If you’re here for the first time, here’s a bit about my philosophy on movie reviews…
You might remember my disdain for Maleficent. I felt like they took a beloved movie and rubbed it’s nose in the dirt. Even if it was Angelina, I couldn’t love it.
So, when I saw the preview (the original glass slipper preview) for the new live action Cinderella movie, I wasn’t excited. I figured it would be a silly, sexed-up or dumbed-down version of the beloved 1950 Disney cartoon. Cinderella is not a story to be trifled with in my Disney-lovin’ heart. Cinderella and I are practically roommates, for goodness sakes.
Last Tuesday, Lydia and I got to see a screening of Cinderella and I am so glad I was wrong about it! It was a gorgeous movie. It felt like a beautiful, sweeping period piece. You know when you are just IN a movie? From the first minute, I was in Cinderella’s family and loving her mother and father and life.
I could really gush about all kinds of little things, but let’s do it this way, shall we?
{Oh, get ready for SPOILERS!!! Which, let’s be honest, isn’t much of a spoiler. It’s a pretty well-known story.}
WHY YOU SHOULD SEE CINDERELLA THIS WEEKEND:
1. The family unit.
There was so much in the movie about Cinderella honoring her parents’ love for their home. Cinderella did chores and stayed with her wicked stepmother because she was being respectful of her parents.
Before Cinderella’s parents died, their little family unit was a tight-knit, loving, encouraging family. The last thing Cinderella’s mother told her was, “Have courage and be kind.” And this anthem pushed Cinderella the rest of the movie. She kept her head up and served her step-family because of her mother’s words.
2. The Prince.
Not only does he have piercing eyes, this prince was a true gentleman and a respectful son. He does have an argument with his father about wanting to marry a commoner instead of a princess, but with such respect and honor. He throws a ball for the entire kingdom knowing he will probably have to pick a princess for his bride, but hoping Cinderella will show up.
And when his Father finally demands he pick a princess the Prince says, “I love you and respect you, Father, but I cannot.” To which the King says, “Go and find that girl they are talking about. The forgetful one, who loses her shoes.” It was as if he wanted to see if his son was his own man before giving his blessing.
{HUGE SPOILER}
My favorite prince moment is when the King dies. The Prince leans close and says, “I love you, Father.” and the King says, “I love you” in return. The scene ends with the Prince laying across his Father’s chest sobbing. It was so beautiful to see a strong Father-Son connection.
3. The Costumes.
Heaven to betsy. I cannot get over how fabulous the costuming is. Cinderella’s ball gown was amazing. Every single thing the wicked stepmother wears is fabulous.
The wicked step-sisters are equally gaudy and delicious at the same time. The royal family, the people at the ball and even the common dresses of Cinderella as a girl and her mother are just beautiful.
4. The Disney-ness.
I told Lydia when we left the theatre, “I feel like I’ve just been to Disney World.” You know, Walt wanted to make Disneyland because he wanted his girls to experience the movies he made. Not just watch them. And that’s why I love Disney World (and land) because you get to experience the movies just a little bit more. You get to visit them in a new and different way.
Watching this movie made the 1950 cartoon come alive! You could understand how a girl could go from cherished daughter to abused servant. You could see a far-off love begin between two people instead of a so-this-is-love love-at-first-sight gig.
There were tributes to the original movie, too. Cinderella sings, “Sing, Sweet Nightingale” and the mice have the same type voices as the original Gus and Jaques (they weren’t talking, just squeaking). I thought for a minute that the song the Prince and Cinderella danced to was familiar and then realized it sounded like I Walked With You Once Upon a Dream from Sleeping Beauty. So, that was weird. Or maybe I made it up.
5. The Sheer Beauty
It was just a good movie. I was captivated the whole time. People clapped in the middle of it. I laughed, I cried. Erin asked me if boys would like it and I think, because it’s just a great movie, that boys will like it. I mean, it’s Cinderella. So, you know, it’s dresses and balls and things. But it was legiitemely good.
6. The Actors
Lily James as Cinderella was stunning–not too gorgeous to make you hate her but lovely. Cate Blanchet was divine. So, wickedly evil that even when she tells her sob story you don’t feel sorry for her.(And her hats! Can she get an Academy Award for just wearing those hats?!)
The wicked step-sisters were perfect caricatures of themselves. The Prince, the King, the Grand Duke and the Captain of the Guard (?) were just spot on and lovely.
7. The TRUTH.
My favorite part of the whole movie (ok, one of them!) was two-fold. It’s the classic scene where Cinderella comes down the stairs in her mother’s old gown and her step-sisters tear it apart literally and with their words. The stepmother leans in with finger in Cinderella’s face and says, “You shall not go to the ball.” Such a sentence of defeat. Cinderella runs to the garden sobbing, despairing. She doesn’t think being kind and having courage is something she can do—or even if it’s worth it.
When the Fairy Godmother shows up and transforms Cinderella, she looks right at her and says, “You shall go to the ball.” And even now, it puts tears in my eyes because how often do we and our kids live in what the world and others say about us? How often do we live under someone else’s sentence of defeat?
God looks at us and says, “You are mine and you are not forgotten. You are cherished. You are lovely and lovable.” YOU SHALL GO TO THE BALL. It gives me chills.
WHY YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO SEE THIS MOVIE:
I honestly cannot think of one thing that made me raise my eyebrow. Not one time did I think, “Well, we’re gonna have to talk about this in the car.”
The only talking points I can think of were:
-The Prince and King at odds over who he should marry.
-Three different parents die.
-The abuse of Cinderella by her step-family.
-There was a brief scene of a party with gambling and smoking and drinking.
-The dresses are kinda low-cut.
-The Fairy Godmother’s magic? (I’m stretching here…)
-The Prince and Cinderella basically fall in love right away.
But can we talk about that for a second? I know everyone gets upset about that whole love-at-first-sight and the-prince-sweeping-you-off-your-feet and I get it. I believe you need to guard your heart against feasting on other’s love affairs. But as a mom? I want my kids to see a guy and a girl look into each other’s eyes and say, “Hey. We’re going to be faithful to each other. I’m here for you. I’m going to do whatever it takes to love and honor and cherish you.” Cinderella and the Prince try to kiss once or twice, but it doesn’t happen until the royal wedding. This is an example I like for my kids to see!
I seriously loved this movie. It was gorgeous in every way.
Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention the featurette at the beginning: FROZEN FEVER! As I was gushing over Cinderella out the door, Lydia said, “Elsa sneezed snowmen.”
So, yeah, the Frozen Fever short was fun. It was nice to be back with Elsa and Anna and Olaf. But Cinderella eclipsed even them.
Are you going to see Cinderella? If you did see it, what did you think?
{update: read the comments for more great talking points and conversation starters!}
I attended Cinderella as a member of the media. Opinions and words my own. All photos property of Walt Disney Pictures and used with permission.
We saw it today and other than the fact that we had 4 – yes 4 potty breaks during the movie I just loved it. I also wanted to go to Disney World — it is magical for sure.
It think another great talking point is the contrast between how loss and grief made the stepmother bitter and loss and grief drew out Ella’s kindness and courage. We have choices in how we respond to the hardships of life.
So lovely!
xo,
Stacey
Yes, Stacey, beautiful thoughts on loss/grief!
a
Oh this just made me SO SO Happy!! Now I can’t WAIT to go see it with my kiddos!!
We saw it today, my two lovely daughters and myself. It was great! We talked about how he covered up being the prince when he and Cinderella first met. And briefly chatted about how it is important to fall in love with someone for who they really are instead of what their title is or what you can get out of the relationship. It is a beautifully done movie!
Becki: Yes, I loved that, too–that their first meeting was as equals. And he didn’t fall in love w/her b/c of the fairy godmother’s magic. That was only facilitate the meeting at the ball. Great insight!
a
I’m taking my girls tonight, and I’m so excited, especially as I read such great reviews!!
Oh I am so glad I read this. We want to go see it, but wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate. So glad to hear others like it. It is between both my daughter’s and my birthday so we are excited to go!
Would you take a 3.5 year old? We’ve never done the movies before.
If you’ve never done the movies, I don’t really know. I took my kids to the movies when they were that young. Just depends on how well you think they’d sit there! 🙂
a
Oh I really want to go! But my daughter is only 5, and a very sensitive 5 at that. But she SO loves the Cinderella story! Can’t decide! She’s just starting to enter into a world where it’s not all about animation…
My daughter is very sensitive, too. She’s 9 but I totally know how that sensitive thing is. Sometimes it IS easier to watch movies at home where you can control the lights and sound! 🙂
a
Thanks so much for reviewing this. What does it tell you about how little we watch TV and movies that I didn’t even know this was coming out! This sounds like a wonderful first big screen movie to take my almost 6 year old to. Looking forward to it and the great conversations we can have following it. I appreciate the time you took to share this with all of us!
Ha! I saw the preview online! 😉
a
Thanks for this review! Do you have a starting age for this movie that you recommend or do you think any age? My daughter’s 7.
My daughter is 9 (and a sensitive 9) and she loved it. My son is 6 and he didn’t see it but I know he would have liked it.
a
Am I the only one overly-bothered by the cleavage?
So I just love that you thought the music while Cinderella and the prince dance sounded like “I Walked with You Once Upon” a dream. I thought the exact same thing immediately and thought I must be making it up. But you know Disney, they love to throw in little snippets from other movies. My girls and I just loved the movie! I’m so thankful that it was good!!
I took my 11 year old daughter today and cannot recommend this movie enough. I saw many themes of the gospel woven into it… Beauty, safety and love- in the beginning with Cinderella and her parents. Brokenness of death and pain….The mistreatment and worldliness of the stepmother/step sisters… The Prince who sees her spirit, her character and strength upon their 1st meeting. The fairy godmother who makes the wrong right and dresses Cinderella as beautifully on the outside as she is on the inside… And the Prince pursuing her regardless of her status or lack of royalty. But perhaps the biggest takeaway my daughter and I discussed, was the narrator’s comment about names. As the sisters mocked and laughed at Cinderella for the ashes on her face and changed her name from”Ella” to Cinderella , the narrator mentioned the like magic, names have power and in time Cinderella came to believe she was what the sisters called her.
I was struck by how the Enemy often names us~ whispering lies and mocking us trying to make us believe that we are far from what we really are… A beloved daughter and the object of the Prince’s desire. My prayer is that the name calling will be silenced and we will dance in the delight of our Savior and Prince.
I read your review after seeing Cinderella at the theater tonight. I am so glad I didn’t read this in advance. Way too many spoilers.
I absolutely loved this movie. A lot of us clapped at the end. It was beautiful. I loved everything about it.
It gets four stars from me. And a ten if you’re rating that way. I want to see it again. And again. And again.
I loved everything about it….everything.
When I was 12, I saw “The Sound of Music” seven times while it was out in theater. This movie I may see even more times. Beauty and the Beast was my favorite Disney movie till tonight. Now this movie is.
Thank you for sharing your review! I took my 2 oldest children this afternoon. I wasn’t going to take them but after your review I did and I’m so glad!!! What a beautiful film!
I saw this movie this weekend with my two daughters (5 and 8) after reading your review and the on one Plugged-In. I LOVE this movie. I think this is the best family movie I have seen in years! I can’t wait to see it again and again when it comes to DVD.
My 10year old son what’s to see the cinderalla movie for some reason people think boys shouldn’t what to see this movie
I LOVED this movie!!! I loved how at the end she forgave her stepmother and the message of be yourself. She didn’t have to be anyone but herself and the prince loved her. A wonderful movie for young girls!!
Our 8 year old son saw it and said it was ‘a little girly’ but still liked it.
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