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Cinderella (Wide World of Disney)

Cinderella (Wide World of Disney)

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Pure musical perfection
Review: Bernadette Peters, Natalie Desselle, Paolo Montalban, Brandy, Veanne Cox, Whoopi Goldberg, Victor Garber and Whitney Houston all sing and dance up a storm in this glittering new mounting of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic CINDERELLA.

This time however, the score is augmented with three new songs, written by Rodgers and Hammerstein in their seperate early careers.

They include 'The Deepest Love In All The World', sung by Brandy and Paolo Montalban, 'The Music In You', sung by Whitney Houston, and, my personal favourite, 'Falling In Love With Love', sung by the incomparable Bernadette Peters, with additional vocals by Natalie Desselle and Veanne Cox.

The entire production is flawless, and I loved every minute of it.

It has previously been recorded live on television with Julie Andrews and again with Lesley Ann Warren. Both of those cast albums are still available.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Poor remake of a classic
Review: I suppose they thought they would make a version that everyone could relate to. I miss the old version, but the only one you can find is this one. I would like for my children to see the old version, the real "Cinderella" and not this badly made imitation.Keep this version and the old version available and I think most people would choose the old version with Leslie Warren, even if all the people in it are of one race. My kids need someone to identify with too. My kids can't identify with this version Cinderella.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's Posssible
Review: This Movie is stunning, from the moment it begings till the minute it ends, This is a masterpeice of musicals. Brandy Is beutiful and chrming as cinderella, and whitney houston, is Brillient as always.In this colorblind version of Cinderella all the beutiful songs are sung well, the sets marvel, and the cast is superv. GET THIS MOVIE.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good singing, bright colors, and wide smiles for all
Review: If you were ever bored by the flighty tale of that little cinder girl, here's your chance to catch up. Whitney Houston's eliminated the majestic castles, tight-lipped step-sisters, and fairy *grand*mothers and replaced them with flashy decor, bold splashes of color, and a sister with an attitude. This latest installment offers the same old story of a mistreated "country bumpkin" who finds redemption in the arms of a prince, but this retelling's got a touch of soul thanks largely to the unconventional cast and art direction. Loyalists to this previous R&H effort may cry foul after this showy rendition of the musical, but it's a refreshing effort. The story returns to its fairy tale roots and youthful fanbase by providing a healthy dose of cartoony action and emotions. With its exaggerated sets and costumes, there's nothing to traumatize the kids either.

The cast, with its impressive combined stage experience, brings the production to life. Bernadette Peters and Jason Alexander lead the way as the evil stepmother and haggled royal servant. Peters plays her role to perfection adding humor to a typically callous character. The king and queen are also given a lighthearted makeover by Whoopi Goldberg and Victor Garber. Veanna Cox, playing the lanky step-sister, also leaves a memorable impression. The movie's most satisfying performance, however, belongs to Paolo Montalban as the handsome Prince Charming. He has the right mix of innocence and rebelliousness, and the guy can sing. The only casting blunder was in the main role. Brandy, as Cinderella, is competent at best with little acting ability to boot. Her breathy R&B voice never fills the energetic Broadway tunes, and she's no competition for her predecessors, Julie Andrews and Leslie Ann Warren. Brandy does give Cinderella some modern spunk and attitude, but she never becomes the remarkable yet tragically wronged heroine.

While the movie prides itself on multicultural casting, it offers little in the way of real racial breakthrough as the cast is primarily black or white, minus Montalban's Asian prince. It's a start, nevertheless, and impressionable kids will take notice. Aside from Brandy's paltry performance, this very bright and energetic retelling introduces a pleasingly different approach to the dusty classic.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Musical
Review: Enjoyed the earlier (older) version with Leslie Ann Warren and didn't think a remake could match it--was wrong! Not disappointed with this multicultural version. Here's probably a twist though--out of all the characters in this newer version, enjoyed Bernadette Peters the most. She was outstanding as the evil step mother! The ingenious pairing of the two step sisters (one black, one white) was also a good match and also Whoopi Goldberg as the queen. Excellent performance in both singing and acting from the prince.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cinderella
Review: I thought the movie was great and have watched it several times. I especially loved the music and remember this beautiful tale when I was a child. At that time it starred L.A.Warren as Cinderella. The casting of this adaptation was very good also. The only cast member I did not care for was Whitney Houston's portrayal of the fairy godmother. She wasn't as sweet and endearing as what I would have expected from a different actress. Although I have to admit Whitney performed the role just like I thought she would. I thought all of the other actors did a wonderful job. I now want to purchase another copy for my young daughter. The costumes and music were superb!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Poor. Miscast. Good job by Houston, but overall: poor.
Review: Huh? B. Peters as the step mom? Goldberg as the queen? Didn't they switch those two. Bernanette is much too pretty to be the step mom, while Whoopy would be perfect (if she could act mean).

Jason Alexander as the royal aid was also awful. The man is funny, but he can't sing. This is a MUSICAL. It comes across as not funny and not musical.

Too many of the songs don't carry the action, they STOP it.

When Whitney (Fairy God Mother) comes on (42 minutes into it), it does get a lot better. She is very good. But it's just too far into this mess to make it enjoyable. Rent it. Don't buy it. Even better, get "Ever After", and see what Cinderella can be. Exciting, Funny, and entertaining.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Priceless delivery of lines, great dancing, beautiful set
Review: If I could have a kitchen door like Cinderella's family has, my house would be complete. If I could wear hair ornaments like Bernadette Peters does, I would be so elegant. Such a beautiful set, beautiful costumes and wonderful directing. Great casting too. Whoopi Goldberg is priceless as the Queen and her treatment of Lionel. The stepsisters are truly disrespectful of each other and Cinderella. Bernadette Peters has her usual wonderful, overblown quality.

How can you beat a movie where one of the sisters has a shoe fight by holding the glass slipper over her head to keep it away from the shorter man?

Whitney Houston is inconsequential in this movie. Oh well, the rest of the cast is superb, yes, even Brandy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful World of Disney's done it again!
Review: I didn't pay much attention to this made-for-TV movie when it first aired in '97. Now is a different story... I needed to write a paper about the Cinderella motif in films and I happen to pick this movie. I totally fell in love with Prince Christopher! I couldn't take my eyes off him throughout the movie... instead of writing about camera angles and mise en scene, I was drooling over the Filipino prince! Uh, in short I really like the film not just of the handsome prince charming but because of the singing talent present in the movie. I have to admit though, Brandy could use some voice lessons... she was too breathy! (I can't help it! I'm a singer! ) I want to know if the soundtrack is available.I totally love the lyrics (especially the duets) and I've been searching for it here at amazon but could not find it!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: AS CHARMING AS 'CINDERELLA' CAN EVER BE
Review: I have not seen the original Rodgers and Hammersteins versions, and so I can't compare this with them. I wasn't all that looking forward to watching it, but when I finally did, I thought it was wonderful. The casting is terrific, the singing is heavenly, the costumes and sets are gorgeous, the chereography could NOT have been better and the script itself was amusing. Brandy makes a really good Cinderella, although she is not the star of the show by far. Whoopi Goldberg was a really amusing Queen, and Victor Garber made a terrific King. Whitney Huston was a really cool Fairy God Mother, but she certainly didn't steal the show, as much as she thought she would. The step sisters were hillarious too. But Bernadette Peters as the Step Mother and Paolo M. as the Prince are the ones who stole the show. Paolo has such a gorgeous singing voice and extremely good looks. He IS as charming as a prince could EVER be. I thought the songs were splendid, and I really liked 'Falling in Love with Love' which was an addition, sung by the step mother and the step sisters. I don't much care for the finale 'There's Music In You', which was written just because Whitney Huston wanted to do a solo. The Stepsisters Lament is superb, and 'Do I Love You Because Your Beautiful' is so romantic. Overrall, this movie has everything a family entertainment film needs : romance, enchantment, humour, a good pace and a terrific score too. I liked the way Disney gave it a modern twist, and how they gave each character a developed personality, although Jason A. as the Prince's Valet is really annoying. A must see for all Cinderella/Rodgers and Hammersteins/Musical/Family Entertainment/Disney fans!


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