Recensioni degli utenti

Since I first saw the musical, "Cats", in 1987, I have always wanted to see it on video. I was thrilled when it finally arrived. I immediately bought it.

The video performance was terrific: better than I expected. Instead of seeing it from the viewpoint of being in the audience, cameras were actually on stage, moving throughout the performers! The sound is terrific, and it played on my audio system wonderfully.

Of course, there is a flaw in the video. To me, it is actually a glaring flaw: a major segment of the musical, my favorite sequence in fact, is missing. Maybe it was cut for time, but I was very disappointed. "Growltugger's Last Stand" is one of the more elaborately staged portions of "Cats". For it to be removed from this performance will certainly upset many of the true fans of "Cats".

I was prepared to score a 10 out of 10 for this show, but with the editing, I can only score it a 7. Andrew Lloyd Webber himself produced this video. He should have left that portion in.

George

What else is there to be said? Nothing, so I'll just say what I thought. It took me years to get round to Cats. I knew nothing about it until I put it on. Though of course I somehow knew the words to that infamous song when it came on, thus is its complete suffusion into popular consciousness. I didn't know what I was watching for the first hour. It made no sense. However near the end something clicked and I totally understood why it was so popular and enduring. It's because the only way to watch it is through a child's mind. You cannot try to grasp on anything, you just have to let yourself go on the wacky innocent fun ride and let your feet tap and hands clap when they want to even if they don't know why. Because there is something about it that really makes you feel safe and want to accept the invite to fall into wonder and bright lights and entertainment for simply the love and sake of it. In that regard it is very unique and I understand why it was such a phenomenon. To try to make any logical and critical review of it is just missing the point so not a lot can really be said nor should it. Though one critical note which is I think appropriate is to say that the cast and choreography is really great in how they bring cat humans to life on stage through movement. And seeing this after the existence of the 2019 version (terrible) just puts into perspective how great the staging and choreography is. And also this filmed version is a real nice production with lots of cuts and close ups for you to feel really involved in the show. My fav songs were rum tum tugger, and mr macavofy.

Who knew a spontaneous decision to see the terrible CG nightmare fuel CATS adaptation would make me watch the 1998 CATS-- and then become a fan of this weird, weird musical?

The new movie truly is bad, but the original material, much maligned over time, is actually pretty amazing. I love the variety of musical styles in all the songs, the sense of community among all the characters, even those bizarre stylized costumes and make-up. This is a fun musical, all around, and I can see why trying to make it more "cinematic" does not suit the material. The 1998 adaptation seems to essentially just shoot the stage show as it is, with a few close-ups and cinematic flourishes for good effect.

While I would recommend the 2019 movie for those who love hilariously bad films, the 1998 film is the better choice if you want to see just why CATS made billions of dollars.

Veteran David Mallett, who directed many music videos for great artists such as Asia, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Phil Collins, David Bowie, Queen, Blondie, U2, AC/DC, The Who, Rod Stewart, Peter Gabriel, Elton John, Tina Turner, Madonna, Erasure, Rush, Roxy Music, etc., is doing a great job here, directing Andrew Lloyd Weber's wonderful music. An extraordinary distribution, excellent choreography, superlative costumes and makeup, everything superb. One of John Mills' latest films.

Please watch this version instead of the 2019 film version. This version is so much better and quite frankly features the best cast of Cats yet. If you can't find the dvd all the clips are available to watch on the Cats YouTube page.

Fantastic! The best musical and the best show of all times makes a magnificent film. It has advantage of showing everything in details and details are grand. Scenery, costumes and make-up are perfect. Music is superb (especially Jellicle Ball and Macavity). The best thing about the movie is certainly the cast. Actors not only sing and dance splendidly but also imitate feline movements and manners amazingly well. And how do they act! I absolutely adore Michael Gruber as manly and handsome Munkustrap. Elaine Paige as Grizabella would leave nobody indifferent. Veerle Casteleyn with her wonderful eyes is the most touching Jemima, John Partridge is irresistibly attractive and funny Rum Tum Tagger, Phyllida Crawley-Smith is very graceful Victoria, Jacob Brent is charming Mistoffelees, Aeva May and Rosmary Ford make a beautiful pair of adult cats: reserved Demeter and sensuous Bombalurina. Sir John Mills is a little unexpected guest star, but he is perfect Gus the Theatre Cat ("the star of the highest degree"). Eliote's text is witty, and there are a lot of amusing scenes in the show. My favourite ones are The Gumbie Cat, Mangojerry and Rumpleteaser, Pekes and the Pollicles, Scimbleshanks the Railway Cat. Watching this film is an endless joy for my family and me.

Far better than the newer movie. Great music and costumes. It needs to be released in 4k or at least 1080p.

Firstly I would like to say that I love musicals. I also like a lot of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs, I'm not a ALW hater. So I wasn't biased from the the start.

Cats does have its good points: great costumes, good dancing and Memories. That is it.

There is almost no plot to think of at all. Take your average action movie. Now think of something with a million times less plot than that. At this point you are still imagining something with more storyline than Cats. This wouldn't have bothered me at all except for the fact that most of the songs are really really bad and totally forgettable. So a storyline to hold the interest would have been much appreciated. Instead we have a bunch of very superficial adjective ladened songs introducing cats. Once the characters are introduced....it ends. The whole musical is introducing various cats collectively and individually and the very vaguest of story lines is resolved without any drama whatsoever. Right near the end there is the smallest glimmer of conflict, which is then resolved in the most anticlimactic way.

Memories is a good song that landed in a wasteland of musically boring lyrically bankrupt songs. Even its power is someone diminished by the fact it is reprised multiple times.

Cats is a musical version of a tourist trap. It has an illusion of great promise which is maintained by a few mad fans and probably its one good song but no substance to back it up.

When I found out that my all-time favorite musical was coming to video, I flipped. I could not believe it. And when they closed, I was thrilled to have my own copy to relive the memory whenever I wanted. The video version is great. It shows the beautiful costumes and makeup and all the dancing! I always wondered how they did it. Tons of shots of my favorite cat, Munkustrap, along with the Rum Tum Tugger and Mistoffolees.

The only complaint I have is that they cut 'Growltiger's Last Stand' from the video. This is one of the funniest numbers, and it is missing. On the other hand, they do have 'The Aweful Battle of the Pekes and Pollices,' which is missing off the original cast recording. Unfortunately, there is not a complete American version of this show.

For anyone who loves the musical, get a copy. Who knows if this beloved show will return to the stage? At least the magic will live forever.

Honestly if it wasn't for the beautiful costumes and dancing this would be a total flop. What's the plot? Is there even one? Yeah, they're going to this "jellicle ball", but nothing is explained at all, but I don't think there is anything to explain. As a musical fan, this was sub-par. The dancing however was absolutely beautiful, amazing, and graceful.

I have long enjoyed the musical 'Cats', both in several attendances at live productions and simply listening to the music on CD. 'Cats', the movie, was created in 1997, a full 16 years after its debut on stage. This isn't simply the taping of a stage performance. For the movie they assembled the best cast they could from among 'Cats' stage veterans. The set was designed especially for the movie, the makeup was toned down to look better in the closer perspective of the movie, especially the close-ups, a full orchestra was used, songs were recorded in a studio, and conventional movie techniques were used for the filming -- multiple angles, close-ups, cameras moving on tracks, etc. What we get is a movie that is does not have the realism of a stage production, and it is fairly obvious most times that singers are lip-syncing their own recordings, but a movie nonetheless that is a superb supplement to the live performances. The DVD has a very nice 'making-of' special, we see Andrew Lloyd Weber personally supervising the musical numbers, we see some of the makeup artistry at work, and a few before/after shots of actors and their characters.

Overall a fine DVD of a superb movie of perhaps the most entertaining stage musical of all.

firstly i admit that i'm an ALW fan. my first encounter of his work was with THE PHANTOM, after which i heard about CATS, then i bought the VCD at a sale...well it was wonderful, but one of my friends commented that the show was very commercialised, and i thought she got a point there.

i'm not saying that CATS is not art, in fact as one of the comment has said, it is 'art in every sense'. the costume and the make-up was vivid, and fusion of dancing and singing was simply too great (well i cannot possibly hit a high C if i dance like that^^). and many other little details were also carefully designed (i loved that pipe organ made from a rugby ball - brilliant idea^^). no plot - sure, but there wasn't meant to be one, after all. CATS is primarily a show for laughter and relaxation, so a lot of pop factors were added, and i think that's where makes me feel it's 'commercialised'. but if one really goes into the vague storyline he may discover something there... it all depends on the individual who watches it.

i have to mention a few actors here...(yeah everyone loves them, but i must talk about them^^) Michael Gruber is among the best Munkustrap i've seen, he's an excellent dancer and actor. John Patridge finally found his place as Rum Tum Tugger(he once played Munku...i cannot imagine that^^). Jacob Brent's the most suitable person for Misto so far, he's got an innocently 'sly' look...one other actor i've got to mention is Jason Gardiner who did an amazingly good job as Alonzo the proud and arrogant second-in-command...and in my opinion he dances better than Jacob in terms of power and stability (Jacob Brent is a very *sweet* and light-hearted dancer while Jason is a more forceful one).

well...i love CATS, and i confess that its melodies 'haunt' me and i watch it every week...you can call me a freak but i simply enjoy watching Michael Gruber's smile (he's got a very elegant, warm smile...i wonder why no one mentioned about it^^).

This movie was amazing...purrrley amazing.

Jacob Brent as Mr. Mistoffelees blew me away. He is such a talented dancer. Jacob Brent along with some of the greatest dancers in the world make this movie one to watch over and over again. The combination of wonderful music and dancers, along with the most beautiful costumes imaginable make this movie of the Broadway production memorable. I highly recommend it. Now and Forever

I saw this musical 11 years ago in my country and I became in love with it. I knew about the existing film 4 years after it was made. Beautiful memories came to my mind and i think it can not be better. Excellent work. Dances are full of energy, fantastic choreography, costumes and make up, every cat has a unique personality, the cast is incredible, excellent. The music infects you with joy. IT´S A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE.

OMG this was amazing, just think I blew all the chaps out that went down the pub and played darts to decide who is Gleeson, not me, I only go London and this was well funny, I'm a construction manager as well btw.

After watching the video production of 'Cats' I can confidently say that this is the best musical EVER. If you love the book and other various productions then you just have to see this. With a beautiful mixture of super dancing and acting talent and a brilliant soundtrack this is a wonderful video for everyone to enjoy.

The songs are absolutely brilliant, all of them. From start to finish. Even if you only see this once you will be singing the songs for a lifetime to come. 'Macavity; The Mystery Cat', 'Skimbleshanks; The Railway Cat' and 'Jellicle Songs for Jellicle Cats' are my favourite songs, but the ever lasting 'Memory' is a good as ever. With a full 90 piece orchestra, the music has never sounded better.

I assure you, after watching this, you will remember it forever. And remember, you've got the Great Rumpuscat to thank for shutting those noisy Pollicle Dogs up at night!!

I almost didn't watch this because it started out unlike other musicals I am used to seeing, but am glad I stayed. I never even remotely figured out what was going on, but found it was immaterial anyway. The makeup was a large part of the appeal for me and the stage setting was very interesting, not to mention unusual. Great singing, nice hoofing, lithe, limber limbs with lots of energy made for a very pleasant 2 hours.

I found it very hard to sit through this abominable video. The choreography shifted from charming in the first five minutes to just plain embarrassing - Jennyanydots and the Rum Tum Tugger being prominent examples: musical numbers that I covered my eyes for.

The costumes and sets were also worth hiding from. The reddish-purple lighting and indigo background were sickening, especially against the orange fur of many of the cats. Surreal, and frankly, dated.

I was also confused by the haphazard plot. Their leader kidnapped by a lukewarm villain straight out of the Power Rangers - and then a lavish song-and-dance about a magician cat? Anticlimactic to say the least.

"Memory" was the only song where I didn't find myself cringing. It really stood out from all the other lame and repetitive songs as a lasting showtune. Overall, though, I want back the two hours that I spent plugging my ears in front of this ghastly production. I would love, actually, now, to see it performed - a play this popular can't be consistently that awful.

Something for all ages; my children (3 and 5) get a huge kick out of this, and have the lyrics memorized. Unlike some movie musicals (JC Superstar, A Chorus Line), it really doesn't try to adapt to "being" a movie, but settles for being (mostly) just filming folks on stage performing in a musical. Some of the movie-style cuts are, IMO, a bit disconcerting (Rum Tug Tugger to Grisabella's entrance, Theater Cat to Shimbleskanks), and I'm not familiar enough with the musical itself to know if the cuts are part of the original or were bad edits unique to the video itself. You do get any number of close-ups to admire the costuming and make-up, and the casting is superb. Enjoyable for audiences of all ages if you like musicals.

I blind bought this because I wanted to compare the stage show (which I have never seen live) to the 2019 fully cinematic version. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending) this isn't merely a filmed production of the show. It's a hybrid of the show and it very being loosely adapted for video. The set is grander and they toned down the make-up. Brought in the best cast they could and sparingly used some cinematic techniques (i.e. dissolves) to polish it for video. The final product is engaging and I imagine if you like the show this is a good record of it. I *however* liked (if that is the correct word) the 2019 cinematic version better; largely because the cinematic version doubles down on the surreality of the concept.

More to the point anything negative you can say about 2019 film you can also say about this. There is no real story. The overall look is a confusing mess of oddity and misplaced horniness. (Rum Tug Tugger mimics oral sex at least 3 times!). In some ways I though the costumes were worst because at times it looked like the cat-people were ripping off their flesh. I.e. Why does Jennyanydots have a tail on her outer, I think, dress? The songs and the overall effect of the show is still just some cheap sentiment and some laughs.

I ended up enjoying (if that is the right word) this but the issue with both properties resides in the concept. There's no way for this to be anything other than a surreal piece of camp.

This film is absolutely terrible. Not only is there no plot evident, the score, for the most part, is amazingly dry. As a fan of some of ALW's other works (i.e. Phantom..., Evita, etc.), and as an actor myself, I was shocked. I mean, this is a musical that ran for 18 years on the Great White Way. It did not make sense to me. I must give credit, however, to the heartbreaking number "Memory". It is a brilliant song. The choreography was quite good in some places, but became repetitive. I do not recommend this film at all.