Manic Expression

So I was watching the Tony's last night, mostly for the Newsies performances and they were great but then, they had a performance from another musical based on a movie.  Ghost,  the song they chose was Unchained Melody. The performance was good  and all but I just can't shake the feeling that this is werid movie to adapt to stage.  It's not the first Swayzee film to be adapted because there was a Dirty Dancing musical but that seems more reasonable.   Now I'll admit I do like I do the Ghost effects for Sam by bluelighting him but still, it's seems odd. Here's one of the songs from the musical.      Although I have to say that I'm greatly disappointed that they didn't show the musical's version of the pottery scene. 

Really? Ghost? I can see it appealing to the "woman of the eighties" area, but outside of that... It kind of feel like the Planet of the Apes musical from the Simpsons... it just feels somewhat forced, you know?

For me, the weirdest musical willl always be American Idiot, based on a Green Day album. Because when I think Green Day, I think Broadway.

JotaKa at June 11, 2012 at 12:07 PM

Really? Ghost? I can see it appealing to the "woman of the eighties" area, but outside of that... It kind of feel like the Planet of the Apes musical from the Simpsons... it just feels somewhat forced, you know?

For me, the weirdest musical willl always be American Idiot, based on a Green Day album. Because when I think Green Day, I think Broadway.

Yeah, that I was my reaction to. Don't get me wrong, I think Ghost is a fine film but as I said, it's not the first Swayzee film I would think of for stage. Hell,  Legally Blonde was turned into a musical and that was pretty decent from that televised performance I  saw  but still,  I have nothing against movies being adapted into musicals as Newises is one I really want to see and that's based on a film but the film was musical unlike Ghost or Legally Blonde.   I mean my mom and I were joking, what's next, Roadhouse: The Musical.    Never mind, that already exists. but as a comedy.

Hi Moviefan12.  Well I'm not real up to date on the current crop of musicals, but the weirdest musical adaptation I know of is "it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!". Seriously!  They made Superman into a Broadway Musical in the '70s, I think... I'll find you a clip later-you'll LOL hard, my friend 

Les at June 11, 2012 at 1:06 PM

Hi Moviefan12.  Well I'm not real up to date on the current crop of musicals, but the weirdest musical adaptation I know of is "it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!". Seriously!  They made Superman into a Broadway Musical in the '70s, I think... I'll find you a clip later-you'll LOL hard, my friend 

I've seen The Cinema Snob review of that one and it reminds of Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark.  The rather infamous Spiderman musical that came out a few years back.

Chilton at June 11, 2012 at 1:48 PM

I was just about to mention the Spiderman musical. I guess it's true what they say--great minds think alike! Other than that, though, I can't think of another.

That's too funny and another that came to mind and perhaps the biggest bomb of all is Carrie based on the Stephen King novel and film of the same name.  

Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark comes to my mind. There was also Catch Me If You Can musical in the Tony last year, and although I was puzzled by their choice to adapt this film (or the book by Frank Abagnale), I liked it very much. The music had a really bright and light atmosphere, and it had strong performance of the leading actors. I am so happy that Aaron Tveit, who played Frank in the musical, is now Enjorlas in the upcoming Les Miserables movie.

Jason on the House at June 11, 2012 at 3:49 PM

Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark comes to my mind. There was also Catch Me If You Can musical in the Tony last year, and although I was puzzled by their choice to adapt this film (or the book by Frank Abagnale), I liked it very much. The music had a really bright and light atmosphere, and it had strong performance of the leading actors. I am so happy that Aaron Tveit, who played Frank in the musical, is now Enjorlas in the upcoming Les Miserables movie.

I recall hearing good things about Catch Me If You Can and I'm so looking forward to Les Mis

The cast of Les Mis looks so perfect, unlike the Phantom of the Opera where there were so many people who had no experience in singing.

By the way, have you heard of the recent musical adaptation of Matilda? I heard only good things about it, and I enjoyed some of the songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9yyiy7aqiE

Jason on the House at June 11, 2012 at 4:27 PM

The cast of Les Mis looks so perfect, unlike the Phantom of the Opera where there were so many people who had no experience in singing.

By the way, have you heard of the recent musical adaptation of Matilda? I heard only good things about it, and I enjoyed some of the songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9yyiy7aqiE

I saw that (I think you sent me). I didn't think it was good, but I didn't think it was bad either. Maybe it will pass as a somewhat tame attraction. I'm not betting on staying power on this one. Moreso because it's not a really well known flick (it got cult followers, but that's not exactly what the guy that thought of it had in mind). I would probably see a Miracle on 34th Street more than a Matilda musical

Jason on the House at June 11, 2012 at 4:27 PM

The cast of Les Mis looks so perfect, unlike the Phantom of the Opera where there were so many people who had no experience in singing.

By the way, have you heard of the recent musical adaptation of Matilda? I heard only good things about it, and I enjoyed some of the songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9yyiy7aqiE

No, I hadn't thanks for the link.

JotaKa at June 11, 2012 at 4:38 PM

Jason on the House at June 11, 2012 at 4:27 PM

The cast of Les Mis looks so perfect, unlike the Phantom of the Opera where there were so many people who had no experience in singing.

By the way, have you heard of the recent musical adaptation of Matilda? I heard only good things about it, and I enjoyed some of the songs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9yyiy7aqiE

I saw that (I think you sent me). I didn't think it was good, but I didn't think it was bad either. Maybe it will pass as a somewhat tame attraction. I'm not betting on staying power on this one. Moreso because it's not a really well known flick (it got cult followers, but that's not exactly what the guy that thought of it had in mind). I would probably see a Miracle on 34th Street more than a Matilda musical

Although a few songs from Matilda the Musical are quite odd and not enjoyable, but I really love the staging and choreography. It won the Olivier Award for Best Musical, and it is more faithful to the book than the 90's film starring Mara Wilson.

I think the Sister Act musical is one of the worst examples of creative bankruptcy on Broadway. 

Jim Bevan at June 27, 2012 at 1:36 PM

I think the Sister Act musical is one of the worst examples of creative bankruptcy on Broadway. 

It does seem odd but I've listened to some of the music and it was pretty good.  The biggest difference between the play and the film is that the play is set in the '70s.  I'd give it the benefit of the doubt seeing as Whoopi had a hand in working on it.

Silence!  The musical is the best example i can think of, based on the Silence of The Lambs.  This is a real off-broadway show about Hannibal Lector and Buffalo Bill, you can look it up, but it is played for laughs so it's still pretty entertaining.

Michael the Comic Nerd at June 29, 2012 at 4:32 AM

Silence!  The musical is the best example i can think of, based on the Silence of The Lambs.  This is a real off-broadway show about Hannibal Lector and Buffalo Bill, you can look it up, but it is played for laughs so it's still pretty entertaining.

I've heard about one on Live with Kelly.

Looks like we have two more to add to the list as it's been reported that Magic Mike may be headed to Broadway and a musical using Spice Girls music is going to start up in London.

Really? Seems like popular films instantly become the pot of gold for Broadway, just like Shrek.

In my opinion, Shrek's first film made fun of Broadway-ish musical numbers in Disney and other 90's animated films by using short musucal sequences. Later it was literally adapted into a Broadway musical!