Customer Reviews

Annie (1999 Television Film)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the production of Annie after seeing it Sunday night. It is the best version of the show I have seen and heard. The cd and the new orchestrations are wonderful. Audra McDonald, Victor Garber and Alicia Morton are very talented singers and actors and were well cast. Alicia has a very sweet and beautiful voice and brings a sweetness and vulnerability to the role and songs I have never seen in an Annie before. Audra is great throughout, but my favorite part is when she sings the Tommorrow reprise. Garber's Something Was Missing was so touching, I thought more so than other Warbucks I have seen. I didn't know Kathy Bates could sing but she has a wonderful voice and plays a great Hannigan. Alan Cummings and Kristin Chenoweth are also great as Lily and Rooster and the orphans do well and bring good voices to their roles though they don't get much screen time. And of course Andrea McArdle's solo in NYC blew me away. Even down to the non-speaking roles this cast is flawless. This cd is a must for Annie fans! I doubt there will ever be another version of Annie done so beautifully.

After being so incredibly disappointed in the Aileen Quinn/Carol Burnett version of "Annie," I was a bit skeptical when I heard that another version was coming out. I was a HUGE fan of the stage show and was fortunate enough to see the original cast on Broadway when I was 15. This new Disney "Annie" sticks very closely to the broadway show. Thankfully there is no Asp or Punjab. Miss Hannigan is not a drunken sleaze. How nice that the ridiculous song "Dumb Dog" was left out. Instead we got a great, wholesome, family "Annie." Alicia Morton was wonderful. As were Victor Garber and Audra McDonald. Kathy Bates played Hannigan just right. The highlight on the soundtrack, however, is the INCREDIBLE Andrea McArdle as star-to-be in NYC. How appropriate that she would sing Laurie Beechman's part from the original broadway cast. This soundtrack is missing a few of my favorites songs -- but all in all is fantastic. Thank you Disney for giving us "Annie" as Annie should be.

I know there are those who will miss the big, iron-lunged Annies of recordings past who played to the second balcony; there are those who will bemoan the absence of the slurring, drunken Miss Hannigans sounding like Paul Lynde. But the rest of us can rejoice in the perfect, intimate, emotional portrayals on this fantastic recording. Every voice is spot-on; every rendition is a one-act play. This is the one for the record books.

...then seek professional help. Everything that people HATE about "Annie" is gone in this version. No annoyingly precocious leading-girl with frizzy curls, Shirley Temple dimples and a voice that makes you want to chew your own foot off. This Annie is just as charming and not at all annoying. Rob Marshall has directed a movie that, in more ways than I have mentioned here, has surpassed and humiliated its predecessor.

And anything with Alan Cumming is worth buying.

I rushed to the store the day this CD came out because I knew my favorite singer (Audra McDonald) performs in it... and let me tell you, she is FANTASTIC! Her voice is like a choir of angels! My favorite number though is "N.Y.C." What a fun song! I just want to apologize to my mother for singing the line, "N.Y.C."--just got here this morning/Three bucks, two bags, one me," over and over... she must spite me for it :)

Though Kathy Bates did not perform to a tee during the filming of the movie, her recording comes off very well. Who ever knew she could sing?

I'm a bit disappointed Kristin Chenowith's part was so miniscule, but hey, she steals every scene she's in... we don't want her to upstage Annie too much!

Go out and buy this album! You'll love it!

I confess, I love the play Annie. When I start watching it, I get a grin on my face that doesn't go away until it's over. What this says about me, I'm not sure, but it's true.

I was delighted when Disney made this TV version of the stage show. Now, I could actually watch something much closer to the original then the 80's movie. When I realized that there was a soundtrack available, I went out and bought it. I've found it has the same effect on me the stage version does. I've got a grin on my face and I sing along with every song.

The cast is fabulous. The fact that they're having fun comes through with every word sung. And all the songs I love from the musical are present and accounted for. "Tomorrow," "NYC" (with a fun cameo), "You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile," and "I Don't Need Anything but You" are just some of the highlights of this fun collection. Granted, they did leave out a couple from the original, but I've got the original cast recording if I really miss them.

There are a couple downsides, however. Kristin Chenoweth's roll is too small for her talent. But, since this is in keeping with the original, I find I can over look it. My bigger problem is finding myself walking down the street singing these songs for several days after hearing it. "Little Girls" and "Easy Street" can get you some mighty strange looks. Trust me.

Whenever I need a boost, I put this CD in the player and enjoy. Definitely worth buying for any fan of Annie or musicals in general.

This version of Annie is the best ever. I love the soundtrack and listen to it everyday. Alicia Morton is the best she sings beautifuly and is deffinetly worth your money.

We loved this movie and love the CD! My daughter is 3 and she sings almost verbatim to Maybe, Tomorrow and Little Girls.I liked this version of the movie better than the version w/Carol Burnett as Ms. Hannigan. This is a great way to promote participation in singing and music appreciation for your kids.

The CD is just as great as the movie, maybe even better! You can't help but to play the CD over and over and over on every long car ride you have. This CD was played almost daily in our house, my sister and I singing everytune. You want to get up and dance to it. Every song had beat. Amazon only lets you hear two, but the others are great too. I like very song on this CD, which never happens to me. Usually I buy a CD because one or two of their songs are popular, but you'll score big with this one! My favorite broadway songs on one CD!

I think that this is the best musical soundtrack to hit the shevels(the online shevels) in a long time. The CD is wonderful. It has the best selection of songs and Kathy Bates is wonderful.