Cinderella Revisited

Cinderella was written centuries ago by Charles Perrault and a different version was written by the Brothers Grimm. A couple of centuries later a newer, animated film version was released by Disney based on the story by Charles Perrault. With several hit songs and unforgettable funny moments this movie was a big hit for families across America.  

The Brothers Grimm written their version of Cinderella after Perrault but became very popular during their time. The Disney/Perrault version has some extreme differences when compared to the Grimm’s version.  

From the Grimm’s tale to Disney’s film the two stepsisters are different in looks but the same in spirit. The sisters were jealous of Cinderella because of her natural beauty. In the Disney film of Cinderella the two sisters are just plain ugly with old people laugh-lines, big clunky feet and an ugly big round toe for a nose. The girls in Grimm’s Cinderella are not described as ugly but it says, “Then were the two sisters glad, for they had beautiful feet” and “beautiful and fair of face.” 

 Cinderella’s mother is not mentioned in the Disney film. In Grimm’s version of Cinderella the mother is not only mention but she also speaks to Cinderella but dies early in the story. Her father is cruel and absent in the Grimm’s story. He refers to his daughter as Cinderella which is not a good name contrary to popular belief and also calls her “a little stunted kitchen-wench”. In the Disney film he is looked as noble man but dies early in the film during Cinderella’s childhood and leaves Cinderella alone with the evil step-mother. 

Disney and his team highlights the romance and pre-mature love that is between Cinderella and the prince when they meet and dance. It was love at first sight as they dance and sing “Is This Love”. Although the two dance in the Grimm version, there is nothing romantic about the dance. The most romantic part is probably the description of her dress but at the end of the day it is just a dress.  

Probably one of the biggest contrasts is the fitting of the slipper. In the Disney film the girls try to stick their foot inside the slipper. The Grimm version both sisters cut off part of their foot to get into the golden slipper. The mother said to her daughters to "Cut the toe off” for one sister and “Cut the heel off” for the other sister. 

Cinderella is a timeless classic in both the Disney and Grimm setting. The Grimm’s Cinderella is dark, religious and has a 'reap what you sow' attitude. Disney Cinderella also has stronger emphasis on love and romance. This is what makes this version so light and enjoyable for families. The Grimm’s Cinderella is not the ideal child’s bedtime story but the gruesome and grim ending is what mature audiences want. The Grimm’s Cinderella story along with other fairytales can all be found online. 

Steel Magnolias Movie Review

Steel Magnolias was released nationwide in theaters on November 19, 1989. In Steel Magnolias, directed by Herbert Ross and written by Robert Harling, we follow the friendship of 6 southern and wise-cracking women who go through different seasons of life together in the small town of Chinquapin, Louisiana. The leading ladies are phenomenal as six southern women bound by friendship and the message of true companionship reaches and touches the heart. 

The six women this story follows are Truvy (Dolly Parton), Annelle, Clairee, Ouiser, M’Lynn (Sally Field), and Shelby (Julia Roberts). 

Steel Magnolias is an adaption of the play of the same name and both play and movie were written by Robert Harling. Something that worked well in the original script of the play is the gut-busting, toe-tapping one-liners. For the film, the writer decided to keep most if not all the same one-liners, but when it comes to the actors delivering these lines it just doesn’t work, it comes off inauthentic and flat, particularly for Truvy. Dolly Parton could be mistaken as a horrible actress but when the other leading ladies took a shot at the one-liners it was just as horrible and provided cringing moments. Dolly’s performance can be overshadowed by these bad one-liners when she gives a very solid and natural performance outside those lines. 

When Steel Magnolias translated into film it came with much more added material. The change of settings makes this movie bigger compared to the original play with just one setting, which is Truvy’s beauty shop. Another addition is that men are in the film, in the play they were described and talked about but never seen. Shelby’s father delivered many laughs and the audience that I was with watching this movie enjoyed him. 

A problem with added material in this film is the unnecessary scenes that ran too long. At Shelby's wedding reception a romantic couple, which we as the audience don’t know who they are, decide to take center stage and show off their dandy dancing for two or three minutes straight. This was tiring to see two people who have nothing to do with the movie dance for no apparent reason.  

Herbert Ross made some mistakes but did a fantastic job with the last few scenes which were just breathtaking. When M’Lynn is at the funeral of her daughter, Sally Field gives a very strong and emotional performance in which she asks the question why her daughter is gone and expresses how she wishes her daughter is still with her. Roger Ebert spoke of Sally Field’s performance during this scene saying, “….heartbreaking monologue by Sally Field…. tremendously effective, and, yes, we are moved”.  

Herbert Ross’s Steel Magnolias is a jovial and touching movie that stirs the soul no matter what gender you are. The biggest hindrance for the film is the not-so-funny one-liners and some of the added material. Steel Magnolias is meant to provide an emotional rollercoaster and rollercoasters are meant to be considered as fun. If I had bit less testosterone and a bit more estrogen I would have cried. Its certainly a must see and one to add to your collection. 

The Grey Movie Review

 The Grey is directed and written by Joe Carnahan, co-written by Ian Mackenzie Jeffers and it is based upon Jeffers short story Ghost Walker. The Grey, starring Liam Neeson, follows a group of plane crash survivors as they are hunted by wolves in the middle of a snow desert in Alaska.  

The Grey is an action/adventure thriller that is close to two hours long without a single dull moment. Liam Neeson plays Ottway, a man of Irish descent who is a lone wolf looking for a place of peace and solitude. Ottway works as a sharp shooter for a petroleum company to kill ravaging wolves to protect oil workers in the frozen tundra of Alaska. 

At the start of the film we hear Ottway recite a poem that he wrote. His poem may have been intended as a suicide letter but it seems to bring him some kind of peace as he reminisces over his deceased wife. 

Ottway and the other workers for the oil company board a plane back home to Anchorage. During the flight Ottway falls asleep then awakens to a freezing plane and people going into a panic while the plane is malfunctioning. 

This is a very intense plane-crash scene and Carnahan pulled off one of the most detailed and thrilling crashes that I have ever seen. He did not play it safe as if everything was going to be alright. Shaky camera, quick change of shots, extreme zoom-ins, and then black out. The entire film is well directed and Carnahan invites us on this adventure/thriller because just as the survivors are unsure what will happen next so is the camera work. 

Ottway survives the crash without a single scratch, which is understandable because the ladies don’t care to see a movie with a disfigured Liam Neeson. There are seven survivors of the crash and there current plan is to survive the night by fire, search for food and at daybreak head south. Waiting for a rescue plane is not an option for lowly workers of a big petroleum company so they decide that they have to make moves. 

While searching for other survivors Ottway comes across a wolf feeding on a flight attendant. This is where the fight between wolf and man begins. The men are at a disadvantage being surrounded by snow making it hard for them to move. So being out of their natural habitat, their first line of action is to look for safety and use defense when needed. 

There are religious and spiritual overtones throughout the movie. And to the audience the question is presented: Is there life after death and what is the meaning of life here on Earth?  

The Grey is an amazing movie and cannot be simplify to a man vs. wolves movie. This movie invites the audience to get to know these men, their nature and their stories. The Grey is certainly worthy of being added to your DVD collection because this movie has a lot of replay value. 

P.S: Stay for an extra scene after the credits. 

"My God, We Were Corny Since The Beginning"

NGEN hosted the second week of their BOOMIN concert series in downtown Houston at Discovery Green. The second week of the concert series featured Reach Record's Andy Mineo and an energize opening act by Houston's own World Rejects.

The World Rejects got things started off around 7 p.m. I never heard or seen these guys before but I was hoping these were above average Christian Hip-Hop acts. Surprisingly, they engage the crowd, had the adrenaline going and leaving a great first impression on myself and many Houstonians.

To name all seven members of the World Rejects would be as difficult as naming all of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan. Heck, I now get members of World Rejects confused with Wu-Tang members with names like: Phyre Da Armageddon and Sketch BeatKaso.

Andy Mineo then came on the stage for his set and killed it. Forgive the sparing details but curious of what he did exactly? Check video below.

After the concert both World Rejects and Andy Mineo had a booth for fans to meet the artist and have memorabilia sign. Took a while for the line to get moving but once it started rolling the line moved at a comfortable pace.

As I eased up the line, I met a few folks and my excitement rose as we talk about the concert and other artist we enjoy. One of the guys that I met talked about what he was going to have Andy Mineo sign. But I didn't have any thing for them to sign and word made it to the back of the line that no pictures are allowed.

What am I going to say since words tend to come out of my mouth shyly? What am I going to do since I have nothing to offer... well this particular day I did have a couple of hundred bucks in my wallet but I tend to make a point not to spend money at a free concert.

Just my luck I happen to have my backpack which was carrying the first ever Christian Hip-Hop record ever. (OK it wasn't all luck since I did carefully premeditated this moment since the day before). Slightly rare, McSWEET Gospel Beat can be bought off Ebay or Discogs as a vinyl record but not on iTunes or any other internet music store.

Curiosity rose inside me to see this new generation, my generation, of Christian rappers take on this rare and historic record: Have they ever heard it? Have they ever seen the cover? And their overall initial thoughts.

The seven-member deep World Rejects and the New York native Andy Mineo, without a doubt at least one of them have heard about this treasured gem....

Well, none of them ever heard of McSWEET or his Gospel Beat. So they judge the book by its cover, well in this case they judge the record by the cover.

"Wow! What is this," one of the members from World Reject said.

I explain to all of the guys that this record was the first Christian rap record ever and that it was originally released in 1982.

"82?!?! That was the year I was born."

"Hey yo, look at this," one reject said to the other, "This is so cheesy."

Finally the record landed into the hands of Mineo who was sitting at the end of the booth. "What is this?" Mineo said in awe as he glazed his eyes over my treasured piece of Hip-Hop history. "McSWEET," he exclaimed, "Adam and Eve. The Gospel Beat."

I tried to explain to the guys that this was a legit old school disco-era Hip-Hop record. But judging their facial expressions, my words must have fallen like lies into their ears.

But I can't blame them for their reaction. Have you seen the cover of this record... Its terribly corny. I have to agree with the World Rejects it is cheesy. I do like the graffiti style art on the front cover but quickly drawn away by the bare nipple just staring me in the eye.

And the back cover doesn't get any better. McSWEET is wearing some sort of fig leaf 80s basketball uniform with what I'm guessing to be some type of Nike white and yellow shoe. I wasn't an 80s baby but I don't believe this ever passed off as cool.

Andy's final words about the record: "My God, we were corny since the beginning."

Yes, this is by far one of the worst covers I have ever seen. But, if you judge this book, excuse me I mean record, by its cover you will do yourself an injustice. Don't believe me? Take a listen for yourself and tell me what you think.

Update: Shortly after posting this story on Twitter, Andy Mineo replied back:

@Tim_Joshua I could imagine that song being pretty good for 82, actually.
— Andy Mineo (@AndyMineo) July 30, 2013

Thank you Andy Mineo for taking the time to listen to the record and replying back.