Regardless of the quality or nature of the play itself, as a movie this sucks.
One of the joys of live performance is seeing the wide view as well as focussing in on an individual. Attending Opera and musical theatre is all about feeling the energy of the live performance. Its not about perfect notes and multiple takes to splice together to get the definitive take. Movies allow a director to do just that - take multiple views/play/mix/merge and create something that you cant do in a single take on a single set.
This release manages to take miss the important parts of both genres and create a simplistic reproduction of live event. A bit like that poster of a famous painting you had in your student dorm.
When the director moves in for a close up, you find you lose view of what's happening in the background. The crowd obviously enjoy it, but as a viewer a further step removed, that live electricity is lost. If you cant see it live, then this is as decent substitute. If youve seen it and want to relive it - fine.It does the job well.
However, as a piece of cinema it fails. It adds nothing. Keep it on IMMD, but is somewhere outside of the Movie section. Because it just plain isnt one.
However, as a piece of cinema it fails. It adds nothing. Keep it on IMMD, but is somewhere outside of the Movie section. Because it just plain isnt one.