I also liked the CATS movie. Having seen the stage show a few times I knew what to expect going in. I wasn’t bothered by the effects, I didnt care if the CATS were Neko furries instead of leg warmer wearing broadway dancers. Ive always felt the songs were a bit old timey and sometimes didnt work, but overall Ive always been be-mew-zed by the whole CATS experience. The critics decided to go into the back alley behind Graumans Chinese theater to swap funny cat memes and pat each other on the back while they blew each other in celebration of how bad they were trashing this thing. It’s that gang mentality. The critics didnt like the original either, screw em. CAT FANS UNITE.

@wonder2wonder said:

The positive thing about a film adaptation is that it does give many people, who can't or don't go to a theatre, the opportunity to see the musical anyway. However, if it's disappointing, it might put them off to go to any other musicals in the future.

That and in my town theater tickets go for about $150.00. My movie ticket was $6.50.

I've come to the conclusion that you have to be ready for the screen adaptation of a theater production. And it does depend a lot on the director. I'm thinking of The Music Man. The 1962 Robert Preston version was almost as though they filmed the play, while the 2003 Mathew Broderick version made full use of the camera.