lifetime achievement). He managed to mix thanking people, talking about his career with a very heart warming feel and jokes put in to even it all out. He really is something else!
Colin Firth continued his collection of awards for his performance in “The King’s Speech” and looks almost certain to pick up the Oscar next month. His speech was also just fantastic, being very funny as well. It really is brilliant to see Colin getting the recognition that he so rightly deserves.
My favorite moment had to come from Michael Douglas appearing on stage to present the Best Film (Drama) award. He received a standing ovation from everyone in the room and responded with “there has to be an easier way to get a standing ovation”. It was brilliant to see him on a stage a few days after being given the all clear from his cancer battle. Definetly the most tear jerking moment in the whole ceremony. An icon to all!
The Winners are . . .
Golden Globes 2011 – Nominations
The nominations for the 2011 Golden Globe awards were announced today. The nominee’s are:
Best Picture: Drama
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The King’s Speech
The Social Network
Best Picture: Comedy or Musical
Alice in Wonderland
Burlesque
The Kids Are Alright
Red
The Tourist
45 Years of the Sound of Music!
The hills are alive with the sound of music, with songs they have sung for 45 years . . . yes that’s right one of the most loved and well-known films of all time is 45 years young. To celebrate that another special DVD is being released along with the a Blu Ray Disc release! (Yes I shall be purchasing that one sometime soon).
Oprah reunited the cast for the first time since the film came out and it really shows just how special it is. It feels good to see the Von Trapp family all together again. I am not afraid to admit that “The Sound of Music” has always been and will always be one of my favorite ever films. It’s one of my feel good films that really helps me when I feel down.
I’ve watched it from since I can remember and know all of the words off by heart . . . that’s the dialogue as well as the songs. Julie Andrews is just incredible and I cannot believe if people have not seen this film! I just think it really does have a bit of everything. It even makes me cry with the romance between Maria and the Captain.
Musical Moments 1 – Let’s Go To The Movies
The first in the Musical Moments feature which I mentioned a little while ago now, that Monday is Musical Moments day! I thought the best way to start this all off ties in very well with the name of this blog. The “Let’s Go To The Movies” scene from Annie. It really is a brilliant scene from the film, which see’s little Annie visit the cinema for the first time and good musical fashion they all make a big song and dance out of it!
So let’s go to the movies . . .
Performed by Aileen Quinn, Ann Reinking, & Albert Finney
Catherine Zeta Jones – Tony Award Winner 2010
With my major lack of updates over the past few months, I missed posting about one of my favorite actresses who has taken Broadway by storm with her debut in A Little Night Music. Which she won the Tony Award for best leading actress in a musical. She also performed Send in the Clowns that night and she really is a very talented performer.
I have been a huge fan of Catherine from the first time I saw her sing “All That Jazz” from “Chicago” the movie musical in which she won her Oscar for. Just a shame I came home from the USA a month or so before Catherine made her debut as I would have made sure I went to see her on the stage. Lets hope that she signs up for another movie musical or even makes her way back to where it all began on the West End stage!
I love her reaction when she found out that she won the award, total classic moment. Looks like she was trying to get Michael to go onto the stage with her!
Desert Island DVDs
Whilst trying to decide which films to include, I decided the biggest factor had to be if your able to watch it over and over again. I mean your only going to have 8 DVDs to chose from. Pointless having DVDs in there if you could not watch them over and over.
In putting together my list they had to have a good story, acting and interesting characters who you could either relate to or are very likeable.
My initial idea was to narrow it down towards the 8 films by separating the films into different genres. Then attempting to have at least one from each genre, giving a wider variety of film choice. But I am not entirely sure that actually happened when I look at my finished list.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
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Thought provoking and complex with a very interesting concept.
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Brilliant performances from Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey
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Has to be watched many times for you to really notice a lot of things in it.
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Makes you wonder if you would erase someone
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Confuses you so much throughout
American Beauty
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“Look Closer . . . ” – tagline really explains it all, that you must look closer as life isn’t always what it first appears.
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You must look closer at everything.
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Brilliant performances from all members of the cast, who work so well together.
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How midlife crisis can go
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You will never look at a plastic bag blowing in the wind in the same way again!
The Sound of Music
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Feel good film you can sing along to and enjoy at any ages.
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The love story, between Maria and the Captain.
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This is the film I watch when I feel a little down or ill, as it makes me smile.
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Julie Andrews being just amazing
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Heartwarming
The Dark Knight
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Amazing performances and storyline
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I saw it 3 times at the cinema (holding the record for most cinema viewings for a film)
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The Joker & Batman
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Thought provoking in the sense of terrorism
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Amazing Batman installment
Million Dollar Baby
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I tried to resist all temptation of including my favorite film in this list, but the pressure got to me and I decided to include it.
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Amazing performances and a storyline which really got to me.
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The score by Clint Eastwood is just brilliant
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The trio of Swank/Eastwood/Freeman
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Best Picture Oscar winner
As Good As It Gets
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Jack Nicholson at his very best in a best actor winning role.
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Such a funny film with sarcastic and very witty humour used.
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Helen Hunt in an Oscar-winning role
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The dog - amazing in so many ways
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The amazing lines Nicholson delivers
Beaches
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The ultimate tale of friendship lasting and how you get past disagreements and heartache.
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Tear-jerking
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“Wind Beneath My Wings”
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Bette Midler putting in a believable and brilliant performance
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Totally heart-breaking
Rocky Horror Picture Show
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Yes I am very much part of the Rocky Horror fan club
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This has to be one of the ultimate cult films.
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Launched the Time Warp
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Brilliance of Tim Curry in Drag
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“Give yourself over to absolute pleasure”
Movie Quote of the Day 70
Today’s quote is just totally true . . . and comes from musical “Mary Poppins” sorry to all the men out there haha.
“Though we adore men individually, we agree that as a group they are rather stupid.”
