Cinderella

If there's anything to be criticized in the Cinderella story, it's the fundamental premise that Cinderella is passive...but then it's a one-plot story that doesn't give her the chance to "evolve" as Harry Potter does. But don't we all wish to have our problems solved and our dreams made to come true for us?

I love this updated version of the story because, at least for me and my family, it represents a double fantasy of the way the world should be. While the multi-colored cast might be jarring for those who knew the original version (which I saw as a kid), I thought it was brilliant. My kids don't look like me--my daughter is Chinese and my son is Guatemalan. So for them to see a black queen and a white king with an Asian son, who falls in love with the beautiful but misused black stepdaughter of a white woman with one black and one white daughter--neither of whom look remotely like her--isn't as un-real (or merely PC) as some people might think. For my family, it's an affirmation of modern reality. For my daughter to see a handsome Asian prince fall in love with a beautiful dark-skinned Cinderella is incredibly powerful.

Also, while I am not a huge fan of any one person in the cast, I thought they all performed wonderfully within the limits of the genre. Peters' "Falling in love with love" blew me away, because it actually gives you a moment of real sympathy for the stepmother--no one is wicked always, it seems to say, and heartbreak has hardened her heart against her beautiful stepdaughter. Instead of merely evil, she becomes tragic.

The costumes and sets were great--firmly placing this in the vaguely "old world" romantic place that fairy tales live--the pop stylings and characters of the actors instantly make this a period piece of the late 20th century--but that's just fine. Cinderella will be reborn many times in the coming generations.

It would be nice to see a subtle re-working of Cinderella with even more sympathy for the stepmother and sisters, and a little more complexity of character and plot to make the heroine and hero less two-dimensional--but then it wouldn't really be a children's movie, would it?

I saw this version as I have always liked Bernadette Peters and Whitney Houston. And although it is not perfect and I do much prefer the 1965 and 1957 versions, I enjoyed this movie. For a TV movie it is well made and completely delightful to watch. The effects are above average, the costumes and sets are gorgeous and the ballroom sequence with its enchanting photography was the highlight of the film. The story is timeless, the choreography is dazzling and danced with gusto and while slightly corny at times the dialogue amuses. Rodgers and Hammerstein's songs are outstanding, with too many highlights to list. I wasn't so taken with the more contemporary numbers though, the style jarred with those of R&H's and other than to suit the voices of some of those involved I personally didn't see much point in adding them. Overall, the cast are just great, the multicultural issue didn't bother me at all. I wasn't a fan of Brandy as Cinderella, she's not terrible by all means, she's beautiful, charming and whimsical and interacts well with everyone, but there are times where she's made to look passive and this felt forced to me. Also I never quite warmed to her voice, the tuning and style are fine. It was more the tone, I've never liked singers who sound as though they are singing through their nose. However, the rest of the cast fare much better, Whitney Houston is a slightly overplayed but vocally outstanding Fairy Godmother, Bernadette Peters is a wonderfully wicked and somewhat tragic step-mother, Jason Alexander is hilarious as Lionel and as the prince Paolo Montalban is dashing. The stepsisters are suitably odious and Whoopi Goldberg seems to be enjoying herself as the Queen. Overall, credible version but not the best, that belongs to the 1957 version with Julie Andrews. 7/10 Bethany Cox

This movie is a great musical remake of Cinderella. I enjoyed this movie. Great singing from Brandy and Whitney Houston like always. Whoppi Goldberg also done some singing. A great movie to watch with your family. Great acting also, especially from Brandy and Cinderella's evil, wicked, Stepmother. I really liked that they had a multi-racial cast. People make a big deal out of it all the time. What's the big deal? Race shouldn't have anything to do with a movie and it definetly shouldn't be judged that way. Don't get closed minded and just enjoy the movie. I for one, loved it. It's worth seeing.

I have been reading all of the other reviews of this title and I found them quite confusing. The complaint that the cast is mixed race and that the sets are fantastical fit perfectly with the concept of "fairy tale" which, in fact, this is.

The second complaint that I would like to address is the problem everyone seems to have with the "new" music. None of this music is new, just new to this version of the show and all of it has been written by Rogers and Hammerstein. Since these are songs that I like from shows that are never seen, I appreciate the use of them in this production.

This is definitely more ornate than the original teleplays but the originals were rather bland. People complain about Brandy but Leslie Ann Warren does not have much of a voice to speak of. I enjoyed her version but singing was not the reason.

I feel that people should look at this for what it is. You either like it or not but for what it is not what you want it to be.

I, for one, am a fan.

What's not to like about this lively, romantic movie? It's fun for both kids and adults, it has some areas everyone can appreciate. Just relax and enjoy it, it IS a fairy tale. Adults can appreciate the 'politically correct' social overtones if they will just 'lighten up' (the adults I mean). The music is modernized, yet still done wonderfully. It's also refreshing to see actors from other genres perform believably here. All in all, a beautiful escape for a short while then back to reality. So sweet and vaguely Wizard-of-Oz-like set appearance. But it is a good movie that does what it intends.