People are voting emotionally.

Let's be realistic.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The acting in this movie is really good.

ABC/Disney mounted an elaborate and entertaining remake of the 1977 Broadway musical Annie for television in 1999 which, for my money, was vastly superior than the theatrical version released back in 1982. This version was directed by Rob Marshall, whose next directorial assignment was a little thing called Chicago. Marshall knows what a musical should look like and having him at the helm as director and choreographer made a big difference in making the piece work, as opposed to the 1982 version which was directed by John Huston, a competent director but clueless where musicals are concerned.For those who don't know, this is the story of a little girl named Annie living in an orphanage during the depression, run by a cruel and sadistic witch named Miss Hannigan, who is chosen to spend a week in the mansion of a billionaire named Oliver Warbucks, a publicity stunt arranged by Warbucks' secretary Grace Farrell. We then watch as a relationship develops between the lonely philanthropist and the little girl and how Miss Hannigan sees Annie's good fortune as a ticket to Easy Street (which is, BTW, the name of one of the show's best songs).Kathy Bates is deliciously evil as Miss Hannigan. I found Bates' interpretation of the character much richer than Carol Burnett's take on the role in 1982. Burnett played Miss Hannigan as a drunk, but Bates brought the greed and viciousness back to the role that Dorothy Loudon introduced to the character back on Broadway in '77. Bates also surprised as a competent vocalist. Her version of my favorite song in the score, "Little Girls" is just superb.I have to admit that I found Victor Garber a little bland as Daddy Warbucks. I actually preferred Albert Finney in the '82 version , though Garber's solo, "Something was Missing" was lovely. Alicia Morton is competent as the title character and Audra McDonald brings a substance to the role of Grace that has been missing in previous versions of the show. Alan Cumming and Kristen Chenoweth are brilliant as Rooster and Lily, Miss Hannigan's brother and his girlfriend, who are Hannigan's cohorts in extorting money from Warbucks through Annie. Cumming, Chenoweth, and Bates bring down the house with "Easy Street".Other songs in the Charles Strouse/Martin Charnin score include "Maybe", "It's a Hard Knocks Life","I think I'm gonna like it here", "You're Never Fully Dressed without a Smile", and, of course, "Tomorrow". During the production number, "NYC", there is actually a cameo appearance by Andrea McArdle, who originated the role of Annie in the original 1977 Broadway production.For me, this is a much richer version of this musical, that takes the show back to the basics, remaining faithful to the original piece while benefiting from strong direction and choreography from Rob Marshall and some on-target casting.

{clicked, just to be SURE! ya just nevver knoww}This production was an incredible waste of superbly gifted performers, everywhere from stage and big screen, to small screen! From the fantastic stage actor, Victor Garber, and Kathy Bates; she being the brightest spot in the whole production--a refreshing wellspring of fearless, tell-it-like-it-is talent; to the dynamic Audra McDonald, who I often saw while she was growing up, performing in stage plays in local theater back in Fresno, California. She shined technically, but not plausibly, as Grace.. she was just really, uncomfortably, out of place. I'm also quite a fan of the irrepressible Alan Cummings, he's always a giggle. Besides Kathy, and along with the girl who played Annie, he shined brightest, I think. Their parts weren't so affected by the gaping flaws in the film.For those who are too young to remember, or to have learned, what the time was really like, it might have been terrific! But for the rest us, who like productions such as this, with historic relevance, to remain at least somewhat intact, it was an endless barrage of "Why did they doo that?!"~ Start-to-Finish!As has been said, the music was tops. Okay, but you could put a tape/cd, the radio, or TV music station on and hear the same songs without the blatant, gagging, reality-bending, history-twisting PC baloney this piece offered--P U! Sure, there were a few glitches with the 1982 version.. Though the cast was terrific--Carol Burnett was a scrreeeam! {and that really was Tim Curry shushing down the banister, nO double!}--Some of Annie's little cast-mates were achingly posey and forced in a couple of the close- ups during dance numbers... and it may have gotten a bit heavy-handed, maybe, in a few places, but on the whole, it was light-years better than this mindlessly PC mess.Who knows.. If they can do this, maybe someday they'll do an all WHITE version of Porgy & Bess! Roots! West Side Story!..... Mmaaybe nott!~ -_-Sorry, Kathy, I love ya, but bad choice! BAD-BAD choice!!

This was a Disney made for TV movie version of the Broadway musical Annie. It is by far the best version on video. The cast led by Victor Garber and Kathy Bates is fantastic. Audra McDonald plays Grace Farrel. It is very obvious from her performance here why she won three Tony awards before she turned 30. Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cummings also are great as well. Clearly, you will never see a cast this good on Broadway. There is also a cameo appearance by Andrea McArdle, Broadway's original Annie. She still has the charisma she displayed as Annie.With such a strong cast it is almost impossible for Disney not to make a good movie. However in 1982, the first film version of the play was made with also an all-star cast, and it failed. This TV-movie succeeds. The stage and look are wonderful. Kudos to Disney.

I found the acting was good, but not as good as the original. Also, the songs, staging, and virtually everything were kept precisely the same, which made this remake unnecessary. The new actress playing Annie didn't have the same charm as the original, but had a good singing voice. Kathy Bates is one of my favorite actresses, so the opportunity to see her singing and dancing was quite a pleasure. That being said, she is no Carol Burnett, who was divine in the original. My daughter thoroughly enjoyed this movie, and I enjoyed it as well, but it paled in comparison to the original.