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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2019 23:49:20 GMT
Dragged my UTI-hurting butt to see Rocketman, since I've loved Elton (& Bernie) since the late 1960's and have followed their careers. I saw Elton about 40 times in concert.........
If you aren't familiar with every facet of Elton's life, then you'll probably love the movie. It was a very well done movie about his childhood, fame and addictions. Very well acted. At times I forgot it wasn't Elton on the screen!
My peeve is that about 90% of it was factually incorrect regarding the timeline. Ugh--they skipped from 1968 to 1976 and expected you to go along with it. A straight-up documentary about his life would have been much more interesting IMO, but this was a catchy movie.
I wonder what other Peas thought about it...........
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Post by danor98 on May 31, 2019 23:54:40 GMT
We saw it today also. I’ve been a fan also since the 70’s. Captain Fantastic will forever be my fav album. I enjoyed it, I really did. I also had a problem with the time line, it confused me. I’m not super studious in what album came in what order, and even I could tell it was warped. That being said, it was an enjoyable 2 hours.☺️
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Post by supersoda on May 31, 2019 23:55:34 GMT
We saw it a couple of weeks ago at a pre-release and LOVED it. My girls saw it today and really like it too.
I was also glad to see Bernie treated so well.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2019 23:58:51 GMT
We saw it today also. I’ve been a fan also since the 70’s. Captain Fantastic will forever be my fav album. I enjoyed it, I really did. I also had a problem with the time line, it confused me. I’m not super studious in what album came in what order, and even I could tell it was warped. That being said, it was an enjoyable 2 hours.☺️ Well said! See? EVen fans who know his music know that it was out of order.... It irked me......... Still, it was very good.
supersoda : I was surprised it got an R rating, but I guess it was because of the drug usage and some sex....... The parts with Bernie made me really tear up because their relationship has always been so special. |
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scrappinmama
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Post by scrappinmama on Jun 1, 2019 0:14:49 GMT
I cannot wait to see this. My son is an Elton fan as well and wants to come along. How graphic were the sex scenes? I want to be able to prepare him for it. He is autistic and explanation will be necessary if the scenes are graphic. He walks out of the room when Game of Thrones would show any sex scenes.
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Post by craftedbys on Jun 1, 2019 0:23:31 GMT
DS and I are going to a late showing tonight! We can't wait. DS has been looking forward to this for months.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Jun 1, 2019 0:48:27 GMT
We saw it today and loved it!
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Post by leftturnonly on Jun 1, 2019 0:54:31 GMT
A straight-up documentary about his life would have been much more interesting IMO, but this was a catchy movie. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I watched the Project Runway episode where the designers were to create an Elvis-inspired costume and the man who created the costumes for the movie was a judge. I'm still not sure why brand new costumes needed to be created for a movie about Elton John. As if his actual costumes weren't enough... ? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 1:05:13 GMT
I cannot wait to see this. My son is an Elton fan as well and wants to come along. How graphic were the sex scenes? I want to be able to prepare him for it. He is autistic and explanation will be necessary if the scenes are graphic. He walks out of the room when Game of Thrones would show any sex scenes. There were only gay sex scenes, and Elton and his lover were naked but they didn't show much (only bare butts). There was also an insinuation of a man (don't want to give it away) getting oral sex, but they didn't show any nudity. Still it was too much for a child, IMO. Game of Thrones is MUCH more graphic than this movie. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 1:08:24 GMT
A straight-up documentary about his life would have been much more interesting IMO, but this was a catchy movie. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I watched the Project Runway episode where the designers were to create an Elvis-inspired costume and the man who created the costumes for the movie was a judge. I'm still not sure why brand new costumes needed to be created for a movie about Elton John. As if his actual costumes weren't enough... ? True--and the actor was just as small as Elton, but Elton sold off so many of his outfits and they had to be recreated as far as I know..... They did a decent job. |
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Post by AussieMeg on Jun 1, 2019 1:18:40 GMT
I also had a problem with the time line, it confused me. I’m not super studious in what album came in what order, and even I could tell it was warped. Well said! See? EVen fans who know his music know that it was out of order.... It irked me. I haven't seen it yet, but the timeline thing isn't going to bother me at all..... I admire Elton John but I'm not a fan so I wouldn't have any idea whatsoever about the correct timeline!  I can imagine that it would be quite annoying to a true fan though. Very well acted. At times I forgot it wasn't Elton on the screen! I saw an interview with Elton and Taron Egerton last night, and Elton said something along the lines of (I'm paraphrasing) "When I was watching it, I wasn't seeing Taron, I was seeing me!" I thought that was very high praise indeed. |
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Post by leftturnonly on Jun 1, 2019 1:21:24 GMT
I haven't seen the movie yet, but I watched the Project Runway episode where the designers were to create an Elvis-inspired costume and the man who created the costumes for the movie was a judge. I'm still not sure why brand new costumes needed to be created for a movie about Elton John. As if his actual costumes weren't enough... ? True--and the actor was just as small as Elton, but Elton sold off so many of his outfits and they had to be recreated as far as I know..... They did a decent job. Recreated I get. Reimagined, though? It's not like Elton's costumes don't deserve recognition in their own right. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 1:31:54 GMT
True--and the actor was just as small as Elton, but Elton sold off so many of his outfits and they had to be recreated as far as I know..... They did a decent job. Recreated I get. Reimagined, though? It's not like Elton's costumes don't deserve recognition in their own right. Most (if not all) of the outfits were directly recreated--I recognized so many of them (even the 'everyday' clothes--I am obsessed!) Elton did show his outfits in the past much like Princess Diana did, but then he sold so many of them. He still has a TON stored away.
AussieMeg : I've seen a few Elton interviews where he praises Taron. They did the Kingmen 2 movie together and Elton wanted him for the part. I heard that they did inquire about Justin Timberlake but he couldn't do the film...... Elton had high praise for Taron. The critics didn't like him as a choice lead because he's straight IRL. He's a GREAT actor because it wasn't an issue in the film. He played Elton very, very well, and so much of the film was touching. |
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Just T
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Post by Just T on Jun 1, 2019 1:35:42 GMT
I cannot wait to see it. I really want to go see it this weekend, but I am waiting until the week after next when I am visiting my brother who lives in Atlanta. He has always been a HUGE Elton John fan. I liked him well enough when I was in junior high and high school, but I grew to love and appreciate him and his music more as an adult. When my brother was 18, he was kicked out of our house (this was in 1982) and I didn't see him or even talk to him again until 2011. Over the years, Elton John music always made me feel a connection to my brother. Now, I am really close with him and his partner, and we get together a couple of times a year. My brother is still a huge Elton John fan, and so am I, and as soon as I heard about the movie, I already knew I was going to be in Atlanta the second week of June, and we decided to go see it when I am there.
I am sooooo tempted to go see it on my own this weekend, but I already threatened them not to do that, so I guess I better not. LOL
The timeline being off will probably bug me, but I don't care. LOL I'm happy to hear from those of you who have seen it that it is so good. And knowing that Elton John said he felt like he was watching himself makes me even more excited to see it.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 3:38:08 GMT
I cannot wait to see it. I really want to go see it this weekend, but I am waiting until the week after next when I am visiting my brother who lives in Atlanta. He has always been a HUGE Elton John fan. I liked him well enough when I was in junior high and high school, but I grew to love and appreciate him and his music more as an adult. When my brother was 18, he was kicked out of our house (this was in 1982) and I didn't see him or even talk to him again until 2011. Over the years, Elton John music always made me feel a connection to my brother. Now, I am really close with him and his partner, and we get together a couple of times a year. My brother is still a huge Elton John fan, and so am I, and as soon as I heard about the movie, I already knew I was going to be in Atlanta the second week of June, and we decided to go see it when I am there.
I am sooooo tempted to go see it on my own this weekend, but I already threatened them not to do that, so I guess I better not. LOL
The timeline being off will probably bug me, but I don't care. LOL I'm happy to hear from those of you who have seen it that it is so good. And knowing that Elton John said he felt like he was watching himself makes me even more excited to see it.
So many people have a connection to his music. It can bring you right back to a specific time period. I'm blessed enough to have had 3 generations of my family go to a few of his concerts together. So many memories. My grandmother somehow wrote to Elton's "people" when I went thru a medical trauma as a kid, and she got a hand-written note from Elton along with access for me to his fan club which she gifted me with. It was a short get-well note but it was written in is writing. Memorable. I wanted to ask you if your brother knew where Elton lived in Atlanta. His Peachtree album was done there and he adored Georgia enough to reside there for years. Plus there's his old song,"Georgia," which is a sweet one. I'd see the movie a few times. I want to hear it in good Dolby cinema sound... Hope you enjoy it when you do see it. |
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Post by danor98 on Jun 1, 2019 3:50:18 GMT
@bergdorfblonde
My grandmother somehow wrote to Elton's "people" when I went thru a medical trauma as a kid, and she got a hand-written note from Elton along with access for me to his fan club which she gifted me with. It was a short get-well note but it was written in is writing. Memorable.
How wonderful is this story...Not the medical trauma you went through, but the fact that your grandmother wrote and that EJ responded. What s treasure! ☺️
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finaledition
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Post by finaledition on Jun 1, 2019 4:29:41 GMT
I saw it at a preview a couple weeks ago. I loved everything about it, but I wasn’t completely on board with the fantasy aspect of it. I didn’t know that would be part of the movie so maybe if I knew going in, I may have felt different. But that was least favorite part of the movie.
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Post by Jockscrap on Jun 1, 2019 11:32:02 GMT
I saw it yesterday and loved it. It was a surprise to me that it was a musical. I thought it was going to be a film with music, like A Star is Born, rather than an actual musical.
I saw EJ in concert a few years ago and it was one of the most disappointing concert experiences I’ve had. The tickets cost a fortune, but I love his music and was so excited to be seeing a real legend but it was completely lacklustre. It was if he is is so talented and it is all so effortless to him, he truly had to put in no effort and he didn’t. Sat at his piano, looked bored, sounded bored, very little chat and what there was you could tell was the same-old-same-old he’s churned out thousands of times before. No atmosphere at all. I might as well have just stuck his album of greatest hits on and listened to that.
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dald222
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Post by dald222 on Jun 1, 2019 11:37:07 GMT
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jun 1, 2019 11:50:41 GMT
I saw EJ in concert a few years ago and it was one of the most disappointing concert experiences I’ve had. The tickets cost a fortune, but I love his music and was so excited to be seeing a real legend but it was completely lacklustre. It was if he is is so talented and it is all so effortless to him, he truly had to put in no effort and he didn’t. Sat at his piano, looked bored, sounded bored, very little chat and what there was you could tell was the same-old-same-old he’s churned out thousands of times before. No atmosphere at all. I might as well have just stuck his album of greatest hits on and listened to that. Huh. We saw him a couple years ago and it was a great concert. He was full of energy, funny, and the music was terrific. I'm sorry your experience was not good. We're looking forward to seeing the movie. I would never notice any inconsistencies or errors because I'm just not plugged into stuff like that at all. |
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iowgirl
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Post by iowgirl on Jun 1, 2019 12:07:15 GMT
Rocketman will forever be the Disney movie.. a family favorite. LOL I wish they had picked a different name for the movie. I probably won't see it in the theater, but I will love to see it when it gets released to Netflix or Prime.  |
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Post by pjaye on Jun 1, 2019 12:10:09 GMT
I posted my thoughts in the movie thread, but I'll paraphrase them here. It did all the things I generally hate in musicals but did them so well that I loved it. I don't think the time line is off, instead they just used whichever of Elton's songs was the best fit for that part of the movie to tell the story, so the songs weren't used in chronological order, but rather used where they made sense to tell the story. I had no issue with that...in fact I thought it was genius! Instead of making up new songs with cheesy lyrics, they used existing songs that weren't even about that time in Elton's life in such a way that it felt like they were written just for that moment. I generally don't like fantasy in movies about real life events and yet I thought it fitted in perfectly with this story. I thought the portrayal of Elton & Bernie's "bromance" was well done & very touching. I loved the set design and the costumes were spectacular. I went in not knowing what to expect, and just loved everything about this. A 'straight' biopic wouldn't have been nearly as good. Bohemian Rhapsody left me flat because it was all the stuff we already knew told in the same old way. Elton was just as flawed as Freddy (and he's pretty damn lucky he avoided contracting HIV) but he comes across as so much more sympathetic and likeable. You really get to understand who is was and what led to much of his self destructive behaviour. And if we're to compare this movie with Bohemian Rhapsody then there's plenty in that film that wasn't accurate either and the storyline manipulated/changed for dramatic effect. I'm still not sure why brand new costumes needed to be created for a movie about Elton John. As if his actual costumes weren't enough... ? But they weren't creating costumes "for the movie" the challenge was to be inspired by Elton and to create something that he might have worn back in the day. Essentially it was just a twist on the Avant-garde challenge they do on most seasons, except this time the inspiration was Elton (and it was Elton because the movie was coming out a few weeks after the episode so it was a paid advertisement as well...that's how they make money to keep shows like this on the air) |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 15:15:38 GMT
I saw it yesterday and loved it. It was a surprise to me that it was a musical. I thought it was going to be a film with music, like A Star is Born, rather than an actual musical. I saw EJ in concert a few years ago and it was one of the most disappointing concert experiences I’ve had. The tickets cost a fortune, but I love his music and was so excited to be seeing a real legend but it was completely lacklustre. It was if he is is so talented and it is all so effortless to him, he truly had to put in no effort and he didn’t. Sat at his piano, looked bored, sounded bored, very little chat and what there was you could tell was the same-old-same-old he’s churned out thousands of times before. No atmosphere at all. I might as well have just stuck his album of greatest hits on and listened to that. Wow!! In the 40-something times I've seen him live, I think he's never put on anything but a spectacular show. I've seen him totally high/drunk. I've seen him when he first appeared after becoming sober. I've seen him right after the death of his dear friend, John Lennon (he was wearing bulletproof bodywear and he seemed to be numb, but he still performed with heart). So, if he wasn't at his best, then he must have been ill. That's out of the norm for his concerts to be boring and for them to sound like the album. He's still got stamina at age 73, and plays for 3 hours straight--all with enthusiasm and joy. I'm sorry you didn't get to see him play like that! |
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Post by phoenixcov on Jun 1, 2019 15:25:12 GMT
I don`t know if I have ever forgiven Elton for breaking my heart when he got married to she who I will not name.   . |
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Post by pjaye on Jun 1, 2019 15:31:28 GMT
don`t know if I have ever forgiven Elton for breaking my heart when he got married to she who I will not name. You should be thanking her! Being married to a gay, alcoholic, drug addict doesn't sound like a good time to me. Even before the movie I'd imagined that was a pretty grim marriage and the film makes it look really sad and lonely.. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 16:02:09 GMT
I posted my thoughts in the movie thread, but I'll paraphrase them here. It did all the things I generally hate in musicals but did them so well that I loved it. I don't think the time line is off, instead they just used whichever of Elton's songs was the best fit for that part of the movie to tell the story, so the songs weren't used in chronological order, but rather used where they made sense to tell the story. I had no issue with that...in fact I thought it was genius! Instead of making up new songs with cheesy lyrics, they used existing songs that weren't even about that time in Elton's life in such a way that it felt like they were written just for that moment. I generally don't like fantasy in movies about real life events and yet I thought it fitted in perfectly with this story. I thought the portrayal of Elton & Bernie's "bromance" was well done & very touching. I loved the set design and the costumes were spectacular. I went in not knowing what to expect, and just loved everything about this. A 'straight' biopic wouldn't have been nearly as good. Bohemian Rhapsody left me flat because it was all the stuff we already knew told in the same old way. Elton was just as flawed as Freddy (and he's pretty damn lucky he avoided contracting HIV) but he comes across as so much more sympathetic and likeable. You really get to understand who is was and what led to much of his self destructive behaviour. And if we're to compare this movie with Bohemian Rhapsody then there's plenty in that film that wasn't accurate either and the storyline manipulated/changed for dramatic effect. I'm still not sure why brand new costumes needed to be created for a movie about Elton John. As if his actual costumes weren't enough... ? But they weren't creating costumes "for the movie" the challenge was to be inspired by Elton and to create something that he might have worn back in the day. Essentially it was just a twist on the Avant-garde challenge they do on most seasons, except this time the inspiration was Elton (and it was Elton because the movie was coming out a few weeks after the episode so it was a paid advertisement as well...that's how they make money to keep shows like this on the air) I didn't read your comment there, so I appreciate you reposting it here. Very interesting insight!!
I agree--I don't generally care for musicals or Glee-type shows, but this was an exception for me since it was well done. HOWEVER, as I stated, as a long-time fan and knowing so much about their lives, I wish that it could have been more of a documentary. Maybe in time that will come. He's had such interesting friendships and stories. That first night at the Troubadour, Neil Diamond introduced him and Elton was a HUGE fan. Elton also saw Leon Russell (whom he later pulled out of retirement/obscurity to do an album with him), whom he admired very much and they all praised him.
Elton was friends with Bette Davis and Liz Taylor--there were very interesting stories there!! One time he dove into Bette Davis' pool to retrieve a frog that she was freaking out over. His version of the story was hilarious.
The friendship with Bernie was much more like a brotherhood--never a bromance. Just an acceptance and a true love to this day.
"I don't think the time line is off, instead they just used whichever of Elton's songs was the best fit for that part of the movie to tell the story, so the songs weren't used in chronological order, but rather used where they made sense to tell the story. I had no issue with that...in fact I thought it was genius!" VERY WELL SAID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do agree that the songs they used to tell the story were so very pertinent, even though they didn't fit in with the time period. However, there was no reason why they'd show him performing songs that came out 6-8 years after the Troubadour concert, during his U.S. premier. His songs back then are what made him instantly a "star". IMO, there was no need to play "Rocketman" when they could have used the actual songs in that concert (Your Song, Border Song, Take Me To The Pilot, Sixty Years On...), since THOSE songs were the ones who garnered such praise.
I agree with you about Bohemian Rhapsody. I was distracted by the actor's looks. They seemed too over the top........ He irked me. And there was so much more to Freddie's story also.........
About Elton and HIV, it should have been MUCH more than a footnote to state that he took over Liz Taylor's AIDS Foundation and made it into his own to help people with HIV and AIDS. Elton has often said that it was a miracle that he never acquired HIV with all of the unprotected sex he had and with all of the drugs he did (needles). His Foundation constantly ranks in the highest ratings as far as the money actually going to the direct cause. Most of the people working in his Foundation don't take salaries. He should be extremely proud.
pjaye : You gave a lot of food for thought, but I still stick with my dream of seeing a straight-up, real documentary about Sir Elton's real life. Maybe it could be in addition to this movie, but there should really be a part 2 to this type of movie showing the 2nd half of his life and what he's accomplished. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 16:05:00 GMT
I don`t know if I have ever forgiven Elton for breaking my heart when he got married to she who I will not name. . Haha!! Same here. That was the year I got married. I held out hope until he got married since he toyed with the bisexual statement on and off for years....... He had a fortune told to him that one day he'd marry an Italian girl and she'd be many years younger than he was. I was convinced it would be me. LOL. (Strangely enough, in 2010 I married a man who is the same age as Elton--I'm 14 years younger).
Elton loved Renate (sorry for mentioning her name) and he said that he wanted to try to have a baby with her, but after a year or so it became obvious that he was gay and not bi and it was driving them both crazy. They're friends to this day and he's always loved her. Sweet.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2019 16:07:05 GMT
don`t know if I have ever forgiven Elton for breaking my heart when he got married to she who I will not name. You should be thanking her! Being married to a gay, alcoholic, drug addict doesn't sound like a good time to me. Even before the movie I'd imagined that was a pretty grim marriage and the film makes it look really sad and lonely.. No, NO, NOOOO!!! That's not how it was!!! She thought that Elton was bisexual, and she knew about his drug use and his affairs with men. Still, she accepted that they loved each other (they really did) and they tried to make it work. It wasn't fake. It only became sad down the road when it was obvious that he never wanted to have sex with women anymore and it wouldn't work. They are still friends to this day and he loves her. He was only sorry that it didn't work out because she held out hope. |
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Post by pjaye on Jun 1, 2019 16:45:48 GMT
The friendship with Bernie was much more like a brotherhood--never a bromance. Just an acceptance and a true love to this day. That's exactly what a "bromance" is...a close NON sexual relationship between two men. I didn't say it was fake...but the fact is that he is gay and no matter how hard they tried it was never going to be a satisfying relationship for either of them and destined to fail and cause unhappiness. He has admitted that by not being honest with himself or her, that he hurt her. In his own words: Perhaps not at the very start but by the end it would have been a pretty lonely & miserable life for her until they finally ended it. |
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Post by pjaye on Jun 1, 2019 17:06:53 GMT
IMO, there was no need to play "Rocketman" when they could have used the actual songs in that concert (Your Song, Border Song, Take Me To The Pilot, Sixty Years On...), since THOSE songs were the ones who garnered such praise. That's your opinion (and you are entitled to it) but obviously like the person whose vision it was, I thought it was a genius way to do it and I thought it worked exceptionally well, and it's what made it a great (rather than a good movie) for me. That level of quirky storytelling doesn't always work, but this time it did. Like the Crocodile Rock number...obviously no-one levitated, BUT it made the point, this is where his career took off, this was the turning point and what a crazy (but great) way to illustrate that point. You get it and there's no need to over explain it all with dialogue. I go to the movies to be entertained...and this movie took me on the ride. If I want straight up facts and a chronological life story and discography, I can sit home and google that. |
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I can imagine that it would be quite annoying to a true fan though.
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