If you recall, the fine folks behind the Harry Potter musical had set their sights on a Batman musical, which I posted a small preview of back in February. Well, the musical is here, and it's just as fantastic as I could have possibly hoped. If you don't have the time or inclination to watch all 13 parts (all the links are after jump), I cannot recommend enough that you watch this first video. Especially if you happen to be Julie Taymor or Bono. THIS IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE, GODDAMMIT. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT DIFFICULT. Thanks to everyone who sent in the tip!
• Act One, Part 2
• Act One, Part 3
• Act One, Part 4
• Act One, Part 5
• Act One, Part 6
• Act One, Part 7
• Act Two, Part 1
• Act Two, Part 2
• Act Two, Part 3
• Act Two, Part 4
• Act Two, Part 5
• Act Two, Part 6
More links from around the web!
33 comments
The Spider-Man musical got a bad rap from all the accidents on the set, but the reviews were really, really good. They say it's simply amazing. Aint it Cool News raves about it, as did Glenn Back who went back to see it multiple times.
So Glenn Beck, a totally insane man who talks about Nazis more than you'd think possible, thought it was good.
And Harry Knowles, a would-be starfucker who is known to take kickbacks in return for glowing reviews, also enjoyed it.
I think I'll pass.
I really liked the characterizations and dialogue of this musical(and if you liked this, watch their other musicals, seriously. They're fantastic). I feel like something was missing in the music. Maybe the instrumentation, because it's 3 synths and drums. But I went back and listened to their Starship soundtrack after listening to these songs, and the Starship ones blow these away. These aren't bad at all, but the Starship songs are SO MUCH BETTER. Not even mentioning the Harry Potter songs or the songs from their play about anthropomorphic genitalia.
THIS IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE, GODDAMMIT. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT DIFFICULT.I agree. This works because, as campy as this is, this production honors the fact that it is a stage production and not a movie. As a theater person, I hate when stage shows try to imitate the special effects that you find in movies. It can't be done and shouldn't be done. Live theater and film are two very different mediums and both have their own intrinsic value.
While I don't like this presentation (TOO campy for my taste, with too many winks and nods to the audience) I wholeheartedly agree with you. Theater should be aware of its trappings, and play to its strengths.
What Taymor/Bono did was to try to make a musical that was more spectacle than performance, and they failed because the venue, players, and situation weren't suited to their "vision". They tried to make a special effects movie on a stage, and what they failed to grasp was that movies do these sorts of grand scenes with stunts and effects all in one day, a handful of times until they get a good take, and then have post to make repairs and add effects, while the Spider-Man musical attempted to do these effects and stunts EVERY NIGHT.
Well, of course it sucked and was dangerous! They were asking stage actors to be stunt men. They were asking stagecraft specialists to be special effects geniuses. They were counting on luck and perfect timing to prevent injuries. It was doomed from the start.
This is why I stick by my assertion that Taymor is a hack. She's reliant on effects and spectacle, not on performances or story. She doesn't direct good theater: She directs bad movies live in front of a studio audience.
I'm a bit ashamed to say it took me a couple of minutes to see that Sweet Tooth's makeup looked like an Oompa Loompa.
Don't worry. I didn't even realize that until I read your post. I caught most/all of the other Wonka references, though. :(
I agree with Smashy. Also, Glee must be watched with a nod to the theater of the absurd and a willingness to enjoy it in spite of its self, otherwise you will hurt somebody.
So I'm guessing the Batman here is inspired by the 30s Batman, seeing as how he kills criminals.
The crew that made these videos also released another show called "Starship" last year. Starship has a lot of Trek/Star Wars/Aliens/Transformers references and is hilarious. The Starship vids are on their youtube page, check them out!
The Superman/Batman fight song is perhaps the best Batman related song since Schwarzenegger's "Batman, You Son Of A Bitch!"Thank you for this, Rob. Now I know how you feel when Tron does whatever it is that it does to you.
Saw this twice in Manchester and it's awesome, basically a live episode of B:TAS.
Highly recommended to any batfan.
I'm glad you added the addendum, because I didn't understand the B:TAS comparison, unless TAS means, "Tripping on Acid Simultaneously".
ooops would help if I watched the video, it's not Batman Live then!
It is however cool so my recommendation still stands!
