Hey Angels! We were thinking of watching SpongeBob The Musical all together next, what do you think? 🤗 Also, Dr. Peter recently rewatched this Matilda movie, and this time, since he knew that her superpowers were going to show up, he found the subtle ways that they hinted at them throughout the movie (through her eyes mostly) as smart, creative choices.

I love it when people don’t realize what the school song is until the letters start appearing and then they react 😂 it really is so freaking clever

48:58 in the original book, Matilda develops telekinesis in the last third of the book, so that's canon. Doing Matilda without telekinesis is like doing Carrie without telekinesis.

The telekinesis makes definitely sense because the whole reason that the Trunchball was defeated is that is because Matilda made her believe that Magnus (Miss Honey's father) came back from the dead to get revenge...that frightened Trunchball. It's also explained that Matilda got powers because her brilliant mind wasn't challenged enough... So her smarts manifested in telekinesis. In the book we also learn that Matilda lost her powers once she was challenged enough

8:30 it was actually her doing the cartwheels, alisha confirmed it in an interview! she also did the walking on her hands on the roof!

It's such an odd thing for me to hear someone say "Matilda should not have powers" when thats pretty much one of her core characteristics alongside with her intelligence (like people already answered, these are intertwined). It would be like saying "Lord of the Rings without the One Ring"! Could be because I grew up with both the book and the 90s movie. I think it's also worth saying that Roald Dahl is all about huge exhagerations in all of his stories, Matilda's is THE story about abusive homes and neglected children, and I think it only works the way it works because of the exhagerations - like a principal literally throwing a girl by her braids, that's also in the book. The "logic" here goes like that, if Trunchbull can throw kids through the window and shake them by the ankles (also in the book, but not shown in the musical) without massive repercussions, Matilda having powers to actually be able to fight back against her isnt that farfetched! The excuse in the book to why Trunchbull never faces consequences is that "even teachers are afraid of her" - which to me is a big symbolism on how adults can be very complicent on children abuse, from not interviening when they see kids bullying each other, to looking away when they see an adult abusing a kid because "its not their business"; or like Miss Honey, they are adults that were abused as kids, and they cant interfere either because they freeze like her, or because they might even agree with the abuse cause "I went through that as a child and I turned out fine!!!", which is both bullshit and depressing as hell. When you look at how all the absurdities and magic in Matilda plays out as metaphors for the real world, things makes much more sense! On a different note, loved the react - I always cry at the same parts, the musical (stage and movie, they are pretty similar) did a wonderful job with the adaptation. And this is definitely the darkest one of all versions, and the 90s movie was very dark already. Re-watching it as an adult, I realize how a lot of it was literally filmed like a horror movie, specially Trunchbull scenes, which is SO interesting! The Musical added a lot more to Miss Honey too, to her backstory and how much the abuse inflicted to her by the Trunch still affects her so much as an adult, and it breaks my heart everytime. The musical is a lot more "dramatic in an emotional way", with all the very sad, introspective songs (some of my faves!).

Matilda without super powers is like Wonka without a Chocolate Factory. Its kind of her thing.

The telekinesis is an empowerment thing. As a kid you want to be able to fight back against bullies that are too big for you to fight. As a kid that was my favorite part. She got the power to fight back in a way we all dreamed of.

The whole book , 90’s movie and of course, the musical is about her having powers. That’s like the main story.

Matilda having powers is a symbol of children's vulnerability for me. It's like when you're a child, you imagine yourself to have superpowers because you feel like only then, you'll be able to fight off the big adult abusers or bullies. However, in real life, they don’t have those superpowers to fight back. It's a very sad thought.

I think Bruce is capable of eating the whole cake without stomach consequences because of Matilda's power. That's why she is staring at him with her pupils dilated in the beginning of Bruce's song. BTW I love when she whispers "Whatever you do just don't give in. Don't let her win!"

I actually much prefer that the more emotional songs don’t end with a high note. Ending on a high note instead would often make it feel like more of a show performance - a moment for the actor - rather than an emotional moment for the character.

I absolutely love this film! I'm surprised you don't know the original book or Americanised film, but I'm glad you knew it was based on a musical. A lot of people don't like it because they think it's a remake of the first film adaptation, but as a remake of a musical it holds up so well. It's an incredible film, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

13:00 The "R" in the song was the word "asked", but the British dictation of that word is pronounced as "arsked".

It’s literally a story about her using her telekinesis to save her school and friends. I thought you said you watched the movie? It’s pretty hard to forget that part of the story.

The Telekinesis is from the original novel, but her character plays out a bit differently. In the original book, Matilda is very shy and doesn't start fighting back until she gets the Telekinesis.

"When I grow up, I will go to bed late every night" Me: Brooooo LET ME SLEEP FROM 8pm to 12 pm and DON'T WAKE ME UP

In The School Song (the one with the alphabet), R was "So innocent I Rsked (asked) a thousand questions" which, yeah, is kinda weird but considering that H is literally "Hcient (Ancient) History," I'll give it a pass. Also, W was "and if you cry it will be W (double You) should stay out of trouble." Also also, in Bruce (song where Bruce eats the cake), here's a fun detail you might have missed: the kids only dance when Trunchbull is turning her back on them, excluding that whole jazz fantasy of course. Also also also, her powers are a very iconic part to the story. Without them, Trunchbull wouldn't have been terrified enough to leave the school and the town. Not to mention, in the musical version (both onstage and the movie), it's heavily implied that she has some sort of telepathy because of the story with the escapologist and the acrobat. And her powers are explained by her having 'loads of brains, they shoot out through [her] eyes,' which, yes, is kinda weird but Roald Dahl's stories did always have a bit of a nonsensical element to them. Overall, how much you like the powers really depends on how much you know about the original story and Roald Dahl.

This kid sold the performance with her eyes. She performed anger beautifully.

I sobbed too.. my 10 year old daughter is autistic with Pathological Demand Avoidance and she portrays what happens in school through either stories or writing songs (she plays guitar and piano). She is extremely smart but some of her peers are truly cruel. The song 'quiet' where trunchbull is yelling at matilda and she floats away on the hot air balloon is basically an Autistic meltdown or panic attack and she disassociates herself from reality to protect her mind. Alisha portrays it perfectly. I saw my child's thought process and I did exactly the same thing. The movie is a masterpiece and Alisha Weir is a little genius. I never expected to connect on the level that I did. My daughter is getting bullied at school.

I'm curious how you guys would react to the 90s movie. It's a much different adaptation and very Americanised. She is much younger in the 90s film because Matilda is 5 years old in the book and in the musical. I think she's supposed to be 5 here too, but the actress who plays Matilda in this movie is 11, so I'm not 100% certain. Also, her powers are much more prominent in the 90s movie. Matilda's powers are foreshadowed in this movie with the moving doors and crushed garbage bin. But they don't play a massive role in the original book. Her powers come from her brain not being challenged, and she loses them in the end after she is challenged. In the novel and stage musical, Matilda wrote that message with the chalk, and Trunchbull ran away. That’s not climactic enough for a cinema-going audience. If it weren’t for her powers, the Trunchbull wouldn’t have been so frightened to leave the school and town permanently. Her powers are iconic and integral to the story. All of Roald Dahl's books lack a climax, and he structured them purposefully. So when the novel was adapted for other media, they added a climax to satisfy a moviegoing audience. You see more of the parents in the 90s movie and Matilda's older brother, that was cut from this version.

I saw this when they toured Australia, and I didn’t see the reveal coming - that Miss Honey was the escapologists daughter. So when she pulls the scarf out during her song about her house I got chills all over me, it was such a brilliant reveal.

Great reaction, guys. By the way, the Tardis is Dr. Who's timeship. Outside it looked like a common phone booth, inside was an entire ship. That's why the kids said Bruce's body was like the Tardis.

It's an adaptation of the book and Matilda does have psychoactive abilities in the story. Removing it changes the original story. Presumably you don't personally like the idea for some reason. Tim Minchin is an amazing songwriter and, most importantly for this a sarcastic comedian. The other musical he has written music and lyrics for is Groundhog Day that is being produced as a movie now.

The starting premise for Dahl writing the original was "child with telekinesis" it's more of a foundational element, even though its not introduced until later. In fact, the musical establishes Matilda having extranormal powers earlier cos she also psychically recollects Miss Honey's actual story (even tho that's only confirmed to be the case after her physical powers manifest) and that story power isn't anywhere in the original book

23:35 TARDIS is Time And Relative Dimension In Space It's a time machine from a series called Doctor Who, which is a small blue telephone box but it's huge inside.

Tim Minchin is a lyrical genius. I've seen the show 4 times and the movie is a great adaptation though there are obviously some changes In the musical Miss Trunchbull is always played by a man so the songs are in a slightly tricky range. Mrs Wormwood is a passionate ballroom dancer in the stage show and has a great number named Loud. When I grow up is performed on swings. And the final number is unique to the film. The students are both adults and kids in the stage show, the kids are the 5/6 year olds and the adults represent the oldest kids

The story definitely could work without the telekinesis but the telekinesis is the most iconic part of who Matilda is. Loved the reaction! Would be interesting to see your guys' opinions on the 1996 version :)

Lashana Lynch literally sounds like a Disney princess and she NEEDS to be cast in a Disney musical asap! 😍

Funny you're not feeling the telekinesis in the movie when Matilda is ALL about her being able to move things with her mind. It's not something they added in the movie just for fun, it's all in the original.

I loved your reactions to Miss Honey’s verse in When I Grow Up. It resonates so much with me because even as adults there are just some inner demons you can’t get rid of.

Excellent adaptation of a fabulous musical. On stage the Trunchbull is played by a man. The film has cut some of the songs and characters so it's well worth seeing the stage version, but this is still an amazing adaptation. And she does spin a child around by her pigtails on stage - and launch her into the ceiling. And the chocolate cake scene is fantastic!!

btw a “tardis” is from the show doctor who. it’s a spaceship that’s bigger on the inside, which is what the line is referencing!

Thank you so much for this. I played the escapologist in a production of this show. While I wasn’t stoked about the casting to begin with I really connected with the role and the second act of the show really sent me to a place I never thought I’d be. Simply beautiful.

I loved the original version of this movie but I love this version too. In fact I never wouldve heard about it if it wasnt for one of my students in 3rd grade. She also loves hamilton. Ive never seen the woman king due to personal preferences but the actress does really well here as Ms. Honey. This musical is so good. I love how they added on some more depth into the Librarian and Ms. Honeys background. The performances and musical numbers by the actors and actresses are soooo good! It doesnt just feel like they redid the movie in a musical style but they added onto it too. The improved animation for showing Matildas powers is great too. The way they teach certain values and lessons from various characters ranging from Matilda all the way through the trunchbull is so awsome. The way they improved upon the chokey to having an entire room of chokeys after matilda destroyed the 1st one is so cool. It shows off the trunchbulls competitive nature very well. The way the kids all stand up for each other too is great. The ending with the carnival school setting is like every kids dream. Also the switch up for the father looking like he might be starting to feel something for Matilda before giving her away to miss honey instead of the mother was a nice touch. Gives some love for the father figures out there.

I cried the when I first watched this adaptation. Especially when Miss Honey sings her song. Thought it wouldn't get to me watching you two react to it, but guess what? I cried again. This movie is brilliant in so many ways.

13:04 i love the "double you" words for W So clever

The original theater production used the reprise of the “when I grow up” as the closing scene. But without a closing curtain and final bow from the cast, Tim Minchin wrote the final number of “Holding my Hand” specifically for the movie. There were a few songs dropped from the movie, but Tim did not want the songs to change because anyone that has seen the play would already know the songs. You should do side by side of the movie vs the original play of the music along. The play was 2.5hrs with like an hour cut for the movie.

"That is one of the best songs I've ever heard in my entire life", This was exactly my reaction when i heard this song for the first time. This show is a masterpiece

The whole Broadway soundtrack is perfect.

Love the reaction! The magic was a part of the original story and was necessary to beat the villain cause clearly her standing up to the bully would not have chased her off 🙂

Her magic powers are a part from the original book

FYI: the movie is faithful to the spirit of the show. The orchestrations for "Miracle" and "Revolting Children" are fairly different. In the stage show, the opening number starts at a birthday party, where the kids are a bunch of spoiled brats. Also, the staging of the original School Song (alphabet song) is VERY cool. There's a lattice type gate that the letters get pushed through, which the actors climb on. You should look up clips on KZfaq. I'm explaining it badly. Also, fun fact, miss Trunchbull is usually played by men on stage. I'm glad they cast Emma Thompson. She was fantastic, and you could tell she was having an utter blast playing an unadulterated antagonist.

One of the things from the book that hasn't made it to either film adaptation is that Matilda's telekinesis actually goes away once she's safe living with Ms. Honey and is placed into a class where she's challenged at a level appropriate to her intelligence. So it's sort of functioning as an outward symbol of both her need to defend herself against the abuse she's going through and the need to apply her intelligence to something when she's not in an adequately stimulating environment.

Doctor Disney, I so appreciate watching your raw emotion while watching Matilda. That was absolutely my same reaction. So beautiful so sad so much talent

Roald Dahl almost always have twists in his books you didn't expect. He also writes childrens stories with scary and often graphic elements. If you have never seen it, I urge you to watch "The Witches" from 1990, which is also based on one of his books. It scared the pants off me when I saw it in the cinema. I also urge you to read the Matilda book... even if it is for kids, his writing is also entertaining for adults.

You need to read the original Dahl s Original book! It all explains and makes sense.

See I feel like they didnt just add powers out of nowhere. But this version most of this was set up by Tim Minchin whos very clever at foreshadowing without hand holding. The very first song as about childrens parents seeing them as miracles, but they're normal children. Matilda was the the opposite from the moment she was born. she's literally a miracle.

You're not the only one who teared up at Miss Honey's number when she sings about her house.

If you wanna know why she has powers. If you watched closely she sang how all the noises and anger in her head was getting really traumatic for her and she centered all those feelings in her head

12:20 that was my exact reaction when i first heard this song in the West End Musical, i ADORE how clever this song is 😍😍😍 I'm so glad they did it justice in the movie musical

33:07 - so interesting story. I was watching this the other night with my theatre friend who knows the cast and crew on the London West end version of the show very well, who told me this kid is someone from that production. Apparently (which I think is very nice) a lot of the kids in this are from the stage show which I think is a nice homage to the stage show.

Your reaction to School Song was so amazing it was the same exact emotions i went through when I first heard it

“When I Grow Up” is so nostalgic for me cuz I used that song for a dance and I haven’t heard it in years and hearing it makes me wanna cry!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭

it’s okay, i also cried pretty bad to that scene of the escapologist singing to his daughter :(

I was crying so hard just like you were when I heard Lashana's "My House," it was so beautiful.

Actually the cartwheels were here and another fun fact the handstand walk on the roof was also her!❤

I see why in this production the telekinesis may seem a little odd. In the book she doesn’t really discover it until very late in the story, like here, but I think there is a stronger implication that she’s been unconsciously using it all along, like when Trunchbull throws the little girl with the pigtails… no one is really sure how she made it without getting hurt. I think someone comments that she seemed to fly and then make a very soft landing. No one is really sure how Bruce manages to eat the whole cake. There’re other hints. They don’t translate as well in the musical. In the older movie they just introduce the plot point earlier and lean into it.

You're so on point on the power of storytelling esp. In processing trauma! That's exactly what the writer and composer want to get at when writing this musical because Roald Dahl himself used his stories to process his less than ideal childhood

Telekinesis was always very much a part of the story Even all the way back in Dahl’s original book. The main thing was that in the original book and the stage musical it was used very sparingly, but with her insight she used it very wisely (moving the cup of water with the newt and writing the ghostly message to scare Trunchbull away) and very much symbolized as a result of her trauma, so that once she was free of Trunchbull and her parents she no longer was able to use it, because she no longer needed it. For the 90’s movie and this film adaptation of the musical the producers and writers probably thought it wouldn’t be as dramatic having a little girl only be able to move small things, so they had her gradually be able to move fully grown adults around.

The "R" letter is in the word "asked". Remember that "r" is silent in British English when it is at the end of a group of letters, ex., wotah.

It took me a minute to get that for the alphabet song, they weren’t using words that started with the letter, they were using words that sounded like they featured the letter Ex: “Like you I was q-rious, so innocent I R-sked a thousand questions” “Living L” “If you don’t it will be W should stay out of trouble “ Etc. It’s a genius song!!!

I loved your enthusiasm for the Alphabet Song! 😂 it was mind blowing to me the first time I heard it as well. One of my favorite movies from the last five years or so, easily.

I do not know if someone mentioned it before but the Trunchbull is usually played as a male.

not me watching that alphabet song several times and never noticing the alphabet part of it until watching this video

Yeah the telekinesis is an integral part of Matilda, if you're gonna complain about it then at least understand the original material

wait no cause we NEED to see you guys watch the earlier movie Matilda now !!

Matilda is meant to have powers it helps her defeat trunchbull in every version so no the story cannot be without the powers

I cried at "When I grow up" too. It really reminded me of what it was like to be a kid.

The mind powers make sense, first because it's a Roald Dahl story, but also because she is supposed to have an extraordinary mind.

I heard that the Wonka bar Roald Dahl logo is going to be the new logo for all of Roald Dahl's musical movies based on Broadway musicals. I'm waiting for Charlie & the Chocolate Factory to receive Matilda's Netflix treatment with Christian Borle reprising his role as Willy Wonka. And I need a James & the Giant Peach to receive the same treatment with a combination of CGI and claymation for when James enters the peach and meets the insects. That CGI/Claymation treatment would last until the NYC scene!

i LOVE PEOPLE WHO APPRECIATE GOOD ART!! this was indeed one of the best musicals i've seen

The magic in the book shows just like in the musical ( in the '90 movie they gave clues for it since the start). In both the movie and the book we fond out the miss honey and miss trunchbull connection, but only in the musical there is matilda's story in it).

The When I grow up song got me crying as well as still holding your hand lol I knew matilda from growing up watching the 90's version. I didn't think I would love the musical more.

You can't have matilda without her powers... that's like the whole point. I actually like that they didn't make this completely about her powers but still had them in there. I think it was brilliant and your review wasn't fair. Don't hate me lol 😆 it's just you gotta know the story to understand why she had powers.

I highly doubt the cartwheels weren’t her. She’s a dancer and gymnast and a cartwheel is literally the first thing u learn at like 2 yrs old. It was just faced towards the door because that’s how the choreography is lol

I found this reaction video today... you guys are killing it. Most reactions i see, even if the enjoy the movie, tend to gloss over when i grow up, quiet and my home, but you got the emotional core of the movie perfectly.

This book and the original movie were favorites of my childhood. I was the kid that always had my nose in a book, and was often put down for it. I related to Matilda so hard, though I was not reading the same level of material she did. In the original movie we do see her practicing her telekinesis more at home before using it to the extent that she does at the end to get rid of Trunchbull. I do think it's interesting that they added the, I'm guessing, telepathy that allowed her to know Miss Honey's life story without being told it. In the book I believe Miss Honey tells her just a small portion of that story when Matilda visits her at her home.

the telekinesis was foreshadowed many times throughout the film

It's the writer for Willy Wanka. Fantasy is his style. It's in the book, the play and the movie that she's brilliant and has powers.

I played Matilda in our school play at my old school and on the last performance we used a real cake for the cake scene and when it was brought onto the stage it surprised us all and we all got a piece of it at the end

I had to literally DO CAPTIONS on the school song in order to understand some of the alphabet….if some people still didn’t catch W… it’s a play on words…. “On the double…YOU” that was one of the letters I had to have captions to figure out. And R was a I guess based on how they pronounce the word. “Ask” in Britain so R was again a play on words “R-sked” a thousands questions” I RELEARNED THE ALPHABET AND NOT MAD AT IT!

The lyrics & music and script are exactly the same to the stage play, great lyrics you have our Australian Comedian, Producer, Songwriter Tim Minchin to thank for this brilliant Musical (He also wrote Beetlejuice the musical)

31:25 “Now imagine a woods with a cottage.” “And inside that cottage we find:” “Emma”

I completely love your energy. Lashana was deffinetaly the best option for Miss Honey.

THE REACTIONS TO THE SCHOOL SONG FLOORED ME

I was so happy to see your reaction, because I was laughing and crying at the exact same moments... and of course was in awe of the school song, and freaked out be the "abuse" scenes (I'm a teacher) Just the whole movie is a masterpiece and it was so wholesome to see someone react as strong as I was. Thank you and be always yourself, you are amazing and a wonderful person!!!

Tardis is the ship in Doctor Who. A blue police box. It's bigger on the inside than the outside. Hence the comparison to Bruce's stomach...

I think that, alongside the ponytail throwing, the Chokey is a reasonable inclusion, this has been established as a more fantastical piece from early on (some of the importance of the Busby Berkeley aspects, too) so this is not grounded in reality, but extreme and unfair and deserving of the stand which is taken against it. Telekinesis, too. This piece has to have that air of unreality or it becomes a horror story. Roald Dahl was a master of grounded fantasy, where things were recognizable but heightened. Trunchbull was ugly inside and out and I think the singing choices were a reflection of this. While Emma Thompson is not the world's greatest singer, she is certainly capable. If you can, find a clip of her performing in Sweeney Todd alongside Bryn Terfel, she holds her own admirably as Mrs Lovett there. And thank you for a marvelous reaction, as a viewer, sharing the tears and joy with others is so cathartic.

It’s implied the telekinesis emerged from her trauma. I believe in the book when she goes to live with miss honey and is happy her powers disappear. The powers are needed as they would not have been able to get rid of Trunchbull without it. She is a murderer and would not be taken out easily. It connects the fact that she killed magnis and enables for trunchbull to actually believe his ghost is seeking revenge on her. It is important to the resolution of the plot. This was a fun reaction. I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would.

Really need to stop watching this video at some point but it’s absolutely my favourite reaction on KZfaq right now! God, I really am so impressed with Alisha. She killed the acting and the singing… and THE ACCENT. I can imagine having the existing West End soundtrack would be helpful… but she also maintains it well in dialogue scenes. Wonder if she had a dialogue coach. I’m nearly 30 and as a Northern English person I’m honestly not sure I’d do a Southern English accent as well as she does - let alone an Irish accent!

The story loses what makes Matilda, Matilda if you take out her powers. The entire point is that her intelligence not being challenged gives her powers. She loses them as gets put in the proper class (in the original story). In the Danny Devito movie, her powers seem to be a mix of the abuse and her intelligence. They are essential to her character and the development of the story.

She actually did do the cartwheel and the handstand. Ver talented girl!❤😂

Watching your reaction was interesting but a few things. Firstly, Dahl's two best known books are Charlie and the Chocolate Factory which involves more than a little magical whimsey, and James and the Giant Peach which seems to involve talking animals on a giant floating peach getting into shenanegains with the titular James so a little telekenesis stands out in Roald Dahl books by being significantly more rooted in reality than his other books. While the story could have been told without the telekenesis, one of the key moments is when Matilda makes 'Aunt' Trunchbull believe she is being haunted by the ghost of her late brother in law, and more importantly in a book FOR kids specifically the introduction of telekenesis means they don't show KIDS physically attacking adults violently. That particular issue is burried in the magical part of the story. And finally, while the movie from the 90's (80's?) did introduce the telekenesis a little slower you may note that after the dream about the father (which is some form of telepathy to go along with it since she is picking up on Miss Honey's dreams/nightmare) crushing a can when he got angry, in the real world they show a crushed can that is a can that she crushed herself. It isn't handled as well as it could be and does seem to come out of nowhere but it is not out of place in a children's story.

I love the musical. Both stage and screen versions, but you are so right about the telekinesis. I forgot Matilda even could do that until like halfway through when I watched this movie 😂 It is technically in line with the book, but that's a testament to how big and amazing Matilda is. Shes unique and powerful even without literal superpowers haha.

Oh stahp. You guys have me shedding sympathy tears over here. Great reaction.

The R in the school song. “So innocent I asked a thousand questions.” The word “asked” sounds like the letter R in England

YESSSSSSSS This is the reaction I was looking for when it comes to the School Song. SO RELATABLE UGHHH THANK YOU

I think the original musical trunchbull (the brilliant Bertie Carvel) actually puts less grunt and more "older teacher with a broken voice" in the songs, but at the same time he does it more melodically, with better rhythm and more power behind. He did both the London and Broadway album recordings, so it's easy to find but I'll respond to my own comment with the link of him recording the end of Smell of Rebellion.

I thought at least one of you had watched the 90's movie. She's always had powers 😂