So am I the LAST person in the Lounge to see "Hairspray"?

I liked it. I know all about the controversy having Scientologist play Edna, which some gays felt was the province of a gay actor and also because of Scientology's repressive (and repulsive) views on gays. But in the context of this iteration of the musical, I thought Travolta did a great job. He has always been a great dancer; "Saturday Night Fever" had terrific dance scenes (I must admit, I loved disco and the Bee Gees). What I really appreciated was Travolta's dancing as a woman, a heavy woman constrited by clunky bra, girdle with garter clips and nylon stockings! How did anybody ever dance in those things?

I loved the new actress playing Tracy and the overall energy and dance joy of the film. I was truly amazed at Christopher Walken's comic ability and dancing. I think I've only seen him in his darker roles.

A wonderfully happy movie with fabulous dancing!

And yeah, I got the homage to "West Side Story" in the opening scene.

I'll probably wait until it comes out on DVD.

Looks like a fun movie.

i haven't seen it

but I don't have any desire to see this film...I saw a tv version a while back and it didn't do much for me. Glad you enjoyed it though.

however, it doesn't matter to me. He did a good job and the other cast members did also. I don't go to lots of movies because so many of them insult my intelligence. It is a rare movie that doesn't do that. "Hairspray" didn't.

I saw the 1980s version, but not this one yet.

But I loved the Broadway show and the movie with Ricki Lake as well. The music is fantastic.

:hi:

but then again the last movie I saw in the
theater was Titanic.....


lost

Not sure whether I want to.

The girl playing Tracy was adorable. Travolta was okay. Queen Latifa was the best part.

another remake that should have never happened...

Not a bad or good thing. Just "is".

When something is done so well, I accept it for what it is. I will try to get the 80s version of the movie to see the original with Divine, because I want to see it for itself.

Overall, however, I accept a work for what it is. If it is true to its form and heart -- and I believe this is, altho it is a different heartbeat here -- and done with this much goodwill and joy, then I see it. That is the basis on which I saw "Hairspray" today. Not comparing, just looking at the film's integrity.

I rarely go to the movies.

We went to the movies today but to see Halloween :headbang:

I love the first Hairspray so so much.. and I'm sure this one's good and that I'll see it sometime. I have a problem with Travolta though and I'm not sure I can forget it to enjoy the movie. Someday though!

no thanks

I never realized what a stretch that was for Travolta til I realized he was a gay man (I was out of the loop and only found out a few years ago). It made me rethink his acting ability in roles like that and Grease and Saturday Night Fever.

Travolta is gay? I have never heard that.

there was a photo published fairly recently of him kissing a 'friend' on the lips on the steps of his plane (he's a pilot and owns his own plane). I'll try to google for the photo. I had heard this from a friend about 3 or 4 years ago who used to work in LA, it was news to me too.

edit: here

I'd hardly take one smooch as proof of gaydom; NOT that there is anything wrong with anyone being gay (I'm sensitive to the feelings of some of our gay DUers lately)

I'd never thought about it til I met a very gossipy ex-production assistant a few years ago who told me that and a few other things about some celebs...I'd never paid too much attention to Travolta outside of Pulp Fiction and when I watched an interview with him on Oprah later on that it really hit me. That gave me a profound respect for the man and his craft that he could play these macho characters that are obviously so far away from his own persona, and he talked about his 'method' on there which I found really interesting. He really seems to almost crawl into the brain of these characters but that I think is what makes him so good at playing them because in reality he is so different from that. I'd always just assumed that his personality would be similar to Barbarino or one of those characters that I never paid attention to him, now that I have I really like him, just not interested in seeing Hairspray.

yes INDEED :D

big Tom of Finland fan so I can appreciate that, just watching that interview with Travolta and listening to his quiet articulate manner and hearing him say 'fabulous' thrice within the space of five minutes gave me much more respect for him than I'd had. I really believed before that he was walking through those roles because they were kith and kin of his own experience. Not so AT ALL. Yes there are macho gay men, but Travolta is not one of them. :hi:

When they tie me down and prop my eyes open ala A Clockwork Orange

I take it you don't like the movie?

Best to skip it

I bow in your general direction.