Adapt - Milanese

Advantages: Superb, original, sounds great
Disadvantages: Bits can be a little cheesy (but not much!)

...I'm always wary of modern adaptations of old books. It's very easy for the person to get carried away with new technologies, and forget the concepts of the original book, in favour of new and 'better' visual or audible effects and impressive special touches. The original story is lost in a myriad of technological advances and the point is lost. Luckily, this didn't happen with Jeff Wayne's musical version of H.G. Wells' The War Of The Worlds. It did happen in the film version, which I hated, but Jeff Wayne has kept faithful to the original story, inflating the story with atmosphere and imagination. It's a popular album, with quite a cult following now, and with good reason. - The original author The War Of The Worlds is a novel written by early science fiction entrepreneur H.G. Wells. Born in 1866, Wells was one of the first... Read review

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Advantages: Brilliant tracks
Disadvantages: Vocal ability of some of the cast

...End by Webber in October 1986 and soon went onto grace the stages of New York in January 1988. The Phantom is an adaptation of Gastron Leroux 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l'opéra. The adaptation turned out to be Webber's second most sucessful show, only slightly behind 'Cat's'. With the stage production going so fantastically well, the next natural step was always to be make The Phantom of the Opera into a film. News of this move worried me; very rarely have I seen the move from theatre to film go smoothly and see it work. But Phantom fan's seemed reasured to hear that Webber himself along with Joel Schumacher would be writting and directing the film. With a cast of un-knowns actors, I once again worried about how the cast would cope with the theatrical singing they would have to do; a fear that wasn't put to bed with news that Minnie... Read review

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Advantages: Absolutely fantastic, there's no other word to describe it
Disadvantages: Silly rubber DVD nob and price can be hefty

...INTRODUCTION Four years ago, in January, I had just entered army service and there I would remain for the whole ensuing year of 2002. At the same time, the first of The Lord of the Rings trilogy had just appeared in the theaters and out of interest the rest of my family went and saw it. They came back ecstatic and glowed to me that I really should go and see it as well. I had already read the books and liked them, so the prospect was not a disagreeable one. Due to my army service, my folks got me a ticket so when the next weekend break came about I could go and see it as well. So in came another weekend and on that saturday afternoon I trudged up to see the film of which I really had no idea how it was going to play out (adaptations like these can be so hit and miss). So with nervous trepidation I awaited and then the theater darkened... Read review

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