Evita

Rating:
Summary: Argentina
Review: Andrew Lloyd Webber in my mind is God. He is wonderful, and I love his works. I was thrilled when 'Evita' came to the big screen. I had mixed feelings on Madonna playing the role, but those feelings were soothed. She is perfect as Eva Peron. She has so much passion for the role! This is the part she was born to play. Antonio Banderas can sing--who knew? He is perfect as Che, Eva's opposition. And can he carry a tune! Listen to him especially during 'High Flying Adored.' Wow!! And let's not forget the legendary Jonathan Pryce as Juan Peron. He, like Madonna, has so much passion for the role. Would you expect anything else from The Engineer from 'Miss Saigon'? Make sure you pay attention to 'You Must Love Me,' the song that won the Oscar.

Lloyd Webber gives us one of the best productions I have ever seen. And although 'Cats' is my favorite musical of all time, 'Evita' is my favorite movie. It's so easy to see why it won the Golden Globe for best picture. To quote Time magazine, 'You must see "Evita."' Yes, you must.

Rating:
Summary: Tepid Film that is Incomplete
Review: Evita suffers from many problems that disallow it to be watched as a complete and enjoyable film. Not only is the continuity vulgarized, the director often manages to confuse the film viewer as to what exactly is going on. This is not a great film, not even a good one, what carries it are the production values, songs, and locations.

After getting through the extremely boring commencement of the picture, I noticed that there would be no dialogue in this picture at all, at every moment someone was singing a silly and repetitive song. This isn't bad in its whole, but when everyone is already confused about the character it becomes extremely agitating. The voice dubs of the songs are so apparent that the film seems contrived and indifferent to its tackiness. Here we have people that are supposed to be singing and yet the contorted sound room song is playing and they are merely mouthing their parts. Banderas is terrible in his singing abilities yet his presence is well recommended. In this role he plays the conscience of the working class, a "Che Guevera" type revolutionary whom witnesses Eva's ascension and ultimate fall.

Madonna is wonderful in this role, not only can she move around the screen in charismatic beauty but her songs are capable and worthy. The sets are absolutely gorgeous and the costumes are fabulous. What we get in the end is a romanticized MTV style video but it is dreadfully long at 2 1/2 hours. I couldn't wait til the termination. Everything is not a concise whole, so the film flounders and ultimately fails.

Rating:
Summary: This is a great movie...
Review: I just purchased this DVD and I remembered instantly why I enjoyed this film so much when it came out. I would just like to answer some of the critiques listed here.

1) The character of Ché was always meant to be a nemesis to Evita, but not the real character as such . In the stage production that I saw, it was a man with the typical beret and machine gun singing to the side of the action. It would have been ridiculous and historically inaccurate to portray Ché as such in the movie version. Ché Guevara was still a medical student when Eva died. I think it is very effective to blend Ché into various characters because it represents the silent and not so silent opposition to the Perón Revolution. The only time the two characters meet for real interaction is when Evita is having delusions. The song argued in that moment perfectly clashes Ché's "idealism" with Evita's "realism." Ché is always there in some form, yet Evita is oblivious to his presence, brushes him off with a quick lyric or purposely chooses to ignore him. This adds a metaphysical dimension to the plot as if Evita were increasingly self-justifying her growing power as a simple tool to help the impoverished.

2) The soundtrack to the movie is not an operatic stage version but the songs are presented using the operatic techniques of repetition. This was done on purpose, not due to a lack of creativity.

3) When I saw this off off broadway, the people that were with me were straining to understand the singing beside the fact that they had no idea about the history of post WWII Argentina. I don't think they enjoyed it as much as they wanted to let on.

4) Madonna sings very well and is completely understood. I had the argument with some friends that heard the soundtrack and thought she was singing off key on the last couple of tracks... Ummm. Not really. She was about ready to pass away in those scenes which in the movie are close-ups. It would have been ridiculous to have anyone belt out the lyrics in such an intimate moment before passing on. It sounds like she is dying, because she is...

5) The cinematography is simply amazing. The funeral scene at the very beginning was incredible as well as the scene where Eva puts her foundation to work. Pictures of the real Evita meeting the Pope and others perfectly match the costumes used in the movie.

6) For me, the main focus of the movie is the strategy of propaganda and how it can dominate reason. The mystery lies in how much of the persuasion was authentically from the heart of the Peróns and how much of it was naked manipulation. The movie captures both aspects and yet leaves them unanswered...Much like the historical analysis of Eva Perón.

This movie is an awesome production ...

Rating:
Summary: If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Review: It was with the cast album of Evita (NOT Superstar, which I've always considered just a collection of pop songs strung together) that I fell in love with Lloyd Webber. This movie (Hollywood can't keep its hands to itself) is embarrassingly bad IF you know the original. The actors look silly. Che's songs are divided up among other cast members. Lyrics are changed and deleted. Songs are rearranged and given to different characters from the show. I hated it. But. If you do not know the original, you might like it a lot. It has a story, and the music is just out of this world, no matter who sings it or with what desecrated lyrics.

Rating:
Summary: "Coulda been a contenda..."
Review: It's not a "bad" movie. But... it does have it's problems. It's like a really great classic car that you "thought" had all the kinks worked out. I think Madonna actually did a fine job considering the fact that she had to play someone so young and then so sick. Ok, both might have been "stretches". But... she pulls it off, of course, it's the role of a lifetime; which is always interesting to see. And her voice sounds fantastic. She brought a "pop" sensibility to the part. She made it modern. Whatever with Lupone. We saw that on Broadway already honey... And Antonio, his performance is great. You can tell he is just so happy to be in this production. Pryce, however, I just dont get. Whatever with that casting... Can't win em all. It looks great, but then the motor starts to give out. Plus, I think this would have been a great opportunity for some real acting to take place. There is NO talking. EVERYTHING is done in song. It ruins the movie. BAD MOVE!!! BAD! BAD! BAD! There are so many fantastic emotional moments that... Im sorry, are just destroyed with singing. The production is so huge, the talent so plentifull, locations so amazing, costumes so fine and beautifull... it's a shame. Why did this have to become a music video? And not a chance for Madonna and the rest of the cast to do some real acting? This could have been a great epic. Coulda, woulda shoulda...

Rating:
Summary: Two for Antonio, not, the you know what
Review: Boy was I ever disappointed with Evita. The songs are terrible (except for "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and "You Must Love Me"), so overly worded, and they do nothing to advance what little story there is. I'm still dumbfounded as to what exactly Eva Peron did for her country. From what I could gather from Madonna's close to home performance, was sleep her way to the top. (I fail to understand why the people of Argentina didn't like the choice of Madonna as their favorite first lady...she seems to fit the role perfectly). The one pleasant surprise of the movie was how wonderful Antonio Banderas was. I never knew he could sing as good as he looks! Give him his own musical. Don't make him play second fiddle to the you know what.

Rating:
Summary: What are you people talking about?
Review: I was so surprised when I saw so many bad reviews for this movie. When I saw it for the first time, I fell in love with it! The story is amazing and the casting was perfect!

Madonna did an amazing job as Eva Duarte de Peron. She had her powerful moments when she showed great strength, but her moments of vulnerability and weakness too. Her singing was great, thought some say it wasn't powerful enough. Ok, singing novices let me tell you something. You don't belt ballads. "You Must Love Me", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", and "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" were supposed to be softer. She did not have a weak voice, she merely used softer dynamics to create a smoother more melancholy tone. It worked beautifully.

Now, my favorite character, CHE! I absolutely loved Anotonio Banderas in his role as Che! He was so wonderfully sarcastic and cynical. Not to mention funny. I could never see anyone else as Che. And who knew that Antonio could sing?! His voice is beautiful and it makes me wonder why he never went for a singing career. I mean, he has talent. Why is it always the talented singers (like him) don't record and the whiny-untalented-squeaky-immature ones (like Hilary Duff, who has no talent) who do? So messed up. Anyway, Antonio Banderas personified Che wonderfully. He did great with balancing his feelings for Evita. At the beginning he supports her and is behind her all the way, towards the middle he begins to doubt and criticize, by the waltz he hates her, but it turns around when he sees she's dying. Antonio was the best during "Lament". When he sings and kisses her coffin afterwards it shows that despite what many thought, he didn't hate her in the end, but loved her instead. He did a fabulous job in this movie.

Peron's character could've been better. I mean, Antonio and Madonna had all this chemistry (especially in "Waltz for Eva and Che) and him and Madonna had none at all. He was supposed to be her husband. Maybe it was because he looked so old, but he could've been casted better.

Overall it is the best movie! ^_^ Go see it if you haven't!