I'd like to give this film a higher rating but sequels just burn me.

Performances were largely very good. Set design, cinematography, sound design, costumes, lighting - all great.

Those sharks swim awfully fast...

Does this story add anything to the weight of the first film? Not really. Does it tie up one loose thread from the first film? Sure, I guess. But I was happy to have the lingering thoughts make their own way in my imagination.

Did the…

OK...went in nearly blind and came out unscathed for the most part.

I admit I am a fan of a good musical - that is what I find to be a good musical - which will put off a whole slew of readers I'm sure, but so what.

Some of this was really good. More on that later.

The only things I really heard about this going in were gossip and drama related. Little people being discarded and replaced by…

This film struggles to give Amy Winehouse her due. Much of the problems with this are down to choices in storytelling.
I understood the connections made throughout the film but found it to be lacking a solid thread that shared/represented her drive.

Not knowing a lot of details about her or her life, I was hoping to feel a strong sense of whatever magic/mysterious power rested inside her but came away feeling empty.

There was too much effort to show…