beauty and the Beast at MGN

[meeko_33785]

Re: Respect Your Opinion

Originally posted by CaptJackSparrow
I totally respect your opinion...but you're wrong! LOL

The point I was making was the the soundtrack is different from the typical Aladdin and Little Mermaid soundtracks and that's one of the things that made it great!

True, it may be different from those soundtracks, but it's just about the same as just about any average show on broadway. I feel that the Beauty and the Beast, Mermaid, and Aladdin soundtracks are much more unique with Hunchback being somewhat of a copycat of the average broadway show.

 

[meeko_33785]

Re: Re: beauty and the Beast at MGN

Originally posted by mrtoad
I've seen both the Broadway and the MGM version and as other have stated the Broadway one is much better. I have to say I did not enjoy the one at MGM but the reason was not because it was bad, it was because their was a parade going on right behind us and it was quite annoying. It was the Aladdin Parade and if you did not see that parade, they extended the song "Make Way For Prince Ali" (not sure if that is the real name). You heard that phrase over and over for about 10 minutes. It was rough...

Ahhh.. you must have seen it at the original theater. It was right on Hollywood insteed of farther back on Sunset where it is now. If you haven't seen it since then, I would recogmend giving it another try. The new theater is much better than the old one- larger sets, larger stage, better lighting and sound- and the choreography and talent is much improved. I'd recogmend giving it another try.

 

[Legacy]

Originally Posted By meeko_33785-
I can't say I quite get your point here. So you're saying that because it's different, it's automatically better? That doesn't make any sence. Personally, I think that the songs in Hunchback for the most part were fairly overdone, schmaltzy and lackluster. There was no song that at the end of the film you still were singing in your head like most Disney films or Broadway shows. I'm not saying it's a bad soundtrack, but it just doesn't interest me. I love musicals, but this is just uninspired mediocre fodder to me. No heart, no emotion and just feels somewhat fake. This is just my oppinion, though. I know a lot of people love Hunchback, but I just personally don't think it's that great.

Okay, now I may be taking this a bit too personally, but saying the songs 'God Help the Outcast' and 'Out There' have no heart and no emotion seems a good bit wrong. Take the story of Hunchback, which is a much darker story than Beauty and the Beast and then take a comparisons of the music and you can see the music is in a much darker vein as well. Now, I like the songs from Beauty and the Beast as much as the next music-driven, theater-loving, thespian 20 year old guy, but the musical formula that was used can be seen in the Little Mermaid, Aladin, and the Lion King. During that time period everything was the same, and I got tired of it. When Hunchback came out the German Choirs and painfully deep lyrics appealled a great deal more to me than...
Big Show-Stopper, Check; Moving Ballad, Check; Playful Love Song, Check. Hunchback had a more grown up feel, kind of like Aida has compared to the other Disney Broadway shows. It's not as family friendly as Beauty and the Beast is which makes it great in my opinion.

Hunchback in production over in Germany. Should be coming State-side soon!!! :sohappy:

 

[meeko_33785]

Originally posted by Kicker
Okay, now I may be taking this a bit too personally, but saying the songs 'God Help the Outcast' and 'Out There' have no heart and no emotion seems a good bit wrong. Take the story of Hunchback, which is a much darker story than Beauty and the Beast and then take a comparisons of the music and you can see the music is in a much darker vein as well. Now, I like the songs from Beauty and the Beast as much as the next music-driven, theater-loving, thespian 20 year old guy, but the musical formula that was used can be seen in the Little Mermaid, Aladin, and the Lion King. During that time period everything was the same, and I got tired of it. When Hunchback came out the German Choirs and painfully deep lyrics appealled a great deal more to me than...
Big Show-Stopper, Check; Moving Ballad, Check; Playful Love Song, Check. Hunchback had a more grown up feel, kind of like Aida has compared to the other Disney Broadway shows. It's not as family friendly as Beauty and the Beast is which makes it great in my opinion.

Hunchback in production over in Germany. Should be coming State-side soon!!! :sohappy:

True, I see what you're saying about the early 90s Menkin era becoming a tad formulaic, but even so, I still think that it's some of the best music ever to come out of Disney.

As for the songs from Hunchback, I don't know what the fuss is about. "God Help the Outcast" is a beautiful song, but the performance of it just seems fake to me. It never makes me believe that the character quite comes alive in the song. I've also heard a lot of people praise Frollo's song for being so great, but personally I think it's one of the worst numbers in Disney history. Tony Jay is just a terrible singer and I cringe every time I hear it- not to mention that the lyrics are all about an old man over a younger woman! The only song I felt was very good in the film was "Out There", which was wonderfully written and performed. Other than that, I have to say it's fairly mediocre at best.

 

[DisneyDefenders]

Well put kicker!

 

[mrtoad]

Re: Re: Re: beauty and the Beast at MGN

Originally posted by meeko_33785
Ahhh.. you must have seen it at the original theater. It was right on Hollywood insteed of farther back on Sunset where it is now. If you haven't seen it since then, I would recogmend giving it another try. The new theater is much better than the old one- larger sets, larger stage, better lighting and sound- and the choreography and talent is much improved. I'd recogmend giving it another try.

I saw it in 1993 and it was my first trip to MGM. I'm really not sure where the theater was.

 

[meeko_33785]

Re: Re: Re: Re: beauty and the Beast at MGN

Originally posted by mrtoad
I saw it in 1993 and it was my first trip to MGM. I'm really not sure where the theater was.

Yeah, in 1993, it was at the original theater right on Hollywood Boulevard right next to the Brown Derby. Back then the show was on a much smaller scale than it is now. And, as you mentioned, parades going behind you while you're trying to watch the show were very annoying back then.

 

[barnum42]

Re: Bring Back Hunchback!

Originally posted by CaptJackSparrow
I agree with Meeko to a certain extent. BB is cute, but Hunchback was way better and I was very sad to see it taken away. In my opinion, they should have moved Hunchback to the BB theatre! All I can say is perhaps....SOMEDAY!

I'm with you there Jack.

I enjoy BB, but Hunchback was a better thought out piece of theatre that benefited from the cast singing live, rather than skin characters shaking their heads in time to the music.

Regarding the original post, BB is a favourite film of mine, but I was very disappointed with the stage show (I saw it in London). To me it looked like someone had heard about British Pantomime and tried to write one without having been to a performance. It was too long and too slow moving. That said I still love the additional songs, just the show is a little lardy and could do with sliming down. The MGM production, as has been mentioned bears no comparison. Still worth forty odd minutes of your day (that’s the show, plus the warm up act).

 

[DisneyDefenders]

Glad We Reached An Accord!

I'm glad to see someone mention that VERY important fact that the singing at Hunchback was LIVE and not pre-recorded Britney Spears type lip sinking.

I also agree with barnum42 in that BB is not a HORRIBLE show and I like seeing it when I go to MGM...which is all the time now since Millionaire is there (I love trying to win the 1000000 point treasure!), BUT I miss Hunchback and can't get around the fact that it was a superior show!

 

[meeko_33785]

Re: Glad We Reached An Accord!

Originally posted by CaptJackSparrow
I'm glad to see someone mention that VERY important fact that the singing at Hunchback was LIVE and not pre-recorded Britney Spears type lip sinking.

I also agree with barnum42 in that BB is not a HORRIBLE show and I like seeing it when I go to MGM...which is all the time now since Millionaire is there (I love trying to win the 1000000 point treasure!), BUT I miss Hunchback and can't get around the fact that it was a superior show!

There's more to a show than singing IMO. While I found the singing and acting very good in Hunchback, I felt that the material, especially in trying to adapt the film to the 35 minute version was pretty poor. Some scenes were too short (Topsey Turvy stopping short right before the finale for instance), others were too long (Quasimodo and Esmeralda's escape from the cathedral), and others were very jumpy (the transition between A Guy Like You and the climax, for instance). It's not that I think that Hunchback was a bad show. On the contrary, I think that it was one of the best shows ever produced for WDW. However, I personally do not think it was the best. I think that it would be best to just agree to disagree on this one and just leave it at that.

 

[egionet]

I think we should stop arguing about this. They both have their faults and their good points. But nevertheless they are both good shows. It's too bad that Hunchback had to go, but at least BB is still there. So no more arguing, please!

:sohappy: :sohappy: GO DISNEY! YIPPY! :sohappy: :sohappy:

 

[meeko_33785]

Originally posted by egionet
I think we should stop arguing about this. They both have their faults and their good points. But nevertheless they are both good shows. It's too bad that Hunchback had to go, but at least BB is still there. So no more arguing, please!

:sohappy: :sohappy: GO DISNEY! YIPPY! :sohappy: :sohappy:

Agreed. I'm more than ready to stop this discussion (not argument, or at least I'm not arguing, meerly expressing my oppinion).

 

[barnum42]

Re: Glad We Reached An Accord!

Originally posted by CaptJackSparrow
Glad We Reached An Accord

Even though the steering wheel is on the right, eh Jack? :animwink:

 

[DisneyDefenders]

The Point Is...

I'm not saying that Hunchback is the best show I've ever seen in my life...but the discussion turned into BB vs. Hunchback. When comparing the two...it's quite clear that Hunchback is a superior show, though I am glad that BB exists and we at least still have that.

I'm a member of the Grumpy Debate Team...

'I'm right and you're wrong...end of debate!'

 

[meeko_33785]

Re: The Point Is...

Originally posted by CaptJackSparrow
I'm a member of the Grumpy Debate Team...

'I'm right and you're wrong...end of debate!'

Just a little word of warning- having that sort of philosophy most likely will not win you many friends on this board. :lol:

 

[DisneyDefenders]

LOL

LOL...it's a quote off a shirt! Go scream at Grumpy why don't you!?! LOL

 

[meeko_33785]

Re: LOL

Originally posted by CaptJackSparrow
LOL...it's a quote off a shirt! Go scream at Grumpy why don't you!?! LOL

I know it's off a shirt, but it's certainly the philospohy you seem to be taking with this discussion. Not everyone feels the same way that you do, so ending a post with something along the lines of "I'm right, you're wrong. That's an undeniable fact" is perhaps not the best (or most polite) way of trying to make your point across. We are all entitled to our own oppinions and should share them, but I feel that we should not force our oppinions on others in the manner that you are.

 

[DisneyDefenders]

silly willy

If you read my previous posts, I usually say things like that in a joking manner and have stated MANY times that I do respect everyone else's opinion.

Take it as you will mate, but us scallywags will stick together on this one!

 

[meeko_33785]

Re: silly willy

Originally posted by CaptJackSparrow
If you read my previous posts, I usually say things like that in a joking manner and have stated MANY times that I do respect everyone else's opinion.

Take it as you will mate, but us scallywags will stick together on this one!

Well, if you are joking, please put something lke "lol" "j/k", or a smilie somewhere next to the statement. Sarcasim is not easy to pick up in the written word, so we need just a bit of extra help to allow us to interperate what you say as exactly what you mean. I'm glad to hear that you are not being serious when you say that no one is right except you. Otherwise, you would have some big problems with a lot of the people on this board.

 

[barnum42]

Meeko

I think Jack’s humour may have flow over your mizzen mast like an errant cannon ball.

I guess I just understand scallywag better than your good self. But I believe that nothing said should have been taken personally.