Batman vs. Mamma Mia! - everyone's a winner here

This morning, I watched the HBO First Look for "The Dark Knight" as well as a VH1 special on the Top 10 things you should know about "Mamma Mia!". Both films open on July 18th, though it would seem to a largely different audience.

I am the exception to the rule, and I’m sure I am not alone. I will be seeing both of these films on opening day because they both are right up my cinematic alley.

The Dark Knight looks to be the best film of the summer. Sorry, Iron Man, but your time to shine is over. And how! Three years ago, Batman Begins renewed the series, bringing a darker feel to the franchise and the best cast a Batman film has ever had (with the exception of Katie Holmes… sorry girlie, but that was not one of your better performances). Now, from the trailers and commercials, The Dark Knight appears to one-up Batman Begins with additional (though completely familiar) characters, as well as more action and more destruction ripping away at Gotham City, as well as the Bat Man.

I have been looking forward to The Dark Knight as soon as the credits rolled for Batman Begins. The teaser trailer that came out last summer really got me excited – the one with just dialogue between Bruce Wayne and Alfred, and then the Joker’s threat that "The time, people will die" followed by that delightfully hideous cackle that to this day sends shivers down my spine. Then, since this past winter, they’ve been showing full length trailers for The Dark Knight, giving us snippets of the Joker in action, as well as the "good guy" Harvey Dent, telling us all that "The night is darkest before the dawn. But the dawn is coming!" (or something like that) and my heart starts pumping and I wished that July 18th were right around the corner.

Well, now July 18th is nearing, and I am beyond excited. I know The Dark Knight is just a movie. But it’s also an event. Most of the effects in the film were done practically (as in, not CGI)… there is a different actress playing Rachel Dawes (Thank you, Maggie Gyllenhaal)… and this film is the last feature that was completed by Heath Ledger before his unfortunate and untimely passing in January. And what a film to end on… there has been speculation for months that he will be nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the Joker. And from the footage I’ve seen from trailers and commercials, I am going to agree. Heath Ledger was a talented actor, and in this film, it looks like he’s managed to take a memorable Jack Nicholson role, and completely make it his own. From the voice, to the look, to the way that he carries himself while he walks and add in that sickening laugh… and we have a new villain to give us the willies. And this villain will have willies staying power, much like Hannibal Lector, or that guy from A Clockwork Orange.

And then there’s Mamma Mia!... Right now, as I type this, I’m listening to my ABBA’s Greatest Hits CD in preparation for next week. I only know 4 songs now, but I’m sure I’ll have them all down by heart after seeing the movie.

So why would a girl who loves the action-packed, destructive nature of The Dark Knight want to see an ABBA filled movie musical with all singing, all dancing, all the time?

Because I friggin’ love musicals as much as I love action movies.

If I were a better singer and dancer, I would give musicals a go. But alas, I am not the greatest singer in the world, and my dancing skills, though somewhat lacking, are better than my singing voice. So, I take every chance I get to see live theatre/musicals or movie musicals. This past weekend, my sister and I drove up to Chicago on a whim to go see "Jersey Boys". We’ve been known to wake up before dawn, drive to NYC for a matinee and an evening show, and then drive straight back home. We loves our theater and show tunes And we also love our movie musicals.
Not only do we watching movie musicals, we feel obligated to support them by seeing them at least once while there are at a (movie) theater near us. Though we have yet to see Mamma Mia! on stage, we will be there opening day for the movie. We like ABBA, we love musicals, and we really enjoy the cast (Meryl Streep! Colin Firth! Amanda Seyfried! Woot!!).

On a more personal note, I’m glad to support this film because a woman wrote the script, a woman produced it, and a woman directed it. How many times is that the case for a major motion picture? (Answer: Not many, that’s for sure) You may call me a feminist all you want, but it would be great to see more female representation behind the scenes in the filmmaking industry. And if that is too much for the boys to handle, then please make more films where (strong) women are the main characters. Sex and the City: The Movie made a lot of money this summer… take the hint, already, Hollywood.

I hope you will join me in supporting both of these films. They have great casts and both look like a lot of fun.

I’ll see you at the movies… you know where I’ll be sitting :)