There is a fresh inventiveness since Disney moved away from the “women as princesses” model of animation. Pixar aside, recent Disney movies have taken the traditional idea of a princess and turned them into heroes in their own right, often … Continue reading Encanto (2021) Review
Singin in the Rain comes from a time when movie musicals were stories with music added and Singin’ in the Rain is one of the best of them. This is because it showcases the classic talents of Gene Kelly, who … Continue reading Singin’ in the Rain (1952) Review
Its difficult to take West Side Story seriously. From the opening sequence, where we are to believe that there are rival gangs in the West Side of New York, who fight over territory and are about to erupt into an … Continue reading West Side Story (1961) Review
Hairspray was a musical written back in the 80s and it shows. Not because of the comedy or the songs, both of which are passable and certainly catchy, but because it delivers a story which is more than a little … Continue reading Hairspray (2007) Review
Taron Egerton is fast becoming one of the most exciting stars in Hollywood. From Eggsy in Kingsman through to Robin Hood, he has shown he has the required action credentials but it his work here as Elton John which shows … Continue reading Rocketman (2019) Review
You could never accuse Baz Luhrmann of being unoriginal. From the opening of Moulin Rouge! you get the fast paced, frantic and chaotic nature that has become his trademark since he took Shakespeare’s most famous play and gave it a … Continue reading Moulin Rouge! (2001) Review
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is a difficult one to review. It is a movie comprised of segments; individual stories with a western theme. They vary from comedy, to drama, to the macabre and back again. Each one has it’s own … Continue reading Oscars 2019: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) Review
The fact that Disney can stay relevant and fresh with something as tired and out-dated as a “princess” is testament to their unique story-telling. Moana is not your typical, long flowing dress and damsel-in-distress type princess. Moana is a tough, … Continue reading Review Bonanza: Moana (2016) Review
As long as you like musicals, you’ll love The Greatest Showman. As long as you are well aware that you are going to see a movie where each scene is a link to another epic musical number which will involve dancing, … Continue reading Review 700! – The Greatest Showman (2017)
Regardless of how you feel about musical cinema, once the opening song of La La Land begins and a huge choreographed set-piece atop cars reaches it’s conclusion, I defy anyone to not at least be tapping their feet. If you allow it, … Continue reading Oscars Month: La La Land (2016) Review
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