Two fairy tales with a prominent place for men—and washing dishes.
Cinderella (2015; Disney+)
When an orphaned young woman’s courage is running out, a fairy godmother gives her a shot at true love—until midnight. It is hard to believe how well this movie adapts the classic fairy tale. It’s just the basic story. No twists, no fancy modern songs. But it’s gorgeous. The sets and costuming are ornate. The cinematography in that dance scene sweeps you off your feet. Get ready for a beautiful movie.
While the plot remains as simple as it should be, the movie does flesh out the characters. This is why I said that there are men in this fairy tale: we spend significant time getting to know the Prince and the King. A desire to step into responsibility and fulfill expectations while also living your own life is played out with a tender love between father and son. Likewise, the romance between Cinderella and the Prince is given time to develop—pleasant interactions and good dialogue that make the falling-in-love believable and winsome.
Captivating Stepmother and fun Godmother are played by actresses you should recognize!
Most of all, Cinderella herself is written well. Her mother leaves her with the charge to “Have courage, and be kind”—a simple and robust moral center to a tale told as elegantly and lovingly as possible. And don’t miss the Disney nerdiness: that “Lavender Blue” ditty was used in the live-action Disney movie that came out the same year as the animated Cinderella, So Dear to My Heart (1949). Out of those three movies (So Dear, Cinderella, and Cinderella), this 2015 film is the dearest to my heart.
For sensitive viewers: Cinderella is verbally bullied by her step-family. The villain drinks a glass of alcohol in one scene.
The Sword in the Stone (1963; Disney+)
Wha-wha—whoa! That’s how it sounds when young “Wart” falls into Merlin’s enchanted cottage—and into a series of magical adventures. This movie is a lot of fun! The magical adventures (turning into a fish, a squirrel, etc.) are not cutesy or serious, but instead they have just the right blend of danger and wonder to make them compelling. The characters are eccentric, but Wart’s status as his castle’s downtrodden Cinderella makes you root for him and the absent-minded wizard to set things right.
In the 1960s, Disney animation left realism behind for good. No more Sleeping Beauty—now Merlin’s white beard can rebel into a chaotic ball of fuzz (relatable). The movie is cartoony, but such that it allows the animation the leeway to exaggerate character traits in the form of deceptively simple sketches.
The songs are top-notch. There’s nothing catchier than a Sherman Brothers song, and this soundtrack features several. You will be singing them after the movie. “That’s what makes the world go round.” Despite their tendency toward bopping Winnie-the-Pooh tunes (“It’s a Small World…”), they pull off emotional depth when needed, too. The opening song is like that, giving backstory with a grand pathos and a longing that set the stage for grandeur.
I don’t think this movie did well at the box office. That’s why Disney let story artist Bill Peet go rather than keeping him on for Jungle Book. And I’m okay with that, because I wouldn’t want Jungle Book to do what this movie does—go from one vignette to another without a clear through-line. But in this movie, it’s delightful, even if the final scene feels like a bit of a let-down. Wait, it’s over? It’s a let-down because the movie is so much fun you don’t want to leave. So, like a true child, you will put the tape in again tomorrow.
For sensitive viewers: Two scenes of wine drinking. Merlin smokes a pipe.
Nathan’s Writing Update
Yesterday, I felt like giving up on my book project. I was right that it was going to be too much work, the way I was envisioning it. When I talked to my parents about it, they gave me some suggestions; and while none of those suggestions were exactly the answer, they gave me the creative spark to see how I could indeed shorten the project and lessen the workload. Thank you, parents. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).
By the way, I met with a couple of friends from my writers’ group last month, and we recorded a question-and-answer session about our reading and writing process. I think you’ll enjoy it 😊
For sensitive viewers: Henry smokes a pipe.