Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific

Rating:
Summary: Good choice if you like musicals and tropical vistas
Review: What I liked best about South Pacific was the gorgeous scenery and the talented voices. I would recommend it to anyone who likes musicals and doesn't mind a slightly corny, slow-paced story. It's well done for a remake (though the modern look of the film took some getting used to, since it is supposed to be set during WWII).

The acting was nothing outstanding, but at least was solid. I disagree with those who thought Glenn Close did a poor job playing Nellie Forbush. On the contrary, I thought she had the right personality to portray the optimistic but conflicted heroine. She really put her heart into the songs, especially "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy." Yes, she's older than the Nellie in the original South Pacific, but if you haven't seen the original (which I haven't) it doesn't matter.

Rade Sherbedgia was a good fit as plantation owner Emile du Becque. His gentle demeanor provided a soothing counterpart to Nellie's impulsiveness, and he gave a moving performance in "This Nearly was Mine." I would have liked to see more chemistry between the two leads, but they each did well in their individual roles.

The lyrics and tunes are memorable enough to stick in your head for days. I bought the soundtrack from the 1958 original, and can honestly say I like the songs from the 2001 version better. The vocal styles and the instrumentation are less exaggerated than in the original, allowing the voices to be heard more clearly.

Even if you're not big on musicals, you should at least enjoy the scenery. The movie abounds in luscious shots of white beaches and jungle-draped hills. (I'm biased because it was filmed near my hometown in Queensland, Australia.)

In summary, this is an enjoyable remake that stands on its own. My 91-year old grandparents agreed, and they've seen a lot more musicals than I have!

Rating:
Summary: South Horrific
Review: Wow Hollywood, what a great idea. Let's have Glenn Close, who looks no younger than 60, star as the young, naive nurse, Nellie Forbush, who was played delectably by Mitzi Gaynor in the original film. The cast just gets worse and worse - aw, geeze, what a piece of crap this TV remake was from beginning to end.