Shame it couldn't have been a musical.

What can I say? I grew up on musicals (my parents played cast albums in the car when I was a kid) and love them. So it's kind of in my nature to NOT find it weird when people burst into song in a movie.

Happy New Year to you and good luck and health in 2014!

I don't know. I can totally see it being a musical with the right musical writers.

Best reply EVER! ;)

Hope so! Between Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, and Oliver, basing your musical in a somewhat glamorized version of London seems to be a good idea.

Well, with all due respect, couldn't that be said of any property (book, play, film) that is musicalized--that it started out without songs?

I guess it's just that I'm the quintessential musical-theater geek--when I was growing up, my folks used to play cast albums in the car wherever we went, so I grew up on them. I think it's that I was sort of drawing a few parallels between this and Mary Poppins (classic children's novel, written in an episodic style that needs a story thread added to make it a unified movie, taking place in a rather nostalgic London) that I liked to imagine taking the final step--in the tradition of the classic Disney musical films that have always held a place in my heart. YMMV, of course.

And as for whether it should be a movie, well, I prefer to wait and see. Given the credentials of the director, producer, and actors involved (and they seem to have a good deal of affection and respect for the source material), I have faith in it--and have long wanted to see Paddington on the big screen. I knew all along that they'd have to give it a unified story between Paddington's misadventures, so that doesn't bother me. Plus, I've seen a few shots of filming, and so far they seem to be giving it a nice look--for example, recreating Paddington Station to look more like it did years ago, so even if it does take place in the modern day, it has a "timeless" look. Also, I've been brushing up on Peter Capaldi's acting talent since he was announced as the new Doctor, and I think he'll be a marvelous Mr. Curry! (As long as he doesn't go Malcolm Tucker on Paddington, mind you. )

Besides, in the right hands, a film adaptation of a children's book has just as much chance of being good as being bad. Look at Hugo! (As good as the book The Invention Of Hugo Cabret was, I believe the movie actually improved on it a bit.)

I think I read about that--either a small stage production or an album-only thing, correct? Sounded cute from what I read.

The strangest Musical adaptation must be " The Texas Chainsaw Musical" with that extraordinary sing-song round the dinner table.

The evening I saw it at Kidderminster 2 members of the audience fainted and 1 dear old lady seated in the row immediately in front of me broke wind violently out of sheer fright.

The Show continued with the bizarre spectacle of a chainsaw-wielding nut-case singing his heart out on stage whilst the good people from St. Johns Ambulance resuscitated an octogenarian who turned up an evening too early for the performance of Alice in Wonderland and thought she was present at an over-exuberant Mad Hatters Tea Party.

Great evening.

Hazzar- That was a bit harsh.

what's next, a film about the Clangers invading earth with anal probes?

I'd pay to see that. I think you may be onto something there.....


I used to want to change the world. Now I just want to leave the room with a little dignity.

Well, he was when I made the first post. He left the production rather late in the game...turned out to be a wise move from all accounts. Ben's more youthful, innocent voice probably suited Paddington much better--Colin sounded a little too old and sophisticated. 😃