LOL, yep, just a bit. And apparently it also cost them $5 million (1/5th the total budget of the film) for just that last 5 minutes of the sequence... and yet the studio still scrapped it because...
LOL, yep, just a bit. And apparently it also cost them $5 million (1/5th the total budget of the film) for just that last 5 minutes of the sequence... and yet the studio still scrapped it because of test audiences' negative reactions to it. But IMO those test audiences were idiots, because the original ending was far far far superior to the theatrical cut ending.
Funnily enough, I caught a theater production of Little Shop of Horrors this week and had a blast! I hadn't seen the film version since I was a kid, but I found myself singing Suddenly Seymour and...
Funnily enough, I caught a theater production of Little Shop of Horrors this week and had a blast! I hadn't seen the film version since I was a kid, but I found myself singing Suddenly Seymour and Dentist! to myself for days before the show.
I really need to watch the movie again. Rick Moranis and Steve Martin were such perfect casting choices.
I saw it back as a wee lass... convinced my sibs to rent on parents' night out years later and hadn't realized it was a musical. They didn't like it and honestly, I didn't care for it (that was in...
I saw it back as a wee lass... convinced my sibs to rent on parents' night out years later and hadn't realized it was a musical. They didn't like it and honestly, I didn't care for it (that was in my later teens). But Steve Martin always struck a nerve... maybe why I love/hate dentists and why I got in trouble for trying to rip out the neighborhood kids' hearts out after seeing Temple of Doom back in the day?
Seriously though, I need to watch this. The video posted, that is, because I'm just checking in before I should have been in bed hours ago... because I'm not good at adulting but I do need to be up for work in like 5 hours. (I also need to re-watch the movie for serious.)
"And how many people are going to leave a comment angry at Colin and Jay for pretending they don't know who Steve Martin is before getting to the later part of the video where they make it clear that they do know who Steve Martin is." Me. I can't leave comments because I refuse to sign into YT but... hahaha. This is on my to-do list first thing when I get back tomorrow!
If you like Steve Martin movie cameos, be sure to check him out as Dr. Maxwell in Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. There are other reasons to see that movie, too.
If you like Steve Martin movie cameos, be sure to check him out as Dr. Maxwell in Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. There are other reasons to see that movie, too.
Interesting discussion about 'Little Shop'. I mean... they didn't really say anything I didn't already know. But I suppose it was pleasant to hear a couple of random internet guys chat about a...
Interesting discussion about 'Little Shop'. I mean... they didn't really say anything I didn't already know. But I suppose it was pleasant to hear a couple of random internet guys chat about a movie I love.
They did make me realise something. I know what my Top 3 favourite musicals are; they solidified in the 2000s when I first saw 'Rent', and I've never bothered to question that Top 3 in the two decades since. This review video made me realise that 'Little Shop' is knocking on the door of that Top 3. On top of that, I recently re-watched one of my Top 3 musicals after a long absence, and I realised it's not quite as good as I remembered. Maybe I need to reconsider where 'Little Shop' sits in my favourite musicals. It's definitely Top 5. Is it Top 3...?
The guys are right: Rick Moranis was born to play Seymour, Ellen Greene was perfect as Audrey, Steve Martin does a great guest appearance, Vincent Gardenia is right as Mr Mushnik, and Bill Murray's cameo as a masochist is just delicious (I love the line where Martin's character ends up calling Murray's character "a goddamn sicko"!). I can't think of a single mis-cast character in this movie, which is actually quite unusual; there's usually one in every movie. But not 'Little Shop'.
And the songs are brilliant. 'Somewhere that's Green', 'Suddenly Seymour', 'Skid Row'... Oh. My. God. 'Skid Row'. From the opening notes 'Alaaaarm goes off at seven' (How on earth did that lady not become a break-out star? Although I see she was nominated for a Tony 25 years prior to 'Little Shop'.) to the closing refrain of "I've gotta get out of Skid Row", the whole number is perfectly performed, staged, and filmed. It even has a sneaky little costume change by one of the street urchins, as Frank Oz filmed the opening sequence in a single take. And 'Suddenly Seymour' is totally ridiculous and over the top, and brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.
I bought the re-released director's cut some years ago. It's an imported special edition, with a booklet and everything. I hadn't seen the director's ending before then; I didn't even know an alternative ending existed! I saw it for the first time when I bought that special edition, and it is the right ending for this musical. Absolutely. The plant has to win. It was inevitable. Also, I love a dark ending - where it's earned, and it's earned here. However, like the guys in this review said, that ending does go on and on and on, it just keeps going, and it does feel self-indulgent. It needs trimming. But it's still a better ending than Seymour saving the world, which is nice... but not the way this movie should end.
And now I'll have to re-watch this movie some time this weekend.
I just had a realisation. The 'Skid Row' number includes Seymour's "wishes and dreams" moment, where he tells the audience about how he wants a better life, somewhere else. Ever since Dorothy sang...
I just had a realisation.
The 'Skid Row' number includes Seymour's "wishes and dreams" moment, where he tells the audience about how he wants a better life, somewhere else.
Ever since Dorothy sang 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' back in 1939, an opening song about the hidden dreams of the protagonist has been a trope in musicals. Sometimes, they're even rainbow-themed - as when Kermit sang about 'The Rainbow Connection' in 'The Muppet Movie'. Well, 'Skid Row' is Seymour's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" moment (just as Audrey's is 'Somewhere that's green', later on).
However, buried in the lyrics of 'Skid Row' is an actual rainbow reference. After Seymour walks down an alleyway, singing "someone give me my shot or I'll rot here", some residents of Skid Row start clambering up the fence, and one of the lyrics they sing is "Downtown, where the rainbow's a no-show". I believe that lyric is not accidental or coincidental. The lyricist is telling us this is an anti-rainbow song: Seymour wants to go over the rainbow to a better place, but the rainbow never shows up in Skid Row.
For me it's in 10th place position for musical films specifically. But considering how many musicals I have watched over the years, it managing to hold 10th place still says a lot. You and me both.
Maybe I need to reconsider where 'Little Shop' sits in my favourite musicals. It's definitely Top 5.
For me it's in 10th place position for musical films specifically. But considering how many musicals I have watched over the years, it managing to hold 10th place still says a lot.
And now I'll have to re-watch this movie some time this weekend.
I have seen the unreleased ending before, but I haven't seen it cut into the actual film before. I'm glad this review shows the difference between the two cuts. I knew that the whole scene where...
I have seen the unreleased ending before, but I haven't seen it cut into the actual film before. I'm glad this review shows the difference between the two cuts. I knew that the whole scene where Audrey feinted and then just got back up seemed really weird before, but to see what it was supposed to be just makes it extra jarring.
Little Shop of Horrors is one of my favorite musical soundtracks; I have the original stage cast album. But Mean Green Mother from Outer Space never really meant much to me so I don't particularly care that it's not in the album. To be honest I don't think that number really improves the experience. I also don't really care for the rest of the musical; I am a big fan of the original Corman film, and the musical just hits different.
That being said, I think that this movie is hands down the best adaptation of a musical into film that I've ever seen. The puppetry really does elevate it to another level. It's one of the major reasons why I have so much respect for Frank Oz as a creator.
I love Little Shop of Horrors. I was in a middle school production of it as a kid. It was a two cast system so each kid could be a lead in one show and the chorus of the other, but I was one of...
I love Little Shop of Horrors. I was in a middle school production of it as a kid. It was a two cast system so each kid could be a lead in one show and the chorus of the other, but I was one of the only kids that got to be a lead in both casts.
In show A, I was the dentist. And in show B, I was Mushnik. Truth is, I was hugely interested in voice acting at the time and I wanted to be the voice of Twoie more than anything.
But alas, by being cast as the only two characters to be eaten, this allowed me to be the puppeteer for the plant. And I rocked it.
I'll check out this RLM video when I get the time, I hope they don't dunk on the film too hard! 😅
That's true. I forgot that the re:views are less cynical than their other content, some of which I've felt burned by in the past. I can't help but go into RLM videos with my "defenses up"....
That's true. I forgot that the re:views are less cynical than their other content, some of which I've felt burned by in the past. I can't help but go into RLM videos with my "defenses up".
Specifically, I still can't get over them melting down hundreds of star wars toys in acetone. I'm a toy collector and that video broke my heart 💔
Yeah, I understand where you're coming from. I'm not a huge fan of their trollish, fanbase insulting, and hyper cynical/critical videos either. I watch them pretty much exclusively for re:View and...
Yeah, I understand where you're coming from. I'm not a huge fan of their trollish, fanbase insulting, and hyper cynical/critical videos either. I watch them pretty much exclusively for re:View and Best of the Worst, and tend to skip the others these days.
For those who want to see the Director's Cut ending:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RjFvcw6ToQ
Holy crap. That changes the ending a "little" bit LOL.
LOL, yep, just a bit. And apparently it also cost them $5 million (1/5th the total budget of the film) for just that last 5 minutes of the sequence... and yet the studio still scrapped it because of test audiences' negative reactions to it. But IMO those test audiences were idiots, because the original ending was far far far superior to the theatrical cut ending.
Funnily enough, I caught a theater production of Little Shop of Horrors this week and had a blast! I hadn't seen the film version since I was a kid, but I found myself singing Suddenly Seymour and Dentist! to myself for days before the show.
I really need to watch the movie again. Rick Moranis and Steve Martin were such perfect casting choices.
I saw it back as a wee lass... convinced my sibs to rent on parents' night out years later and hadn't realized it was a musical. They didn't like it and honestly, I didn't care for it (that was in my later teens). But Steve Martin always struck a nerve... maybe why I love/hate dentists and why I got in trouble for trying to rip out the neighborhood kids' hearts out after seeing Temple of Doom back in the day?
Seriously though, I need to watch this. The video posted, that is, because I'm just checking in before I should have been in bed hours ago... because I'm not good at adulting but I do need to be up for work in like 5 hours. (I also need to re-watch the movie for serious.)
"And how many people are going to leave a comment angry at Colin and Jay for pretending they don't know who Steve Martin is before getting to the later part of the video where they make it clear that they do know who Steve Martin is." Me. I can't leave comments because I refuse to sign into YT but... hahaha. This is on my to-do list first thing when I get back tomorrow!
If you like Steve Martin movie cameos, be sure to check him out as Dr. Maxwell in Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. There are other reasons to see that movie, too.
Interesting discussion about 'Little Shop'. I mean... they didn't really say anything I didn't already know. But I suppose it was pleasant to hear a couple of random internet guys chat about a movie I love.
They did make me realise something. I know what my Top 3 favourite musicals are; they solidified in the 2000s when I first saw 'Rent', and I've never bothered to question that Top 3 in the two decades since. This review video made me realise that 'Little Shop' is knocking on the door of that Top 3. On top of that, I recently re-watched one of my Top 3 musicals after a long absence, and I realised it's not quite as good as I remembered. Maybe I need to reconsider where 'Little Shop' sits in my favourite musicals. It's definitely Top 5. Is it Top 3...?
The guys are right: Rick Moranis was born to play Seymour, Ellen Greene was perfect as Audrey, Steve Martin does a great guest appearance, Vincent Gardenia is right as Mr Mushnik, and Bill Murray's cameo as a masochist is just delicious (I love the line where Martin's character ends up calling Murray's character "a goddamn sicko"!). I can't think of a single mis-cast character in this movie, which is actually quite unusual; there's usually one in every movie. But not 'Little Shop'.
And the songs are brilliant. 'Somewhere that's Green', 'Suddenly Seymour', 'Skid Row'... Oh. My. God. 'Skid Row'. From the opening notes 'Alaaaarm goes off at seven' (How on earth did that lady not become a break-out star? Although I see she was nominated for a Tony 25 years prior to 'Little Shop'.) to the closing refrain of "I've gotta get out of Skid Row", the whole number is perfectly performed, staged, and filmed. It even has a sneaky little costume change by one of the street urchins, as Frank Oz filmed the opening sequence in a single take. And 'Suddenly Seymour' is totally ridiculous and over the top, and brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it.
I bought the re-released director's cut some years ago. It's an imported special edition, with a booklet and everything. I hadn't seen the director's ending before then; I didn't even know an alternative ending existed! I saw it for the first time when I bought that special edition, and it is the right ending for this musical. Absolutely. The plant has to win. It was inevitable. Also, I love a dark ending - where it's earned, and it's earned here. However, like the guys in this review said, that ending does go on and on and on, it just keeps going, and it does feel self-indulgent. It needs trimming. But it's still a better ending than Seymour saving the world, which is nice... but not the way this movie should end.
And now I'll have to re-watch this movie some time this weekend.
I just had a realisation.
The 'Skid Row' number includes Seymour's "wishes and dreams" moment, where he tells the audience about how he wants a better life, somewhere else.
Ever since Dorothy sang 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' back in 1939, an opening song about the hidden dreams of the protagonist has been a trope in musicals. Sometimes, they're even rainbow-themed - as when Kermit sang about 'The Rainbow Connection' in 'The Muppet Movie'. Well, 'Skid Row' is Seymour's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" moment (just as Audrey's is 'Somewhere that's green', later on).
However, buried in the lyrics of 'Skid Row' is an actual rainbow reference. After Seymour walks down an alleyway, singing "someone give me my shot or I'll rot here", some residents of Skid Row start clambering up the fence, and one of the lyrics they sing is "Downtown, where the rainbow's a no-show". I believe that lyric is not accidental or coincidental. The lyricist is telling us this is an anti-rainbow song: Seymour wants to go over the rainbow to a better place, but the rainbow never shows up in Skid Row.
For me it's in 10th place position for musical films specifically. But considering how many musicals I have watched over the years, it managing to hold 10th place still says a lot.
You and me both.
I have seen the unreleased ending before, but I haven't seen it cut into the actual film before. I'm glad this review shows the difference between the two cuts. I knew that the whole scene where Audrey feinted and then just got back up seemed really weird before, but to see what it was supposed to be just makes it extra jarring.
Little Shop of Horrors is one of my favorite musical soundtracks; I have the original stage cast album. But Mean Green Mother from Outer Space never really meant much to me so I don't particularly care that it's not in the album. To be honest I don't think that number really improves the experience. I also don't really care for the rest of the musical; I am a big fan of the original Corman film, and the musical just hits different.
That being said, I think that this movie is hands down the best adaptation of a musical into film that I've ever seen. The puppetry really does elevate it to another level. It's one of the major reasons why I have so much respect for Frank Oz as a creator.
I love Little Shop of Horrors. I was in a middle school production of it as a kid. It was a two cast system so each kid could be a lead in one show and the chorus of the other, but I was one of the only kids that got to be a lead in both casts.
In show A, I was the dentist. And in show B, I was Mushnik. Truth is, I was hugely interested in voice acting at the time and I wanted to be the voice of Twoie more than anything.
But alas, by being cast as the only two characters to be eaten, this allowed me to be the puppeteer for the plant. And I rocked it.
I'll check out this RLM video when I get the time, I hope they don't dunk on the film too hard! 😅
RLM's re:View videos are almost always made out of love and appreciation for a film, and this was no different.
That's true. I forgot that the re:views are less cynical than their other content, some of which I've felt burned by in the past. I can't help but go into RLM videos with my "defenses up".
Specifically, I still can't get over them melting down hundreds of star wars toys in acetone. I'm a toy collector and that video broke my heart 💔
Yeah, I understand where you're coming from. I'm not a huge fan of their trollish, fanbase insulting, and hyper cynical/critical videos either. I watch them pretty much exclusively for re:View and Best of the Worst, and tend to skip the others these days.