Rating: Summary: All I can say is FANTASTIC! Review: I work in a video store and enjoy the privilage of seing new releases before the general public, thanks to "screeners" (tapes/DVD's supplied for promotional use by film companies). I had heard of this video through the grapevine, and couldn't wait to check it out when my store got the screener. It is absolutely fantastic. Donny is excellant, but the person that really blew me away was London Broadway star Maria Friedman as the narrator. She is exetremely talented! Together, with the aid of a superb supporting cast and wonderful children's choirs (really adorable kids), Donny and Maria make this video production of Joseph a "must-have."
Rating: Summary: Amazing--- and not just in the title... Review: Ever since I saw this show on stage in LA about ten years ago, I've been dying to have a copy I could watch over and over and over... Well, that day has come. I saw the video version on a recent trip to London-- and am sold on it's value. The cast is amazing, lead by Donny Osmond's unflappable vocal ability. Unlike the cats video, no songs have been cut out, and no songs have been shortened, with the possible exception of the Joseph Megamix, which has been revamped to serve as an end credit theme. The sets have been built as immersive environments, not a filmed version of the stage show. Also of note-- a preview before the show of the new production of Jesus Christ Superstar set to come to video this Easter!
Rating: Summary: Donny is Delightful Review: God,when I saw this play I absolutely loved it.I saw it twice and would see it again.Donny is not only talented,but sexy.His voice is out of this world.I wish they would bring this play back.This play is so wonderful for all ages.I'll always love Donny no matter what he's doing.
Rating: Summary: You and Your Dreamcoat, Ahead of Your Time! Review: The film approach to this musical was a smart move-- the "we'll tape a performance" approach is kinda cheesy. The sets were great, especially the desert scene, and the costumes were imaginative. The songs were very nice; they go from a catchy jingle-type advertisement for "Jacob and Sons" to a Western theme ("One More Angel in Heaven"), to a somewhat 1920's approach in "Potiphar," to a 1960's Austin Powers-ish "Go Go Joseph", to the bluesy Elvis-themed "Song of the King", and to the Jamaican "Benjamin Calypso."Donny Osmond shines as Joseph: he can really sing! Richard Attenborough was very good as Jacob, who sang a few lines and was actually pretty good at it! Mrs. Potiphar (Joan Collins) was hilarious, as was Robert Torti as Pharaoh "The King." (He was my dad's favorite character; he's watched the Pharaoh's song about a million times.) The eleven brothers are really funny, too! The only character I have a minor problem with is the Narrator, played by Maria Friedman. She has great facial expressions, but her singing voice is less-than-stupendous. (Listen to some of the cast recordings, particularly the 1993 LA cast; you'll hear the difference.) PS - As for the supposedly pornographic scenes with Mrs. Potiphar, they happen so quickly and the plot moves to Joseph in jail so fast there hardly isn't any time for questions of any sort. I'm a Christian, and I've seen worse things on network television. All I can say is, Go, Go, Go, Joseph!
Rating: Summary: Maria Freedman...Donny Osmond...THE PERFECT CAST SELECTION Review: In my opinion, this is the perfect cast assembled for the VIDEO ADAPTATION of "JOSEPH...DREAMCOAT" Maria Friedman is an EXCELLENT CHOICE as the narrator. Some people who reviewed her as being "terrible" are totally wrong because they've seen the stage show, listened to cast recordings and picked their favorite narrators on the count that they are vocally superior. Sure Maria Friedman doesn't "belt out" a few songs like an opera singer, but I feel she did a PERFECT job. She doesn't "hold back" or "over do it", her vocals are a perfect blend with her excellent performance in bringing expression and humor to tell the story of "Joseph...". Maria Friedman sort of reminds me of Julie Andrews on film back in those days. Donny Osmond is PERFECT vocally and an excellent actor. As an audience member, listening and watching Donny Osmond's perfomance, I can really feel the emotions of "Joseph" as he matures throughout the whole video. The rest of the cast are outstanding to watch. I was very entertained and enjoyed the stage props and sets...an excellent transition from stage to video. Just a few problems with the DVD version...the sound isn't as superior as expected to be (orchestration could have been pumped up a notch or two!). Also, the included documentary "THe Making of Joseph..." was terribly done...I expected to see more behind the scenes footage and interviews from the cast but they showed too much of Andrew LLoyd Weber & Tim Rice discussing everything with little footage...also they showed too much footage on two children's grade school productions of "Joseph...". I expected to see the making of the stage & movie...not some footage of how children productions are singing and dancing the musical at their school auditoriums. A MUST BUY FOR MUSICALS FANs younger & older!!!
Rating: Summary: LOVED IT! Review: My daughters (6&7) love "Joseph" as do I. The music is great and it's a great way to introduce musical theater to the younger audience. One caution though. Joan Collins' outfit is a little suggestive as is the scene where she begins to take off Josephs clothes. But for little ones, I think its totally over their heads and goes by really fast. I wouldn't let that hold you back from letting them experince this dvd. Donny Osmond is a fabulous Joseph. Our family would love to see him do this on broadway again.
Rating: Summary: Well.... Review: I see the family values types are caught in a bind. A sexed up children's show based on the bible. They're tying themselves in knots at Netflix trying to get themselves out of that one. I'm an Atheist and I loved it, bible, sex or no. I did not buy this DVD, I rented it. Pharaoh's song was rewritten (by ALW himself? his production company put out the flick, so I suppose so), and I infinitely preferred the original. And they hoked up the country tune "One Less Angel in Heaven" to the point that the melody was lost. Yuk! These 2 flaws will keep me from buying it. But one time through, it was wonderful. Unlike Evita, it followed the original perfectly, the music is divine, written (1st show as everyone in the know likes to point out) before Lloyd Webber lost his miraculous gift for melody. And boy did this show have melody. I recommend it for young, old, Jew or Heathen. Christians can watch too. It had color, life, clever lyrics (rife with false rhymes, Rice was no Larry Hart), and a couple of knock-outs in the leads, the narrator and Joseph. They were wonderful (everybody else was good too, only nobody else had much to do). And Donny Osmond was sexy and beautiful in the loin cloth (underpants) he wore through the last 2/3 of the show!
Rating: Summary: GOOD PORTRAYL OF STORY OF JOSEPH-EVEN IF CORNY AT TIMES Review: I was lucky enough to see JOSEPH in Toronto with Donny Osmond in '93, and thought it was great. Then I got the VHS edition, and tought it was great, again. Especially when you consider that this started out as a 20 minute conerto, and ALW kept adding to it. As far as the costumes, consider the the times and the circumstances. As far as the reviewer who said this was a Christian story. Re-read your bible, since this story is over 400 years BEFORE THE EXODUS of the HEBREWS from Egypt, and is a JEWISH story, as related in the book of Genesis, the 1st book of the TORAH!(This review refers to the Stage Production in Toronto and the VHS edition)
Rating: Summary: One of the best musicals that I have seen in a long time Review: I rented this movie through the library. I wanted to see what it was like. I fell in love with Donny Osmond as Joseph. I also really liked Maria Freidman as the Narator. She had a very strong voice for the role, and sounded better than anyone else that I have heard. I love the music, and I love the costumes, and the stage sets. I give this movie a five star rating and can't wait for Andrew Lloyd Weber to make a movie of Phantom. If he does, It better have Michael Crawford as the Phantom, cause otherwise I will not be buying it.
Rating: Summary: Great way to have fun...songs stick with you for days!!! Review: "Joseph" may seem like it's geared towards children but there is a lot of viewing pleasure ready for adults. One of the things i've been reading is that people are complaining about the costumes in this biblical story. I decided to write a review to inform everyone that if you've ever read the bible it is completely loaded with sex and otherwise risque situtations. The costumes are really only portraying that and it's silly to give this movie a bad review because of them.
|