I saw Robin Williams onstage in Chicago shortly after "The World According to Garp" was released. After he went through all his prepared material, he said, "What do you want to talk about?" Somebody yelled out, "Popeye!" Williams smiled ruefully and said, "If you run it backwards, it has an ending."
I just don't understand why this needed to be a musical. None of the performers appear to have any musical ability that would justify them being in a musical ensemble. Sweeney Todd cast mostly non-experienced singers in their roles, but they all demonstrated that they were at-least competent at singing well enough for that interpretation of the material.
Well Robin Williams did sing Friend Like Me and Blame Canada so he's very capable both as an actor and a singer‼️The problem is that this director can't do musicals hence the need for this review‼️
It seems like it was a musical just because it rushed into production to replace the planned Paramount Annie film. They had space for a musical based on a newspaper comic strip, so when they acquired the rights to another newspaper comic character, that film was turned into musical so it'd fit that niche.
Popeye is like the Shining for two reasons: It was released in 1980 It stars Shelley Duvall as a mother of a kid that has telepathic abilities to predict the future.
It all can be described as "anti-singing". In a musical the singing parts are supposed to represent not only what was happening but what the characters are feelling: Love, anger, worry, hapiness, etc... Shelly Duvak sounds like shes sying of ennui and the chorus as if they were being held at gun point
Disgruntled Cashier You seem to not realize that so many Popeye cartoons are actually quiet and usually not much talking. When the characters do talk in normal scenes it is not very loud. So this underrated gem is doing a great job paying tribute to the cartoons. Also Robin Williams is amazing as Popeye.
He may not have had a flawless career (see above), but he's always had my undying respect. Here, his voice kind of reminds me Burgess Meredith channelling Micky.
Genndy Tartakovsky was supposed to direct an animated remake of Popeye for Sony, but they passed on it favor of The Emoji Movie, the worst animated movie I have ever seen (it makes Legends Of Oz: Dorothy's Return look Oscar worthy).
i blame sony for replacing genndys popeye movie with the emoji movie coming out instead. because of that. he made a hotel transylvania short for the emoji movie.
You know who I feel sorry for? The baby. Imagine growing up and realizing your parents put you into a musical version of Popeye that didn't have a single person in it who could actually sing. I just hope said kid didn't end up with any of this as their first memory...
Fun story: I was doing spot lights for my school's musical this year. We kept some props and costumes in an empty storage room. On one of the days of the show, we found an old Olive Oil doll. Because we are a bunch of teens, we decided to hide the doll all over the place. Someone hung the doll from the pipes overhead one time and another kid had it sit in a chair facing the door. It got to the point where we had it hold prop weapons with creepy notes.
Musical Hell the whole cast and crew didn't know where the doll came from. It was found on the top shelf and we were running on low sleep and tons of caffeine and decided to have fun. I actually can't remember what happened to the doll after the show, though.
The kids at my school did something like that. They played a game where if you found some creepy doll on the stage, in the prop rooms, or in the classrooms, you would get a reward. I guess it's a theatre class thing
Actually in the Comics Popeye never touched spinach. He originally boosted his strength by rubbing the hairs on the head of a magical Whiffle Hen called Bernic. On In the cartoons did him eating spinach become a staple.
I mean, the comics were based on promoting the health benefits of spinach. It’s similar to how hydrogen peroxide is a good and inexpensive alternative for mouthwash, considering it was originally made for soldiers in WW2 for dental hygiene as a cheap alternative.
I went to see the set a couple of years ago (it's now a blend of film set/Popeye museum and generic holiday park. I went for the former and tolerated the latter) and the set actually looked more happy and bright in-person than on screen (maybe they did it up a bit or it just looks so depressing because it's shot in dreary lighting or something), which is such a shame because it's really well designed. The only nightmarish thing about the whole experience was that they played the soundtrack on repeat CONSTANTLY and hearing Olive's songs whining through an old film set is more haunting than it has any right to be.
@@ladydnavarone3447 Hiya, sorry for the late reply. The set is in Malta and is known as "Popeye Village." I was there with my family and we took a trip down there out of curiosity.
@Peppermint Snowdrift Oh yeah, fairly sure it's still going too. The sets are pretty much just as they were in the movie (with some creepy mannequins here and there) and the museum/cinema part I'm fairly sure is in the tallest building on the set. It was a really bizarre but interesting experience. The weird part about the more kid-friendly stuff is that they tried to integrate it around the set (so there was a swimming area in the cove and a couple of shows would be held in specific rooms every hour) and we'd just keep stumbling into them. I thought I had sunstroke when I was walking around the Oyle's house, turned a corner and saw this puppet show going on with Bluto trying to impersonate Leonardo DiCaprio, before backing out onto the street again to hear "he needs me" whispering across the humid air. I definitely rate it a spinach nightmare/10
Sweethaven wasn't supposed to be sweet at all in the movie. It was supposed to be like a dead horse Wild Western town, just on the water instead. the production design absolutely accomplishes this. Whether it's the right choice to begin with is another story.
Dearest Diva, I would like to formally petition the infernal court to hear the case of the film known as Camp Rock. The High School Musical franchise was indeed a flawed being but it still holds a place in the hearts of many, especially those who grew up with it. Camp Rock on the other hand was a cheap attempt to cash in on the fad. It has none of the heart or memorable songs of its predecessor and tbh, you really just have to watch in horror for yourself. Plus if you make it through that one, there's a sequel. (Of course there is) Sincerely, A loyal fan and aspiring young imp, Nick
You have no idea how interestedly happy I am to hear someone state that even if it may not be the perfect series, it does have its charm while stating how Camp Rock is the poor man’s version that makes it look *even more* like one of the greatest Disney (Renaissance) films.
I always got a kick out of the Mad Magazine parody of this. (Unfortunately, the collection it was reprinted in has been lost to the mists of time--or maybe an aggressive clean-up.) The gist of it was--the cartoon Popeye was on the sidelines of many of the panels, commenting on the "live-action" shenanigans taking place inside the movie parody. There was some lampshading of the disjointed nature of the plot: "Wait a minute, why are we in a boxing ring all of a sudden?" "Search me...I guess this is what comes of trying to make a two-hour movie out of a bunch of six-minute cartoon shorts." But the real kicker came at the end. The "live-action" Pappy told Popeye, "Eat your spinach, Popeye...save Olive and Swee'pea!" Popeye answered, "But...I don't LIKE spinach!" And that was the last straw for the cartoon Popeye. "What the hell IS THIS?! Everyone KNOWS Popeye loves spinach! That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more! It's Popeye to the rescue!" He then proceeds to invade the panels and take over the final fight. Robin Williams!Popeye: But...this is impossible! You can't be doing this! You're only a two-dimensional character! Cartoon!Popeye: That's one more dimension than YOU'VE got, bub! Now to take care of the one who's REALLY been givin' me a bad name... Olive: You mean Bluto? Cartoon!Popeye: No...HIM!!! (Knocks Robin Williams!Popeye to kingdom come, then addresses the audience for the last panel:) And to all my fans...if I gots any LEFT after this disgustipatin' pitcher...my apologies! I mean, I yam what I yam...but THAT guy ain't even CLOSE!
I remember that parody, I liked when Robin Williams Popeye retorts to his cartoon counterpart, "Well, what kind of role model for kids are you anyway? You smoke, you squint, you curse, you mumble, and you mangle the English language."
Wow, I haven't seen all of this movie. Now, I don't want to. I guess the only good thing that came out of it was that Shelley Duvall came up with the idea for Faerie Tale Theatre during filming.
I have always found this movie fascinating. I don't think of it as "bad," but I don't think of it as "good," either. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but there's always been this "I guess I accept this, or at least I can't look away" element to it. I guess it's... a really interesting intellectual exercise? A case study in something that's well enough put together with good talent (except for the music) but just doesn't work as a whole?
12:57 I like the concept of these ladies getting into battlesuits to fight this song. Commander Andrews: Jesus, McDonald and Soo's tone COMBINED did nothing to it! FOSTER! CHENOWETH! Administer some quirky! FOSTER: We're trying! It's TOO DAMN BAD!
They're actually the Kidd family. Popeye is a nickname, with his real first name being "Ugly". Yes, he was named Ugly Kidd. And yes, he did get picked on in school.
At the very least this was Robin William's first theatrical movie, and he had better movies to deliver on a bit later like "Good Will Hunting", "Dead Poet's Society" "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Aladdin" to name a few. To me at least, a bad theatrical debut is better than a bad theatrical final performance.
As for the lack of Eugene the Jeep, unless Jim Henson was somehow involved, in 1980 (BEFORE CGI) on THIS film's budget, it'd be… "interesting" on how they'd pull it off. (Still, it's like cutting the Shmoo from the 'Li'l Abner' musical.)
Then again, her take on Quest for Camelot finally gave her in and just said that the same composer for that movie did music for Sense and Sensibility and, of course, the movie that killed Popeye!
"He needs me" was later re-worked into the PT Anderson film Punch Drunk Love, wherein . . . I actually kind of like it. It's clunky, it's awkward, it's honest, and it fits.
Those characters, as far as I can remember, don't really show up in the cartoons. And only now decades later am I kind of getting the struggle in the script, because Popeye has always been an adventure star, but here it's like he's in a domestic dramedy. The balance of this film is way off.
@@fad23 They're in the original Segar comic strips. Castor, Olive, Cole and nana are all there. Feiffer went back to the original comics for the screenplay. Some of the local color characters are in the comics as well, like Ham Gravy and Rough House.
Noooo the problem is that its instrumental is clumsy, Olive's voice is grating, the lyrics are redundant, and the whole thing sounds like something being made up on the spot. Being pointless is the _least_ of the song's problems xP
Why did they want to make a Popeye movie into a musical? I've seen the actual cartoons; while there is occasional singing, the show never really struck me as something that would make for a good musical. At least Robin Williams knew how to do a good Popeye impression.
The casting was perfect, looks good on paper it all failed in the presentation! Music, lyrics were muddy the performances were misguided! Altman was out of his element and it shows!
Let me get this straight: that old lady (at 3:34) was Linda Hunt? The same lady who voiced Grandmother Willow in Disney's _Pocahontas_, and won an Oscar for a crosscast role?
I don't care what anyone says, this is the greatest musical of all time. It is the first thing I can remember that made me and my father get along, every time it was on TV he would bust into my room and yell at me to come into the living room. This was the only thing he ever even talked to me about so I always knew what was going on, I would drop everything and immediately go and watch it with him. For that, it gets a 10/10 from me.
I watched this movie several years ago because I’m a big Popeye fan and I DID NOT remember that this was a musical. I remember the cartoony-ness being awkwardly inserted, I remembered Popeye’s actor being great, I remembered Olive Oyl being annoying and Bluto being weirdly quiet and stern but I DID NOT EVEN REMEMBER IT WAS A MUSICAL UNTIL I SAW YOUR VIDEO
One of its composers, Angela Morley, was the first ever transgender Oscar nominee. The Slipper And The Rose was actually her 2nd nomination; her first was for 1974 version of The Little Prince.
This also would've worked better as a cartoon. There are things that you can forgive a cartoon but not a live-action movie, like Popeye's deformity or Olive Oyl in general (but only in the Private Olive shorts, she's unsufferable in the rest of 'em).
As part of my journey through Musical Hell, I'm about to rewatch the "Popeye" episode. EDITS- 2:28 A.M.: *finishes episode 20 minutes later* My father hated this movie *so much* that he walked out of the theater before it ended! 2:30 A.M.: He *refuses* to rewatch it! 😆
Great review, Diva, I've been waiting for it with a lot of anticipation. As much as I love the movie, I can't defend the things you sinned, and cool that you put in two Spaceballs references.
This is one of my guilty pleasure movies. I don't even know why I like it. I don't care for Pappy, but the rest of the movie I just love. I think Olive Oyl is hysterical and my favorite moment is when she sings "He Needs Me," while everyone shuts the windows so they don't have to hear her.
Great review, Diva! I personally like this movie a lot, but I totally understand your reasoning for a lot of the sins you listed (some of which I actually brought up in my own review of this movie). It's a messy movie, sure, but I admire it for how unusual it is in execution, even when it doesn't quite work. But, to each their own, as they always say.
She might not. It's why she won't do the High School Musical sequels. They have the same problems as the first and she's said she's not sure if it will be bad enough to do a review for it.
I felt you were a teeny bit harsh on this movie. It’s flawed, but it’s still very nice. I don’t know how the set or the music is dreary. I thought they fit for the most. Granted some of the songs like “He needs me” were bleh (okay fine I liked it a little), but I guess they all kinda fit with the feel of the old cartoons. All the songs in them have simple lyrics and simple tunes, they aren’t really complex. They’re enjoyabal in a way I can’t describe though, I guess that’s just me. I thought the ending song was the best one of all. I agree about the dialogue being awkward though. The one truly horrible thing about this movie above all was the pacing goddamn. The casting was great though ! I guess I’m just an optimist who likes kiddie things when I say I like this movie haha. But to each their own. Magnificently done review anyway ! 😜❤️
12:54- I know Shelly was trying to channel Mae Questal, but honestly if she would have just used her natural voice for singing, we would have forgiven her!
I will defend the "Gluttony Song", and the final rendition of the Popeye theme song and maybe even the opening number, but I can't really defend the other songs, and I really REALLY can't defend the "He Needs Me" song.
Somehow, I convinced myself I enjoyed this as a kid, because it really explored the original comic strip considerably, including the extended Oyl family and characters like Roughhouse the local diner owner, and a few others who weren't prominent in the cartoons. (Even as a kid, I was passionate about comics that are considerably older than me.) But despite that, I have never been capable of watching it a second time.
Wow. Every scene you have shown sounds like the actors got mad at the director and mumbled their lines to annoy them. Why would anybody talk like that in a movie?
Could you do a review of Parade? I think it's a very obscure show that deserves more attention...especially in today's world. I'd also simply be interested in your opinion on the show (either the 1998 Broadway or 2007 Donmar version)
When i was a kid i taped this movie from TV. I was really suprised years later when i searched for clips on RUclips- the version i grew up with lacks at least 3 songs. Example, when Bluto trashes the house, no song is present. When Bluto ties up Popeye's dad no song is present. Is the cut i grew up on an alternate cut that is floating around?
Any thoughts on Williams singing on the album version of the songs? I love Blow Me Down, I Yam What I Yam, and Swee' Pea's Lullaby, especially the album versions. On the other hand the dialog/revised lyrics in the film version of Blow Me Down are great too.... Anyway so any plans for Bugsy Malone? :)
And I thought Ray Walton was wasted in "Paint Your Wagon"! After classic old musical films like "South Pacific" and "Damn Yankees" he has to do THIS...
I would like to request that you review "Mack the Knife". A 1989 film adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera". The film stars Raul Julia, Richard Harris, and Roger Daltrey to name a few. I thinks it's pretty good but there are also a lot of hardcore Brecht fans who think otherwise. So, I would like you to review it and deliver its ultimate verdict. I'll post a link to the full movie below. ruclips.net/video/v2xIJlOCWKM/видео.html
This is a guilty pleasure of mine. It is the first movie I saw in the theater... well, what I stayed awake for. I remember seeing the opening and the ending at the time and nothing more.
Hahaha, I love this movie and its my favorite Robin Williams movie! The soundtrack replaced the food song w a song not in the movie. And all the singing was supposedly recorded live on the set.
Oh..I never heard of it. But this review was great and so true. I mean who had the bright idea to have Olive Oil sing?! I mean Shelly Duval did her best and she tried to do her best Mae Questal. But face it...she's no Mae Questal.
I still want to live on that set. I have dreams about living in a town like that. That's what I get for watching this when I was a young toddler, before I understood what "Popeye" or "movies" were.
Personally, I think that the score's halfway decent. Seems like there are some catchy tunes trying to get out. The problem is that the other half is crap. The result is catchy crap, and that's the worst kind.
Have you heard of "Bartock's Great Adventure?" It's an Anastasia "sequel" about how Bartock helps her little brother, who is still alive. I don't remember much about it, but what I DO remember is the utter horror that someone actually made such a horrible follow-up to my favorite movie musical. You should do a Musical Hell on it.
With all due respect you got the premise wrong. It’s a prequel about one of her ancestors. Although then again it has the blink and you’ll miss it but still WTF lore detail that Rasputin is immortal according to one cameo in it
Anastasia’s brother isn’t named Ivan. That was a grandfather. The Bartok movie was a prequel and meant to show him as a more pure character before he became Rasputin’s minion, despite he’s not evil, similar to Wiggins and Kronk from the Disney catalogue.
Anastasia’s brother isn’t named Ivan. That was a grandfather. The Bartok movie was a prequel and meant to show him as a more pure character before he became Rasputin’s minion, despite he’s not evil, similar to Wiggins and Kronk from the Disney catalogue.
And I have a soft spot for He Needs Me, even as a kid. Even more as an adult after it got remixed by Jon Brion for P.T. Anderson's Punch Drunk Love. In that movie the song is wondrous.
Robin Williams actually got his start in the anti-classic "Can I Do It 'Til I Need Glasses?" (a rip-off of the sketch comedy movie "If You Keep Doing That You'll Go Blind"). Easily missed, though.
I know He Needs Me is an unnecessary song in this movie but have you heard John Brion's edit of it? When it was mixed and made into a theme in Punch Drunk Love, I actually liked it.
I acknowledge that I'm in the minority, but I love this movie. I actually watched it three times back when it was in theaters, and I have the DVD. (Do I go to Hell, or am I banned from Hell for that?)
I'm sorry,but I have to disagree... *STRONGLY* ....with the first "sin". The town of Sweethaven looked like something that existed comfortably between our world and the unreal realm of cartoons,and its characters fit right into that world. In fact, in the original camera tests,Williams and the rest of the cast wore much brighter colors. They actually dunked the entire wardrobe in coffee to tone down the colors....true story. It's ironic you should have that clip from *Bride Of The Monster* ...although the octopus in this movie was created with mechanical arms,similar problems with its operation arose. In her scene with the creature,Shelly Duvall was asked to move them around. They built separate robot arms for the scene in which it reaches up from the water and pulls down Bluto's rowboat. Admittedly,these are far from the greatest songs in the world...I agree "He Needs Me" should've been cut...but many of them fit the off-kilter tone.
I have to say the town setting looks more like something Tim Burton would create if he was told to make a shanty town. While it doesn't exactly fit Popeye, I do like the sets and buildings themselves and I think would work really great in a piece more fitting.
I saw Robin Williams onstage in Chicago shortly after "The World According to Garp" was released. After he went through all his prepared material, he said, "What do you want to talk about?" Somebody yelled out, "Popeye!" Williams smiled ruefully and said, "If you run it backwards, it has an ending."
OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!
Lol the man had such a sense of humor. His talent is sorely missed
@@LucyLioness100 At least he could laugh at his mistakes.
HE WAS IN CHICAGO????
I just don't understand why this needed to be a musical. None of the performers appear to have any musical ability that would justify them being in a musical ensemble. Sweeney Todd cast mostly non-experienced singers in their roles, but they all demonstrated that they were at-least competent at singing well enough for that interpretation of the material.
Well Robin Williams did sing Friend Like Me and Blame Canada so he's very capable both as an actor and a singer‼️The problem is that this director can't do musicals hence the need for this review‼️
Sorry, Shelly Duval, you're no Mae Questal.
It seems like it was a musical just because it rushed into production to replace the planned Paramount Annie film. They had space for a musical based on a newspaper comic strip, so when they acquired the rights to another newspaper comic character, that film was turned into musical so it'd fit that niche.
@@grodriguez7225 Don't forget the opera song at the beginning of _Mrs. Doubtfire._
@@rogue7723 I hadn’t watched Doubtfire until the later 2000s
Popeye is like the Shining for two reasons:
It was released in 1980
It stars Shelley Duvall as a mother of a kid that has telepathic abilities to predict the future.
"... His actions wake up a giant octopus puppet, which starts getting friendly with Olive."
I've seen enough hentai to know where this is going
Am I losing my hearing? Everyone's muttering every word, I couldn't tell you what the lyrics were if you put a gun to my temple.
Disgruntled Cashier same. And the half the music sounded like a tired dirge.
It all can be described as "anti-singing". In a musical the singing parts are supposed to represent not only what was happening but what the characters are feelling: Love, anger, worry, hapiness, etc... Shelly Duvak sounds like shes sying of ennui and the chorus as if they were being held at gun point
That’s just Popeye. Popeye talks out of half of his mouth and mutters and Olive Oyl shrieks her lines. That is why this should not be a musical.
Disgruntled Cashier You seem to not realize that so many Popeye cartoons are actually quiet and usually not much talking. When the characters do talk in normal scenes it is not very loud. So this underrated gem is doing a great job paying tribute to the cartoons. Also Robin Williams is amazing as Popeye.
Yea. I just watched this as casual viewing. I couldn't understand the words. An enjoyable movie. One of those "might watch again" movies
It's almost been 3 years since Robin Williams died and i'm still missing him.
We all miss him.
He may not have had a flawless career (see above), but he's always had my undying respect.
Here, his voice kind of reminds me Burgess Meredith channelling Micky.
What's worse about this movie is that you can clearly tell Robin's honest-to-God giving his 110% to this movie.
@@rogue7723 yep
Genndy Tartakovsky was supposed to direct an animated remake of Popeye for Sony, but they passed on it favor of The Emoji Movie, the worst animated movie I have ever seen (it makes Legends Of Oz: Dorothy's Return look Oscar worthy).
I'm thankful that one wasn't a musical...
i blame sony for replacing genndys popeye movie with the emoji movie coming out instead. because of that. he made a hotel transylvania short for the emoji movie.
If you have kids, DON'T take them to see it.
Alex Meyer Also I think they wanted him to direct Hotel Transylvania 3 too.
Yep...grade Z 💩💩💩😂😂😂
You know who I feel sorry for? The baby. Imagine growing up and realizing your parents put you into a musical version of Popeye that didn't have a single person in it who could actually sing. I just hope said kid didn't end up with any of this as their first memory...
Apparently the baby who was Swee'Pea is actually the grandson of Robert Altman.
Kinda wonder if he looks back at this fondly if at all.
Fun story: I was doing spot lights for my school's musical this year. We kept some props and costumes in an empty storage room. On one of the days of the show, we found an old Olive Oil doll. Because we are a bunch of teens, we decided to hide the doll all over the place. Someone hung the doll from the pipes overhead one time and another kid had it sit in a chair facing the door. It got to the point where we had it hold prop weapons with creepy notes.
My high school drama club had a Kermit the Frog doll that was hidden on the set of every show. No creepy notes, though.
Musical Hell the whole cast and crew didn't know where the doll came from. It was found on the top shelf and we were running on low sleep and tons of caffeine and decided to have fun. I actually can't remember what happened to the doll after the show, though.
Musical Hell That is such a fun idea
My Drama teacher had a haunted tickle me Elmo in the room
The kids at my school did something like that. They played a game where if you found some creepy doll on the stage, in the prop rooms, or in the classrooms, you would get a reward. I guess it's a theatre class thing
Actually in the Comics Popeye never touched spinach. He originally boosted his strength by rubbing the hairs on the head of a magical Whiffle Hen called Bernic. On In the cartoons did him eating spinach become a staple.
Not entirely true. He did state in the original Segar comic strip that he got his strength from eating spinach.
I mean, the comics were based on promoting the health benefits of spinach. It’s similar to how hydrogen peroxide is a good and inexpensive alternative for mouthwash, considering it was originally made for soldiers in WW2 for dental hygiene as a cheap alternative.
I went to see the set a couple of years ago (it's now a blend of film set/Popeye museum and generic holiday park. I went for the former and tolerated the latter) and the set actually looked more happy and bright in-person than on screen (maybe they did it up a bit or it just looks so depressing because it's shot in dreary lighting or something), which is such a shame because it's really well designed.
The only nightmarish thing about the whole experience was that they played the soundtrack on repeat CONSTANTLY and hearing Olive's songs whining through an old film set is more haunting than it has any right to be.
Where/how did you get to visit...?
@@ladydnavarone3447 Hiya, sorry for the late reply. The set is in Malta and is known as "Popeye Village." I was there with my family and we took a trip down there out of curiosity.
@Peppermint Snowdrift Oh yeah, fairly sure it's still going too.
The sets are pretty much just as they were in the movie (with some creepy mannequins here and there) and the museum/cinema part I'm fairly sure is in the tallest building on the set. It was a really bizarre but interesting experience.
The weird part about the more kid-friendly stuff is that they tried to integrate it around the set (so there was a swimming area in the cove and a couple of shows would be held in specific rooms every hour) and we'd just keep stumbling into them. I thought I had sunstroke when I was walking around the Oyle's house, turned a corner and saw this puppet show going on with Bluto trying to impersonate Leonardo DiCaprio, before backing out onto the street again to hear "he needs me" whispering across the humid air. I definitely rate it a spinach nightmare/10
Sweethaven wasn't supposed to be sweet at all in the movie. It was supposed to be like a dead horse Wild Western town, just on the water instead. the production design absolutely accomplishes this. Whether it's the right choice to begin with is another story.
It's something I'd love to see if I could go to Malta admittedly. I wonder if it was something that they set up.
Well I will say, I wouldn’t see anyone else other than Shelley Duvall as Olive Oyl with her looks.
Yeah, as terrible as her singing voice is, it really was a case of "Well, who else are we _meant_ to cast for this role?"
Dearest Diva,
I would like to formally petition the infernal court to hear the case of the film known as Camp Rock. The High School Musical franchise was indeed a flawed being but it still holds a place in the hearts of many, especially those who grew up with it. Camp Rock on the other hand was a cheap attempt to cash in on the fad. It has none of the heart or memorable songs of its predecessor and tbh, you really just have to watch in horror for yourself. Plus if you make it through that one, there's a sequel. (Of course there is)
Sincerely,
A loyal fan and aspiring young imp,
Nick
PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!
You have no idea how interestedly happy I am to hear someone state that even if it may not be the perfect series, it does have its charm while stating how Camp Rock is the poor man’s version that makes it look *even more* like one of the greatest Disney (Renaissance) films.
A fan suggestion from a lowly imp. Heh. Causing trouble for the sinners as always. Ok, I'll let you live.
Fun fact: I always got that title mixed up with School of Rock.
I always got a kick out of the Mad Magazine parody of this. (Unfortunately, the collection it was reprinted in has been lost to the mists of time--or maybe an aggressive clean-up.)
The gist of it was--the cartoon Popeye was on the sidelines of many of the panels, commenting on the "live-action" shenanigans taking place inside the movie parody. There was some lampshading of the disjointed nature of the plot: "Wait a minute, why are we in a boxing ring all of a sudden?" "Search me...I guess this is what comes of trying to make a two-hour movie out of a bunch of six-minute cartoon shorts."
But the real kicker came at the end. The "live-action" Pappy told Popeye, "Eat your spinach, Popeye...save Olive and Swee'pea!" Popeye answered, "But...I don't LIKE spinach!"
And that was the last straw for the cartoon Popeye. "What the hell IS THIS?! Everyone KNOWS Popeye loves spinach! That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more! It's Popeye to the rescue!" He then proceeds to invade the panels and take over the final fight.
Robin Williams!Popeye: But...this is impossible! You can't be doing this! You're only a two-dimensional character!
Cartoon!Popeye: That's one more dimension than YOU'VE got, bub! Now to take care of the one who's REALLY been givin' me a bad name...
Olive: You mean Bluto?
Cartoon!Popeye: No...HIM!!! (Knocks Robin Williams!Popeye to kingdom come, then addresses the audience for the last panel:) And to all my fans...if I gots any LEFT after this disgustipatin' pitcher...my apologies! I mean, I yam what I yam...but THAT guy ain't even CLOSE!
Well, now I'm convinced at how accurate Mad Magazine is to deliver their own spin on a classic.
They did something similar with the A-Team movie. In that case it was Mr. T tweeting throughout the movie.
I remember that parody, I liked when Robin Williams Popeye retorts to his cartoon counterpart, "Well, what kind of role model for kids are you anyway? You smoke, you squint, you curse, you mumble, and you mangle the English language."
Wow, I haven't seen all of this movie. Now, I don't want to.
I guess the only good thing that came out of it was that Shelley Duvall came up with the idea for Faerie Tale Theatre during filming.
I remember that show it was cool for me at least‼️
fanofmusicals I grew up watching that show on HBO. 🙂
A bright side for her 🙂
I have always found this movie fascinating. I don't think of it as "bad," but I don't think of it as "good," either. Maybe it's the nostalgia talking, but there's always been this "I guess I accept this, or at least I can't look away" element to it. I guess it's... a really interesting intellectual exercise? A case study in something that's well enough put together with good talent (except for the music) but just doesn't work as a whole?
12:57 I like the concept of these ladies getting into battlesuits to fight this song.
Commander Andrews: Jesus, McDonald and Soo's tone COMBINED did nothing to it! FOSTER! CHENOWETH! Administer some quirky!
FOSTER: We're trying! It's TOO DAMN BAD!
They're actually the Kidd family. Popeye is a nickname, with his real first name being "Ugly".
Yes, he was named Ugly Kidd. And yes, he did get picked on in school.
For once, the nickname would be more polite than the given name.
The major problem with "Popeye" in 1982: "Hey look, everybody. . .it's NOT Mork!"
At the very least this was Robin William's first theatrical movie, and he had better movies to deliver on a bit later like "Good Will Hunting", "Dead Poet's Society" "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Aladdin" to name a few. To me at least, a bad theatrical debut is better than a bad theatrical final performance.
As for the lack of Eugene the Jeep, unless Jim Henson was somehow involved, in 1980 (BEFORE CGI) on THIS film's budget, it'd be… "interesting" on how they'd pull it off. (Still, it's like cutting the Shmoo from the 'Li'l Abner' musical.)
They'd need a _very_ well-trained dog and a costume designer specializing in dogs.
I expected an Emoji Movie joke, but none was found. Impressive, I must say.
☆KindredSpirit☆ Maybe that's for the best. We don't need "Emoji Movie killed Popeye" becoming the next "Anime was a mistake".
Too late.
Then again, her take on Quest for Camelot finally gave her in and just said that the same composer for that movie did music for Sense and Sensibility and, of course, the movie that killed Popeye!
"He needs me" was later re-worked into the PT Anderson film Punch Drunk Love, wherein . . . I actually kind of like it. It's clunky, it's awkward, it's honest, and it fits.
"Why do the Oyls hate their children so much?"
I think it's just a tradition thing, because their parents' names are Cole Oyl and (ba)Nana Oyl.
All for the sake of puns.
EDIT: Wait, coal oil's a thing?
Those characters, as far as I can remember, don't really show up in the cartoons. And only now decades later am I kind of getting the struggle in the script, because Popeye has always been an adventure star, but here it's like he's in a domestic dramedy. The balance of this film is way off.
#punny
@@ilikecurry2345 it's another term for kerosene.
@@fad23 They're in the original Segar comic strips. Castor, Olive, Cole and nana are all there. Feiffer went back to the original comics for the screenplay. Some of the local color characters are in the comics as well, like Ham Gravy and Rough House.
"Why do the Oyls hate their children so much?"
Probably because their names are Cole and Nana.
I mean, they’re literally named after different oils. Cartoons back then had a very different and nonsensical logic
And thus the cycle of abuse continues.
"He Needs Me" has got to be the single worst song I've ever heard in a musical
The problem with the song in Popeye it's bloody pointless. However, in Punch-Drunk Love it's use works much better.
Elsie Not Giving You My Last Name I don't know, "Marry the Mole" from Thumbelina and "Privilege to Pee" from Urinetown are also pretty awful.
I don't know about "Privilege to Pee", but at least "Marry the Mole" is a _little_ bit catchy...
Noooo the problem is that its instrumental is clumsy, Olive's voice is grating, the lyrics are redundant, and the whole thing sounds like something being made up on the spot. Being pointless is the _least_ of the song's problems xP
...You are not honestly defending this.
Why did they want to make a Popeye movie into a musical? I've seen the actual cartoons; while there is occasional singing, the show never really struck me as something that would make for a good musical.
At least Robin Williams knew how to do a good Popeye impression.
A "poop deck" is a part of a ship, which is why a sailor like "Poopdeck" Pappy has the name. It has nothing to with anything scatalogical.
Thank you for explaining the joke.
+ Musical Hell
Can you do "Thomas the Tank Engine: The Great Race"?
+Jacob Carpenter If it isn't a musical, chances are that Diva won't review it!
Actually it is a musical. And goddamn are the songs in that movie are garbage.
+Jacob Carpenter Well, I don't really care for that kind of shlock.
Surprisingly, Roger Ebert gave this movie 3 and 1/2 stars.
His partner liked Gene Siskel liked the movie too.
that is suprising
Honestly, that's what I'd give it - flawed, but overall, a half-decent two hour time waster.
Siskel and Ebert had some tastes in bad movies & it did make for hilarious jokes 😂
@@LucyLioness100 I always looked forward to their Worst movies of the year episodes rather than the best for that very reason!
One good thing I can say about this movie...
....Sweet Pea is one of the cutest babies I've ever seen.
The casting was perfect, looks good on paper it all failed in the presentation! Music, lyrics were muddy the performances were misguided! Altman was out of his element and it shows!
Let me get this straight: that old lady (at 3:34) was Linda Hunt? The same lady who voiced Grandmother Willow in Disney's _Pocahontas_, and won an Oscar for a crosscast role?
And was Chris O'Donnell's boss in a CBS police drama.
13:13 Who designed that dentist's office - ORIN SCRIVELLO?!
Pappy wanted to keep mementos of his son, but nothing to do with him. Seems legit.
I don't care what anyone says, this is the greatest musical of all time. It is the first thing I can remember that made me and my father get along, every time it was on TV he would bust into my room and yell at me to come into the living room. This was the only thing he ever even talked to me about so I always knew what was going on, I would drop everything and immediately go and watch it with him. For that, it gets a 10/10 from me.
I find it kind of impressive how they made the live action characters look so much like the exaggerated cartoon characters/
I watched this movie several years ago because I’m a big Popeye fan and I DID NOT remember that this was a musical. I remember the cartoony-ness being awkwardly inserted, I remembered Popeye’s actor being great, I remembered Olive Oyl being annoying and Bluto being weirdly quiet and stern but I DID NOT EVEN REMEMBER IT WAS A MUSICAL UNTIL I SAW YOUR VIDEO
I thought the people in the kitchen were singing 'He's A Rebel' at first!
great review! The film clips were just as garbled as I remembered.... LOL
O, Mighty Diva! We wanna hear what are your personal thoughts on "The Slipper and the Rose". It's a retelling of the story "Cinderella".
One of its composers, Angela Morley, was the first ever transgender Oscar nominee. The Slipper And The Rose was actually her 2nd nomination; her first was for 1974 version of The Little Prince.
I haven't seen "Slipper and the Rose" but I did see "Le Petite Prince" and wasn't impressed.
Actually, that's a pretty nice musical. Lovely sets and costumes, rather nice score.
This also would've worked better as a cartoon. There are things that you can forgive a cartoon but not a live-action movie, like Popeye's deformity or Olive Oyl in general (but only in the Private Olive shorts, she's unsufferable in the rest of 'em).
He needs me, he needs me, he needs me, he needs me, he needs me, he needs meeeeeeeee!
That animated Popeye looked really good. To bad they cancelled it for the emoji movie. My dad loves Popeye so he felt ripped off. Shame on you Sony
"he needs me" was later resurrected as background music in Punch Drunk Love, where it worked really well.
As part of my journey through Musical Hell, I'm about to rewatch the "Popeye" episode.
EDITS- 2:28 A.M.: *finishes episode 20 minutes later*
My father hated this movie *so much* that he walked out of the theater before it ended!
2:30 A.M.: He *refuses* to rewatch it! 😆
Great review, Diva, I've been waiting for it with a lot of anticipation. As much as I love the movie, I can't defend the things you sinned, and cool that you put in two Spaceballs references.
This is one of my guilty pleasure movies. I don't even know why I like it. I don't care for Pappy, but the rest of the movie I just love. I think Olive Oyl is hysterical and my favorite moment is when she sings "He Needs Me," while everyone shuts the windows so they don't have to hear her.
Great review, Diva!
I personally like this movie a lot, but I totally understand your reasoning for a lot of the sins you listed (some of which I actually brought up in my own review of this movie). It's a messy movie, sure, but I admire it for how unusual it is in execution, even when it doesn't quite work.
But, to each their own, as they always say.
The last time I was this early Scar was still king.
Do descendants 2 next lol
PLEASE review it!
Wyatt Abston The fact that they even made a sequel to that just boggles the mind.
That thing was a million times better than the first, but a million times zero is still zero.
victor hoang Yeah, I think it was slightly better in quality but lacking in entertainment value.
She might not. It's why she won't do the High School Musical sequels. They have the same problems as the first and she's said she's not sure if it will be bad enough to do a review for it.
The Fantasticks is next? Awesome! I just in time for my birthday, I turn 26 on the 29th next month.
Happy early birthday‼️🎉🎈🎵🎂
i've been waiting so long for this one
I felt you were a teeny bit harsh on this movie. It’s flawed, but it’s still very nice. I don’t know how the set or the music is dreary. I thought they fit for the most. Granted some of the songs like “He needs me” were bleh (okay fine I liked it a little), but I guess they all kinda fit with the feel of the old cartoons. All the songs in them have simple lyrics and simple tunes, they aren’t really complex. They’re enjoyabal in a way I can’t describe though, I guess that’s just me. I thought the ending song was the best one of all. I agree about the dialogue being awkward though. The one truly horrible thing about this movie above all was the pacing goddamn. The casting was great though ! I guess I’m just an optimist who likes kiddie things when I say I like this movie haha. But to each their own. Magnificently done review anyway ! 😜❤️
Yes! Awesome new video Diva. Love Robin Williams though RIP also love Harry Neilson RIP
But one thing we all have to agree with is that Olive Oyl was the role Shelley Duvall was born to play.
12:54- I know Shelly was trying to channel Mae Questal, but honestly if she would have just used her natural voice for singing, we would have forgiven her!
I will defend the "Gluttony Song", and the final rendition of the Popeye theme song and maybe even the opening number, but I can't really defend the other songs, and I really REALLY can't defend the "He Needs Me" song.
Hey, a Monster in Paris reference. Cool!
Somehow, I convinced myself I enjoyed this as a kid, because it really explored the original comic strip considerably, including the extended Oyl family and characters like Roughhouse the local diner owner, and a few others who weren't prominent in the cartoons. (Even as a kid, I was passionate about comics that are considerably older than me.)
But despite that, I have never been capable of watching it a second time.
10:40 Who looks like a rejected Dr. Seuss character.
Wow. Every scene you have shown sounds like the actors got mad at the director and mumbled their lines to annoy them. Why would anybody talk like that in a movie?
Cuz the Popeye cartoon was like that. Popeye mumble talks and Olive shrieks.
Excellent review!! I suffered this movie some months ago,curious about his bad reputación.
4:54 Is that a Cabinet Battle I hear?
Could you do a review of Parade?
I think it's a very obscure show that deserves more attention...especially in today's world.
I'd also simply be interested in your opinion on the show (either the 1998 Broadway or 2007 Donmar version)
It turns out the commodore is none other than Uncle Martin from My Favorite Martian
This movie is basically if a stone-drunk Miss Hannigan directed Annie (1982) but in the style of Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock
When i was a kid i taped this movie from TV. I was really suprised years later when i searched for clips on RUclips- the version i grew up with lacks at least 3 songs. Example, when Bluto trashes the house, no song is present. When Bluto ties up Popeye's dad no song is present. Is the cut i grew up on an alternate cut that is floating around?
Any thoughts on Williams singing on the album version of the songs? I love Blow Me Down, I Yam What I Yam, and Swee' Pea's Lullaby, especially the album versions. On the other hand the dialog/revised lyrics in the film version of Blow Me Down are great too....
Anyway so any plans for Bugsy Malone? :)
And I thought Ray Walton was wasted in "Paint Your Wagon"! After classic old musical films like "South Pacific" and "Damn Yankees" he has to do THIS...
Someone I knew said that Wendy in The Shining reminded her of Olive Oyle and then I found out Shelly Duvall played her too!
The set still exists in Malta; it's a popular attraction named "Popeye Village". Haven't been there in a while but I remember that it looked great
The octopus fight scene in the end has scarred me for life!
Yay another review!
I would like to request that you review "Mack the Knife". A 1989 film adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera". The film stars Raul Julia, Richard Harris, and Roger Daltrey to name a few. I thinks it's pretty good but there are also a lot of hardcore Brecht fans who think otherwise. So, I would like you to review it and deliver its ultimate verdict. I'll post a link to the full movie below.
ruclips.net/video/v2xIJlOCWKM/видео.html
This is a guilty pleasure of mine. It is the first movie I saw in the theater... well, what I stayed awake for. I remember seeing the opening and the ending at the time and nothing more.
something about the sets, the way things are lit, and even the acting style makes this movie feel more like a theme park stage show...
Hahaha, I love this movie and its my favorite Robin Williams movie! The soundtrack replaced the food song w a song not in the movie. And all the singing was supposedly recorded live on the set.
So, what are your thoughts on Descendants 2? I'd love to see it skewered.
Yes, PLEASE!!
Diva is yet to soon do Musical Hell on Deacendants 3 (and 4 anytime it’s made... nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!).
If they were really set on a newspaper comic-themed musical, Lil Abner was *right there* ...
I remember going to Universal Studios and getting my picture taken with Popeye and Olive Oyl. It was fun.
I went on the ride there
Can't believe you left Bernadette Peters out of that list.
The baby looks happy, at least there's that
Diva, ya did it again! Another great review!! But what was that animated movie clip at the end?
A Monster in Paris
Oh..I never heard of it. But this review was great and so true. I mean who had the bright idea to have Olive Oil sing?! I mean Shelly Duval did her best and she tried to do her best Mae Questal. But face it...she's no Mae Questal.
It's on Netflix and I plan to check it out on this Halloween‼️
I still want to live on that set. I have dreams about living in a town like that. That's what I get for watching this when I was a young toddler, before I understood what "Popeye" or "movies" were.
Personally, I think that the score's halfway decent. Seems like there are some catchy tunes trying to get out. The problem is that the other half is crap. The result is catchy crap, and that's the worst kind.
Have you heard of "Bartock's Great Adventure?" It's an Anastasia "sequel" about how Bartock helps her little brother, who is still alive. I don't remember much about it, but what I DO remember is the utter horror that someone actually made such a horrible follow-up to my favorite movie musical. You should do a Musical Hell on it.
With all due respect you got the premise wrong. It’s a prequel about one of her ancestors. Although then again it has the blink and you’ll miss it but still WTF lore detail that Rasputin is immortal according to one cameo in it
Anastasia’s brother isn’t named Ivan. That was a grandfather. The Bartok movie was a prequel and meant to show him as a more pure character before he became Rasputin’s minion, despite he’s not evil, similar to Wiggins and Kronk from the Disney catalogue.
Anastasia’s brother isn’t named Ivan. That was a grandfather. The Bartok movie was a prequel and meant to show him as a more pure character before he became Rasputin’s minion, despite he’s not evil, similar to Wiggins and Kronk from the Disney catalogue.
Can anybody tell me the name of the thing Bluto trapped Olive in as they go to get the treasure?
And I have a soft spot for He Needs Me, even as a kid. Even more as an adult after it got remixed by Jon Brion for P.T. Anderson's Punch Drunk Love. In that movie the song is wondrous.
Love the Monster in Paris reference at the end.
Robin Williams actually got his start in the anti-classic "Can I Do It 'Til I Need Glasses?" (a rip-off of the sketch comedy movie "If You Keep Doing That You'll Go Blind"). Easily missed, though.
Heads up, you are mentioned on a Popeye movie CD soundtrack review on Amazon.
What movie was Harry Nilsson's punishment clip from?
I know He Needs Me is an unnecessary song in this movie but have you heard John Brion's edit of it? When it was mixed and made into a theme in Punch Drunk Love, I actually liked it.
R Ryle M
That song was used to amazing effect in PDL
I acknowledge that I'm in the minority, but I love this movie. I actually watched it three times back when it was in theaters, and I have the DVD.
(Do I go to Hell, or am I banned from Hell for that?)
I've found a musical if you are interested, Reefer Madness the Musical. I would love to hear what you have to say!
I'm a simple man. I see Musical Hell, I click.
I'm sorry,but I have to disagree... *STRONGLY* ....with the first "sin". The town of Sweethaven looked like something that existed comfortably between our world and the unreal realm of cartoons,and its characters fit right into that world. In fact, in the original camera tests,Williams and the rest of the cast wore much brighter colors. They actually dunked the entire wardrobe in coffee to tone down the colors....true story.
It's ironic you should have that clip from *Bride Of The Monster* ...although the octopus in this movie was created with mechanical arms,similar problems with its operation arose. In her scene with the creature,Shelly Duvall was asked to move them around. They built separate robot arms for the scene in which it reaches up from the water and pulls down Bluto's rowboat.
Admittedly,these are far from the greatest songs in the world...I agree "He Needs Me" should've been cut...but many of them fit the off-kilter tone.
Please do James and the giant peach (written by pasek and Paul) i don't know if there is any video form of the show but it is not good
Not gonna lie, that "I yam what I yam" number bops!
What is the last clip from in the jail?
I have to say the town setting looks more like something Tim Burton would create if he was told to make a shanty town. While it doesn't exactly fit Popeye, I do like the sets and buildings themselves and I think would work really great in a piece more fitting.