The Sound of Music Aside, Here Are 5 More Perfect Musicals to Watch
These are only a few of my favorite things!
There are some genres that everyone loves. I've never heard anyone say they don't like comedies and never watch them. But there are a few that are not for everyone.
For example, I've never watched a horror movie in my life and I can't understand why someone in their right mind would do that to their mental health. Sorry, “we listen and we don't judge” didn't work for me...
But what I love with all my heart is a good musical. It just gives me hope and fills my heart with pure happiness.
Of course it wouldn't surprise you to know that the first one I ever saw was a true classic called The Sound of Music with the amazing Julie Andrews. By the way, the song about her favorite things and her version of Do-Re-Mi live rent-free in my head.
The story in the movie is rather naive, but still heartwarming. It's about a governess who brings love and music into the lives of the von Trapp family. So if you have never watched it, now is the time. I promise you will fall in love with the genre and want more. And that's when this list of 5 of my favorite musicals will come in handy.
1. Singin' in the Rain (1952)
In many ways, Singin' in the Rain is the movie that started it all. It follows a silent film star, Don Lockwood, who must adapt to the new world of talkies while dealing with a problematic co-star. Featuring Gene Kelly's legendary dance numbers and unforgettable songs like the title one, Singin' in the Rain, the movie is a joyful and timeless ode to Hollywood's golden age.
2. Chicago (2002)
Chicago is a dazzling, fast-paced musical that takes audiences into the world of 1920s Chicago, where corruption, fame and crime collide. I say it's the perfect time to sing and dance, don't you think? Directed by Rob Marshall, the movie stars Renée Zellweger as Roxie Hart, a woman determined to make her mark on the world, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly, a seasoned performer who's also striving for the spotlight.
Chicago is probably the only movie in the world that I watch without blinking. And it never ceases to amaze me how original and funny its musical numbers are. My favorite, of course, is the "Both Reached for the Gun" ventriloquist number.
3. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The Phantom of the Opera is the musical where I love all the songs without exception. For many years I've been rewatching the 2004 movie with Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, not only memorizing all the musical numbers, but also dreaming of seeing it on the stage of His Majesty's Theatre in London, the home of the musical. But even when my dream came true, I never turned my back on the movie and here’s why.
Butler's intense portrayal of the tormented Phantom and Emmy Rossum's delicate yet powerful Christine made me fall in love with this adaptation. And the lush costumes, dramatic sets, and sweeping romance between Christine, the Phantom, and Raoul create a dark, mesmerizing atmosphere that draws the audience into their tragic love story.
4. The Greatest Showman (2017)
Another perfect modern musical is The Greatest Showman. Even though it has a rather disappointing Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie is still one of my favorites, and the main reason is the powerful songs it has and the perfectly matched cast. This Is Me and Never Enough are the two songs that make me cry when I hear the first notes. Go feel your own goosebumps…
5. La La Land ( 2016)
Another modern take on the musical is La La Land, which actually became an instant classic. It tells the story of Ryan Gosling 's Sebastian, a jazz musician, and Emma Stone 's Mia, an actress, who fall in love in Los Angeles. But it turned out that two artists are bound to have a turbulent relationship if they want to pursue their dreams and stay in love.
One of the songs in the movie, City of Stars, is one of the most powerful songs ever created in a modern musical.
