BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

johnstonjames "these Days wickedness is on the rise", sings Linett in a little red riding hood. those words couldn't ring more true. especially these days.this movie was pretty indicative of Cannon Movietales to put out a polished movie musical on a next to nothing budget and with very little resources.too bad Isabella Rosellini, Amelia Shankley, Craig T. Nelson, and Rocco Sisto are so wooden in this. it's pretty typical of Cannon Movietales to acquire top name actors of quality to appear within their limited budgets. in this case the quest for name, quality actors actually compromises this production somewhat. it probably would have been best to find lesser known performers who could actually sing.shame because Isabella Rosellini and 'Dreamchild' Amelia shankley are normally so good. in 'Dreamchild', Shankley showed so much depth and insight as a child actress it's a little surprising her acting here is so wooden and rigid and cold. but Shankley seems warm and animated compared to Rosellini who's performance as the mother comes off like a block of ice. main problem is neither actress is capable of singing in a musical. their voices are wispy and weak and do the charming songs by Stephen Lawrence very little justice. this could be the reason for their self conscious woodenness. the performances aren't bad from lack of trying, you get the feeling these two accomplished actresses are trying their best and are very sincere. they just seem uncomfortable with so much of the singing demands. and Isabella Rosellini is no more a wholesome 'G' rated mother type than say, Natasia Kinski.but at least Shankley and Roselini try and are sincere. the performance by Rocco Sista is almost a gyp. you get the feeling he could deliver a better showing as the wolf, but he chooses not to. it feels like he holds back giving a better performance because he wants to be in a bigger production. thats no excuse for such snobbishness. he should have relaxed, let go, and given over to the charming potential of the songs and story.Craig T. Nelson is just bad. for one thing the role is not right for such a contemporary actor. the star of 'Coach' looks and feels out of place in eighteenth century clothes. his performance reminds me a little of Harvey Korman playing Richard the III. probably not Nelson's intention. it's too bad the performance isn't better because he has one of the film's best musical songs.strangely, none of this sinks the production. it's still typical of Cannon Movietales and still very good. as stiff as the performances by Shankley and Roselini are, they are still excellent, big name actresses and it's interesting to see them in this. and even though their acting is wooden, they still come off as sincere and professional.Cannon Movietales are great and one of my fondest memories of film watching in the 80's.

iwantsofia Once upon a time there was an unpublished writer who saw five versions of the Brothers Grimm classic tale "Little Red Riding Hood". Here's his review of number three.A curious young girl named Linet (Amelia Shankley) looks for elves in the woods, but only finds trouble. She lives with her mother (Isabella Rossellina) and a maid, as her father (Craig T. Nelson) is off fighting in a war. Her uncle and now king (also Nelson) wants to marry his sister-in-law (!), as seven years have passed since his brother left for the war. The evil king has used black magic to transform a wolf into a man to spy for him. The wolfman learns that Linet is not afraid of her cruel uncle, so uncle decides to do something about this.It takes 57 minutes for the story of Red Riding Hood / Linet traveling to Grandma's through the woods to happen, and Grandma isn't even sick or frail! And like most children's movies made for American audiences, this is a musical. This means people burst into song every five minutes for no apparent reason. Since the music is all synthesizer music, it really clashes with the 18th Century setting. Still, some of the songs aren't bad, and who knew Nelson could sing? The bad news is MGM's DVD is fullscreen. A note about this takes up ten seconds of the running time. Something like this should be separated from the movie, which should begin at all zeros. It's unlikely a demand for a widescreen version will create a reissue. At least the transfer is good, and there's a trailer.Shankley, by the way, debuted as young Alice Liddell in Dreamchild (1985), the quasi-biopic of the girl who inspired Rev. Charles Dodgson / Lewis Carroll to write "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland". Unfortunately, Red Riding Hood is not as good as that movie.The film's copyright is 1987, MGM's box has 1988 on it and IMDb lists 1989. Just once, can't we all agree on something?

marylou102 Brilliant acting, wonderful costumes, creepy atmosphere,tuneful songs! A true gem from the Cannon Movie Tales series. This film is the Red Riding Hood story, but it's slanted and broadened. There is a cool backstory about the wolf being the companion of an evil king, who's brother is Linet's(Red Riding Hood's) father. This king wants to marry Linet's mother(played wonderfully by the beautiful Isabella Rossolinni). To get rid of Linet, he makes his werewolf companion named Dagger kill her.The atmosphere is bleak and dark, but it's a Grimm Fairy Tale so of course is should be. The atmosphere is lightened by the fun songs and sweet leading actress, Amelia Shankley as Linet.This is a film that every family should own. So save a place for it between The Sound of Music and The Princess Bride!

alicorn_83 This movie tale brings to life the classic story in a way that makes it the best retelling of it I've ever seen. Music, a handsome wolf, and a depth of plot that is hardly ever seen in a story that was once so basic.There are a bunch of great songs in this movie: So good at being bad You should never talk to strangers Blue in the green You won't be there in the morning The man without a heart My favorite quote:"King: You don't love anything, do you? Dagger: I love hunting with the pack under a full moon..I love a romantic dinner by candlelight..The two don't seem to go together do they?