tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post7704455227182790596..comments2024-03-17T10:11:46.952-04:00Comments on Film Experience Blog: A Dozen Thoughts I Had While Watching Mamma Mia!NATHANIEL Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-16891075825610044092010-02-17T22:51:09.102-05:002010-02-17T22:51:09.102-05:00Why is Pierce Brosnan's singing voice (in this...Why is Pierce Brosnan's singing voice (in this movie) always being brought up for being so awful? Didn't anybody stay to see the end of this movie to see Colin Firth dance? Dance? He can't dance - he doesn't even walk gracefully.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-66983610960847638642010-02-17T22:40:50.131-05:002010-02-17T22:40:50.131-05:00Why is Brosnan's singing voice always critized...Why is Brosnan's singing voice always critized in this film? Didn't anyone stay till the end to see Colin Firth dance (dance?)?<br />He can't dance, he can't even walk gracefully.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-10775287446878298972009-09-24T12:41:27.373-04:002009-09-24T12:41:27.373-04:00I don't find it fun. I've been watching it...I don't find it fun. I've been watching it on my computer and I keep shutting off because it's unbearable. It's visually ugly in spite of an incredibly beautiful location. I like the songs when ABBA sings them but they hurt my ears and rattle my brain when this cast "sings" them. The chronology (they're in the 2000s but the affair was 20 years ago in the 1960s and the actors are in their 50s and 60s and look it), which adds to the Kafka-esque, alternate-world Twilight Zonish feeling. The actors seem to be on uppers. Should have been called "Mamma's Little Helper."<br /><br />On a positive note, watching Mamma Mia is better than being waterboarded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-68813602786560067252009-06-05T15:51:50.100-04:002009-06-05T15:51:50.100-04:00I don't understand all your thoughts. I mean M...I don't understand all your thoughts. I mean Mamma Mia was supposed to be a movie you watch and simply feel good. It is NOT a movie where you have to take a look behinde every single sequence. To be honest, I tried and ended up with: Just sit there and enjoy the movie. <br /><br />I loved it from the first to the last moment. There are other movies that can be run through an "autopsy". But this one... on a scale from 1 to 10: It gets a 10 from me. It made me feel good, jump up from my seat and sing & dance along. <br /><br />As for the director: Phyllida Lloyd did a great job. And it was the best possible thing to have her direct it. She directed the original musical in London and the Broadway version in NYC. She deserved to do this together with Catherine Johnson and Judy Cramer. They brought up their kid to a worlds success. And now to a success at the box office.<br /><br />So sit back, relax and simply enjoy MAMMA MIA!<br /><br />And ABBA can take it up with the Beatles. No other band from the 70s sells more CDs than ABBA still does every day.Mackenzienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-23003572054746579182009-03-19T07:29:00.000-04:002009-03-19T07:29:00.000-04:00great critique, really made me laugh! just to add ...great critique, really made me laugh! just to add my opinion, and i agree with everything you said, but i quite liked Pierce Brosnan's tone-deafness, it gave a noticable imperfection and a dose of reality to the film, sort of, true friendship value, "we are not superficial and even though you can't sing, we accept you". Amanda, ok, not too bad but i can think of at least 3 actresses who would be much better for the role. Meryl is a goddess and she is a pure joy to watch. all in all, oldies pull this movie off, young ones let it down, somewhat. maybe it's the connection to the music or just some poor casting choices, it's hard to tell as I don't know any of the young ones, maybe they'll be better in their next movie...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-50017078505656681072008-12-28T08:55:00.000-05:002008-12-28T08:55:00.000-05:00Worst big Hollywood production of the year, even t...Worst big Hollywood production of the year, even thought I can't be hard on any of the actors, at all. But razzie galore, please.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17365271118815910721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-41475555833014366522008-10-01T01:31:00.000-04:002008-10-01T01:31:00.000-04:00MAMMA MIA! the film. Flawed? Yes? Lots of fun? Yes...MAMMA MIA! the film. <BR/><BR/>Flawed? Yes? <BR/><BR/>Lots of fun? Yes!!<BR/><BR/>I'm still heartbroken that they never cast, nor considered (to the best of my knowledge) Hilary Duff for the role of Sophie. She's the right age, can sing, yadda yadda yadda. No one in Hollywood ever asks me about anything. :P~<BR/><BR/>So many of my favorite movie memories this year stem from this film. Listening to audience members singing along. People clapping at the end. People coming in social groups to have a fun night out at the movies. And then there was that lady who laughed at so hard at the sight of Stellan Skarsgard's naked butt she laughed for 15 minutes afterwards. Her joy was contagious.<BR/><BR/>Not every movie has to be the best movie ever made. Sometimes it's just fun to go out and have fun with your friends.<BR/><BR/>Regarding 05: While the ABBA ladies weren't in the film, the ABBA men were. Benny can be seen for about two seconds playing the piano on the dock towards the end of the "Dancing Queen" segment. Bjorn can be seen for about five seconds as part of the Greek Gods/Chorus at the end of the film. So maybe now it was a little more fun for you?<BR/><BR/><BR/>Regarding 03: BTW, The Beatles? Never liked them. Their music hurts my ears. I'm not joking; I had to walk out of the film I AM SAM because Beatles music was pretty much the entire soundtrack and I didn't know that going into it. Eeeerf.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-77546428079358513532008-09-16T12:36:00.000-04:002008-09-16T12:36:00.000-04:00Aristotelian Unities./sighI love Wednesday Addams....Aristotelian Unities.<BR/>/sigh<BR/>I love Wednesday Addams.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-67469445424523787832008-09-15T06:04:00.000-04:002008-09-15T06:04:00.000-04:00I finally got around to watching this one this wee...I finally got around to watching this one this weekend as well. My thoughts:<BR/><BR/>A) Amanda was my fave performer in the film (yes, I preferred her even to Meryl). Appealing performance and the best singer by far. <BR/><BR/>B) Why couldn't they have swapped Colin for Pierce? Easily the best of the "Daddies" when it came to singing.<BR/><BR/>C) My favourite part of the whole thing was that weird "encore" at the end. It was the only part of the surprisingly unfunny film that made me laugh.<BR/><BR/>D) The music was fantastic; the storyline NOT.<BR/><BR/>D) The cinema was packed with 40-50 something women and they seemed to be infected by the silliness - one woman behind me even yelled out a response to Meryl's question at the end.Pfangirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04881211213654928985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-20655617224061404742008-09-14T10:59:00.000-04:002008-09-14T10:59:00.000-04:00I agree, Meryl Streep is a national treasure. usu...I agree, Meryl Streep is a national treasure. usually I'm suspicious of people and things so well loved by the public. I'm wary of fads. but She is truly a great actress.<BR/><BR/>i had the pleasure of seeing her in "Mother Courage" in Central Park, and she was phenominal. I'm surprised they haven't yet optioned it for a film.<BR/><BR/>I haven't seen Mama Mia yet.Chris Na Tarajahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06545312034833563234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-34050653522494955482008-09-14T05:55:00.000-04:002008-09-14T05:55:00.000-04:00Stephen just beat me to the punch! I noticed Bjorn...Stephen just beat me to the punch! I noticed Bjorn especially.<BR/><BR/>But, Nat, I completely agree with you about pretty much all of it. The women I liked, the music itself I liked, Meryl made it fun and it was easy watch, but the direction and choreography and the design and the CGI and all those random slow motion shots mid-number and why did every musical number have to include running?Glennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08194113062830373898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-60506912904979635152008-09-14T04:09:00.000-04:002008-09-14T04:09:00.000-04:00Oh, and Benny and Bjorn were in it. Benny in a Gre...Oh, and Benny and Bjorn were in it. Benny in a Greek fisherman's cap playing the piano on the jetty during 'Dancing Queen' and Bjorn dressed up with the 'Greek chorus' at the start of the end credits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-6150152753573887972008-09-13T21:32:00.000-04:002008-09-13T21:32:00.000-04:00Really can't blame Meryl for defending Pierce. It...Really can't blame Meryl for defending Pierce. It's part of the job. Actors can't go around saying "yeah that part of my movie's crap" and then expect people to like you. Even Meryl Streep. <BR/><BR/>I mean, look what happened with Katherine Heigl.<BR/><BR/>Plus, Meryl's just a nice person and doesn't like to say mean things about people. Especially her fellow actors. It's just putting the best spin on things, it's like politics.<BR/><BR/>I'm sure she realizes he's not a good singer, but she probably had fun working with him, and I'm sure he's a nice person, and she just puts the best face on it that she can. You can tell watching her say it that she didn't really mean it, and was just playing the game (it was very amusing).<BR/><BR/>And yes, it's not the actors' job to critique. Quite the opposite, in fact.<BR/><BR/>Directors, though, that's a different story...adam k.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13485604493059621307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-22086242448724528562008-09-13T20:56:00.000-04:002008-09-13T20:56:00.000-04:00I actually thought Amanda's acting and singing wer...I actually thought Amanda's acting and singing were (slightly) better than Meryl's in this movie. But both of them single- (or double-) handedly made it tolerable.Cluster Funkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07536270677455131262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-80332364244223652912008-09-13T20:04:00.000-04:002008-09-13T20:04:00.000-04:00Thank you, Jim , let's put thhis to rest.Thank you, Jim , let's put thhis to rest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-3302027138306741032008-09-13T19:54:00.000-04:002008-09-13T19:54:00.000-04:00Nat, I think everyone is able to judge. Meryl just...Nat, I think everyone is able to judge. Meryl just said (the way i see it) that she is glad people liked it whereas critics didn't. As for Brosnan's voice, come on, politeness before pointless admission of the obvious. Wow :p <BR/><BR/>JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-16650348533367062872008-09-13T19:05:00.000-04:002008-09-13T19:05:00.000-04:00"what the hell was going on in these musical numbe..."what the hell was going on in these musical numbers?!"<BR/><BR/>I have no idea. I couldn't see any of them with all the cutting.RJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00960849284510182412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-83700153319772783102008-09-13T18:21:00.000-04:002008-09-13T18:21:00.000-04:00cal Yay! You're actually reading! i worry these da...<B>cal</B> Yay! You're actually reading! i worry these days about blogging and the "skim" factor. making sure you're all paying attention<BR/><BR/><B>rick</B> i never take anything actors say about critics seriously. an actors job is to act. a critics is to critique ;) actors aren't very good at critique'ing... just notice all the terrible performances that get nominated for awards and the great ones that don't make a ripple.<BR/><BR/>and a perfect example <B>adam k</B> letting us know that Meryl defended Pierce's "singing" YIKES.<BR/><BR/><B>rj</B> hey! these are my thoughts not yours. although I concur. but there was something really creepy about that big musical number erupting around his girlfriend in a bathing suit and all his guy friends cheering him on. or whatever it is they were doing. what the hell was going on in these musical numbers?!NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-6299903558745096452008-09-13T17:51:00.000-04:002008-09-13T17:51:00.000-04:00"as gifted as the Beatles".I didn't read that.- ca..."as gifted as the Beatles".<BR/><BR/>I didn't read that.<BR/><BR/>- cal rothAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-5629839349848965982008-09-13T17:43:00.000-04:002008-09-13T17:43:00.000-04:00I really agree what most you said about Mama Mia ....I really agree what most you said about Mama Mia ... especially the fact that if Meryl were not the star, no one could have pulled it off.<BR/><BR/> I do have to say again and again. If a movie makes one feel happy and joyously free, it has done its intended job .. it does not need critics to use a magnifying glass on it.<BR/><BR/> It surely seems to me that it has done this job for millions of people all over the world ... at a time we need it the most!<BR/><BR/>By the way, Meryl won the Best Actress Award from the NAtional MOvie Awards. In her speech she took a definite swipe at critics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-76931015069334188132008-09-13T17:36:00.000-04:002008-09-13T17:36:00.000-04:00Nathaniel, how do you rate Meryl's chances for the...Nathaniel, how do you rate Meryl's chances for the golden globe for best actress in a comedy/musical?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-42524538931640305752008-09-13T16:52:00.000-04:002008-09-13T16:52:00.000-04:00You forgot #13:"Dominic Cooper is a fox."You forgot #13:<BR/><BR/>"Dominic Cooper is a fox."RJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00960849284510182412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-57345093305933756702008-09-13T16:31:00.000-04:002008-09-13T16:31:00.000-04:00The worst film of the year hands down. When Meryl...The worst film of the year hands down. When Meryl Streep makes you cringe every time she's on screen you know you're in trouble.Sean Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12113407029387077116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-42273144772555272452008-09-13T16:10:00.001-04:002008-09-13T16:10:00.001-04:00I just hope that the millions of dollars this movi...I just hope that the millions of dollars this movie has made, don't serve to let anyone put Phyllida Lloyd behind a movie camera ever again!<BR/><BR/>The direction and editing were a JOKE!<BR/><BR/>Meryl absolutely carried this one.<BR/><BR/>Also, what!? Comparing ABBA to the Beatles...are you mad?! You must not know much about the Beatles music and you certainly are no musician.<BR/><BR/>Their music is extremely complicated with key changes, unusual chord progressions, sharps and flats and stretched octaves. Oy! <BR/><BR/>ABBA is easy to listen to , easy to sing, easy to play....I guess that's why it is so popular. We can <BR/>almost do it ourselves and we can certainly sing along!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8256060.post-25003199722653089432008-09-13T16:10:00.000-04:002008-09-13T16:10:00.000-04:00peter i was so happy that THE NAME OF THE GAME was...<B>peter</B> i was so happy that THE NAME OF THE GAME wasn't in the movie so that now my favorite ABBA song is still untarnished!NATHANIEL Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11597109147678235399noreply@blogger.com