TOP 3 Family-friendly Film-to-Musical Adaptations

TOP 3 Family-Friendly 

Film-to-Musical Adaptations

Hey, film geeks! One thing is for sure... We all love watching movies, don't we? That being said, have you ever thought of giving a chance to a musical theatre based on a movie? How about one you can see along with your kids? If not, then don't waste any more time, and go buy theatre tickets for the entire family! 

Much like movies, musical theatre is a special experience you'll never, that has its own unique charm. Therefore, you should let your kids to experience it too. If you struggle to choose the right musical theatre for you and your children to see, this post may come as a help, as below you can find listed three of the best family-friendly film-to-musical adaptations currently showing in London, UK, and around the world.

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1. The Lion King

Not only this spectacular musical has been seen by 70 million viewers around the world, but it had won numerous awards, and rightfully so. If you and your kids liked the beloved 1994 animated feature from Disney, you'll love the musical as well. It's simple as that. It's enjoyable, highly-entertaining, and visually sumptuous, thanks to the gorgeous costuming and stunning scenery. The music and the routines are absolutely outstanding as well. "The Lion King" has all the ingredients for a top-notch musical theatre, and it's definitely that!

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2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

We all love Charlie and Willy Wonka, right? "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical" is yet another reason to see these characters, but this time in person! But it's not just that. This eye-candy production, re-envisioned by "Skyfall" director Sam Mendes, has one of the most colorful and imaginative settings you'll ever see, as well as one of the most adorable kids characters ever put on stage. Not to mention the engaging performances from everyone involved, the wicked script, and, of course, the great music. 

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3. Billy Elliot

I bet you all remember the inspirational and heart-warming British drama of the same name about a boy from a small mining town in England who, after stumbling across a ballet class while on his way to a boxing lesson, realizes that his future lay not in the boxing ring but on stage as a dancer. Well, "Billy Elliot The Musical" is every bit as inspiring, feel-good, joyous, and unforgettable as the movie itself. The routines are extraordinary and nicely-choreographed, the acting is spot-on, and the singing will definitely cheer you up.

Rise of the Guardians on TV

Rise of the Guardians (2012)

Brief review: Based on William Joyce's book series "The Guardians of Childhood, "Rise of the Guardians" is DreamWorks' latest feature, which turns out to be of those animated flicks, that can be equally enjoyed by the kids and their parents, thanks to its solid story, high entertainment value, and eye-popping visuals. David Lindsay-Abaire's cleverly-adapted script mixes up mythological and fantasy elements with huge amount of wit and juvenile innocence, in order to provides us with an engaging storyline with never a dull moment, that is as kind-hearted and affecting, as its briskly-paced and action-packed. Moreover, the film's moral beliefs are so pure and sincere, it will make you feel like a happy kid, who still believes in Santa Claus, Easter Rabbit, Tooth Fairy, Sandman, and even Jack Frost. "Rise of the Guardians" is crafted with vivid imagination, and that shows through the vibrant animation, impressive use of color and remarkable attention to detail. That being said, some of the characters' design, particularly the human and the human-looking ones, isn't the slickest you'll ever see, simply because their faces look a bit waxy. The other characters, however, are beautifully-crafted, especially the Tooth Fairy and the baby fairies, which are the cutest little things you'll ever see. The voice acting is spot-on for the most part, breathing life into the lovable CGI characters. If you're lucky enough to live in the UK and have your sky tv broadband package, you could watch this dazzling animated flick in HD on your own Plasma/LCD TV, as it premiers on Sky Premiere HD this afternoon at 4.30 PM. 

Overall summary: Energetic, lively, imaginative, full of fresh ideas, and all around entertaining, "Rise of the Guardians" not only astounds with its vivid, colorful, and richly-crafted and polished animation, but also has heart-warming morality and magicality, that will win you over.

The Dark Knight Rises... yet again

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Brief review: Even if it doesn't quite meet the high expectation set by its predecessors, Nolan's long-anticipated conclusion to his "Batman" trilogy is still a great way to end the franchise. In spite of its 164-minute running time, "TDKR" never fails to entertain, thanks to the clever writing and gripping narrative, enhanced by the film's visual depth. In the same fashion as "The Dark Knight", "TDKR" has little to no 'comic book feel' about it, simply because its director tries to keep everything as realistic as possible. Unfortunately, that combined with the lack of humor makes it seem a bit too serious at times. Execution-wise, "TDKR" is nothing short of masterful, but considering Nolan's amazing skills that's not a surprise. Pfister's muted, almost noir-ish cinematography and gritty camera work match perfectly with both the movie's dark tone and Gotham City's grim atmosphere, and Nolan's refined, yet vigorous direction maintains the intensity of the story. While far from epic, the action scenes are well-shot and thrilling to watch, and the CGI work is first-rate and intentionally kept to a minimum. The acting is superb. Although a bit underused, Christian Bale turns in his best Batman performance yet. Anne Hathaway steals every scene as the seductive, yet shifty and manipulative Catwoman, Tom Hardy does an outstanding job as the astounding villain, Bane, and Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are at their very best. If you are a UK resident, and you haven't seen "The Dark Knight Rises yet, you can still catch up and watch it on Sky Movies on 16th of August, thanks to the wonderful sky bundles, this well-rounded TV programme offers to its viewers. Give it a shot, and see if you agree with me!

Overall summary: Pretty much humorless and tad overlong, yet never boring, "The Dark Knight Rises" is a beyond satisfying conclusion to Chris Nolan's worldwide acclaimed "Batman" trilogy, that boasts a deeply thoughtful script, strong characters, and top-notch execution.