Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Rocketman (2019)

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Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 06-02-2019, 01:30 AM:

CINEMA: Regal East Warren, Wichita, KS
AUDITORIUM: 10, SEAT: B6
PRESENTATION: Warren 21 Recline-o-Vision stadium seating with butt warmers and Regal Orange is the new Crown Roller Coaster Vision
PRESENTATION PROBLEMS: None [Cool]

RATING: Two and one half stars (out of four)

THE PLOT: A kid has a natural talent for playing the piano. Wackiness ensues.

Elton’s story is loosely told through snippets of his lyrics and full-on musical numbers tied around a script about as tightly written as an Elvis movie. It feels a lot more special early on than it does by the end.

And just like Bohemian Rhapsody, critics are shitting all over it but the masses are eating it up. It’s not great cinema, but it’s making money.

Posted by Terry Monohan (Member # 8285) on 06-02-2019, 11:40 AM:

This new movie 'Rocketman' opened 1st run at SF's Castro Theatre last Friday for a few weeks. This is the fist time the retro Castro Theatre has played a brand new 1st run feature.

We enjoyed the Elton John movie but the SF Chronicle review guy hated It. Said the actor was not a good singer. The NY Times on Friday liked the new 'Rocketman' movie and gave it a good review.

The movie had many drug and a few sex scenes but that was Elton's life early on. The music and sets were great.

I thought the new actor who played Elton 'Taron Egerton' was good and sang ok but not like Elton.

A big treat for the SF movie crowd on Thursday night May 30 'Taron' was live at the sold out sneak preview of 'Rocketman' on the giant Castro Theatre stage with a Q & A session after the film played.

The Castro had the sound turned up even the surrounds and the DCP movie looked nice and crisp on the wide PanaVision® screen. So nice to have the curtains open and close also.

Times are changing at the Castro Theatre in SF for bookings maybe this will be the start of other 1st run movies or exclusives shown when they 1st open in San Francisco plus live stage/music events.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-02-2019, 05:38 PM:

quote: Sam Graham
And just like Bohemian Rhapsody, critics are shitting all over it but the masses are eating it up. It’s not great cinema, but it’s making money.

Maybe some critics are shitting on it, but overall Rocketman has a 90% score at Rotten Tomatoes (better than the 61% score of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Posted by Justin Hamaker (Member # 2165) on 06-02-2019, 05:42 PM:

I was disappointed by Rocketman. I was not expecting it to be a full on musical; I was expecting a story about a musician. I still liked it, but was really let down by not having any full performances of any of Elton's songs.

For what it's worth, critics are not "shitting" on Rocketman. It has a 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I also think it's wrong to say the masses are "eating it up". A $25 million opening is far from spectacular. In fact, it's slightly less than half of Bohemian Rhapsody's opening.

Posted by Mike Croaro (Member # 3123) on 06-02-2019, 06:36 PM:

I enjoyed the film. Nice day at the movies.

Posted by James Biggins (Member # 8574) on 06-02-2019, 06:41 PM:

quote: Terry Monohan
I thought the new actor who played Elton 'Taron Egerton' was good and sang ok but not like Elton.

New actor? I think you ought to check his imdb profile.

Posted by Sam Graham (Member # 2889) on 06-02-2019, 06:53 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
Maybe some critics are shitting on it, but overall Rocketman has a 90% score at Rotten Tomatoes (better than the 61% score of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Interesting. Critics were at more like 44 percent as of Friday when I looked at it.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-03-2019, 07:18 AM:

I saw it yesterday and was disappointed in the movie. I was expecting a rockumentary-story but got a half-assed musical. The story didn't get me invested in it and the manner in which it was told didn't do anything for me either.

For me, it is maybe a 2-stars out of 5.

If you liked Bohemian Rhapsody then you likely won't think much of this one. I'm not saying the story of Elton John isn't a worthy subject but I don't think this one did it justice, despite his close involvement.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 06-25-2019, 11:29 PM:

HAH - I loved it because 'it was' a musical. First time seeing it, at an AMC/Fandango 'fan' event screening had terrible 5.1 audio; all the right hand surround channels were being rerouted to the back wall rear speakers, making it all sound wonky. Second time in 'Dolby Cinema' though - oh was it glorious !! bring on the 4K UHD disc

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 06-26-2019, 07:09 AM:

I don't mind musicals (have quite a few in my collection). I just didn't like this one either as a musical or as a movie. I guess I judge musicals harder than others because I didn't like the The Greatest Showman either. I guess I'm more of Rodgers and Hammerstein guy on musicals or something because I like most of them.

To each their own.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 06-26-2019, 01:36 PM:

quote: Steve Guttag
I was expecting a rockumentary-story but got a half-assed musical.

That one will be made after he's dead.

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 07-19-2019, 12:42 AM:

A girl of about 20 asked me what's playing tomorrow.

Rocketman.

"What's that?"

The story of Elton John.

"Who's Elton John? I've never heard of him."

[Confused]

Kids these days...

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 07-19-2019, 01:25 PM:

You should put together a best-of-Elton playlist and cue it up the next time that girl comes to a movie, just as a public service.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 07-20-2019, 12:18 AM:

Does anyone remember the 1997 release of Rocketman, starring Harland "7 minute abs" Williams? That one is not about Elton John.

Posted by Eric Hooper (Member # 1730) on 07-25-2019, 02:28 PM:

quote: Terry Monohan
This new movie 'Rocketman' opened 1st run at SF's Castro Theatre last Friday for a few weeks. This is the fist time the retro Castro Theatre has played a brand new 1st run feature.

The Castro also showed MILK first run on the break for three weeks back in 2008/2009. And with good reason though.....