'The Greatest Showman...'

"Men suffer more from imagining too little than too much."

This film has spent over six weeks at number one in the UK box office, so it's clear that it appeals to the masses. Altogether, this fantastic film cost 84 million USD to make. It was one of Hollywood's biggest projects and unbelievably, it was a directorial debut for Micheal Gracey, who had previously worked in the visual effects side of the industry.

The acting, the cinematography, the music, the locations, the colours created a seduction of the senses (well, your eyes and ears). It appeared to be every performer's dream to be involved in a huge production like this, and with 11 original songs, all of which you'll be singing on your way home, it turns you into the performer you never knew you were as you try and belt out the lyrics at an unnaturally strange pitch (although I'd wait till you've left the cinema before belting anything out. Chances are it will be frowned upon if not).

The film is magical from start to finish for many different reasons, but I think a main reason I should point out is the message the film portrays, because it is still relevant today despite being set in the 1800s. It is a warm message of acceptance, family, and unconditional love. Both adults and children could certainly learn a lot from it. The characters who are employed in the circus are the modern day equivalent to those who may be in the LGBT community, those who STILL get discriminated against for their race or religion, those who feel like an outcast because of a disability or a learning difficulty, and many more. However, there is one character who I feel like I sympathise with the most; Tom Thumb, a 20-something-year-old midget. I'm not a man, nor am I technically a midget, but my height has been commented on many times growing up, whether that be in jest or used in a derogatory way. All of these characters find bravery because one man sees them for more than their appearance, something I wish people would start doing in the world we're in now.

Quite unexpectedly, we were the youngest in the cinema at 19 years old, but it does have a PG rating and I'd have no problem taking my (non existent) children to see it. In fact, it is one of those films you could watch over and over again and still be just as entertained. If it wasn't for the fact of having to pay again, we would have raced back in to see the next showing.

From the trailer, the plot of the film looks fairly obvious, but it isn't that straightforward at all. The story is based on real life showman Phineas Taylor Barnum (better known as PT Barnum), but how much of this film is true and how much has been created by the writers is unknown to me; but quite honestly, I think I'd prefer to keep it that way. There is plenty of research you could do about him on the internet if you wanted to, or you could see his life played out on stage in the musical, Barnum, which premiered in 1980.

The only advice I can give you is to expect tears of happiness, tears of sadness, frustration, joy; a feeling of being overwhelmed and a place in your heart for the characters you only met an hour ago.

You will leave the cinema feeling inspired, overwhelmed, and a little embarrassed at the amount of times you were seen crying throughout.

'The noblest art is that of making others happy.' - PT Barnum