Advantages: Good performances, great choreography
Disadvantages: A great show spoilt by Hollywood

...After having seen the show, listened to many of the recordings and studied the score, I couldn't believe what I saw in this film. I don't know how big a part Leonard Bernstein played in the making of it, but it certainly didn't seem up to his standard. The tempi are wrong, the music is played without emotion. All of these things are essential to Bernstein's music. It is obvious that he had little or no say in how the music way played. Whereas the music is an integral part of the show, this is just a film with songs. Stephen Sondheim's lyrics have been altered slightly to make them more suitable for a younger audience, but this is not a show for children. The only comfort I found in this film were Jerome Robbins' wonderful choreography and the superb performance by Natalie Wood. If you've seen a good performance of the show... Read review

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Advantages: Great music and performances
Disadvantages: Always tough to cram years of life into two hours

...as he toured with the likes of Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. During the tours he crosses paths with fellow singer June Carter and the film mainly deals with their relationship that goes through many trials and tribulations. A film like this really lives or dies on the casting. A large portion of the audience will be familiar with Johnny Cash and naturally draw comparisons between the real man and the actor playing him. Joaquin Phoenix was an interesting choice to play the man in black but upon seeing the film it was the right one. Phoenix is excellent in the film, rather than being just an impersonation that embodies the sprit of Cash. There are moments when Phoenix becomes invisible; if you closed your eyes it would be Cash you are hearing. The swagger, the brooding, the attitude - its all there. Had there not been a knockout performance... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of extra stuff
Disadvantages: May not watch many times

...The Sixth Sense has to be one of the finest DVDs available at this time. It is packed fully of extra material, from deleted scenes to discussions about the characters, the actors, the music and other subtle elements of the film. All of these are well presented and commented upon by its director M. Night Shyamalan. The film itself is difficult to review, and is best left for you to enjoy without a spoiler from me. I can only describe it as a rollercoaster ride of high emotion and spine-chilling fears. The performances are first class, particularly the child actor, Haley Joel Osment, who plays the little boy Cole. I cannot recommend a film, or indeed a DVD higher.... Read review

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Advantages: Its music from the film, not music that the actors like.
Disadvantages: All tracks have levels of similarity

...Fight club the film may be one of the best extravert films to appear since the winter of 99', but is the soundtrack up to the same expectations. For me Fight club the soundtrack is nothing out of the ordinary, The music all of which is performed by the highly talented "Dust Brothers", is the music that is heard in the film. This does, however,beat some of today's soundtracks which have music selected by the cast rather then that shown in the film. Most of the songs have alot of scratching and heavy dance styled beats, which together give the film a sence of heart beat and the viewer an all inspiring feeling of being Tyler Durden! As a general rule if you like Mix music and liked the film then you are going to like the soundtrack!... Read review

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Advantages: Great atomsphere to the film
Disadvantages: If you don't like wires, you won't like this film

...taken ages to make that scene work properly. Performances: Jet lees best performance by quite some distance, I must admit more to the directing and story to natural ability of acting. But he played the part well, even through many biao fans believed biao should have been given the part. For people that don't know much about yuen biao, I recommend you watch his films because his acting ability is brillant his martial arts ability is amazing. Watch dreadnaught for his martial arts ability and watch iceman cometh for his acting ability. Yuen Biao in this movie plays a bit part but like the other bit actors in this film the performance was really good. Thats what makes this film work for me the other actors weren't there to make up the numbers they could act and play the character intended. The reason i mention yuen biao is because after... Read review

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Advantages:
Disadvantages:

...By using music constantly, Evita gives as an overpowering visceral sensation. The entire movie is a big climatic point. You don't have to wait through long lines of dialog to get to the strong musical build up. It is always there. The use of crowds, and further adds to the pageantry of the movie. It's not just a film. It's an event. The story gives us a semi-accurate snapshot of the short life of Argentina's most famous first lady, Eva Peron (Madonna). Though the movie centres around her, Antonio Banderas (playing the part of Che) steals the show. He appears as a ‘common man' in scene after scene and performs convincingly in each role. The soundtrack is also impressive, featuring some of the best recordings of the songs. Hopefully, the box office take will be great enough to encourage Lloyd Webber to soon start production of Phantom... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful Avante-Garde music/film
Disadvantages: Not to the liking of everyone

...Decasia by Michael Gordon might not be everybody's cup of tea. It is, after all, what might be described as a quintessential piece of avant-garde music. Decasia is a piece of highly original music that was especially composed to provide backing for an avant-garde movie by film maker Bill Morrison. Indeed, without seeing the supporting movie, I fear that the listener to Decasia would miss out. On the DVD release there is a special interview with both Michael Gordon and Bill Morrison. The interview is fascinating as it is clear that Gordon had really enjoyed himself when he was writing the music and when it is performed! The film is made up from old nitrate film stock that is slowly decaying as the chemicals used to fix it degrades. Decasia debuted in Basle, Switzerland in 2002 with a 50 piece orchestra made up of members... Read review

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Advantages: Spine-tingly beautiful
Disadvantages: Not one for midnight - your neighbours will think they are being attacked by the Roman army!

...I don't usually like classical music, but film composers generally know the exact way to tug at your emotions. Every piece on this album is quite simply moving from the very dramatic #3 song 'The Battle' to the heartwrenching #5 'Sorrow'. Lisa Gerrard's vocal performance on the last couple of tracks is hauntingly beautiful and I can assure you that if you do decide to buy this album, it is money well spent. Part of what made Gladiator such a brilliant film is the quality of this soundtrack. It is the best that I have heard for a long time, and I will be playing it until I am 90 [if I make it that far].... Read review

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Advantages: A great family film the songs
Disadvantages: There aren't any

...The sound of music is a great family film starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. Julie Andrews plays a nun called Maria who is sent to the Von Trapp family home to be the childrens nanny. Captain Gayorg Von Trapp is played Christopher Plummer and is the widower who has seven children to raise and the house is run as though the Captain is still on one of his ships. The seven children are Leisel, Fredrick, Louisa, Kurt, Brigita, Martha and gretel. Maria has to learn to call the children by a call of a whistle but she refuses and Maria makes the children play clothes out of the curtains in her room while the Captain is away and disobeying his orders. While the Captain is away Maria takes the children out into the open air and teaches the children to sing. The Captain comes back with his fiance and a friend called Max and finds... Read review

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Advantages: Heart-moving, passionate, tear-jerking
Disadvantages: Buying wine spritzers!!

...and bravery. Jean Valjean, a thief imprisoned for almost 20 years tries rebuilding his life and and regaining respect. However upon leaving prison, he meets "Javert" who is keen to put Valjean back into his old life. Several people around me were very emotionally involved myself included (especially when Epinene died). The theatre was very intimate and it done Les Miserables proud! The part of Jean Valjean was played excellently and his act was both stunning and earth-moving. I don't think you can single out any particular individual for an outstanding performance as they were all solid and moving performances. Javert had a superb voice and gave a great performance. The whole production and set made Les Miserables a wonderful piece of musical theatre and a great day out. Brilliant musical - brilliant acts and a brilliant film. Definitely... Read review

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