Reviews

I didn't expect to like this film, but whenever it's on television, I'll watch it. It has most of the elements in the original tale, but Sam (Cinderella) actually has a brain and personality. I'm an English major and have experience in analyzing Children's Lit, so this intrigued me.

The original portrays Cinderella as a naive slave who attracts a rich guy and in the end gets her dream guy by being a stereotypical submissive female. In this version, however, Sam and Austin (the prince) both have similar goals which actually involve going against society's expectations of them. Austin is supposed to play the role of the sporty son of a business man, but his wish is to go to college and embrace his natural talent for writing. Meanwhile, Sam is supposed to have an unending life of servitude to her step-mother, but ends up getting into college (the same one as Austin).

One could interpret the college as the palace, but Sam is not permanently tied to Austin, as she ends the movie expressing that she's still young; therefore, this version could also be seen as feminist compared to its original. This story allows the Cinderella character to have her cake and eat it too.

I still remember coming out of the theater when I was about 8 years old. My father was really surprised by how cruel the children in the film were and he asked me if that's actually how it is. I was more surprised by his reaction than by anything else. Yes, adults need to stop thinking childhood is all about happiness. Personally, it got me to write. At the time I saw this film I had gotten into writing fiction at about age 6. This actually gave me the idea to start journal writing and I have yet to stop at age 22. The way Harriet resolves things with her friends is a bit quick, but I think it's because the other kids become hypocrites. During my college Children's Lit class, we discussed this book and how Harriet is attacked because her thoughts become public. Everyone thinks negative thoughts about everyone else -- It shouldn't make her the target. Self expression is very important to everyone, I think that is a big part of what the story and film are about. Her writing and exploration of the society around her is just like any other child's. She just goes about it more directly.

I've been a Lifetime fan for years but recently more and more bad films get added to the list. Now, they've added a horrible TV show entitled "WifeSwap." It's always on during the day. It has to be the most boring and pointless show created. It tries so hard to be emotional and then fails miserably at having a point. It displays horrible families who aren't close with one another and then adds another family which is the polar opposite. Then, miraculously they're both changed after a week and there are tears for reasons I don't understand. If they wanted to create a show about changing families, it shouldn't involve forcing them to be with another family for a week. What it really shows is just how ignorant people in America really are. Please remove this terrible series!