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Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark Reviews
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| 1 |
It... was...AWEsommmmmmmme!!!! Review by: Armondo-Man, Apr 5, 2012 |
The show was amazing I was vvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeery excited to go see this epic feat. The plot (even though the plot was used more then once) was very well used in time. Words could never describe how softly I cried every time the cast sung, or
when Spider-Man flew into the air! I want to see the musical again until I die. I sat in the balcony where Spider-Man took flight and I thought it was unspeakably exhilerating! Oh and the ... read more cast and crew did an excellent job putting this thing together. 50/50 100% amazing I hope you'll have a better time
than I did!!! |
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My recommendation:
Make an effort to see
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Anyone
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| 2 |
Review by: ev10990, Jul 23, 2011 |
| Awesome show! Have seen the 1.0 version three times and the 2.0 version once! The show just gets better and better each time! There is nothing else on Broadway like Spider-Man! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Anyone
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| 3 |
Review by: TheatreGeek, Jul 21, 2011 |
Saw 1.0 with girlfriend. We both loved it.
Saw 2.0 with girlfriend. We loved it even more.
Great show that sets the bar so high. Nothing like this has ever been done on broadway. Screw the critics....they hated Wicked as well (and look how great the show's done).
GO SEE IT!!!!!!!! |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
Romantic Date, The Entire Family, Business Assoc.
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| 4 |
Spider-Man: Turn Off The YEEEESH! Review by: StephenK, Jun 28, 2011 |
After hearing all the bad press, bad reviews, etc, etc, I had been secretly rooting for this show. It was ambitious, extravagant, and the talk of the entertainment WORLD.
However, on Saturday June 25th, we caught the 8pm performance of Spider-Man... and it's... YEEEESH...
Production-wise, it's fairly top notch. EVERY flying sequence had my jaw wide open. THOSE scenes were VERY well done. The projection aspects were well done too. ... read more Otherwise, it all had kind of a cardboard cutout vibe to it. Probably intentional, but there are ways to do it without feeling cheap.
As far as performances go, the only one that REALLY stood out positively was Patrick Page as The Green Goblin (once he actually turns into the Goblin, that is).
For a show that has SO MUCH talent behind it, maybe I expected TOO MUCH. But when the director of THE LION KING and the band U2 come together to make the most expensive Broadway show ever made, the last thing I should be thinking is "YEEEEEESH..."
A story that's been simplified down to a kid's show, with some tepid music, mostly tepid performances... and some REALLY cool technical elements. It's a mixed bag where the NEGATIVES far outweigh the POSITIVES.
Trust me... GO SEE SOMETHING ELSE. |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Tourists
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| 5 |
Spider-Man is pure joyous entertainment! Review by: Susan S, Jun 5, 2011 |
| Spider-Man:Turn Off the Dark seems to have fixed the problems that plagued it in earlier productions. The sets, costumes, music, choreography, and all the flying around is absolutely amazing. This play will have wide appeal--I sat next to some fifth graders, and I was as enthralled as they, and I'm 60+! The cast is great and the music is memorable, too, and I think that once this musical officially opens that it will rank right up there ... read more with Les Mis, Phantom, and Evita. I cannot wait to see Spider-Man again; it's pure joyous entertainment. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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Alone
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| 6 |
BEYOND TERRIBLE Review by: disappointed, May 30, 2011 |
I don't know about Spidey 2.0, but the original was beyond terrible, so the new and reimagined version can only be better. The plot is way overdone. Several scenes merely show off the costumes and colorful mask-making skills, but in no way do they advance the storyline. The music was loud and overdone, and teh lyrics were incomprehensible. My 14 year old son, on his first trip to NYC, and first experience in a ... read more broadway theatre thought the flying was cool, but was completely bored with teh rest.
There was a lot of talent on that stage, but none of it came together to make a cohesive, enjoyable and even understandable production.
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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| 7 |
Loved It Review by: Jan, Apr 2, 2011 |
| Saw the show wednesday and loved it very fast three hours. I was thrilled I saw it I am glad I didn't listen to other reviews. |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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| 8 |
Review by: Brian, Mar 21, 2011 |
| not worth my time to explain...trying to recoup from loosing 3 hours at the Foxwoods |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Large Group
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| 9 |
Where Do I Begin to Untangle the Web? Review by: Carol, Mar 7, 2011 |
Aerial stunts, costumes, and sets add to a show. They are NOT the show. Julie Taymor's genius in costuming comes through. The work of Bono and Edge do not. Neither does the non-existent plot of this show.
I consider myself well-read and well-educated with a Ph.D. in English. I have been going to the theatre for 60 years, and I had no idea what was going on in the play. Were the kids writing the story? Why was there an army marching ... read more around on stage? What was the point of all of this flying and saving people? How did Arachne fit in? Let's turn the show into a revival of a Greek myth, and I'll get it. Why was there the love triangle?
This was the third attempt my husband and I made to see this play since the two previously scheduled performances were canceled. This one could have been too. What happened to all the money poured into the show? What happened to an intelligible script? |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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Spouse/Partner
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| 10 |
Visually Stunning Review by: layla, Feb 24, 2011 |
| The sets, lighting and stunts were amazing!The writing/ plot disappointing. Most of the music was enjoyable and some of the numbers were great. My young adult son, who is autistic, very visual and not too verbal, absolutely loved it. The kids in the audience seemed to have a great time. We sat in the "flying circle" which I recommend. I usually like to sit in the orchestra but I think the balcony is a better choice for this show so you are not ... read more constantly looking up and /or behind you so see the action. The cast was excellent and I think they deserved a standing ovation which they didn't get. Not a typical Broadway show; the story has no emotional pull but it was lots of fun and worth seeing. *be sure to read the blurb in the program that explains the title and gives a bit of backround for the story before the show starts |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Tourists, Anyone
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| 11 |
Decent. Review by: Caesar, Feb 2, 2011 |
Saw the matinee today (Feb. 2) and was pretty 50/50. To me, it is an entertaining show but it is NOT a broadway musical. It's more like Cirque du Soleil meets a U2 Cover band. Which is not completely bad. None of the songs are particularly memorable but they are all decent. Jennifer's (Mary Jane) performances are wonderful, love her voice. The sets, lighting and effects are truly spectacular and I must say having Spider Man land RIGHT in front ... read more of me in the Orchestra was pretty cool.
That being said, the story is very weak, and the second half is VERY slow moving in parts. The finale scene is particularly cheesy and weird.
I did notice there were more kids at this show then even at the Disney shows. I guess that makes sense. In the end, it's worth seeing for the spectacle, but the show does not have any heart.
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family, Tourists
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| 12 |
Move this show to the top of your priority list!!! You don't wanna miss it! Review by: Waerda, Jan 22, 2011 |
| Amazing show |
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My recommendation:
must see!
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I saw this show with:
Family
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Recommended for:
The Entire Family
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| 13 |
Boring and over complicated Review by: Paul M, Jan 10, 2011 |
I just don't know who this show is aimed at. It's too long and boring for kids, it's too flashy and distracting for real theater goers and it has very little Spider-man for comic book fans.
I saw the show on Wednesday the 5th and there was only one technical glitch that actually stopped it for a few minutes. There was a distracting piece of scenery that wouldn't stop moving (the window of the Bugle) and an incident where arachne got caught ... read more in her web and had to be released by Peter Parker. Incidentally, when she was released and jerked free, her voice was not impacted so I wonder was she singing live.
The flying stunts are genuinely amazing but don't really do anything for the story. They are also hard to see from the Orchestra as you have to look up and back for an extended time depending on where you are.
The music was OK. The main theme has a memorable hook, the obligatory duets with Peter and Mary Jane feel like they were written simply because they were obligatory and had no heart. This felt like Next to Normal or Spring Awenings meets U2 but not in a bood way...
With all of that said, the show has some spectacular moments. The use of the screens in one scene with the Green Goblin made me wonder why they didn't just drop the comic book pop-ups and do the whole show using that. The performers give it their all and are clearly risking injury while the kinks are getting ironed out so they deserve a lot of credit. I understand that this is an expensive undertaking and that they couldn't preview the show out of town because they need to custom fit the theater but they should be allowing preview audiences to pay out of town prices. It's not our fault they overcomplicated the show and forgot that people are moved by stories and songs, not flying actors...
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Spouse/Partner
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| 14 |
More Work Needed Review by: pedrocritic, Jan 9, 2011 |
| I went to the matinee on Sat Jan 8 and the two negatives are BIG ones; 1. The story line is all over the place and appears to have been neglected for quite some time as they deal with all the changes and now it's quite a mess, 2. It is way too long for this type of show. As long as The Merchant of Venice I saw later that night. Shakespeare with Pacino can get away with a near 3 hour experience (including intermission) but ... read more this musical desperately needs a 30 minute edit. The little kids in front of me became particularly restless. The Arachne character is excellent and very entertaining but screws the whole storyline and is the main reason the show runs too long. There were a few extra villains which I was awaiting for a big climax as Spiderman took them on but the show just ended and rendered the extra villains a waste of time. My overall feeling is that I watched a show that is not complete and has been rushed into performances. Someone needs to have the guts to make some dramatic edits to both story & characters. Get rid of the storytelling kids for a start. Get rid of the unused villains. And maybe, just maybe, get rid of the excellent Arachne because she is just not needed in the basic Spiderman story. |
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My recommendation:
Go see if you get a chance
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I saw this show with:
Alone
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Recommended for:
Anyone
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| 15 |
Review by: ryder, Jan 9, 2011 |
| Much excited to see...48 year old going to see Spiderman...that said part one up until the intermission the show rocked - excellent sets, effects, songs, music - everything was great. But, oh well, intermission ended and well the show goes into the ????? so quick that it is hard to believe. Still great sets and the performers were great but it just completely goes....well I'm not really sure.... Spiderman is not seen - except for dancing ... read more in a group of six Spideys - the most boring ballads are sung (think U2 meets Bary Manilow, yes that bad) no action - no spidey - no story - no nothing...I almost feel asleep during one of three horrific ballads and then it all ends??? This could have been great...but after the first act everyone I was with and everyone I could hear was "this is great" after the show everyone I was with (one had to be woken), those around, those walking out - all were saying the same exact thing "what happened after the intermission". The entire story goes lost, when it should have just continued!??? The music changes to melencholoy boring indescript ballads that are completely meaningless to anyone seeing the play. It goes completely completely wrong!! The show as it is will not survive without a major overhaul to the second half (and I mean MAJOR)otherwise if ya wanna see it ya better go soon. I saw the show today(1/9/11) and they still have problems with props (show was stopped for like three minutes because a web couldn't be brought up and they finally went on without it - whatever it was could'nt have saved the boredom although I got somewhat interested watching the stagehands trying to get the web up) I think the people who put all this money behind this should have a drink walk in and watch...after the intermission its a completely different show and that can be fixed easily - STICK TO THE STORY or at least a story that ANYONE would be interested in (Arachna? good god). They need to sit right in the middle of the orchestra and listen to whatever EVERYONE was saying!!!!!!After the first half I thought this was going to become one of my favorite plays ever (Beaty and the Beast, Phantom, Little Shop, Les Miserable)instead after the second half I was like the second half is so bad it makes you forget the first...thats how bad part two is...comon guys fix this!!!!!!!!!!! Its so bad that I'm thinking maybe we were punked??? |
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My recommendation:
Don't go
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I saw this show with:
Large Group
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| * Review is an opinion of a BroadwayBox user and not that of BroadwayBox.com and BroadwayBox, Inc. |
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