DVDizzy Forum

Yea, which two books? There's way more.

And don't do it man! The experience will be much richer once you see the whole movie on the big screen!

By the way, does anyone else think Cinderella's transformation looks like a blooming flower? I think it is so beautiful like that.

I hope that the Stepmother while she finds the glass slipper and confronts Cinderella, tells her about WHY she is the way she is and why she wouldn't want Cinderella to have a happily ever after before she smashes the slipper of course. I hope the screenwriters are smart enough to do such a scene.

This russian community was kind enough to upload one of the books. I'm enjoying it enormously!

I gave in and read one of the books. I'm sorry. I just couldn't hold it! There are two books. One is "Cinderella: The Junior Novel" by Elizabeth Rudnick, and the other is "Have Courage, Be Kind: The Tale of Cinderella" by Brittany Candau. Both books are novelizations of the screenplay but written in different styles. The junior novel leaves off some lines and scenes, while the other book seems to be the whole screenplay but in book form. I decided to read the junior novel since it's probably only 80% of the actual movie, while the other book would be close to 100%. Therefore, it's not really like I spoiled myself since there are several things that the movie will show that I'm sure the junior novel did not include. I will not read the other book until after I watch the movie. I think it's a fair compromise.

Also, to answer some previous questions that arose in the thread, based on the junior novel, Anastasia is indeed older, BUT Drisella (her name is now spelled this way) is meaner, although both are horrible.

Oh, and Ella meeting the stepfamily in the clip I posted earlier this week occurred differently in the book, so I'm sure the film will definitely have some differences, therefore, I know I did not completely spoil myself.

I finished the book too. I don't know, but I found it a bit... melodramatic? For me, it's always about the execution. Based on the clip of Ella meeting her stepfamily, I think the film will be way better than what I just read.

Aw, you guys gave in! Well, I'm glad you guys didn't completely spoil yourselves, and will let the movie take you on the full magical experience!

I'm glad to hear Drizella will indeed be the meaner stepsister like in the original fairy tale and Disney animated 1950 film...but I'm mad her name for this movie is spelled Drisella! Unless all the books got it wrong?

Since both books and film synopsis spells her name that way, I think it's officially Drisella unfortunately.

As for the junior novel being melodramatic, I think it was written that way because of the book's intended audience. I guess it will be different once you see and hear the words on-screen. Also, the junior novel wasn't complete. I compared a few pages of it to the other novel, and there are differences in both style and content. The other book is longer and seems to be written for an older audience. Also, there are certain scenes in the junior novel that the author described what was happening and what was being said, but in the "adult" version, the same scenes would have actual lines of dialogue accompany the scene. This makes me believe the junior novel definitely cut out some dialogue and scenes that we will later see in the film. For instance, in the junior novel, there is a picture of Ella and her mother holding a bird, but the scene was not written in the novel at all. In the other book, the scene is there, complete with dialogue. I hope I'm making sense. All this to say that the film will be somewhat different than what you read, Old Fish Tale, with more plot points included.

Thanks for the info and assurance tsom!

I still wonder if the authors got Drizella's name wrong from the screenplay, or I could always say "Hey, sure, some places Disney spelled her name Drisella but in reality it's Drizella!" You know.

I forgot to say I wish Drisella was the elder stepsister. In the movie she always seemed like the older one and in the original fairy tale it was the stepsister most like her who was the older one.

Disney Duster, perhaps the screenwriter got it wrong, but I doubt that. I feel like someone would've caught the "mistake" long before production. At least it's not as abysmal as the name change of the raven and fairies in Maleficent. In fact, Cinderella even gave names to a couple of characters who were nameless in the animated film. I would tell but I don't know if that would be considered a spoiler or not.

Also, yeah, I don't like how Drisella is younger, but the change kind of reminds me of the Broadway version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. In the musical, the younger stepsister, named Charlotte, was the mean one, but in the English translation of Perrault's story, Charlotte, the meaner stepsister, was older.

Ok, well I mean at least I can always think "They mean to say Drizella". As long as they pronounce her name the same, I can always think it's really Drizella. We'll see how they pronounce it.

And yea, it is like the 2013 Rodgers and Hammerstein version. I like that they kept the names Charlotte and Madame...but then they went and said the monarchy is different "even in the French courts" and I was like "Isn't this supposed to be a French-cultured version if you use those names?" They pronounced Madame with a French accent!

Musical Master wrote:I hope that the Stepmother while she finds the glass slipper and confronts Cinderella, tells her about WHY she is the way she is and why she wouldn't want Cinderella to have a happily ever after before she smashes the slipper of course. I hope the screenwriters are smart enough to do such a scene.

Well, in the original animated 1950 film, it states that the stepmother is bitterly jealous of Cinderella's charm and beauty. So she wants to treat Cinderella badly, and also make her un-charming and un-beautiful as she can. And if she wants to seem better than Cinderella, she wouldn't admit to Cinderella that she was jealous of her.

Musical Master, you just might get your wish

Disney Duster, that annoyed me too about the Broadway show. The play was obviously set in a French-speaking kingdom but was not France. Based on the book, I can say that this Cinderella kind of does the same thing. Although it doesn't appear to be set in France, there was a point where one of the characters addressed Ella as "Mademoiselle."

That is very interesting...

Based on the book, the kingdom seems to be somewhere that is heavily influenced by British, French, and German culture. There are also some biblical references, which is a nice touch. It kind of pays homage to the Brothers Grimm version in that respect. Also, although it is mostly based on Perrault's telling, there are some plot points taken from the Grimms' story.

That all sounds super great! The original animated 1950 film had French and German influence and was based on both the Perrault's and the Grimm's (the stepmother being the main villain, her making requirements to let Cinderella go to the ball, the animals helping Cinderella).

Musical Master wrote:I hope that the Stepmother while she finds the glass slipper and confronts Cinderella, tells her about WHY she is the way she is and why she wouldn't want Cinderella to have a happily ever after before she smashes the slipper of course. I hope the screenwriters are smart enough to do such a scene.

Oh, and I forgot to say, she doesn't want Cinderella to have her happily ever after not just because she's jealous of her and hates her, but her getting her happily ever after would be taking away the happily ever after she thinks she and her daughters would get with the prince...or perhaps any quality man.

Disney Duster wrote:I forgot to say I wish Drisella was the elder stepsister. In the movie she always seemed like the older one and in the original fairy tale it was the stepsister most like her who was the older one.

I've always personally considered Drizella the younger sister. Anastasia tries the slipper first in both the first and third films. Wouldn't the older sister go first, as she would need to be married off first? And also, Driz is suuuuch a mother's little girl, mimicing mother's every move. Makes sense for a younger child. But there again, I suppose I'm slightly biased. Driz was my 'best friend' at Disney for seven years!

I thought Drizella was older because in the film she started things as opposed to followed things, while Anastasia followed. Like Anastasia follows Drizella's lead in tearing the dress or when Drizella says, "Why that's my slipper!" and Anastasia says, "That's my slipper." And wouldn't the younger child mimic her older sister, not her mother? Also, Drizella was like the older one in the original tale. Also in the movie she is announced before Anastasia at the ball. The announcer says, "The Mademoiselles Drizella and Anastasia Tremaine, daughters of Lady Tremaine." But I was puzzled that Anastasia was first to try on the slipper, too. Which do you think is correct?

Well, Anastasia is considered the 'nicer' stepsister, so maybe she followed Drizella's nasty lead solely because she wouldn't make such decisions on her own? Who can say. I don't think even Disney has a set answer for who is oldest. (When trained, stepsisters are told to 'argue over it' when asked who's oldest, therefore giving no concrete answer.) I suppose it comes down to a matter of opinion in the long run!

New spot! Click here (it's the first video).