Chapeuzinho Vermelho

Once upon a time there was an unpublished writer who saw five versions of the Brothers Grimm classic tale "Little Red Riding Hood".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?

Finally, a movie that gives an explanation for the fact that when they cut open the wolf, Little Red Riding Hood is unharmed. True, the reason is an enchanted cloak, but it's better than nothing. I loved the songs "You Won't Be Here in the Morning" and "Never Talk to Strangers". The other thing that makes this version better then most Red Riding Hood stories is the supporting characters. They gave Red's parents and friends all lives that had nothing to do with her being eaten, yet kept to a basic plotline.

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!

This movie has been one of my favorites since before I can remember. I used to be so excited whenever the library near my house had it in their small stock of videos. It took a long time but last year my aunt finally found it on video online and I know every last line of every song. I watch it now as a teenager and just think of how extremely cheesy this movie is, and the guy from Coach singing? Almost scarier then the special effects, but "Red Riding Hood" is still one of my favorites, now because of it's cheesiness. It is an entertainment staple at my sleep over parties, because when my friends come over one of the first things they ask is "You got that corny movie ready?" It's good fun to dance around and make fun of the movement from "Man without a Heart" or act out "You should never talk to strangers." It might make you think what the creators were smoking when they made this movie, but it's fun to watch if you're in a goofy mood. My favorite songs have to be "You should never talk to strangers" and "Good at Being Bad." I could spend the entire night just rewinding that song and singing along "I'm so good at being bad/ I'm good a being bad/ It's sweet/ How sour I am!"

...that should have stayed hidden! Whatever else this movie might have going for it, Craig T. Nelson's singing is definitely not one of them. The soundtrack to this movie could be released as a special package deal along with those memorable records by other such unsuspected vocal talents as William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.