Cinderella

Creative use of modern and mystical elements: 1956 Cadillac convertible to transport evil stepmother Kathleen Turner (John Waters' "Serial Mom") and the 2 twisted sisters; Queen Mab as the faerie godmother; David Warner (Evil in "Time Bandits") in redcoat at court; Cinderella (she's a babe) shovelling coal into an insatiable furnace; Cinderella and her prince charming both look like (and act like) rock stars. Isle of Man locations.

Bizarre take on the Cinderella tale. Terribly poor script, but Kathleen Turner turns in a pretty decent evil step-mother performance.

Visually stunning in some parts, but that's about it. The period costumes range from the Elizabethan era to the 1990s. Fast forward until you see something interesting and save yourself the full 90 minutes of drivel.

If you're really in the mood for a Cinderella story - I suggest "Ever After: A Cinderella Story" or "The Glass Slipper".

Whoever did the costumes wasn't given direction at all. They are all over the place, they range from Elizabethan To Dior's new look The queen walks around looking like she's going to a fancy dress party as queen Elizabeth, the prince wants to be a teddy boy/Elvis Presley. He and his band perform a really horrible rock and roll song Or tune because it's too bad to be a song. It's a nice if bizarre version of the story there are better versions but It's amusing Other than the costuming and the songs.

Kathleen turner and David warner were excellent in their parts. I don't know about Mab She spent the most of her time whispering In a grotto That was rather odd.

It is not difficult for a die hard fairy tale enthusiast to get bored with all the different versions of Cinderella. However, i think that this one was all together unique. Kathleen Turner was EXQUISITE as the "Wicked Step Mother" true. But there were other elements to this version that made it equally fabulous. The fact that Cinderella "rescues" her father, and gains a backbone and stands up to her step mother were great. There is also a wonderful element of traditional magic, in the form of Cinderella's "fairy god mother" a mermaid/sea nymph who takes an interest in Cinderella. The low budget, special effects harkened back to Rogers and Hamerstein's version. Simple effects let the story take center stage.

I remember watching the Disney version and watching it now makes me think it has somehow lost its magic touch. Plenty of other renditions, Ever After put aside, of Cinderella, have, in fact, lost their touch throughout the years. Then I found this production with a flawless performance by Kathleen Turner as the evil stepmother and was blown away by the phantasmagorical essence of this fantasy story that has cast me under its spell since childhood.

We all know the story of Cinderella, a young girl who's father died and was dominated by her wicked stepmother and stepdaughters and longs to go to the ball for one last chance for freedom. But this plot line takes a different twist in the classic Fairy Tale by causing Cinderella (whose real name is Zizola, and is only called Cinderella by her family because of her slavery) to be trapped in a situation of her father (who still lives) slowly losing himself to a dominant wife who manipulates him into playing favorites with his wife and step-daughters against his own and tries to poison him. Thus, Zizola goes out to save her father by stopping her stepmother from finding another suitor at the ball by distracting the men who come her way. There, the bored Prince Valiant has a change of heart from his dull life and falls in love with the mysterious lady in the strange dress (forged by a water nymph named Mab) with rose petals for slippers.

What drew me to this film most of all was it's original take on the old Fairy Tale that none can compare to. It does not weave a web of lies like most Cinderella stories, it does not ignore any reason as to why Cinderella would want to attend the ball and nor does it show a shallow side to the Prince as the Disney version did. Instead it shows more of Cinderella's selfless heart more than any other production and the artwork is simply stunning! The costumes are all beautifully made, especially Zizola's sapphire blue ballgown to match the Marcella Plunkett's fantastical beauty and soft, spirit-like voice.

I would highly suggest this film for anyone who is interested in a dream-like sequence of the classic Fairy Tale with an interesting twist. My only problem is that the producers and director did not make a full collection of other Fairy Tales with this same element and the fact that the film is now out of print.