Mary Poppins Returns (Film)

No. If the Academy don't give it to Olivia Colman (which they should, she's much better in The Favourite than Emily Blunt is in this), then they'll give it to Glenn Close purely because she's long overdue an Oscar.

I think the third favourite is more Lady Gaga than Blunt, though the latter should at least get a nomination as well. It isn't a hugely competitive category this year as people are finding it difficult to call a certain 5th nominee (though most suspect it will be Melissa McCarthy).

I would be happy with that. So many good performances this year. Lady is doing some amazing acting.

I got the big about wanting to make profits - but the excessive lengths they were going to just to acquire the Banks house seemed out of kilter with their general business methods and needed further justification for it to really make dramatic sense.

I felt it was such a personal thing for the Firth character that we needed to fully understand what was making him so evil towards this particular family.

What a delight and sheer joy this film was. I caught a screening of this the other night and came out with the biggest grin on my face.

This was everything I hope it would be.

Several things stuck me- the cinematography, the sets, costumes (I LOVED the bustle-aka Sunday in the Park with George) and as I watched it I could help seeing this staged. I also love the varying references to the first film. Angela Lansbury was a lovey surprise and although I knew he was in it, Dick van Dyke was incredibly nimble on his feet.

But what stuck me the most was the colours. Everything from the balloons to Mr Bank's green cardigan the the beginning to his blue blazer at the end to the coats worn by the children when Mary Popping first appears.

I thought Emily Blunt was excellent. I think it's only natural to make a comparison with Julie Andrews and whilst she ain't no Julie Andrews (who is?) she made the character her own. the only thing that I don't like is when performed the song & dance routine with the bobbed hair cut.

I also thought the animated 'sequence' (I saw Saving Mr Banks) in the bowl was great.

And the great big dance number-Wow! Now that GOT TO BE staged!

I admit I'm a bit biased because I LOVE Disney but isn't great when money is thrown into a project that turns out practically perfect in every way! Lol!

It also kept the character alive and brings her to a whole new generation.

I realise that P.L.Travers wrote a number of books where the character of Mary Poppins appeared. Does anyone know if this film is based upon one of these books, made up from several of the stories or this is totally original story?

Thanking you in advance.

They still repeat them on BBC4, if you want a bit of nostalgia!

I think there are 8 Mary Poppins books but this new film isn’t based specifically on any of them so it’s a new story.

I finally saw MARY POPPINS RETURNS this afternoon, and words cannot truly express how wonderful I found the whole thing. I absolutely adored it. The first film was an integral part of my childhood, so holds a very special place in my heart to this day, and it is probably one of my favourite films of all time. This new film was at least as good, if not better than the original.

It was a very emotional experience for me from the first moment - I had goosebumps and shivers practically the whole way through, as well as tears in my eyes. There were moments that absolutely killed me, particularly the reprise of “The Place Where the Lost Things Go” sung by the Banks children to their father. I was a sobbing mess during that! Also, when the Dick Van Dyke’s character gave his speech in the bank near the end of the film, and the instrumental of “Feed the Birds” played underneath.

I thought the new score was a marvel! I have been a fan of all of Shaiman and Wittman’s previous work, but this is on another level. I have purposely not listened to the soundtrack recording, as I wanted to go in knowing nothing, as I didn’t want it to spoil my enjoyment beforehand, and I often enjoy things more when I go in “blind”. I am so glad I decided to do it this way. They have somehow created something new, but old. The songs were supremely catchy and memorable upon first listen, just as the songs in the original were, but were also musically and dramatically sound with a clear message. I did like the quieter songs the best, such as the previously mentioned “The Place Where the Lost Things Go, and “The Conversation” (the song Michael sings to his dead wife in the attic). However, there was much enjoyment in all of the score, and the bigger numbers such as “Trip A Little Light Fantastic”, “The Cover Is Not The Book”, “Nowhere to go but up” etc practically leapt off the screen, and it was like being in the theatre. I wanted to applaud! All the little nods to the original were also welcomed, not only in the type of songs (there were clear songs that were meant to mirror moments in the first film - “The Place Where the Lost Things Go”/“Feed The Birds”, “Trip A Little Light Fantastic”/“Chim Chim Cheree”, “Nowhere to go but up”/“Let’s Go Fly A Kite”, “Royal Daulton Music Hall”/“Joly Holiday”), but also in the direct quotations used. Another nice thing was the lush orchestra, and the score had clearly been conceived with this in mind.

The score and musical performances were absolutely helped by the directing and choreography. Rob Marshall sure knows how to direct a film musical.

The actors’ performances were also excellent, - the best performances I have seen or heard from all of the actors involved. Ben Whishaw was stunning and emotional as Michael Banks, Lin Manuel was charming as Jack, and gave his best vocal performance, and the series of cameos from Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury and Dick Van Dyke were very classy. Now onto Emily Blunt...For me, she is absolutely EVERYTHING in this role. I thought she was just miraculous. I am a fan of hers anyway, and have loved her in everything I have seen her in, including INTO THE WOODS, but this is just another league. What she does with her face in this film, and what she shows just through the flicker of her eyes is just astonishing. I would love for her to win an Oscar for this performance. She truly deserves it!

This film has clearly been made with true love and care, and it shows. It is one of the best film musicals I have seen. It is not ashamed that it is a musical and just goes for it full throttle. It has set the gold standard for movie musicals to come. Screw rch that, it is not just the best musical film I have seen, but one of the best films I have seen in recent times - musical or otherwise. JUST GO, GO, GO! I may go and see it again.

I'm seeing it a second time today, and I realise I haven't done a full kinda thought/review so after this viewing will do so!

So I saw the film for the second time today and it's just as brilliant as it was the first time around, if not better.

The review obviously has to start and end with Ms. Blunt, who is fabulous, engaging and beautiful as Mary. Not only is her acting great, but her singing and dancing is insane and she really is keeping up with seasoned Broadway performers like we saw in Into the Woods. I also like that it is just enough Julie Andrews without being too much. I'll say it now, I want to see her nominated for the Oscar and I wouldn't be mad to see her win. Her counterpart, Lin, is great too. Having kinda gone off the Lin-Manuel bandwagon a while ago for the "too much, too soon" aspect of his career, he is nothing but charming and lovable as Jack, and thoroughly enjoyable to watch. Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer also bring the charm and, especially Ben, emotion to the piece. Special mentions of course have to go to Julie Walters, Angela Lansbury, Queen Meryl Streep and Dick Van Duke for bringing humour, grace and charm to the piece in smaller roles. It was a showcase for them all and all succeeded. I found it interesting that, in the credits, only two performers had personal vocal coaches, and one of them was Lansbury, but I suppose with her age it makes sense. And I also really loved Chris O'Dowd as the Dog in the animated sequence.

The film looks beautiful. The sets and costumes all imaginative and clever. The special effects are so engaging and reel you in, and it was so lovely to see old ways of doing them used again.

As for the music, I'd go as far as to say there isn't a dud in there. I found the most emotional song A Conversation by Ben Whishaw which made me cry the moment it started. Personal highlights included Can You Imagine That, A Cover is Not the Book, The Place Where Lost Things Go, Turning Turtle (The Queen did not disappoint, she chewed up every bit of scenery), Trip To the Light Fantastic and Nowhere to Go But Up. I realise I just mentioned all the big numbers but rightly so, they were all fabulous from a visual, vocal and production value moment.

So if you haven't seen it, go and see it. It's a fabulous film and alot of fun, with sentimentality abundle and a chance to watch amazing actors and actresses do their thing at their best.

For me, 5*

I am a bit late to the party for this film but worth the wait. What a glorious film. I could have stayed in my seat and watched it allover again.
So many nods to the original that I loved and the songs were perfect. One or two felt as if they had been around for years. In a few years this could easily transfer to the stage without having to make changes.
Can't fault it.
It wasn't pratically perfect it was just perfect.

I’m yet to see this again in the cinema but then music for me is getting better and better with each listen and I enjoyed it begin with anyway. Isolated away from the film you can concentrate more on the lyrics and beautiful orchestrations.

Definitely going to book a repeat cinema trip!