Since the original stage play is already well-known, and the lineup of this screen adaptation is extremely dazzling, I deeply look forward to the film will be an audiovisual feast that will bring great black children to enjoy. Indeed, the aesthetic style, wonderful singing and overall entertainment value are all worthy of recognition. Unfortunately, in terms of real materials, "Magic Black Forest" is another example of form greater than content. Not only the theme is vague and crappy, the characterization is far-fetched, but the image is disillusioned in my heart due to two major factors-the plot and the music.
First of all, the plot of the film gives a feeling of patchwork and loopholes. It is understandable that because the original musical content is too adult and dark, the script after Disney's request is deleted and modified will surely cut out many more comedic effects and dramatic potential content. However, re-creation cannot be a reason for failure, and it is an indisputable fact that the foundation of the film is weak. The main story of the bread couple seems to be just to connect all the characters perfunctorily, but the story of Cinderella's growth and break free is very stealthy. The love skewers or casual adventures of other characters are also stupid to distinguish what the center line of this film is.
In addition to the unclear story line, the multiple handling of the plot is also quite hasty. Especially in the first half, Jack easily used corn instead of golden blonde hair as a magic material; Breadmaid pulled Rapunzel’s hair off, and her hair grew several meters in the blink of an eye; Cinderella was responsive at her mother’s grave. , But she was still used as a maid by her adoptive mother... At this point, you may have noticed that the second half of this film is probably also pretty awkward. And when you see the fairy tale version of "See You or Leave" in the fairy tale version of The Blond Prince's tears of love again, it is estimated that it will be difficult for you not to laugh. Not to mention that the deaths of the characters in the film are inexplicable, and they sang the first second and then disappeared after a second.
The next thing that makes people crazy is chanting music. If you don't look good, just listen, but letting all kinds of ordinary and extremely bumpy melody rub back and forth in your ears for two hours, the ears are very dangerous. What is amazing is that when "Black Forest" was premiered on Broadway, it beat "The Phantom of the Opera" and won the best original soundtrack award. Is it because the music styles are different from the past and the past, or are there too many recompositions for the film? Perhaps the original artistic effects of the theater stage and the big screen are different. Although there are jewels such as "Les Miserables", "Chicago", and "The Phantom of the Opera", not all exaggerated vocal music and sound effects suitable for live performance can be copied into movies in the same way. In particular, the song of "Magic Black Forest" was originally won with lyrics and supported by stage performances. When a weak melody is infinitely amplified in a dark and quiet theater, audiences who have already crossed the high-level threshold of the original soundtrack of "Frozen" will inevitably have a feeling of dissatisfaction with the alternative fairy tales that are also made by Disney. It is rare that a group of non-vocal professional actors can work hard to practice such a lack of characteristics of songs, and the whole film is endlessly howling to the end.
In addition to the depressing plot and music, "Magic Black Forest" also feels very stingy from the setting to the theme. The film talks about "what happens after'forever' living together happily". Naturally, the first half is a foreshadowing of happiness, and the second half is the subversion of the vast abyss. The main goal is to stay behind. It's just that the first part is pleasing to the eye, and the next part of the crazy story built by various CGIs has a devastating effect. The director seems to have lost control of the rhythm and consistency of style, throwing out inexplicable life insights from time to time in the messy setting and chaotic dialogue, but he still can't tell the point. Thinking that the story is so plain is actually trying to make a big sublimation at the end, but the baker insists on the end of the story about Little Red Riding Hood and Jack, but he can't enter the tear gas mode at all. At this time, more energy is used to reluctantly capture several key points in his words: 1. Fairy tales are not only about beautiful things and endings. 2. So be careful when making a wish, in case the ending is different from what you want. 3. Sometimes we might even lose our loved ones and loved ones, but we still have to live a good life. I want to say that what you said is so far-fetched and so ethereal. If this book is meant for children, maybe they understand you...
Speaking of this, I personally feel that the market positioning of the film is also rather weird. Director Rob Marshall said frankly that "Magic Black Forest" is a film dedicated to children, and wants them to understand that life is not all going well and everything is good. Therefore, the film also cuts out most of the oily material points for the children's audience. For example, Rapunzel did not die, Little Red Riding Hood and Big Bad Wolf were not ambiguous, and the prince did not cheat on Breadmaid and various fairy tales. The princess was waiting. However, the black fairy tale is essentially suitable for adults after all, and the film’s PG rating of harmless American animals is also slightly misplaced. Overall, this is a movie that makes people feel that there is no clear market direction and target audience, so the theme is inevitably confused.
Another pity in this film is the shaping of the characters. Although it is quite a gimmick to mix and match all kinds of fairy tale characters crazy, it is still quite difficult to distinguish the roles and portray the characters in a specific implementation. In the movie, Little Red Riding Hood is a typical example of the failure of the education of a single child. From the time when she was greedy to take people's bread, she was speechless, but the completely soy sauce-like nature of the role can actually support her to reappear until the end of the play, and cheeky asks the baker to adopt it. As the only adorable baby, Dawn also ended in failure. It's fine to use a naive face with no acting skills at all. In a story that is almost pure pronunciation, I dare to be faithful to the original and speak a pure English local accent. I am also drunk if I want to come. Johnny Depp's weird appearance was amazing and full of laughter. However, there were no new characters to match his short cameo at the beginning of the film, so that the latter part of the film has a sense of starry bleakness. Throughout the whole film, it seems that the only characters who have grown are Cinderella and the baker, but even the trajectory of the character development of the two is not clear enough.
As far as casting is concerned, Anna Kendrick is very dedicated to acting, but she plays Cinderella just like Kristen Stewart played Snow White. There is always a feeling that she doesn't look like a prince wearing a dragon robe. Meryl Streep doesn't say much about her acting and singing skills, but she has always played various crazy roles in recent years, which is a bit greasy. Xiao Honghua should be given to Chris Pine and Emily Blunt, feeling that this kind of derailed character with a little joy in the seriousness is a fun experiment for them. In short, the actor's wholehearted performance and singing are obvious to all. It's a pity that no matter how hard they work and how deep their experience of the role is, it doesn't seem to be so important in the context of such a depressing movie.
I just want to say that Rob Marshall disappointed me this time. At any rate, he is also an alumnus. Although the output is not high, he has always supported his past films. Of course, there are many reasons for the failure of a film throughout the operation of Hollywood movies. Under the intervention and manipulation of various interest groups, "Magic Black Forest" may not be able to uphold the original concept from the director, and it cannot guarantee the level and charm comparable to the original stage play. Having said that, people have said that this film was not originally shot for adults. Perhaps the speechlessness brought to us has something unique in the eyes of children.
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