South Pathetic

Last night I started watching the remake of South Pacific, with Glenn Close and Harry Connick, Jr. I wasn't optimistic, but I figured I'd at least give it a try, since South Pacific is like my second or third favorite musical of all time. And well, it wasn't TERRIBLE. But it was disappointing.

So, I have a big pet peeve about cover songs (this is related, I swear!). I HATE it when bands cover songs and pretty much record the song the exact same way it was originally done, only with different people making the music. I think that's dumb. If you're going to cover a song, shouldn't you make it different? Do something creative? Change things up a little? Otherwise it just seems pointless to me.

This movie was like that. They didn't modernize it at all, really, just filmed it in the same style the 1958 version was filmed in with new (inferior) actors. I didn't get several of the casting choices. Glenn Close is WAY too old, and she looks reeeally unattractive in this, and the woman that played Bloody Mary was terrifying. And I don't think anyone will ever be able to top Ray Walston's portrayal of Luther Billis--Robert Pastorelli? Please. The whole thing felt forced and flat, and well, like it was done a million times better way back in 1958. In other words, pointless.

You probably could have told me that before I ever started watching it. Ah well. It only made me appreciate the original that much more.