The IN THE HEIGHTS Film Adaptation Thread- Page 23

[binau]

Posted: 3/19/21 at 4:58pm

I wonder if this will become one of the few, if only, film adaptations that are better than the stage show itself. I also wonder if this is going to become a cultural phenomenon and will sit alongside the classic musical films like The Sound of Music, Marry Poppins, Chicago etc. for the ages. Maybe it’s too soon to hype it up but it feels like this will break ground..

[angoradebs]

Posted: 3/19/21 at 5:21pm

dramamama611 said: "Well, happy birthday to me!"

That's my birthday, too! I'll be more than 2 weeks post-vaccine by then, too, so I do believe this will be my first in-theatre movie since before Covid. Way better birthday than last year!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 3/20/21 at 2:19pm

qolbinau said: "I wonder if this will become one of the few, if only, film adaptations that are better than the stage show itself. I also wonder if this is going to become a cultural phenomenon and will sit alongside the classic musical films like The Sound of Music, Marry Poppins, Chicago etc. for the ages. Maybe it’s too soon to hype it up but it feels like this will break ground.."

That's an interesting observation qolbinau. Maybe I'm being a little biased because it is one of my all-time favorite musicals but this adaptation has exceeded all of my expectations, not only visually from what I've seen in the trailers but in the daring way Quiara Alegria Hudes didn't just lazily copy what she wrote for the stage show. She made some daring choices in adapting the material from eliminating the character of "Camilia", turning Daniela and Carla into life partners, and adding the characters of "Cuca" and "Mr. de la Vega" (Benny's father). I'm sure there are many other surprises in store, but I can't help but feel that this film will wind up being a cultural phenomenon and a musical touchstone in very much the same way "The Sound of Music", "Mary Poppins", "Cabaret", "Chicago", "Grease" and "West Side Story" were back in their day.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the "In the Heights" film is going to be the "Grease" of the 2020s. Updated On: 3/20/21 at 02:19 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 3/20/21 at 3:38pm

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the "In the Heights" film is going to be the "Grease" of the 2020s.

Until the film adaptation of WICKED, you mean.  I wouldn’t include DEAR EVAN HANSEN as I’m sure it’ll look/feel like a Netflix Ryan Murphy production.  WICKED seems to be the big lavish musical one will expect.  

[BwayLB]

Posted: 3/20/21 at 5:01pm

I’m looking forward to In the Heights more so than Dwar Evan Hansen. I like them both equally as stage musicals though. But if I had to pick, it would be ITH.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 3/20/21 at 6:40pm

CarlosAlberto said: "qolbinau said: "I wonder if this will become one of the few, if only, film adaptations that are better than the stage show itself. I also wonder if this is going to become a cultural phenomenon and will sit alongside the classic musical films like The Sound of Music, Marry Poppins, Chicago etc. for the ages. Maybe it’s too soon to hype it up but it feels like this will break ground.."

That's an interesting observation qolbinau. Maybe I'm being a little biased because it is one of my all-time favorite musicals but this adaptation has exceeded all of my expectations, not only visually from what I've seen in the trailers but in the daring way Quiara Alegria Hudes didn't just lazily copy what she wrote for the stage show. She made some daring choices in adapting the material from eliminating the character of "Camilia", turning Daniela and Carla into life partners, and adding the characters of "Cuca" and "Mr. de la Vega" (Benny's father). I'm sure there are many other surprises in store, but I can't help but feel that this film will wind up being a cultural phenomenon and a musical touchstone in very much the same way "The Sound of Music", "Mary Poppins", "Cabaret", "Chicago", "Grease" and "West Side Story" were back in their day.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the "In the Heights" film is going to be the "Grease" of the 2020s."

 

ITH has remained one of my all-time favorite musicals since I discovered it about 12 years ago. My love for it has stood the test of time, way more than any of the other musicals I liked back then. I'm extremely excited for this film, and I expect that I personally will love it.

But as far as broad, mainstream reception? I'm skeptical about what kind of reaction it will get. I feel like many people will find it too cartoonish, or generally brush it off because it's a musical onscreen. I personally feel like the days of movie-musicals transcending their source material, and becoming iconic, are behind us. I don't know that any movie musical based on a stage show can really become iconic in our current culture, the way they used to. Chicago and Mamma Mia might come the closest, but those were both well over a decade ago, and even still I wouldn't put those on the same "icon" tier as something like Grease. 

Also - I respect Hudes for being willing to make changes to the source material to adapt it to a new time, and a new medium. On principal, I believe that's the right approach to take. But there's a simplicity to the stage book that I worry will be lost. Based on what we've seen in the trailers, I worry that it will become too on-the nose, with too many storytelling devices, and a lot of little changes that won't add up to a unified re-interpretation of the story. BUT, I may very well be wrong, and I completely, sincerely hope I am. Either way, I expect that I personally will love it, and I expect to cry about about 15 times throughout the movie! 

[Musical Master]

Posted: 3/20/21 at 6:41pm

After seeing those trailers, I can see why Universal hired Jon Chu to direct Wicked. I'm really excited for this movie to finally come out but I think Steven Spielberg's version of West Side Story is going to be the one a lot of people and Hollywood is paying more close attention towards.

Hopefully both this and WWS 2021 will be great examples on how to pull off a musical film adaptation for future filmmakers wanting to do this genre, and us fans needed it after the Cats travesty. Oh and Tick Tick Boom! and Dear Evan Hansen are coming this year as well, making 2021 the year of musical movies in this new decade so far.

[bear88]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 4:34am

JBroadway said: "Also - I respect Hudes for being willing to make changes to the source material to adapt it to a new time, and a new medium. On principal, I believe that's the right approach to take. But there's a simplicity to the stage book that I worry will be lost. Based on what we've seen in the trailers, I worry that it will become too on-the nose, with too many storytelling devices, and a lot of little changes that won't add up to a unified re-interpretation of the story. BUT, I may very well be wrong, and I completely, sincerely hope I am. Either way, I expect that I personally will love it, and I expect to cry about about 15 times throughout the movie!"

I'm supposed to get my vaccines during the next few weeks, so I should be good to go to see it in a movie theater. I have probably overthought the trailers, but I do worry that the changes may not work as well as the comparatively simple stage musical. But it's a film, and it seems obvious that this is more ambitious than a simple stage-to-screen transfer. I will definitely go in wanting to love it, but I do worry it's going to fly off in too many directions to work as well as I hope.

I think expecting a modern movie musical classic might be weighting the film with too many expectations. I just want a genuinely good adaptation that captures both the charm of the stage musical and the opportunities of film. 

 

[BwayLB]

Posted: 3/23/21 at 10:00am

^ I want the same thing too

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/5/21 at 10:37pm

What caught my attention when the first trailer dropped, was that Christopher Scott's chorography for "96,000" has this slight inspiration from Busby Berkeley that it threw me off guard at first. Especially the overhead shot.

But it does look stunning alongside some of the other musical numbers as well. 

[teddy1996]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 9:56pm

i am seeing a free online early screening next thursday!!!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 10:13pm

Have the BEST time, Teddy!

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 10:55pm

A little behind the scenes story of the play and movie Behind the Screen 

People actually suggested they couldn't understand Nina dropping out of Stanford - and suggested instead she should be pregnant or fleeing gang violence?  I mean, I didn't understand dropping out of Stanford, because it is very difficult to fail a class at Stanford  in real life. But, being the first in the family, on the other coast, with no family or support network - yeah, that can be tough. 

 

Updated On: 4/8/21 at 10:55 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/8/21 at 11:20pm

Have a great time at the screening teddy1996!

Also what is interesting about that interview is the previous development when Universal had the film rights and were going to get Kenny Ortega to direct, which honestly would never work with what they were intending with the casting. Thank goodness for things working out the way they did.

[teddy1996]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 12:01am

if anyone is interested in watching an early screening, here’s the link: https://twitter.com/slu1987/status/1380312918567354376?

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 1:14am

For those curious, the screening is online and not in a movie theatre. You’re sent a link and you can stream it to your TV, etc.

[BwayLB]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 1:25am

Musical Master said: "Have a great time at the screening teddy1996!

Also what is interesting about that interview is the previous development when Universal had the film rights and were going to get Kenny Ortega to direct, which honestly would never work with what they were intending with the casting. Thank goodness for things working out the way they did."

I remember Mr Ortega being attached to the movie. Was looking forward to his vision. High School Musical made me partially the musical theatre geek I am today 15 years later. And that was a while before In the Heights

[degrassifan]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 2:43am

teddy1996 said: "if anyone is interested in watching an early screening, here’s the link: https://twitter.com/slu1987/status/1380312918567354376?"

Thanks for sharing!!

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 9:00am

Thank you Teddy!! The scene of Dona Claudia and the dancers in the 191st Street tunnel had me emotional from just the previews; I'll be a mess in the theaters so I'm glad I can prepare before I see it at the AMC.

Updated On: 4/15/21 at 09:00 AM

[ggersten]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 10:27am

The later show is full. But I was able to register for the earlier streaming.

Thanks Teddy!

Updated On: 4/9/21 at 10:27 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 1:23pm

Thank you for sharing the link Teddy. I was able to RSVP for the later show. 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Posted: 4/9/21 at 6:42pm

Adding to the Teddy love. Much appreciated. Early show reserved.

[teddy1996]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 6:38am

quiara hudes confirmed in a recent interview that hundreds of stories has been cut.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 6:59am

I understand both viewings are sold out, but you can sign up for the waitlist .

I was able to get into the early screening....thanks for posting the link

[Musical Master]

Posted: 4/10/21 at 4:38pm

teddy1996 said: "quiara hudes confirmed in a recent interview that hundreds of stories has been cut."

Which makes me curious about what has been changed from stage to screen. It's always the case with most, if not all, musical film adaptations to change things around.