Cinderella / Cinderella 2 - Dreams Come True [1950]

Customer Reviews:

Classic animation - a must for pre-teen girls.......2005-10-27

Although the original triple Oscar nominated Walt Disney classic animation film dates from 1950, the 'sequel' Cinderalla II is only a few years old. The original Cinderella is naturally in a different league to Cinderella II, having a particularly dark Stepmother and in comparison is a visual treat. It's not unlike Disney's Snow White, mixing humour and songs one minute with dastardly deeds the next. In many scene's the stepmother's cat becomes the villain in proxy, made more menacing as Cinderella's friends are mainly mice and birds.

My daughter, then 8, found the 50's classic a bit scary and much prefers the later frothier Cinderella II, which follows Cinders naive attempts to be a dutiful wife and all round Princess of the People. In fact the simple stories in Cinderella II are quite entertaining, and it follows Cinders attempt 'fit in' at court and to help her stepsister find love. At 11 my daughter moved on to 'The worst Witch' and the likes of Cadet Kelly teen movies, but to be honest she has probably just watched Cinderella I and II to death. Deep down I'm sure she still really loves the 'I'm a little princess' and 'Some day my prince will come' romanticism of these movies. There is a now a third 'straight to video' instalment in the Disney Cinderella series called 'Cinderella III: A twist in time' which my daughter (now 13) has quite enjoyed watching a couple of times, and the wicked stepmother is still as bovine as ever - this 'film' is also available on DVD, but isn't included in this set. Of the three, Cinderella II is still my daughters firm favourite. This DVD set also adds in a few fun extras, all listed in the Amazon review, and the usual few adverts for other Disney DVDs.

Personally I prefer the classic 50's original Cinderella (which I saw at the cinema as a child in the 60's), but certainly I found Cinders II watchable as well - it has a certain charm (but it's not quite up to the standard of Barbie's Nutcracker, Rapunzel or Swan Lake). So recommended as a very good buy for any preteen girl who likes Barbie and Pink (probably from 4 up). My son (now 9) has sat through them once or twice in sister's bedroom when younger, but definately prefers the likes of the Fantastic Four and Sky High (or the PS2).

Average customer rating:

Thoroughly modern Andy

Andy Pandy - Charming Stories [2002]
Starring: Julia Williams (III) , Valerie Cardnell , and Vera McKechnie
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Children's TV | Television | Categories | DVD | Video
All Children's DVD | Children's DVD | Categories | DVD | Video
DVD | Format (binding_browse-bin) | Refinements | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00009PBEO
Release Date: 2003-07-14

Customer Reviews:

Thoroughly modern Andy.......2003-08-05

I was part of the original Andy Pandy generation (every Tuesday on Watch with Mother). I later learned that they only made 26 total episodes of the original, and then repeated them ceaselessly for twenty years. That was then. This is now. We now have a new Andy Pandy. Andy and Teddy are much as they were - Andy thoughtful, and Teddy somewhat impulsive. Looby Loo however is quite changed. In the original she only moved around when T and AP were not around. In this version she is a full participant providing sensible big sister style behaviour. Some slightly suspect gender-stereotyping (she is always baking cakes, has indigestion pills, and a sewing kit in her bag).
Other characters quite fun too (a ball, a dog, a snake and a sailor).
Anyway my 2 year old thinks it is fine. So do my older children (9 and 13) who consider it to be quite retro (interesting what they put out for this age group).

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