It's a good idea to watch things again sometimes when you're older. When I first saw this movie I felt that they'd gone overboard with the diversity by having parents who couldn't have had the children they had. For instance when has a Black woman and a white man had an Asian child. At first also I couldn't understand how a white woman, even had her first husband been black, could have possibly given birth to one white daughter and one Black daughter. I thought the idea of diversity was a very good one, but when there's no rhyme or reason to it, and they've just thrown in different races in randomly, it doesn't make any sense. In fact, it makes a mockery of it in a way. However, watching this time, I realized how the Stepmother could have easily had one white daughter and one Black daughter, because genetics are strange. When I was 14 a family moved into our Church congregation. The wife was from Mexico and had a dark olive complexion with brown eyes and dark brown hair. The husband was very white with blond hair and blue eyes. It took all of us a while to realize that neither of their daughters were adopted. The thing is that just as in this version of Cinderella, the two real life sisters were polar opposites. One was very fair with blond hair and blue eyes, while the other sister had her mother's dark olive complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. So as I was watching this movie this time, wondering how a white woman had given birth to a Black daughter and a white daughter, I remembered that family I grew up with, and realized that rare though it may be, one child can resemble, almost exclusively, one parent, while the other child, can resemble the other parent almost exclusively. Suddenly that made sense to me. The Stepmother's second husband was obviously Black, so it makes sense that her first husband would have been Black as well. The actors who played those roles did an excellent job. Brandi did an excellent job as Cinderella. She had great chemistry with Paolo, who played the Prince. He was excellent in that role. I loved Whoopi Goldberg as the Queen, although, as I said I don't see a Black woman and a white man having an Asian son. Personally, I think Victor Garber could easily have been replaced by an Asian actor. He was okay as the King but he lacked the personality that Whoopi Goldberg brought with her as the Queen. So, I guess he's really the only casting issue I have. I loved Whitney Houston as the Fairy Godmother. However, I thought they could've done a better job on her dress. The gold fabric was lovely but I didn't like the cut or the high neckline or the gaudy jewels. Otherwise she was lovely, and obviously she could sing beautifully. All of the singing was great.
I did have issues with some of the costumes and sets. The costumes and sets at the dance were lovely, except for the Stepsisters. However, the regular costumes and many of the shops and houses looked like they came out of a Dr. Seuss book. I looked forward to this version coming out because I love the one with Leslie Ann Warren, but the sets left a lot to be desired from back then. I looked forward to better sets and better effects. I liked the better effects and Whitney Houston really was delightful as the Fairy Godmother, her whole personality, not just her incredible voice. I was very impressed with Brandi, Paolo, Bernadette Peters, the two Stepsisters, and Whoopi Goldberg who was hilarious as the Queen, and of course Jason Alexander was great as well. As I said, the only change I'd make is Victor Garber, and not just because of his race. I just think he didn't shine as much as the King, anyway, so they may as well have made it more likely for the King and Queen to have an Asian child. As I said, you can go overboard with diversity. When you do, it detracts from the movie, and makes what should be lovely ridiculous. I think it's great that they wanted all different races, but make it believable.
I do wish they'd made a Barbie doll of Brandy and Paolo in their costumes from the dance. Those costumes are so lovely.
I did have issues with some of the costumes and sets. The costumes and sets at the dance were lovely, except for the Stepsisters. However, the regular costumes and many of the shops and houses looked like they came out of a Dr. Seuss book. I looked forward to this version coming out because I love the one with Leslie Ann Warren, but the sets left a lot to be desired from back then. I looked forward to better sets and better effects. I liked the better effects and Whitney Houston really was delightful as the Fairy Godmother, her whole personality, not just her incredible voice. I was very impressed with Brandi, Paolo, Bernadette Peters, the two Stepsisters, and Whoopi Goldberg who was hilarious as the Queen, and of course Jason Alexander was great as well. As I said, the only change I'd make is Victor Garber, and not just because of his race. I just think he didn't shine as much as the King, anyway, so they may as well have made it more likely for the King and Queen to have an Asian child. As I said, you can go overboard with diversity. When you do, it detracts from the movie, and makes what should be lovely ridiculous. I think it's great that they wanted all different races, but make it believable.
I do wish they'd made a Barbie doll of Brandy and Paolo in their costumes from the dance. Those costumes are so lovely.
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