Tag: Challenges

Movie Musical Challenge: Chicago

Posted July 28, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. So the eighth movie for the challenge is Chicago (2002), starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Renée Zellweger and Richard Gere. Last year was the first time I watched this film despite having the soundtrack and knowing all the songs off by heart. And I love the soundtrack. In a way I think it is even better than the film because there are no words to get in the way and I can use my imagination. Just saying, sometimes not knowing is better than being in the know. But this film is incredible. I love the set pieces and how Roxy uses her imagination to turn everything into a stage. And despite everything she is quite good at manipulating the press. I honestly love ever song in this show but I guess the classic/favourite include: ‘All that Jazz’, ‘Cell Block Tango’ and ‘Razzle Dazzle’, but all the songs are incredibly catchy […]

Movie Musical Challenge: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Posted July 12, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. So the seventh movie for the challenge is the gorgeous Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell. This was a fantastic film to watch and every time I watch my feet start tapping and I just want to sing along. I love every song in this musical, but my two favourite songs are Bless Your Beautiful Hide and Sobbin’ Women, if I was allowed while watching I would just put these songs are repeat. Fortunately or not (depending on your point of view) I’m never allowed to put my favourite scenes on repeat. But it is not just the music that make this film so good. It is also the dancing. The Barn Raising scene in particular is spectacular as the brothers dance and do acrobatics and balancing acts in an attempt to win over the girls. Also there is a scene when the brothers are a bit down and […]

Movie Musical Challenge: Singin’ In The Rain

Posted June 28, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. So the sixth movie for the challenge is Singin’ In The Rain (1952), starring Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. Last time I wondered how it had taken me so long to watch this epic movie and this time round it was no different. This time I knew what to expect and was able to watch the film in more detail than before. This is a lighthearted and fun deception of Hollywood in the 1920s during the transition from silent pictures to ‘talkies’. Resulting in some hilarious situations and causing some of the dilemmas in the film. All the songs here are pretty beautiful but my favourites were ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ (obviously), ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ and ‘All I Do Is Dream of You’. The dancing in this movie is also pretty special. And it is hard to imagine that Debbie Reynolds was not really considered a […]

Movie Musical Challenge: Meet Me In St. Louis

Posted June 16, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. So the fifth movie for the challenge is Meet Me In St. Louis (1944), starring Judy Garland. I loved this film the first time around and watching it again there was a sense of nostalgia and somehow Judy Garland managed to captivate me more than the last time. I still loved the songs, but the two that stood out were “The Boy Next Door”, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”. Every song is brilliant but it something about these two songs that are haunting and somehow manage to sum up Meet Me In St. Louis. There is a quaint and nostalgic look at a time of innocence and optimism when something such as the World Fair coming to your town is the most exciting thing to happen. From the summer of 1903 and spring of 1904, we follow the Smith sisters as they go through rites of passage as each […]

Movie Musical Challenge: The Band Wagon

Posted April 5, 2017 by Charlotte in Movie Musical Challenge! / 0 Comments

For this Movie Musical Challenge I’m using the AFI’s 25 Best Musicals List to try and work my way through. The challenge is throughout the year and once watched I’ll put my thoughts up on the blog. So the fourth movie for the challenge is The Band Wagon (1953), starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. One of my favourite songs was ”That’s Entertainment!’ a song that is hugely and instantly recognisable. And the creepy “Triplets” song which is performed on knees – this song is somehow entertaining but in a sinister way. Backstage shenanigans mix effortlessly with show tunes. And the dances seem to fit right in. For me this is a hidden gem. Despite being a classic it doesn’t seem to be on everyone’s to watch list. For this is was a good thing as I didn’t know what to expect so expectation were low. This is a great little musical to watch on a rainy weekend. This film show sometimes its not the best idea to jump on the Band Wagon and follow the crowd. Sometimes you have to be your own self […]

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