I watched it quite objectively (as you can see in my live commentary thread) and largely disliked it. Some bits were good, others terrible. Some of the inaccuracies 'worked' for the sake of narrative so I was OK with them. I can see why the casual punter would like it but all the praise it's got has pushed me further and further away from the good will I had when first watching it.
Apart from money, I just don't know why it was made, and at the core of my thoughts, why it was made so badly.
I can understand why it was made and the fact that it's brought in a WHOLE NEW GENERATION who are now all over youtube etc enjoying Queen music and making adorable noises for Fred is A Good Thing.
But the movie was kinda boring and all the lies bugged me no end.
Full disclosure: I only saw it on my xfinity app. Didn't want to go to the theaters for it, BUT I'm thinking I just might before it completely goes away. Just not sure it's worth it.
I'm glad I've seen it, but I don't think I will ever watch it again. Take it as you will. But thanks to the movie so many TV stations have opened their archives last year, so...
"WHOLE NEW GENERATION who are now all over youtube etc enjoying Queen music and making adorable noises for Fred is A Good Thing."
I think that's where we differ. This place has definitely dipped significantly since the newbies came along. That's not me being a snob because I'm probably the worst poster on here anyway.
I like the movie a lot and love many of it's subproducts and the attention it brought to the band.
I have "only" watched it 8 times up to now, due to lack of available time, unfortunately. I just bought the Blu-ray, so I hope to see more of it. My kids love it, by the way, and that is priceless.
Me and my whole family went to the opening night, as well as some friends and their families. A historical family moment, with a great cover band playing a full gig in the theater hall afterwards. Did I mention the vocalist was a childhood friend of mine? You get the picture. The second time I watched it my kids went again and also both my parents. How about that?
On the musical side, the opening Fox Fanfare by Brian and Roger is fantastic and I was very emotional when I first heard it. The Smile + Queen version of Doing Alright is fine and I am really glad that Brian and Roger still bother to record together. I don't care about the new Don't Stop me Now version, but, still, if that is what moves them to record in a studio, bless them. The surround sound of the songs and of the movie is overall fantastic and warrants as many trips as I am able to make to the movie theater. And what about them opening the Oscars?!?! Wow. Wow.
Watching it on planes and seeing most people doing the same is also something I am going to treasure for a long time.
Cheers,
Ogre-
It annoys me how Roger keeps his 70's hairstyle during the whole movie.
Also on the LP picture sleeve of the BR soundtrack, there is an 80's picture of each bandmember. Only Rogers picture is from the 70's....
dysan wrote:
"WHOLE NEW GENERATION who are now all over youtube etc enjoying Queen music and making adorable noises for Fred is A Good Thing."
I think that's where we differ. This place has definitely dipped significantly since the newbies came along.
If they were going to make a Rock movie then lets have it sex ,drugs,booze,girls and boys.When Freddie is having his Birthday party it is pathetic when Brian,Roger and John say to Fred sorry mate this just is not our scene we have Wives and Children to look after these days.Roger was probably the most unfaithful of them and Brian is made to look like a saint through out the film.No mention in the film that Roger had released a unsuccessful solo album and even formed his own band,who were also unsuccessful.
I found the first half or so mostly entertaining, despite the rewrites of history that I mostly tolerated. I find the story line of the second half contrived Hollywood BS and that put me off. A lot. I saw the movie at a time when I really needed an escape.
The family member I went with who is a casual fan enjoyed the movie a lot. She didn’t want to hear a peep from me about any of the innacuracies.
The worst thing to me about the first half was the way Freddie’s sexuality was handled. Couldn’t they have just stuck to reality and given him a boyfriend instead of the Adam Lambert scene?? And the Paul Prenter kissing scene??
I found it ridiculous when Freddie started coughing. Maybe it’s possible for a man with KS to give the vocal performance of a life time, but a guy with an AIDS-associated cough that implies lung disease. In a singer? So that bothered me more than the time-shift of his diagnosis.
Despite all this I was still potentially interested in seeing it at a cinema with better sound, but life got in the way.
Suprised me the most that i wasnt thrilled by the music. I listen to Queen every day. And i am still thrilled by their music and His voice. It didnt touch me in the movie.
I am a newbie here but Freddie Mercury is my first and oldest love.
I was beside myself with excitement waiting for the movie to hit the theatre, I couldn't wait! I have to say
it wasn't what I imagined it would be nor as factual. I'm glad that I went to see it but I probably won't watch it again. There's been speculation of another, I personally think it's just fine where it ended. I've probably read every book that has been written and cried myself through the end of each. I don't really care to watch somebody act out Freddies dying days.
Just my opinion.