Customer Reviews

Mamma Mia! 5th Anniversary [CD/DVD Combination]

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

What separates this Mamma Mia offering from all the others are the following:

1. I found the sound quality of the songs to be better on this CD than on other Mamma Mia CD's that don't have the three finale songs.

2. This CD has the three finale songs included: (Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, and Waterloo). Another CD may have the three finale songs included, but it doesn't have the DVD.

3. This offering has a DVD included. Included on the DVD is the history of the making of Mamma Mia (approximately 15 minutes). It also shows song numbers being performed in other countries in various languages. The DVD also shows the two main Broadway performers telling of their experiences in the play. The two remaining parts of the DVD show the songs Money Money Money and Dancing Queen performed as they appeared when the play first opened in London. If you want one Mamma Mia offering this is the one to get. Even if you already have one I would definitely include this one in your collection as well. I've ordered several of these copies (I'd be embarrassed to say how many) and plan on ordering another batch for members of my music class in grades 4-8 as a gift. Treat yourself! It's worth it.

CD/DVD are OK but the DVD is only a compilation of a few moments on the Mamma Mia, I expected the complete DVD from the actual performance.I'm rather disappointed.

If you are going to get a CD of the Mamma Mia musical this is the one to buy. I know the price is stiff, but, at least to me, it is worth it. I have played it several times and never get tired of it. In addition, it includes an encore rendition of the songs Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, and an initial rendition of Waterloo. You can buy cheaper CD's of the Mamma Mia musical, but these ABBA songs are worth paying a little more to get the best version that is available for sale.

The CD is great, but the DVD would not play correctly. It kept sticking on one spot, no way to advance scenes, etc. Have not had that problem with any other DVDs on my player. Very disappointed.

I love the CD and it's like I'm back in the theatre. The music is very powerful and this is the best.

I just saw "Mamma Mia! in Las Vegas and couldn't wait to buy this CD. The songs are done well and put me right back in the 3rd row, center of the theater and the DVD was an added little bonus!

I bought this because of it's statement of bonus tracks and a DVD. "Cool", I thought. Imagine my disappointment when the "bonus tracks" were nothing but old ABBA recordings singing three of the songs that, little did they know then, would be used in the show. Other than that the album is the same as the one first issued when the show appeared (with the exception of a little instrumental filler in one song). Why can't we get an American cast album?

The DVD is a joke. Infantile and downright boring. I found myself disinterested and stopping it 30 minutes into it.

Don't waste your money on this with its advertised "bells and whistles" that supposedly come with it. Buy the original issue.

I saw the movie but I've yet to see the stage show (but I hope to soon). Anyway the songs were excellent but I question the criticism Brosnan's been getting about his singing. This guy is alright but Brosnan was better. After listening to this album I can see why "Thank You For The Music" was cut from the narrative (it really is a staged song) but after listening to them, I wish "Under Attack", "One of Us" and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" weren't cut from the film. At least this version of the musical includes "Chiquitita", "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Waterloo".

Update: A few weeks ago, I saw the US Tour perform in Baltimore and I must admit, despite my love of the movie, the stage version is slightly better. And no its not because Brosnan's not in it. The actors were excellent though I wasn't a fan of the woman who played Donna. A great actress, don't get me wrong, and she handled songs like One Of Us, SOS, Slipping Through My Fingers, The Winner Takes It All and the finale songs very well, I just think she wasn't that good on the others (Money, Money, Money, Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Our Last Summer and I Do, I Do). To me, it sounded like she was holding back and wanted to just let loose with her voice but didn't, which is a shame because I'm sure she has a great voice. The same criticism I must put to the actress who played Sophie. When she started out with I Have A Dream, all that came out was a tiny little voice and I thought I was going to have to strain my ears to hear her throughout the night. Fortunately, I was proved wrong as she was excellent. The actors who played the dads were fantastic, particularly the guy who played Sam and his solo of Knowing Me, Knowing You (which should've been in the film as it adds to his character). Does Your Mother Know, already one of my favorites from the film, is even better on the stage, which is unfortunate as some numbers on the stage that look and feel sexy (this song, the next song I'm going to mention and Voulez-Vous) don't get the same treatment for the film. One of my new favorite numbers from the show (a good number but not as much as its almost completely looked over in the film) is Take A Chance On Me, which is hilarious to watch Rosie chase Bill (I even got to have my picture taken with them at the end) around the courtyard and almost end up having sex until the wedding march starts up. The other songs not included in the film I still think should've been as they add more to the characters and what they're thinking. The two songs I could've done without are Thank You For The Music and The Name Of The Game, both of which are great songs and I understand the context in which their used, just slow the story down completely. And the way Mamma Mia (the song) is staged is horrendous; Donna just stands in one spot for the first half of the song THEN moves around (a point the film makes up for). I was glad that most, if not all, of the dialog remained intact in the stage-to-film adaptation (though rearranged drastically). To sum up, everything about the stage show was great, I just wish that somebody else could've played Donna.

Having just seen a live version of the Broadway Play I found the music on this set to be able to allow me to view in my mind what I had just seen and I am able to do this whenever I listen to it. I did find however that I was a bit disappointed in the DVD included in the set. I had hoped that there would be more actual footage of the play and less of the interviews. Overall, however, I would recommend this for anybody that is a real ABBA fan.

This is a wonderful album! It is fun and recreates the Broadway musical right in your living room! AWESOME!