Movie Review: The Greatest Showman
Jan. 22nd, 2018 01:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jennariaFirst of all: I am very sad that they didn't have Hugh Jackman even hint at 'This is a circus, not a factory!' [/les miserable reference]
Second of all: the soundtrack is lovely! And the movie reminded both Wife and I of Moulin Rouge, except with original music. Downside: wow, Barnum, you can put down the Idiot Ball any time now.
The Moulin Rouge comparison is because the movie is highly stylized: bright colors, modern music, not really caring about 'realism' (the film is set during the Victorian era, but you could not prove it by the music or choreography). The soundtrack is new music, rather than covers/mashups, but I sat there listening to the first song, 'The Greatest Show,' and idly wondering if they'd gotten the song from Fall Out Boy. (Wikipedia says no.) Basically, I loved the musical numbers, totally-not-period choreography and all.
The plotline, on the other hand...Barnum literally spends three quarters of the movie absolutely sure that the world revolves around him, and refusing to acknowledge that this is not actually a great way of going through life. He's even called out on it! And then he's still utterly surprised when it comes back around to bite him in the ass! Oy, I say grumpily.
Seriously, the plot is White Men Astonished That Other People Might Have Feelings. How much you'll enjoy the film depends on your relative tolerance for that plotline. :wry:
Second of all: the soundtrack is lovely! And the movie reminded both Wife and I of Moulin Rouge, except with original music. Downside: wow, Barnum, you can put down the Idiot Ball any time now.
The Moulin Rouge comparison is because the movie is highly stylized: bright colors, modern music, not really caring about 'realism' (the film is set during the Victorian era, but you could not prove it by the music or choreography). The soundtrack is new music, rather than covers/mashups, but I sat there listening to the first song, 'The Greatest Show,' and idly wondering if they'd gotten the song from Fall Out Boy. (Wikipedia says no.) Basically, I loved the musical numbers, totally-not-period choreography and all.
The plotline, on the other hand...Barnum literally spends three quarters of the movie absolutely sure that the world revolves around him, and refusing to acknowledge that this is not actually a great way of going through life. He's even called out on it! And then he's still utterly surprised when it comes back around to bite him in the ass! Oy, I say grumpily.
Seriously, the plot is White Men Astonished That Other People Might Have Feelings. How much you'll enjoy the film depends on your relative tolerance for that plotline. :wry: