Not exactly Movies or TV, but not really right for Music or Print either as a home for this thread.
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, directed by Julie Taymor with music by Bono and The Edge had it's first preview screening tonight. 60 Minutes did a 15 minute story on the production and... uh, see for yourself.
I'm not an avid theatre goer. In many respects the production is incredibly impressive. Certainly ambitious. And expensive. Spider-Man: TOTD is the most expensive Broadway production ever. The aerial battles look like they could be as amazing as they are dangerous. But on the other hand, yeesh. Singing and dancing, like the worst aspects of Spider-Man 3 brought to bombastic life for the entire show. I dunno. I don't think I want to see it, and I'm not inclined to make any attempt to, but if somehow a ticket were to fall into my lap, then I'd check it out.
Spider-Man was my favourite comic book hero growing up and U2 is one of my favourite bands....but yeah, I kind of have the same odd attitude towards this project. I also can't help but think that this production will be a HUGE bomb and will go dark so soon that I'll never have to decide whether or not to go to New York to see it.
Originally posted by John OrquiolaBut on the other hand, yeesh. Singing and dancing, like the worst aspects of Spider-Man 3 brought to bombastic life for the entire show.
Singing and dancing? In a musical? Heaven forbid!
I may be in New York in June. I hope it'll still be open. Sure, it's not Spider-Man in the traditional sense, but it sure looks like one of those things that just HAS to be seen.
I'm going to be in NYC this weekend and my wife and I are very seriously considering going if we can find tickets. It looks awesome in just about every way.
Lloyd: When I met Mary, I got that old fashioned romantic feeling, where I'd do anything to bone her. Harry: That's a special feeling.
I can't believe it costs a million dollars a week to put on this show. What the hell is gonna be the price of tickets so this show has a chance to turn a profit each week?
"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill
I agree it looks odd but the thing that gives me hope is not Bono or the Edge (despite being a big U2 fan) but Julie Taymor. She does some very risky things visually and they are, more often than not, very interesting.
I know you're a feminist and I think that's adorable, but this is grown-up time and I'm the man.
Originally posted by KevintripodI would definitely go and see this show.
I can't believe it costs a million dollars a week to put on this show. What the hell is gonna be the price of tickets so this show has a chance to turn a profit each week?
$150, and $75 for cheap seats. I don't know anything about the theater business so I don't know if those are expensive.
Spider-Man is the only A-list comic property that could work as a musical like this, and, from what I've seen, it works brilliantly. The U2 connection is just an added bonus as far as I'm concerned. It's sold out for this weekend already, but as long as this doesn't bomb out in only a few weeks, I'm going eventually.
Lloyd: When I met Mary, I got that old fashioned romantic feeling, where I'd do anything to bone her. Harry: That's a special feeling.
Here is a review from two people who went to a glorified dress rehearsal this weekend. As curious as I am about seeing Spidey fight the Sinister Six, the rest sounds like garbage. I think they took JMS' Totem thing a bit too far and who the hell is Miss Swiss and why is she part of the Sinister Six? Also, where is Harry and Gwen?
Originally posted by John OrquiolaBut on the other hand, yeesh. Singing and dancing, like the worst aspects of Spider-Man 3 brought to bombastic life for the entire show.
Singing and dancing? In a musical? Heaven forbid!
I don't generally like musicals. Not even the fabled Buffy musical episode.
Originally posted by KevintripodI would definitely go and see this show.
I can't believe it costs a million dollars a week to put on this show. What the hell is gonna be the price of tickets so this show has a chance to turn a profit each week?
$150, and $75 for cheap seats. I don't know anything about the theater business so I don't know if those are expensive.
Spider-Man is the only A-list comic property that could work as a musical like this, and, from what I've seen, it works brilliantly. The U2 connection is just an added bonus as far as I'm concerned. It's sold out for this weekend already, but as long as this doesn't bomb out in only a few weeks, I'm going eventually.
A million a week to put on a show is average for the top shows. .
Wicked and Lion King are the #1 and #2 shows right now and they both average making $2 million a week. There are around 40 different broadway shows currently performed and the average show does about $650,000 a week. If Spider-Man keeps those numbers, it would stay in the top five shows for a good run.
I do not plan on seeing it though, and I don't know anyone who does want to see it. Comic Book friends I have think it just sounds stupid and from what music I've heard from it, it doesn't have a 'U2' sound so that will alienate those potential fans. I would think it would bomb, but musicals have their own fan base so I guess there is potential there somewhere.
Apparently, the first show was a disaster. I'll leave out any plot details so as to avoid spoilers, but:
Originally posted by AV ClubAnd then there were the post-show reviews, which branded Turn Off The Dark “an epic flop” with “a dull score and baffling script” that left “stunned audience members…scratching their heads over the confusing plot—when they weren't ducking for cover from falling equipment and dangling actors.” But did we mention no one died?
Originally posted by KJames199Apparently, the first show was a disaster. I'll leave out any plot details so as to avoid spoilers, but:
Originally posted by AV ClubAnd then there were the post-show reviews, which branded Turn Off The Dark “an epic flop” with “a dull score and baffling script” that left “stunned audience members…scratching their heads over the confusing plot—when they weren't ducking for cover from falling equipment and dangling actors.” But did we mention no one died?
Yeah, but you know, it was a preview performance. It was the first time the entire show was performed start to finish. Ordinarily, the press doesn't cover preview performances but there's so much interest in and attention on Turn Off The Dark that they're being cut no slack. It's a better story for the media if the show is a disaster. They have six weeks to get the show fixed for the actual opening in January.
Edit: 12/1/10: Now, thanks to last night's Conan, no one need go to Broadway to see Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark!
(edited by John Orquiola on 1.12.10 0922) @BackoftheHead
Originally posted by Big BadWhy are some critics describing this as 'U2's failed musical'? Seems like the only problem is the production, not the music.
I've heard the music described as dull outtakes from 'Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me,' so yeah, I'd say there's a problem with the music.
Everything I've read about this musical I've read on Flim Drunk (filmdrunk.uproxx.com). Never have I been so entertained by such a disaster without actually having to watch it.
My favorite quote (and I know I'm going to hell for it): "Why isn’t GLAAD protesting outside the theater? This show has killed more gays than Andrew Cunanan."