Cast: Madonna (Eva Peron), Antonio Banderas (Che), Jonathan Pryce (Juan Peron)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's Evita page.
In my opinion, the movie Evita contains the best overall cast of Evita ever. Yes, Mandy Patinkin was a better Che, but the accent Antonio Banderas brought to the part really helped make Che seem more authentic and beneath Eva. They did take out my favorite lyric in the musical, but they didn't alter too much and did an amazing job putting this musical on film.
Although some are upset that the mistress's part was almost complete cut out (since Madonna asked to sing "Another Suitcase in Another Hall"), how can anyone who's heard the song blame Madonna? It's one of my favorites from Evita and she sings it beautifully.
The lowering of some of the notes in "Rainbow High" bothered me quite a bit (as a soprano who used that song in auditions), but it worked in the show and it's still a great song.
I decided to see the movie before deciding if I needed to buy another version of Evita on CD (I owned the American recording already) and I've decided that I need the movie soundtrack, since it's such a great cast.
Grade: B+
Labels: 1996, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Antonio Banderas, drama, history, Madonna, Mandy Patinkin, movie, musical
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Cary Elwes (Westley), Mandy Patinkin (Inigo Montoya), Chris Sarandon (Prince Humperdinck), Christopher Guest (Count Tyrone Rugen)
For complete cast info, see IMDb's The Princess Bride page.
I'm a sucker for fairy tales and hilarious fairy tales can't be beaten in my book. There's adventure and storybook love. Very fascinating and fun story. Sure, it's unrealistic, but that's what it's all about. Any story with a giant, a devious count, an evil prince, a beautiful peasant turned princess, and swordplay, and some kissing has my attention!
The cast is wonderful, the soundtrack is perfect, and the story is fabulous! Enjoy the fascinating fairy tale and perfectly happy ending.
Is there anyone around who can't quote lines from this movie? If that isn't a statement, I don't know what is! The Princess Bride was an instant classic and it will stand the test of time, since it's an amazingly well done fairy tale.
Grade: A
Labels: adventure, Billy Crystal, Cary Elwes, comedy, fantasy, Mandy Patinkin, movie, Robin Wright Penn, romance
Reviewed by Kat at the 7:30 PM show | 0 screams
Cast: Rebecca Luker (Lily), Daisy Eagan (Mary Lennox), Mandy Patinkin (Archibald Craven), Robert Westenberg (Dr. Neville Craven)
For complete cast info, see IBDb's The Secret Garden page.
The cast of The Secret Garden was totally amazing. They assembled some of the best voices on Broadway and put them in this musical.
The music is good, though at times it seems a bit too repititious. I particularly love Wick, Lily's Eyes and If I had a Fine White Horse. The childrens' chanting is also very well done.
The giant sculptures in the garden are a bit much, and very ugly. Perhaps that was how they were intended to come across, since the garden is initially a scary place for Mary, but it was still a bit over the top.
I've always enjoyed the story of The Secret Garden and I think Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon did a good job of getting it across in a new medium.
Grade: B
Labels: 1991, Broadway, Mandy Patinkin, musical, original
Reviewed by Kat at the 8:00 PM show | 0 screams