17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WONDERFUL value esp. for the money..., March 5, 2005
Our 3 year old ADORES the story of Cinderella. So we decided to get her a DVD. Then the decision became between this and a VHS of the Disney version. Well, we couldn't decide, so we bought both.
As far as film making goes, the Disney one is clearly the better one. HOWEVER, my 3 year old got bored with the Disney one. She did not care about the singing mice and how pretty the animation was. She wanted to see Cinderella and that's that.
This version is the story as we all know it. It is simple, it is easy to watch and it emphasises several times how Cinderella's true beauty came from with in. My daughter LOVED this version SOOOO much that she sat thru it 2x in a row when we first played it.
When I have to 2 side by side, she chooses this version every time. So, with that said, I give it 5 stars. I am not a movie critic, I am a mother and my daughter LOVES this!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quite possible the most nicely crafted animated film from Jetlag Productions!, September 23, 2004
"Cinderella" was one of the earliest animated films from Jetlag Productions, and possibly their very best. Jetlag Productions is one of the companies that produced low-budget animated films for the infamous GoodTimes Entertainment company, along with the much superior Golden Films producer, so being "their very best" doesn't necessarily guarantee a good film. However, "Cinderella" has often, not widely but often, been heralded as "better than the
Disney version." Naturally, this is the opinion of just a number of individuals. In terms of technical quality, the animation in Jetlag Productions' film does not compare to Walt Disney's delicate and stylish touch. On the other hand, the way the story of Cinderella is handled in the 1994 version is more direct, spending less time building the character of mice and minor characters, and more time in telling the classic fairy tale. For this reason, I understand why some people may prefer Jetlag Productions' version to the Disney one. I personally, I'm glad to have seen them both.
The story of Cinderella, adapted by French fairy tale author Charles Perrault, is a story known by many, and Jetlag Productions did not change it much for their animated adaptation. The story begins when a rich man, blessed with wealth, a comfortable home and a loving family, loses his wife to illness and is left alone with his beautiful daughter. He decides to marry again, choosing for a wife a wicked woman who brings along her two unattractive daughters. The daughter of the rich man is not happy about this, especially when her father leaves on a business trip and her stepmother and stepsisters take over her home. Because she sleeps on a straw mat by the fireplace and is often covered by cinders, she is named "Cinderella." Cinderella is forced to do all the chores around her house, including washing dishes and cleaning stairs, while her stepsisters play and have fun. One day at the palace of the kingdom, the king's son had just come of age and his parents were anxious for him to chose a proper wife. The prince had been unlucky finding the right girl to marry. His father decides to prepare a grand ball and invite all of the eligible young ladies in the land, an idea that appeals to the prince as long as the choice is his alone. Word of the ball reaches Cinderella's home, but she immediately told that she will not be attending it. Cinderella receives a visit then from her fairy godmother, telling her that she will attend the ball. With the help of a magic wand, Cinderella is presented with a new gown, glass slippers and her very own coach to transport her to the palace. She is given the warning that the spell will wear off at midnight and that she must return home before then. Cinderella promises to be home before the clock strikes twelve, but at the palace, she has the honor of dancing with the prince throughout the night, until she is startled by the clock striking twelve. Cinderella runs off into the royal maze, where her gown turns into her old drags, and where she loses one of the two glass slippers that had not disappeared. The glass slipper is the prince's only key to find his true love, because both he and Cinderella are sure that they love each other.
"Cinderella" is easily the best animated film Jetlag Productions has done. The only other film that I can think of that could match this one title in quality is their 1995 adaptation of "
Little Red Riding Hood," another animated tale filled with colorful characters, catchy songs and a nice handful of good moral lessons. "Cinderella" features colorful and well-drawn backgrounds, neither the characters nor the artwork feel "stuffy" or overdone in the sense that creates an uncomfortable feeling when watching. The level of saturation in the overall look is well balanced, strong uses of reds and greens (a big flaw in "
Snow White," 1995) are left out, replaced with softer colors. The voice acting is probably some of the best as well. A major complaint I've always had about Jetlag Productions' titles is the ridiculous amount of clichéd and corny voice-acting that was simply unbearable to listen to sometimes. The animation is overall well-done, with just a few scenes where the characters' movements were jerky or just plain silly (a moment that sticks out is one during the opening song where Cinderella spins around looking like a propeller). The music was very nice, particularly some of the original melodies played during the ball scenes are very memorable indeed. Due to a common rule that became a standard in all later Jetlag films, "Cinderella" features three songs: the opening song, "Dream On, Cinderella," where the story is told briefly, is memorable and pleasant to listen to (though I've had trouble understanding some of the lyrics), "The Chance Of A Lifetime," where the stepsisters sing about their chance to marry the prince and have their dreams come true, and finally, "Where Have You Been All My Life" where in dreams, Cinderella and the prince sing to each other about their love and their longing to be reunited. All three songs are wonderfully catchy and well-written. Overall, though "Cinderella" perhaps does not compare to the charming productions of Golden Films, such as "
Thumbelina" (1993) and "
The Little Mermaid" (1993), it is one of the best Jetlag Productions films out there and children, particularly little girls, are bound to find it enchanting.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
