Page 1 of Mamma Mia - I don`t get it?

Is it purely the Abba songs that have made this film so popular? I only ask, because I thought it was terrible. The singing was mostly bad (particularly Brosnan`s), the choreography, editing and camerawork was generally p*** poor and overall it just didn`t do anything for me. Okay, I`m not the target audience, but I can`t see why this film is garnering such a massive audience. Isn`t it in the top 50 biggest earners all time, with Amazon taking pre-orders by the bucket load? It just seemed so shoddily made.

My wife would be the target audience, but even she couldn`t see what people were getting out of this film. Hairspray is on Sky tonight, and that`s a much better film in just about every conceivable way.

Is it one of those `so bad it`s good` films?

I agree 100% mate but OH absolutely adored it :( so much so I have the unenviable task of looking for the best version on dvd for Santa to bring her and the album found its way onto my bloody ipod :( ....oh joy :(

Oooh unlucky. Feel sorry for you! ;)

Isn`t the best version on DVD the one that was out of stock everywhere so you couldn`t possibly buy it. ;)

Oh and quickly, delete off the iPod before she notices. In all fairness some of the music (mostly anything where Meryl Streep sings) is actually okay. You can keep those ones. :)

Thought I`d do the review for it as I`d picked up a copy for Mum.

Curiously enough, it`s the first movie to reduce my poor old Ma to tears in ages - nothing sad about the movie, but something about the number Meryl Streep sang as the daughter was getting ready for the church pressed all the wrong buttons for her. Had to stop the movie to generally mop up and cheer her up and it took some convincing to get me to restart the picture.

It is the most misbegotten bit of celluloid I`ve seen in many a day. Am I right in the belief it was directed by the stage director with little or no motion picture experience? I`m probably wrong. The Abba songs are always tuneful, but I can`t think what`s turning it into the most successful British box office movie. They say the UK ticket sales are threatening Titanic for the top spot.

J Mark Oates

its not a fine exmaple of movie making but it amazingly it has proved a huge popular hit with the public-moslty women. Its a big step away fromt he dour action-men movies for the lads and the adolescents. It`s not Brief Encounter but who would watch that these days?

It does cheer you up and everyone is feeling gloomy with all the bad news out there. No suprise that shows like I`m a Celebrity are popular for the same reason. It`s not hard work and its better than taking drugs or drinking.

That song about the daughter set me off-it probably set my mother off and one day it will affect my daughter in the same way.

I have always avoided the show because I like the original songs but was strangely moved by this perhaps because of the amateur nature of the recordings. My husband didnt like it for the same reasons.

It is not great film but it is great fun. It`s not a crime to not get it. I don`t get a lot of stuff that other people rave about. if it had been a better film it might not have attracted the same following. What has happened is the marketing of it has been very resposinve-including the sing-along-version that extended its run. At least somebody somewhere is making some money and oiling the wheels of capitalism before we all fall into the pit of bankruptcy.

Sue :D

Quote:
It`s not Brief Encounter but who would watch that these days?

er...me? :D

My Collection

Yeah, and me Tithers!

I was asked if I wanted to go on a girls` night out to see this when it came out. This was one night out I passed up on, for fear of throwing up!!!

In the original cut of clockwork orange Stanley Kubrick used a version of Mamma Mia during Alex` aversion therapy sessions.

I`m another one who watches Brief Encounter - I even saw it at the cinema last summer!

I read that in Mamma Mia there`s a scene where Pierce Brosnan`s head is chopped off because he`s taller than Meryl Streep, who is singing. It`s apparently completely inept, with actors who can`t sing, but is undeniably enjoyable. Partly so bad it`s good, partly a feelgood film for uncritical viewers. I haven`t seen it, but I`m not ruling it out - I`ll probably see it when it appears on Sky.

There`s one scene where she sings at Brosnan for about 4 minutes, while he stands there awkwardly. That`s probably the head chopping scene. It`s just all very amateurish in general. It`s amazing that you don`t have to even make a half decent film to sell that many tickets!

I can see why Titanic did well - it`s the ultimate romantic movie but with groundbreaking SFX. But this? I don`t even recall it being marketed particularly well. I can see a barrage of musicals coming out in the next 5 years from Hollywood, to follow up on this success. As long as they don`t remake Little Shop!

I guess the only redeeming thing about Mamma Mia is that it might give the West End a boost during a time of bad ticket sales.