Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog [Blu-ray]

5 Comments

1. airistoxic

   September 24, 2010 at 1:31 am

   Review by airistoxic for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog [Blu-ray]
   Rating:
   First let me say that the content on the disc itself is great, but Amazon is not being completely honest with it’s product descriptions.

   On the top of the page, it says that the disc format is DVD, but if you buy it, there is a possibility that they will send you a burned DVD-R instead of a pressed DVD disc. This can be an issue because DVD-Rs are not as durable over time and some DVD players cannot read them.

   You can tell if you received a DVD-R if it is a purple backed DVD-R disc. I didn’t even realize this was a possibility until I opened the package and saw it since the product description doesn’t even mention it except for in small print at the bottom of the page. I’m disappointed that Amazon couldn’t shell out for a release of consistent quality.

   UPDATE: Amazon recently changed the DVD logo on the top of the product page to DVD-R making the product description more accurate.

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2. Tonya Jarrett

   September 24, 2010 at 1:17 am

   Review by Tonya Jarrett for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog [Blu-ray]
   Rating:
   I just ordered my DVD but my original thoughts were blogged on July 18, and they still stand; well, of course:

   Whether you are or aren’t an acolyte of Joss Whedon, do yourself a favor and view this 45-minute serial TV show made for the Internet (and now on DVD).

   This was an experiment devised by Whedon, two of his brothers, a writer friend of theirs, and countless others who contributed, during the fairly recent (now months ago) WGA strike. The artists on this project basically worked for free, with Joss Whedon and a few others ponying up the funds.

   Dr. Horrible is the tale of a mad scientist (Neil Patrick Harris), would-be villain who wants with his entire being to be part of the Evil League of Evil, run by an Uber-Villain Overlord named Bad Horse. Why? He’s in love with a girl named Penny, who he’s afraid to talk to but wants to rule the world with. She in turn falls for a big lug with half a brain called Captain Hammer. Hammer and Dr. H have a hate-hate relationship, mostly because Hammer keeps giving him beatings and messing up his plans for world domination.

   Did I mention it’s a musical? The whole thing is brilliantly devised; archetypes of villains and heroes turned on their head, a sweet young thing who is their innocent catalyst for change, and a tuneful score which harks to musical theatre influences … some Bernstein, some Schwartz, with emphasis on Sondheim. Whedon and his co-writers obviously love language and know how to use it to warp the woof of an oft-told tale; good vs. evil. But just who is good and who is evil? And for whom will you weep when the story is through?

   Write and tell me. I’d like to know what you thought.

   On the surface, looking at photos, reading synopses here and there, you might be fooled that this is just a trifle, a silly confection. Those unfamiliar with Whedon’s previous artistic outings are in for a surprise. The ending is being hotly debated even as I write this. There’s a lot for everyone here; musical enthusiasts to comic-book fans, to dramaturgs.

   Watch how well the tone shifts from Act to Act, with the music supporting all the action. Act I is the honeymoon, Act II the divorce, and Act III “the great black pit” in more ways than one.

   Neil Patrick Harris is a star – if that wasn’t already clear. His singing and acting runs the gamut from sweetly hopeful, to sarcastic, to morose, to black outrage and despair. If Act III doesn’t prove that you can become hollowed out through your own mistaken desires, nothing will.

   Nathan Fillion plays the “Hero,” Captain Hammer. I don’t want to give too much away if you haven’t seen it yet, but let’s just say his performance is the perfect capital P for pompous. I’m not surprised he delivers on the singing – a very talented man who is not afraid to spoof his own image as someone who is adored, but in a totally obnoxious way. He’s equal parts lecherous Judge Turpin from Sweeney Todd and Judd Frye from Oklahoma. Not easy to pull off.

   Felicia Day (who has her own show The Guild on the Internet Highway) plays Penny, the innocent ingenue who tries to stay positive in a wicked, bad world. Tries to make a difference despite indifference. Day is competent, sweet and smart in a role that doesn’t give her much to do. It felt as though she really had to pull back her own personality to make it fit within the confines of a role that doesn’t change or grow. But she is there for a definite purpose.

   How we could be taken on this journey in such a short series. I’m a believer that all things are possible. Especially when there’s Whedons involved.

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3. M. Morgen

   September 24, 2010 at 12:27 am

   Review by M. Morgen for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog [Blu-ray]
   Rating:
   This is an amazing piece of work, and was one of the first “created for the web” creations to really succeed, both artistically and virally. Neil Patrick and the whole cast are perfect, and the entire production is highly original in content, format, and artistry. The songs are great (you’ll be singing them for days, if not weeks) and bottom line, it’s just really, really good, and worth watching or buying or whatever!

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4. M. Carter

   September 23, 2010 at 11:36 pm

   Review by M. Carter for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog [Blu-ray]
   Rating:
   “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” tells an incredible story of an aspiring villain… who blogs and sings. In this backwards world, the villain is the hero, and the hero is the villain. But which one will get the girl? If you’re a fan of “Sweeney Todd,” you’ll love this movie. The acting is impeccable, and the music is flawless. Not a scene, not a song, not a word is out of place. This is a story you won’t want to miss.

   The fact that this DVD has two commentaries — a typical filmmaker’s commentary and, appropriately so, a musical commentary — is unique in and of itself. The fact that it’s the same stellar crew that put together the Sing-Along blog itself guarantees brilliance. The other special features, such as the “making of” videos, are horribly satisfying. I fell in love with the project all over again.

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5. A. P. Murrell

   September 23, 2010 at 11:13 pm

   Review by A. P. Murrell for Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog [Blu-ray]
   Rating:
   So it’s nothing short of a miracle that I ran into this webcast musical. I’d never dipped in the pond of Whedon’s work and at the time I wasn’t a fan of any of the actors, but boy did that change.

   I first heard about Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog from a couple weekly podcasts that I listened to and everyone loved it, so I gave it a try. I came out of the experience singing the catchy songs for weeks, seeking out the actors’ works, and wanting to be a bigger Whedon fan.

   The acting is spectacular. Neil Patrick Harris is one of the best actors of his generation and he shows real and refined talent by both singing and acting as Dr. Horrible himself. It’s a shame that Nathan Fillion, Captain Hammer, is not an exploding star. Felica Day, too, exhibits fine acting and singing skills and it’s hard not to fall in love with her character, Penny.

   The Whedon team (+ Mo) do an amazing job of weaving together fine acting, extremely catchy and well-written songs, and witty, yet thought-provoking dialogue in the tragicomedy that is Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog and I, for one, cannot wait for more.

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