Top Ten Tuesday #155

Hi everyone! I hope you’ve all had a good week, I had my University Sports Ball on Friday night and it was so much fun, I love getting the chance to dress up and go for a fancy night out with my friends, plus I’ll go basically anywhere as long as I’m fed (and they gave us a three course meal, including brownie and salted caramel ice-cream for desert so you know, very happy Jo).

But anyway, it’s Tuesday now, and time for another Top Ten Tuesday courtesy of Jana over at That Artsy Reader Girl. Today we have been given free reign to do whatever we like, with a freebie topic, so I am, in a frankly shocking move, not going to be talking about books today. Instead, I thought as we had a free topic this week, I would share with you one of my other great loves: films. Specifically, musical films. Much as I love talking about books on here, I do have other things that I love and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share some of my favourite musical movies with you guys (I’m not including anything Disney on this list because let’s face it, they could be a list entirely of their own). So here we go:

1. Moulin Rouge

My favourite movie of ever, so of course it tops my list this week. I’ve actually lost count of how many times I’ve watched it by now, but put it this way, any kind of celebration for me usually involves this movie, pizza and a ton of Ben and Jerry’s. I’ve also forced basically all my friends to watch it multiple times (I’d apologise, but you guys know that I’m not at all sorry). I mean this film has everything, an awesome soundtrack, incredible choreography (THE TANGO SCENE), amazing costumes and great actors. And let’s face it, brooding writer and musician Ewan McGregor is definitely Ewan McGregor’s best look.

2. Hairspray (2007)

Yes, I’m talking the 2007 version here, not the original 1988 one, because I haven’t actually seen that one! Hairspray is definitely my go-to feel good movie musical, since you know, much as I love Moulin Rouge, it is kind of a downer. Again, obviously the soundtrack is AMAZING, but I also love the costumes (it’s the early 60’s, so everything still looks kind of 50s-esque) and it just generally makes me smile (aside from I Know Where I’ve Been, which definitely makes you cry).

3. The Greatest Showman

I’m totally addicted to the soundtrack of this one and it’s been really hard to find a decent movie musical that’s non-Disney in the last few years, so this one was definitely a welcome surprise. Obviously a lot of liberties are taken with the actual life of PT Barnum, and some of the more unsavoury aspects of his character are glossed over, but this musical is definitely a visual and aural spectacle and Hugh Jackman is outstanding as the lead. I dare you to leave the cinema after watching this without a) a smile on your face and b) belting out one/more of the songs.

4. The Last Five Years

I may have a minor (okay not so minor) crush on Jeremy Jordan because of this movie. His voice though……. This movie does live and die on the music, since it is almost entirely sung through, and both Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan have great voices, and the songs go from fun and incredibly catchy to ridiculously heartbreaking and back again as we proceed both forwards and backwards through Jamie and Cathy’s five year relationship to see where it all went wrong. Honestly this musical is so underrated, and deserves so much more love than it gets, because it’s brilliant.

5. Mamma Mia

Yes, it’s incredibly cheesy and Pierce Brosnan’s singing leaves A LOT to be desired, but anything with Meryl Streep in it really can’t go too far wrong. This is another one of my favourite uplifting feel good musicals, you just can’t help but sing and dance along with ABBA’s greatest hits. I’M SO EXCITED FOR THE SEQUEL THIS SUMMER.

6. Chicago

Honestly this movie would make it on this list for the Cell Block Tango alone, if I ever did a list of my favourite dance scenes in movies that would definitely be up there with El Tango De Roxanne from Moulin Rouge, and the tango from Take The Lead (apparently I really like the tango!). But you know it also has killer (sorry!) tunes, awesome costumes, amazing choreography and great actors. I would be mad that this won an Oscar for Best Picture and Moulin Rouge didn’t, but it’s such a great film, I can’t be (plus I was six at the time and hadn’t actually seen either film yet).

7. Fiddler On The Roof

It is almost three hours long, but it doesn’t feel like it because the songs are all so amazing and it’s a very aesthetically pleasing and well acted movie.

8. Walking On Sunshine

Yeah okay, so this film might not have the best singers or the best actors, or the best choreography, and yes, it’s ridiculously cheesy, but THE SONGS. It’s cheesy 80s tunes wrapped up into an hour and a half package of ridiculous fun and that alone makes it worth the watch (and the rewatch, and every subsequent rewatch).

9. Country Strong

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned before that I like country music, but I do and this musical drama is full of it and has some great original country tunes alongside some really awesome covers. Plus I love Leighton Meester and Garrett Hedlund is super hot. I can usually take or leave Gwyneth Paltrow, but she is really good in this movie.

10. Pitch Perfect

I have yet to see the third movie, and can take or leave number 2, but I do love the original movie, it’s a great modern take on the movie musical, and I love that it’s all about female friendship and girl power because those are things I am definitely here for.

Honourable Mention: The Sound of Music-I always found this one a little overly long and I’m not sure if I’ve ever actually seen all of it the whole way through, but it has a special place in my heart because it was one of my Nana’s favourite films.

So there you have it, my favourite movie musicals! Have you seen any of these? Do you like them? What are your favourite movie musicals? Let me know in the comments!

Next week’s topic is Frequently Used Words In X Genre/Age Group Titles, so I will naturally be doing Frequently Used Words In YA Fantasy Titles. I don’t know if I will have anything for you guys in the meantime, as I’ll be revising for my exams, although I’m nearly done with my current read Hero At The Fall, so I’ll have a review of that for you guys very soon.