So two nights ago I attended the advanced screening of Cats. And what I'd experienced in that theater is only what I could describe as "magical". Here's my blotchy attempt at a non-Spoiler review. [Side Note: Prior to watching the movie, my knowledge about the musical was very minimal. I had a general understanding of the story and I'd only gotten halfway through the OBC album before forgetting to complete it].
If you're expecting a smooth, welcoming, not-creepy introduction to the Cats' onscreen appearances to spare you from being immediately hit with the pure uncanny valley-ness of the characters, you're not going to be happy. It's actually very very terrifying. Those first few minutes left me paralyzed with shock and confusion at what I was witnessing, yet I was enjoying how bizarre it was; and over time, I found myself loosening up to their designs (although I spotted a couple of tiny VFX hiccups where the movement of their faces didn't exactly align with the rest of their heads).
The direction and pacing is sort of confusing -- sometimes it decides it's a goofy, quirky kids movie and other times it decides it's a serious, generally-faithful adaption of an old, beloved musical. Polar Express, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Spy Kids all come to mind when I think about what half of the movie reminds me of (I get heavy Polar Express vibes from the entire movie though, and it's not just because of the uncanny valley). Then you've got the more dramatic, slow, "artsy" moments -- and some of those moments get kind of boring and go on for way too long (and borderline sexual for like a handful of scenes). "The Rum Tum Tugger", "Bustopher Jones", "Gus the Theater Cat", and "Mr. Mistoffelees" are some of my favorite moments in the entire film and don't fall on either of the two categories I mentioned.
Idris Elba is just having the time of his life playing Macavity; he's just so fun to watch every time he's onscreen. It's very clear that all the actors are giving it their best, and it actually surprised me how much effort was put into their performances... and then all that effort are watered down by those horrific, disturbing, putrid, spine-tingling designs.
There's a lot more I'd love to talk about, but I'm currently at a drainage of energy. So here's my overall consensus: I can't hate this movie. I just can't. It's so unapologetically bizarre, surreal, and childish that I just can't hate it. That's not to say I think the film is good (it's definitely going to be confusing for the general audience), but it does enough for me that I actually don't mind watching it again. It's a very interesting, different take on the musical (story-wise), and this film adaption is more for the fans than it is for children.
[1:42 AM: I've been catching up with this thread and read the article quinnmac000 linked about the director's reaction towards the backlash. A statement stuck out to me: "“The problem with the trailer was that the faces had got lost in the effects.”
No. That was not the problem. I don't know if it's because he worded it wrong and meant something else, that's exactly the opposite of the problem.]
If you're expecting a smooth, welcoming, not-creepy introduction to the Cats' onscreen appearances to spare you from being immediately hit with the pure uncanny valley-ness of the characters, you're not going to be happy. It's actually very very terrifying. Those first few minutes left me paralyzed with shock and confusion at what I was witnessing, yet I was enjoying how bizarre it was; and over time, I found myself loosening up to their designs (although I spotted a couple of tiny VFX hiccups where the movement of their faces didn't exactly align with the rest of their heads).
The direction and pacing is sort of confusing -- sometimes it decides it's a goofy, quirky kids movie and other times it decides it's a serious, generally-faithful adaption of an old, beloved musical. Polar Express, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Spy Kids all come to mind when I think about what half of the movie reminds me of (I get heavy Polar Express vibes from the entire movie though, and it's not just because of the uncanny valley). Then you've got the more dramatic, slow, "artsy" moments -- and some of those moments get kind of boring and go on for way too long (and borderline sexual for like a handful of scenes). "The Rum Tum Tugger", "Bustopher Jones", "Gus the Theater Cat", and "Mr. Mistoffelees" are some of my favorite moments in the entire film and don't fall on either of the two categories I mentioned.
Idris Elba is just having the time of his life playing Macavity; he's just so fun to watch every time he's onscreen. It's very clear that all the actors are giving it their best, and it actually surprised me how much effort was put into their performances... and then all that effort are watered down by those horrific, disturbing, putrid, spine-tingling designs.
There's a lot more I'd love to talk about, but I'm currently at a drainage of energy. So here's my overall consensus: I can't hate this movie. I just can't. It's so unapologetically bizarre, surreal, and childish that I just can't hate it. That's not to say I think the film is good (it's definitely going to be confusing for the general audience), but it does enough for me that I actually don't mind watching it again. It's a very interesting, different take on the musical (story-wise), and this film adaption is more for the fans than it is for children.
[1:42 AM: I've been catching up with this thread and read the article quinnmac000 linked about the director's reaction towards the backlash. A statement stuck out to me: "“The problem with the trailer was that the faces had got lost in the effects.”
No. That was not the problem. I don't know if it's because he worded it wrong and meant something else, that's exactly the opposite of the problem.]
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