Cinderella (Live-Action)

[tsom]

I think the only version of Cinderella that I know of that is told from the prince's POV was The Slipper and the Rose, where Prince Edward got way more screen time than Cinderella. Disney's Cinderella was from Cinderella's perspective but the mice just had A LOT of screen time. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella was from her point of view. Also, Ever After was pretty much a biography of the "real" Cinderella. Maybe this film will be like Tangled where the male hero narrates the story but it's about the female heroine?

Apparently, there was another screening yesterday and someone on one of the social media website wrote, "Saw a screening for the live action Cinderella movie. Don't expect her to be an inspiring, strong woman. It's just a live action version of the cartoon....(Ella was) very sweet and kind, but strong? Nope. Kind of disappointing. Still a nice romantic comedy with some nice drama added...she (Ella) never did really loose it when she was being beaten down by her stepmother. Just didn't do anything about it....My young daughter liked it a lot. I just wish it had a better message than be pretty and your prince will come...I'm sure I will see it again as it was beautifully done." I suggested maybe Disney will change the film if she mentioned her issue with it, and she said "they did (provide surveys) and I did. Hopefully other moms will have as well."

I think people forget that kindness and endurance are signs of strength as well. There is nothing wrong with being sweet. Those who stay their cheerful selves are sometimes the strongest people of all.

Also, here is a spoiler-free review of the film by someone who saw the screening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMoaI9D4OOo

[thedisneyspirit]

Eh, I'm dubious of that review, mostly because so many people tend to undervaluate abuse and its victims. They think victims have the strength to get up and slap their abusers, trivializing the fear and anxiety they have. That's kinda why I'm suspicious of many Cinderella criticizers; they just don't take into account the abuse she's suffered and they expect her to go all Rambo on the Stepmother.

As for the Prince thing...It's depressing, tbh, but not surprising. Seeing how popular Game of thrones is i imagined they wanted to showcase one of its actors as much as possible to attract viewers of that show into this movie. Happened the same thing in the Snow White film, else why was Chris Hemsworth playing a much more prominent role than the main lead Snow White? (it came out right around the Avengers turned into a hit)

Then again, I've yet to meet somebody who genually likes Kristen Stewart so...*shrug*

[Disney's Divinity]

Maybe this film will be like Tangled where the male hero narrates the story but it's about the female heroine?

This was my thought upon hearing it would be "from the prince's POV."

I agree that Cinderella (the Disney character or the fairy tale character, take your pick) isn't a sexist character per se, but she's definitely not a strong character either except perhaps as a moral character. But I think it would be natural for a character like Cinderella to be weak considering she's being abused. I believe the problem isn't so much one story of a weak, abused female character, so much as the proliferation of many similar stories over generations that put women in weak, abused roles. Snow White, Cinderella, and Rapunzel are all abused characters for instance (and Aurora is a rape victim...; talking about the fairy tales here, ofc). For some reason, "Cinderella" in particular is the posterchild for this particular criticism and gets knocked especially hard.

Unfortunately, I think it's a case of looking at an old old story with modern eyes. Unlike Snow White and Rapunzel, Cinderella isn't under threat of life and some people wonder why she would willingly stay in an abusive household (or, in other words, why she is too weak to walk out). Maybe some people don't understand how difficult/impossible it would've been for a woman to try surviving on her own in those times (what with women generally not being allowed to work and all), and how marriage in many ways was the only way for a woman to escape an abusive family situation. I know my grandparents alone always talked about how often sons would join the army and daughters would get married because those were the only alternatives to get away from their parents, and this story is much much older than my grandparents. At least Cinderella never suffered extreme physical abuse (or threat of physical abuse) the way my grandparents did from their parents or my mother did.

But I guess I can understand in a way why "Cinderella" comes under fire, because children are not going to watch these movies knowing these things and so perhaps a character like Cinderella isn't necessarily a positive role model in that way.

[tsom]

The same woman that wrote that stuff on social media also wrote a review of the film on her blog. Check it out. There are what might be considered minor spoilers though.

http://arecipeforhappiness.com/2014/07/ ... girls.html

Considering what she said about Lady Tremaine in her review, I asked if the stepmother was given a good reason for her cruelty, and she told me: Yes. She married for love then he died and she had to make her way in life. Obviously didnt choose a nice way but still was handling it as she knew how. Interesting perspective. Also, I asked if Lady Tremaine had a good reason for hating Ella and she said, Mostly jealousy over her dad loving her more. And her being more intelligent and prettier than the daughters. It was actually fairly close to the Ever After storyline with the step mother.

Disney's Divinity, I agree with you. People are looking at these stories, especially Cinderella, with a 2014 mentality. In the past, the most a woman could hope for was to marry a rich man. In Cinderella's case (in any version), she was a penniless orphan. Where would she go? The streets are not kind to homeless beggars and orphans. She could go to an orphanage, but that would be a death sentence. She could go be a servant somewhere else, but I highly doubt her stepmother would've given her a good reference. Therefore, her only other options were to remain at the house until she married or until her stepmother died. Her home life may not have been ideal, but she had food, water, clothes and shelter, which was generous considering her stepmother could've done worse.

[Old Fish Tale]

How strange... The girl who attended the first screening said the film highlighted the relation between Cinderella and the stepfamily.

[Atlantica]

Thats the thing with Cinderella as a character; you don't want her to become a warrior woman (a bit like Twist In Time), but you also don't want her to be void of personality either (a bit like in Slipper & The Rose).

Cinderella in the Disney Classic had her own bit of spunk and making the most of a hideous situation, "Shall we go interrupt the 'music lession' ? Yes, she does suffer slightly in the sense of being an 'Old School' Walt - Era Princess, and someone telling her how to get out of her own situation. Even when she discovers that the Prince is out looking for her, she just sort of goes into a daze and wanders back to her room etc.

But thats what makes Cinderella the most beloved fairy tale character of all time (in her various guises) as she is good and kind and true, despite what life has given her. With our modern sensibilities, we want her to be more like Anna or Jasmine but that isn't what fundamentally makes up her character. Thats why I think that Twist was a wonderful effort, but they seem to have tried to merge Walt era Cinderella with Roy Disney era Princesses which kind of didn't quite correlate with the original.

So all I'm meaning is, theres a fine like between being a pushover non-entity and an all out modern Princess; they have to strike the balance here. I think the original had a bit of a twinkle and charm about her, and she knew the situation was awful but still maintained goodness and hope. I don't think Lily James has what it takes for me personally, judging from her past performances. I'm not trashing the film at all, I still want to see it, but the initial view points that have come from test screenings have made me think about things a bit I suppose.

[tsom]

Interview with director Kenneth Branagh about Cinderella.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Prf1wmB4 ... e=youtu.be

[Old Fish Tale]

That made me so excited! Thanks for posting!

[PatrickvD]

Kenneth Branagh is such an intelligent and dedicated director.

I think he knows exactly how to turn this overdone story into something both new and timeless. I have high hopes this will receive great reviews unlike Alice, Oz and Maleficent. In particular because it appears to rely much more on characterization than visual effects.

[disneyprincess11]

I really hate it when "kindness and compassion does not equal strong" to these people. It's really sad that being strong means kicking butt like Mulan, Merida, and Elsa. Cinderella is strong as heck. She goes through constant abuse from her family and doesn't fight back. She still holds her head high, and is still kind and compassionate to them and everyone around her. If that's not strong, idk what is.

[Old Fish Tale]

Yes, she's probably the most resilient character in a Disney film!

[thedisneyspirit]

That's what I said before, that people tend to really trivialize abuse, and always oversimplify the situation. "You know it's all your fault, why do you stand this person's shit, go and punch them"- they don't even get into the context of how frightening and stressful the situation is for the victim.

And yeah, these situations have to be handled with a careful hand, and with outside help. It's not a situation where Cinderella/the victim can just take out a gun and blow their abuser's brains out. In a way it worsens the situation.

I bet these people who hate on Cinderella for being too kind and nice must be the same ones who think Superman is boring for being a "goody two shoes". And I say, what's wrong with kind characters? Sure, we all love the asshole/dark and brooding hero from time to time, but what's genually wrong from a character that shows the good of humanity?

[Disney Duster]

I'm not worried about this being from the Prince's point of view. Everything else we have heard about this movie points to it being extremely like the original film and story. It is too much about Cinderella for it to be more about the Prince! Like tsom and Disney's Divinity said, I bet he will just narrate.

However, what I am worried about is what the previewing to get people's reactions will do. Will they really change it for the people that wanted it to be different?! I'm worried the =mom and whoever else had problems with it will change it and change the story and the filmakers will have no time to make a good new one! Tsom, why would you tell her to get Disney to change it?

As for Cinderella's character, indeed, I love what everyone here has been saying about her, and like Kenneth Branagh himself said, Cinderella's strength comes with her kindness in the face of cruelty. And you know what? I actually like that Cinderella was soft. I like that she wished for happiness to come and that made it come. That the story's message is "be good, and goodness will come to you." The reason this can be bad is because it doesn't happen in real life all the time. But being kind did get Cinderella's animal friends to help her, just like kindness to people can bring them to help you in real life, and her faith brought her Fairy Godmother to her, even though that part can't happen in real life. If only magic was real.

And thank you for the videos tsom! I stayed out of the spoiler blog review though.

[tsom]

No problem, Disney Duster! I like hunting for information to find about this film. It's been fun. I haven't been this excited about a movie coming out in a long time. The last time I was this excited about a movie coming out was with Tangled, but that's probably because my undergrad honors thesis was about the film's marketing so I had to hunt for info everyday for 10 months.

Also, I did not tell her to ask Disney to change it. I pretty much asked her if they provided surveys for the audience to write their thoughts, and if so, did she write down her issues with Cinderella's portrayal. Honestly, she is the only one so far who I've seen mention anything about Ella not being independent or whatever.

[Disney Duster]

Oh tsom, I see. This movie excites me so much too. All the good is over shining any small bad. And oh man you must of had a terrible time doing all that work on that thesis.

[Old Fish Tale]

That the story's message is "be good, and goodness will come to you." The reason this can be bad is because it doesn't happen in real life all the time.

As Piaget indicated, in the first stage of moral development, children younger than 7 years of age believe good things will happen to good people and bad things will happen to bad people. Fairytales like 'Cinderella' naturally encourage that belief. Just google "immanent justice" if you want to read more about this.

[Toky]

I don't think this story will focus on the Prince….never…especially not with that magical teaser So he will probably be the narrator, which i don't even think is true (since i remember someone seeing the screening said something about an older voice narrating)

Funny thing, totally not relevant, is that a couple of nights ago, i dreamt i was visiting an expo with disney costumes. Besides the Maleficent ones, there was the ball gown of Cinderella If it will be anything like that, it will be (hands down), the best dress you've ever seen on screen haha. It looked a bit like a Christian Dior Couture dress; really royal but in a modern way, with lots of lace and embroidery.

[Old Fish Tale]

So far, I haven't read anything about a narration...

[Disney Duster]

Oh I forgot, someone who saw the CinemaCon preview footage said a woman's voice narrates, not the Prince!

The footage opened as all good fairy tales should, a woman's voice says "Once Upon A Time there was a Child named Ella."

As Piaget indicated, in the first stage of moral development, children younger than 7 years of age believe good things will happen to good people and bad things will happen to bad people. Fairytales like 'Cinderella' naturally encourage that belief. Just google "immanent justice" if you want to read more about this.

That's very interesting!

Also, I did not tell her to ask Disney to change it. I pretty much asked her if they provided surveys for the audience to write their thoughts, and if so, did she write down her issues with Cinderella's portrayal.

Oh, ok.

Funny thing, totally not relevant, is that a couple of nights ago, I dreamt I was visiting an expo with disney costumes. Besides the Maleficent ones, there was the ball gown of Cinderella If it will be anything like that, it will be (hands down), the best dress you've ever seen on screen haha. It looked a bit like a Christian Dior Couture dress; really royal but in a modern way, with lots of lace and embroidery.

I hope it looks like just a more complex, ornate version of the original 1950 dress, but depending on how it looks and how yours looked, maybe I want your dream to come true.

[supertalies]

Oh I forgot, someone who saw the CinemaCon preview footage said a woman's voice narrates, not the Prince!

The footage opened as all good fairy tales should, a woman's voice says "Once Upon A Time there was a Child named Ella."

Maybe it's the fairy godmother, just like Whitney Houston did in the 1997 musical version. Or I would actually like it if it was Cinderella's real mother. They did cast a pretty well-known actress in the role..