Thursday, December 3, 2015

The Wiz Live! (2015) - 10 stars out of 10

The Wiz Live! (2015) - 10 stars out of 10

"The Wiz Live!" exceeded everybody's expectations.  Even with a heavy advertising campaign, nobody could have been prepared for so many dynamic performances in one show.  Then again, that is what "The Wiz" has always been - a series of vocally demanding, soulful solo songs tied together through a modern telling of "The Wizard of Oz."  The tv special attracted two categories of people.  First, a group of theater fans whose familiarity of the show made them wonder how 19-year-old Shanice Williams could possibly compare to Stephanie Mills' original performance as Dorothy.  Meanwhile, a group of curious onlookers tuned in to see what this "black Wizard of Oz" could possibly be like.  I believe that the first group was thrilled by the fearless performances by every single actor on screen.  More importantly, I believe that a new audience fell in love with "The Wiz" tonight.  The casting crew deserves an Emmy.  Elijah Kelly rocked the Scarecrow song, Ne-Yo surprised me with an amazing Broadway voice/great acting/sick dance moves, and David Alan Greer stole the show from the moment that he appeared as the Cowardly Lion.  I loved Mary J. Blige as Evillene as she captured the aggressive manner of the character, Amber Riley was funny as Addaperle, and Stephanie Mills set the tone for the entire show with a stirring rendition of "The Feeling We Once Had" in the role of Aunt Em.  I was skeptical about a female Wiz, but the singing range worked well and I think that it added to the fraudulent nature of The Wiz.  Plus Queen Latifah's energy drove the second half of the show.  The only performance that I didn't care for was Glinda, who lacked the sensitivity that I expect from a refined character.  It was more of a flaw in the vocal direction, as nobody should ask Glinda to be a screamer.  There were a few sour notes throughout the show, but that cannot be avoided in a vocally demanding live performance like this.  The one note that definitely was NOT sour was that ridiculously high note that the one guy popped out in "Ya'll Got It."  That may have been the single greatest moment of the show.  The writers took a lot of liberties with the script and orchestrations, but this is a show that is meant to be modernized and the improvisatory nature of the songs made all of the alterations feel correct.  One of the best surprises of the night was the addition of "We Got It."  It felt different due to its modern pop chord structure, but it carried a lot of emotion and I would love to hear it on mainstream radio.  The sets were nothing special, adding pressure to the performers to carry the show.  And they did.  Everything down to the choreography and ensemble were inspired.  The cherry on top was Williams' closing performance of "Home," an emotional climax with truly unbelievable vocals.  Her voice isn't my favorite, but she owned it.  I love the musical theater Renaissance that our country is experiencing and I believe that "The Wiz"found its way into many peoples' hearts with the inexplicable chemistry of this cast.


[Pictured: "The Wiz Live" is an endless series of amazing performances by amazing actors]

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Left Behind: The Movie (2001) - 5 stars out of 10

Left Behind: The Movie (2001) - 5 stars out of 10

“Left Behind” is a film adaptation of the amazing Christian book series.  This imagining of the Rapture and the second-coming of Christ vividly brings the Biblical prophecies into a real-world perspective.  And it does it much better than the 2014 attempt.  The fact that they tell an actual story puts this far above the universally panned Nicholas Cage reboot.  In that version, they literally wrote the antagonist out of the story!  You could watch the two movies back to back and think that they were completely different stories.  And you would decide that this one is much better, so just skip the reboot.  The acting and special effects in a low-budget Christian film will never live up to that of a mainstream theatrical release, but this film is certainly better than a made-for-tv movie.  Kirk Cameron is the only actor of any notoriety amongst this bunch, but they all hold their own with actors from “real” movies.  The writers pour on the Christian testimony pretty strong at one point, but the entire story revolves around it so it didn’t seem out of place.  A bit overdramatic, but not out of place.  In spite of its low-budget, independent feel, I have no issue recommending “Left Behind” if you are interested in getting a glimpse of how the Rapture may unfold some day.

[Pictured: The acting isn’t great but it certainly exceeds expectation for a low-budget film]

Monday, November 30, 2015

The Dark Crystal - 1 star out of 10

The Dark Crystal - 1 star out of 10

“The Dark Crystal” is one tripped up fantasy film.  Maybe it amazed people in 1982, but this film feels very campy and seems like an ideal candidate for Mystery Science Theater 3000.  As I watched, I couldn’t figure out who it is intended for.  It is too dark for children (seriously, the entire thing is like one long nightmare) and I can’t see teens or adults taking it seriously.  I suppose that Jim Henson must have truly believed that this art form could extend beyond the realm of comedy, but that is the main thing missing from this film.  The Muppets work because they provide comical dialogue and slapstick humor.  If you put them on stage reading Shakespeare in a serious tone, nobody would watch.  Take away the Muppets’ jokes, familiarity of their characters and add non-stop disturbing imagery, and you have this film.  Not to mention that the story is entirely bizarre and the ending is so obvious that there is nothing to keep you watching.  Unless, of course, you are stubborn and looking forward to writing an unflattering movie review once it is done.  Henson learned a lesson with “Labyrinth” by adding catchy music and quirky characters to keep it from being too serious, but even that film doesn’t seem to appeal to its child audience.  I would definitely recommend passing on “The Dark Crystal.”  If you want to experience the genius of Jim Henson, stick with the Muppets and save your children from this nightmarish puppet show.


[Pictured: Creepiest.  Protagonists.  EVER.]

Sunday, November 29, 2015

SlingShot (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

SlingShot (2015) - 8 stars out of 10

Contrary to popular belief, the inventor of the Segway did not die by accidentally Segwaying off of a cliff; in fact, he is making great strides toward solving the world’s water problems.  “SlingShot” examines the life of Dean Kamen, a gifted inventor who has dedicated his life to improving the world for others.  This documentary highlights several of Kamen’s contributions to the medical field, his encouragement of science in the school system, and most importantly his goal to bring SlingShot to the corners of the earth where the mortality rate soars due to a lack of drinkable water.  The story is fascinating as we see that building a cost-efficient lifesaver is not enough to save lives.  Kamen sets off on a journey to find a distributor with the resources to provide these machines to those who need it most.  “Slingshot” is not an action-packed docudrama that keeps you on the edge of your seat, but it’s a great chance to get inside of the mind (and the totally awesome hosue) of an inventor as well as seeing how he hopes to make the world a better place.


[Pictured: Dean Kamen is a fascinating character that drives this documentary]