The following is a guest post from Aedan Richter – SAPL Teen Book Reviewer. Thanks for sharing with the ¿Qué Means What? familia, Aedan!
I grew up loving Disney princess movies, Cinderella included. I was quite obsessed. Over the years I have seen many fairy tales reworked and reinvented to stay with the times and to ultimately draw people in to hear the same story told anew. Cinderella seems to have been done the most. The story has been used in countless movies and books to the point where I lost that love I felt as a child.
When I first heard about the new Cinderella movie being made, I was excited because of the cast. I knew many of the actors, including Lily James (Cinderella), from being a huge Downton Abbey fan. While people were worried about Lily being too old or the whole waist-shrinking controversy, I must admit that I was far from being concerned. This story had been done so many times that there was nothing sacred left to ruin. But when I was invited to go see the movie and write this review, I became more excited.
Why hadn’t I insisted that my parents take me to see this movie of the princess I had loved so much as a child? After all, I had asked them to take me to see Insurgent later this month. So with high spirits, I was crammed into a movie theater with lots of little children. I realized why I hadn’t been excited. I didn’t think I would enjoy a little kids movie. But when I finally saw the movie, I was thrilled.
The film stays true to the original animated movie that I fell in love with as a child, and it was only enhanced with beautiful costumes and a slightly more plausible plot line. They didn’t make the movie overly goofy for the cheap laughter of little kids. There were light parts, but overall the movie was free from goofiness.
The story’s main point wasn’t that you can be a nobody girl and win a prince. Instead, the film’s main messages are to “Have courage and be kind.” It just so happens that courage and kindness won Cinderella the prince. Besides the great messages, the acting was marvelously done, and I left with light, happy feeling in my chest. This movie reminded me of why I loved Cinderella as child. Both parents, children and anyone in between should enjoy seeing this film. It speaks to all ages. This Cinderella movie, like Lily James, is beautiful both inside and out.
Aedan Richter is a senior at Providence Catholic School. She has written more than 125 book reviews for the San Antonio Public Library’s teen blog. Find her reviews on Pinterest here: https://www.pinterest.com/aedanrichter/sapl-teen-reviews/
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