Cats - The Musical (Commemorative Edition)

Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: I brought this video in September of last year and have already worn out the 'Rum Tum Tugger' and 'Mr Mistofollees'! Every actor fitted his and her parts perfectly. It is evident that certain actors outshone the rest, for me the one actor that stood out was John Partridge. With his energetic and agile dancing he pulled the veiwer into his character, he has one of the best male voices I've ever heard, and I've heard quite a few talented people! But as he seems to be commented on frequently, i will also comment on those other actors that i believe aren't recognised enough. Geoff Garrant, although dubbed, gave a wonderful performance as Skimbleshanks. I also though Phyliddia Crowley Smith as Victoria was wonderful, I hold my breath every time she does that amazing leg thing! This was a star cast. I was appalled at the dubbing, most notably in 'Gumbie Cat' but I still love this video. If you want to hear more of John Partridge sing then go buy 'The New Starlight Express' i promise you won't be disappointed!

Rating:
Summary: Must See
Review: This was a great movie for anyone...the whole family will love it. I saw this with my father and some family friends and loved it. Elaine Paige was great singing 'Memories'...it made me cry it was so sweet and realistic. This is a 5 star and if you haven't seen it you should.

Rating:
Summary: It is the best movie!
Review: How many times have I watched it? I love Macavity and Mister Mistofelees and EVERYTHING! I show this movie to all my friends.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT!
Review: This video is excellent. John Partridge was amazing (not to mention gorgeous!) as the Rum Tum Tugger and Drew Varley was also great as Mungojerrie. i didn't like Michael Gruber much, his voice was satisfactory but his portrayal of Munkustrap was really boring and i skip most of 'Pekes and Pollicles'.

Rating:
Summary: THIS VIDEO RULES THE WORLD
Review: As I stated above, THIS VIDEO RULES THE WORLD! I love every minute of it and have watched it nearly twice a day since I got it. Every time I hear Memory, performed by Elaine Paige, I nearly burst into tears. I love the music, the dancing, and everything in between. I am fourteen years old, and reccomend this to EVERYONE!

Rating:
Summary: Just Great Fun, Theatre Snobs Don't Bother !
Review: I love this DVD, it's in my player all the time. Theatre snobs and Broadway purists just can't get past the fact that "The Musical" has changed and "Cats" was the start of that change. This is not the Broadway or London production of "Cats' it's a fine "VIDEO PRODUCTION". My only complaint is that they did not do all of the songs. The sound quality is wonderful even when played on my computer speakers. If you have kids buy this DVD they and you will love it and play it over and over. Thank you Andrew Lloyd Webber for so many Memories.

Rating:
Summary: Mediocre
Review: There were some really talented actors in this video, but the play itself if terrible. Aside from "Memory" the music is terrible and the editing is beyond all horror. The show is plotless & pointless in general, IMHO, but there were many excellent performers who still put on a good show even though they didn't haev much to work with. Elaine Paige was spectacular, as was Michael Gruber & Phyllida Crowley Smith. Other incredible performances include Jo Gibb & Drew Varley. They were excellent, and THEY. WERE. NOT. DUBBED. Geoffery Garrat was dubbed because they wanted Skimbleshanks to have a Scottish accent. Veerle Casteleyn was also dubbed--I have heard--because she had just gotten back from Belgium and they weren't taking chances with the English lyrics. Though, from what I have been told, she has a great voice, too.

Rating:
Summary: A spellbinding video ruined by brutal merciless butcherings
Review: If you like musicals this video is for you. It is an excellent companion to one of the greatest musicals in the world... CATS! Of course, it is as enteratining and well-produced as THE SOUND OF MUSIC by Rodgers and Hammerstein - but that's another story! CATS is well presented here, and it is as good as, if not better than, the actual stage production. The cast is well-chosen, but I prefer Betty Buckley to sing the part of Grizabella and Stephen Hanan to sing the part of Gus: The Theatre Cat. (I'm sure that GROWLTIGER'S LAST STAND - my favourite scene from the show - could have been left in if that happened!) I do like the visuals and singing, and I would admit overall that this show is good clean fun. Anyway, I am very thankful for what I have been given by Lloyd-Webber and the Really Useful Group, and I do look forward to seeing a video version of PHANTOM soon, filmed along the lines of CATS, JOSEPH and the new SUPERSTAR. Until then, see you at the Jellicle Ball.

Rating:
Summary: Great Finale to a GREAT work
Review: I have seen the show on stage, I have the VHS and will be getting the DVD. There are few shows that I want in my collection but THIS is one. Normally stage productions do not carry over well to the small screen, this one does - and then some. Seeing the faces of the characters close upis VERY important in this show, moreso than in other musicals. This is a keeper.

Rating:
Summary: Why so many of us love Cats
Review: Having just read the first few reviews I feel it necessary to explain to all non-believers why Cats is so popular. True it does not require deep-thought, but it does have a plot and is based on some beautiful poems. The music may be simple, but most of it is taken from the rhythm of the poetry and is obviously going to be different from whatever people are expecting. The songs, characters and the whole atmosphere is a relaxing fantasy world which is just supposed to be fun, though Memory, the Cats' treatment of Grizabella and Old Deuteronomy's philosophies give it some depth and humanise it. It is not just popular with people hoping to be fashionable, but is very much one for the family. That is why there are over 200 websites dedicated to it and the actors who have been in it and these are mostly run by teenagers. I myself have set up a site. I am a cat lover, a music lover, a dance lover and a theatre lover, so I find it natural that I enjoy Cats, but I also love many other musicals and all for different reasons. I first saw Cats when I was 17 and it helped me through a few years of depression, which has only recently begun to recede. Having Cats on video makes me laugh and cheers me up. I was delighted and surprised to see Rosemarie Ford as Bombalurina since, being English, I had spent a few years of my childhood watching her on the gameshow "The Generation Game" and it is lovely that there are actors who were in the original productions in the US and the UK and those from around the world. I was particularly pleased to see eight actors from the show I had just seen. It is true that there are editing problems and it is a shame that much of it was obviously dubbed over, but most of this was still using the actors' own voices. The many bloopers that can be found listed on websites add to its charm and humanises the actors who seem so amazing when seen on television. I recommend this video to anyone who likes cats, music, dance or the theatre and who has an open mind. If you aren't prepared to just sit back and have fun then don't bother.