Cinderella

I tried, I really did! I hoped that the fairly decent, experienced, ensemble cast coupled with state of the art visual effects and a collection of modern-day pop lyrics would breathe new life into this timeless story. Well, sadly, that was all just a triumph for optimism over, well, just about anything... It's terrible. Good looking, well produced, but terrible. Am I the only person left alive who is fed up being shouted at by Edina Menzel? Pierce Brosnan demonstrated in "Mamma Mia" (2008) that he is happy to play parts with his tongue in his cheek, but here I fear he must have cringed when…

Cinderella is a jukebox musical, based on a classic fairy tale, with CGI animals, and the now obligatory ethnically diverse cast (though oddly relegated to the extras; all of the main characters, with one exception that we'll get to later — and that's certainly not Camila Cabello —, are of the Caucasian persuasion. It's like, how much more lazy could this writing be? And the answer is none. None more lazy. To put it in perspective, Lin-Manuel Miranda's so-called songs from Hamilton or In the Heights are all over the place, but at least he sat down and committed them to paper himself (and you…

Inspired by the Cinderella tale, this film offers a modern twist focused on gender equality, portraying Ella as a strong, independent woman rather than a helpless victim. It redefines traditional roles—like a caring stepmother, flawed prince, and even a male fairy godparent—to support its empowering message. While the film's bold differences disappointed some viewers, it remains a thought-provoking and watchable reimagining, best appreciated when seen as Ella’s story, not a retelling of the classic fairytale. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)