Cinderella 3D (Spanish)

I am not sure what Pascal Hérold’s past life was like.  The only thing I could find on imdb was that he also directed The True Story of Puss n Boots and it wasn’t something that could be called “critically acclaimed”.  Regretably, Hérold hasn’t progressed too much with Cinderella 3D.

Hérold’s attempt at staging a Cinderalla Western in the style of last year’s winner for best animation feature (Rango) falls woefully flat on its face.  The story is of course nothing new to most people who are as old as this author.  I am quite certain, it isn’t new to even kids below 10 years old because they ought to have heard of Cinderella in school.

 

What therefore is new about this version? It is set in the desert.  It tries to portray Cinderella as a more aggressive female lead.  One who is sad about her father’s death but isn’t willing to take being bullied.  Even when her step mother Felicity talks rudely to her, she gives back a jibe or two.

 

The two step sisters are now called Harmony and Melody.  The prince is called Vladimir Pitchikov (apologies for the spelling mistake if any).  The fairy godmother is now replaced by a ragged Indian (The American variety) called Little Cloud who does some Indian mumbo jumbo to convert the rugged Cinderella into someone marginally beautiful for the night of the ball that Felicity hosts for Vladimir.

 

Other than this, the only new and quite useless character is that of a one legged pirate called Barbazool aka Heffe who is captain of an abandoned ship in the desert.  One that will take a few knocks at the right places to collapse and be consumed by the desert itself.  Needless to say, that’s what happens at the end of it all.

 

So there is nothing that can be called terribly new in the movie.  And to add to it, the quality of animation is pedestrian.  I would guess it goes as low as some indigenous animation attempts in certain parts.  The dialogues are trite and there are no surprise twists in the tale.  I struggled to stay awake.

 

Why then, should I spend money to watch this movie? You would, only if your kids are the most stubborn in the world and you give into their tantrums.  If better sense prevails, you could take them for Chhota Bheem of Epic if it is playing somewhere.  They will be far more fulfilling.

 

What disappoints me is that there is some distributor or studio somewhere which deems that Cinderella is fit to be released in vacation season in India but some absolutely brilliant movies released around the world will never see the light of the day. Lets see if the collections justify this absurd decision.  4 on 10 at best.

 

Watch the trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O-4mrVXqJY