Chicago

[Ewan's My Man]

Originally posted by -*Forever*-
Next Friday here... it was in the paper ^_^

*stares* *glares*

*packs bags* We can see it together!!!

[callmetootie]

I saw the film last night in NYC (it's only playing at one theatre, and has sold out every performance). It was between good and average. Renee Zellweger was overall quite good as Roxie, but overexposed and given mostly weak dialouge. Catherine Zeta-Jones stole every scene that she was in as Velma, but was only in it for 25 or 30 minutes total. Queen Latifah was fun and likable as Mama Morton, but John C Reiley's Amos was boring and just plain boring. Richard Gere was miscast, but made a good effort. The direction and choreography were nice, but did little or no justice to the Broadway musical. I'd give it a C+. Go see it just for the excellent score and group of players.

[Ewan's My Man]

I wanna see it soooooooooo much

[-*Forever*-]

Originally posted by Ewan's My Man


*stares* *glares*

*packs bags* We can see it together!!!

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe [watch it won't open and I'll have to wait ANOTHER week]

[Cactus Jack]

I just saw it today!!!!!!!


I loved it!!!!!!!!

[Vera-Ellen]

I saw the movie for the second time last night... first time, the day it was released in Boston. I wrote this review the night I came home from seeing it the first time. I was on a complete high. I enjoyed it even more the second time, picking up on little things I missed the first time around. It was done brilliantly. As one of the biggest fans of the stage musical, I can vouch to the fact the film adaption is WORTH seeing. Here's the review:


(copy and pasted from my review at Broadway.com)

OMG! That was the BEST *beeping* movie I have ever seen in my whole *beeping* life! Seriously, the best movie ever created while I was actually physically on this earth. It's the best movie musical ever made since the golden age of movie musicals! I was just in AWE the entire time. I don't know if I dare say this... but... I enjoyed it more than the stage version itself.


SPOILERS BELOW... do not read if you don't want to know! You've been WARNED!!!


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Let's start with RENEE! OH - MY - GOD! I'm officially a big, huge, crazy-ass Renee fan now! That woman... BLEW ME AWAY with her portrayal. She had me laughing my *beep* off, yet the entire time I could totally feel the internal conflict Roxie faced... her burning desire to live out her passion of performing, her betrayal felt towards Fred, her shock and confusion after she shot him, and her bewilderment once she was locked in the cell... the fear when she learned the reality of the consequences of her actions... the true admiration she held towards Velma and her pride being crushed once Velma shot her down... the spark in her eye as she reveled in her glory and gave Velma a taste of her own medicine (damn, their banter rocked my world)!

All in all, hers was the most HONEST performance I've seen given. She gave Roxie vulnerability... a sensitivity and naivety that made her completely enduring and a lovable character. I haven't seen that in Roxie since Ginger Rogers played her in the 40's rendition of "Roxie Hart." As aforementioned, her voice isn't the STRONGEST, but where she lacks in power vocally, she makes up in her acting prowess. She is now to me "the woman with a thousand faces." She really understood the character and it showed -- I can't possibly convey how effective her performance was... what an impression she left on me. This woman deserves all the awards she can conjure up from this performance! Kudos Renee, you've made me once again want to portray Miss Hart with a passion!


Catherine Zeta-Jones = superb. Not that I really doubted she would be. I have to admit, I originally had a negative connotation going into this movie, thus my idol, Miss Neuwirth, would and always will remain THE Velma Kelly in little Bethy-Lynne's eyes. As you grow up and realize, "Hey, she's not the ONLY Velma..." you start to give others a little benefit of the doubt, hence my attitude towards CZJ. Well, I will honestly and openly admit that after seeing the movie, I wouldn't have cast ANYONE ELSE in the role. She complimented Renee's "Roxie" beautifully and damn, does that woman have an over abundance of talent. I must say I was a bit disappointed to some degree. They downplayed the role of Velma to some point, yet I understand WHY this was necessary. Let's face it... the book... the actual story WAS focused on... Roxie. She *is* the star, though the recent revival has showcased the role of Velma in the spotlight. They couldn't have done it any more perfectly with all the musical numbers in Roxie's head... it was pure genius... still, the character of Miss Kelly was minimized, which saddens Bethy a little. So, I went in expecting a little more and got a little less, but was pleased nevertheless. As previously stated, both girls had wonderful chemistry and worked so well off each other. It doesn't get better than that.

Richard Gere: Who knew the man could sing?! Not ME! This has to be one of the STRONGEST acting cast in a musical... they all took their characters and made them everything you could ever imagine them to be... Richard WAS Billy Flynn. I mean, he couldn't have gotten any more arrogant or c*cky (c*cky is a forbidden word, haha), yet you still wanted to root for him all the way! That is Billy, to me... the man you love to hate. One of those men you look at in real life and go, "What scum... what a disgusting, slime ball, jackass!" Yet, you can't help but love him. I was pleasantly surprised with Gere's performance. (We all knew he could act... but he just looked like he belonged! I wasn't... expecting that kind of reaction, basically.)


Queen Latifah... my biggest shocker! Whoa! She could easily be my favorite Mama! She totally hammed it up and her voice was PERFECT for the role. *blushes* I never thought I'd actually ADMIT to loving a pop star in a Broadway show... *sigh* Obviously, there's still talent out there... it just hasn't been showcased in the crap they make today for movies! We need some more "Chicago's" in our lives!


My favorite numbers... CELL BLOCK TANGO! OMG... I wanted to cry I was SO happy during that scene. I LOVED the special effects. I LOVED the dancing between the cell bars. I LOVED the dancing. I LOVED Roxie's expressions... staring at them all in awe... she looked like a little kid in a candy store. I have to say... that's one of the biggest messages I got from the movie that I never really picked up on in the stage version. I think Roxie really envisioned the whole situation as empowerment, of sorts. She honestly didn't believe she did anything wrong... in her mind, she did the right thing by ridding the world of this low-life bastard. It was like the time of womens movements, and this was her stand in empowering herself in a "man's world." I always assumed that on some level, but it was just enlightening seeing Renee's portrayal and how I interpreted that from her reactions to each situation. Perhaps I interpreted it wrong, but that's what I got out of it. The point was, I think that's where Renee's "awe-struck" looks came from during this number. These were women who inspired her and in her eyes, were to be admired. In the stage version, I just always got the feel that Roxie was a tough bitch who thought she was right because she had no conscience and was all out for herself. I didn't get that feel from the movie. I felt Roxie was a lost little girl, trapped in a whore's body, who lead a crappy life and just wanted something more out of it... any publicity at all made her feel special, and that's what she craved more than anything else. I think the movie devulged into her character just enough to make her a sympathetic character, whereas I never found her to be one in the past.

*sigh* There's so much more to say. I also LOVED "Hot Honey Rag" and "Roxie Hart." The costumes in HHR rocked my world. The dance was relatively the exact choreography straight from the stage... they used little guys in the end which I found clever! Then they "shot" at the lights in the background, in which most turned off, only leaving enough lights to spell "Roxie & Velma." It was just so cool. The whole movie was so phenomenal. I have to go back ASAP! I'm feeling deprived. I can't go on... there's too many things to comment on and too little time!


GO SEE THE MOVIE, PEOPLE! AH!


<3 Bethany-Lynne <3

PS: OH! I forgot about "Both Reached For the Gun." THAT WAS INCREDIBLE! This sounds more insulting than complimentary, but Renee ACTUALLY looked like a DUMMIE! It was incredible. Her facial expressions were unbelievable... she is SUCH a gifted actress. OMG, I can't wait for this DVD... I can't WAIT!

[Ricardos4ever]

I thought the movie was excellent. I can't wait to see it again! With "Moulin Rouge" and now this movie, I hope Hollywood continues this trend of making musicals once again.

[Ewan's My Man]

Originally posted by Ricardos4ever
With "Moulin Rouge" and now this movie, I hope Hollywood continues this trend of making musicals once again.

That movie was VERRRRRRRRRY well casted

[Georgia's on my Mind]

i want to see it...but probarly won't till it comes out on tape

[Brandon]

I downloaded it on KaZaA. it's great! the version i downloaded is DVD quality, the picture is awesome! the movie is awesome too.

[Ewan's My Man]

Originally posted by Buffy&Angelique
I downloaded it on KaZaA. it's great! the version i downloaded is DVD quality, the picture is awesome! the movie is awesome too.

AWESOME!!!!!!!

[Georgia's on my Mind]

Originally posted by Buffy&Angelique
I downloaded it on KaZaA. it's great! the version i downloaded is DVD quality, the picture is awesome! the movie is awesome too.

you can d.l movies on kazaa? *goes to look*

[-*Forever*-]

Originally posted by Buffy&Angelique
I downloaded it on KaZaA. it's great! the version i downloaded is DVD quality, the picture is awesome! the movie is awesome too.

*screams* SCREEN CAPS!!!!! LOOKIE!!!!!!!

[-*Forever*-]

More!!

[Georgia's on my Mind]

Originally posted by -*Forever*-


*screams* SCREEN CAPS!!!!! LOOKIE!!!!!!!

where? how? help? ahh!