alinhoalisson15
Let me start by saying I was unhappy with the 1982 version. I've hated the way they've handled the songs and replaced the original Broadway ones with generic ones. So, obviously, I was hoping this version was going to be better, well, it wasn't. Actually, the only thing it has better than the 1982 version are how the songs are handled, the rest is just better on the older one.My first issue with this movie is the casting. I understand Annie was originally played by a blond (Andrea McArdle). Yet, the Broadway musical still liked to remind us that the character was, indeed, red headed. Why did they cast a brunette to play Annie? Then, we have the racially diverse orphans and Grace, who's now black. Seriously, this story is set on the 30's, it was completely unlikely for the time to have racially diverse orphanages, much less racially diverse romance between powerful figures. Finally, who was the genius that decided to cast Kathy Bates to play Miss Hannigan? She does not look like her original incarnation on Broadway, much less the 1982 incarnation. I also find it impressive how all the orphans remain beautiful, pink-cheeked, well-dressed girls, even though they're supposed to be poor.My second issue with the movie is the plot alterations. Why didn't they include Miss Hannigan being an alcoholic? It makes no sense, later on the movie, Rooster pulls off a knife and outright implies he's gonna slit Annie's throat. Then, we have Lily, who does absolutely NOTHING in the movie, she's just there. The role of Annie's fake mom is given to Hannigan, which makes even less sense than the previous change. How did Annie, the girl who spent her entire life hating this woman and knows what she's like, not notice she was posing as her mother? I will never know. But wait, but there's more. Instead of giving Lily an actual role, they have decided she was gonna be the one to ruin Rooster and Hannigan's plan. Way to go, writers! Oh, and also, Sandy does absolutely nothing in this film, he just follows Annie around, barks at fake Annie's parents, and that's it. This just blows compared to the 1982 version, where he actually helped saving both Annie's and Warbuck's lives.Now, my biggest issue with this movie: It has zero character development. Things happen so fast, it's almost unbelievable how characters like each other. When Grace comes to pick Annie up, she just decides to take the first girl she sees, Annie does NOTHING to win her over. Then, Annie and Mr. Warburck's relationship. It starts with Annie asking to watch him working, then cut to a musical number, then they're suddenly all Father-Daughter figure. To top it off, Sandy comes in right at the end and jumps over Mr. Warbuck's car. Grace just says "Well, sir, you've always wanted a dog!" and that's it: Warbucks and Sandy are great friends! Really, now? But despite all the issues, I think this movie is still really enjoyable. It would've been perfect, had it followed 1982's version and fixed the musical numbers. Sadly, it didn't happen. But at least, most of it was very faithful to the original Broadway production, which I respect Disney for.
anastasia-cessano-writes
I grew up with this version and I watched in the fourth grade (I am now 13, about to start the seventh.) I am ashamed that an entire school year I thought this version was the original true Annie! Over the summer between 5th and 6th grades I saw the 1982 version with Aileen Quinn, Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Ann Reinking, Albert Finney and Tim Curry....and I was blown away.It may have been a bit overdone...but this remake is LIFELESS! Miss Hannigan isn't a man-crazed drunk! Lilly is dumber and trampier! Rooster doesn't do the rooster noise thingy! And WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED to Punjab and the Asp???!!!??? I only rated this 2-stars because Andrea McArdle was in it.(as the Star to Be.)And because of Alicia Morton (Annie's) singing. Seriously, if you want to watch a good Annie, go watch the 1982 version!
sltzbgh
The cast is superb, and the screenplay is creatively loyal to the original Broadway script, but all that is beside the point. When Walt Disney reflected on the disappointing box-office performance of his animated feature, ALICE IN WONDERLAND (1953), he tersely explained, "It had no heart." We need only compare ALICE to CINDERLLA (1950) to understand what he meant. Perhaps many of his live-actor features met that standard, yet NOWHERE have I ever found a film with so much "heart" as this production. The Broadway original is said to have contained political overtones, and the 1982 motion picture was frankly crafted to reflect John Houston's considerable talents, but this version of ANNIE was made for all of us who want to be moved by a story and still feel jolly-well elated about the way it develops and ends. It takes quite a rare blend of ingredients to create a composition of this quality, no matter what kind of advantages its creators have at the start. This production succeeds for one overriding reason: everyone concerned put every last ounce of heart they possessed into it!
