A prince, a pumpkin, a glass slipper … history’s most enduring fairy tale returns with a thoroughly modern twist! Beautifully produced and featuring an all-star cast, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA shimmers to life in the most spectacular production ever of the classic musical — including three additional Rodgers & Hammerstein songs exclusive to this special Disney presentation! Pop sensation Brandy (TV’s MOESHA) stars as the beautiful Cinderella, who suffers the torment of her wicked stepmother (Bernadette Peters) and spoiled stepsisters. Cinderella dreams of the impossible — going to the ball and dancing with the prince. Her impossible dream is realized when her fairy godmother (Whitney Houston) teaches her that with positive thinking and belief in yourself, “impossible things happen every day!” Also starring Jason Alexander (TV’s SEINFELD) and Whoopi Goldberg (SISTER ACT), Disney’s sparkling new version of RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA promises to be an instant classic. Now you can relive the magic anytime you wish!More is not necessarily better. A glitzy Hollywood cast and a big budget did not improve the wonderful 1957 teleplay (or its equally charming 1964 remake) upon which this version is based. This is partly because Brandy, cast in the title role, cannot act. Not helping matters are Whoopi Goldberg as the prince’s mother and Jason Alexander as his valet. Their shtick wears thin very quickly. However, Paolo Montalban is charismatic as the prince, and Whitney Houston plays a fairy godmother with pizzazz. The production cost millions, and is certainly lavish, but the whole affair feels forced and overdone, reminding one of a prom queen wearing too much makeup. It does deserve credit for a multi-ethnic cast, the addition of two new songs and a hip attitude. However, the 1964 version (the original was not taped) is much sweeter and more romantic. Originally released as Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. –Rochelle O’Gorman
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April 29, 2008
#1
I have no problem with a mixed cast, but how does one explain how a white King and a black queen have a sun that appears to be asian. The families should have been of one race. The prince can easily be a different race than Cinderella, but do not confuse kids and put parents in the awkard position of having to explain. Also, Whoopie Goldberg and Jason Alexander were terrible, over the top, miscast. Spend your valuable family time and hard earned money on something else. Remakes are usually not in the same league as the original.
April 29, 2008
#2
Hi
I wanted to add my two cents, here. I saw this movie when it first came on tv in the mid 90′s. I don’t remember it that well, but remember being stunned and horrified of such a multi-cultural cast. I agree with the reviewer who pointed out how odd it was and awkward it would have been to try to explain to your kids why the king is asian and his parents are both different races. I hadn’t thought about that. And Brandy as Cinderella?? Please. I did like some of Whitney’s singing, but competely disagreed with all the different races in the movie.. and a BLACK step-sister?? Geez. And no, i am not racist. I just thought it was very odd and very wrong to have different races making up families in the movie. TOO PC for me. YOu just can’t improve on the original classic.
April 29, 2008
#3
You are all idiots, except for the editorial review. I am not going to waste more than a few sentences to say that the ONLY worthy version of this classic is the orignal 1957 version that is now available on DVD. Brandy has no business being anywhere near a stage/camera or anything that has to do with entertainment. The whole production is a disgrace and an insult to Rodgers and Hammerstein. This drek makes the movie version of “Annie” look like “Casablanca.” The only reason I am giving it one star is the computer won’t take anything less.
April 29, 2008
#4
Rogers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” is one of my favorite musicals ever! But does this rendition do it justice? Absolutely not!!!!! More glitz and fancier costumes do not a make a better musical by any means. Maybe if I was not enamored with Leslie Ann Warren or Julie Andrews who make far better Cinderellas I would have enjoyed this. I am not against a politically correct image like this story attempts but if it was done tastefully i would have appreciated it better. If you are a Rogers and Hammerstein fan like I am, you want to watch it anyway but its not merely as charming as the other ones. Its ALOT more exciting that the Julie Andrews version was recently found save your money and buy that one. However a younger audience or an audience that was not enamored with the other Rogers and Hammerstein Cinderellas will appreciate it far better.
April 29, 2008
#5
This was the best movie I ever saw, I dreamed. Then, the nightmare began as I awoke to discover that Cinderella was actually an African-Filipino-Irish-Korean fairy tale! This is truly one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen. Bad plot, acting and scripts. Poor job.