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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /  Movie, Television and DVD Reviews  /  Rocketman
Posted by: eldave1, July 9th, 2019, 10:59am
Saw this yesterday. As a huge Elton John fan I was really looking forward to it and was optimistic given the high ratings it was receiving.

I HATED IT!

Thought it was a train-wreck from start to finish.  It was like they started to make a movie but decided to make a music video instead.
Posted by: albinopenguin, July 12th, 2019, 12:17am; Reply: 1
Not to be too critical of this thread, but saying you hated a film doesn't constitute a thorough review. Honestly, I'm curious as to why you hated the film and I'm hoping you'll elaborate.

As a fan of film, I thought the movie was good. As a fan of Elton John, I thought the movie was a god damn delight. Sure, Rocketman indulges in biopic cliches, but the energy behind the film makes up for its flaws. Make no mistake, Rocketman IS Elton John. The movie feels like Elton John in every way.

Egerton is fucking fantastic. Seriously, I forgot that I wasn't watching the real Elton while tapping my feet.

Bohemian Rhapsody can burn in hell. Long live Rocketman.

Posted by: eldave1, July 12th, 2019, 5:18pm; Reply: 2

Quoted from albinopenguin
Not to be too critical of this thread, but saying you hated a film doesn't constitute a thorough review. Honestly, I'm curious as to why you hated the film and I'm hoping you'll elaborate.

As a fan of film, I thought the movie was good. As a fan of Elton John, I thought the movie was a god damn delight. Sure, Rocketman indulges in biopic cliches, but the energy behind the film makes up for its flaws. Make no mistake, Rocketman IS Elton John. The movie feels like Elton John in every way.

Egerton is fucking fantastic. Seriously, I forgot that I wasn't watching the real Elton while tapping my feet.

Bohemian Rhapsody can burn in hell. Long live Rocketman.



Fair enough.

I agree with you that Egerton was rock solid.

I didn't care for the use of Taupin's lyrics to explain Elton's life. They were written based on Bernie's life for the most part.

I didn't care for the forced group ensemble musical numbers - e.g., "Saturday" is singing in the rain type musical number for Elton's late teen night, the eight year old Elton singing the bitch is back - seemed disconnected - like an insert of a music video.

Some facts that were wrong that created hiccups for me - e.g., Elton was actually discovered by Long John Baldry - an English blues singer and played in his band before getting famous - Elton took the last name "John" from Baldry (not John Lennon). It was Baldry that convinced him to accept himself as gay and not get married. They did not play Crocodile Rock at the Troubadour, etc, etc.

All of the songs were out of sequence historically speaking.

The costume at the opening rehab scene was cartoonish. Ruined the impact for me.

My own bias - but when I see a music biopic, I want to hear that person's music as they wrote and sang it - Egerton would have been fine as he sounded a bit like Elton. All the others - not.
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