Monday, October 13, 2008

Musical Movies

I've never really been a fan of musicals turned into movies. Until now, I haven't been able to put my finger on exactly why (well, other then the obvious fact that none of us goes around singing everything we say...), but I think perhaps I have finally figured it out.

We watched The Phantom of the Opera movie last night, and it really bothered me that the singing was obviously recorded in the studio and then lip-synched by the actors. I'm not saying it wasn't the actor's real voices - I have no idea. But, it was obviously lip-synched. That was very annoying.

Oh, and the guy that played the Phantom live here in Tulsa this summer was WAY better than the guy in the movie.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wicked next summer!

11 comments:

preacherman said...

I can't wait to see Wicked next summer too. My favorite musicals is Fiddler On The Roof.

Hannah said...

I love musicals. Who cares if they pre record it. it's still their real singing voices and it makes it easier to focus on acting. Oh and I like the phantom in the movie...he's cute! hehe. Well, I guess the guy from the musical was pretty cute too...did u see a real pic. of him w/o all the makeup...wow! Sorry to bore u with all that. lol

Brenda said...

If you read the story of the real actors in the movie, it might change your thoughts. Sure, it was prerecorded, but their stories of how they came to be in the movie are amazing. The phantom in it...nobody even knew he could sing. Not even his family. He tired out on a whim and made it! And the girl, just 17! Neither are or were famous before the movie. I think that is pretty cool.
I too...can't wait to see wicked. It will be amazing I'm sure!

weswaugh said...

I can't remember sitting through an entire American musical. I'm not knocking them, I'm just saying that I've never seen one that held my interest for more than a couple of minutes. But since our trip to India last year we've watched a Bollywood musical every couple of months, and I've actually sat through all of them. They're just completely nonsensical fun and the music sticks in your head for a week. Oh, and the actors blatantly lip synch to music recorded by others, which is even more nonsensical fun.

If you want a taste, check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaclyFdstlU

Linda L said...

I'm sorry Shane, but I have to disagree...Gerard Butler was WAY better in the movie. He is a stage/screen actor who tried out for the Phantom and got the part! He has been in numerous movies, (300, P.S. I Love You, Timeline, to name a few) and has a wicked Scottish accent! Besides the fact that he's handsome in a rakish sort of way ;D. As Brenda said, it is their recorded voices singing and no one sings those songs like Emmy Rossum. The night that we went to see the Phantom at the PAC the singing was ok and we learned that they had pre-recorded some of their songs too, so...
Just had to set the record straight!
I do agree about Wicked; sounds like it will be good.

Shane Coffman said...

You girls can sort out which Phantom was more handsome/cute...

; )

Brenda said...

Well, if we are talking about the actor...he is pretty handsome. However, the phantom...not so much. You know..that whole disconfigured face and everything. I guess I would just have to look at his "inner beauty" to get past it. However.....his voice...absolutely melts my heart!! ;o)

Linda L said...

I just go back to those abs on "300" and those were real, not CG! And yes, I loved his kind of husky voice too!

Amy Paden said...

I never realized that Gerald Butler was the Phantom.. I had to watch 300 like 5 times for a class a few months ago, and never made the connection!

The only movie/ stage performance combo I've seen is "Little Women", the book is definitely better than movie/opera. Kinda weird since I've seen probably close to 20 stage opera/musicals in the last few years!

Clumsy said...

hey i saw the phantom it was amazing

Brenda said...

But he's not DONNY OSMOND!!! ;O)