My Basic Ramblings: I have been waiting for this movie since I was seven years old. My parents had the soundtrack for the Broadway musical of Evita (the Patti LuPone/Mandy Patankin version) when I was little, and I know the entire libretto. (Oh what a circus, oh what a show, Argentina has gone to town, over the death of an actress called Eva Peron, we've all gone crazy, mourning all day and mourning all night, falling over ourselves to get all of the misery right, oh what an exit, that's how to go, when they're bringing your curtain down, demand to be buried like Eva Peron, it's quite a sunset, and good for the country in a round-about way, we've made the front page of all the world's papers today, but who is this Santa Evita? Why all this howling hysterical sorrow.........okay, I'll shut up now.)
The fact that I know the libretto like the back of my hand proved to be jarring while watching the film; I would be singing (to myself) "Now Eva Peron had every disadvantage you need if you're gonna succeed/no money, no class, no father, no bright lights", and Antonio Banderas would sing "No money, no cash." Just a li'l redundant, and it doesn't make much sense, either. There were little changes here and there (the funniest being in the "Rainbow Tour" song; a line from the musical goes "She can do what she likes, it doesn't matter much, she's the New World Madonna with the golden touch."
The only serious problem I had with this movie was the fact that Madonna was trying to play Evita as a fifteen-year old. Did anyone actually buy that? Especially since she has to do the "handbag in front of torso to hide pregnancy" trick as she starts singing "Another Suitcase In Another Hall" (which, incidentally, was sung by Peron's mistress in the musical). She's supposed to look twenty-three years younger than she actually is. (On a good day, I can only look eight years younger than I actually am.)
Several times during the film, Juan Peron takes off his jacket, to symbolize his unity with the "descamisados", the "shirtless ones" whom he relies on to win the election. Let me say that one part again. Descamisados. Shirtless ones. Not "jacketless ones." That would be "deschaquetados" or something like that. Though it probably would have taken too long for Pryce to take off his jacket, then his tie, then his shirt. (And all the female fans would have been screaming "Why isn't Antonio one of the 'descamisados'?")
Speaking of Antonio Banderas, I was never a member of the "Antonio Banderas is God" Club, but I'm reconsidering at the moment. (But then again, I'm a total sucker for guys in formal wear.) I was surprised by his performance; he handled the singing well. I would have liked to seen more of Jonathan Pryce; he was kind of used as scenery. (Though I suppose it's Andrew Lloyd Webber's fault; the part in the musical isn't that big. In fact, I could recite all his lines right now.)
The movie is big and bright and beautiful and I liked it. So there.