Little Shop Of Horrors (1960) vs Little Shop Of Horrors (1986)
I wanted to start this discussion, because after viewing both film versions, I like Roger Corman's 1960 one better. I saw that one first, then I saw the 1986 musical version, which did not impress me one bit.
First of all, Roger Corman's version was much more of a horror movie; it had quite a Vincent Price/Henry Mancini style piece of music that was enough to create the creepy effects during the opening sequence and the bits with Audrey JR in it. Plus, the voice of Audrey JR was sinister enough. And there's the bit where Seymour is squeezing a human hand into the plant and singing Deck The Halls in a very emotional mood, which creates a feel that Seymour feels like he's being tortured. Plus the ending is very dark (spoiler!); when the town chases Seymour, he confronts his creation and kills both the plant and himself.
The musical version was nothing, but cliches and excuses to enjoy Broadway. You call that a horror movie? It wasn't even scary enough to be a horror movie. The parts where the plant sings killed the atmosphere. It falls in the same category as the Rocky Horror Picture Show, taking away the 'prepare to be scared' feel, same with the music video to Michael Jackson's Thriller. In fact, all the songs killed the whole aspect for a respectable horror movie. Plus, they are also forgettable. No offense Alan Menken, but your works with Disney were better. If you compare the dentist's death in both films, the 1960 film's scene was more heart pounding; it had Seymour and the dentist sword fencing and the dentist got stabbed. In the musical, oh god, they have to burst into a song! Plus, the ending (spoiler) is so cliched. The plant blows up and Seymour and Audrey live happily ever after. Yawn!
The Roger Corman version is so underrated, whereas the 1986 musical is so overrated.
That's my opinion. What do you guys think?