Saw Mamma Mia movie tonight- Page 3

[Clarinetbiter135]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 2:54pm

I just got back from seeing it (in england) and I completely agree with what everyone has said. Its over the top in places, so insane you have to do nothing but laugh, and it has some high points, and some low points. It by far wasn't the best movie musical I've seen, and by far not the worse. I thought Brosnan was ridiculously cast. But Meryl can do no wrong in my eyes

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 8:23pm

I saw it tonight and ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT !!!! Despite some minor flaws, the movie works perfectly in what it sets out to do ! Have two happy, joyful, romantic hours, see some great actors having fun and hum along to some timeless pop masterpieces ! Everyone is in top form, with Meryl as the crown jewel ! I wasn't annoyed at all with Brosnan ! I am not a fan, but he looks stunning, acts great and his singing scenes are so few that I didn't even notice his bad singing ! The scenery looks like paradise on earth (but I am A BIT biased)
Favorite scenes, in a movie I'd gladly see again over and over, were Dancing Queen, Slipping through my fingers and The Winner Takes it All ! I'd never thought it possible, but I actually enjoyed it more than Hairspray !
Updated On: 7/14/08 at 08:23 PM

[Dancin Thru Life]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 8:50pm

Didn't it actually just "set out" to make a ton of cash for all involved?

Any other result is purely coincidental.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 9:20pm

Yes, that's the goal of EVERY movie produced, from indies to blockbusters ! But all movies have a premise, in order to achieve that goal and win the audience they are directed at ! One wants to make you think, other wants to make you cry, other to marvel at the technological effects and some want only to entertain ! So, when as an audience you get EXACTLY what you thought you'd get, this is not coincidental. It means a job well done !

[Roscoe]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 9:52pm

I saw the film tonight. I had seen and mostly enjoyed the show on Broadway. It is a slight bit of fluff that doesn't take itself terribly seriously, for the most part. A slip or two, like someone really trying to sing SOS like it is a serious emotional song, little things like that.

I didn't have high expectations for the film, but I was certainly hoping for a nice surprise, that I'd at least enjoy myself. And I didn't get it. I've never seen so many people working so hard to show me how much FUN they were having. Not just fun, but FUN!!! The film hit me over the head for nearly two hours, screaming at me to HAVE FUN GODDAMMIT! It is like being pummelled by bubble gum.

Somehow the little shot of Julie Walters falling off the boat felt really like a metaphor for the entire movie. She did everything she could to make herself lose her balance and fall as hilariously possible into the water. What should have been natural and easy was terribly labored and unnatural.

And I will say it: what on earth possessed them to keep Pierce Brosnan's vocals?

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 7/14/08 at 10:14pm

I mean, it was cute, but yeah, I agree with you, Roscoe. I expected to have more fun and didn't because I was being hit over the head. The biggest laugh was Colin Firth saying "I'm spontaneous."

[Wildcard]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 1:28pm

So around what year was Mamma Mia set?

Donna was with the three men during the time of "flower power" (late 60s-early 70s).
Sophie is 20 years old so that would put her in the late 80s or early 90s. However, Sky is already bringing the internet to the small island when the internet was just in its infancy in the early 90s.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 1:46pm

Shhhh....

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 1:53pm

I think the movie's timeframe pretty much has to be timeless, for lack of a better word. The show was written and originally produced in the late 90's, where having a 20-year old born during the age of ABBA makes sense. Nine years later when the movie comes out, who knows...

However, something like "Mamma Mia" doesn't really lend itself to deep discussion anyway. I love the show, but never looked at it as anything but very well-crafted fluff, kind of the way I look at "Xanadu" now. Lightweight, lots of fun, but Shakespeare it's not.

[huckleberry22]

Posted: 7/15/08 at 3:43pm

I thought the same of the time frame. oh well, I guess you need extra suspension of disbelief.
I saw it last night. I had a lot of fun. I smiled basically the whole time. I have never seen the stage version, and honestly never wanted to. Still kinda don't. But I really enjoyed the movie. There were some cheesy bits, and unintentionally funny ones. Mostly when Pierce Brosnan started singing. Sorry- he was great in the film, just not so much when singing. Everyone was really good, most of them I would go to see recite the alphabet(meryl, colin, christine,julie, dominic). I mean, like I said, I have never desired to see that show, so I am sure I was not their ideal audience, but I still really liked it.

Also, I had read a review saying that the cinematographer must have loved amanda seyfried, because every shot was a power close up of her face-that is so true.And the location is absolutely breathtaking.

Clearly, this film won't topple " the Dark Knight", But I highly doubt the producers expected it to. I am sure it will do fine despite the caped crusader.

oh, and completely unimportant, but Jerry Mitchell was at the screening I went to last night! Updated On: 7/15/08 at 03:43 PM

[zooxanthellae]

Posted: 7/18/08 at 7:55am

I saw it last night! I thought it was so bad... that it was good? I mean it's Abba and Meryl Streep; how could one possibly resist, even if the cinematography is terrible and the entire movie is beyond campy. I think if you go in expecting fluff and fun, that's what you will get. The movie invites you to laugh at it and sometimes with it... and that's okay! No one's expecting "Out of Africa" or anything within this... and if you really do expect to find something beyond fun tunes and star power... this is not for you. Meryl, as always, was brilliant "The Winner Takes it All" was stunning; gave me chills! I think Christine Baranski stole the entire movie though! She was absolutely fantastic, along with Julie Walters! I was dissappointed with the rest of the cast, but that's alright... Meryl, Christine, and Julie were having a ball making this movie - and you could see it! And yes, Pierce Brosnan is as bad as everyone says, but I think it adds to the overall humor of the movie. I loved the needless and over-the -top sexiness within the movie! It was certainly a fluff filled night, and no doubt those damned Abba songs will be stuck in my head for weeks!

I have one question... Why the hell wasn't "Waterloo" included on the soundtrack?! Meanwhile other songs that weren't even in it were (i.e. The Name of the Game and Thank you for the Music). I thought it (waterloo) was the best part of the whole movie.