lord-of-the-lez

One of the best horror comedies I've seen because it's just so hilariously god-awful. This movie is garbage. But it's fun garbage! Bad editing, bad acting, bad script...plot points that the writers pull out of their asses. It's just a confusing mess. And that's what makes it comedy gold. I watched this with my family and we laughed our asses off, especially at the diner scene near the end. How does this diner have so many weapons?! Where are the weapons coming from? Wat?!

This is the one Friday the 13th movie that I think is actually bad. While some may argue that the formula grew tired and cliche, at least each one tried to change things up a bit while still feeling like a Friday the 13th movie. This one just felt so out of left field to me. And not in a particularly fun way, like the next movie, Jason X. Jason X had the brutal kills and Jason was more visible than ever. That movie may have strayed away from the formula by a lot, but it still felt like a cheesy, fun Friday the 13th movie. Even the Jason-less Part 5 still felt like a Friday movie. This one does not and it's executed in the worst possible way. Watch it for the unintentional comedy.

On the one hand, this movie is a fun and entertaining spectacle. The songs are catchy and the choreography is amazing to watch. This movie would be perfect as a stage performance. I will be listening to the soundtrack on repeat, for sure.

On the other hand, it comes across as too heavy-handed in its themes and was so fast-paced that you barely have any time to register the emotions in any of the scenes. This movie also does a lot of "telling" (or rather, singing) rather than showing. The characters will say how they feel, but the movie has no time to stop and really show it. In this way, the songs may come across as insincere and cheesy a lot of the time. But, like I said, it's mostly a pacing issue. If this movie was given more time to slow down in between songs, it could've made a huge emotional impact.

I also think this movie was a missed opportunity to explore the interesting, complicated personality of the real P.T. Barnum. Instead, the movie turned him into a Walt Disney-esque figure with a dream, who grows up to make that dream come true. The real Barnum was a shady, savvy businessman who was also a creative innovator, a genius entrepreneur, an anti-slavery politician, and an overall controversial public figure. A lot more interesting than the watered-down version we get from this movie.

Still, it's a fun watch. And if you're a fan of musicals, you won't be disappointed for sure. It's a spectacle, but it's not exactly the "greatest show."

This remake is very enjoyable! If you love movie musicals, you will have a good time. But if the genre is not your cup of tea, you probably won't care for it. In any case, I don't understand why this movie was so panned by critics. I'm a huge fan of the original 80s version with Aileen Quinn and I thought this remake kept true to its spirit while putting some new spins on it. I thought the songs were fun and catchy (including the new ones). The chemistry between Quvenzhane Wallis and Jamie Foxx gave the movie an emotional weight and yes, I did cry towards the end. I generally don't like remakes, but this movie hit all the right notes for me. Keep an open mind and don't let the critics warp your impressions.