Little Shop of Horrors musical movie remake- Page 4

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 4:39pm

I'd credit the newly found popularity of movie musicals to Moulin Rouge more than I would Chicago, though it obviously wasn't a stage-to-film adaptation. Luhrmann really went out on a limb with Moulin Rouge and it paid off in spades.

Moulin Rouge did something else, which rarely happens. It was a "reinvention" of the movie musical. It wasn't a stage to screen adaptation, but it showed us that stories could be told musically and cinematically in new and fresh ways.

Something like that happens so rarely in the history of any medium. And, so far, it hasn't been repeated or imitated. I thought we might see a string of stylized, pastiche films with fast editing in both song snippets and visuals ... but no. It really was a "one off" as well, perhaps rightfully so.

I suppose, in a way, it paved the way for Chicago (just one year later, which was already in production) ... and while Moulin Rouge was a hit and artistically successful ... Chicago was a blockbuster, and it was hugely successful. I don't think Moulin Rouge got filmmakers or studios to do more than scratch their heads and wonder how he did it. With Chicago, they saw dollar signs and Oscars, and they immediately chased after it with more adaptations, digging through the "Broadway musical archives" for potential film projects.

Updated On: 5/4/12 at 04:39 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 4:53pm

Moulin Rouge recouped, but it was seen as underperforming and a disappointment at the time. While I know many people still dislike it (I love it though I find the opening 15 minutes a bit hard to take), but many seem to forget that it's critical view has grown with time, that was not the initial reaction.

Re Little Shop's original filmed ending, I get why people complain that without it the film isn't a morality tale. But really, while they do use the song Don't Feed the Plants, as filmed with Godzilla like mayhem I don't think the morality tale (as it plays with Seymour) really sunk in with film audiences anyway. As others said, it suddenly seems like a different movie--I like both endings for different reasons, but I really get why test audiences hated it so much and I think it's a bit misguided the way so many fans now seem to blindly believe it's the better ending and solely blame studio politics (I don't think anyone on this thread has done that, but in other forums and reading online reviews that seems to be the common take).

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 4:59pm

I suppose, in a way, it paved the way for Chicago (just one year later, which was already in production)

If anything, Moulin Rouge prepped movie audiences again for the experience of seeing a film musical, which was a benefit to Chicago (which I found to be a let-down after the innovation of Moulin Rouge). Chicago was going to be a blockbuster because of the star-studded cast and the wave of success from the revival which was still peaking when the film came out.

[DennySam222]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 5:02pm

Give me Hunter Bell. Just as anything. I love that guy.

[JP2]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 5:23pm

I agree with a lot of what has been said in regards to the Frank Oz film. I must have been 4 or 5 when I first saw it and it was a major reason why I love musical theater so much. It basically changed my life.

JGL developing this himself leads me to belive that this is somewhat of a passion project for him. That gives me some faith that this is in good hands. I wonder if he has a say in who directs?

Updated On: 5/4/12 at 05:23 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 5:32pm

Re Chicago, while I find the movie decent but a let down, I did know people (ok specifically they were some people who were my parents friends) who had never heard of the musical though they knew who Fosse was--for them the appeal was there was a mature "grown up" musical on film which they seemed to think would never happen again.

JG-L will probably get his good buddy Marc Webb to direct, if he can. He shot (500) Days of Summer like a musical anyway, though his success with studios will probably be based on how his second film, the new dreary looking Spider-Man performs (otherwise he's done dozens of music videos). Meh.

[JP2]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 8:03pm

I wouldn't consider Marc Webb to be a "meh" choice. I think he'd fit pretty well. But that's unlikely. If Spider-Man is a hit, Sony already has a script for the sequel ready.

Also, how about Eddie Murphy or Cee Lo Green as the voice of Audrey 2? After Levi Stubbs portrayal I've never been able to stomach Audrey Two's that don't have that same... soul.

Updated On: 5/4/12 at 08:03 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 8:24pm

No he might be able to do it. What I've seen of Spiderman I don't like, but I think the direction of (500) was one of the better things of a somewhat overated movie.

I'm not even a fan, but I like the idea of Ceelo.

Anyone else grow up watching this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ktE0kjw3zc (I can't believe they couldn't even license Little Shop's title song)

[ChildrenwillListen]

Posted: 5/4/12 at 9:32pm

I never saw that show, granted it was on the year I was born. But it looks like it was cute.

[darquegk]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 12:07am

Cee-Lo actually played an Audrey Two take-off in the musical episode of American Dad that parodies "Little Shop."

And my perfect Audrey Two voice is Stephen Tyler of Aerosmith. While the stage show tends to go for a deep Barry White smooth bass, the brilliance of Levi Stubbs was that he was a blues howler with an enormous range, especially a chilling high end, which he navigated much more freely than any of the recorded stage Audrey Twos. Stephen Tyler has the perfect sound if they go for THAT flavor.

[JP2]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 12:15am

Yeah, I'm not a fan of that deep smooth bass.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 1:42pm

I'm sure this idea will soon join the remake of Cabaret with Renee Zellweger and Mame with Cher...

[PattiLover]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 9:18pm

Jennifer Holliday should play Audrey II. I'm being serious.

[JP2]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 9:35pm

It's a shame she stopped singing years ago.

[The Josh]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 9:43pm

Kad, I can't tell you how much I'd pay to see John Hamm as Orin.

It might just be because I love Amy Adams, but I think she could make a good Audrey.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 9:47pm

Kristen Bell for Audrey!

[JP2]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 10:04pm

I expect Amy Adams and Anne Hathaway to be on the shortlist.


Shame Brittany Murphy is no longer with us. Updated On: 5/5/12 at 10:04 PM

[rjm516]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 10:06pm

JGL and Amy Adams would be such adorable leads.

[JP2]

Posted: 5/5/12 at 10:18pm

I love every musical she's been in. My only concern is her ability to sing Suddenly Seymour with any power or conviction.

[JulesReverie]

Posted: 5/6/12 at 1:02am

"Shame Brittany Murphy is no longer with us."

My thoughts EXACTLY, she would have been too perfect for words as Audrey *sigh*

Alison Bree would also make a good Audrey(just age her Lillian Gish baby face up with caked foundation and blue eye shadow)

Though Melissa Rauch(Big Bang Theory), if she could sing, she'd be PERFECT

I hope they get Danny Devito as Mushnik and Micheal C. Hall as the Dentist




Updated On: 5/6/12 at 01:02 AM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/6/12 at 3:12pm

What a dumb idea. For all its flaws, LITTLE SHOP is one of the very best of the live action, post-SOUND OF MUSIC musicals.

In between this, the CARRIE remake, and taking a big dump on BIG LOVE, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa may have crowned himself the most irresponsible writer in show business.

He's probably kicking himself he lost the POLTERGEIST remake to Lindsay-Abaire.

[missthemountains]

Posted: 6/12/12 at 8:05pm

Has it been confirmed whether this is a remake of the musical or of the Roger Cowan movie? Based on Aguirre-Sacacasa's trend I would think this would be a non-musical adaptation.

[groucho797]

Posted: 6/14/12 at 12:47am

Just in case anyone wants more info on the blu-ray.... (Saw the original off-B'way with Ellen Greene - changed my life):

"And in an update from a bit of release news from yesterday's post, Warner has provided additional details about the color ending set to be included on the new Blu-ray edition of Little Shop of Horrors (due 10/9). Here the just-revised text from their press release:

"The footage of the original ending was previously available only in black & white in the extra content of a limited number of copies of a DVD edition released in 1998. Now, with the help of production notes from Frank Oz and others on the films creative team, WHV has meticulously restored and digitally remastered the ending, in full color, with the elaborate special effects in tact. Sound has also been rebuilt and mixed in Dolby 5.1. The theatrical version has also been re-mastered."

And if that isn't clear enough for you, we've confirmed with the studio this morning that this isn't some sort of digital colorization of the B&W footage, but was mastered from the original color negative."
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/14/12 at 1:12am

Can Lisa Kudrow sing? She'd be an amazing Audrey. Audrey needs to be OLDER. Alison Bree, Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway are just too young looking for it to be effective.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/14/12 at 7:02am

Audrey does need to be older, yes. It's part of the character. She's innocent, but she is not young or inexperienced.

I still can't get interested or excited in a remake. While the movie isn't perfect, it's more than good enough for me. Another exercise in futility!

Updated On: 6/14/12 at 07:02 AM