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Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

List Price: $14.99
Your Price: $13.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Disappointing
Review: "South Pacific" is one of my favorite musicals, but this version stinks like a week-old fish. I know Glenn Close produced this as a starring vehicle for herself, but somebody should have warned her that casting herself as the naive, small-town nurse Nellie Forbush was ludricous. And the whole Lt. Cable subplot gave me the creeps. Bloody Mary introduces him to her teenage daughter and stands there beaming while the kid strips off her robe 5 seconds later. Having him sing "Younger than Springtime" while they're in bed together just killed the romance for me.

The '50's version with Mitzi Gaynor might not be a masterpiece, but it's a lot better than this piece of trash.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ..THIS is the way "South Pacific" should be......
Review: ..no gratuitous firewalking natives, no rescue at the end that
involves the entire working U. S. Navy...this "South Pacific"
is beautiful and slightly intense. It is peopled with human beings who are away from their homes and fighting a war. They are thoughtful and aware of their situations. This new version is pretty damn close to perfect. Oh, there are some rocky places in "There Is Nothing Like A Dame"...but they are slight and forgiveable...the rest of the time everyone involved is
busy making this production tick like a Rolex. I am not really
a fan of Glenn Close, but she is the best Nellie Forbush I have
ever seen (and I got to see Mary Martin in a late 50's revival).
The casting, the costumes, the locations, and especially the
camera work...all focus on the story and the characters. And,
as it is now 52 years since it first opened...the 'problem' parts of the plot have been treated more honestly and touch us
much more. These people love the source material and I think
they have really nailed it. I hope that you like this as much
as I do...and I think it is close to magnificent.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: ..."SOUTH PACIFIC" is over 50 years old now, but ......
Review: ..THIS production is certainly "YOUNGER THAN SPRINGTIME"! Since
1958 we have all been used to the version with Mitzi Gaynor, but
as fond as I am of that production (why not, it was a part of
my youth!), I firmy believe that THIS is the way South Pacific
should look and feel. I am lucky enough to still own one of
those sweet slim volumns of stories by Mr Michener, and truly,
this production seems to me to come closer the capturing the
essence than any thing I have seen on stage or screen. It is
pensive and understated, certainly something one does not expect
of a grand daddy among musicals. It appears to me that every
person attached to this production has tried to walk
a mile or more in the shoes of these beloved characters. And
there are no fire dancers and the entire seventh fleet does not
get involved in rescuing Billis! What you will find here is a
gifted and consciencious cast (and crew!) bringing everything
to life in a way you will cherish for a long time. This is a
unique group of people trying to make sense of their lives
during a terrible war. Sometimes they act, sometimes they sing,
but always they quietly and skillfully insist on bringing us
as much truth as they can muster. I love theater and I love
movies, and somehow, what you have in South Pacific 2001 is a
marriage made in heaven...lingering on dramatic scenes and now
and then shortening a song by a few bars, but developing and
moving the story beautifully. W, Shakespeare said: "the play's
the thing", and I think Rogers and Hammerstein would agree if
they could see this.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: ZERO! If the rating existed, I'd give it -10 (MINUS TEN).
Review: Ahem! I suspect anyone who gave this a good--or even a mediocre--review intended to bang the drum for the ORIGINAL (entertaining! well-cast!) production. This one doesn't deserve the Rodgers & Hammerstein association. Spend your money on ANYTHING else, but don't subject yourself to Glenn Close, Harry Connick Jr., and the rest of this ludicrous production. Hang up your hat, Glenn. I realize there's no business like show business, but have a heart.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Enchanting
Review: As a lifelong lover of R&H musicals, especially the film version of SP, I watched this, expecting to hate it. I was pleasantly surprised. Actually, I loved it. First of all, the moral of the story was much more fleshed out and better illustrated. Secondly, the cast was spectacular. Harry Connick, Jr.-Perfect. "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught" was movingly delivered with anger and resolve. Glenn Close too old? Who cares? She sings, she dances, she ACTS, she washes that man right out of her hair. Forget Mitzi Gaynor. The spirit of Mary Martin was on the screen. I may buy this video for myself, and an exrra one or two for gifts. Good job!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: You are in for a treat
Review: Comparing the two movie versions of "South Pacific" is both inevitable and unnecessary. While I too at first was bothered with the age of Glenn Close, I soon forgot her age once I became involved in this very entertaining movie. Besides, the original film version also contained some unfortunate casting. John Kerr was very badly miscast as a World War II Marine officer and Rossano Brazzi was too wooden (as usual). All the acting in the remake is far more realistic. So just set back and enjoy this fresh version of a classic and judge it on its own merits. You are in for a treat.


Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Three cheers for Glenn!!!
Review: First of all i am a great fan of Glenn Close, so i am slightly biaised, but i'll try and be a bit more impartial than some of you that have posted reviews.
This Age thing is a big problem in Hollywood with regard to Female Actors. There are'nt enough roles full stop and its even worse for actresses over 40. Look at the talent in America, let alone worldwide - Close, Streep, Lange, Sarandon, Hunter. Those five are a powerhouse and its a crime that there are not enough good roles. Basically, most film are no longer 'dialogue driven' and thats the basis of most female relationships.
The problem also ly's with the audience. Those films that are made, that have strong female roles, dont seem to get an audience. 'What do women want??' is a good question.
A film was made last year THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER, great cast (Close, Hunter, Diaz...) and good script, but MGM, decided to show it only on Showtime, despite it getting some nice reviews and awards at Cannes.
Anyway, off the soap box now. I enjoyed this version of South Pacific. As stated in the extras, this was always a dream of Glenns to play this role and the revision sees Nellie as a state of mind. Who says that a women in middle age, cant fall in love and act like a fool??!!Anyways how great does she (Close) look for 52!! Glenn goes for it and you have to admire her integrity and bravery - she must have known the AGE thing would be laboured.
All in All its a good production, Connick Jr is a bit wooden, but sings well.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Disgrace
Review: For Glenn Close to have the hubris to play Nellie Forbush, and actually believe she could pull it off, is not only a disgrace to the original authors but to The Rodgers and Hammerstein organization for allowing it to happen. Not only is she too dowdy for the part, but lacks any gifts whatsoever. Now if she had cast herself as Bloody Mary...or even Luther Billis...

The rest of the cast doesn't fare much better. Harry Connick Jr. for example. Is he a jazz singer, a rock musician, or a broadway stage composer/leading man? Or is he simply a jack-of-all-trades? Of all his pretensions, acting is surely not one to be taken seriously.Who is Harry Connick,Jr.? I can only guess. But one thing I know; he is no Frank Sinatra. He isn't even John Kerr.

This parody tries so hard to be politically correct. Hence the absence of the "racist" song "Happy Talk". Ms Close made a big point in interviews to proclaim how the original movie lacked any realism with regards to the war in the Pacific. And what realism did she add? She sings "When the sky is a bright canary yellow.." to a pitch black sky. All concerned with the original production had lived through, and in many cases, served in World War II. Apparently so did Ms Close. She certainly looks old enough.

Dear DVD buyers beware of this "new production". Stick to the original with all its flaws and its lack of realism.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Loved it
Review: I ablolutely loved this show. I'm a big fan of the original and am generally not real fond of remakes but this was perfect. Harry and Glenn were perfectly cast and the cinematography was beautiful with real location filming instead of studio panaramas. My only regret was the omission of "My Girl Back Home." I'm so pleased that they left out "Happy Talk."

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: What a WASTE of time and money!!
Review: I agree that this was definitley a vanity project for Glenn Close. OK Nellie is YOUNG, beautiful, naive, cute, a "green girl from Little Rock". NONE of these qualities fit Glenn Close! Even the party scene up on the hill was outrageous. She's in a frumpy daytime dress, and I could see was Nellie in her full pink balllgown swirling around. The original had GORGEOUS scenery, this version is only slightly more appealing than a beach in Southern California. The song numbers were flat, Glenn and Emil both had terrible voices which just grated on me. and COME ON...the nurse says to Nellie "he's gorgeous, those eyes..." HUH? He's like 65 yrs old and covered in a big bushy beard! Give me a break! This movie was so awful it was insulting!!


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