Showing posts with label celebrity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrity. Show all posts

26 December 2014

Five Movie Musicals You Need To Watch Over the Holidays.

We’ve officially entered the holidays, and this week on the Simon Morris Blog I wanted to help you celebrate your favourite time of the year by revealing five movie musicals you need to watch over the holidays.

Simon Morris’ Favourite Time of the Year
Ever since a young Simon Morris first decorated his first tree, I’ve been a huge fan of Christmas. There’s just something about this time of the year – the dazzling fairy lights, finding garlands of tinsel everywhere you look, munching on mince pies with the family round the tree – that just gets me right there.

In my opinion, there’s no better way to cap off the holiday season than to gather with the family around a roaring fire, and engage in a movie musical marathon. By the time the final credits role, you’ll all be singing from the rooftops, ready to welcome Santa down your chimney on Christmas Eve.

Include These Five Movie Musicals on Your Christmas Wish List
Yet with so many classic movie musicals out there, which ones should you take the time to watch over the holidays? In my opinion, the following five just have to be on the list…

1)      Annie: Don’t mistake me, I’m not talking about the new version with Cameron Diaz, although I can’t wait for that either. No, this Christmas you have to stick on the original. A classic down-on-her-luck orphan makes good story with bundles of heart, it’s sure to help you sail away from your own ‘hard knock life’ this holiday season.

2)     Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: At this point I hear you groaning, but it really is the perfect movie musical to flick on over the holiday period. Basically, it’s so wonderfully wacky that it’ll have you in stitches in minutes, and who doesn’t want to give themselves the gift of laughter this Christmas?!

3)    The Wizard of Oz: The film that launched the career of movie musical icon Judy Garland, the Wizard of Oz is perfect for any time of the year. However it’s effortless charm, dazzling shades of technicolour, fantastically whimsical characters and solid moral centre make it a movie musical you just need to watch over the holiday season!

4)      An American in Paris: If you’re looking for something to share with your lover and make memories this holiday, I’d absolutely recommend you give An American in Paris a go. The story of an American ex-GI whose paintings come to the attention of a rich American heiress makes this classic production one for the ages!

5)      White Christmas: I had to end this list with an actual Christmas themed movie musical, and what better production could I have chosen than White Christmas? The Bing Crosby classic about a successful song-and-dance team who become romantically entangled with a sister act is just so full of heart you have to watch it over the holiday season.

Don’t Stop There
I may have given you five, but you really don’t have to stop there. If you’re like me, and the best gift you can give yourself this Christmas is the gift of a movie musical marathon, sit the family down and prepare for the ride of your life this holiday season!

8 September 2014

Five Celebrity Movie Musicals I Want to See

This week I rhapsodize here on the Simon Morris blog, letting you know the five celebrity stories I believe need to be brought to the movie musical medium.

Celebs Are So Much More Interesting Than Real People!
As a fan of the movie musical, I can tell you that some of the best, most compelling productions tell the story of a particular person. A famous person obviously, since they lead way more interesting, yet tragic lives than the rest of us.
All you have to do is look at productions such as Evita and Funny Girl to understand this. These musicals were so successful because they were based on stories that were true. We really didn’t know if the real Eva Peron was a saint or a sinner, and yes, the real Fanny Brice’s love life was just that tragic.

These Five Celebrities Have Stories That Would Look Amazing Set to Music
I’m of the opinion that every celebrity has a story that would make for compelling viewing as a movie musical, and in my opinion, these following five celebs have stories destined for the musical silver screen…

1)      Kim Kardashian: I know this is going to be a controversial choice with many of you Simon Morris readers out there, but whether we like it or not, a lot of people find Kim interesting. It’d be like the Heat Magazine of musicals - we really know we shouldn’t see it, but the idea of seeing the infamous sex tape scandal set to music would be too juicy to resist.

2)      Madonna: For someone who’s shown us so much skin, how much do we actually know about who Madonna really is, what motivates and drives her? The famously driven pop icon is a jukebox musical makers wet dream, as not only does she have an epic back catalogue of versatile tunes, but a classic rags to riches story Madonna fans around the world never fail to find compelling.

3)      Barack Obama: If Evita taught us anything, it’s that not only is politics far from boring, it’s great fodder for a musical tune or two,  and there’s no more famous politician in the world today than US President Barack Obama. Personally, I would salivate at the chance to hear his rousing campaign speeches – which lighted fire under a generation – be reimagined as a musical number!

4)      John Lennon: John Lennon never gets less fascinating does he? Arguably, the most famous Beatle, Lennon’s penchant for controversy, troubled life and tragic assassination, would simply shine on the silver screen when accompanied by a rousing musical score. Or, we could just turn it into a jukebox musical!

5)      Judy Garland: As the ultimate movie musical actress with a famously tragic addiction and end, Judy Garland’s life would make the ultimate movie musical. Just think, her real life transition from beleaguered child star to troubled adult actress has compelled so many over the years that it’s just plain obvious.

Do You Agree?
Do you agree with my choices Simon Morris readers? Do you think these celebs have life stories that would make compelling movie musical productions? Or do you think I’m way off base. If you do, then just which celebrity’s story would you like to see made into a movie musical?