“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” — the sequel to the 2008 musical “Mamma Mia!” — is a must-see. Not only for fans of the classic soundtrack and performances from the original, but also for fans of movies in general. The new movie is perfect for a little cheering up. It didn’t fail to put a smile on my face.
Although at times musicals feel cheesy, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” nailed every quality a good musical should have. The songs carry the narrative of the film forward and convey the emotions being felt by the characters.
Lily James plays young Donna Sheridan in the sequel. She delivers an exceptional performance. The transition from spoken lines to music is hard to pull off for a lot of actors, but James surpasses expectations.
Amanda Seyfried, returning from the originalas Sophie, sticks to the classic ABBA songs from the original, implementing the slow and fast parts of a song in such a way that the viewer feels the emotions of the character. The original movie is known for being an upbeat, overall fun film to watch. Now 10 years later, the new one can best be described as a song-filled rollercoaster of emotions.
Almost exactly a decade after the iconic 2008 jukebox musical film, the story of Sophie, Donna and her three fathers portrayed in “Mamma Mia!” has returned to theaters with “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” The all-star cast featuring the likes of Amanda Seyfried, Julie Walters, Colin Firth and many more returns to the screen, alongside newcomers such as Lily James and Cher. The viewer is once again welcomed into the serenity (alongside chaos, at times) of Kalokairi, Greece — although the filmming was done in Croatia — and is given an in-depth look into the events that took place before the start of the first film.
Because of the movie is a sequel, it may be somewhat complicated for a view who hasn’t seen the original. Spoiler alert (although it has been widely reported): Meryl Steep’s character, Donna, has died (although we don’t learn why). As producer Judy Craymer told USA Today, “She said: ‘If there’s a way I can be involved, I would love that. But I’m never going to be singing nine songs, running on the cliff tops again.’”
So the movie turns a death into a rebirth: It was her mother’s dream to renovate her hotel, and now Sophie, her daughter, assumes the role of the business entrepreneur.
The choreography of this film is mesmerizing. It’s clear to see the effort the choreographers and cinematographers put into making every single movement picture-perfect. The cinematography in songs such as “When I Kissed the Teacher” and “Waterloo” is astounding.
For instance, in “When I Kissed the Teacher,” the shot of Donna and the rest of the graduating class riding off into the unknown gives the viewer a taste of the adventure depicted throughout Donna’s story. The sudden spontaneous dance numbers add a sense of fun and humor to the movie, making it an essential part of what builds its atmosphere. From the way every motion is carried out to the way it is captured, the choreography is certainly the most memorable aspect of the film.
Though the film perfectly encapsulates its musical roots, it falls short in dialogue. The choreography serves as mesmerizing and hypnotic at times, which keeps the audience engaged and in awe, until characters interact outside of extravagant dance routines. The movie’s writing isn’t an issue, but sometimes the delivery falls flat, as if the actors were reading their lines through a teleprompter during filming.
It seems like the film’s casting directors valued musical ability more than pure acting when deciding roles for the movie, which isn’t necessarily a negative thing for a jukebox musical. Some lines even feel like they are being said in a live performance, which could be because the film’s predecessor is an adaptation from a musical. Either way, the film’s beautiful scenery and joyous music help build the ambiance much more than the characters brief exchanges.
In addition to dialogue, characters that seem to be important to the plot are barely shown. Sky, Sophie’s significant other, seems pivotal at the beginning, but then is barely mentioned or talked about. While the film perfectly depicts Donna’s back-story of how she came to the island, it seems to lack in its new scenarios. Sophie’s grandmother, Ruby Sheridan, portrayed by Cher, does not appear in the film until the final scenes. While her diva-esque humor certainly brightens the mood and excites the viewer, she has no influence on the plot, other than to briefly reunite with a long lost lover. These connections and side plots run rampant throughout the film and can be distractions to the overall storyline.
But its upbeat songs by legendary Swedish pop group ABBA, choreography and joyous atmosphere make it memorable and heartwarming.
Fans of the original “Mamma Mia” will be excited to know that many of the old cast are back after 10 years, featured in the new movie, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” All the leads — Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, even Meryl Streep — bring you back to the wonderful memories in the colorful Greek island.
When Colin Firth was asked why he wanted to make the film, he said, “I was sort of still mulling it and when I started hearing that everyone was coming back,” he continued, “I was gonna see all my old friends again, and you know, the same familiar faces.” He was hugely drawn to that: “There is a sense of family reunion.”
The new movie continues with the life of Sophie after her mom, Donna (played by Meryl Streep) dies, and recalls Donna’s young life, recreating the romances with the three men who may have been Sophie’s dad.
One of the possible dads, Sam, asks “How can I carry on?” This question also applies to all the characters in the movie and shapes the plot, including daughter Sophie, who figures out that she is just like her mom.
Lily James, who plays young Donna, shows the audience how amazing she as an actress and also as a singer. With the flashbacks to Donna’s life, the beautiful sights and gorgeous pieces of music by the Swedish pop group ABBA, the director creates an imaginative escape. Get ready and join the party!
“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” is a sequel musical, and it keeps the singing and dancing alive. The music is surprisingly infectious and intimate in scenes featuringLily James as the young Donna, especially in such numbers as “Dancing Queen.”
Both movies have a strong visual impact from stars Lily James and Amanda Seyfried’s colorful clothes to the gorgeous scenery.(The sequel was filmed in Croatia).
The new movie introduces young actors to tell the story of Donna’s past and her three love affairs. The sequel showcases young Sophie’s business venture; she and her boyfriend remake Donna’s house into a beautiful hotel.For Sophie, this house is witness to her mother’s legacy.
Even if you did not see the original movie, you can follow the plot. Like the first movie and the stage musical, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” features the songs of ABBA, the Swedish pop group. The movie, like their music, will leave you feeling the warmth of family and the beauty of life.
The movie “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” is a sequel to the well-loved original “Mamma Mia!” a movie based on a musical famous for its songs produced by the popular Swedish pop group ABBA. The soundtrack of the sequel includes classic songs from the previous movie, such as “I Have A Dream,”“Dancing Queen,”and “Mamma Mia,” along with other engaging pieces by ABBA.
Without having seen the first movie or musical, it may be a little difficult to follow the storyline. Therefore, it is recommended to either watch the previous movie or musical, or read a short summary of them online.
As the movie progresses, scenes quickly switch from the past to the present and vice versa, which may be difficult for viewers to follow. However, the transitions between these scenes are done smoothly and creatively, keeping the viewers engaged.
The creative transitions are especially prevalent during many of the musical numbers in the movie — such as when they fade from a scene in Donna’s life to what’s unfolding in the present with her daughter, played again by Amanda Seyfried — and they are accompanied by the entertaining choreography. Big group numbers include “Waterloo,” with many background dancers and the colorful costumes that fill the screen.
As for the acting and cast,” Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” brings back many of the memorable actors from the first movie, such as Dominic Cooper as Sky, Julie Walters as Rosie, Christine Baranski as Tanya, Stellan Skarsgård as Bill, Pierce Brosnan as Sam, and Colin Firth as Harry.
The cast also includes many new faces in order to portray Donna’s young life. Lily James portrays young Donna as an adventurous soul full of imagination and dreams. She infuses Donna’s character with life and passion.
Other actors who played younger versions of the original characters include Josh Dylan as young Bill, Jeremy Irvine as young Sam, Hugh Skinner as young Harry, Alexa Davies as young Rosie, and Jessica Keenan Wynn as young Tanya.
These actors stay true to the characters of their older counterparts while also displaying the impetuousness of their young lives.
Berkeley’s two-day kite festival showcases huge kites flying over Cesar Chavez Park at the city’s marina. (Photo by Lynne Perri)
BERKELEY, Calif. — On your way to the festival, you observe the plethora of cars, buses, bikes and countless other modes of transportation snaking their way down toward the marina. People visiting with their families, friends and others pour in and out of the festival..
This is free Berkeley Kite Festival, now in its 31st year, which serves as a communal gathering point featuring food, families and dogs.
Alongside the long row of vendors at Cesar Chavez Park stand the booths for the Berkeley Police Department, where officers are directing traffic, passing out stickers and fielding questions.
Maggie Burciha, a San Francisco native, attended the festival for the first time last year and she was back again on opening day in 2018. She said came because of “just how family-friendly it is.” She has two young boys “and we really enjoy kites,” she said.
Although the kite festival showcases kites of all sizes and colors both for fun and for competition, there are also dozens of vendors — selling soaps, trinkets, T-shirts and other clothing (and kites) — and activities for younger children, including a playground full of inflatables, a petting zoo and pony rides.
“We like the vendors,” Burciha said.
Like Burciha, Sandra Braddock arrived with her family in the afternoon. “This is great,” she said. You get to see a lot of different people here, and different kites, too.”
Her son was flying a kite and her daughter was sitting next to her with a blanket wrapped around her while Braddock talked about what a wonderful time they had last year.
Andy and Cindy’s Thai Cuisine specializes in cooking with organic ingridients. (Photo by Kim Lamparello)
BERKELEY, Calif.–The produce from the Berkeley Farmers’ Market has been drawing customers in for years. The many vendors fill up the entire street, creating an inviting community.
The Berkeley Farmers’ Market has been a diverse community with a rich history. For more than 30 years, the farmers’ market has been showcasing a variety of produce and attracting new customers.
Throughout the years, the farmers’ market has received many awards. For instance, SF Gate named the farmers’ market as the Best Farmers’ Market in the Bay Area in their Baylist Best contest.
Here’s a closer look at five of the vendors who sell their products at the farmers’ market.
Andy and Cindy – Ethiopian Food Thai Cuisine
This is Andy and Cindy’s Thai Cuisine menu. (Photo by Kim Lamparello)
Andy Szachnowicz is a forty-one-year-old man from Poland, Europe who has been making Thai food professionally for 13 years. In 2001, he moved to the United States and started his commercial restaurant in 2005.
He uses seasonal, organic ingredients and free range chicken for most of his dishes. Over the years, Szachnowicz’s business has grown to four other locations.
He also expressed how rewarding it is working independently and how he is “not overseen.”
One of his main focuses is to keep the customers happy. His favorite recipes are Thai noodle dishes.
Lone Oak Ranch – Home of Farmer and the Dale
Cayoa Harang is a thirteen-year-old girl who has been helping her family with the business for years. Dale Simmons, who has been a grandfather figure for Harang, works as a farmer and maintains the business.
Simmons has been farming for approximately 27 years. The business has been passed down through his family for generations, but will stop when he retires. Harang said the most rewarding part is seeing the customers’ surprised faces when they try the fruit. Her favorite foods from the business are the white peaches and grapes.
Savory Crepes
Pete Trembois’s business is considered a “Mom and Pop” family business. His business is called Tony’s Crepes and Kettle Korn and they make custom crepes for customers and pop specialty popcorns. Trembois also has drinks such as lemonade, iced tea and makes his own version of Arnold Palmer iced tea.
His business has several locations and has been selling at 10-20 different farmers’ markets for 25 years. His business in Downtown, Berkeley is there every Saturday. He uses organic ingredients whenever possible and French vegetables. He likes to support one of his favorite farms, Happy Boy Farms, but overall, enjoys supporting all of the farms in the market.
“The customer’s always right…they usually leave with a smile on their face,” he said.
Trembois is very loyal to his customers and his livelihood depends on them. The top-selling item are the crepes.
Kaki Farm in Gridley
The Kaki Farm is a family owned business, and Jessica and Daisy Sifuentes have been helping their uncle for almost nine years. The family has owned the Kaki Farm for over 25 years.
The Kaki Farm is seasonal and their business depends on what produce is growing during each season. Generally, the farm tries to grow different varieties of same product. The Kaki Farm grows blackberries, boysenberries, five different kinds of figs and seven different kinds of tomatoes.
The most challenging part of being in this business is keeping everything in stock for the customers. They also have a two-and-a-half hour drive from Gridley.
Jessica said, “It’s a handful because I do have my job to do outside of this, this is more like a hobby.”
Bariani Olive Oil
The Bariani family moved from Italy to the United States in the 1990s and started their family business after they immigrated. Sebastian Bariani and his family started making olive oil for themselves and eventually expanded into a business.
Bariani makes the olive oil and balsamic vinegar and travels back to Italy to study for two weeks. The olives are handpicked with care rather than being mechanically picked. The family makes other products such as honey, balsamic vinegar and table olives. The balsamic vinegar is made in Italy close to where the family came from.
The family participates in farmers’ markets located in Berkeley, San Francisco and Sacramento.
Tom Dawson helped Bariani for fifteen years and has learned many techniques from him. He introduced the recipe for table olives to the business.
While the main draw for the Bariani Olive Oil business is the oil itself, they also make soaps and skin creams from beeswax and olive oil.
Tom Dawson (left) has been involved in Bariani Olive Oil for 15 years and Sebastian Bariani (right) for 28 years. (Photo by Kennedy McDermott)
Berkeley, Calif. –– When customers step into the Farmers’ Market on a Saturday morning, they embrace the bustling activity and purchase a variety of green vegetables, enjoy tangy Thai noodles or sample Italian delicacies. On the left and right are numerous stalls of bread and pastries, flowers and greenery and a mix of tantalizing aromas.
In downtown Berkeley, the Farmers’ Market on Center Street at M. L. King, Jr. Way allows people to find fresh and organic products. It works in alliance with other Berkeley farmers’ markets under the Ecology Center. Its mission is to provide sustainable and healthy products. Each shop owner or farmer arrives before the sun rises to unload its products and start the day. Locals depend on this market, which operates from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. all year long.
Customers can buy anything from organic honey-based skin products to savory breakfast crepes stuffed with bacon.
One common thread found in the market is the commitment to producing organic goods. The shops are all dedicated to delivering the top quality products for each other, their families, their culture and their customers.
Tony’s Kettle Korn and Crepe
Tony’s Kettle Korn and Crepe is a mom-and-pop business, renowned for its popped corn and variety of crepes. They operate in 10 different locations across the state.
“You give the customers what they want, “ Pete Trembois, one of the sellers whose entire family plays a role in the business, said. “You know the customer’s always right. You give them what they want. You make them happy, and they usually leave with a smile on their face.”
They are loyal to not only their customers but also to their farmers and fellow family businesses.
Trembois adds that they “use premium ingredients so we’ll have premium products.”
They do their best to support all the farmers and rely especially on Happy Boy’s farm, another family-owned farm, for their fresh produce. Through supporting each other’s businesses, these shops build deep connections of community.
The Lone Oak Ranch
Dale Simmons and JoLaVonne ViDeaune run the Lone Oak Ranch located in Reedley, California. It has run for more than four generations. One worker, Cayoa Harang, who is 19 and a student, said selling the fruit is her favorite part of the job.
“The surprise on their face when [customers] eat the fruit for the first time and stuff like that is great,” said Harang.
Kaki Farm
Nicasio Soria runs the Kaki Farm in Gridley, California, with the help of hired hands and five family members.
“We get a better relationship with our customers here in the markets than in said a grocery store,” said Jessica Sifuentes, a financial analyst at Chico Medical Hospital who helps out with the business on the side.
Family-run shops also have an environment that big grocery marts do not have. Families often come in to enjoy a weekend at farmers’ markets. Mothers come in buy groceries for the week to feed families. Young adults swing by to have a taste of the organic and fresh coffee and pastries. These regulars said they come for the quality products and the trust.
Their goal is to offer as many varieties as possible for one product.
Sifuentes said, “We have early grills, beef steak, roma, heirlooms, cherry tomatoes, sweet 100s and sun gold.”
Bariani Olive Oil
Farmers’ markets are not limited to only fruits and vegetables. Customers can enjoy cuisines and products of different cultures at the Farmers’ Market in downtown. Bariani sells all products related to olives.
Tom Dawson, an employee of the shop, said “It’s a family that moved from Italy to the U.S. in the ’90s. They started making olive oil for themselves and turned that into a business.”
From olive oil to honey to their most popular item, olive pate, this shop celebrates its Italian roots.
BERKELEY, Calif. — The number of farmers’ markets has grown exponentially in the United States, with 8,727 markets listed on the USDA’s National Farmers Market Directory. The Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market prides itself on its natural, organic, locally grown food. These small farmers do not condone to the harmful practices big businesses use to mass-produce products.
Nicole Sayre sells almond-based products weekly at the farmers’ market. (Photo by Miranda Aldridge)
Nicole Sayre, a book illustrator who sells Massa Organics’ almond products every Saturday, said her company creates a natural environment in its farms, complete with sheep to graze under the different trees to limit the number of weeds rather than using chemicals for that purpose.
Buying these earth-friendly food products can have a positive impact on the environment, but some vendors with good intentions aren’t getting the business they once had.
Katy Pomelov, who sells microgreens with Lifefood Gardens, has gone from selling at 11 markets to two, one in Berkeley and the other in Oakland, California.
Katy Pomelov sells microgreens, which are different types of sprouts. (Photo by Miranda Aldridge)
Pomelov explains that the profitability of her products has dropped by about half — and she’s heard the same from other vendors in other counties.
The Lifefood Garden booths used to have two people behind them, but now there is only one because there are fewer customers.
“People shop for the experience at farmers’ markets,” Pomelov said. “It’s more of a novelty thing now.”
At any market, people generally come for fresh, high quality food paired with a lively atmosphere. Whether it’s music or happy conversation and laughter, the experience of being at a farmers’ market is what draws people in.
Lisa Jobson said, “I don’t usually buy a ton here. I come for the novelty and the freshness.”
Farmers’ markets are organized as a community, where the vendors can build relationships with their regular customers.
Though friendly atmosphere brings people in, convenience is still highly valued by most.
As markets increase across America, shoppers tend to opt for the closest one rather than their usual one, so individual vendors end up losing the business they once had, Pomelov said.
But in 2016 study, the Pew Research Center found that four in 10 Americans say that some (34%) or most (6%) of the food they eat is organic. And young adults, 18 to 49, say they are more likely to consider organic purchases for health reasons.
BERKELEY, Calif. — The Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market was bright and booming on Saturday as the vendors displayed their goods and the customers perused the tents. The vendors sold primarily natural and organic produce and handmade natural products.
Adriane Bovone poses with her natural remedies (Photo by Chrissy Pondexter-Shields)
Eduardo Morell is a former film and art student who quit college when “the filmmaking became way too expensive with all the chemicals that were bad for the environment,” he said.
After leaving the film business behind, Morell taught himself how to bake and applied his newly developed skills to the market and its demand, which happened to be the Downtown Berkeley Farmers’ Market. The family-owned business, which has been present for 16 years, promotes a healthier lifestyle by making all-organic sourdough bread.
Since 1969, the Farmers’ Market has served as a home and meeting place for vendors such as Eduardo who promote a healthier lifestyle and sell their products. The market has been at the forefront of green innovation for decades and was the first on the scene of banning the use of plastic bags.
Eduardo Morell displays his organic creations (Photo by Chrissy Pondexter- Shields)
One example of a person at the forefront of green and natural innovation is Adriane Bovone, who promotes a natural and healthy lifestyle with her stand of all natural medicine owned by her husband, Joshua Muscat’s company: Plumas Botanic Medicine Clinic, previously known as the San Francisco Botanical Clinic.
Muscat previously had health issues that could not be treated by prescription medicine, which prompted him to find natural remedies not always present in over-the-counter drugs and later started the clinic to help others. Their products are primarily aimed at treating common colds, stress, allergies and sleep problems.
“SFBMC is also committed to working in association with clinic
al herbalists in San Francisco, the Greater Bay Area and beyond,” according to the the company’s website/
Bob Bernstein, an apple-cider merchant, is a seasoned veteran of the market. Bernstein traveled from Chicago to San Francisco to discover the business of working at an orchard and selling apple cider.
“I just kind of stumbled into it actually,” Bernstein said. “It was 1971, and I was just hitchhiking around, when I stumbled onto this apple farm, and I’ve been there ever since.”
Home page photo: Bob Bernstein sells his apple cider weekly at the farmers’ market. (Photo by Polina Mogilevsky)
“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” — the sequel to the 2008 musical “Mamma Mia!” — is a must-see. Not only for fans of the classic soundtrack and performances from the original, but also for fans of movies in general. The new movie is perfect for a little cheering up. It didn’t fail to put a smile on my face.
Fans of the original “Mamma Mia” will be excited to know that many of the old cast are back after 10 years, featured in the new movie, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.” All the leads — Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, even Meryl Streep — bring you back to the wonderful memories in the colorful Greek island.
