Cinderella (1950)

Cinderella 4 and a half out of 5Cinderella is latter an entertaining and morale tale, but first an essential tale that takes matter in hand unflinchingly and fuels it up with that particular single most ingredient which is narrowed down here to cultivation. Disney animation never fails to surprise the audience, especially on terms of its layered and though-provoking concept that is so deep and beautifully depicted, that it becomes difficult to grasp it all at once.The script is ahead of its time, as it contains parallel plot tracks and immensely pleasing side characters (even the pet dog of Cinderella has its own journey that creates although textbook, yet an amazing arc in its character) who are given just enough room as the protagonist or antagonist is allotted. Addition to that, the writing is so explicit that in its first act where the concept is just sinking in and setting its plot and characters, the writer takes a wise decision to project the side characters and their own routines or issues that they deal with as the actual concept takes place on the back drop of it. It is rich on technical aspects like choreography, sound department, songs, costume design and editing. The cinematography of the animation is as usual metaphorical and also speaks volume whilst depicting the characteristics of the characters. Cinderella is a smarter and bolder upbringing or the build-up of the peak of the script through its supportive characters and their keen sense of humor.

The 1940s was not a particularly grand decade for the Walt Disney Company. With the exception of Dumbo, all their animated features were financial failures and wouldn't be regarded as timeless classics until years later. As a result, the company could only make package films due to budget cuts and WWII screwing over their studio. It wouldn't be until later on that decade when Walt not only took a risk and made another feature length animated film, an adaptation of the tale of Cinderella, but also put the studio on a gamble. If the movie succeeded, the company would prosper, if not then it would shut down...what resulted was the former. Alongside being lauded back in the day by audiences and critics alike, Cinderella is to this day seen as one of the studio's most iconic features. As for what I think....well, let's just say that I respect it more than I actually like. The biggest issue with Cinderella is the story, which suffers from overly long pacing, too many subplots, and an overall straightforward arch. While the film sets up the lives of Cinderella and her step family decently enough, it isn't until roughly 20 minutes until the plot actually happens. Beforehand, it's just Cinderella working and singing, and the mice messing around with the cat. In addition, we spend too much time on the mice that we don't get to know enough of Cinderella outside of her wishing beyond her wildest dreams for a better life. I don't mind the mice per se and they do have their moments, but less is more. Admittedly, the film does pick up a little once we get to the palace, which has the audience in awe as much as Cindy herself...too bad the prince has even less character than the one in Snow White. The less said about the infamous slipper plot hole the better.As for the other characters, while Lady Tremaine does have quite the malicious mood and evil grin, when you get down to it, there isn't all that much to her. You could argue most of her backstory being unexplained makes her more mysterious, but the fact that she does all these horrid things to Cinderella without a proper reason just makes her seem evil....because. If anything, the step sisters stand out more from how humorous they can get, and that scene where they tear off Cinderella's dress is quite a heartbreaking scene within itself. Also, while the prince is blander than paper, the king and royal duke do make a rather entertaining couple given their witty banter and arguments, and their distinct personalities create some really genuine laughs for the audience. Oh, and the fairy godmother is kind and generous in her own right, even if she's little more than a plot device.Now while the story isn't all that great and the characters are a mixed bag, the animation is fantastically well crafted. It's been stated that nearly 90% of the movie was done with rotoscoping, and it shows in the final product as the movements are very smooth and the characters are realistically designed without crossing into the uncanny valley. As for the animation that's done from scratch, the mice and other animals have a rather cartoony style that perfectly defines their look and personalities. Even if we spend too much time on the animals than we should have, at least the animators made fun usage of playing around with their colorful movements and designs. The usage of a more dark color scheme whenever Lady Tremaine is around is another added touch of depth, making the more bright and vibrant colors of the palace much more astonishing in contrast. Speaking of which, the backgrounds display a quaint European style that looks well detailed, sharp and finesse, even if the environments are only a village and a castle.Finally, the songs in this movie range from forgettable to touching, but they at least serve the plot. A Dream is a Wish does a good job summing up Cinderella's desires outside of her fantasies, the mice's work song is the film's most catchy and upbeat harmony with fun antics of the mice making Cindy's dress, and Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo still holds up for how whimsical, enchanting and downright helpful it is. After all that hard work for nothing, it's great that somebody else is generous enough to make Cindy's wish come true, and it's hard not to song along to. The rest I unfortunately barely remember, as they felt sweet but standard, like it's the typical Disney charm we know and have heard better in other songs. Those other songs aren't by any means bad, and the singing from the likes of Ilene Woods, Mike Douglass, Verna Felton and more are delightful and stunning, they just didn't leave much of an impact on me like the rest. So overall, I can definitely understand the appeal of Cinderella for its whimsical charm, lovable side characters, beautiful animation, and a charming representation of what could happen if your dreams finally came true. However, I personally just can't get into it due to the boring pacing, bland main characters, hit or miss songs and predictable plot. If you love this movie with all your heart, keep on having fun with it, there's no stopping you. Me personally though, I'd skip this film in a heartbeat over other Disney films any day....that being said, I can't wait to see Cindy in Wreck it Ralph 2, get stoked for that.

Let's be clear: a lot of Disney movies are rather oriented for girls: royal romance, love songs, dance and dresses, we boys are not really into that, whatever the feminist and gender extremists would like! If you add the crazy king father, the ugly bad characters (why this link?), the sadistic cat and helpful dog (why this discrimination), the abusive stepmother and stupid henchman, you find finally a universe in which I don't feel happy, in which family love is nonexistent and that's a bit hard!At last, we have those chipmunks-like mice that bring fun and lightness! For me, they are essential to this movie because without them, it would have been simply unwatchable. It's not the speedy, delirious, crazy and funny Sylvester & Tweety but some moments makes me laugh! The other thing i notice is that for that date, this animation was showing the future of the live movies: Colored, powerful visuals and horizon lines, stunning effects, only those things was first delivered then by Disney and it would take 10 years before the gap would be shorten by true movies!If Snow White can appeal to every one, this Cinderella is above all a dream for girls and a honest time for boys!

I'll receive many fingers down, but I need to be true to myself. As a child, I watched Cinderella oftentimes - I had a VHS. It is without doubt one of the most famous Disney classic, was a resounding success when released and was the film that saved the Disney studio going bankrupt. But leaving its historical significance aside, watching Cinderella today as an adult, I realize how this animation is problematic.To start, this movie has several scenes of secondary characters just for comic relief - the mice and the cat - what absolutely does not contribute almost nothing to the central story, feeling as a filler. Disney princesses films have a tradition of have fantasy stories, with lots of magic involved. But discarding the scene in which the fairy godmother appears to sing the song "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo" (undoubtedly the pinnacle of the film) and the scene where the clock rings and Cinderella flees the Prince (which, together, does not reach even ten minutes), there is absolutely no magic remnant throughout the rest of movie - ever stopped to think about it? 80% of the movie, we just have Cinderella and mice in the stepmother's house doing trite and mundane things, or scenes with the King in the castle dreaming of grandchildren. Boring.Then we have a poor character development. Disney's Cinderella is not a good example of woman and heroin. She's a bland character, accepting mistreatment with passivity, and she always need others to get it out of their problems (mice, fairy godmother, the prince). Cinderella never changes the situation for herself. She falls for the guy just because ... he dances well? In no time the prince's personality is shown; we do not know if it will be a good husband to her, not even Cinderella have this certainty, but who cares, if he is rich, beautiful and is a prince, isn'it?And we have the animation, which is a bit disappointing. Unlike the beautiful painting that was Snow White (for its time), or stylish, graceful and unique backgrounds of Sleeping Beauty, the animation in Cinderella doesn't have anything extraordinary for a studio like Disney, and there are times really ugly looking. To this day I don't understand why the hell the animators don't draw toes for Cinderella. We're talking about a movie that the "feet" have considerable importance, are not we? Instead, we have a hideous "close-up" Cinderella wearing her shoes with her feet like a surfboard, or a quick sketch of a foot. I always thought it was horrible when I was a child. I mean, even a child of five years, to draw a foot, would have the decency to do "risks side by side" to represent toes.Seriously, Disney. You could have done much better.I gave two stars just for the excellent and beautiful animated sequence "Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo".