babybirda I did not expect to like this movie, but I really loved it. The original movie was a favorite of mine, but the rewrites really made the story more realistic. Not all black families lived in the ghetto in the sixties and most black men were not and are not drug dealers.Satin was a more believable character as a jealous comedian. Even the domestic violence portrayed the real issue behind the violence, insecurity, not sadism as the first movie implied and it showed how women get caught up in love and belonging, not the money. Whitney Houston's character was defined in this movie and the church setting provided an opportunity for Whitney to do her thing.The original movie was made during the period of blaxploitation, and without the caricatures, it is doubtful that the movie would have been made. At that time black people were simply happy to see someone who looked like them on the big screen. There were actual human beings in the remake and I think I even liked the songs better.Don't believe the critics. This was really a great movie.

italo505 Jordin Sparks really sparkles. That's about the only thing that elevates Sparkle from a wannabe "Dreamgirls" to what it is: a star vehicle for Jodin. To promote the movie they cast Whitney Houston in big bold letters but it's really Jodin Sparks who shines as a girl from Detroit in 1968 that breaks all the molds, including her mother's, in order to become Motown's new shining star. I don't mind that her sister named Sister (Carmen Ejogo) steals the spotlight. Sister is, after all, the one that drives every man in the club insane as rabid dogs (and I mean dogs, literally) as she puts on the heat with her sensual performances. All the while, Sparkle is the talented one, the one that pens and inspires the wonderful and original music. The movie is a delight to watch for the great outfits, the club scenes, the live music that you can almost feel and makes you feel part of the audience. Frankly, I enjoy Whitney's last performance as a stern, religious mother who oppresses her daughters to be good Christian, church going women that don't get to experience life and feel forced to sneak out of their home whenever they want to go out and have a little bit of fun at the club. Other performance I enjoy is Derek Luke's (from Antwone Fisher) as Stix, the man who sees Sparkle's potential, and bends over backwards to make her the star that she's destined to be. However, not all is peaches and creme in Sparkle. There's a goofy comedian named Satin (Mike Epps) who pokes fun at his fellow black folk in his stand up routines and makes sure to flash his bling-bling around Sister, who is as pretty as she is dumb to not realize what a jerk he is. The problem I had with their toxic relationship is that they fail at capturing the severity of domestic violence and turn it into an almost comical, over the top note that should never be. How predictable is this story when it tries to imitate Tina Turner? Had anybody seen What's Love Got To Do With It? Sparkle tries to borrow many used ideas from girl group films that might have worked well in the past but bring nothing new to the table, no mystery that Sister and Satin don't get a happy ending. And what's up with those names? Really, who sits and think of naming their kids Sparkle, or Sister, or Stix, or Satin... Really, who?

capone666 SparkleBeing in a 1960s girl group meant having to cut hit records in your kitchen, while mopping the floor and cooking dinner for your husband.Fortunately, none of the vocalists in this musical are housewives.When 19-year-old Sparkle (Jordin Sparks) agrees to form a girl group with her two older sisters, Sister (Carmen Ejogo) and Dee (Tika Sumpter), in order to win a talent contest, she is is not prepared for the upshot.Rising through the nightclub ranks, the girls taste success.But when Sparkle begins to branch out as a soloist and Sister is in an abusive relationship, the girls experience exactly what their mother (Whitney Houston) warned them of.With enjoyable songs, admirable performances and all the delectable melodrama that comes from a meteoric rise in music industry, this remake out shines the 1976 original. Fortunately for girl groups today, it's the record labels that are being bitch-slapped. (Yellow Light)vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

rivertam26 Sparkle is a low rent version of Dreamgirls so to speak a remake of an unremarkable film form the 70s is a bad film make no mistake about it. The direction is very amateur, the cinematography is crap and the performances are mostly questionable but the film has its charms as well as it's good moments. And although the film is way melodramatic and unintentionally funny at parts it still manages to be entertaining and consistently engaging. The film centers on a trio of sisters in a band called well "Sisters" lol. The plotting movers along expectedly as they have a minor rise to fame while dealing with their overprotective mother, love, drugs, sex and domestic abuse. But the film also delves a little deeper into the intricate relationships between them due most to the solid performance from Carmen Ejogo as Sister she's sultry and seemingly self centered but underneath that she's extremely protective of her sisters she basically raised as her mother had problems. Because of that her position in the group and her family is a difficult, multi layered one and the best exploration is done there. Everything else feels a little forced and flimsy. I don't wanna be to hard on the film because for the most part I enjoyed it and maybe thats because I enjoy lifetime movies. It has it's good moments and it's bad and the best I can say about Whitney Houston's involvement in the film is that she was a very talented woman earlier on in her career and I hope she's at peace now. Although a mixed bag there is enough here to merit a recommendation if this type of melodramatic, musical period piece appeals to you. I'd also like to say that even though the film is set in the past it never feels that way. The consistency is off as well as the logic and it feels very modern with some retro costumes. The film doesn't much sparkle as have a dull shine. 3/5