Matthew's Definition of Originalist
O-rig-i-nal-ist.
1. One who believes solely in a piece of media's original performers and/or characteristics
Ex. "He didn't like the Sweeney Todd film because he is an originalist. Also, it's very scary."
2. A really cool word Matt Silar made up.
Ex. "No, no, I am talking about originalist!" "Oh, you mean that really cool word Matt Silar made up?" "Exactly!"
Now that we understand my choice of terms, I can continue.
As I was saying, I am not a harcore originalist but I do believe STRONGLY in "a piece of media's original performers and/or characteristics"
The example that comes to my mind right away is... guess it...
SWEENEY TODD!
Let's look at the team for the film. Johnny Depp is the lead, Helena Bonham Carter is once again a lead because she's dating the director and one of the most successful directors of all time is in charge... the one and only Tim Burton. Throw in Alan Rickman and tie it all together with Sondheim music and you should have struck gold correct?
INCORRECT.
The film's ridiculous gore and tomato soup blood is only part of what takes away the original brilliance. While Johnny Depp does a fantastic job, he lacks the original "creepiness" of Len Cariou. Depp's portrayal is almost HALLOWEEN rather than DERANGED in my opinion.
The real problem with the movie however is Helen Bonham Carter. Tell me how she comes even CLOSE to the BRILLIANCE of Angela Lansbury... anybody? anybody? I thought not. Her performance had nothing to praise. Her vocals were week and her take on the character was completely opposite of the original portrayal. While I am all for making the role your own... when you are going up against ANGELA LANSBURY, you better have one HECK of your own.
The next thing that comes to mind is The Little Mermaid (The Broadway show)
The music, in my opinion, is mediocre compared to the original score. Alan Menken is a phenomenal composer despite most of Beauty and the Beast showing up in all of his projects since. His music for the Broadway production is GREAT, but it doesn't fit the original score. With Beauty and the Beast, you forget what songs are in the movie and which were written for the show. This is NOT the case with The Little Mermaid.
ALSO, While I am in NO WAY AT ALL RACIST and I think many of the diversified performers are fantastic, the Little Mermaid is FILLED with characters WE RECOGNIZE... We KNOW what they look like an I am sorry but
THIS GUY
WILL NEVER LOOK LIKE
THIS GUY
I'm just saying, some of the characters need to stay as they are... Sebastian would be weird if he was WHITE... I don't see the difference. Show me one white simba LION KING...
Also, need we be reminded of the last time Disney changed the race of a character on Broadway? When Toni Braxton was Belle... they added ANOTHER song to the already 2.5 hour musical.
But that is beside the point.
Second... Sheri Renee Scott.
I know she is great... don't get me wrong. Her portrayal of Kathy in The Last Five Years is spot on but her URSULA?
I know they rewrote the role to fit her character choice better but COME ON DISNEY! Ursula is probably one of the most well known Disney Villians just because of her song. The HUGE Purple Octopus played by BRILLIANT Pat Carrolll blew Sherie Renee Scott out of the water! (pardon the pun) Scott singing "Poor Unfortunate Souls" leaves to be desired and her overall deviousness becomes this annoying WOE IS ME character.
Finally the changes they made to the plot still throw me off. There was something great about Ariel's FATHER making her a mermaid but in the show, Ariel breaks Ursula's shell of song and she gets to STAY HUMAN...? Basically Ariel get's exactly what she wants and just wants her dad's approval. FAIL ON FAMILY DISNEY, FAIL.
Overall it disappoints me deeply...
FINALLY
Let's talk about all these SEQUELS.
Remember when they were going to make a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel? Thank the LORD they threw that train wreck of an idea away. The original film is pure brilliance, if it didn't live up to it they would have completely screwed themselves over.
Then there was that window in early 2000s when Disney was spitting out DIRECT TO DVD sequels left and right. Tarzan and Jane, Cinderella 2 When Dreams Come True, Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 which was actually okay..., Lady and the Tramp 2 Scamp's Adventure, Lion King 1/2. (Lion King 2 was in 1998 and I liked that one... haha)
Moral is, I feel people see a great piece of work and try to milk it rather than just leave it be in it's brilliance. Sometimes Musical Movies work out... like Chicago, or Hairspray.
Sometime's Sequels are better than the original like Toy Story 2!
But sometimes, the original is the only way to go.
I'm not really an originalist... but I am.
Also I know the 2 main things I mentioned are a good 2 or 3 years old but I can still talk about them. It's my blog.
Also, need we be reminded of the last time Disney changed the race of a character on Broadway? When Toni Braxton was Belle... they added ANOTHER song to the already 2.5 hour musical.
But that is beside the point.
Second... Sheri Renee Scott.
I know she is great... don't get me wrong. Her portrayal of Kathy in The Last Five Years is spot on but her URSULA?
I know they rewrote the role to fit her character choice better but COME ON DISNEY! Ursula is probably one of the most well known Disney Villians just because of her song. The HUGE Purple Octopus played by BRILLIANT Pat Carrolll blew Sherie Renee Scott out of the water! (pardon the pun) Scott singing "Poor Unfortunate Souls" leaves to be desired and her overall deviousness becomes this annoying WOE IS ME character.
Finally the changes they made to the plot still throw me off. There was something great about Ariel's FATHER making her a mermaid but in the show, Ariel breaks Ursula's shell of song and she gets to STAY HUMAN...? Basically Ariel get's exactly what she wants and just wants her dad's approval. FAIL ON FAMILY DISNEY, FAIL.
Overall it disappoints me deeply...
FINALLY
Let's talk about all these SEQUELS.
Remember when they were going to make a Mrs. Doubtfire sequel? Thank the LORD they threw that train wreck of an idea away. The original film is pure brilliance, if it didn't live up to it they would have completely screwed themselves over.
Then there was that window in early 2000s when Disney was spitting out DIRECT TO DVD sequels left and right. Tarzan and Jane, Cinderella 2 When Dreams Come True, Hunchback of Notre Dame 2 which was actually okay..., Lady and the Tramp 2 Scamp's Adventure, Lion King 1/2. (Lion King 2 was in 1998 and I liked that one... haha)
Moral is, I feel people see a great piece of work and try to milk it rather than just leave it be in it's brilliance. Sometimes Musical Movies work out... like Chicago, or Hairspray.
Sometime's Sequels are better than the original like Toy Story 2!
But sometimes, the original is the only way to go.
I'm not really an originalist... but I am.
Also I know the 2 main things I mentioned are a good 2 or 3 years old but I can still talk about them. It's my blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment