Post by StevePulaski on Jul 14, 2010 22:56:15 GMT -5
Tim Curry and his gang make up the 1975's classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Rating: 3½/4 stars.
Thirty five years in limited release and still shown in midnight theaters throughout the United States, its The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It was unknown and neglected when in theaters in 1975. But now cherished, loved, and welcomed by a heap of cult and film fanatics around the globe. It's now being sung and danced to in the theaters by people dressed and resembling the characters in the movie, like Tim Curry's famous role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. I was lucky enough to see it with a close filmmaker friend, Brian Patrick O'Toole (screenwriter for film Atlas Shrugged and producer for Dog Soldiers) who basically made comments and remarks throughout the film. Hes seen the film over 200 times and has to be the biggest fan I know. Ive caught his disease.
A criminologist tells the story of a newly engaged couple by the names of Brad Majors and Janet Weiss who become lost with a flat tire on a rainy night. They find a castle, asking for help, but are soon victims of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a "sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania" who's minions are his sister Magenta, servant Riff Raff, and a fan named Columbia. Numerous twists and turns go along with this film, but the fun comes from the enjoyment had by the musical numbers and bizarre acting. I had fun just dancing to the
This shows you how big movies can be, even when ignored. This movie has made $139.8 million dollars and probably didnt even make $20,000 back in 1975. This is true beauty filmmaking, even with a weird premise. This is a movie that I can say, I have never seen as many soundtracks for. Theres the original, the Say it! Karaoke CD, the audience participation CD, the re-release CD, the instrumental, etc. DVDs are a little less. The 25th anniversary tape in 1990, the new Dvd, and a future Blu-Ray this year. I wouldnt be surprised if there was a sequel....well there is.
The sequel is called Shock Treatment that was released in 1981. It wasnt a strong sequel from what I hear. Tim Curry originally planned to cast in it, singing all the songs written for him, but refused last minute, and then the singers were replaced and they got new ones. It only made $2 million dollars which is dirt compared to the money the first film made. It even performed worse than RHPS's first run which is hysterical because it seemed if anything, Shock Treatment's gross would have been larger than biblical proportions compared to RHPS. But, it flopped, miserably, end of story.
Now to be fair, critics hate this movie, and my parents arent to fond of it. But this is the ultimate test. If you can sit through this film, hating it, and still having the nerve to shut it off or walk out, but make it through, that proves you can make it through any film. But I for one enjoyed the film and hope MTV Films reconsiders with the remake.
A remake of The Neverending Story is also in the works, and though I havent seen it, I heard its a flawless film. Same goes with RHPS, remakes never do the goal they should, make the original film better. No remake is better than the original, except for maybe Scarface. But 99% of the time, remakes fail. So since The Rocky Horror Picture Show is such an overwhelming success, MTV Films thinks they can get a piece of the pie by making a remake of it. News to MTV Films: It may draw money, but not like the original. It will not be attended, by true fans. But by far, it will not be shown at midnight showings every Saturday and be attended by die hard fans dressed in almost identical apparel to the actors on screen. That will be in store and exclusively for the 1975 film.
Starring: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn, Meat Loaf, and Nell Campbell. Directed by: Jim Sharman.
