Evita

Rating:
Summary: I wasn't sure what to think
Review: I wasn't sure what to think about a Hollywood version of Evita staring what I thought was probably the dubious casting of Madonna as Eva Peron. After recently seeing a wonderful staged version of Evita, I decided to purchase this video. Whereas it is true that the video is nothing like seeing a live version, uh duh, what do you expect? However, it its own way, this video is quite charming and I think that most people that enjoy dramatic, historic movies or musicals would probably enjoy it.

Madonna does not sing nearly as well as Patti LuPone. If you are a diehard fan of the original Broadway production of Evita, her voice and rendition of Eva will certainly disappoint you. I think everyone else will enjoy her performance, which is generally well done and moving. Madonna does not look anything like Eva Peron, but I cannot imagine any other star able to carry off the role as well as she does.

Antonio Banderas does not sing well at all but still carries off his role as Che rather well. Unless you cannot stand the fact that he does not interpret his role in at the same way as Mandy Patinkin in the original Broadway version, you will surely enjoy him in this role...especially if you are a woman. He practically smolders off the screen.

The video generally follows Webber and Rice's original Broadway production, with some obvious changes that I did not feel harmed the enjoyment of the musical. The music is repetitive, but I think Webber was writing for the masses. If you have a normal understanding of music and are not a professional musician or an afictionado of musicals, you will probably love the music and lyrics and find this a moving portrayal of the life of Eva Peron.

One thing that I particularly like about Evita is that, keeping in mind that this is no documentary, it does more or less follow her life. You can watch this video and have a feel for what sort of person she was and know the basics about her life, keeping in mind that many of the "facts" regarding her real life are in dispute.

To sum, if you are looking for an exact replica of Evita as it is performed on stage, this is not it. This is the musical with some of the staging and music altered to bring it to the big screen. If you are looking for first class singing, you would be better off to purchase the recordings of Patti LuPone, Mandy Patinkin, and cast done of the original Broadway production of Evita. If you want to see a musical version of Evita brought to the big screen with beautiful scenery, costumes, and excellent acting, you will probably enjoy this version of Evita.

Rating:
Summary: Lame movie but Banderas is cool.
Review: As I am not a rabid fan of Madonna's I really saw no reason for her to get an academy award except for the fact that she was in a serious movie for once and Sean Penn was nowhere in sight. She sings, she kind of acts, and it's all very trite.

The star of this movie is Banderas. He's a powerful presence that controls every frame that he's in. The only time that Madonna shines in the movie is when she and Banderas are having their fantasy debate over the politics of the country. They have a great chemistry, or at least a better one than their last movie outing (which would be the egotistical Truth or Dare where Banderas smiled at Madonna, nodded to his wife, and let her know that he was not going to be getting into this woman's list of sexual conquests). Jonathan Pryce is pretty good too, but he has nothing to work with.

The rest of the movie is boring. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber have ruled Broadway by creating epic pangeants on the basis of two songs. Almost every single song in this movie is a rehash of "don't cry for me Argentina" that you kind of hate that song when they finally sing it. THere's a second song in the thing too, but I forget it. The only decent piece is that revolution song sung by Banderas the chronicles the shifting allegiances of a country that pulls a military coup every six months. It's a dopy rock opera song but at least it's not so blatantly the main song rehashed.

The plot of the movie is non-existant. Actually that's not accurate. The plot of the movie happens in the first hour. Eva comes to the capital, beds a bunch of guys, ends up with Juan Peron, becomes first lady based both on her personality than his political manuvering.

The rest of the movie has her dying of cancer. And dying of cancer, and still dying of cancer. I know that cancer is a long painful drawn out process but how realistic do you want to be with it? Especially when you are making the movie into a long painful drawn out process.

So buy it if you are a diehard fan of either Madonna, Banderas or Andrew Lloyd Weber but be prepared to be mildly disappointed. If you have no interest in either of these people, buy something else like Cabaret.

Rating:
Summary: "You Must Love Me"
Review: As their third musical, Rice and Lloyd Webber tackled the then unknown saga of Eva Duarte de Peron. Thanks to the original concept recording and the London/Broadway stagings, EVITA became a world-wide hit. Who would eventually direct and star in the film version? OK...before you can say, "but why Madonna?" you must give the film a chance. While watching the film, I was completely mesmerized and captivated by Madonna. Not once did I think or imagine her as the "material girl" (although Eva herself may have been the original material girl). Antonio Banderas is handsome as the characher "Che" (not Guevara). He, IMHO, represents the people of Argentina...their sentiments towards Eva...his kiss of the coffin in my interpretation is Argentina saying goodbye; she may have been controversial, but even the sceptical probably admired Eva Peron. The film is epic in scope and recalls the heyday of the film musical. The orchestrations are lush and, as friend of mine would say, "perfected for the screen." And the inclusion of a new song, "You Must Love Me" to the score is wonderful. EVITA on stage is a masterpiece...bold and daring and different. EVITA the movie is a gem. It is a remarkable piece of film-making and enhances any research on the real Evita. As it having no dialog...remember, it is an opera...and that is a story told through song. Surprise yourself and enjoy the story of one incredible woman!

Rating:
Summary: Nicely sung, but so slow
Review: Musical version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1970's musical hit that showcases the life of Argentinian first lady Evita Peron. What might have worked on stage does not work here; it comes off more like an extended music video.

Peron moved up the social ladder by sleeping her way to the top, and she is an interesting character. She charmed and fascinated her people, yet repulsed them by supporting her husband's fascist regime. Madonna sings very well and her costumes are great (she reportedly had to change costumes 85 times!) and Antonio Banderas also sings well as Che, a sort of narrator/voice of the people/conscience who seems to be everywhere. Jonathan Pryce, who sang on Broadway in the original production of Miss Saigon, does nicely as Juan Peron, who knows the power of his wife, and knows that even in their marriage, he is not loved as much as she loves her people.

As well meaning as the film is, it is simply boring. With barely any dialogue, we are swept from one song to another without knowing these characters as much as we should. A nice idea that would have better been left on stage. How the film and Madonna defeated Fargo and Frances McDormand in the Golden Globes is beyond my understanding.

Rating:
Summary: You'll cry for this film
Review: What can I say? Evita is a great film, that was wrongly underrated by both the audiences and the Academy (Evita got only one Oscar). I think this film is a true work of art, and if you never see the film, you will be missing out on a superb work of cinematographic art - One of the greatest qualities of this film is that it does not excessively stray from the original material (And when it does, it does so in the right places). Andrew Lloyd Webber's great score gives this film the musical beauty that made the Broadway production a hit almost thirty years ago. The script contains the classic Tim Rice trademark - the ambiguity in characters. It does not allow the viewer to say "Aha - she's good!", or "Aha - she's bad!". There is plenty of evidence to support both sides, leaving the viewer thinking about Evita even after seeing the movie (How many other movies do you know that make the viewer think?). As for the cast, I think the actors performed surprisingly well. I further think Banderas outdid Pattinkin. I'm sure Mandy's fans want to bite my head off (or think that I lack one), and to them I say this -- The day I hear Mandy perform "sing you fools" with enough emotion to make me snarl with anger at communist dictatorships for days after seeing the film, I'll change my views. True, Madonna is not a vocal superstar like Patti LuPone, but considering that she performed the same role as Patti, with the score transposed only one step down - all during a pregnancy, I think her performance is rather commendable. The cinematography itself is stunning - There is not a single frame in the film at which you can say "What the heck are they showing me that?". Every shot is well planned and contributes to the plot and the mood of the film. The bottom line - see this movie. You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Stirrrrring!
Review: What excellence in direction by Alan Parker. This film, must be seen...if only for the breathtaking cinemaphotography.

Before I saw this film someone told me that every scene in this movie could be a photograph. And, after seeing it, I couldn't agree more! Truly beautiful, rich and delightful. A treat for your eyes.

Madonna plays Eva Paron...a poor bastard daughter of a married man. She wants to suceed in life and begins to let men help her climb the ladder to social sucess.

Antonio Banderas plays the narriator. It was funny to see him so serious after seeing him in his previous work. His voice is excellent for his part.

Madonna is so believable in this film. And I was glad she was chosen for the part.

Eva finaly meets Paron, they marry. He uses her to gain political support (as the people love her) She uses him to climb lifes sucess ladder. I do believe they did love each other.

The music is excellent. Almost everyone has heard the following popular songs from this film, You must Love Me...and Don't Cry For Me Argintina"

A warning to viewers who don't like musicals: Almost he whole movie is done in song.

Evita on video is also a great cost saver. It would cost at least that or more to see it on broadway...and with the video, you can watch it whenever you want to. If not to buy Evita, rent it to see it...beautiful work.

Rating:
Summary: In defense of this film...
Review: Having scrolled through a number of the more negative reviews, I discovered a tendency of cries for Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin to have been cast as Eva and Che (respectively). (Those interested in my opinion of the film may want to skip this section.) I (and I admit to be a rather small minority) consider the Broadway (LuPone/Patinkin) version, at least musically, to be a slimmed-down (though thankfully lyrically expanded), somewhat dumbed-down (Where's the image of Ché's capitalist insecticide venture, fueled by Perónist rhetoric?) version of the brilliant concept album, with the Covington/Wilkinson duo's breath into the score. Many smart moves were made in bringing some of the rock feel back to the orchestral arrangements and in performances (particularly with Antonio's portrayal of Ché, and the resurrection of "The Lady's Got Potential").

Alright, so I still miss the insecticide plot; however, I can see why it was cut, as many wouldn't understand its inclusion - Evita was, after all, written as popular theatre. I was amazed at hearing the re-write of "...Potential" into a brilliant narrative piece, telling the GOU and Perón's rise so much more clearly than "The Art of the Possible."

Cast: Madonna makes a marvelously believable Eva (Duarte) Perón and surely deserved the Golden Globe she received for the rôle. One review complained of the songs being written in a different key for her - So she's an alto; is that a crime? Banderas as Ché was a welcome surprise. Although I've always envisioned the now-one-man-Greek-chorus Ché as somewhat scrawny and scruffy, the casting worked just as well in this case. Jonathan Pryce as Col. Perón - I expect nothing less than the best from this man, after hearing his incomparable renditions of Miss Saigon's Engineer and Oliver!'s Fagin, and just as much is received. As for its being a minor rôle, I have to disagree. It's one of those parts whereas how major it ends up being in the viewer's mind is left mostly to the performer. Jimmy Nail, as Magaldi, I found wonderfully sleazy and rat-like.

Script changes: So...script changes had to be made to shoot in Argentina - a compromise. I find nothing wrong to this. At least Tim Rice re-wrote had the opportunity to re-write his own material (and in some cases reverting back to some of the concept album lyrics), rather than Alan Parker & Oliver Stone taking some creative liberties. This version leaves it more for the viewer to judge Eva, assuming that one's choices are a mere dichotomy to begin with. Besides, why should the everyday viewer be denied that view of the Casa Rosada? The lush cinematography was refreshing, the costumes beautiful - These elements pulled me into the piece, made me feel I was 1940's Junin and Buenos Aires.

Overall, Evita is a breathtaking motion picture, as sweeping and epic as the score and libretto written a quarter-century ago.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!
Review: When I first saw this movie I didn't understand it because it was completely in song, but after second time I understood what it was about, and it was really good, and it makes you want to learn more about Juan and Eva Peron, that's what's good about a documentary type movie it makes you want to learn more about the subject. After I saw the movie I saw the play when it came to my town, and it's just as good maybe better. I think some of the scenes in the play should have been in the movie, I think some of the things the movie left out would have been great on screen. Like the part where Eva is dying and she sees images from her past(past scenes from the play), that would have been wonderful if Eva could have seen images of her old self and people she came in contact with on her way to fame, but they left it out. I also think they shouldn't have let Eva sing "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" they should have just let the mistress sing it, having Eva sing it confuses things, did Magaldi dump Eva like in the movie or did she dump him like in the play, I don't know but either way the movie is really good and I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: Surprise, Surprise!
Review: In Evita, Madonna pulls off what few stars with her notoriety can: she almost makes us forget who she really is. Evita opens gorgeous and glowing. And guess what? Madonna has to carry the picture. Can she act? Well, she can sing and act at the same time, and that's good enough for me. What keeps this salsa-tinged soap-opera afloat is an ingenious device that comes in the form of Che (Antonio Banderas), a South American everyman: he's a waiter; he's a reporter; he's a revolutionary. He provides the story with a conscience. And let me tell you, this story needs one. Eva and Juan Peron (Jonathan Pryce), you see, captivated a country desperate for stability in the late forties. Argentina under their leadership was, in the end, arguably better off but definitely better looking.

That attention to style also seems to be the aim of director Alan Parker. His eye for the visually operatic is flawless here. Whether she is handing out ill-gotten money to the poor, or standing on a balcony tearfully protesting her worthiness, Evita (and Madonna for that matter) is one of the best at stroking and stoking the emotions of her people. Parker presents this seduction marvelously. Overall, Evita casts a charming spell, but the core of Evita the woman remains a mystery. Maybe it's better that way.

Rating:
Summary: madonna's talent shines throughout "evita"
Review: The movie Evita is a wonderful musical to not only watch but to listen to as well. Madonna not only looked like Evita Peron, but she truly was Evita in this film.Her voice was great and her acting was even better. This movie has many emotions, which you can feel within each song. Antonio Bandera also is a great actor in this movie, and I for one enjoyed how he was always there to "fill in" the viewers about the movie. My favorite scene had to be when Madonna sings "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". It is a very beautiful scene of the movie. And the song is very beautiful as well. I reccomend that you should see this movie musical tonight.