Dreamgirls

[Beach Runner]

I wondered if something DIVA-ish was going on there. They added that song specifically for Beyonce' there at the end, and kinda made it more her story. Which meant that there would be TWO show stopping heart pounding songs, which I quickly noticed, but also didn't care.
Those of us that know the show, know where the focus was with the play. Yes the focus shifted to the beanpole DIVA, but MAN, what a powerful number that is. My heart was racing.
I'm going to compare this movie to Will and Grace and Life in Sowal. Bear with me on this one.:roll:
Will and Grace is supposedly about Will and Grace, but anyone who ever watched it did so to see Jack and Karen.
In Dreamgirls, it is billed as starring Jamie Foxx and Beyonce'. Yeah, WHATEVER! The stars are clearly Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy.

Now for the Sowal comparison. I have lived on that beach/area for 23 years. I've seen it go through many changes. I finally left because I was heartbroken to see it become a suburb of Atlanta and Birmingham (I don't mean that in a bad way, but the personality of Seagrove and Grayton are almost gone.) But I don't ***** and moan. What I tell people that whine is this, "Let's all just be thankful that we are fortunate enough to have been part of a great era that once was, to have been a part of the greatest place on earth. Cherish those memories".

Same with Dreamgirls. This is a movie. Based on the play. This is NOT the play. Otherwise, they would have filmed the play on stage. Like they should have done with RENT. (Though I love the movie as well) A lot had to be changed in the Dreamgirls to make it more accessible to a younger audience.

I work with a diverse age group. I'm right smack in the middle (43). I grew up with Diana Ross and the Supremes, and The Jackson Five. But these kids today don't even know who those people are. But they know who Beyonce is. They also don't know how Black Music was stolen and revamped to suit a white audience. They don't know the civil rights movement. I almost wish I myself were 10 or 20 years older. If it weren't for Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson, they probably wouldn't even go see it.

Man, I've gone off on another tangent haven't I? Someone please check my medication! Where are my Pirin Tablets?:funn:

Good points.

 

[Mermaid]

I wondered if something DIVA-ish was going on there. They added that song specifically for Beyonce' there at the end, and kinda made it more her story. Which meant that there would be TWO show stopping heart pounding songs, which I quickly noticed, but also didn't care.
Those of us that know the show, know where the focus was with the play. Yes the focus shifted to the beanpole DIVA, but MAN, what a powerful number that is. My heart was racing.
I'm going to compare this movie to Will and Grace and Life in Sowal. Bear with me on this one.:roll:
Will and Grace is supposedly about Will and Grace, but anyone who ever watched it did so to see Jack and Karen.
In Dreamgirls, it is billed as starring Jamie Foxx and Beyonce'. Yeah, WHATEVER! The stars are clearly Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy.

Now for the Sowal comparison. I have lived on that beach/area for 23 years. I've seen it go through many changes. I finally left because I was heartbroken to see it become a suburb of Atlanta and Birmingham (I don't mean that in a bad way, but the personality of Seagrove and Grayton are almost gone.) But I don't ***** and moan. What I tell people that whine is this, "Let's all just be thankful that we are fortunate enough to have been part of a great era that once was, to have been a part of the greatest place on earth. Cherish those memories".

Same with Dreamgirls. This is a movie. Based on the play. This is NOT the play. Otherwise, they would have filmed the play on stage. Like they should have done with RENT. (Though I love the movie as well) A lot had to be changed in the Dreamgirls to make it more accessible to a younger audience.

I work with a diverse age group. I'm right smack in the middle (43). I grew up with Diana Ross and the Supremes, and The Jackson Five. But these kids today don't even know who those people are. But they know who Beyonce is. They also don't know how Black Music was stolen and revamped to suit a white audience. They don't know the civil rights movement. I almost wish I myself were 10 or 20 years older. If it weren't for Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson, they probably wouldn't even go see it.

Man, I've gone off on another tangent haven't I? Someone please check my medication! Where are my Pirin Tablets?:funn:

We saw the movie tonight (I hadn't seen the play since I'm pretty well exclusively a Sondheim fan when it comes to musicals) and I'm glad we did because now I know what you were talking about in your post. I thought the movie was wonderful from start to finish. One of the most interesting things was watching the passage of the years music-wise and fashion-wise. And the background clip of the Detroit riots! That was powerful. Those were incredibly tumultuous years and how the music echoed what was going on! I think this generation of kids, who did not live through those years, will not realise how much history is in this movie.

DA, your comment about black music being stolen--did you catch the line early in the movie: "Who was the first to sing Hound Dog?" "Elvis Presley." "NO, it was Big Mama Thorton." Sigh. It's been going on a long time. Elvis took Big Mama's blues and made them palatable to the Ed Sullivan audience. The "Dreamettes" and "Eddie Thunder" weren't the first.

 

[DD]

We saw the movie tonight (I hadn't seen the play since I'm pretty well exclusively a Sondheim fan when it comes to musicals) and I'm glad we did because now I know what you were talking about in your post. I thought the movie was wonderful from start to finish. One of the most interesting things was watching the passage of the years music-wise and fashion-wise. And the background clip of the Detroit riots! That was powerful. Those were incredibly tumultuous years and how the music echoed what was going on! I think this generation of kids, who did not live through those years, will not realise how much history is in this movie.

DA, your comment about black music being stolen--did you catch the line early in the movie: "Who was the first to sing Hound Dog?" "Elvis Presley." "NO, it was Big Mama Thorton." Sigh. It's been going on a long time. Elvis took Big Mama's blues and made them palatable to the Ed Sullivan audience. The "Dreamettes" and "Eddie Thunder" weren't the first.

Well, Mermy, I think it's gonna be a good weekend for a movie, so I think I'll go. I love history(60's/70's) and I love music, so this should be right up my alley.

 

[Mermaid]

Well, Mermy, I think it's gonna be a good weekend for a movie, so I think I'll go. I love history(60's/70's) and I love music, so this should be right up my alley.

DD, I've never been much for the Motown sound so I saw the movie only because everyone raved about it here and in the papers. Well, the music is amazing!! I can't wait to go out tomorrow and buy the soundtrack. :clap_1:

 

[DD]

DD, I've never been much for the Motown sound so I saw the movie only because everyone raved about it here and in the papers. Well, the music is amazing!! I can't wait to go out tomorrow and buy the soundtrack. :clap_1:

I was never a huge Motown/Supremes fan either, but I am sure this will bring back lots of memories and everyone raving has definitely peaked my interest. I'll report in after I see it.

 

[Beach Runner]

Like they should have done with RENT. (Though I love the movie as well)

Coincidentally we adored RENT on Broadway as well. We've seen it several times there. Also at The Fox in the ATL. Beach Jacket and I cry every time. We have the DVD, too. We cry every time.

Today for you tomorrow for me (we *love* Angel), 525600 minutes, let's open up a restaurant in Sante Fe, la vie boheme, one thousand kisses (Jesse L. Martin from Law and Order sounded awesome), etc. Love all of the songs except that we never liked the Maureen moo thing very much.

And we also get to drool over Taye Diggs in the RENT DVD. And then we watch the Stella DVD so we can drool over him some more.

 

[Teresa]

Well, Mermy, I think it's gonna be a good weekend for a movie, so I think I'll go. I love history(60's/70's) and I love music, so this should be right up my alley.

you'll enjoy the movie DD!! I remember I used to adore watching Diana Ross perform - she was so glamorous and just "hot". her 70s (or was it early 80s) performances really rocked. I was a huge Michael Jackson fan too! had his poster on my wall in highschool - my dad was not amused but he tolerated it.

 

[DD]

you'll enjoy the movie DD!! I remember I used to adore watching Diana Ross perform - she was so glamorous and just "hot". her 70s (or was it early 80s) performances really rocked. I was a huge Michael Jackson fan too! had his poster on my wall in highschool - my dad was not amused but he tolerated it.

Yeah, when I reflect on those days...Diana was pretty glamorous. Dareth was a huge fan of Michael too--I can remember vividly that poster--probably the same one--hanging on her wall for years.

 

[Beach Runner]

DD, you'll also like it if you're a Beyonc? fan like I am ("Crazy in Love" is one of my ring tones). And if you aren't familiar with her, you'll get to see how multi-talented she is.

 

[DD]

DD, you'll also like it if you're a Beyonc? fan like I am ("Crazy in Love" is one of my ring tones). And if you aren't familiar with her, you'll get to see how multi-talented she is.

I think she's beautiful....not so familiar with her music...I'm a kinda stuck in the 60's/70's kinda girl. my kids make funn of me all the time. BUT, they know every one of those old songs by heart.