Critique the musical to this point (using specific examples) as a teaching tool for such concepts as “rights as Englishmen”, “tyranny”, or even simply colonial fashion, custom or social mores. Support your answers with examples! REPLY to others!
I kind of wish that this movie weren't a musical. Some of the songs are just plain silly and unecessary. The costoms are good and historically accurate. I like the fact that eventhough the congressmen are dressed formally, they aren't above screeming at eachother.
I like the movie on how strongly John Adams and others felt about independence and the time it took to convince the other colonies. Some of the songs are good but it is hard to imagine them bursting into song about some of the things. Like when they were discussing who was going to write the Declaration of Independence, it doesn't seem like they would be singing then. Although the songs do get the point across.
Although the songs may have annoyed you black lizzy, you listened to them. Had we been watching a movie in which wannabe actors attempted to teach us such a critical piece of history by acting it out from robot-like scripts, you would have been asleep in class. The muscial part of the movie got your attention, and it help you to understand the situation more than your typical historical movie. Even the comedy in the movie is an excellent way that the producers of this movie got kids like us to learn about what occured in 1776. The arguements between the characters showed you how both sides of our country felt, and i feel as though the movie really is an excellent teaching tool.
alright first of all freejack mick yeager, I would have much prefered a movie with "robot-like scripts" because i actually enjoy this time period enough to get something from that. I actually like history enough not to be put to sleep by a more accurate portrayal of what happend. 2nd i only listened to the songs because they were there.
I find that the songs create a good balance between conversation and entertainment. Without any of the songs, the movie would just be a lot of hard-to-understand arguments, which would make it hard for me to learn anything from it. The arguments help me grasp the topic, but the songs simplify everything so that it's easy to understand.
I personally loved the songs. I have a soft spot for musicals though. Don't you wish we could all just burst into perfect harmony? Songs really help me remember things. I don't think I'll ever forget the character Richard H. Lee from Virginia because of his little number there. Black Lizzy, you don't have to be embarrassed because it is silly. You could just laugh. This movie also allows me to "humanize" the people like we talked about in the beginning of the year. Now I really have sense of who they were. It also makes me realize how long the voting process for independence was.
Didn't say i was embarassed. i like some musicals. "the sound of music" is one of my favorite movies. I just don't particularly like the songs in this musical. there's nothing wrong with liking the songs, i just don't find them necessary. I'm glad everyone else seems to like them, but stop acting like you know me. twice now people have said things that they are guessing about me. I would NEVER fall asleep on a movie about this time period and i AM NOT embarassed of my opinion of any part of the movie, seeing how i have defended my opinions twice now.
Personally, i feel as though the song s made the whole movie much more interesting to watch. instead of just saying what each character wanted to say(in a robot-like fashion?)each had their own way of singing the song. this just shows a whole different form of expression you just don't really get with normal robot films.
I also agree with pink jeannie galindo in the fact that is does show how strongly John Adams and Benjamin Franklin feel toward independence from Britain. The movie seems extrodinarily accurate (besides the singing) as to what actually occured in Congress during this time period. It also does a great job in showing the emotions of the characters and how it is effecting them mentally. Some of the songs do seem silly, as black lizzy said, but they really do help in reinforcing the topic being sung about.
I agree with the people that like the movie because how strongly John Adams and others felt about independence. The movie is generally pretty good, though at times i wish they would stop singing. It manages to be mildly entertaining while still having alot of facts in it.
while the songs may be a bit goofy, i do think they make the movie more complete. i will now always remember Richard H. Lee's last name, and probably start singing it occasionally as well. I do agree with Peg-leg on the fact that they are being humanized through the movie. While they may be intelligent congress hotshots, they too are easily frustrated with their colleagues, or just want to spend an afternoon with their wife in bed.
The musical makes it interesting. If it wasn't a musical no one would really pay attention. Would students honestly want to sit and watch a movie about the making and signing of the declaration. As for the correctness and authenticity it's completely correct. If they tried to make it without being correct it's really just insulting those who lived and died for the cause.
The songs kept the attention,I'm an avid American History buff so either way I would have watched it. But looking at it from someone who doesn't necessarily like American History, the songs make you listen to them. Obnoxious or not you still listened to them. Although it wouldn't be proper to burst into song in that time period, it makes it more entertaining for those who don't like history want to watch it.
I think it this movie is good as a musical. The songs keep it entertaining. There are only so many ways you can make the events exciting enough for students to sit through. I agree with skcowgirl that if they just made it all up with little to no facts, then it would be insulting and not worth watching. In this movie, however, it is quite accurate and worth watching.
I have to go with Black Lizzy on this one. I think some of the songs are unrealistic and although some of you may find them cute and interesting, i don't! I agree that I like this stuff, so i don't need to hear people sing about it to stay awake. If someone really was gonna fall asleep, i think some of those songs would make them sleep more! Alhtough some of those songs show how into it they are and gives back up for there feelings, i think most of them are just a little to silly! But i really love this movie. You can actually picture all this stuff and not just read about in a text book!
Even though the songs might seem silly (black lizzy, p.j. galindo, keel haulin' blythe, tiffany jagger, etc.), this movie is in fact a musical, and therefore needs songs. In this particular musical, the songs serve to emphasize or make a point, or to bring a dramatic flair to a certain scene. For example, then "Pen in Pennsylvania" scene showed just how hard it was to pick someone to write the Declaration of Independence; no one wanted the duty/privaledge to write it, and most of them were not suitable.
This musical has shown how women in particular dress; Martha, a very beautiful woman by their standards, was dressed in an impractical white dress, which must have taken ages to put on, not to mention the room it must have taken up when she brought it. The clothes in this musical can show how useless women in general were deemed to be; someone who actually works would never have worn a dress such as that one.
I like the movie so far and the fact it's a musical helps because it can really stress important parts by going into song about them. Also Scurvy Legs McGee had a good point the singing really helped because it gave new depth to the movie and it's characters that it couldn't have done otherwise. Overall well done and I can't wait to see how they vote on independence even though I have a feeling as to what happens.............
The songs help get ones point across. The righs of the english people are absolutely forgotten for the colonists, the debate about independance and some of the points that John Adams had were very good examples on how the colonists were treated and why they needed to declare independance from the mother country. The personality of John Adams just makes the movie better because he is a leader. He and Ben Franklin are a great pair and were a major factor on the start of our country.
i feel that it is interesting to see which colonys feel that they are englishmen and have the rights of englishmen and those who don't. i also find it interesting that todays more liberal colonys were somewhat united then also, as new england was, and today they are usually mostly democratic, and how the southern states grouped together. i think that the early american alliances and eventually partys probably emerged from the area that they were located.
and i don't see what anybody has against a musical(black lizzy)
For the millionth time, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST MUSICALS!!!!! i just don't particularly like the songs in this one! didn't i say i love "the sound of music"? guess what that is! I'll help you out Slappy, IT's A MUSICAL. Just because i don't like one musical, doesn't mean i have anything against them as a whole. M'kay?
I think that this was a great portrayl of colonial life, the costumes and mannerisms are all great, I think that the fact that there are aspects of comedy help to humanize the characters and make them more entertaining than just boring historical characters. For instance, For many ben franklin is just some dusty old dude who invented some stuff that we still use today(like the stove) but for us now that we have seen this movie we know he was just as cynacil, sarcastic and fun loving as the next person.
I think that the movie '1776' is a great resource in learning about the revolution and the declration of independence. Like anything else this movie is not perfect and could be more interesting. The songs are mainly vary catchy but some are unnecessary as Black Lizzy previously stated. Other than that the movie will depict the stuggles of the colonial states in the persuit for independence.
I happen to own this movie and I think it's pretty decent. Everytime(this being my third time) I watch it, I learn something new about this amazing historical event I never knew before. Whenever anyone talks about John Adams, all I can picture is hot-headed Mr. Feeny singing and debating and I feel like I know him personally. I totally agree with Freejack Mick Yeager about the music and the comedy, it keeps my full attention and I remember certain facts in a much more vivid way. Songs are known to help kids learn, like singing the ABC's :). This musical has given me a clear understanding of how people viewed themselves as Englishmen and the rights this included and how King George would always be a tyrant whether they stated it or not, he was. The costumes like everyone said are great and I can clearly see their customs and social habits such as proper introductions to eachother.
I also wish this movie weren't a musical. Only because I personally hate them. With a passion. But I definitely like the sense of humor used at times in the play. Ben Franklin, in particular. It is a play based on our U.S. history so it obviously is not the greatest film in the world..but it is important to pay attention to detail and listen to the voice of the people and get to understand what each person was like and their personality. The atmosphere is very well done, too. It has a very colonial, historic feeling to it uplifting the time period it is supposed to be in.
I was pretty certain I was not going to like 1776, but so far I'm actually enjoying it. I never considered myself a musical person, but I feel the lightheartedness of the cheesy musical parts in this film balance everything out very well. Without them, the film might have gotten a little too serious for me - at this point, mind you, as I have difficulty humanizing historic people in certain cases. Here's where I definitely concur with Peg-Leg Elena; this film really humanized these real people for me! Having learned bits about, let's say, John Adams, most of my life, I came to de-humanize him in a respectable way. He and many others depicted in this movie became figures I respected to a fault, as I never had thoughts like "Gee, I wonder if he [John Adams] was hotheaded/irritated people/etc." They were people who did great stuff, but I never thought about what they really, personally went through. My fault, yeah...but anyway this musical's depiction's helped me out with all that. I've grown more fond of the idea of people like John Adams as...people. It's kind of helped me humanize the whole time period, too, in a way. Since it's a nicely accurate film I can actually see how people dressed and acted, and how heated debates over things like independence, rebellion, and colonial/Englishmen rights surely WERE. People were split and many set in their ideas. Sorry this is such a big post, I'm terrible at shortening these things. :( I was good in the last few...
Many people have come to say that they wish this movie wasn't a musical (including myself), but now as I think about it, without the music to liven things up, it would probably be the most boring movie ever. I think the music definately helped to set the mood of the film, and kept everyone somewhat intreaged.
For any of you out there who dont like the musical parts, you are missing the point of them. They are ment to convey a message with more vigor and emphasis. I feel the best two parts of the movie are the "Momma look sharp song" and the "Molasses and Rum" song. Momma look sharp demonstrates the sadness the british are causing to colonials. This song truly makes me want the congress to pass independence. THe other song Molasses and Rum was just awsome and though i disagree with it, it showed how the southern states where swayed on the issue on slavery. This movie is better for having songs in it.
I am not a big fan of the musical aspect of this movie because they just don't seem to fit what was going on. American Independence was a very serious issue and the silliness of the songs conflict with what the people are saying. The movie does seem pretty accurate though. The settings look very realistic and the costumes do too. The language throughout the film seems to be what the people would have been saying. A lot of Ben Franklin's sayings were incorporated such as, "we must all hang together or we shall surely hang separately". Although when he said that, it was like a big joke among the delegates and the room burst out into laughter. I guess that could have been the original context, but it seems more likely to me that he first "said" it in his writing.
Mr. Feeney makes the whole movie alot better, as does the actor who plays Ben Franklin. I just wish they would go a little bit further in the history of America and depict the battles and have the same actors in the movie, and eventually see them declare their own country after they beat off the British.
I think that the film had alot of good information about the revolution and constitution. however, i didn't like the songs because they gave off an impression that took away the seriousness and emphasis of the movie. i agree with Mccracken in this aspect. the songs seemed to create a totally different attitude from what was really going on.
33 comments:
I kind of wish that this movie weren't a musical. Some of the songs are just plain silly and unecessary. The costoms are good and historically accurate. I like the fact that eventhough the congressmen are dressed formally, they aren't above screeming at eachother.
I like the movie on how strongly John Adams and others felt about independence and the time it took to convince the other colonies. Some of the songs are good but it is hard to imagine them bursting into song about some of the things. Like when they were discussing who was going to write the Declaration of Independence, it doesn't seem like they would be singing then. Although the songs do get the point across.
The songs do get the point across but particular songs like Lee's song and the slave song just annoyed me.
Although the songs may have annoyed you black lizzy, you listened to them. Had we been watching a movie in which wannabe actors attempted to teach us such a critical piece of history by acting it out from robot-like scripts, you would have been asleep in class. The muscial part of the movie got your attention, and it help you to understand the situation more than your typical historical movie. Even the comedy in the movie is an excellent way that the producers of this movie got kids like us to learn about what occured in 1776. The arguements between the characters showed you how both sides of our country felt, and i feel as though the movie really is an excellent teaching tool.
alright first of all freejack mick yeager, I would have much prefered a movie with "robot-like scripts" because i actually enjoy this time period enough to get something from that. I actually like history enough not to be put to sleep by a more accurate portrayal of what happend. 2nd i only listened to the songs because they were there.
I find that the songs create a good balance between conversation and entertainment. Without any of the songs, the movie would just be a lot of hard-to-understand arguments, which would make it hard for me to learn anything from it. The arguments help me grasp the topic, but the songs simplify everything so that it's easy to understand.
I personally loved the songs. I have a soft spot for musicals though. Don't you wish we could all just burst into perfect harmony? Songs really help me remember things. I don't think I'll ever forget the character Richard H. Lee from Virginia because of his little number there. Black Lizzy, you don't have to be embarrassed because it is silly. You could just laugh. This movie also allows me to "humanize" the people like we talked about in the beginning of the year. Now I really have sense of who they were. It also makes me realize how long the voting process for independence was.
Didn't say i was embarassed. i like some musicals. "the sound of music" is one of my favorite movies. I just don't particularly like the songs in this musical. there's nothing wrong with liking the songs, i just don't find them necessary. I'm glad everyone else seems to like them, but stop acting like you know me. twice now people have said things that they are guessing about me. I would NEVER fall asleep on a movie about this time period and i AM NOT embarassed of my opinion of any part of the movie, seeing how i have defended my opinions twice now.
Personally, i feel as though the song s made the whole movie much more interesting to watch. instead of just saying what each character wanted to say(in a robot-like fashion?)each had their own way of singing the song. this just shows a whole different form of expression you just don't really get with normal robot films.
but i didn't like the molasses and slave song. it was just annoying.
I also agree with pink jeannie galindo in the fact that is does show how strongly John Adams and Benjamin Franklin feel toward independence from Britain. The movie seems extrodinarily accurate (besides the singing) as to what actually occured in Congress during this time period. It also does a great job in showing the emotions of the characters and how it is effecting them mentally. Some of the songs do seem silly, as black lizzy said, but they really do help in reinforcing the topic being sung about.
I agree with the people that like the movie because how strongly John Adams and others felt about independence. The movie is generally pretty good, though at times i wish they would stop singing. It manages to be mildly entertaining while still having alot of facts in it.
while the songs may be a bit goofy, i do think they make the movie more complete. i will now always remember Richard H. Lee's last name, and probably start singing it occasionally as well. I do agree with Peg-leg on the fact that they are being humanized through the movie. While they may be intelligent congress hotshots, they too are easily frustrated with their colleagues, or just want to spend an afternoon with their wife in bed.
The musical makes it interesting. If it wasn't a musical no one would really pay attention. Would students honestly want to sit and watch a movie about the making and signing of the declaration. As for the correctness and authenticity it's completely correct. If they tried to make it without being correct it's really just insulting those who lived and died for the cause.
The songs kept the attention,I'm an avid American History buff so either way I would have watched it. But looking at it from someone who doesn't necessarily like American History, the songs make you listen to them. Obnoxious or not you still listened to them. Although it wouldn't be proper to burst into song in that time period, it makes it more entertaining for those who don't like history want to watch it.
I think it this movie is good as a musical. The songs keep it entertaining. There are only so many ways you can make the events exciting enough for students to sit through. I agree with skcowgirl that if they just made it all up with little to no facts, then it would be insulting and not worth watching. In this movie, however, it is quite accurate and worth watching.
I have to go with Black Lizzy on this one. I think some of the songs are unrealistic and although some of you may find them cute and interesting, i don't! I agree that I like this stuff, so i don't need to hear people sing about it to stay awake. If someone really was gonna fall asleep, i think some of those songs would make them sleep more! Alhtough some of those songs show how into it they are and gives back up for there feelings, i think most of them are just a little to silly! But i really love this movie. You can actually picture all this stuff and not just read about in a text book!
Even though the songs might seem silly (black lizzy, p.j. galindo, keel haulin' blythe, tiffany jagger, etc.), this movie is in fact a musical, and therefore needs songs. In this particular musical, the songs serve to emphasize or make a point, or to bring a dramatic flair to a certain scene. For example, then "Pen in Pennsylvania" scene showed just how hard it was to pick someone to write the Declaration of Independence; no one wanted the duty/privaledge to write it, and most of them were not suitable.
This musical has shown how women in particular dress; Martha, a very beautiful woman by their standards, was dressed in an impractical white dress, which must have taken ages to put on, not to mention the room it must have taken up when she brought it. The clothes in this musical can show how useless women in general were deemed to be; someone who actually works would never have worn a dress such as that one.
I like the movie so far and the fact it's a musical helps because it can really stress important parts by going into song about them. Also Scurvy Legs McGee had a good point the singing really helped because it gave new depth to the movie and it's characters that it couldn't have done otherwise. Overall well done and I can't wait to see how they vote on independence even though I have a feeling as to what happens.............
The songs help get ones point across. The righs of the english people are absolutely forgotten for the colonists, the debate about independance and some of the points that John Adams had were very good examples on how the colonists were treated and why they needed to declare independance from the mother country. The personality of John Adams just makes the movie better because he is a leader. He and Ben Franklin are a great pair and were a major factor on the start of our country.
i feel that it is interesting to see which colonys feel that they are englishmen and have the rights of englishmen and those who don't. i also find it interesting that todays more liberal colonys were somewhat united then also, as new england was, and today they are usually mostly democratic, and how the southern states grouped together. i think that the early american alliances and eventually partys probably emerged from the area that they were located.
and i don't see what anybody has against a musical(black lizzy)
For the millionth time, I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST MUSICALS!!!!! i just don't particularly like the songs in this one! didn't i say i love "the sound of music"? guess what that is! I'll help you out Slappy, IT's A MUSICAL. Just because i don't like one musical, doesn't mean i have anything against them as a whole. M'kay?
I think that this was a great portrayl of colonial life, the costumes and mannerisms are all great, I think that the fact that there are aspects of comedy help to humanize the characters and make them more entertaining than just boring historical characters. For instance, For many ben franklin is just some dusty old dude who invented some stuff that we still use today(like the stove) but for us now that we have seen this movie we know he was just as cynacil, sarcastic and fun loving as the next person.
I think that the movie '1776' is a great resource in learning about the revolution and the declration of independence. Like anything else this movie is not perfect and could be more interesting. The songs are mainly vary catchy but some are unnecessary as Black Lizzy previously stated. Other than that the movie will depict the stuggles of the colonial states in the persuit for independence.
I happen to own this movie and I think it's pretty decent. Everytime(this being my third time) I watch it, I learn something new about this amazing historical event I never knew before. Whenever anyone talks about John Adams, all I can picture is hot-headed Mr. Feeny singing and debating and I feel like I know him personally. I totally agree with Freejack Mick Yeager about the music and the comedy, it keeps my full attention and I remember certain facts in a much more vivid way. Songs are known to help kids learn, like singing the ABC's :). This musical has given me a clear understanding of how people viewed themselves as Englishmen and the rights this included and how King George would always be a tyrant whether they stated it or not, he was. The costumes like everyone said are great and I can clearly see their customs and social habits such as proper introductions to eachother.
settle down, black lizzy..
I also wish this movie weren't a musical. Only because I personally hate them. With a passion. But I definitely like the sense of humor used at times in the play. Ben Franklin, in particular. It is a play based on our U.S. history so it obviously is not the greatest film in the world..but it is important to pay attention to detail and listen to the voice of the people and get to understand what each person was like and their personality. The atmosphere is very well done, too. It has a very colonial, historic feeling to it uplifting the time period it is supposed to be in.
Not a bad film, Kimball.
I was pretty certain I was not going to like 1776, but so far I'm actually enjoying it. I never considered myself a musical person, but I feel the lightheartedness of the cheesy musical parts in this film balance everything out very well. Without them, the film might have gotten a little too serious for me - at this point, mind you, as I have difficulty humanizing historic people in certain cases. Here's where I definitely concur with Peg-Leg Elena; this film really humanized these real people for me! Having learned bits about, let's say, John Adams, most of my life, I came to de-humanize him in a respectable way. He and many others depicted in this movie became figures I respected to a fault, as I never had thoughts like "Gee, I wonder if he [John Adams] was hotheaded/irritated people/etc." They were people who did great stuff, but I never thought about what they really, personally went through. My fault, yeah...but anyway this musical's depiction's helped me out with all that. I've grown more fond of the idea of people like John Adams as...people. It's kind of helped me humanize the whole time period, too, in a way. Since it's a nicely accurate film I can actually see how people dressed and acted, and how heated debates over things like independence, rebellion, and colonial/Englishmen rights surely WERE. People were split and many set in their ideas.
Sorry this is such a big post, I'm terrible at shortening these things. :( I was good in the last few...
Many people have come to say that they wish this movie wasn't a musical (including myself), but now as I think about it, without the music to liven things up, it would probably be the most boring movie ever. I think the music definately helped to set the mood of the film, and kept everyone somewhat intreaged.
For any of you out there who dont like the musical parts, you are missing the point of them. They are ment to convey a message with more vigor and emphasis. I feel the best two parts of the movie are the "Momma look sharp song" and the "Molasses and Rum" song. Momma look sharp demonstrates the sadness the british are causing to colonials. This song truly makes me want the congress to pass independence. THe other song Molasses and Rum was just awsome and though i disagree with it, it showed how the southern states where swayed on the issue on slavery. This movie is better for having songs in it.
I am not a big fan of the musical aspect of this movie because they just don't seem to fit what was going on. American Independence was a very serious issue and the silliness of the songs conflict with what the people are saying. The movie does seem pretty accurate though. The settings look very realistic and the costumes do too. The language throughout the film seems to be what the people would have been saying. A lot of Ben Franklin's sayings were incorporated such as, "we must all hang together or we shall surely hang separately". Although when he said that, it was like a big joke among the delegates and the room burst out into laughter. I guess that could have been the original context, but it seems more likely to me that he first "said" it in his writing.
Mr. Feeney makes the whole movie alot better, as does the actor who plays Ben Franklin. I just wish they would go a little bit further in the history of America and depict the battles and have the same actors in the movie, and eventually see them declare their own country after they beat off the British.
I think that the film had alot of good information about the revolution and constitution. however, i didn't like the songs because they gave off an impression that took away the seriousness and emphasis of the movie. i agree with Mccracken in this aspect. the songs seemed to create a totally different attitude from what was really going on.
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