I just watched the trailer for the film version of Cats

[Doyoumind]

Les Mis worked as a film. That was a good move.

I haven't actually seen Cats on stage but I think I could cope with human cats in a theatre. On screen it just looks weird.

Anyone else seen it?

Another one wondering why the cats are so teeny-weeny.

Did the animator mistake them for mice?

Would have seen this until I read James Corden is in it. He's such a talentless twat.

Cats is a bloody awful musical - I’d never see it in the theatre or on film. I am a musical theatre geek, love most musicals, but dislike most of ALW’s stuff as he’s so cynically milking it for cash instead of writing the best musical she can. Cats is, in my opinion, one of his worst.

HE can, obviously. Don’t know why that says she.

There's so much CGI in this that it all looks fake.

Watching real people dance can be exhilarating and beautiful. Watching what appears to be a bunch of videogame characters bounce around? Not so much.

OMG it looks incredible, I can’t wait and Jennifer Hudson’s voice on the trailer.

@HMArsey Jellicle cats are a moderate size - nice one!

I've just seen the trailer. I think these "cats" are easier on the eye than some of those in the stage play, so I'll look forward to seeing this film. In the version where the stage play was filmed, there were endless close ups of the cat/human faces, and I could hardly bear to look at some of them! I think this one's less creepy than the Polar Express (shudder).

Gyles Brandreth once made this comment about Andrew Lloyd Webber: "He was a genius - he could take any boring subject, and write a musical about it! Look at Cats! He could have written one called Socks." He and his entourage then performed some of the Cats songs, replacing the word "cat" with "sock". (And yes, I know, ALW didn't write the words.)

Drat. Now I've seen the full cast list I guess I'll have to go and see it now.

DH woke me up from a nap to show me the trailer and I wasn’t sure if I was still asleep and having a really weird dream.

Watching real people dance can be exhilarating and beautiful

Yes - that was the main appeal of the 1998 version for me - marvelling at the dancing and acrobatics - Mungo Jerry and Rumpleteaser's cartwheels, for example, and the bit where Mistoffelees does endless pirouettes. If the actors look like animations, I don't think you'd get the same sense of awe.

I hated Cats and this looks dire. I don't think the cast looks amazing and much as I love Dame Judy and Sir Ian, neither of them is a singer. Idris Elba is repulsive and James Cordon is talentless. Jennifer Hudson is hardly a stunning singer and doesn't have the range or the ability to emote to sing Memory. I'll be giving it a huge body swerve, just in case you hadn't guessed.

Good god it looks like one of those dreams after eating cheese late at night. Thank god ive become vegan.

As well as Francesca Hayward from the Royal Ballet Skimbleshanks is danced by fellow Royal Ballet dancer Steven McRae.

I can't wait to see this. I love musicals though and Cats is my favourite. The trailer gave me goosebumps

I’m with all those that didn’t like the musical. I took my DM to see it and at half time had to google it to find out if there was a story. I don’t think I could watch a whole film of it, but I’m intrigued with the trailer now!

Just seen the Trailer. Yes, why are the cats so small in relation to the Set ?

Jellicle cats are rather small...

Elaine Page is the only one who can sing Memories. whoever was ruining it on the trailers needs to be as the Americans say "humanely euthanised" gives catawalling a bad name

Imo Jennifer Hudson has an incredible voice. She outshone Beyonce in her debut, after all. They've clearly decided to cast Grizabella younger, so the voice works. We know these days a woman over 35-40 in the music industry is rare.

The whole point of Grizabella is that she is old, decrepit and on the point of collapse. Casting her as younger is surely a bit odd?

Elaine Page is the only one who can sing Memories. whoever was ruining it on the trailers needs to be as the Americans say "humanely euthanised"

What a bloody horrible thing to say.

If that trailer is a collection of the best bits I can’t imagine how bad the less good bits are.

a woman over 35-40 in the music industry is rare.

That might be true in the pop world but not in musical theatre. Two names that spring to mind are Katherine McPhee who wrote and starred in Waitress (a hit on Broadway and in the West End) is at the top of her game and has just turned 35. The great Idina Menzel (the voice of Elsa in Frozen amongst others) is nearly 50. Shirley Henderson who is an excellent straight actress as well, carried the musical Girl from the North Country when she was over 50. Even Jennifer Hudson whose not great version of Memories is under discussion admits to being 37.

Musical theatre has a tradition of parts for all ages, that is a big factor.

a woman over 35-40 in the music industry is rare
Are you sure about that? Madonna, Debbie Harry, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton, Grace Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, Marianne Faithfull, sure there's plenty more.