181 replies to this topic

[DaveBond21]

14 clips from the film up at IESB, for those of you who are actually excited about this disaster:

http://www.iesb.net/...c...3&Itemid=99

Oh Dear God. I love love love ABBA, but this is so dreadful it's painful to watch!

ABBA are one of the biggest bands in the history of the world. Why is the musical so bad?

[Bondian]

Brozza sounds like 'Meatloaf' without the meat but with vegetables. The orchestra doesn't help either. Sounds too 'Karaoke' from the start. Give him some Bob Geldof numbers and he might rock.

Let's face it. ABBA was a great group and only their voices suited their music.

Meryl Streep is rather good. As good as Glenn Close in 'South Pacific'.

However. When I've listened to some of the stuff that's churned out from the 'West End' this isn't half bad.

Gotta give Pierce 10 out of 10 for having a go.

I love Chess. Anyone else?

[Johnboy007]

I'll be giving this one a pass. No fault of Brosnan's, but I have never liked ABBA and I can't begin to imagine the torture of hearing others sing their songs.

I do find it amusing that it will "compete" with Batman that weekend... I wonder who'll win that one!

[DaveBond21]

In today's Sydney Daily Telegraph, Colin Firth who is here in Sydney with Meryl Streep to promote the movie, said that he and Brosnan were...

"bonded by their fear of singing"

...when auditioning for the singing parts of Mamma Mia.

[dodge]

In today's Sydney Daily Telegraph, Colin Firth who is here in Sydney with Meryl Streep to promote the movie, said that he and Brosnan were...

"bonded by their fear of singing"
...when auditioning for the singing parts of Mamma Mia.

Well, let us hope--and pray--they're feared of singing Bond!

[mccartney007]

My boss just came back from an industry screening of MAMMA MIA and said that it was the worst thing he's ever seen. He's said there wasn't one thing about it that was good and that people were frequently laughing at things they shouldn't be laughing at because it was just so embarrassingly bad.

[The Dove]

Brosnan sings (audio only):

His singing voice is suprisingly good!

I don't know what you're listening to. What I just heard was appalling.

"Shocking..Positively shocking!!" LOL Um note to Brosnan.. Loved the song you sang in "Evelyn" but please keep your karaoke style ABBA singing to yourself!! LOL..

Hmm can't decide which was worse... Pierce Brosnan singing this, or Timothy Dalton singing Love Will Keep Us Together in this godawful 1978 flick, Sextette.. check it out!!

[Qwerty]

14 clips from the film up at IESB, for those of you who are actually excited about this disaster:

http://www.iesb.net/...c...3&Itemid=99

Oh Dear God. I love love love ABBA, but this is so dreadful it's painful to watch!

ABBA are one of the biggest bands in the history of the world. Why is the musical so bad?

Probably because their songs sound horrific if it's anyone besides ABBA performing them.

[mccartney007]

14 clips from the film up at IESB, for those of you who are actually excited about this disaster:

http://www.iesb.net/...c...3&Itemid=99

Oh Dear God. I love love love ABBA, but this is so dreadful it's painful to watch!

ABBA are one of the biggest bands in the history of the world. Why is the musical so bad?

Probably because their songs sound horrific if it's anyone besides ABBA performing them.

And this musical really doesn't have anything to do with ABBA other than the use of their songs. Just because you like the songs doesn't mean you'll like the script they were shoehorned into.

[Safari Suit]

14 clips from the film up at IESB, for those of you who are actually excited about this disaster:

http://www.iesb.net/...c...3&Itemid=99

Oh Dear God. I love love love ABBA, but this is so dreadful it's painful to watch!

ABBA are one of the biggest bands in the history of the world. Why is the musical so bad?

Probably because their songs sound horrific if it's anyone besides ABBA performing them.

Some people have made decent, or at least successful, covers of ABBA songs over the years; Blancmange, Erasure etc.

Anyway, wake me up when they make a film version of Chess. But only if Murray Head is in it.

Edited by Safari Suit, 10 July 2008 - 07:32 AM.

[Lady Rose]

Wow.

I must be on a different planet or something, because I saw it yesterday and loved every minute of it!

The theatre was packed ( and it was an afternoon showing) and the audience was the most diverse I've seen in a long time. Everyone from pensioners to kids. My daughter and her friend also loved it and they're 11!

I thought everyone just looked like they had a ball making the movie and its just a bit of light hearted fun.

Pierce cant sing, neither can Colin Firth, but you soon get over that because they just do it with such enthusiasm.

To me it's just a real feel good movie and I left with a warm glow.

Then again I loved the musical too

[Skudor]

I have a feeling that Mamma Mia falls squarely into the category Chick Flick.

My wife watched it yesterday and loved it. Luckily I shall be spared the pleasure until it's out on DVD.

[Royal Dalton]

Wow.

I must be on a different planet or something, because I saw it yesterday and loved every minute of it!

The theatre was packed ( and it was an afternoon showing) and the audience was the most diverse I've seen in a long time. Everyone from pensioners to kids. My daughter and her friend also loved it and they're 11!

I thought everyone just looked like they had a ball making the movie and its just a bit of light hearted fun.

Pierce cant sing, neither can Colin Firth, but you soon get over that because they just do it with such enthusiasm.

To me it's just a real feel good movie and I left with a warm glow.

Then again I loved the musical too

I think there might be a bit of a cultural thing going on regarding this film. I notice a lot of Americans, on here and elsewhere, are tearing it to shreds. Whereas, on this side of the pond, it seems to have been met with almost universal praise, with audiences of all shapes and sizes coming away from the film dancing in the aisles.

Maybe because it was a British show to begin with, it's more in tune with our sensibilities, or something?

At the very least, it looks to me like it's a fun film. I thought the clip from the scene with Julie Walters singing Take a Chance on Me was hilarious. It looks good technically, too. There's a really funny crash zoom on Stellan Skarsgard in that scene, for example.

And it's got Ricardo Montez from Mind Your Language in it. How can it not be good?

[dinovelvet]

Wow.

I must be on a different planet or something, because I saw it yesterday and loved every minute of it!

The theatre was packed ( and it was an afternoon showing) and the audience was the most diverse I've seen in a long time. Everyone from pensioners to kids. My daughter and her friend also loved it and they're 11!

I thought everyone just looked like they had a ball making the movie and its just a bit of light hearted fun.

Pierce cant sing, neither can Colin Firth, but you soon get over that because they just do it with such enthusiasm.

To me it's just a real feel good movie and I left with a warm glow.

Then again I loved the musical too

I think there might be a bit of a cultural thing going on regarding this film. I notice a lot of Americans, on here and elsewhere, are tearing it to shreds. Whereas, on this side of the pond, it seems to have been met with almost universal praise, with audiences of all shapes and sizes coming away from the film dancing in the aisles.

Well its not really Americans, per se, as its getting quite good reviews so far (82% at rottentomatoes), many acknowledging the "fun factor" (though there are several digs at Broz!) A lot of the ire is coming from sad, hardcore geeks who seem genuinely offended that another movie would even DARE to open on the same day as their important, ultra-heterosexual movie about a guy dressing up in black rubber

[Harmsway]

All the ire on my part comes from the fact that I think it looks awful (and that I found its source material to be awful, as well).

And for the record, I'm a huge musical fan. I just don't think MAMMA MIA is a good one.

[dinovelvet]

All the ire on my part comes from the fact that I think it looks awful (and that I found its source material to be awful, as well).

And for the record, I'm a huge musical fan. I just don't think MAMMA MIA is a good one.

Yeah I think we got the message the four other times you said so in this thread

[Harmsway]

I love Chess. Anyone else?

Which version of CHESS? The show's had such a varied history (and they never did really get it to click). But I'm definitely a fan, if only because of the score. Good stuff, that.

As far as future musicals go, I'm excited about NINE (the musical based on Fellini's cinematic masterpiece, 8 1/2). Rob Marshall of CHICAGO and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA directs his second movie musical, with a cast featuring Daniel Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, and Judi Dench. Now that's some talent.

[dodge]

I love Chess. Anyone else?

Which version of CHESS? The show's had such a varied history (and they never did really get it to click). But I'm definitely a fan, if only because of the score. Good stuff, that.

As far as future musicals go, I'm excited about NINE (the musical based on Fellini's cinematic masterpiece, 8 1/2). Rob Marshall of CHICAGO and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA directs his second movie musical, with a cast featuring Daniel Day Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Sophia Loren, and Judi Dench. Now that's some talent.

Everyone please note: I'm not accusing DDL of ripping off PB...or even Will Smith...who sang professionally long before either of the others.

[MkB]

Extract from http://news.bbc.co.u...ent/7508202.stm :

Mamma Mia! takes box office crown

Musical Mamma Mia!, which stars Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth has danced its way to the top of the UK box office.

The movie, which features 22 Abba songs, took £5.2m in its first week, knocking Will Smith's superhero movie Hancock off the top spot.

[danslittlefinger]

http://uk.news.yahoo...ey-5f8abb3.html

Press Assoc. - Tuesday, July 15 08:29 pm

Mamma Mia! The Movie has enjoyed the biggest film opening for a musical in the UK, a picture company has said.

Universal Pictures International UK said its Abba-themed movie, released last week, has generated Money, Money, Money - already taking more than £7.6 million here.

The film is also the biggest movie opening that its star Meryl Streep has ever had in the UK, beating The Devil Wears Prada, Universal said.

And Polydor Records said Mamma Mia! The Soundtrack Featuring the Songs of Abba is on track to be the biggest-selling album of the week.

Early figures from the Official Charts Company showed the album not only at the top of the compilation chart but also outselling all releases on the artist albums chart.

Mixed, mastered and produced by Abba's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, the album, out on Polydor Records, features songs sung by the cast of the film.

This week also sees Gold - Abba's Greatest Hits poised to shoot back into the top 10 of the artist album chart, with another 11 Abba-related recordings in the albums charts and 22 in the singles charts, Polydor said.

HMV spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said: "Abba are one of HMV's consistent best-selling artists, up there with the likes of the Beatles and Elvis, and it doesn't take much to spark a bit of an Abba revival - let's face it, most of us would pick them as our 'guilty pleasure'.

"Right now, their sales are rocketing again thanks to the huge exposure being given to their music by the success of the Mamma Mia film. Amazingly, Abba Gold is back in our top 10, while the cast recording soundtrack to Mamma Mia itself could easily end up as our biggest-selling album this week.

"Further evidence of the band's enduring appeal comes in the form of the singles charts, which show the likes of Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme and Mamma Mia all threatening to re-enter the official UK top 100 on the strength of downloads alone."

[dodge]

Well, the weekend figures will tell. But for your consideration, this just in from today's McPaper:

Has Mama Mia met its Waterloo?

Excerpt:

TDK has eaten up 89% of Fandango,com's ticket sales this week, and the film will enjoy 1m700 screebubgs Thursday night, one of the largest midnight screenings on record. MM, which will have 300 midnight screenings, has claimed 3% of Fandango's sales.

And:

Many analysts oreduct TDK could pass $100 on its opening weekend. And with sterling reviews, 'there's no telling how long it could run,' says Steve Mason...of box office site FantasyMogusl.com.

Like I keep repeating:

$400 mil domestic for TDK. For MM? Nowhere near.

[Mr. Blofeld]

Anyone else see Brozza on The Daily Show last night? He had to endure a lot of ridicule about his longboarding, and it looks like he's dyed his hair brown.

[Johnboy007]

It was even worse for him on Letterman. They kept showing all those pictures of him with his gut hanging out while standing on the surfboard and pictures of him falling off. It was all fairly uncomfortable to watch. Later on the band started to play a number from the movie, but Pierce refused to sing along.

He looks like he's been keeping more fit, but I definitely believe he looks to old to be Bond now.

[dodge]

The local critic was...what is the right word...about Brozza's singing:

'Brosnan is plug-your-ears abysmal.'

Perhaps we should abandon dreams of PB starring in a Bruce Springsteen musical?

[deth]

honestly though from all the clips I've seen... everyone in the movie sounds quite bad as a singer. Brosnan's singing sounds a bit more like constipated yelling...

[Skudor]

The local critic was...what is the right word...about Brozza's singing:

'Brosnan is plug-your-ears abysmal.'

Perhaps we should abandon dreams of PB starring in a Bruce Springsteen musical?

I guess he's relatively better at being Bond then.

[Johnboy007]

The Philadelphia Inquirer was not particularly kind to Mr. Brosnan:

The most cerebral of actresses even in her comic roles (think Devil Wears Prada), Streep makes her debut as a knockabout physical comic. The performance doesn't always work, but, man, is she ever game. Clearly, she is having the time of her life, although some of her costars look stricken.

There's Skarsgard, smiling a rictus smile that asks, "Has my manhood shriveled?" There's Firth, embodiment of forced mirth. And is that Brosnan or a donkey braying the lyrics of "S.O.S."?

Hard to tell whether my choking was laughter or that other choke reflex

You can find the full review here

[agentjamesbond007]

I just seen the movie yesterday. Brosnan did a good job singing a few of Abba's songs. Liked the movie too.

[Double-Oh Agent]

I saw the movie today and it was an enjoyable light-hearted romp--no more no less. Is it a great film? No. But it does accomplish what it sets out to do and that is to entertain the audience for a couple of hours or so. The Greek Isle is gorgeous and everyone looked like they were having a great time and you can't help but have fun with them. Meryl Streep does a good job singing--bettered only by her daughter in the movie, the beautiful Amanda Seyfried. Streep's best work is probably doing her solo to The Winner Takes It All where she not only sings, but acts--and acts well--throughout the performance.

As for Brosnan, no, he's not a great singer, but I don't think he's as bad as everyone has been saying. He's adequate, although I will admit the producers could have found someone better. (Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard aren't much better than Brosnan but they don't have to sing as much so they seem to get passes from the critics.) I think part of reason for the bashing is that people need something to complain about the film--and it's not going to be the highly regarded Streep--so Brosnan has to suffer the brunt of the criticism.

The movie had to have worked because I've had the songs Dancing Queen, Take A Chance On Me, and Mama Mia running through my head all day. For the record, I have not seen the play and I am not really an ABBA fan although I do like some of their songs. I mainly went because Brosnan was in it. Anyway, the film is good light-hearted summer fare that goes down like a yummy appetizer. Now bring on the delicious main course--The Dark Knight.

[dinovelvet]

So, dodge, are you surrendering your masculinity and going to see Mamma Mia this weekend in support of Broz?