Blu-ray review: “The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall”
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
“The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall”
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash spectacle gets an appropriately lavish 25th anniversary celebration with “The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall.”
Widely considered the most successful entertainment project in history, the silver anniversary production was staged in grand fashion in October and beamed to movie theaters worldwide. Even fans who have seen “The Phantom” performed live and in person will be impressed at the royal treatment the musical receives in the special staging, augmented by rich high-definition Blu-ray picture and crisp Dolby Digital sound.
Featuring a cast and orchestra of more than 200, the commemorative performance was inspired by the original 1986 staging by Hal Prince and Gillian Lynne on London’s West End. Lynne returned to oversee the musical staging and choreography, which was cannily adapted for the famed London concert hall.
The international cast features the perfectly picked Sierra Boggess as lovely young soprano Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious masked magician and musical genius known as “The Phantom of the Opera.” Ramin Karimloo gives a commanding star turn as the terrifying but sympathetic Phantom, while the supporting cast — particularly Hadley Fraser as Christine’s fiancé Raoul, Wendy Ferguson as the Paris Opera’s proud prima donna Carlotta and Liz Roberston as stern choreographer Madame Giry — contribute uniformly stellar performances.
The Blu-ray features a grand finale with special appearances by Lloyd Webber and the original London company, including Michael Crawford, who first played the role of the Phantom on the West End and Broadway. In addition, the finale includes performances by Sarah Brightman, who originated the role of Christine, and former Phantoms Peter Joback, John Owen-Jones, Anthony Warlow and Colm Wilkinson as well as Karimloo.
Bonus features include a behind-the-scenes featurette and a trailer for Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom” follow-up, “Love Never Dies.” A fully staged pre-recorded Australian performance of the sequel will be screened in several Oklahoma movie theaters at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 7. For more information, go to Ö www.fathomevents.com.
— BAM
Billy Connolly joins “The Hobbit” cast
Billy Connolly (AP file)
Scottish actor Billy Connolly (“The Last Samurai,” “Boondock Saints”) is rounding out the cast of Peter Jackson’s two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit.”
In the films, Connolly will play Dain Ironfoot, a great dwarf warrior and cousin of dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of Dwarves, than Billy Connelly, the Big Yin himself,” Jackson said in a statement to THR. “With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of The Hobbit is now complete. We can’t wait to see him on the Battlefield!”
The first film, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” will hit theaters Dec. 14. The second film, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” will follow on December 13, 2013.
The 3-D “Hobbit” films are prequels to Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, which won a combined 17 Oscars around the turn of the 21st century.
Along with Connolly, “The Hobbit” films will star Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Mikael Persbrandt, Stephen Fry and Chickasha-born actor Lee Pace.
In addition, “LOTR” alums Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis and Orlando Bloom will reprise their roles in the prequels.
Check out the trailer:
-BAM
Cher’s father dies in Oklahoma City
Cher (AP file)
Gilbert Hartmann LaPiere, adoptive father of Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer/actress Cher, died Tuesday in his hometown of Oklahoma City. He was 88.
Gilbert LaPiere
LaPiere was born June 29, 1923 in Irvington, N.J., to Tillie and Albert LaPiere. He attended grade school and high school in Newark, N.J., according to his obituary in The Oklahoman and on NewsOK.
He attended the University Of Missouri School of Mines at Rolla, Mo., and graduated with a degree in petroleum engineering. World War II interrupted his college education; he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and became a bombardier on B-24s in the Western Pacific arena, accumulating 35 missions and surviving “ditching” his airplane into the ocean after a bombing mission.
After graduating from college, he went to work as an evaluation engineer for City Service Oil Co. in Bartlesville and was later offered the same position at the Chase Bank in New York City. He worked on oil and gas loans, mergers and sales for major oil and gas companies and independent producers.
In 1952, he accepted the position of managing the Oil and Gas Department for W.E. Hutton and Co. on Wall Street, advising on oil and gas stocks as well as public offerings. After Hutton, he was employed as a vice-president of the newly formed oil and gas division of the Union Bank of California. Later, he decided to go into business for himself as a financial oil and gas consultant, mostly working as a “troubleshooter,” helping companies and independent operators to establish financial stability, merge or sell.
Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian May 20, 1946 in El Centro, Calif. Her biological father, John Sarkisian, who left the family when she was a little girl, was a truck driver who married and divorced her mother twice. Cher’s mother, Georgia Holt, was married six times; her fifth husband, LaPiere, adopted Cher, according to the star’s Hello magazine biography.
At age 16, Cher moved to Los Angeles, where she met entertainer and songwriter Salvatore “Sonny” Bono, according to Encyclopædia Britannica. The couple married in 1964, began singing together, and scored their first big pop hit came in 1965 with “I Got You Babe,” which sold more than three million copies. The duo went on to score a number of hits, and in 1971 they launched the television variety show “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,” which ran until 1974. Cher and Sonny divorced in 1974, though they appeared as cohosts of another TV show, “The Sonny and Cher Show,” in 1976–77.
After Sonny left show business, Cher cultivated a successful nightclub act and revisited an earlier interest in acting, according to Encyclopædia Britannica. She appeared in the Broadway and film versions of “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean ” (1982) and received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role in “Silkwood” (1983). In 1988, she won a best actress Oscar for her starring turn as an Italian-American widow who finds love in the romantic comedy “Moonstruck” (1987).
Her other films include “Mask” (1985), “Suspect” (1987), “The Witches of Eastwick” (1987), “Mermaids” (1990), “Faithful” (1996), “Tea with Mussolini” (1999) and “Stuck on You” (2003). In 2010, she starred opposite Christina Aguilera as a nightclub owner and performer in the cinematic musical drama “Burlesque,” and she provided the voice of a lioness in 2011 live-action comedy “Zookeeper.”
After releasing two successful albums in the late 1980s — “Cher” (1987) and “Heart of Stone” (1989) — Cher’s music career waned, but she made a comeback in the late 1990s/early 2000s with the albums “Believe” (1998) and “Living Proof” (2002). In 2000, she won a Grammy Award for the dance single “Believe,” and she has become an entertainment icon.
After repeated trips to Oklahoma City from California, LaPiere and his wife, Beverly, moved to the Sooner State capital in 1966, and he carried on his consulting work from Oklahoma City. He was in the oil business since 1947 and helped many oil companies and individuals open businesses both in Oklahoma and other states, according to his obituary.
In 1997, his wife, Beverly, preceded him in death after 34 years of marriage. LaPiere is survived by four daughters, Vema Bullock of Oklahoma City; Cher of Malibu, Calif.; Georgeanne Bartylak of Ventura, Calif.; and step-daughter Diana Spahn of Santa Fe, N.M. Daughter Deborah Avery,preceded him in death. His grandchildren include Stacy Starchman, Kelly Hill, Christopher Borgen, Elisha Almond, Chas Bono and step-grandson Darren Lazarus.
A memorial service is planned for Friday in Oklahoma City. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions may be made to All Souls Episcopal Church, Habitat for Humanity or the charity of your choice.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Maggie McClure’s song “Good Morning and Good Night” to be featured in Oklahoma film “Cowgirls N’ Angels”
Singer-songwriter Maggie McClure, who hails from Norman, recently announced on Facebook that her original song “Good Morning and Good Night” will be featured in the opening credits of the upcoming movie “Cowgirls N’ Angels,” a coming-of-age feature filmed Oklahoma communities of Stillwater, Guthrie, Oklahoma City, and Pawnee.
The movie stars Bailee Madison (“Just Go With It,” “Bridge to Terabithia”), James Cromwell (“Babe,” “L.A. Confidential”), Jackson Rathbone (“The Twilight Saga” films), Alicia Witt (“Friday Night Lights,” “88 Minutes”), Frankie Faison (“The Silence of the Lambs,” “Meet the Browns”), Madison Burge (“Friday Night Lights,” “Seven Days In Utopia”), Leslie-Anne Huff (“MacKenzie Falls,” “Strawberry Cliff”), and Kathleen Rose Perkins (“The Island”).
Written by Timothy Armstrong and Stephan Blinn and directed by Timothy Armstrong, “Cowgirls N’ Angels” is billed as a heartwarming movie that tells the story of Ida, a feisty and rebellious young girl, who has dreams of finding her father, a rodeo rider. While searching for her dad, she connects with the Sweethearts of the Rodeo, a team of young female rodeo riders run by former rodeo star Terence Parker. Recognizing Ida’s innate talent for trick riding, Terence recruits her for their ranks. Accepted wholeheartedly by her new “family,” Ida finds a new passion that redefines her life, and may also help her find the father she’s been searching for.
Here is the trailer for the film, which is set for 2012 release:
-BAM
New releases for Feb. 7, 2012: David Cook, Cady Groves, Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Dierks Bentley, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, “Phantom of the Opera”
Season 7 “American Idol” winner David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, has released today an EP titled “This Quiet Night” exclusively through Walmart. The CD includes acoustic performances of five songs from his 2011 album “This Loud Morning.”
Emerging pop singer-songwriter Cady Groves, who grew up in Marlow, Cache and Yukon, also is released today her “This Little Girl” EP.
Featuring tracks including her popular first single “This Little Girl” the digital EP will be available at all digital service providers and will include fan-favorite track “We’re The Sh*t” as well as Groves cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You”. The physical version will be available www.cadygroves.com and will include the same tracks as the digital version with the addition of Groves duet “Oh Darlin’” with Plug in Stereo.
Groves, who was just spotlighted in Seventeen Magazine’s “Ultimate Guide To Music” will be joining her labelmates and friends Hot Chelle Rae in select North American markets in February and March. (See the full list of tour dates after the break; it looks Dallas will be the closest she comes to Oklahoma.).
Among LPs, this week boasts new releases from Van Halen, Paul McCartney and Dierks Bentley. To read my review of Dierks’ latest, click here.
This week’s new DVDs include the 25th anniversary performance of “The Phantom of the Opera,” which I’ll be reviewing in the coming days; the excellent documentary “Project Nim,” which made my top 10 movies of 2011 list; and oh yeah, a little blockbuster called “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1,” which will be released in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
CDs
David Cook, “This Quiet Night” EP (Walmart exclusive)
Van Halen, “A Different Kind of Truth.”
Paul McCartney, “Kisses on the Bottom.”
Dierks Bentley, “Home.”
The Fray, “Scars & Stories.”
Various artists, “Waylon: The Music Inside, Volume II.”
Tony Bennett, “Isn’t It Romantic.”
Steve Tyrell, “I’ll Take Romance.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, “Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall: In Celebration of 25 Years.”
Air, “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” (CD/DVD).
Edith Piaf, “Edith Piaf” (3-CD special edition).
DVD
Anonymous
Downton Abbey: Season 2
Father Dowling Mysteries: The First Season
Fireflies in the Garden
Project Nim
The Rebound
The Sunset Limited
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (midnight Saturday)
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
A Warrior’s Heart
Books
Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden
Kill Shot (Mitch Rapp)by Vince Flynn
Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth
Hilarity Ensues by Tucker Max
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity by Katherine Boo
-BAM
New releases for Feb. 7, 2012: David Cook, Cady Groves, Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Dierks Bentley, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, “Phantom of the Opera”
Video: “The Amazing Spider-Man” trailer
I’ve been really pumped up about the forthcoming reboot “The Amazing Spider-Man,” particularly considering the talent involved: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Martin Sheen, Denis Leary, Sally Field, IRhys Ifans, plus Marc “(500) Days of Summer” Webb directing.
But now that I’ve seen the trailer, I’m appalled that it looks like this movie is going to break the top two rules on Dale’s List of Superheroic Screwups (named for my dad, the prototypical Baby Boomer who owned all the best comic books as a kid and was heartbroken when his mom through them out once he went away to college):
1. With few exceptions – like Fantastic Four or Iron Man – keep your mask on and your secret identity secret. That’s why it’s called a SECRET identity.
2. And especially don’t tell it to some girl!
So even if I end up loving “The Amazing Spider-Man,” the odds look good that I’m gonna have to hear my dad grouse about it.
At any rate, “The Amazing Spider-Man” looks fairly, well, amazing and opens July 3.
-BAM
Video: “The Avengers” Super Bowl commercial (extended version)
Marvel debuted the new trailer for its eagerly anticipated superhero movie Sunday night during the Super Bowl and began hyping the extended version soon after.
It’s another thrilling look at what is sure to be one of the biggest films of the year.
Directed by Joss Whedon, the movie stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/The Hulk, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury and Tom Hiddleston as Loki.
It’s due in theaters May 4.
-BAM
Monday Catchy Quote No. 200
A catchy quote from a movie, TV show or other source to brighten the beginning of your week:
Jarvis Edison: How many timeouts do we have left?
Paul Blake: Three.
Jarvis Edison: Can we take ‘em all now?
-Click here to learn the source.
-BAM
Video: Sneak peek of “The Avengers” Super Bowl trailer
Yet another reason to watch the Super Bowl: Finding out more about one of the year’s most anticipated films, “The Avengers.”
Marvel released this stingy but effective seconds-long trailer teaser last week.
Even if the unexpected matchup of the New York Giants and New England Patriots doesn’t especially appeal to you – personally, I’m kind of looking forward to it – there’s always the chance to watch Oklahoma native and the most likable man in football, Wes Welker, work his onfield magic.
Plus, Oklahoma country music stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert will sing “America the Beautiful” during the televised pregame festivities Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. “American Idol” Kelly Clarkson will perform the National Anthem before kickoff, which is set for 5:30 p.m. Sunday on NBC. For my part, I’m more excited about this collection of Okie and Texas talent performing than I am about Madonna playing the halftime hoopla, but I’m also hoping the “Material Girl” will put on a good show.
Then, the special Season 2 premiere of the hit reality TV show “The Voice,” which stars Shelton, Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Adam Levine as celebrity coaches, is set for approximately 9 to 10 p.m. Sunday, depending on how long it takes the Giants and Patriots to settle their score.
Finally, some of the commercials look really promising. Many advertisers have joined Marvel in previewing or unveiling early their Super Bowl commercials this week as they work at building buzz.
Advertisers are forking over a record $3.5 million for 30 seconds of air time during the country’s most watched television show, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, and I would say that in if it gets us another look at Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, the Hulk and the gang in action, it’s money well-spent.
-BAM
Video: New “Hunger Games” trailer
The latest trailer for the anticipated film “The Hunger Games” has made its online debut.
The adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, the first of a trilogy that has sold 16 million copies in the U.S. alone, “The Hunger Games” is one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the coming spring.
The trailer includes a clip of Elizabeth Banks as fan favorite Effie Trinket. To read my recent interview with Banks in which she talks about her current film “Man on a Ledge” as well as “The Hunger Games,” click here.
Earlier today, I posted a full roundup of the films opening in Oklahoma City theaters this winter and spring. See what’s coming besides “The Hunger Games” by clicking here.
-BAM
