ThePhanastasio

I love movies, and I, having been in theatre since I was a wee lass, do quite have a soft spot for musicals. I've watched a ridiculous amount of these, some quite fantastic (see below) and some clunkers - although, I do have to admit that Repo! The Genetic Opera earned numerous rewatches because of my ridiculous lusting after Sarah Brightman in that film...


I mean really. How am I NOT supposed to want to hit that? As an aside, Lava Girl has more balls than I do - I would rather be killed than have to sing a duet with Sarah Brightman. There's no way that 99.99% of people could even sound remotely competent in that situation, although she was 'talk-singing' for most of the song.

But as far as fantastic movie musicals...these, to me are the tops:

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY:


As an aside, I've been forever barred by friends, family, and acquaintances from EVER re-enacting the boat ride again. I get really into it, and am apparently quite terrifying. Even today, my mother said, "There's no way," to which I responded..."There's no earthly way of way of knowing which direction we are going..."

And my mother was immediately all, "Don't you dare." And I don't even need creepy lighting, haha.

PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE:


This may actually be my favorite. It hurts my soul how many people have never heard of it, much less seen it. It's ****ing amazing. FANTASTIC score by Paul Williams, and a ridiculously awesome retelling of Faust. Also, directed by Brian De Palma.

SHOCK TREATMENT


According to Richard O'Brien, not the sequel, not the prequel, but the EQUAL to Rocky Horror. I actually think that in spite of Tim Curry not being present, the music in this one is actually better. I also think that it's more important to current times with its subject matter: It's reality TV and its repercussions BEFORE there was reality TV, keep in mind. It is actually WELL worth the watch.

So, what are your favorite movie musicals? I have more I wanted to post, but that would be just ridiculous. Just ridiculous. I could post all night. These three are, for me, the pinnacle of musical film greatness.

EDIT: Even more ridiculous, possibly, that Jessica Harper is the female lead in two out of these three, when people in RHPS circles - or nerd film circles that love Dario Argento's Suspiria - constantly tell me that I am secretly Jessica Harper.

I don't know if my love for these films means I'm incredibly vain, or that they're just awesome. Regardless, I recommend the hell out of them.

__________________

• Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed
• 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend
• My last.fm