When I heard that Disney's
Cinderella was being re-released, I thought I'd somehow missed the announcement of a blu-ray and I was understandably excited. But then, the truth dawned, and I was confronted with a
Royal Edition of one of the House of Mouse's earlier master-pieces. And yes, this really does exist. It seems not even Disney could resist the immediate bankability of the hysteria attached to the forthcoming royal wedding, as last week saw the release of a
Royal Edition re-release of the classic animation Cinderella. Follow the leap for my ranting response- I mean review...
I'm almost hesitant to even review Cinderella in this context, so I won't do so in depth- like everyone else, and like Disney should themselves have done I'm waiting for the blu-ray release. It isn't one of my favourite Disneys, primarily because it is so brazenly aimed at a female audience, and I noticed as much as a child for the first time in my Disney viewing experiences- but then really there are few Disney animations that register anywhere beneath the four star level for me anyway, so its only a relative drop in quality. The animation and characterisation are both great, and while the songs aren't quite as iconic as usual (apart from "Bippidy, Boppidi, Boo"), the story is strong enough and iconic enough to carry the attention. But let's be honest here, this shouldn't be a review of the film itself, because the release sort of laughs in the face of the quality of Cinderella, reducing it to no more than a flimsy marketing device on which to sell the idea of the Royal Wedding, and not the film. An odd decision all round, especially since the release also makes an utter mockery of the Disney Vault idea, which was supposed to ensure that films could only get a release when "out of the vault", adding a pomp and circumstance to the proceedings of every Disney release. I don't really understand the message here either- are Disney suggesting that there are comparisons between Kate and William's love-story and the tale of woe surrounding Cinderella? Is Kate a lower-class prisoner of her over-bearing and malevolent step-family, who force her to do all the housework? Does she have an army of talking mice as her companions? I don't get it. It certainly can't be as flimsy a link as Prince William being a prince, just like Prince Charming can it? It turns out it can- and the further flimsy link is cemented through the image of Cinderella and her Prince on the front cover in their wedding carriage, which is the image on which this whole sorry affair rests. It really is quite despicable that this sort of thing exists, but really, if it sells then fair play to the powers that be that optioned it. It certainly isn't the worst film to be released aimed chiefly and rather cynically at the Royalists among us (that honour goes to the horrible looking
William & Kate). I think I'm just disappointed that a company on which so much of my passion for film was built are giving into to this temptation when they plainly don't need the money- especially since it puts completist collectors like me in a position where we have to buy it in order to own every edition, even though it is obviously of very little value. Shame on you Disney for not simply waiting for the blu-ray edition- "new transfer" or not, that high-definition treatment will do so much more for the film, and will make a boat-load more money, if that's the chief concern (as it clearly is with this release).
Extras
I don't know where everyone else reviewing this has been getting their extras listings from (by the look of it they're wrongly suggesting that the Extra features have come across from the special edition) because all that's here are two sorry Music Videos. So it's not like there's even any value in buying it for the Extras! A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes - Music Video performed by Disney Channel Circle of Stars Every Girl Can Be a Princess - Music Video Featuring Disneys Animated Princesses
If you really must (and sadly I must), Cinderella: Royal Edition is
available to buy on DVD now.