The musical has become one of the staples of modern Hollywood. Studios have made a tradition of taking a recognized Broadway show and adapting it into a lavish film. Sometimes the musicals are disasters, like Rob Marshall's "Nine," which had Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Sophia Loren and Nicole Kidman -- but was completely incoherent. And sometimes the musicals have great music and great casts but just do not translate into great films. With the release of Clint Eastwood's "Jersey Boys" and Marshall's soon-to-be-released "Into the Woods," here are some of my favorite musicals. 

"Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" -- It was unthinkable for a director like Tim Burton to make a musical. However, Burton's fun and dark side came out, and he created one of the best musical films of the last seven years. Interestingly, the singing is one of the weakest parts of the film, as Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are not vocally fit for their roles. However, their acting compensates for their musical imperfections, and even some of their rough singing make their characters richer. The production design by Dante Ferretti and costumes by Colleen Atwood add to the moody environments, while the cinematography by Dariusz Wolski's playful movements create lightness that balances the darkness of the film.

"West Side Story" -- It is recognized as one of the best musicals in the history of cinema, and for many good reasons. Not only is Leonard Bernstein's score one of the catchiest and memorable in a musical, but the drama is perfect. The direction by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins is spectacular, particularly the choreography and the fight sequences. Rita Moreno's daring and flashy performance as Anita is one of the highlights of the film. The weakest links in the film are Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, as their acting pales in comparison to the rest of the cast. However their on-screen chemistry more than makes up for their flaws.

"Chicago" -- "Razzle Dazzle" are the words associated with this musical, and Marshall's adaptation dazzles in every way. Not only does each of the musical numbers move the plot forward, but the choreography is brilliant and sexy. The cast, led by a vulnerable and fierce Renee Zellweger, is brilliant; most noticeable are Queen Latifah's pompous Matron Moma Morton and Catherine Zeta-Jones' sexy and arrogant Velma Kelly. Even Richard Gere's stylish tap dancing showcases the actor at his best. The art direction by John Myhre and Gordon Sim is inventive and colorful, while Colleen Atwood's costumes are subtle and sensual.

"Les Miserables" -- In 2012, Tom Hooper did something unthinkable for a musical film. Instead of recording the music in a studio and then having the actors lip-sync on set, he had his actors sing live. The result was magisterial and imperfect. While a lot of the singing was criticized for its lack of intonation, Hooper's choice of live singing created natural performances. Anne Hathaway's breathtaking Fantine has the strongest voice of all the actors, while Hugh Jackman's Jean Valjean is vulnerable vocally and physically. Danny Cohen's cinematography continues Hooper's obsession with off-kilter angles, but the use of long takes allows for the naturalism Hooper creates with the actors. The makeup, costumes and art direction are also impeccable and, of course, the score is superb.

"Oliver!" -- Carol Reed's musical based on the Charles Dickens novel "Oliver Twist" is one of the best adaptations of a Dickens novel. The music by Lionel Bart is catchy and innovative. Reed combines the dark elements of the plot with some lightness. Mark Lester's performance as Oliver is a revelation, as he not only portrays the helplessness in the character, but also gives him some charm.