Cinema Junkie by Beth Accomando

Mamma Mia! takes on Batman at the box office this weekend. (Universal)

Mamma Mia! is a blast. I can't believe I just said that. As a fan of horror and Asian Extreme Cinema, I have a little trouble admitting how much fun I had at the bright, cheery ABBA musical Mamma Mia! (opening July 18 throughout San Diego). There's something irresistible in the way this film jubilantly embraces the movie musical tradition. So having Mamma Mia! open the same weekend as The Dark Knight offers the perfect yin and yang choices for filmgoers.

Lea Ann Walker from University City
July 22, 2008 at 11:02 PM
I totally agree with Beth, which may be a first for me! We loved this movie, and the rest of the audience obviously did too, as shown by the enthusiastic applause and shouted commentary. There's no more strange and delightful experience than being in a dark movie theater with a bunch of strangers who all agree on either enthusiasm, hate or tears at the same time. The last time this happened to us was at ET, and the first time was at West Side Story, on our first wedding anniversary, the day after JFK was killed; obviously very different responses.