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10 Wonderful Movie Musicals

The Nerd Daily — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 18:00:00 +0000

Article contributed by Hannah French

In case you adore musicals and are upset that you currently can’t watch any on stage, we have you covered! Here are some of the best movie musicals, but we’ve decided not to include any Disney musicals for a change as we know the majority of them are well worth the watch!

The Greatest Showman

This movie combines the magic of cinema with music beautifully and features amazing dance sequences, incredible songs, and beautiful shots. This movie is all about P.T. Barnum and how he created the first circus. This movie musical is also about loving yourself and coming together for art. Cast members you may recognise include Hugh Jackman (Logan), Zac Efron (High School Musical), Zendaya (Spiderman: Homecoming), Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine), and Rebecca Ferguson (Mission Impossible-Rogue Nation)

Burlesque

This film has a very star studded cast and songs you can dance around the kitchen to. Although the plot may not be groundbreaking, the dance sequences, costumes, and vocals make up for it. This is a sort of modern Cabaret and shows a country girl rise to the stage in a Burlesque club. Cast members you may recognise include Cher (Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again), Christina Aguilera (The Voice), Eric Dane (Greys Anatomy), and Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games).

Grease

Grease is a classic in the movie musical world. The songs are iconic and you will want to go right back to the 50s and learn the hand jive after watching this one. Again the storyline has not survived the passage of time that well, but the songs and dance make up for the questionable morals in this one. Grease is all about Sandy and Danny, they had a great summer romance, but all of that changes when Sandy turns up at Danny’s school.

Mamma Mia

If you love ABBA and/or Greece, then this one’s for you. Mamma Mia is all about Sophie and the fact that she invites all three of her potential dads to her wedding, and what ensues is lots of drama and laughs. The iconic songs from ABBA offer the perfect soundtrack to this one. Cast members you may recognise include Amanda Seyfried (Dear John), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada), Stellan Skarsgård (Chernobyl), Pierce Brosnan (The World Is Not Enought), Colin Firth (Bridget Jones’ Diary), Julie Walters (Harry Potter), and Christine Baranski (The Good Wife).

Singin’ In The Rain

Singin’ In The Rain is another old classic. It’s set in the 1920s and talking films are slowly becoming a thing. This film is all about actors finding their way in talking films and singing in movies. This movie has amazing songs, breathtaking dance sequences, and is all around wholesome.

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge follows Christian, a writer who travels to Paris, where he meets Satine at a nightclub. This musical features a lot of popular songs and you will definitely recognise some of them. It’s directed by Baz Luhrmann and is a visual masterpiece, filled with colour and drama. Cast members you may recognise include Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies) and Ewan McGregor (Star Wars).

Rocketman

This film is all about Elton John and it has all of Elton’s best songs, while telling his life story beautifully. It’s very theatrical and feels like a stage musical. Rocketman will have you crying, laughing, and singing along. Cast members you may recognise include Taron Egerton (Kingsman), Richard Madden (Game of Thrones), Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot) and Bryce Dallas Howard (Jurassic World).

Les Miserables

This may be one of the best musicals ever written, although the movie isn’t quite as powerful as the onstage version . This one is entirely sung through and follows Jean Valjean on his journey from being a prisoner to something more. This story is set in 1832, France during the June rebellion. This film is filled with Broadway actors and Hollywood actors, what makes this film unique is that all these songs were sung live on set! Cast members you may recognise include Hugh Jackman (X-Men), Russel Crow (A Beautiful Mind), Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises), Eddie Redmayne ( Fantastic Beasts and where to find them) and Amanda Seyfried (Mean Girls).

Sunshine on Leith

Sunshine on Leith is set in Scotland and is set to the songs of The Proclaimers. This film follows Davy and Ally who have just returned from Afghanistan and how they settle back into their life in Edinburgh. The story is touching and you will be singing along to a couple of songs. Cast members you may recogniseinclude George MacKay (1917), Kevin Guthrie (The English Game) and Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor).

Once

Once is great for the people who don’t want big dance numbers. This film is all about a busker and an immigrant and their love story in Dublin. This film combines songs beautifully with their romance, this is a movie where they only sing when they are recording songs or celebrating.

Because there are just too many good movie musicals, here are some honourable mentions: Hairspray, Chicago, Goddess, Annie, The Sound of Music, La La Land, and The Phantom of the Opera!

Do you have any other recommendations? Tell us in the comments below!

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The Nerd Daily’s Favourite 2019 Movies

The Nerd Daily — Wed, 25 Dec 2019 06:00:24 +0000

2019 has come to an end and so we’ve asked some of our contributors to tell us a little bit about their favourite 2019 movie release!

Avengers: Endgame

An area came to an end. After 10 years the first big chapter of the Avengers has closed, and it was time to say goodbye. Thanos has succeed and for a short time the future of the world has looked dark. After gathering the infinity stones during time travel, the Avengers are able to reverse everything and fight Thanos once more. Only through Iron Man’s sacrifice the heroes are able to defeat him and make sure that the world is safe again. – Isabella Stocka

Frozen 2

As expected, Frozen 2 was an absolute delight to watch! With its darker setting and plot in comparison to the first one, this one takes on a much more serious tone and manages to pull in its older audience. The beautiful songs in combination with the amazing animation really made this film for me and I would even dare say this trumped the first one! Go see it! – Julia Fleur

Rocketman

Amazing biopic about the life of Elton John portrayed by Taron Egerton. Elton John has a long hard way behind him to become the person he is today. His childhood was not a happy one and he was a drug addict and had bulimia. Not to mention all the people he met in his life who did not meant it good with him. Egerton is the perfect person for this role and also took upon singing himself in the movie. It is an amazing movie with great reinterpretation of John’s most famous songs. – Isabella Stocka

Hustlers

Jennifer Lopez is truly at her best in this movie. Strippers taking advantage of powerful, privileged white men? I think yes. If you watched the trailer and thought this movie would be trashy and fun, it is. But it’s also a thrilling revenge story against the Wall Street men who were responsible for the recession in the United States in 2008. There’s a surprising amount of heart in this movie, and you’ll find yourself rooting for all the girls and their friendship with each other, especially between Destiny and Ramona. If you have the chance to watch this movie, definitely take it. – Gabby Gamez

Doctor Sleep

I’m not lying when I said I squealed a little when I heard the iconic soundtrack from the intro of The Shining (1980), live on cinema. This is how you bring back a story, 39 years after the original one aired. I mostly adore how they’re not trying to adjust this movie with today’s trends in horror, but instead took their time to deliver a slow-paced yet still just as gripping as before. And I must say that I just discovered a new favorite villain from this movie, aka Ms. Rose the Hat. – Vinny MS

Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

With an Aardman animations film you know you are guaranteed two things: it will be beautifully animated – with a staggering eye for detail – and it will be funny. Following on from 2015’s successful Shaun the Sheep Movie, Farmageddon is, basically, E.T. with sheep and an Aardman sense of humour. It’s also packed with enough Sci-Fi gags and references – including nods to Star Trek, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and H.G. Wells, just within the opening five minutes (as well as one of the best 2001: A Space Odyssey gags ever) – to make this (and every other) nerd squeal with delight. The best part is that it’s not done ostentatiously; they were clearly put in because the people behind the movie love the genre, they thought the gags and references were funny and they’re there to spot if you can. – Carolyn Percy

Avengers: Endgame

2019 seems to be the year of conclusions and what conclusion could top Avengers: Endgame? Following the tragic events at the end of Infinity War, Endgame continues the Avengers’ quest to bring their friends back and defeat Thanos for good. Filled with intense action sequences, a killer script and a decades worth of superheroes, this finale to the world’s biggest franchise delivers on every element and gives its loyal followers a well deserved pay off. Endgame is funny, tragic and undeniably one of the greatest comic book films ever made. Avengers: Endgame is available to rent and buy now. – Tom Hitchen

What was your favourite 2019 movie? Tell us in the comments below!

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Movie Review: Rocketman

Declan Green — Fri, 14 Jun 2019 19:00:54 +0000

Hollywood loves famous, unconventional musicians. You only need to look at the long string of biopics that pay tribute to their lives, image, and music to see just how well these movies play with audiences. Those that stand out do more than simply let their lead actor show off an impression and plod through the facts of a celebrity’s life, and although Rocketman partially conforms to this notion it also carries enough originality to stand on its own legs. It is not a great feat to merely film re-enactments of real events, but director Dexter Fletcher understands the importance of letting the film’s style reflect the theatrical eccentricity of his main subject. As such, a dash of magical realism and musical theatre elevate Rocketman from a dull retelling of Elton John’s life into a passionate, moving exploration of his most intimate thoughts and struggles.

Taron Egerton doesn’t reach too far to capture a perfect impersonation of Elton John, and this is probably for the best. Though neither his physical appearance nor his natural singing voice are identical to the musician himself, the lack of restriction on his performance allows for a more organic, nuanced representation. Rocketman isn’t merely a showcase of a single actor’s skills though. Fletcher paints an effervescent, surreal world around Elton that we almost always see through his eyes, whether it is a seamless transition into a childhood flashback, or a magical moment of weightlessness as he and an entire audience are lifted into the air during ‘Crocodile Rock’.

The songs are rarely the focus of the story, always playing secondary to emotional impact rather than simply being inserted as gratuitous tributes to greatness. As a result, the music feels much more purposeful and connected to Elton John’s personal journey. It’s clear from their anachronistic placement that we’re not getting literal recounts of how each song came about, but we are instead seeing the parts of his psyche that they may have sprung from.

For instance, although he didn’t specifically come up with ‘Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting’ in his adolescence, Egerton’s kinetic performance of it as a young Reggie Dwight hints at some nostalgia for rock’n’roll that lasted for decades right up until it was actually written. Likewise, the romantic passion in ‘Your Song’ may not have literally been directed at his lyricist Bernie Taupin, but Egerton’s impassioned rendition reveals the complex kind of love Elton John often demonstrated. Though we are not getting the “real stories” behind each song, the use of his music gives us something even better – we are getting an insight into Elton’s mind, and how it was shaped by his environment.

These flourishes make it easier to look past the formulaic approach to the writing of Elton John’s story, which could easily fit the rise and fall of any other famous musician. It hits all the standard music biopic beats – the flashback to a traumatic childhood, the montage depicting a rise to success, the manipulative antagonist, the cynical producer, and so on. The result is a supporting cast that often feels flat, only defined by the roles they played in Elton’s life rather than real, living people. The exception to this is Jamie Bell’s portrayal of Bernie Taupin, who brings some genuine warmth to the script and becomes the heart of the movie.

Fletcher’s imbuements of magical realism lift the cookie-cutter script from an ordinary dramatisation into a dreamlike, impressionistic journey through Elton John’s mind. His embellished visual effects and camp musicality let us forgive any factual discrepancies, and help to clearly establish a story that rejects reality and embraces the surreal. Although Rocketman’s screenplay holds the film back from fully embracing Elton John’s boundary-pushing eccentricity, Fletcher and Egerton both succeed in delivering an otherwise stunning cinematic expression of the musician’s queer identity and unique musical style.

**What did you think of Rocketman? Tell us in the comments below!**

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2019 Movie Releases

Elise Dumpleton — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 20:00:40 +0000

With the new year, 2019 promises plenty of opportunities for you to be spending your money at the cinemas seeing one of the many great new movies coming your way! There’s something for everyone, along with some highly anticipated releases and even remakes coming out this year.

Disney will be leaving a mark this year with Dumbo, Aladdin, Toy Story 4, The Lion King, and Frozen 2 all being released over the course of 2019, so both the young and young at heart are incredibly excited to see these movies!

But if superheroes are more your speed, never fear because like every other year, they are here to save the day. This year sees Brie Larson assuming the role of Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, while Zachary Levi will be in Shazam!, Tom Holland is back as Spider-Man in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and of course, almost everybody starring in Avengers: Endgame, which is the final instalment in the Avengers franchise. There’s also Stranger Things star David Harbour taking on the role of Hellboy and two mutant-filled movies—New Mutants and Dark Phoenix.

Need a little romance or a good rom-com? Rebel Wilson stars in Isn’t It Romantic about a woman trapped in a romantic comedy, Riverdale‘s Cole Sprouse stars in the film adaptation of Five Feet Apart, another YA adaptation coming to our screens is The Sun Is Also A Star, and a gender-swapped version of What Men Want starring the hilarious Taraji P. Henson.

Other highly anticipated and intriguing movies include M. Night Shyamalan’s Glass, Ryan Reynolds voicing Pikachu in Detective Pikachu, Taron Egerton playing the infamous Elton John in Rocketman, Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson donning suits in Men In Black International, a star-studded cast in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and a Downton Abbey movie.

Read on to discover some of 2019’s movies coming out this year and tell us in the comments below which ones you are most excited for!

JANUARY – MARCH

Glass

Security guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities. Starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, James McAvoy, Sarah Paulson, and Anya Taylor-Joy.

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part | Trailer

It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild. Voiced by Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Pratt, Channing Tatum, Will Arnett, and Alison Brie.

What Men Want | Trailer

A gender-swapped take on the Mel Gibson comedy What Women Want sees Taraji P. Henson playing a sports agent who can hear what the men in her industry are thinking. And, we suspect, she won’t take no s–t from any of them. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Max Greenfield.

Alita: Battle Angel | Trailer

An action-packed story of one young woman’s journey to discover the truth of who she is and her fight to change the world. Starring Jennifer Connelly, Eiza González, Rosa Salazar, and Mahershala Ali.

Isn’t It Romantic | Trailer

A young woman disenchanted with love mysteriously finds herself trapped inside a romantic comedy. Starring Rebel Wilson, Priyanka Chopra, Liam Hemsworth, and Adam Devine.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World | Trailer

As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind. Voiced by Jay Baruchel, America Fererra, Cate Blanchett, Kit Harington, and Kristen Wiig.

Captain Marvel

Carol Danvers becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Starring Brie Larson, Lee Pace, and Samuel L. Jackson.

Us

A mother and father take their kids to their beach house, expecting to enjoy time with friends, but their serenity turns to tension and chaos when some visitors arrive uninvited. Starring Lupita Nyong’o, Elizabeth Moss, Winston Duke, Tim Heidecker, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Five Feet Apart | Trailer

A pair of teenagers with life-threatening illnesses meet in a hospital and fall in love. Starring Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson.

Where’d You Go, Bernadette | Trailer

After her anxiety-ridden mother disappears, 15-year-old Bee does everything she can to track her down, discovering her troubled past in the process. Starring Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig, Judy Greer, and Laurence Fishburne.

Chaos Walking

A dystopian world where there are no women and all living creatures can hear each others’ thoughts in a stream of images, words, and sounds called Noise. Starring Tom Holland, Daisy Ridley, Mads Mikkelsen, and Nick Jonas.

Dumbo

A young elephant, whose oversized ears enable him to fly, helps save a struggling circus, but when the circus plans a new venture, Dumbo and his friends discover dark secrets beneath its shiny veneer. Starring Colin Farrell, Eva Green, Michael Keaton, and Danny DeVito.

The Dirt

The story of how Mötley Crüe came to be one of the most notorious rock ‘n roll groups in history. Starring Iwan Rheon, Machine Gun Kelly, Douglas Booth, and Leven Rambin.

APRIL – JUNE

Shazam!

We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam. Starring Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, and Asher Angel.

Hellboy | Trailer

Based on the graphic novels by Mike Mignola, Hellboy, caught between the worlds of the supernatural and human, battles an ancient sorceress bent on revenge. Starring David Harbour, Milla Jovovich, and Ian McShane.

Avengers: Endgame | Trailer

In the aftermath of Thanos wiping out half of all life in the universe, the remaining Avengers must do what’s necessary to undo the Mad Titan’s deed. Starring everybody.

Brightburn | Trailer

What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister? Starring Elizabeth Banks.

Pokémon Detective Pikachu

In a world where people collect Pokémon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, and Suki Waterhouse.

The Sun Is Also A Star

A teenager finds love at a difficult time in her family’s life. Starring Yara Shahidi and Charles Melton.

Aladdin | Trailer

Aladdin is an upcoming American musical romantic fantasy adventure film directed by Guy Ritchie, from the screenplay co-written with John August and Vanessa Taylor, and produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Starring Will Smith, Naomi Scott, Nasim Pedrad, and Mena Massoud.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Trailer

The crypto-zoological agency Monarch faces off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan, and his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed King Ghidorah. Starring Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown, Kyle Chandler, Sally Hawkins, and Ken Watanabe.

John Wick: Chapter 3

This movie picks up right where Chapter 2 left off, as John must survive the bounty on his head without the aid of the larger criminal underworld. Starring Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne, and Anjelica Huston.

Rocketman

The story of Elton John’s life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin. Starring Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden, and Bryce Dallas Howard.

Dark Phoenix | Trailer

Jean Grey begins to develop incredible powers that corrupt and turn her into a Dark Phoenix. Now the X-Men will have to decide if the life of a team member is worth more than all the people living in the world. Starring Sophie Turner, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, and Jennifer Lawrence.

Men In Black International | Trailer

The Men in Black have always protected the Earth from the scum of the universe. In this new adventure, they tackle their biggest, most global threat to date: a mole in the Men in Black organisation. Starring Tessa Thompson, Chris Hemsworth, and Liam Neeson.

Toy Story 4 | Trailer

When a new toy called “Forky” joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy. Voiced by Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts, and Laurie Metcalf.

JULY – SEPTEMBER

Spider-Man: Far From Home

After the events of Avengers: Endgame Peter Parker and his friends go on summer vacation to Europe and there Peter finds himself trying to save his friends against a villain known as Mysterio. Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, and Michael Keaton.

The Lion King

From Disney Live Action, director Jon Favreau’s all-new “The Lion King” journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Voiced by Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and James Earl Jones.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

A faded TV actor and his stunt double embark on an odyssey to make a name for themselves in the film industry during the Helter Skelter reign of terror in 1969 Los Angeles. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, Dakota Fanning, and James Marsden.

Hobbs and Shaw

A spinoff of The Fate of the Furious, focusing on Johnson’s US Diplomatic Security Agent Luke Hobbs forming an unlikely alliance with Statham’s Deckard Shaw. Starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.

The New Mutants | Trailer

Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves. Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Maisie Williams, Charlie Heaton, and Alice Braga.

Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl II, a young Irish criminal mastermind, kidnaps the fairy LEPrecon officer Holly Short for ransom to fund the search for his missing father in order to restore the family fortune. Starring Judi Dench and Josh Gad.

IT: Chapter Two

27 years later, the Losers Club have grown up and moved away, until a devastating phone call brings them back. Starring Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, and Bill Skarsgård.

Downton Abbey | Trailer

The hit UK period drama following the lives of the inhabitants of a fictional Yorkshire estate finally comes to the big screen, with several of the primary cast members reprising their roles and a handful of newcomers joining the fun. Starring Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth McGovern, Imelda Staunton, and Geraldine James.

The Kitchen

The wives of New York gangsters in Hell’s Kitchen in the 1970s continue to operate their husbands’ rackets after they’re locked up in prison. Starring Elisabeth Moss, Tiffany Haddish, Melissa McCarthy, Domhnall Gleeson, and Common.

OCTOBER – DECEMBER

Judy

Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts. Starring Renée Zellweger, Michael Gambon, and Finn Wittrock.

Joker

A failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and becomes a psychopathic murderer. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, and Robert De Niro.

The Woman In The Window

An agoraphobic woman living alone in New York begins spying on her new neighbours only to witness a disturbing act of violence. Starring Amy Adams, Gary Oldman, Julianne Moore, and Anthony Mackie.

Zombieland 2

Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family. Starring Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Abigail Breslin.

The Goldfinch

A boy in New York is taken in by a wealthy Upper East Side family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Starring Sarah Paulson, Nicole Kidman, Finn Wolfhard, Ansel Elgort, Jeffrey Wright, and Luke Wilson.

Charlie’s Angels

Reboot of the 2000 action comedy based on the 1970s TV series. Starring Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Stewart, Noah Centineo, and Sam Claflin.

Sonic the Hedgehog

A cop in rural town of Green Hills will help Sonic escape from the government who is looking to capture him. Starring James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, and Jim Carrey.

Margie Clause

When Santa goes missing during the holidays, it’s up to his wife, Margie, to save Christmas. Starring Melissa McCarthy.

Frozen 2

This is the sequel to Walt Disney Pictures’ 53rd full-length animated motion picture, Frozen. Voiced by Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Josh Gad.

Star Wars: Episode IX

The conclusion of the ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy. Starring Oscar Isaac, Richard E. Grant, Daisy Ridley, and Domhnall Gleeson

What 2019 movie are you most excited for? Tell us in the comments below!

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