It starts off fine. We're in the present and it matters. The cast is appealing. The story interesting. Meryl Streep is dead and Amanda Seyfried is dealing with that and more. She and Dominic Cooper still have their strong chemistry and that counts for a lot because the film wobbles a little at the start.
But it's charming and you know Cher's coming so it's okay.
However, some idiot thought that telling a story in the present wasn't enough. No, let's tell two stories! Let's wow them! Let's pretend we're GODFATHER II! We'll hire a new actor to play Marlon Brando as a kid! And it will be awesome!
What worked for GODFATHER II comes close to sinking MAMA MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN.
Meryl's dead in the film. So for some stupid reason, the filmmakers think we need to see her character Donna . . . as a teen!
No, we don't. Lily James looks nothing like her. I know, Robert DeNiro looked nothing like Marlon Brando but he brought an intensity to the role. Lily, playing Meryl as a teen, evokes nothing that draws to mind Meryl. It's dull and it's boring.
It's as though forty minutes of GOTHAM got hacked into THE DARK KNIGHT RISES.
When we're finally done with that crap, look, it's Cher!
And the movie comes back to life.
The decision to do a prequel in the midst of this sequel leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
If they had just focused on Amanda's present-day problems, this would have been a much better film and a much more joyful one.
The best moment of the film? Cher singing "Fernando." Second best? I'd say any scene with Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper. They really make a great screen couple. The chemistry's not just there, it's probably stronger and they seem like a real couple so you root for them.
I liked MAMA MIA -- not loved it. But I liked it and thought Meryl did some of her best work in that film because she wasn't trying so hard. I can remember her grin in that movie to this day. I wanted to love MAMA MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN. And if I edit out the prequel in my mind, I do.
Going out with C.I.'s "Iraq snapshot:"
Thursday, July 19, 2018. Protests continue in Iraq. As the US media
remains uninterested, let's remember what happened last time the US
media ignored attacks on protesters in Iraq.
In Iraq, the protests continue. The protesters are still greeted with violence from the government that claims to represent them. This despite the support for the protesters from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and Shi'ite cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr.
In Iraq, the protests continue. The protesters are still greeted with violence from the government that claims to represent them. This despite the support for the protesters from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and Shi'ite cleric and movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr.
The government of #Iraq using armored vehicles and guns to stop the protests and the people who are asking for their simple human rights! #IraqProtests #العراق_ينتفض
Protesting over the lack of jobs, lack of water, lack of electricity and so much more means they are targeted with violence.
Iraqi people are protesting against the corruption of the government, there is no electricity in most of the cities no public service and over 40% of the young people are unemployed .#IraqProtests #standwithiraq
That's an interesting photo above. It is even more interesting if you pull back a little.
This picture speaks volumes #IraqProtests
The bravery of the two protesters is even more evident if you pull back just a little.
It's again interesting how the protests in Iraq just do not matter to the United States.
Dear @hrw
I hope you’ve seen what’s happening in #iraq nowadays..
There is No Rights, Humanity, and no one is watching..
#IraqProtests
The US media largely ignores them. Whether it's corporate media or beggar media, they find something else to feign interest in. They are the reason so many have died. Not just in these protests going on now but in all the earlier protests since 2010.
Protests in Basra city today.
#Iraq
Why is Hayder al-Abadi, prime minister of Iraq, deciding to attack the Iraqi people a surprise?
When Barack Obama installed Hayder al-Abadi in 2014 -- a fact even NPR acknowledged on air (it's MORNING EDITION earlier this year, if you need to look that up) -- it was known that he was Dawa -- Nouri al-Maliki's political party -- and that he was State Of Law (Nouri's political slate). Barack was removing Nouri (finally) because his persecution had led to the rise of ISIS. Why did anyone think that Hayder would be any different from thug Nouri?
He's not.
For all the people late to the party on ISIS this year, let's note something that they apparently do not know or else forgot.
Hayder is attacking the protesters.
Do we remember when Nouri started attacking the protesters?
Those of us with functioning brains do remember. What happened was ISIS showed up. In public. They showed up on the long highway into Baghdad where Anbar citizens were protesting and being targeted by Nouri. They showed up and protected the persecuted.
Nouri's War Crimes made a terrorist group (ISIS) look better by comparison.
#IraqProtests
We have the worst government in the world
We're living in a country where there are no human rights, no water , no electricity, no jobs ..etc
We are suffering poverty in a time we have lots of sources but only the government people and their families are getting it
Those valid statements above by Hanaa should be heard and responded to. Instead, Hayder's attacking the people.
Hayder's traveling down that same road Nouri did. He needs to stop or be stopped. (I'm not referring to murder, I'm referring to the international community speaking frankly and, if he continues this, they cut off aid.) It's bad right now.
GRAPHIC: one of the protesters killed by security forces in Basra (I post merely to document them):
#IraqProtests
But if it continues, it's going to get worse just as it did under Nouri.
the government's action to this situation is:
- cutting of the internet service.
- shutting down the electricity power in a lot of cities
-arresting and killing random people !!
#save_the_iraqi_people
#iraqprotests
That main photo above we've noted before. It's huge on Arabic social media. Strange that the US media seems unconcerned and doesn't rush to inform Americans what is become a rallying point in the Arabic world.
Hello world! people are getting shot for demanding water, electricity & other basic human needs in #Iraq
If you wanna show your support please use hashtag #IraqProtests #save_the_iraqi_people
Look, over here, I'm waiving my hand and saying "Pay attention!"
I was doing that when ISIS was rising in Iraq, before terms like "ISIS" were being used.
I'm not a prophet. I'm someone with common sense (at least a little). Anyone with common sense can tell you that things are going to get worse if Hayder's attacks on the protesters continue.That's basic analysis. I see that, as usual, whenever anything takes place in Iraq, 'analyst' Joel Wing just posts links. That's because he requires months and months to form any sot of opinion -- and when he does, he's generally wrong. Like he was about Barzani. Over and over, Joel stalls and stalls and the events pass him by. But because he offers conventional wisdom, he's treated as a seer. He can't see beyond his own toes.
Night protests begin in Najaf
#IraqProtest
leaked videotape showing the protesters from Al-Shula city being held in disgrace at the Kadhimiya police station
#IraqProtests #Save_the_Iraqi_peopl
#breaking
protest in the Alshula -baghdad and security forces used live ammunition
#IraqProtests
ISIS never left. It was not defeated. People are starting to notice that and insisting it's creeping back (again, it never left and it never was defeated).
AL BAWABA reports, "At least 10 people were injured in four bombings in Iraq’s oil-rich city of Kirkuk, police sources said on Wednesday. A spokesman of Kirkuk Police, Afsaryav Kamil, told Anadolu Agency that roadside bombs were planted by unknown persons." THE NEW ARAB adds, "Anadolu news agency reported that four explosives were detonated, including one on the Baghdad road, but made no mention of mortar rounds."
Because earlier this week, Liz Sly and Mustafa Salim (WASHINGTON POST) noted of Hayder al-Abadi's claims that ISIS has been defeated, "The government declared the Baghdad-Kirkuk road is now safe, and drivers and passengers who take the route say there are new checkpoints every kilometer."
The following community sites -- plus Jody Watley and Cindy Sheehan -- updated:
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