I saw the Dreamgirls movie a few days ago, and loved it! I wasn't expecting much because I had seen the show at an outdoor theatre a year before and really did not enjoy it. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the movie. It was the best movie I'd seen in ages.

Who here has seen both the show and the movie? Which did you like better?

The movie changes a lot of things to make the story more closely resemble that of the Supremes and it also expands on the characters.
Although no one can ever compare to Jennifer Holiday (OBC), Jennifer Hudson is pretty damn close.

I honestly have different things I like and dislike about the movie and the stage versions, so to me, they are pretty equal.

It's a bit difficult to compare, in a sense, as you're comparing a final product with a potential product, unless you're talking about a specific production of the show.

I think the film is quite a good adaptation of the show in terms of transferring it to another medium, although I think the film screenplay (at times) tends to forget that Effie is at the heart and soul of the story, throwing the balance out just a little. Still, I think that's the least of the film's problems, of which there are several, and of course the film as a whole overcomes the problems of its parts to a certain extent.

I also think that the film is stronger for the strengthening of the Supremes/Dreams analogy. The stage show's reluctance to make that kind of a statement is a little less "cool and ambiguous" than I think the writers intend it to be.

That said, I think the stage show is great - it's immensely theatrical, which always helps for live productions and it draws one in very successfully, I think. It's a compelling experience and I wish I could have seen the original Michael Bennett production.

Later days
David

I just watched this last night and it was way good! Jennifer Hudson did an amazing job! It's true how they kind of stray from Effie as the main character.

As I have never seen it on stage I don't know how it compares to the movie, but I loved the movie and the score was fantastic!

i absolutelty love the movie, but the show is what sparked my interest. Once I saw the show, I started getting really excited for the movie, so i guess for me they're both great in their own different ways.

Never saw the show, but my stepmother told me that she actually walked out of the show after the first act, yet she loved the movie. Go figure!

I haven't seen the theatre version either but I have been told it was quite bad. The movie was just amazing. It should become a proper broadway and west end musical.

I never saw the show, but the movie was AMAZING!

My biggest problem with this peice overall is that it really seems to climax at "And I Am Telling You"...which is the act one closer...it is a great song no doubt...a ton of emotion that is brilliantly captured in the song...however...the most emotional song should have been at the end of course...if a display of emotion through song is going to make up the climax then it should be at the end of the show..."Everything's Comming Up Roses" is a very powerful and emotional song...but "Rose's Turn" makes it look like a joke lol.

I dont know in the movie I didnt feel that it climaxed at "And I am telling you." I think this does a great job setting up the second half of the movie. I think the most powerful moment for me was the last 15min sequence with curtis finaly not getting his way with deanna, Effie getting back and blackmailing curtis, and the end when effie rejoins the dreams and curtis finds out he has a daughter. I have never seen the stage version and cant really see it working very well.

I saw it at The Fox (Atlanta) last Summer with Jennifer Holliday and I definatley(sp) prefer it to the movie. My only issue was a lot of times I'm thinking "Come on Jeniffer, we know you're over 50....."