Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Hairspray (2007)

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Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 07-20-2007, 04:54 PM:

CINEMA: Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons, Sandy, UT
AUDITORIUM: 14
PRESENTATION: Dolby Digital Cinema/THX
PRESENTATION PROBLEMS: None [Cool]

RATING: Two stars (out of four)

This may be the chickiest chick flick ever made. I about walked out twice.

This 105 minute barrage of uppitiness contains approximately 17,562 dance numbers. The "plot" is merely sub-fodder to get from one dance number to another. Just like porn.

Travolta is cartoonish. I don't know if it's supposed to be a running joke that a guy has to play that part or something...if it is, I didn't get it. It was just stupid.

The girls in the audience giggled and cheered and generally made me want to never have sex again. The two stars is for production value really. It was well shot and had a great soundtrack. Probably the best done movie I've hated since "Chicago".

Posted by Paul Linfesty (Member # 214) on 07-21-2007, 12:07 AM:

Viewed at Regal's Edwards Bakersfield 14, screen #8, 35mm SRD.

Presentation: Excellent projection and sound. Flawless presentation.

THis was one of the most purely enjoyable times I've had at a movie in a while. Yes, I've seen some better films, but none this joyful. It's a very upbeat, sunny film that nonetheless shows an ugliness beneath the surface of nostalgia for the "good old innocent days." The casting was spot-on, the dancing flowed well wirth an exhuberence rarely seen anymore. I was a little sad at some of the cuts from the stage show. Three of my favorite songs were either eliminated (the whole prison sequence, truncated, "It Takes Two," or banished to the end credits "I'm a Big Girl Now." Still, a true delight that makes up for a derivitave summer (and despite its history, this didn't seem derivitave).

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 07-21-2007, 06:12 PM:

Viewed at AMC Lennox 24 Theatre 12 on a 60+' Torus screen. (Looks great...sounds just OK.)

I agree with Paul...this is one of the more delightful films I've seen in a long while. Nice to see a non-sequel, too.

Performances are very very fine across the board. Way too much is made of Travolta...he is not the main character in this film at all. Nikki Blonsky is a powerhouse, and certainly equal to Ricki Lake in the original. Michelle Pfeiffer is a great villain, and Walken/Travolta make a great couple and have a very nice dance. Queen Latifah is just perfect as Mother Maybelle.

This is the most energetic movie I think I've ever seen. It just keeps rolling and rolling along with one strong musical number after another. The songs, however, sound very much like the Ashman/Menken songs in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

I was disappointed in the sound mix of this film just as I was with DREAMGIRLS, and I think I figured out why. Blame it on CHICAGO. CHICAGO has such an incredible orchestral mix, especially heavy on the percussion. DREAMGIRLS and HAIRSPRAY are mixed a bit more on the bass side with the drums more in the background. I think CHICAGO sounds bigger and brighter than the newer musicals.

A fun experience, especially for those of us who grew up in this era. Looked like us 50+ folks were in the majority here. More than a few grey-haired ladies dancing during the credit music!

The director of this film (Adam Shankman) has one of the strangest credits I've ever seen. For the film CASPER, he is credited with "animation ghost references".

[ 07-22-2007, 12:46 PM: Message edited by: Mark Lensenmayer ]

Posted by Shane Cooper (Member # 2510) on 07-22-2007, 06:27 PM:

Watched at Rave Colonel Glenn 18, House 17, DLP presentation

My wife dragged me to this movie as I had no real interest in watching it. However, I enjoyed it and my wife really enjoyed it. It was nice to see something fresh in this summer of recycle, (I realize that it is an adaptation of a musical that was an adaptation of a movie), great music and a positive message.

based on the gross that far exceeded any of the expectations I saw, alot of others liked it as well.
[thumbsup]

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 07-24-2007, 07:13 PM:

I felt the oogies just workin on the projector standing next to this film today... Somehow Travolta as a big fat sing'n woman gives me the creeps...

Mark

Posted by Brad Allen (Member # 470) on 07-30-2007, 01:50 PM:

Fun Movie. Christopher Walken and John Travolta doing a song and dance number together is hilarious!

4.5 out of 5 stars.

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 08-04-2007, 07:01 AM:

Mark; I now call him John Revolta. Louis

Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 08-04-2007, 04:31 PM:

(though it was "John Revolting") [Big Grin]

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-06-2007, 01:40 AM:

Finally got around to seeing this tonight after much "you should watch this, even if only for the sound mix" nudging.

Like others I thought the whole Travolta in drag thing was going to be stupid and unnecessary. By the time Travolta had some screen time, I just didn't care. This movie is just fun with amazing energy. I thoroughly enjoyed myself from beginning to end.

Sound-wise this flick has a PHENOMENAL sound mix! I ran the fader at 8 and it was crisp, clean and rich without a hint of ear fatigue. If anyone wasn't blown away by the sound in the auditorium, that sound system needs some work because the mix was magnificent.

I was going to rate this movie 4 out of 5 stars for content, but the sound mix was so well done that I am giving it 5 out of 5 stars because it really made the movie for me.

Posted by John Wilson (Member # 269) on 09-06-2007, 06:13 AM:

A double feature with Moulin Rouge anyone? [thumbsup]

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-06-2007, 11:53 AM:

Wow, a 5-star review from Brad. I think this is a first.

Posted by Brad Miller (Member # 2) on 09-06-2007, 09:59 PM:

Mike, watch it yourself and tell me if you don't catch yourself grinning through the entire movie.

Of course under your own logic, you may not want to book the film, because movies that I think are crap do big business. [Wink]

Posted by Stephen Furley (Member # 1277) on 09-08-2007, 05:46 PM:

I ran two shows of it today, and watched some of it from up in the box. It's not really my sort of film; too fast and too loud, but I have to say that the picture looked good; almost like one o the 'new' Technicolor dye prints made a few years ago. Was it a 4k D.I? It looked much sharper than 'The Incredibles', which I ran before it, and which I don't remember looking like it did today the last time we had it.

The house was about three-quarters full at 14:20, but for the 20:15 show we only got about six; I wouldn't have put it on in that slot. It got a surprising number of older people in for the 14:20 show.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 09-10-2007, 08:23 PM:

quote: Brad Miller
Mike, watch it yourself and tell me if you don't catch yourself grinning through the entire movie.

We are playing this right now, and yes I did watch it. I guess I didn't like it THAT much, but I did enjoy it a lot more than I was thinking I would. For one thing, it was a lot funnier than I was expecting -- always a plus for a comedy fan like me. Nikki Blonsky is a real find...without her, the movie wouldn't have been nearly as good. And Travolta, he was hilarious - he should get a best actor Oscar nom. I thought Christopher Walken added a lot, too.

The songs rate high on the "catchy" meter...I can't get a few of them to stop playing in my head. And, agreed that the sound mix is excellent. I would have liked a little more low-end, but that's just my taste.

Overall, a solid 8 out of 10 from me. My wife has watched it twice; she gives it a 9.