Bohemian Rhapsody has been one of the most highly anticipated cinematic releases of 2018, telling the story of one of the greatest performers of all time, Freddie Mercury.
Bohemian Rhapsody plays out the incredible story of Freddie Mercury’s life; the rise of Queen, the highs and lows of his own personal struggles and how he established himself as a legend to never be forgotten. (Warning: there will be minor spoilers ahead)
The two-hour long motion picture is very clearly aimed at Queen fans, almost immediately throwing you into the world wind that was these four boys’ lives as global rock stars. Whilst the pace of the movie is to ensure you are not bored and keeping the audience engaged and excited, a deeper insight into Freddie’s early years would have been incredibly interesting. Nevertheless, the flaw can be overlooked for how showstopping the movie is.
The movie takes you on a journey of Queen’s rise to global household names, making you feel as if you are living through this world wind lifestyle that these four men endured. Jam packed with Queen classic you feel as if you are apart of the whole experience, which is a great feeling for any fan of the band. Scenes featuring the four boys creating and recording hits such as ‘We Will Rock You’ and ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ portray the banter and bickering that went into such iconic anthems that have stood the test of time. Regardless of if you are a casual fan or a fanatic there is no denying the goose bumps that appear as the opening chimes of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ play out.
Rami Malek’s performance is downright Oscar worthy. Initially it takes you a while of getting used to the character but by the end of the movie you are practically begging for more. Malek truly embodied Freddie Mercury down to the finest of details and it is absolutely amazing to see. From his banter with band members to his flamboyant stage performances, Rami’s portrayal of such an iconic figure is a reason to go and watch the film alone and is a true driving force.
Another area that could have had more exploring was Freddie’s sexuality and his journey to self-discovery. A heavy chunk of the movie was the relationship of Mary and Freddie and whilst it was wonderful to see they stick together as lifelong friends and touching to know that behind the madness that was the life of being a member of Queen, no less THE Freddie Mercury, the narrative of Freddie still pining after Mary seemed…odd and unnecessary after his acceptance of his own sexuality. However, the overall intentions were not to focus heavily and primarily on the dark, negative aspects of Mercury’s life, it was to show how incredibly talented and driven this man was for success, hence there being little focus on his AIDS diagnosis and lack of depth into his death.
The clear highlight of the movie was the jaw dropping LiveAid performance. The scene was incredibly executed giving a glimpse into global audiences must have felt during the greatest rock performance of all time. The movie did an incredible job of transporting you back to 1985 to such a historic moment. The theatre was filled with viewers mouthing along to the words and allowing themselves to be part of the event instead of just observing it, bringing the audience together in Queen’s world.
Overall, Bohemian Rhapsody is a great film showing the formation and highs of one of the greatest bands that ever existed. And while there were clear areas that could have used improvement, it is still a fantastic cinematic event that is not to be missed.
Bohemian Rhapsody is in cinemas worldwide now. You can watch the trailer below.
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