arundel, Local Online News Community, Forums, Chats, For Sale, Classified, Offers, Film Reviews, Events, Motors Sale, Property For Sale Rent, Jobs, Hotels, Taxi, Restaurants, Pubs, Clubs, Pictures, Sports, Charities, Lost Found
  1. Published on: 28/12/2017 12:17 PMReported by: Film Critic
    Plot: The story of how P.T. Barnum created 'The Circus'.

    The first time I heard about this film, I was pretty excited to see this. Especially with it being a musical and Hugh Jackman leading the way as he is a wonderful actor with a strong musical background.

    I have also wanted a film about the character of P.T. Barnum, as I find the history of the birth of the circus to be one that needs to be put to film.

    The closest we have come is 1952's 'The Greatest Show On Earth'. While I know that film is seen as one of the worst Oscar 'Best Picture' winners, I still see it as a really good film.

    While it the film did attempt to cover the topics I was hoping they would, the film itself only just about delivered and left me somewhat satisfied.

    The first half moves along nicely and we get a solid arch with many characters and stand-out set-pieces.

    However, in the second half. The momentum does slow down as the story goes down routes that contradicts its own message. That for me was slowly deflating my emotion for it.

    This was a passion project for Hugh Jackman and his screen presence is still as strong as you would expect. His song-and-dance experience worked well in this and did enough for me in his performance how much of a pioneer Barnum was.

    It was great seeing Zac Efron go back to his musical roots and he was a pleasant addition to the cast.

    I was happy to see Rebecca Ferguson be involved in this, as I think she is a great talent. But I didn't think her characters involvement added much.

    Michelle Williams was massively under-used. For someone of her quality should not have been casted for something so small. However, she did well with what she was given.

    For the rest of the cast, they did a pretty good job. Especially with the big dance numbers.

    A big part of this film that needs to work, is the music. I managed to like it on the whole. However, the poppy and almost X-Factor style of music felt out of place at times with the period. Also, the timing of them felt odd and if you told me to sing one of them back to you, I would struggle to remember. But thankfully, it did manage to work at times. So much so, that those moments were my high points of the film. Those moments also had crowd-pleasing choreography.

    I was surprised at the over-use of visual effects. There were plenty of times where I felt the use of the technology was unnecessary. While there were scenes where CGI is needed, I expected a period piece to have more practical sets and the set-pieces to be always be genuinely done by performers.

    A small mention to the script. While the dialogue was a bit on the nose, it did not feel obvious enough to downgrade my feeling of the film.

    So while I was disappointed with several aspects, I enjoyed it enough to give it a decent rating. I think the commitment by everyone involved helped a lot, especially when it was working for me.

    I think what they did right, was show how much of an exaggerater the character of Barnum and show-business always has been and contain enough moments of the Circus spectacle and razzmatazz.

    But it was a shame that they did not seem to concentrate on the parts that I and many others are expecting to see. When they did show those parts, those were the scenes that I enjoyed the most. If they did that, then I think we would have a true spectacle of 'The Greatest Show On Earth'.

    It's crowd-pleasing message does lose itself in the second half. There is also a romance going on in there that felt forced and had no reason, except that the people involved are the two most popular people in the film within the teenage demographic.

    I can totally see why it is not winning the critics over, but the general public seem to be happy with it. The glossy execution of the story definitely plays to a mainstream crowd. So if you're looking for a thorough account of P.T. Barnum and the beginning of the circus and how we see show-business, you will only get it in small doses.

    The way they showed Barnum almost reminded me of how Walt Disney was portrayed in Saving Mr. Banks. They do show his true nature if you look closely. But on the surface, they sanitised his complex personality.

    To end this on a high note, I will say that I hope this story becomes a theatre production. I say that because I feel it had plenty of moments that would work really well on stage. So fingers crossed this is even the Broadway treatment.

    Rating: 7/10
     

  2. Your Comments:



You are in: UK / Arundel / South East
Find any Town in the UK, or Use UK map
Local Google MAP for Arundel



User Control Panel

Not a Member? Sign Up!

Login or Register


Film Reviews, Last Cinema Movies, Movies, DVDs
arundelarundel News


Stats: Qlocal over 500,000 page views a month (google analytics)
arundel Bathroom Suppliesarundel Bathroom Tapsarundel Bathroom Furniturearundel Bathroom Showersarundel Shower Enclosuresarundel Bathsarundel L Shaped Batharundel P Shaped Batharundel Wet Roomsarundel Bath Screensarundel Bath Mixer Taparundel Bidet Tapsarundel Toilet Seatsarundel Sanitarywarearundel Combined Toilet Basinarundel Stovesarundel Wood Stovesarundel Home Stovesarundel Cooker Stovesarundel Enamel Stovesarundel Designer Stovesarundel Contemporary Stovesarundel Multi Fuel Stovesarundel Accounts Softwarearundel Sage Softwarearundel Sage Line 50arundel Sage Line 200arundel Pegasus Accountsarundel Access Accountsarundel Car Servicingarundel MOTgarundel Tyresarundel Car Batteryarundel Exhaustarundel Journalist Jobsarundel Reporter Jobsarundel Writing Jobsarundel Freelance Writerarundel Self Employed Jobsarundel Franchise Businessarundel Franchise Opportunitiesarundel Driving Schoolsarundel Driving Lessonsarundel Driving Testarundel Driving Theory Testarundel Driving Instruction, 0000 arundel Driving Instructor, 0000 arundel Insolvencyarundel Insolvency Servicearundel Insolvency Servicesarundel Liquidation Servicearundel Business Recoveryarundel Insolvency Practitionerarundel Bankruptcy Servicearundel Winding Up Petitionarundel Business Financearundel Business Recoveryarundel Voluntary Arrangementarundel Individual Voluntary Arrangementarundel IVAarundel Debt Advicearundel Debt Managementarundel Company Administrationarundel Administrationarundel Corporate Recoveryarundel Corporate Voluntary Arrangementarundel CVAarundel Corporate Insolvencyarundel Corporate Liquidationarundel Members Voluntary Liquidationarundel MVLarundel Partnership Voluntary Arrangementarundel PVAarundel Tax Demandarundel Invoice Financearundel Bridging Financearundel Vouchersarundel Dealsarundel Matalanarundel Firewoodarundel Fire Woodarundel Kiln Dried Hardwoodarundel Logs For Salearundel Log Suppliesarundel Logsarundel Firewood Logsarundel Seasoned Logsarundel Hardwood Logsarundel Firewood Suppliersarundel Firewood Log Suppliersarundel Firewood Dumpy Bagsarundel Firewood Cratesarundel Cheap Firewoodarundel Homefire Logsarundel Cheap Firewood Logsarundel Kindle Conesarundel Pizza Oven Logsarundel Heating Oilarundel Home Heating Oilarundel Red Dieselarundel White Dieselarundel Keresenearundel Commercial Fuelsarundel Calor Gasarundel Propane Gasarundel Butane Gasarundel Heating Gasarundel Horse Trainingarundel Horse Trainerarundel Horse Whispererarundel Equine Whispererarundel Horse Whisperer Victoria Smitharundel Rattan Garden Furniturearundel Rattan Furniturearundel Rattan Sofaarundel Rattan Dining Setarundel Rattan Directarundel Cheap Rattan Furniturearundel Rattan Corner Sofasarundel Rattan Day Bedsarundel Rattan Sun Loungersarundel Rattan Cube Setsarundel Rattan Bistro Setsarundel Chimeneasarundel Firepitsarundel Patio Heatersarundel Card Payments Processingarundel Credit Card Processingarundel Merchant Servicesarundel Merchant Accountarundel Merchant Paymentsarundel Card Machinesarundel Card Terminalsarundel Online Paymentsarundel Worldpayarundel Bouncy Castlesarundel Bouncy Castle Hirearundel Garden Trampolinesarundel Pramsarundel Pushchairsarundel Strollersarundel Hauck Pramsarundel Huackarundel Childrens Trampolinesarundel Baby Mobilesarundel Baby Activity Matsarundel Baby Bedroom Furniturearundel Childrens Bedroom Furniturearundel Hygiene Vendingarundel Washroom Vendingarundel Air Freshenersarundel Air Carearundel Aerosol Systemsarundel Gel Systemsarundel Water Savingarundel Urinal Water Savingarundel Eco Capsarundel Sensaflusharundel Water Managementarundel Urinal Dosingarundel Urinal V Screensarundel Legionella Risk Assessmentarundel Legionaires Bacterialarundel Odour Controlarundel Odour Eliminationarundel Odour Removalarundel Airsterilarundel Hand Carearundel Hand Creamarundel Hand Soaparundel Hand Washingarundel Hand Dryingarundel Hand Dryersarundel Electric Hand Dryersarundel Fast Hand Dryersarundel Commercial Hand Dryersarundel Energy Efficient Hand Dryersarundel Hand Dryer Rentalarundel Hand Dryer Salesarundel Paper Towelsarundel Roller Towelsarundel Cotton Roller Towelsarundel Blue Roller Towelsarundel White Roller Towelsarundel Janitorial Suppliesarundel Janitorialarundel Cleaning Suppliesarundel Cleaning Productsarundel Cleaning Equipmentarundel Office Cleaningarundel Home Cleaningarundel Debt Recovery Servicesarundel Debt Recoveryarundel Debt Collectionarundel Outsource Credit Controlarundel Collection Agencyarundel Debt Collection Agencyarundel Commercial Canopyarundel Steel Canopyarundel Bike Shedsarundel Bike Storagearundel Bicycle Storearundel Bicycle Storagearundel Bikes Storearundel Bike Storearundel Outdoor Canopyarundel Cycle Sheltersarundel Cycle Shedarundel Cycle Storagearundel Cycle Rackarundel Cycle Compoundarundel Cycle Solutionsarundel Scooter Storagearundel Scooter Shelterarundel Canopiesarundel Canopyarundel Play Area Canopyarundel Entrance Canopiesarundel Entrance Canopyarundel Waiting Shelterarundel Smoking Shelterarundel Parent Waiting Shelterarundel Parent Shelterarundel Teen Shelterarundel Nursery Canopyarundel School Canopyarundel Play Canopyarundel Envirolawnarundel Astroturfarundel Cheap Astroturfarundel Artificial Grassarundel Cheap Artificial Grassarundel Astro Turfarundel Artificial Lawnarundel Fake Grassarundel Fake Lawnarundel Fire Stove Glassarundel Heat Resistant Glassarundel Fire Glassarundel Stove Glassarundel Fire Resistant Glassarundel Replacement Stove Glassarundel Glass For Stovesarundel Spill Kitsarundel Spill Control Kitsarundel Spill Kit Refillsarundel Spill Kit Refill GK6arundel Chemical Spill Kitsarundel Oil Spill Kitsarundel Solar Panelsarundel Solar Panels Costarundel Solar Heatingarundel Solar PVarundel Commercial Solararundel Photovoltaicarundel Dust Matsarundel Entrance Matsarundel Reception Matsarundel Anti Fatigue Matsarundel Floor Matsarundel Logo Matsarundel Washroom Servicesarundel Principal Washroomsarundel Washrooms Suppliesarundel Washrooms Solutionsarundel Sanitary Disposalarundel Sanitary Binsarundel Sani Binsarundel Lady Binsarundel Feminine Hygiene Unitsarundel Sanitary Waste Disposalarundel Sanitary Wastearundel Sanitary Unitsarundel Feminine Unitsarundel Hygiene Servicesarundel Sanitary Bin Supplierarundel Sanitary Bin Rentalarundel Sanitary Bin Rental Servicesarundel General Wastearundel Trade Wastearundel Commercial Wastearundel Business Wastearundel Waste Managementarundel Waste Collectionarundel Cardboard Wastearundel Paper Wastearundel Plastic Wastearundel Glass Wastearundel Biomass Wastearundel Metal Wastearundel Confidential Wastearundel Confidential Waste Servicearundel On Site Shreddingarundel Off Site Shreddingarundel One Off Shreddingarundel Contract Shreddingarundel Dental Wastearundel Dental Waste Disposalarundel Dental Waste Legislationarundel Dental Waste Compliancearundel Accupuncture Wastearundel Accupuncture Waste Disposalarundel Accupuncture Waste Collectionarundel Tattoo Wastearundel Tattoo Waste Disposalarundel Sharps Binarundel Sharps Collectionarundel Hazardous Sharpsarundel Non Hazardous Sharpsarundel Cytotoxic Sharpsarundel Cytostatic Sharpsarundel Ink Blockarundel Wet_Wastearundel Tattoo Inkarundel Drug Destructionarundel Drug Disposalarundel Drug Denaturingarundel Unwanted Drugsarundel Out Of Date Drugsarundel Pest Controlarundel Rodent Controlarundel Bird Controlarundel Bird Proofingarundel Guano Controlarundel Pest Call Outarundel Pest Preventionarundel Pest Deterrentarundel Nursery Wastearundel Nappy Wastearundel Nappy Binarundel Nappy Disposalarundel Nappy Wheelie Binarundel Nursery Waste Disposalarundel Nursery Waste Collectionarundel Incontinence Padsarundel Offensive Wastearundel Human Wastearundel Nursing Home Wastearundel Care Home Wastearundel Hazardous Wastearundel Infectous Wastearundel Pharmaceutical Wastearundel Medicinal Wastearundel Medicine Wastearundel Infection Controlarundel Hand Sanitisersarundel Clinical Waste Disposalarundel Clinical Waste Managementarundel Clinical Waste Policyarundel EA Registrationarundel Hammocksarundel Garden Hammocksarundel Adult Hammocksarundel Childrens Hammocksarundel Baby Hammocks