The movie is now available on Disney Plus, driving the streaming service to be downloaded 72 percent higher this past weekend.

Hamilton was a Broadway sensation in 2016, and it’s just as sensational today as it can be accessed in your homes, mesmerizing both critics and audiences.

Adapted from the biography written by Ron Chernow of the same title, Lin-Manuel Miranda turned the history to something new and fresh. Divided into two acts, the first act focused on Hamilton’s (portrayed by Miranda) struggle during the American Revolution, while the second act focused on his postwar work as the first secretary of the United States Treasury.

With a racially diverse cast and a combination of show tunes and rap music, Hamilton transforms into nothing people have ever seen on Broadway. The only main Anglo-Saxon character is the antagonist of the story, King George III, portrayed by two-time Tony nominee and Glee star Jonathan Groff.

The movie, like the show, starts with Hamilton as an immigrant coming to the land of free with nothing to prove, but ambition. The story quickly introduces more characters, such as Aaron Burr, who later kills Hamilton (Leslie Odom Jr.), the love triangle between Hamilton, his wife Eliza (Phillipa Soo) and Eliza’s sister (Angelica Renée Elise Goldsberry) who probably performs one of the most emotionally complex show-stopping numbers titled “Satisfied”, and others. 

In more than two and a half hours, the movie manages to tell the story of Hamilton from when he’s no one until when he’s dead. It seems awfully fast, but the pacing is not the problem; it becomes the source of the entertainment.

Lin-Manuel Miranda uses hip-hop as a unique way to elaborate every funny or substantial detail. All the dialogue is exposed through song lyrics but you can feel what the songs are trying to convey. That is where the magic happens, as you don’t only get carried away with all the beats and rhythms but also feel the fiery and passionate songs every in every performance. 

When composed and choreographed correctly, you can believe that love magically happens through one song. This is the power of Broadway, but no Broadway show has ever captured an emotionally complex narrative with this same pace. Case in point, the musical Cats (and its six-time Razzie-winning film) spends the entire time showing different Jellicle cats telling stories about themselves. The musical Wicked also has numerous numbers before witches Glinda and Elphaba realize that they could be friends, but Hamilton does not do that and that’s why it attracts wider audiences, even those who would not considered themselves traditional musical theater fans. 

As a music fan who can’t access New York’s Broadway, Hamilton being acquired and released by Disney+ during the pandemic is the greatest news ever.

This acquisition brings up an important narrative, are those who have access to Broadway only New York's elite? Children from so many backgrounds may be inspired when watching Hamilton.

In the opening number, Alexander Hamilton talks about access, privilege and how Hamilton cannot wait to change the world one day, a healthy and empowering message everybody should listen to despite their gender, race or status.

Hamilton is indeed a magical musical experience that you can stream from home. And here’s my final take: Just like Angelica’s show-stopping number, after watching Hamilton, you will be satisfied. (kes)

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