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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:17 am
by Big Magilla
I don't know, I had no interest in seeing Sex and the City but I am kind of looking forward to seeing this.
I have to assume the film script is tighter than the excuse to just string together the songs in the stage version.
I couldn't stand Abba in he 70s but Muriel's Wedding gave me a bit of appreciation for them and I have to admit that now my feet start to involuntarily do a little dance whenever I hear one of their songs.
The plot of the movie bears a striking resemblence to the late 60s comedy, Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell in which Gina Lollobrigida was an Italian woman during World War II who had affairs with three American G.I.'s all fow hom she conned into thinking they were her daughter's father. They were played by Phil Silvers, Peter Lawford and Telly Savalas. Poor Gina, you would think she do better than those guys!
It would be something of a hoot if Meryl were to be nominated for this bit of fluff instead of Doubt as everyone seems to be predicting.
Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:03 am
by paperboy
I love Meryl , ABBA, Julie Walters and Amanda Seyfried but there's no way I'll be seeing the film. Several years ago a friend took me to the musical and I wanted to claw my ears off to avoid the dreadful script. Never have songs been shoehorned so awkwardly into a storyline (such as it is).
This surprisingly positive review from The Times contains this hilarious bit of snark -
Streep [...] leads her mob of bridesmaids, ageing sluts and lumpy Greek peasant women on a rampage through that sleepy village like a sun-kissed, middle-aged parody of Cyndi Lauper.
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:12 am
by ITALIANO
No, please. Not ABBA now.
Edited By ITALIANO on 1214997219
Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:33 am
by Precious Doll
I like Abba alot and my other half loves them but we are not going to this film film at the cinema and will wait for video when we can pay $2 to rent it and turn the sound down.
I really don't want to listen to this cast potentially ruin alot of great songs. It's bad enough sitting through the trailer at the cinema.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:47 pm
by Eric
I love me some synthetic '70s pap too -- The Carpenters, Gilbert O'Sullivan, even a song or two by Barry Manilow (!) ... again, ABBA falls outside of a genre I regard as inside my interests. There's no explaining it, but there it is.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:52 pm
by Reza
Penelope wrote:Mister Tee wrote:Let me say that if "the infectious, decades-old ABBA songs on which the film is anchored are the only thing keeping it afloat", I'm not coming within a country mile of this.
I'll be first in line! 
Pen, that's me right behind you in line!
I read somewhere that Streep could be contender in the best actress race for this film.
Edited By Reza on 1214963909
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:38 pm
by Hustler
FilmFan720 wrote:I'm a straight man and I love ABBA!
I´m straight too and I adore Abba. Who can resist it?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:42 pm
by FilmFan720
I'm a straight man and I love ABBA!
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:40 pm
by Penelope
Right on, Flipp! And, as the years progressed (and their respective marriages fell apart), their lyrics became darker while retaining that brilliant musicianship: songs like "The Winner Takes It All" or "One Of Us" still have that incredible pop sensibility, but are also filled with a longing and sense of loneliness that many gay men can relate to.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:27 pm
by flipp525
One of the reasons that ABBA is so embraced, by the gay community in particular, is because their songs have that pure joy running through them that Bono states so succinctly in the clip you provided. They're not afraid to be who they are in their songs and somehow, through the lyrics, they make it okay to be who you are. And that's a message that you want to hear over and over again. When everyone else around you is telling you that your lifestyle is disgusting and that you're a faggot, etc and then you turn on ABBA and they tell you that you can dance and sing and have the time of your life, it's comforting and inspiring at a very basic level of acceptance.
And, Penelope, I know you won't let others' denigration of their music affect your love for them. We love soap operas and ABBA. Suck it, bitches! Dance on, you dancing queen!
Edited By flipp525 on 1214958565
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:11 pm
by Penelope
In this short video clip, Bono provides what--for me--is the underlying reason for the irrational hate for ABBA.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:06 pm
by Penelope
Well, let's never go to a party together, eh?
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:00 pm
by Okri
Penelope wrote:Why does ABBA engender so much wrath and hate? This is something I'll never understand. They were pure pop craftsmen/women, who combined classical training, incredible vocals, and brilliant musicianship to create some of the most shimmery, purely joyous music ever, and who influenced future musicians from Bono to Kurt Cobain. That's something that should be celebrated, not denigrated.
Because I don't agree with this. Mister Tee said synthetic, but artificial, empty, dull and irritating. It's not like those who dislike them say "well, they're brilliant but I'll hate them anyway." I just don't think they did anything I'd want to listen to.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:36 pm
by Mister Tee
Well, I'll just say I always found their sound synthetic and dreary -- one of many examples of how the 70s took the glorious pop traditions and turned them into pap.
If for nothing else, for Fernando they should be permanently banned.
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:31 pm
by Penelope
But you could say the same thing about The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, etc., etc. Personally, if I never hear a Rod Stewart song for the rest of my life, I'll be quite happy.