CATS (2019) Was A Mistake and a Bad Adaptation

So we watched Cats and didn't have a good time. Was hoping it would at least be a "so bad it's good" kind of movie but it was mostly boring and messed up in some parts.

It's also a pretty bad adaptation of the musical. They even removed our favorite characters, Demeter and Jemima. They basically butchered the show so that just the icing on the cake, really.

Anyway, hope you enjoy our thoughts.

The article used in the video:

[danwilliams]

So Rebel Wilson’s character in this movie was basically:

Homer Simpsons: Fat girl fall down. Funny.

[TheSouloftheDragon]

"They charged full price for an unfinished product"
So Bethesda?

[dlschgo]

The Shining was edited after it was released, too. They actually sent editors to theaters to cut the film. Fortunately, it was only in limited release at the start.

[LastNameWasTaken]

I'm glad to hear a take on the movie that isn't "this movie was a fever dream" (although those are a special type of entertaining). Also, what the og stageplay was actually about and the purposes behind some of those songs.

[Devilsblight]

Video games usually have patches to fix games when the visuals are wrong, but a MOVIE needing a patch is the weirdest thing I've ever heard of!

EDIT: Also, I think it would have benefited as an animated movie instead. Granted if they DON'T put pop culture references and Internet memes, like they did with Dr. Suess films.

[elizabethdavis]

I'm a big believer that examining things that suck increases your appreciation for things that don't suck. I appreciate your take on the stage characters, some of that went over my head when I saw Cats at the pantages last year and it makes me want to examine the lyrics a bit more closely. Watching Cats live was an amazing experience. I don't think anything can completely replicate it, not even the film of the play. My favorite number (other than memory) was Mungojerry and Rumpleteaser.

[magicalsketches]

A lot of people in the art community made redesigns for cat’s characters.

[ferblancart]

I never had much interest in any version of 'cats' but the way you understand and explain the characters background and motivations really adds value, in general you put light on things i miss or never would have thought. You should do more film analysis both good and bad movies and why fail or succeed in the characters

[thomaspayne]

These girls and underrated. They have one of the best eyes for analysis of film/narratives. They deserve a lot more attention.

[AL-wsyi]

Happy New Year, ladies. You did the best explanation of the musical I’ve ever heard. I have seen the original Broadway production in NYC’s Winter Garden Theater right before the show ended its run. It felt disjointed and strange to me then and I wasn’t sure what exactly was going on exactly. The music was good and the spectacle of people jumping around you in cat suits was bizarre but fun. When I heard of all the changes in this movie as well as the actual disturbing visuals, I skipped it. I might check it out on a plane flight or on a streaming service that I am subscribed to but I’m not paying for it.

[gojira]

"Nobody wanted this."
The movie in a nutshell.


"We work with rescue cats."
Crazy Cat Twins Confirmed.


6:30 "Why does anyone have to win at this?"
And THERE is our mandatory Oppression Olympics Contest brought to you by: Hollywood! The Most Oppressed People in the World! Give Us Your Money!!!

[genebaker]

I would've loved to see the Tim Burton stop-motion animated version of the original source material.

[moseyonover]

They really did Jennyanydots dirty, . Also completely nerfed Mr. Mistofolees.

[ThatGreenMachne]

The cats in the Cats movie are proud citizens of the uncanny valley.

[Slitheringpeanut]

You know, I admit, I've been curious about the musical, but the movie turned me right off. I too want to see the Spielberg 2D production that will never be made.

[EquesTron]

As someone who never watched the stage show, the movie was an ill advised mess, but I will give it some credit. The decision to pretty much make Cats with CG instead of make up was a bold one, even if it didn't work 95% of the time. The only time the film felt like it was on the verge of something was during Grizabella's scenes. I had no idea the film changed her backstory from the stage show, but Jennifer Hudson's performance, even with the CG, was really good. Her scene with Victoria and the song "Memories" were honestly the one thing saving the film from being a complete disaster for me.

Well...that and the unintentional comedy. Seeing things like Idris Elba shouting "MEOW!" Ian McKellan drinking out of a cat bowl, and Ray Winstone hissing and whining were the stuff of legends, and provided the best laughs.

[slumbertrap]

This movie proved once and for-all that practical effects are superior to CGI lol

[SuperCosmicMutantSquid]

"NO! MISTAKES WERE MADE!"

The problem with the designs of the cats is they figured that CGI was all that was needed to make them 'stand out' but in the end we all know it was done for money reasons. Costume design takes money, effort but another big factor a lot of people don't consider and that's TIME. One of the reasons Alan Cumming didn't come back for Nightcrawler in X-Men, despite being the best character for the movies series, was BECAUSE of how long it took him to put on the make-up which was HOURS. One of the special features in X2 showed him falling asleep while in the chair which during a TIME-LAPES of the process.

I mean, that shit looks great but it takes a hell of a lot of time and work and the people who worked on this just assumed that CGI was the way to go....but no. No it wasn't. If someone COMPETENT had been in charge, we could have got some cool ass looking shit. I mean, if they wanted to try something beyond the VERY 80s look of the original, there was an endless possibility for someone to come in and do something for that. They didn't HAVE to look like the stage play versions of the costumes but anything, ANYTHING better than this would have worked, especially with the talent they used for this.

We have Taylor Swift, Idris Elba, JENNIFER FUCKING HUDSON for God's sake...and they couldn't come up with costume designs, ACTUAL COSTUMES, that would show off the best of them and create iconic looks? You're seriously kidding me on this?


And as far as characters go, it honestly feels like they type-casted certain people while ignoring the context of the character they were supposed to be. For Rebel, they just brought her on to be yet another 'fat funny character' instead of actually doing something with her that would give her a break from doing that. I mean, it's not like Rebel is the only plus-sized actress EVER and the fact that they had to change the character for her does reveal they only brought her on to have her on, not because they thought she could do something else. With Grizzabella, it feels like they didn't want backlash from hiring a Black actress to play a character that is essentially someone who fall from their own grace due to their own arrogance so they made Grizz a 'victim' of everyone else rather than her own actions which, if I am getting this right, also misses the point given that despite the entire tribe not wanting anything to do with her, there was ONE person among them that still had empathy for her and not out of arrogant pity but out of true feelings for his heart which would have been a wonderful message to send out but no, that didn't work somehow.


And how could they make Idris look that bad physically? The guy is good looking as fuck but....holy and shit, he looks AWFUL in what is more or less a leotard. And Swift's role is pretty much the same. Why should we care? Whether you like her or not, DO SOMETHING WITH HER and that can go for all the other characters in the movie. It's just....not good.

[Paxchi]

Well, I'd like to thank the two of you for taking this bullet for me. This just sounds like the latest in a long line of translations from some other source material to film where the folks doing the translating were more interested in putting their own spin on said material than being true to the spirit of the thing. I don't think I could do with another one of those at this point, especially not for one of my favorite musicals. Though I've got to say, despite owning the DVD and having watched it several times, I missed a couple of things you brought up, like Demeter being Macavity's ex. Somehow that flew over my head. Though thankfully this puts me in the mood to re-watch it, so thanks for sharing that info, thanks for making me want to watch something I haven't seen in a while, and thanks as always for the fun commentary. Looking forward to seeing what you cover in the future.

[t.r]

My only question is what insane person looked at the character designs and said: "Brilliant! Change nothing!"