Mamma Mia - Again! - EDITED FOR SANITY
[EDIT: Woe! Big mistake! All through the movie, I was thinking I was watching Shailene Woodley, when the lead actress was actually someone I didn't know: LILY JAMES! How embarrassing. But, this sort of thing is going to continue to happen, when - 1 - I have headaches that really block functioning of parts of my brain, and 2 - I write a post while drinking wine DURING said 'headache'. Oh, and 3 - I never investigate a movie beforehand because I don't believe in it, really.
I apologise for misleading you, but Lily James really did look like Shailene Woodley, and she was even back in a sailboat, so.
I have decided to keep the post as-is, so at least you can still enjoy my completely unwarrented comparison of Woodley and Seyfried, (who sound like a comedy team). These two actresses are NOT interchangeable even though they both have great blonde, Shailene Woodley hair]...
Interesting to see two of my somewhat fav actresses 'duking it out' on screen, in the second 'Mamma Mia!' film, including Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. I love Shailene Woodley because she tackles trying and strong roles, and I also love her because of her politics... Except that she wasn't a feminist during Snowden, but she was alright with being a Feminist when she did Adrift. Of course, my love for Amanda Seyfried goes back to Mean Girls. The former takes on front-line roles, reminding me of what]s her name - Legally Blonde - you know - Alabama - etc. But Seyfried takes on really great secondary roles, and that's fine too. Who was the best actress in this movie? Well...
First of all, it was amazing how this movie and its make-up and tan, and her expressiveness, completely obscured the sometimes annoying squinting devil-eyes of Shailene Woodley - which also reminds me of those of the woman in Legally Blonde. Seriously - Woodley did a fantastic job of portraying a rollicking babe, set in Travelling Pants Greece.
Amanda Seyfried didn't have as much exposure as Woodley, and Amanda always tends to have a similar character to her, um, characters (in her all movies) - unlike the slightly wider diversity of Woodley. However, I say Seyfried won out, especially at the end of the film, during the baptism scenes, which was made all the more inspiring by the amazing and graceful performance of Meryl Streep.
I never was enthralled by Streep, but I acknowledge that she has been a great actress. And I do not like most of Cher's classic rock songs - because of the stupid lyrics and her stupid 'rock' accent. But both were fine here, if not better. There are not a lot of older-women chick-flicks which really are NOT good movies. Tonight, the movie theatre was filled with big fat giggling white hair. But this movie was good enough. It had depth to its ideation, which I found intelligent and amusing. Comparing the past to the present, and pairing it all up at the end - which is, "almost worth the price of admission,"... I agree.
I do get tired of so many future-past-future movies though...
This movie is, nevertheless, a "kitsch patchwork" - somewhat uneven, working its way up to being something memorable. Woodley had a lot of weight on her shoulders, attempting this. Whatever. Fans of the last movie will love it.
Mind you, I was dealing with reduced audio; a jerkwad man always crying for distraction sitting two seats over from me, and a continuing severe central headache. Still, I went from, "What is the point of this - it's just manipulated scenes set to ABBA music...", to, "At least I am glad I heard new Abba songs, and Isaw new aspects of Woodley and Seyfried, and..." If you are in the right atmosphere, you might cry near the end.
This is a movie about and for womanly feelings and power. That's fine. I just wish the asshole man two seats down didn't decide to wage war with me because of his own male insecurities brought out by the movie, right? Yeah. Anyway, it is by no means a great movie. It is uneven and it takes a while to build up to anything of value. But I think it s fine, especially on DVD and under the right circumstances. A very good attempt.
Btw - I never saw the first installment. I am thinking that the performance of Streep really made that one happen. I don't know how much the current times call out for a part two, but I do know that there are a lot of undead baby boomers still walking around wanting to spend money.
This is a pop movie for normalised NORM people - especially aging ones. But fine for the whole family, I guess. Nothing new or indie to see here, move on...
Kinda reminds me of, "Big Fat Greek Wedding," movies...
IMO, FYI, I think ABBA was great. Musically, and as a phenomenon. I cast no aspersions upon POP music. I love pop music. Just not bad classic rock crap. Anyway. ABBA, like so many boomer bands, MIGHT ACTUALLY be getting back together. For a stint.
I once told Ashley that I would NEVER tire of ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, and ELO. ELO is doing a show at Chicago's Rosemont and I kind want to see it... Would I want to see ABBA? Well, yeah - more than the movies probably, lol.
I'll do spellchack later on this post.
PS - Lohan should have been there...
I apologise for misleading you, but Lily James really did look like Shailene Woodley, and she was even back in a sailboat, so.
I have decided to keep the post as-is, so at least you can still enjoy my completely unwarrented comparison of Woodley and Seyfried, (who sound like a comedy team). These two actresses are NOT interchangeable even though they both have great blonde, Shailene Woodley hair]...
Interesting to see two of my somewhat fav actresses 'duking it out' on screen, in the second 'Mamma Mia!' film, including Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. I love Shailene Woodley because she tackles trying and strong roles, and I also love her because of her politics... Except that she wasn't a feminist during Snowden, but she was alright with being a Feminist when she did Adrift. Of course, my love for Amanda Seyfried goes back to Mean Girls. The former takes on front-line roles, reminding me of what]s her name - Legally Blonde - you know - Alabama - etc. But Seyfried takes on really great secondary roles, and that's fine too. Who was the best actress in this movie? Well...
First of all, it was amazing how this movie and its make-up and tan, and her expressiveness, completely obscured the sometimes annoying squinting devil-eyes of Shailene Woodley - which also reminds me of those of the woman in Legally Blonde. Seriously - Woodley did a fantastic job of portraying a rollicking babe, set in Travelling Pants Greece.
Amanda Seyfried didn't have as much exposure as Woodley, and Amanda always tends to have a similar character to her, um, characters (in her all movies) - unlike the slightly wider diversity of Woodley. However, I say Seyfried won out, especially at the end of the film, during the baptism scenes, which was made all the more inspiring by the amazing and graceful performance of Meryl Streep.
I never was enthralled by Streep, but I acknowledge that she has been a great actress. And I do not like most of Cher's classic rock songs - because of the stupid lyrics and her stupid 'rock' accent. But both were fine here, if not better. There are not a lot of older-women chick-flicks which really are NOT good movies. Tonight, the movie theatre was filled with big fat giggling white hair. But this movie was good enough. It had depth to its ideation, which I found intelligent and amusing. Comparing the past to the present, and pairing it all up at the end - which is, "almost worth the price of admission,"... I agree.
I do get tired of so many future-past-future movies though...
This movie is, nevertheless, a "kitsch patchwork" - somewhat uneven, working its way up to being something memorable. Woodley had a lot of weight on her shoulders, attempting this. Whatever. Fans of the last movie will love it.
Mind you, I was dealing with reduced audio; a jerkwad man always crying for distraction sitting two seats over from me, and a continuing severe central headache. Still, I went from, "What is the point of this - it's just manipulated scenes set to ABBA music...", to, "At least I am glad I heard new Abba songs, and Isaw new aspects of Woodley and Seyfried, and..." If you are in the right atmosphere, you might cry near the end.
This is a movie about and for womanly feelings and power. That's fine. I just wish the asshole man two seats down didn't decide to wage war with me because of his own male insecurities brought out by the movie, right? Yeah. Anyway, it is by no means a great movie. It is uneven and it takes a while to build up to anything of value. But I think it s fine, especially on DVD and under the right circumstances. A very good attempt.
Btw - I never saw the first installment. I am thinking that the performance of Streep really made that one happen. I don't know how much the current times call out for a part two, but I do know that there are a lot of undead baby boomers still walking around wanting to spend money.
This is a pop movie for normalised NORM people - especially aging ones. But fine for the whole family, I guess. Nothing new or indie to see here, move on...
Kinda reminds me of, "Big Fat Greek Wedding," movies...
IMO, FYI, I think ABBA was great. Musically, and as a phenomenon. I cast no aspersions upon POP music. I love pop music. Just not bad classic rock crap. Anyway. ABBA, like so many boomer bands, MIGHT ACTUALLY be getting back together. For a stint.
I once told Ashley that I would NEVER tire of ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, and ELO. ELO is doing a show at Chicago's Rosemont and I kind want to see it... Would I want to see ABBA? Well, yeah - more than the movies probably, lol.
I'll do spellchack later on this post.
PS - Lohan should have been there...