This was really interesting. It’s not a good movie, but it’s mainly interesting in just how strange and trippy it is. It’s a little slow in the middle but it picks up at Skimbleshanks and remains interesting after that. Songs are mostly good, wasn’t a fan of Rum Tum Tugger or Gus the Theatre cat.

B

I don't even know how to grade this. It's truly baffling but also kind of unforgettable and hilarious? It's definitely a future cult classic.

Has anyone seen the play here? How does this compare to the play? I have never seen the play but this was AWFUL and if the play is similar I don't understand how it is such a smash.

I’ve not seen the play but I was familiar with the cast recording before seeing the film. It’s very similar other than the removal of one song and some verses from others, the addition of the Beautiful ghosts song, and in the play Macavity only kidnaps Old Deuteronomy, none of the other cats.

The reason it’s so weird is because the song’s were written first, as it’s based on a book of standalone poems about cats that Eliot had encountered in his life. The contest to be reborn was a loose plot shoehorned in once Webber realized a bunch of scenes of unrelated Cats might bore audiences.

I think it was mainly successful because of its spectacle, family friendliness, and soundtrack that people were already familiar with as Webber released his shows as concept albums before they opened. Also Cats has always been popular for its song and dance numbers, which were poorly directed in this movie.

saw the play in Hollywood Pantages (so not Broadway) many years ago, recall really disliking and beyond bored by the musical

the movie was better (I'd give it a C), a few more interesting visuals and stuff going on, but the source material was just too weak to be improved much on.