myspecialparadise

Okay ... so, I hated the first 1/3 of the movie ... boring ... tedious ... and I fell asleep, which is a first for me.

The acting is adequate ... and the further I got into the movie I found that I had two possible villains, and just when I thought I had the right person ... I switched to my second choice, which was actually my first choice! Bingo!

The two leads are actors (Nicholle Tom & Hal Ozsan) I would like to see more of, and Judd Nelson is usually a good choice as well. Which means I have no real complaints about the acting, or the special effects. However, what I do have a problem with is the ending ... can you say "overkill?" Towards the end, the screen goes black ... and this is where I would have made a change. I would have allowed the screen to remain black for two to three minutes ... then I would have let the credits roll. I believe my ending would have been a far better ending ... ?! For an audience to wait on the edge of their seats, then dropped, that would have been superb! But, with this film, the wait would have to be at least two minutes of cold, black, silence.

I'm not so sure I will watch this movie again, but if I do, I'll skip the first 1/3.

Did I say this was a sick film? Well, upgrading that opinion to total demented ... and that comes from a person that know the full definition of both those words! It takes a little while to catch on to what the writer has done ... but, the real tangible proof occurs in a graveyard ... but surprise turns into disgust once you witness the madness! And the deeper you go, the sicker this movie gets! And when you reach the final secret ... you want to slap the writer's face ... at least I did! This is a writer I never want to meet ... or even discover his/her name.

Okay ... the writer did a great job of bringing out the viewers worse moments, worse emotions, and that means the writer did exactly as planned. However ..... raping one of the world's greatest children's story is a pretty sick way of accomplishing his/her aims! The acting is quite good ... each actor accomplished their role with adequate precision! The talents in this film are quite remarkable ... except when it comes to the part of Olga ... nothing surprising there, her story was obvious from start to finish. Poor scripting? Possibly. But it could also be poor casting! She does come to fruition by the time the movie is in its final lap of the race ... unfortunately, she just isn't a thoroughbred ... not in this film anyway. The part of the father was played well ... but his part in this film was all too obvious! The ones that took their roles and ran away with it ... in other words, those that stole the film ... were the children, which includes the star role of Jenny! The bottom line ... the children made this film watchable ... but the story, itself, was totally demented! I will say this ... this is the first film I have reviewed that has said what needed to be said, without giving away any actual part, or plot, of the movie! Should you watch the movie? I think so ... but expect a whole lot of emotions to come pouring out of your mind!

I've read a few of the other reviewers views of this production, and though I agree with some points, I also disagree with others. Trashing a production that has such unbelievably wonderful talents that did far better than what was obviously badly written for them to work with. Yes, the problems are numerous ... so numerous that one wonders how this film made it to actually being viewed by an audience?! The answer is quite clear ... the casting director, the writers, and probably even the director, could not destroy the very fine and intricate talents of many of its all-star cast members. Unfortunately, miscasting was evident in a couple of the parts. One major mistake was Johnny Depp accepting the role of the wolf! I would have used Tony Todd in that role, at any age. No one wants to see Johnny Depp in a role where he's drooling over a little girl like some pedophile, and that is the exact image I got from the scenes with Johnny Depp! Tony Todd could get away with this role ... Johnny ... you can't!

Frankly, I preferred the movie to the play. The play goes on to ruin Snow White and Sleeping Beauty ... and we discover there aren't four Princes for four stories ... just the same two cads!

That said ... lets chat about Little Red Riding Hood ... is Uncle Walt churning in his grave over this one? He sure should be! Turning Red into an obnoxious little thief with no redeeming graces what-so-ever, shame on Disney. These characters have entertained children for a few hundred years, or more, and to take all the hard work of some of our greatest children's' writers and destroy it all in one movie. that sucks pimentos! However, given the part she had to deal with, Lilla Crawford did quite a good job in destroying Little Red Riding Hood's image. Too bad "Red" can't sue Disney! Hey, would that make an interesting movie? NOT!

Meryl Streep, absolutely wonderful, as usual. She brings the role to life like few others could, if any could! Meryl constantly proves to us that she is an actor/actress to be reckoned with ... to the point of being one of the best actresses in the world today! And so versatile! I love this woman's talent, and wonder if her friendship with Shirley Maclaine might not have helped her improve an already glorious talent. Can't wait to see what she tackles next! I will say this ... if the other reviewers keep you from viewing this production, you will miss a huge amount of talented actors/actresses that kept this film from being shredded for it poor writing and etc.! My favorite line of her's ... "I was just trying to be a good mother!"

Daniel Huttlestone, as Jack, is absolutely precious, and quite lovable in the part. Such a fine talent in one so young ... Patty Duke, eat your heart out! This young man has a wonderful future in films as long as he keeps on the straight and narrow. Daniel is a huge delight in this production, and should be enormously proud of the fantabulous job he did with this part. I should also say the same for Tracey Ullman in the role of Jack's mother ... such a surprising delight to see her in this role. Her part was not huge ... but she made it memorable indeed! I loved her choices of costumes, if they were her choice, and I think they had to be. I'd like to see more of Tracey in films, as well as Daniel Huttlestone.

Cinderella ... huge disappointment. She just didn't fit the image of a shabby girl covered in cinders becoming a beautiful Princess that no Prince could possibly let get away ... attractive, yes ... but Anna Kendrick is no iconic Cinderella! However, even with her limitations, she played her part quite well ... I have no criticisms about her acting, for she knows her craft quite well. She just didn't not fit into Cinderella's glass slippers. Which reminds me ... how arrogant of anyone to change the iconic "Glass Slipper" into gold fabric. Shame, shame, shame! What's next ... changing Dorothy's Ruby Slippers into burlap? The parts of the two Princes were perfect ... both being a banquet to the eyes of any woman, or gay, to feast upon! To miss their adorable number together at the waterfall would surely be a miss to be regretted! Prince's so seldom ever got the chance to have much of a role in thee fantasies, most of the story is usually about the girl.

The two roles that stole the show are those of the Baker and the Baker's wife ... righteously played by James Corden & Emily Blunt. No, they do not outshine Meryl or Daniel ... they match them perfectly! Not an easy task, especially when it comes to the likes of Meryl Streep ... but they were excellent in the roles, even though the writers went overboard and destroyed one of them completely! A very sick thing to do ... which shows the viewer why so many reviewers hated this film! One just must not ever mess with our heroes ... Americans can get quite mean and violent when you start tearing apart our childhood heroes! I once ended 13 year friendship over such a transgression ... and I do not regret it one bit! There are some things people must stand against, and there is plenty of it in this film! However, that does not mean that I will deny the fact that the actors did their jobs with perfection, and if there are people that cannot see that ... then those people are wrong! See the movie ... and make up your own mind.

P.S. The musical number "It's Your Fault!" is perfection!