![]() ![]() ![]() Mike Epps who was really, really, good as Satin Struthers. If you’re a Whitney fan like me, just bring some Kleenex for her church solo scene, ‘kay? Alright, I can’t stay there long. I am very happy that she did get to complete this project and she was good in it (she really brought the “mean momma” to the screen). I know that she worked for years to see this project to fruition (remember years ago, when the late Aaliyah was going to be the lead?). Bittersweet watching Whitney Houston in her last film role, especially this particular movie. Williams, now named Emma not Effie, is a retired performer herself in this version, and the family lives very comfortably as opposed to the original where the Effie character was a maid who worked for others living comfortably, but living not so comfortably with her three children. But I can say I appreciated the class change that was added to the Williams family. I do, but don’t want to say too much about some of the updates because we know I hate spoilers. Don’t believe me? Check out how cleverly she updated the Dolores character, nicknamed Dee and played by the amazingly talented Tika Sumpter. Screenwriter Mara Brock Akil ( Jumping the Broom, The Game series) definitely brought the woman power and movement of the decade’s paradigm shift (screenplay changed from 50’s Harlem to 60’s Detroit) to this film quite nicely. In the original, the Stix character was the “mastermind,” writing songs, booking the group etc. For instance, the main character Sparkle, played by Jordin Sparks who gave a really solid performance, is now the backbone of the group though it’s a role she has to come to own. Lovers of the old will definitely appreciate a few of the updates. Now on to the new, and I mean it is a sparkly new story, not a carbon copy, but an adaptation of the original. Okay, so I gave you several old head alerts in that last paragraph, so don’t hold it against me :). Now, in this post I’m going to speak as though you’ve seen the original or at least read the few posts I’ve written mentioning these films in the past, so just a heads up (but don’t worry no major spoilers :)). I also think Philip Michael Thomas was the finest thing on camera back then. I think Irene Cara and Lonette McKee were the cat’s meow. Aretha Franklin on the cover with the boa and glitter turban (is that what the headpiece was called)? I know each song, movement, word spoken by every single person in the movie. My mother owned the original soundtrack, you know with Ms. Once I got it, I watched Sparkle, literally, everyday. Jim’s efforts of finding for me (loved you for that Mr. It’s okay, I already owned the DVD by that time, but I cherished that VHS tape copy and Mr. A family friend ended up finding someone who owned the film and they made me a copy which I actually had up until about four years ago when my basement flooded and many of my video tapes and a lot of my music collection was damaged. Maybe it had something to do with both my parents being huge film fans themselves and taking me to the movies since birth, but I knew I had to see and own this movie. Erol’s Video, the neighborhood rental, somewhere!). I was three years old when it came out, but somehow ended up BEGGING my mother as a pre-teen to find this movie on VHS to rent or buy from somewhere (i.e. ![]() The 1976 original is my all time favorite film. Now, if you’ve been following me, you know my story but I will repeat a little, so you might understand some things I will write here today. Morning Music Movie Lovers! Today is a great day for lovers of both movies and music today being the opening day of the highly anticipated film (and final project of the late Whitney Houston) Sparkle.
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