Rating: 
Summary: A great movie to start your kids love for Musicals!
Review: I have watch the musical and the movie, though there are differences, both are great productions! Be it the stage production or the screen version, both are fun. And absolutely a delight to watch. It doesn't have to be historically correct. Just sit back, relaxed and enjoy the movie!
Rating: 
Summary: There's no tomrrow for this Annie. Really Bad!
Review: I did seen the 1999 movie of this film and loved it. But this one was really up the wall for me. In fact this is pretty bad. And well, I think, Miss Hannigan and others might have there tops blown off. And this one is like over 2 hours. Which is way to long for Annie. While the 1999 movie was about 90 minutes long. Which I think is the better time for Annie. In fact, Annie and all the girls are orphans. Don't they have a adult, like a aunt or uncle or grandparents to live with if thier parents are dead. In fact about everything is wrong with this movie. I give this one star and you reccomed you to watch the 1999 movie in lieu of this long movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Movie vs. play? Not good vs. Bad simply different!
Review: If you're looking at this movie from an adult perspective and comparing it to the musical show - you probably will notlike it. If you look at it as an adaptation targeted at children (and the children at heart) you'll probably love! I think that's the reason why the reviews describe it as either fantastic or terrible (beauty is definitely in the eye - and heart - of the beholder! I first saw it as a kid - way before I even knew there was a stage original and loved it - I loved the play as well (years later) but ther're not the same thing. Both are great in their own way.
Rating:
Summary: Becca's Favorites
Review: Ok, so the first thing we look at is the fact that this is technically not the real storyline for the musical Annie. But the second thing we look at is that kids will enjoy this version more, I know I like it better than any of the other movies, but the musical is still the best thing, if only they had the obc doing a performance on vhs, then that would be the thing to get. None the less, I love the musical Annie, and this is what got me started, it takes away from the real setting(eg: the real thing was during christmas, not the 4th of july, and some songs are missing and some were replaced) but it is still a great way to start kids into a love for musicals.
Rating: 
Summary: Annie: From Stage to Screen Schlock
Review: Annie was a stage sensation that introduced a new generation to the theater so it was only natural that a film version would soon follow. The screenplay fetched a record amount for its time and amazingly, Carol Burnett was cast as Miss Hannigan. To top it off, film master John Huston was set to helm the picture! How could it go wrong?! The answer is "EASILY". Firstly, the storyline was diminished and then enhanced, making the film ANNIE a different beast. Characters were non-value added. Even some of the staging is more acrobatic choreography then dance. ANNIE lacks heart. Now, to say that the movie does not have a following would be a ridiculous statement. Many young girls grew up with this as their ANNIE. And they will defend it to the grave, as they should. But to a fan of the stage production, Disney's televised ANNIE was a better, truer, more accurate transfer. With that said, a lot of interesting new material was written for the movie version (Lets go to the Movies, Sandy, Sign!) and they are interesting new songs - although they hardly replace the songs that were cut... Finally, the ANNIE that John Huston directed is wonderfully - and uniquely - textured. The film brings new issues to the forefront. ANNIE is still considered one of Hollywoods largest financial disasters, but if it brings people in to see the stage version of ANNIE, then keep it going!
Rating:
Summary: LEAPING LIZARDS!
Review: I had the great pleasure of seeing the original Broadway Musical when it re-opened on stage several years ago, and true it was better and more original than this. However the movie was crafted with such inspiration from Director John Huston that I didn't mind. What was unfortunate is many hit songs from the musical "We'd Like to Thank You Herbert Hoover", "NYC", and "Something Was Missing" were replaced by thankless songs such as "Dumb Dog", "We Got Annie", and "Let's Go to the Movies". Okay, the point has been clearly made through other peoples' reviews but I too want to clear the air on this one: The story takes place in the depression era 1933. Camille wasn't released until 1937, John Huston already 76 years old in 1982 when this film was released, I'm sure he remembered newspaper articles about the depression during this time. Why he was being so historically inaccurate? Most likely reason, to bring a fresh new idea into the script. Realistically when you are adapting a screenplay of a hit musical into a big-budget movie you don't really have the time and/or resources to make it fully original and faithful to the musical itself. Plus it was an effective way of adding more memorable musicals to the film. Therefore such implausibilities were irrelevant.The songs staging were done extraordinarily well. All actors and actresses perform the musical numbers with such energy and there are all choreographed so beautifully. It's almost as if you never could really tell did they study what performers from the musical did, or simply incorporate it into their own way. The only deviation that really bothered me occured during the end of the film. We have Annie hanging from a raised railroad track, and Miss Hannigan is at the end celebrating instead of being arrested as she was in the musical. What's that all about? I seem to remember Rooster coming after Annie with a knife in the musical. In here, she escapes from their clutches, and Rooster pursues her shouting "I'm going to kill that kid!" Isn't that a little too intense for young children? The cast is assembled is excellent. Albert Finney is fantastic as Oliver Warbucks. In fact every time I see him in another movie, whether it be as Hercule Poirot in MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS or Detective Masry in ERIN BROCKOVICH, I am inclined to instantly remember him from this film. So is Ann Reinking as Grace Farrell. She's a great actress, and a great singer. Plus she plays the role with such sweetness as intended. Carol Burnett is a riot as Miss Hannigan, I have always enjoyed her comic roles. Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters as Rooster and Lily are both menacing and humorous. We also have Geoffrey Holder as the new character Punjab, a tall Indian servant who can levitate objects or knock out intruders with a single karate chop. He was also known for a crackling laugh, and his deep baritone voice. Aileen Quinn is excellent as Annie, and it's been a while since I've seen her in anything following this. I wonder what she looks like now. Incidentally she shares her birthday with Danielle Brisebois (Stephanie Mills in ALL IN THE FAMILY) who played Molly in the Broadway production. The other orphans were also great. Especially Toni Ann Gisondi as a both cute and charming Molly. I am obliged to give ANNIE a fair and unbiased review because it was such a hit at the time, being inspired from the musical. Plus I and many other people from my generation grew up on watching films such as this. See the Broadway Musical and compare. I still have the soundtrack of both this and the Broadway production. As far as the Disney version, I wasn't too impressed by that. This is much better. The acting and musical numbers are great, and the production setting actually DOES look like New York City in 1933. It actually enables you to believe you are there. Good film to watch with the family. If you're feeling nostalgic anyway.
Rating:
Summary: An Awesome DVD!
Review: How could you not like this movie (Annie)! It's so fun to watch. It has all the classic music, and it's funny too! Carol Brunett is often humorous and good as her role, and so is the girl that plays Annie. It's a highly entertaining DVD that I recommend greatly!
Rating:
Summary: If you like family musicals you'll love ANNIE
Review: A very upbeat 1980's musical. The cast was great and are all from broadway roots. This movie adaptation was nice to watch. The musical numbers are additive and the story simple. Little ophran (1930's) trys unsuccessfully to find parents and ends up living happily ever after with a Billionaire "Daddy Warbucks." The kids will love it and encore watchings will be frequent. You'll be humming or singing the tunes too. Great family addition to the musical library. DVD transfer nice and vibrant with good sound.
Rating:
Summary: Brings me back to being five years old!
Review: Whenever I recall childhood, I remember watching this over and over with my brother, singing all the songs and loving all the characters! I don't know how the amazon review could be so harsh-this movie is adorble and I still love it today. Albert Finney was wonderful! I felt the 1999 version was very inferior!
Rating:
Summary: Children LOVE this version
Review: Once you have read all the artsy-fartsy reviews take this into consideration: I have watched whole packs of little girls spin and dance around a room giggle and laugh at this very funny and upbeat musical. Furthermore, the humor of Carol Burnette makes it possible for parents to tolerate the constant repitition that children demand of their favorite shows. Maybe it isn't the Broadway play.....but little girls love it!
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