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Movie review: “Mamma Mia” true to the spirit of the original

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.

 

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Celebrity influence powerful for some people’s politics

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Many teenagers and adults studying or working at American University this summer believe that celebrities have significant influence in shaping people’s political views, although research shows many young people are influenced by factors outside of star power.

Social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat have propelled celebrities’ status and many are opting to share their views on topics including immigration, elections, drug offenses and the prison system.

People like 16-year-old Nei Boney are paying attention.

“If it’s somebody I respect, I will consider their opinions,” said Boney, who considers herself a frequent social media user.

Boney, who said she uses social media frequently, often finds herself pinpointing celebrities’ talents like acting or photography before looking at the politics. Jaden Smith and Cole Sprouse make her list as influential.

This month, model Chrissy Teigen and singer husband John Legend used the social media platform Twitter to encourage fans to donate money to the American Civil Liberties Union to fight President Donald Trump’s new immigration policy separating children and families at the border.

The celebrity couple donated $72,000 for each member of their family in honor of Trump’s 72nd birthday, and urged followers to give what they could whether that was $7.20 or $720. That started a social media firestorm. It was retweeted 94,000 times and liked 414,000 times as of Tuesday.

On June 16, Teigen tweeted stating that 20,000 people had donated to the ACLU, raising more than $1 million.

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Chrissy Teigen tweeted on June 14 urging people to donate to the ACLU.

Teigen, Legend, Smith, and Sprouse are just some of the names that make a political splash on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.

People like Boney listen to celebrities because they respect them, while other’s like Marie Rose Belding, 22, respect people based on their policies and characteristics rather than just their fame.

“They need the brains to back it up,” Belding said.

Cory Booker, Michelle Obama, and Hillary Clinton were just some of the people she found herself often looking at when scrolling through Twitter.  She stated these people needed to be “well rounded.”

Kim Kardashian West, who often uses her social media platforms to discuss her television show or items she’s promoting, successfully advocated for the prison release of 63-year-old great grandmother Alice Marie Johnson, according to West’s website.

West retweeted in October information about Johnson’s incarceration, saying “This is so unfair.”

That tweet was liked 30,652 times and retweeted 6,383 times as of Tuesday.

When discussing Johnson’s prison release Belding said she found it wonderful that a powerful celebrity such as West could use her influence in a beneficial way.

Research from Valerie R O’Regan, of California State University, concluded: “The research finds that young adults are more likely to listen to individuals other than celebrities for their own political information.”

Sara Beightol often finds herself gravitating towards people on her social media accounts who agree with her values.  These people include two powerful Christian pastors: John Piper and Jonathan Leeman.

Others like Beightol, 26, and Jasmine Ellison, 20, fear the power celebrities have in the political world.

“That’s scary,” Beightol said. “That Kim Kardashian West has that much power.”

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The celebrity effect? Some say it’s important but research says influence comes from closer to home

Students at American University this week provided various perspectives of celebrities’ power in the media, explaining the influence their advocacy has on multiple issues including mental illness and the criminal justice system.

Amanda Luthy, 20, who is a senior, said she looks up to director Ava DuVernay. Luthy described DuVernay as a person who embodies female empowerment and is a role model for women of color, and Luthy said she is drawn to a message of her increasing diversity for people in media.

Lamar Smith, a teaching assistant in the Discover the World of Communication summer program, said he looks up to famous athletes including Chris Paul, who made Smith aware of Hurricane Harvey and police brutality. 

Amanda Luthy discusses her views on celebrities. Photo by Myra Strickland.

“It enlightens you,” Smith said about learning about current events through celebrity involvement.

Although interviews on campus revealed the importance of celebrity advocacy for some teenagers, research shows that’s not always the case, with many turning to people they know rather than those they see on the screen.

“Young adults are less likely to trust the celebrity endorsement of a candidate or issue, and are more likely to trust the endorsement of someone they know,” according to Valerie R. O’Regan of The Department of Political Science at California State University. That work titled “The Celebrity Influence: Do People Really Care What They Think” was published in June 2014.

Sejung Marina Choi and Nora J. Rifon showed in their work that “personalities, lifestyles, appearances, and behaviors” are influenced the most rather than political views or social stances.

“Favorable responses to celebrity endorsements might occur only when consumers perceive the images or meanings the celebrities represent and convey as desirable,” the authors wrote in a 2007 Journal of Popular Culture article.