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Author Topic: Hairspray (2007) Sam Graham AKA: "The Evil Sam Graham". Wackiness ensues. Posts: 1431 From: Waukee, IA Registered: Dec 2004 posted 07-20-2007 04:54 PM                        CINEMA: Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons, Sandy, UT AUDITORIUM: 14 PRESENTATION: Dolby Digital Cinema/THX PRESENTATION PROBLEMS: None RATING: Two stars (out of four) This may be the chickiest chick flick ever made. I about walked out twice. This 105 minute barrage of uppitiness contains approximately 17,562 dance numbers. The "plot" is merely sub-fodder to get from one dance number to another. Just like porn. Travolta is cartoonish. I don't know if it's supposed to be a running joke that a guy has to play that part or something...if it is, I didn't get it. It was just stupid. The girls in the audience giggled and cheered and generally made me want to never have sex again. The two stars is for production value really. It was well shot and had a great soundtrack. Probably the best done movie I've hated since "Chicago".  |  IP: Logged Paul Linfesty Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1383 From: Bakersfield, CA, USA Registered: Nov 1999 posted 07-21-2007 12:07 AM                     Viewed at Regal's Edwards Bakersfield 14, screen #8, 35mm SRD. Presentation: Excellent projection and sound. Flawless presentation. THis was one of the most purely enjoyable times I've had at a movie in a while. Yes, I've seen some better films, but none this joyful. It's a very upbeat, sunny film that nonetheless shows an ugliness beneath the surface of nostalgia for the "good old innocent days." The casting was spot-on, the dancing flowed well wirth an exhuberence rarely seen anymore. I was a little sad at some of the cuts from the stage show. Three of my favorite songs were either eliminated (the whole prison sequence, truncated, "It Takes Two," or banished to the end credits "I'm a Big Girl Now." Still, a true delight that makes up for a derivitave summer (and despite its history, this didn't seem derivitave).  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-21-2007 06:12 PM                     Viewed at AMC Lennox 24 Theatre 12 on a 60+' Torus screen. (Looks great...sounds just OK.) I agree with Paul...this is one of the more delightful films I've seen in a long while. Nice to see a non-sequel, too. Performances are very very fine across the board. Way too much is made of Travolta...he is not the main character in this film at all. Nikki Blonsky is a powerhouse, and certainly equal to Ricki Lake in the original. Michelle Pfeiffer is a great villain, and Walken/Travolta make a great couple and have a very nice dance. Queen Latifah is just perfect as Mother Maybelle. This is the most energetic movie I think I've ever seen. It just keeps rolling and rolling along with one strong musical number after another. The songs, however, sound very much like the Ashman/Menken songs in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. I was disappointed in the sound mix of this film just as I was with DREAMGIRLS, and I think I figured out why. Blame it on CHICAGO. CHICAGO has such an incredible orchestral mix, especially heavy on the percussion. DREAMGIRLS and HAIRSPRAY are mixed a bit more on the bass side with the drums more in the background. I think CHICAGO sounds bigger and brighter than the newer musicals. A fun experience, especially for those of us who grew up in this era. Looked like us 50+ folks were in the majority here. More than a few grey-haired ladies dancing during the credit music! The director of this film (Adam Shankman) has one of the strangest credits I've ever seen. For the film CASPER, he is credited with "animation ghost references". [ 07-22-2007, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: Mark Lensenmayer ]  |  IP: Logged Shane Cooper Expert Film Handler Posts: 232 From: Little Rock, Arkansas Registered: Jun 2004 posted 07-22-2007 06:27 PM                     Watched at Rave Colonel Glenn 18, House 17, DLP presentation My wife dragged me to this movie as I had no real interest in watching it. However, I enjoyed it and my wife really enjoyed it. It was nice to see something fresh in this summer of recycle, (I realize that it is an adaptation of a musical that was an adaptation of a movie), great music and a positive message. based on the gross that far exceeded any of the expectations I saw, alot of others liked it as well.  |  IP: Logged Mark Gulbrandsen Resident Trollmaster Posts: 16657 From: Music City Registered: Jun 99 posted 07-24-2007 07:13 PM                     I felt the oogies just workin on the projector standing next to this film today... Somehow Travolta as a big fat sing'n woman gives me the creeps... Mark  |  IP: Logged Brad Allen Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 688 From: Evansville, IN, USA Registered: May 2000 posted 07-30-2007 01:50 PM                     Fun Movie. Christopher Walken and John Travolta doing a song and dance number together is hilarious! 4.5 out of 5 stars.  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 08-04-2007 07:01 AM                        Mark; I now call him John Revolta. Louis  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 08-04-2007 04:31 PM                     (though it was "John Revolting")  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-06-2007 01:40 AM                     Finally got around to seeing this tonight after much "you should watch this, even if only for the sound mix" nudging. Like others I thought the whole Travolta in drag thing was going to be stupid and unnecessary. By the time Travolta had some screen time, I just didn't care. This movie is just fun with amazing energy. I thoroughly enjoyed myself from beginning to end. Sound-wise this flick has a PHENOMENAL sound mix! I ran the fader at 8 and it was crisp, clean and rich without a hint of ear fatigue. If anyone wasn't blown away by the sound in the auditorium, that sound system needs some work because the mix was magnificent. I was going to rate this movie 4 out of 5 stars for content, but the sound mix was so well done that I am giving it 5 out of 5 stars because it really made the movie for me.  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 09-06-2007 06:13 AM                     A double feature with Moulin Rouge anyone?  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-06-2007 11:53 AM                        Wow, a 5-star review from Brad. I think this is a first.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 09-06-2007 09:59 PM                     Mike, watch it yourself and tell me if you don't catch yourself grinning through the entire movie. Of course under your own logic, you may not want to book the film, because movies that I think are crap do big business.  |  IP: Logged Stephen Furley Film God Posts: 3059 From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England Registered: May 2002 posted 09-08-2007 05:46 PM                     I ran two shows of it today, and watched some of it from up in the box. It's not really my sort of film; too fast and too loud, but I have to say that the picture looked good; almost like one o the 'new' Technicolor dye prints made a few years ago. Was it a 4k D.I? It looked much sharper than 'The Incredibles', which I ran before it, and which I don't remember looking like it did today the last time we had it. The house was about three-quarters full at 14:20, but for the 20:15 show we only got about six; I wouldn't have put it on in that slot. It got a surprising number of older people in for the 14:20 show.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 09-10-2007 08:23 PM                        quote: Brad Miller Mike, watch it yourself and tell me if you don't catch yourself grinning through the entire movie. We are playing this right now, and yes I did watch it. I guess I didn't like it THAT much, but I did enjoy it a lot more than I was thinking I would. For one thing, it was a lot funnier than I was expecting -- always a plus for a comedy fan like me. Nikki Blonsky is a real find...without her, the movie wouldn't have been nearly as good. And Travolta, he was hilarious - he should get a best actor Oscar nom. I thought Christopher Walken added a lot, too. The songs rate high on the "catchy" meter...I can't get a few of them to stop playing in my head. And, agreed that the sound mix is excellent. I would have liked a little more low-end, but that's just my taste. Overall, a solid 8 out of 10 from me. My wife has watched it twice; she gives it a 9.  |  IP: Logged

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